Mechanism for adjustably positioning planetary machining elements

Claim 2

In a planetary machining apparatus having a fixed rotor support, a rotor rotatably mounted on the rotor support, at least one drive spindle assembly having a rotary spindle support mounted on the rotor for angular adjustment about an axis generally parallel to and radially offset from the rotor axis and a drive spindle rotatably mounted on the spindle support for rotation about an axis parallel to and radially offset from the axis of the spindle support, a machining element mounted on each drive spindle, adjustment means for angularly adjusting each rotary spindle support for radially adjusting the respective spindle and machining element relative to the rotor axis, and drive means for rotating the rotor and each drive spindle for respectively providing planetary movement of each machining element about the rotor axis and rotation of each machining element about its spindle axis, the improvement wherein the adjustment means comprises bidirectional motor means operative in opposite directions thereof and mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith, transmission means operatively connecting the motor means to each spindle support for angularly adjusting each spindle support in its opposite angular directions by operation of the motor means in its opposite operative directions respectively, stationary selector means and connector means operatively connecting the selector means to the motor means, the selector means and connector means being operable for selectively operating the bidirectional motor means in each operative direction thereof during rotation of the rotor, said drive means comprising a planetary system having a first gear mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to the rotor, an internally and externally toothed planetary ring gear for each drive spindle assembly, each ring gear being rotatably mounted on said drum for rotation about an axis coaxial with the respective rotary spindle support and with the external teeth of said ring gear in engagement with said first gear for planetary movement of said ring gear about the rotor axis upon rotation of the rotor, and a secondary planetary drive pinion secured to each drive spindle coaxially therewith and in engagement with the internal teeth of the respective ring gear for planetary motion relative to the ring gear axis upon angular adjustment of the respective spindle support.

Claim 3

In a planetary machining apparatus having a fixed rotor support, a rotor rotatably mounted on the rotor support, at least one drive spindle assembly having a rotary spindle support mounted on the rotor for angular adjustment about an axis generally parallel to and radially offset from the rotor axis and a drive spindle rotatably mounted on the spindle support for rotation about an axis parallel to and radially offset from the axis of the spindle support, a machining element mounted on each drive spindle, adjustment means for angularly adjusting each rotary spindle support for radially adjusting the respective spindle and machining element relative to the rotor axis, and drive means for rotating the rotor and each drive spindle for respectively providing planetary movement of each machining element about the rotor axis and rotation of each machining element about its spindle axis, the improvement wherein the adjustment means comprises bidirectional motor means operative in opposite directions thereof and mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith, transmission means operatively connecting the motor means to each spindle support for angularly adjusting each spindle support in its opposite angular directions by operation of the motor means in its opposite operative directions respectively, stationary selector means and connector means operatively connecting the selector means to the motor means, the selector means and connector means being operable for selectively operating the bidirectional motor means in each operative direction thereof during rotation of the rotor, said motor means comprising a bidirectional hydraulic motor responsive to hydraulic fluid pressure for operation of the motor in at least one operative direction thereof, said connector means including rotatable fluid conduit means and stationary fluid conduit means, said rotatable conduit means being operatively connected to said hydraulic motor and mounted on said rotor for rotation therewith, said stationary fluid conduit means being operatively connected in continuous fluid communication with said rotatable conduit means, and said selector means being connected to said stationary fluid conduit means for selectively controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, thereby to control the fluid pressure applied to said hydraulic motor, the stationary fluid conduit means comprising a stationary header supported by said fixed rotor support, said stationary header having a cylindrical bore coaxial with the rotor axis and first fluid passageways in communication with said bore, the rotating fluid conduit means comprising a distributor rotor rotatably mounted within said cylindrical bore of the header coaxially with the rotor, the distributor rotor having second fluid passageways in fluid communication via the bore with the first fluid passageways respectively, the first and second fluid passageways comprising annular groove means in one of said stationary header and said distributor rotor, said annular groove mean providing continuous fluid communication between said first and second fluid passageways respectively, said fixed rotor support comprising a cover member removably disposed about each machining element, said stationary header being mounted on said cover member, said distributor rotor being axially retained within said bore in said stationary header and said rotatable fluid conduit means including releasable coupling means intermediate said distributor rotor and said motor means to permit removal of said cover member from said machining elements.

Claim 4

In a planetary machining apparatus having a fixed rotor support, a rotor rotatably mounted on the rotor support, at least one drive spindle assembly having a rotary spindle support mounted on the rotor for angular adjustment about an axis generally parallel to and radially offset from the rotor axis and a drive spindle rotatably mounted on the spindle support for rotation about an axis parallel to and radially offset from the axis of the spindle support, a machining element mounted on each drive spindle, adjustment means for angularly adjusting each rotary spindle support for radially adjusting the respective spindle and machining element relative to the rotor axis, and drive means for rotating the rotor and each drive spindle for respectively providing planetary movement of each machining element about the rotor axis and rotation of each machining element about its spindle axis, the improvement wherein the adjustment means comprises bidirectional motor means operative in opposite directions thereof and mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith, transmission means operatively connecting the motor means to each spindle support for angularly adjusting each spindle support in its opposite angular directions by operation of the motor means in its opposite operative directions respectively, stationary selector means and connector means operatively connecting the selector means to the motor means, the selector means and connector means being operable for selectively operating the bidirectional motor means in each operative direction thereof during rotation of the rotor, said motor means comprising a bidirectional hydraulic motor responsive to hydraulic fluid pressure for operation of the motor in at least one operative direction thereof, said connector means including rotatable fluid conduit means and stationary fluid conduit means, said rotatable conduit means being operatively connected to said hydraulic motor and mounted on said rotor for rotation therewith, said stationary fluid conduit means being operatively connected in continuous fluid communication with said rotatable conduit means, and said selector means being connected to said stationary fluid conduit means for selectively controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, thereby to control the fluid pressure applied to said hydraulic motor, the stationary fluid conduit means comprising a stationary header supported by said fixed rotor support, said stationary header having a cylindrical bore coaxial with the rotor axis and first fluid passageways in communication with said bore, the rotating fluid conduit means comprising a distributor rotor rotatably mounted within said cylindrical bore of the header coaxially with the rotor, the distributor rotor having second fluid passageways in fluid communication via the bore with the first fluid passageways respectively, the first and second fluid passageways comprising annular groove means in one of said stationary header and said distributor rotor, said annular groove mean providing continuous fluid communication between said first and second fluid passageways respectively, said fixed rotor support comprising a cover member removably disposed about each machining element, said stationary header being mounted on said cover member, said distributor rotor being axially retained within said bore in said stationary header and said rotatable fluid conduit means including releasable coupling means intermediate said distributor rotor and said motor means to permit removal of said cover member from said machining elements.

Claim 5

In a planetary machining apparatus having a fixed rotor support, a rotor rotatably mounted on the rotor support, at least one drive spindle assembly having a rotary spindle support mounted on the rotor for angular adjustment about an axis generally parallel to and radially offset from the rotor axis and a drive spindle rotatably mounted on the spindle support for rotation about an axis parallel to and radially offset from the axis of the spindle support, a machining element mounted on each drive spindle, adjustment means for angularly adjusting each rotary spindle support for radially adjusting the respective spindle and machining element relative to the rotor axis, and drive means for rotating the rotor and each drive spindle for respectively providing planetary movement of each machining element about the rotor axis and rotation of each machining element about its spindle axis, the improvement wherein the adjustment means comprises bidirectional motor means operative in opposite directions thereof and mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith, transmission means operatively connecting the motor means to each spindle support for angularly adjusting each spindle support in its opposite angular directions by operation of the motor means in its oposite operative directions respectively, stationary selector means and connector means operatively connecting the selector means to the motor means, the selector means and connector means being operable for selectively operating the bidirectional motor means in each operative direction thereof during rotation of the rotor, the apparatus comprising at least two of said drive spindle assemblies, the bidirectional motor means comprising at least two bidirectional motors, and said transmission means comprising first and second separate transmission means operatively connecting said two bidirectional motors to the spindle supports of said two drive spindle assemblies respectively for angular adjustment thereof.

Claim 6

In a planetary machining apparatus having a fixed rotor support, a rotor rotatably mounted on the rotor support, at least one drive spindle assembly having a rotary spindle support mounted on the rotor for angular adjustment about an axis generally parallel to and radially offset from the rotor axis and a drive spindle rotatably mounted on the spindle support for rotation about an axis parallel to and radially offset from the axis of the spindle support, a machining element mounted on each drive spindle, adjustment means for angularly adjusting each rotary spindle support for radially adjusting the respective spindle and machining element relative to the rotor axis, and drive means for rotating the rotor and each drive spindle for respectively providing planetary movement of each machining element about the rotor axis and rotation of each machining element about its spindle axis, the improvement wherein the adjustment means comprises bidirectional motor means operative in opposite directions thereof and mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith, transmission means operatively connecting the motor means to each spindle support for angularly adjusting each spindle support in its opposite angular directions by operation of the motor means in its oposite operative directions respectively, stationary selector means and connector means operatively connecting the selector means to the motor means, the selector means and connector means being operable for selectively operating the bidirectional motor means in each operative direction thereof during rotation of the rotor, the apparatus comprising at least two of said drive spindle assemblies, the bidirectional motor means comprising at least two bidirectional motors, and said transmission means comprising first and second separate transmission means operatively connecting said two bidirectional motors to the spindle supports of said two drive spindle assemblies respectively for angular adjustment thereof.

Claim 7

In a planetary machining apparatus having a fixed rotor support, a rotor rotatably mounted on the rotor support, at least one drive spindle assembly having a rotary spindle support mounted on the rotor for angular adjustment about an axis generally parallel to and radially offset from the rotor axis and a drive spindle rotatably mounted on the spindle for rotation about an axis parallel to and radially offset from the axis of the spindle support, a machining element mounted on each drive spindle, adjustment means for angularly adjusting each rotary spindle support for radially adjusting the respective spindle and machining element relative to the rotor axis, and drive means for rotating the rotor and each drive spindle for respectively providing planetary movement of each machining element about the rotor axis and rotation of each machining element about its spindle axis, the improvement wherein the adjustment means comprises bidirectional motor means operative in opposite directions thereof and mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith, transmission means operatively connecting the motor means to each spindle support for angularly adjusting each spindle support in its opposite angular directions by operation of the motor means in its opposite operative directions respectively, stationary selector means and connector means operatively connecting the selector means to the motor means, the selector means and connector means being operable for selectively operating the bidirectional motor means in each operative direction thereof during rotation of the rotor, the apparatus comprising first and second pairs of said drive spindle assemblies, each having a pair of diametrically opposed drive spindles equally radially spaced from the rotor axis, said bidirectional motor means comprising first and second bidirectional motors, and said transmission means comprising first and second separate transmission means respectively operatively connecting the first and second bidirectional motors to the spindle supports of said first and second pairs of drive spindle assemblies for angular adjustment thereof.

Claim 8

In a planetary machining apparatus having a fixed rotor support, a rotor rotatably mounted on the rotor support, at least one drive spindle assembly having a rotary spindle support mounted on the rotor for angular adjustment about an axis generally parallel to and radially offset from the rotor axis and a drive spindle rotatably mounted on the spindle for rotation about an axis parallel to and radially offset from the axis of the spindle support, a machining element mounted on each drive spindle, adjustment means for angularly adjusting each rotary spindle support for radially adjusting the respective spindle and machining element relative to the rotor axis, and drive means for rotating the rotor and each drive spindle for respectively providing planetary movement of each machining element about the rotor axis and rotation of each machining element about its spindle axis, the improvement wherein the adjustment means comprises bidirectional motor means operative in opposite directions thereof and mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith, transmission means operatively connecting the motor means to each spindle support for angularly adjusting each spindle support in its opposite angular directions by operation of the motor means in its opposite operative directions respectively, stationary selector means and connector means operatively connecting the selector means to the motor means, the selector means and connector means being operable for selectively operating the bidirectional motor means in each operative direction thereof during rotation of the rotor, the apparatus comprising first and second pairs of said drive spindle assemblies, each having a pair of diametrically opposed drive spindles equally radially spaced from the rotor axis, said bidirectional motor means comprising first and second bidirectional motors, and said transmission means comprising first and second separate transmission means respectively operatively connecting the first and second bidirectional motors to the spindle supports of said first and second pairs of drive spindle assemblies for angular adjustment thereof.

Claim 9

The planetary machining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said motor means comprises a bidirectional hydraulic motor responsive to hydraulic fluid pressure for operation of the motor in at least one operative direction thereof, said connector means including rotatable fluid conduit means and stationary fluid conduit means, said rotatable conduit means being operatively connected to said hydraulic motor and mounted on said rotor for rotation therewith, said stationary fluid conduit means being operatively connected in continuous fluid communication with said rotatable conduit means, and said selector means being connected to said stationary fluid conduit means for selectively controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, thereby to control the fluid pressure applied to said hydraulic motor.

Claim 10

The planetary machining apparatus of claim 5 wherein the stationary fluid conduit means comprises a stationary header supported by said fixed rotor support, said stationary header having a cylindrical bore coaxial with the rotor axis and first fluid passageways in communication with said bore, the rotating fluid conduit means comprising a distributor rotor rotatably mounted within said cylindrical bore of the header coaxially with the rotor, the distributor rotor having second fluid pasageways in fluid communication via the bore with the first fluid passageways respectively, the first and second fluid passageways comprising annular groove means in one of said stationary header and said distributor rotor, said annular groove means providing continuous fluid communication between said first and said second fluid passageways respectively.

Claim 11

The planetary machining apparatus of claim 5 wherein said motor means has fluid intake and exhaust ports respectively for hydraulically operating the motor means in its said one operative direction, said rotatable conduit means comprising a pair of rotatable conduits connected to said motor ports respectively, and said stationary fluid conduit means comprising a pair of stationary fluid conduits in continuous fluid communication with said pair of rotatable conduits respectively.

Claim 12

The planetary machining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bidirectional motor means comprises rotatable drive shaft means rotatable in opposite angular directions upon operation of the motor means in its opposite directions, said transmission means comprising gear means connecting the drive shaft means to each spindle support for angular adjustment of each spindle support with the motor means, and wherein the apparatus further comprises limit means for limiting the angular displacement of the drive shaft means in each angular direction thereof for limiting the angular adjustment of each spindle support.

Claim 13

The planetary machining apparatus of claim 1 further comprising adjustable limit means for limiting the operation of the bidirectional motor means in each operative direction thereof for limiting the angular adjustment of each spindle support in each angular direction thereof. .

Claim 14

The planetary machining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first gear is a sun gear.

Claim 15

The planetary machining apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of said drive spindle assemblies with respective spindle supports equally radially spaced from the rotor axis, a connecting gear rotatably mounted on the rotor coaxially therewith, and a spindle support gear mounted on each of the spindle supports coaxially therewith and in engagement with the connecting gear to provide for angular adjustment of the rotor supports in synchronism.

Claim 16

In a planetary machining apparatus having a fixed rotor support, a rotor rotatably mounted on the rotor support, at least one drive spindle assembly having a rotary spindle support mounted on the rotor for angular adjustment about an axis generally parallel to and radially offset from the rotor axis and a drive spindle rotatably mounted on the spindle support for rotation about an axis parallel to and radially offset from the axis of the spindle support, a machining element mounted on each drive spindle, adjustment means for angularly adjusting each rotary spindle support for radially adjusting the respective spindle and machining element relative to the rotor axis, and drive means for rotating the rotor and each drive spindle for respectively providing planetary movement of each machining element about the rotor axis and rotation of each machining element about its spindle axis, the improvement wherein said drive means comprises a first gear coaxial with the rotor axis and mounted for rotation relative to the rotor, and a planetary drive system for each drive spindle assembly comprising an internally and externally toothed planetary ring gear rotatably mounted on said rotor coaxially with the respective rotary spindle support and with the external teeth of said ring gear in engagement with said first gear for providing planetary movement of said ring gear about the rotor axis and rotation of the ring gear about its axis, and a secondary planetary drive pinion secured to the respective drive spindle coaxially therewith and in engagement with the internal teeth of the ring gear for planetary motion relative to the axis of the ring gear; and wherein the adjustment means comprises bidirectional motor means operative in opposite directions thereof and mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith, and transmission means operatively connecting the bidirectional motor means to each spindle support for angular adjustment thereof in opposite angular directions by operation of the motor means in its opposite operative directions respectively, and control means for selectively operating the bidirectional motor means in each operative direction thereof during rotation of the rotor.

Claim 17

In a planetary machining apparatus having a fixed rotor support, a rotor rotatably mounted on the rotor support, at least one drive spindle assembly having a rotary spindle support mounted on the rotor for angular adjustment about an axis generally parallel to and radially offset from the rotor axis and a drive spindle rotatably mounted on the spindle support for rotation about an axis parallel to and radially offset from the axis of the spindle support, a machining element mounted on each drive spindle, adjustment means for angularly adjusting each rotary spindle support for radially adjusting the respective spindle and machining element relative to the rotor axis, and drive means for rotating the rotor and each drive spindle for respectively providing planetary movement of each machining element about the rotor axis and rotation of each machining element about its spindle axis, the improvement wherein said drive means comprises a first gear coaxial with the rotor axis and mounted for rotation relative to the rotor, and a planetary drive system for each drive spindle assembly comprising an internally and externally toothed planetary ring gear rotatably mounted on said rotor coaxially with the respective rotary spindle support and with the external teeth of said ring gear in engagement with said first gear for providing planetary movement of said ring gear about the rotor axis and rotation of the ring gear about its axis, and a secondary planetary drive pinion secured to the respective drive spindle coaxially therewith and in engagement with the internal teeth of the ring gear for planetary motion relative to the axis of the ring gear; and wherein the adjustment means comprises bidirectional motor means operative in opposite directions thereof and mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith, and transmission means operatively connecting the bidirectional motor means to each spindle support for angular adjustment thereof in opposite angular directions by operation of the motor means in its opposite operative directions respectively, and control means for selectively operating the bidirectional motor means in each operative direction thereof during rotation of the rotor.

Claim 18

The planetary machining apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apparatus comprises at least two of said drive spindle assemblies, wherein said bidirectional motor means comprises at least two bidirectional motors, and wherein said transmission means comprises first and second transmission means operatively connecting the two bidirectional motors to the spindle supports of said two drive spindle assemblies respectively for angular adjustment thereof.

Claim 19

The planetary machining apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apparatus comprises first and second pairs of drive spindle assemblies, each having a pair of diametrically opposed drive spindles equally radially spaced from the rotor axis, wherein said bidirectional motor means comprises first and second bidirectional motors, and wherein said transmission means comprises first and second transmission means operatively connecting said first and second bidirectional motors to the spindle supports of said first and second drive spindle assemblies respectively for angular adjustment thereof.