Lapping device

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, including applying to said lapping face a lapping surface sheet, and retaining said lapping surface sheet in conformity with said face by vacuum.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2, including applying a perforated underlayment to said face, effecting vacuum suction through said underlayment, and retaining said lapping surface sheet replaceably on said underlayment by said vacuum suction.

Claim 5

A lapping device to provide a lapping face of large radius cylindrical curvature, comprising: an elongated lapping plate of resilient material having a normally flat lapping face; means for applying bending moment force across the plane of said face simultaneously to opposite end portions of said elongated lapping plate within the elastic limits of the plate; means in the area of the plate between said end portions for controlling bending of the plate coincident with the application of bending moment force thereto to cause said lapping face to assume a uniform cylindrical radius of curvature throughout said area; said means for applying bending moment force comprising respective jaw members connected to the opposite end portions of the plate; said members being connected to said plate to thrust upwardly at the ends of the plate and to pull downwardly on the plate spaced inwardly from said ends; and means for effecting swinging of said members in respectively opposite outward directions about pivots located substantially midway between the points of connection of the members to the plate.

Claim 6

A lapping device to provide a lapping face of large radius cylindrical curvature, comprising: an elongated lapping plate of resilient material having a normally flat lapping face; means for applying bending moment force across the plane of said face simultaneously to opposite end portions of said elongated lapping plate within the elastic limits of the plate; means in the area of the plate between said end portions for controlling bending of the plate coincident with the application of bending moment force thereto to cause said lapping face to assume a uniform cylindrical radius of curvature throughout said area; said means for applying bending moment force comprising respective jaw members connected to the opposite end portions of the plate; said members being connected to said plate to thrust upwardly at the ends of the plate and to pull downwardly on the plate spaced inwardly from said ends; and means for effecting swinging of said members in respectively opposite outward directions about pivots located substantially midway between the points of connection of the members to the plate.

Claim 7

A lapping device according to claim 4, including a lapping surface sheet, and means for maintaining the sheet in conformity with the curvature of the lapping face comprising a vacuum system in the plate.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 5, including a perforated underlayment applied directly to said lapping face, and said lapping surface sheet being applied to the underlayment and releasably retained thereon by tHe vacuum exerted through the underlayment.

Claim 9

A lapping device to provide a lapping face of large radius cylindrical curvature, comprising: an elongated lapping plate of resilient material having a normally flat lapping face; means for applying bending moment force across the plane of said face simultaneously to opposite end portions of said elongated lapping plate within the elastic limits of the plate; means in the area of the plate between said end portions for controlling bending of the plate coincident with the application of bending moment force thereto to cause said lapping face to assume a uniform cylindrical radius of curvature throughout said area; said means for applying bending moment force comprising a pair of complementary members supported rotatably on respective axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plate and parallel to the plane of said lapping face in its flat state; said members having fulcrum edges engaging the plate closely adjacent to its respective opposite ends; said axes of the members being located inwardly from said edges and relative to said plate ends; means spaced inwardly relative to the axes and engaging with the plate to transfer bending forces from the members; and extensible thrusting means extending to and between the members and operable to rock the members about their axes in respectively opposite outward directions whereby said fulcrum edges thrust upwardly and said force transfer means pull down on the plate to effect said uniform cylindrical radius of curvature in said lapping face.

Claim 10

A lapping device to provide a lapping face of large radius cylindrical curvature, comprising: an elongated lapping plate of resilient material having a normally flat lapping face; means for applying bending moment force across the plane of said face simultaneously to opposite end portions of said elongated lapping plate within the elastic limits of the plate; means in the area of the plate between said end portions for controlling bending of the plate coincident with the application of bending moment force thereto to cause said lapping face to assume a uniform cylindrical radius of curvature throughout said area; said means for applying bending moment force comprising a pair of complementary members supported rotatably on respective axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plate and parallel to the plane of said lapping face in its flat state; said members having fulcrum edges engaging the plate closely adjacent to its respective opposite ends; said axes of the members being located inwardly from said edges and relative to said plate ends; means spaced inwardly relative to the axes and engaging with the plate to transfer bending forces from the members; and extensible thrusting means extending to and between the members and operable to rock the members about their axes in respectively opposite outward directions whereby said fulcrum edges thrust upwardly and said force transfer means pull down on the plate to effect said uniform cylindrical radius of curvature in said lapping face.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 7, wherein the plate has in the area thereof on the opposite side from said lapping face a set of parallel uniformly dimensioned and spaced transverse ribs providing said means for controlling the bending of the plate area, and adjacent to each end of said area a transversely extending stress bar to which the members are connected by bolts extending through the stress bars with a lost motion connection.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 7, wherein the plate has adjacent to said area respective depending angularly shaped stress bars providing upwardly facing fulcrum ledges engaged by said members.

Claim 15

A lapping device to provide a lapping face of large radius cylindrical curvature, comprising: an elongated lapping plate of resilient material having a normally flat lapping face; means for applying bending moment force simultaneously to opposite end portions of said elongated lapping plate within the elastic limits of the plate; means in the area of the plate between said end portions for controlling bending of the plate coincident with the application of bending moment force thereto to control bending of the plate to cause said lapping face to assume a uniform cylindrical radius of curvature throughout said area; a lapping surface sheet; and means for maintaining the sheet in conformity with the curvature of the lapping face comprising a vacuum system in the plate.

Claim 16

A lapping device to provide a lapping face of large radius cylindrical curvature, comprising: an elongated lapping plate of resilient material having a normally flat lapping face; means for applying bending moment force simultaneously to opposite end portions of said elongated lapping plate within the elastic limits of the plate; means in the area of the plate between said end portions for controlling bending of the plate coincident with the application of bending moment force thereto to control bending of the plate to cause said lapping face to assume a uniform cylindrical radius of curvature throughout said area; a lapping surface sheet; and means for maintaining the sheet in conformity with the curvature of the lapping face comprising a vacuum system in the plate.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 10, including applying a perforated underlayment to said face, effecting vacuum suction through said underlayment, and retaining said lapping surface sheet replaceably on said underlayment by said vacuum suction.

Claim 18

A device according to claim 11, including a perforated underlayment applied directly to said lapping face, and said lapping surface sheet being applied to the underlayment and releasably retained thereon by the vacuum exerted through the underlayment.

Claim 19

A device according to claim 4, wherein said plate is stiffly resilient, said means for controlling bending of said plate area comprise a set of integral transverse ribs on the opposite side of said plate from said lapping face.

Claim 20

A device according to claim 14, comprising respective stress bars on said plate adjacent to said ribs and providing means for connected with said bending moment force applying jaw members.

Claim 21

A device according to claim 4, wherein the lapping plate is a rectangular elongated stiffly resilient metal plate having a plurality of parallel controlling ribs on the side opposite said face throughout said area.