David A Duarte

US Patent:

59513780, Sep 14, 1999

Filed:

Aug 7, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/908657

Inventors:

Bradley J. Miller - Westboro MA
Richard F. Buckley - Shrewsbury MA
David M. Duarte - Sterling MA
John Hagan - Shrewsbury MA
Mianxue Wu - Worcester MA

Assignee:

Norton Company - Worcester MA

International Classification:

B24B 100

US Classification:

451 58

Abstract:

A method is provided for machining the fire deck of an engine block. The method includes providing a grinding wheel having an outer annular grinding element disposed concentrically or the wheel may be provided with an inner annular grinding element disposed concentrically inward of an outer element. The outer element comprises a single layer of relatively coarse diamond abrasive brazed on a metallic substrate, while the inner element comprises a single layer of relatively fine diamond abrasive brazed on a similar substrate. The outer grinding element and the inner element if utilized, is formed as a discrete unit individually fastened to a backing plate to facilitate independent height adjustment of the elements relative the backing plate. The method further comprises orienting the grinding wheel with its axis of rotation at a predetermined oblique angle a relative the fire deck. The wheel is then translated towards the engine block along a tool path parallel to the fire deck wherein the outer ring will engage the block for bulk material removal, followed by the inner ring, if utilized, which removes a smaller amount of material to apply the requisite surface finish to the fire deck.

US Patent:

6193593, Feb 27, 2001

Filed:

Jul 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/351965

Inventors:

Bradley J. Miller - Westboro MA
Richard F. Buckley - Shrewsbury MA
David M. Duarte - Sterling MA
John Hagan - Shrewsbury MA
Mianxue Wu - Worcester MA

International Classification:

B24B 2500

US Classification:

451461

Abstract:

A grinding wheel is provided for grinding the fire deck of an engine block. The grinding wheel, includes a first annular grinding element disposed concentrically with the wheel on a backing plate. The first annular grinding element includes a first abrasive component of either metal brazed single layer abrasive components or abrasive components comprising grain bonded in a porous matrix having about 55 to 80 volume percent interconnected porosity. The wheel preferably has a second annular grinding element disposed concentrically inward of the first annular grinding element. The first annular grinding element preferably comprises a single layer of relatively course diamond abrasive component brazed on a metallic substrate, while the second annular grinding element preferably comprises a single layer of relatively fine diamond abrasive components brazed on a similar substrate. Each of the first and second grinding elements are formed as a discrete units individually fastened to the backing plate to facilitate independent height adjustment of the annular grinding elements relative the backing plate. Fabrication of the first and second annular grinding elements as discrete members individually fastened to the backing plate serves to simplify both assembly of the wheel and height adjustment of the first and second annular grinding elements relative one another.