Roderick L Smith

US Patent:

45533555, Nov 19, 1985

Filed:

Feb 15, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/580194

Inventors:

Roderick L. Smith - Rockford IL

Assignee:

Energy-Adaptive Grinding, Inc. - Rockford IL

International Classification:

B24B 4918

US Classification:

5116587

Abstract:

Grinding control methods and apparatus pertaining generally to maintaining the shape and sharpness of a grinding wheel, despite the tendency of the wheel face to deteriorate from the desired shape and sharpness, as grinding of a given workpiece or a succession of workpieces proceeds. Generally, as a common denominator of the novel features disclosed, a "conditioning element" is brought into rubbing contact with the face of the grinding element under specially controlled and unique conditions to (i) restore the desired shape (conventionally called truing), or (ii) to establish the desired degree of sharpness (conventionally called "dressing") or to accomplish both (i) and (ii) simultaneously. The methods and apparatus disclosed include creating the aforesaid controlled rubbing contact either while the grinding wheel is free of grinding contact with a workpiece or simultaneously while grinding is occurring, and then either continuously or intermittently. The methods and apparatus in many of their various embodiments involve use of a "truing element" or a "conditioning element" which may be a generally homogeneous metal, and in many cases the same metal as that of the workpieces being ground.

US Patent:

45078963, Apr 2, 1985

Filed:

Nov 30, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/445689

Inventors:

Roderick L. Smith - Rockford IL

Assignee:

Energy Adaptive Grinding, Inc. - Rockford IL

International Classification:

B24B 4916

US Classification:

5116592

Abstract:

A centerless grinding system comprises a driven grinding wheel, a driven regulating wheel, and a work rest blade for centerless grinding of a workpiece supported by the work rest blade between the grinding wheel and the regulating wheel; means for determining the rate of reduction of the workpiece radius while it is being ground; and means responsive to the rate of reduction of the workpiece radius for controlling the ratio of the power consumed in removing workpiece material to the rate of removal of workpiece material by the grinding wheel. The regulating wheel is preferably fed toward the grinding wheel to feed the workpiece into the grinding wheel. In a similar center-type grinding system, the workpiece is mounted on spindles or chucks which are movable toward the grinding wheel so that the workpiece can still be fed by the regulating wheel. Workpieces longer than the axial dimension of the grinding wheel are ground in successive plunges along the length of the workpiece, with said ratio being controlled in each successive plunge. To grind hollow workpieces, the regulating wheel or grinding wheel is placed inside the hollow workpiece.

US Patent:

51779013, Jan 12, 1993

Filed:

Sep 16, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/760868

Inventors:

Roderick L. Smith - Rockford IL

International Classification:

B24B 900

US Classification:

51 5D

Abstract:

This invention is a new high wheel speed grinding process that uses only one very hard grade resin bonded grinding wheel of the desired abrasive grit size for the surface finish required, where simultaneously with the grinding of a workpiece the wheel face is conditioned and trued by a truing element heated to a temperature between 250. degree. F. and 1200. degree. F. at the truing rates required to provide grinding at quantitatively predictable desired and constant unit volume energy and metal removal rate values. Because of the hard grade wheel specification, the wheel face would quickly revert under any job situation to a dull wheel face without this conditioning and truing. Under any forseeable job situation, conjoint control of the temperature of the truing element and the truing rate controls wheel wear rate. With wheel wear rate controlled, continuous compensation for wheel wear is made and results in a grinding process where metal removal rate is equal to the relative volumetric feed rate of the workpiece and the wheel. The metal removal is shared uniformly across the entire wheel cutting face regardless of plunge or transverse grind configuration because of the orientation of the truing element relative to the direction of the volumetric feed.

US Patent:

44920610, Jan 8, 1985

Filed:

Mar 5, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/355303

Inventors:

Roderick L. Smith - Rockford IL

Assignee:

Energy-Adaptive Grinding, Inc. - Rockford IL

International Classification:

B24B 100

US Classification:

51325

Abstract:

A grinding system is controlled by (1) determining the exact nature of a power function relationship between (a) the rate at which material is removed from one of the surfaces at a rubbing interface and (b) the feed rate at which the rubbing surfaces are fed into each other, for a particular grinding operation, i. e. , a particular grinding wheel and other specified conditions affecting the rate of material removal at the rubbing interface; and (2) controlling, measuring or setting the material removal rate or the feed rate in such a grinding operation in accordance with said power function relationship.

US Patent:

46638920, May 12, 1987

Filed:

Jul 29, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/760307

Inventors:

Roderick L. Smith - Rockford IL

Assignee:

Energy Adaptive Grinding, Inc. - Rockford IL

International Classification:

B24B 100

US Classification:

51289R

Abstract:

A method of grinding a workpiece which is susceptible to deflection and/or deformation when grinding is carried out by relatively infeeding a grinding wheel to keep the wheel face and work surface in relative rubbing contact at an interface region, the method comprising continuously determining the force exerted by the wheel on the workpiece at the interface region as grinding conditions change, continuously applying to the workpiece at least one counterbalance force which in equivalent effect is opposite in sense to the determined force, and variably controlling the counterbalancing force to maintain its effective magnitude equal to the magnitude of the determined force.

US Patent:

45803706, Apr 8, 1986

Filed:

Jan 7, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/689565

Inventors:

Roderick L. Smith - Rockford IL

Assignee:

Energy Adaptive Grinding, Inc. - Rockford IL

International Classification:

B24B 100

US Classification:

51289R

Abstract:

A centerless grinding system comprises a driven grinding wheel, a driven regulating wheel, and a work rest blade for centerless grinding of a workpiece supported by the work rest blade between the grinding wheel and the regulating wheel; means for determining the rate of reduction of the workpiece radius while it is being ground; and means responsive to the rate of reduction of the workpiece radius for controlling the ratio of the power consumed in removing workpiece material to the rate of removal of workpiece material by the grinding wheel. The regulating wheel is preferably fed toward the grinding wheel to feed the workpiece into the grinding wheel. In a similar center-type grinding system, the workpiece is mounted on spindles or chucks which are movable toward the grinding wheel so that the workpiece can still be fed by the regulating wheel. Workpieces longer than the axial dimension of the grinding wheel are ground in successive plunges along the length of the workpiece, with said ratio being controlled in each successive plunge. To grind hollow workpieces, the regulating wheel or grinding wheel is placed inside the hollow workpiece.

US Patent:

50482351, Sep 17, 1991

Filed:

Nov 15, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/271721

Inventors:

Roderick L. Smith - Rockford IL

International Classification:

B24B 5300

US Classification:

51 5D

Abstract:

This invention is a new high wheel speed grinding process that uses only one very hard grade resin bonded grinding wheel of the desired abrasive grit size for the surface finish required, where simultaneously with the grinding of a workpiece the wheel face is conditioned and trued by a truing element heated to a temperature between 250. degree. F. and 1200. degree. F. at the truing rates required to provide grinding at quantitatively predictable desired and constant unit volume energy and metal removal rate values.

US Patent:

45558736, Dec 3, 1985

Filed:

Feb 15, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/580187

Inventors:

Roderick L. Smith - Rockford IL

Assignee:

Energy-Adaptive Grinding, Inc. - Rockford IL

International Classification:

B24B 5300

US Classification:

5116587

Abstract:

Grinding control methods and apparatus pertaining generally to maintaining the shape and sharpness of a grinding wheel, despite the tendency of the wheel face to deteriorate from the desired shape and sharpness, as grinding of a given workpiece or a succession of workpieces proceeds. Generally, as a common denominator of the novel features disclosed, a "conditioning element" is brought into rubbing contact with the face of the grinding element under specially controlled and unique conditions to (i) restore the desired shape (conventionally called truing), or (ii) to establish the desired degree of sharpness (conventionally called "dressing"), or to accomplish both (i) and (ii) simultaneously. The methods and apparatus disclosed include creating the aforesaid controlled rubbing contact either while the grinding wheel is free of grinding contact with a workpiece or simultaneously while grinding is occuring, and then either continuously or intermittently. The methods and apparatus in many of their various embodiments involve use of a "truing element" or a "conditioning element" which may be a generally homogeneous metal, and in many cases the same metal as that of the workpieces being ground.