US4514123A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptive control system for machine tool or the like
Assignee: Kearney and Trecker Corp
•
Filing: 1983-11-09
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Granted: 1985-04-30
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Expires: 2003-11-09
Abstract
Abstract An adaptive control system for a machine tool or the like includes two pairs of thrust sensors for measuring radial and axial spindle deflection and a temperature sensor for measuring spindle bearing temperature. Data processing apparatus, typically comprised of a microcomputer, is coupled to the thrust and temperature sensors and regulates the spindle bearing preload and spindle axis feed rate in accordance with the radial and axial spindle thrust. The microcomputer simultaneously regulates the percentage of oil in the oil/air mixture lubrication mist sprayed on bearing contact surfaces in accordance with bearing temperature, thereby assuring optimum machine tool performance.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Johnstone
- 👤 Edward E. Kirkham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:28
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C33/00; F16C33/30; F16C33/66; F16C33/6637; F16C33/6659; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q11/00; B23Q11/14; F01; F01M; F01M5/00; F16N; F16N29/00; F16N29/02; F16N7/00; F16N7/30; F16N7/32; F16N7/34; F16C2322/00; F16C2322/39; G; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/37; G05B2219/37344; G05B2219/37431; G05B2219/49; G05B2219/49043; G05B2219/49044; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/16; Y10T408/17; Y10T408/172; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30; Y10T409/309352
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for rotatably supporting a member journaled in a frame by anti-friction bearings which comprises: sensing means in position to sense the thrust imposed upon said rotatable member and produce a signal representing the sensed thrust; pressure means disposed to apply a pressure to said bearings for preloading the bearings; pressure adjusting means connected to regulate said pressure for varying the preloading of said bearings; a control connected to receive the signal from said sensing means representing the thrust on a rotatable member; and means connecting said control to said adjusting means for regulating the operation of said adjusting means in accordance with the signal received from said sensing means so that the preload pressure applied to said bearings is continually adjusted to suit the prevailing conditions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for rotatably supporting a member journaled in a frame by anti-friction bearings which comprises: sensing means in position to sense the thrust imposed upon said rotatable member and produce a signal representing the sensed thrust; pressure means disposed to apply a pressure to said bearings for preloading the bearings; pressure adjusting means connected to regulate said pressure for varying the preloading of said bearings; a control connected to receive the signal from said sensing means representing the thrust on a rotatable member; and means connecting said control to said adjusting means for regulating the operation of said adjusting means in accordance with the signal received from said sensing means so that the preload pressure applied to said bearings is continually adjusted to suit the prevailing conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: lubrication means for applying lubricant to said bearings; temperature sensing means disposed to sense the temperature of said bearings and connected to send a signal representing the sensed temperature to said control; and lubricant adjusting means for adjusting the amount of lubricant directed to said lubrication means, said adjusting means being connected to be regulated by said control in response to the signal received from said sensing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pressure means is an annular piston disposed in said frame in position to apply pressure to the outer race of at least one of said bearings for preloading said bearings; and said adjusting means is a pressure regulator that is adapted to regulate the hydraulic pressure directed to said annular piston.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rotatable member is a machine tool spindle, further comprising: feeding means for moving said spindle axially in a feeding movement toward and away from a workpiece; a regulator in said feeding means for adjusting the feed rate of said spindle selectively; and means connecting said regulator to said control for actuating said regulator in response to the signal received from said sensing means to adjust the feed rate in accordance with the prevailing conditions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rotatable member is a machine tool spindle, further comprising: feeding means for moving said spindle axially in a feeding movement toward and away from a workpiece; a regulator in said feeding means for adjusting the feed rate of said spindle selectively; and means connecting said regulator to said control for actuating said regulator in response to the signal received from said sensing means to adjust the feed rate in accordance with the prevailing conditions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a tachometer connected to produce a speed signal representing the rate of rotation of the rotatable member; and means for transmitting said speed signal to said control; wherein said speed signal is utilized in combination with said thrust signal for determining the degree of preload pressure to be applied to said bearings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising: tachometer connected to produce a speed signal representing the rate of rotation of the rotatable member; and means for transmitting said speed signal to said control; wherein said speed signal is utilized in combination with said thrust signal for determining the degree of preload pressure to be applied to said bearings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: sensing means connected to sense the temperature of the mechanism to be lubricated and to produce a signal representing the sensed temperature; a source of lubricant; an atomizer connected to receive lubricant from said source and disposed to apply such lubricant to said mechanism; a source of air pressure connected to supply air to said atomizer for atomizing the lubricant applied to said mechanism; and a control responsive to the signal produced by said sensing means to regulate the volume of lubricant supplied to said atomizer from said source and to simultaneously regulate the amount of air directed to said atomizer from said source so that both the amount of air and the amount of lubricant supplied to said atomizer are regulated by said control so that the air and oil mixture is varied automatically to accommodate the prevailing conditions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-04-29 | 1988-10-29 | 1989-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-29 | 1992-10-29 | 1993-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-29 | 1996-10-29 | 1997-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |