Method and apparatus for cutting rings from ring forgings

• US 6,568,303 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Bentley
• Original Assignee: Richard Bentley
• Inventors: Bentley, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US10/128,913
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 82/46, 82/47, 82/11.1, 821/23, 821/14, 82/56, 82/91, 821/00, 821/01, 821/13, 821/20, 821/21, 821/38, 821/58, 821/61, 821/73, 407/66, 407/68, 407/69, 407/70
• US Class Current: 82/47
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2222/88 Titanium
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2270/14 Constructions comprising exactly two similar components
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 27/086 with yieldable support for the cutting insert
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 5/14 Cutting-off lathes B23D21/00 takes precedence shearing B23D
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/16016 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2512 having facing tool fed transverse to work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2585 Tool rest

Abstract

A method and apparatus for cutting rings from ring forgings of titanium or related materials is described. The ring forging is gripped and rotated about its centerline in a centering chuck. A tool holder is mounted parallel to and spaced from the centerline of the forging. The displacement of the tool holder is controlled both along and perpendicular to the centerline. First and second cutter bars having first and second cutter bits are mounted to the tool holder. The first cutter bar is mounted so that it may be moved along a diameter of the ring forging with the second cutter bar moving along a line parallel to, coplanar with and spaced from this diameter. The second cutter bit is wider than the first cutter bit. The second cutter bit widens the cut made by the first cutter bit, thereby providing chip clearance and cooling for the ring being cut.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting rings from ring forgings of either of titanium and related materials, comprising:

means for removably holding and rotating said ring forging about a longitudinal axis, said axis extending through a centerline of the ring forging;

means for rotating said ring forging at at least one speed and in at least one direction;

a tool holder adjustably mounted spaced from and parallel to said axis;

means for controlling a displacement of the tool holder from the means for holding the ring forging along said axis, thereby allowing an operator to determine a thickness of a ring to be cut from the ring forging;

means for controlling a displacement of the tool holder from said axis to affect cutting of the ring from the ring forging;

first and second cutter bars, said first and second cutter bars being removably mounted to said tool holder such that said cutter bars are positioned orthogonally with respect to said axis;

said first cutter bar including a first cutting bit, said first cutting bit having a first cutting edge of a first predetermined width, said first cutting edge being positioned to move along a diameter of the ring forging toward said axis;

said second cutter bar including a second cutting bit, said second cutting bit having a second cutting edge of a second predetermined width, said second predetermined width being wider than said first predetermined width, said second cutting edge being positioned to move along a line parallel to and spaced from said diameter, said line being coplanar with said diameter; and

said second cutting bit being disposed to engage said ring forging after said first cutting bit engages said ring forging as said first cutting edge is moved along said diameter.

2. An apparatus for cutting rings from ring forgings of either of titanium and related materials, comprising:

a horizontal mounting surface;

a machine base fixedly attached to the mounting surface;

a rotating headstock fixedly attached to said machine base and having a longitudinal axis of rotation parallel to the horizontal mounting surface;

said headstock having a front face, said front face being orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the headstock;

said headstock capable of providing rotation at at least one speed and capable of providing rotation in at least one direction;

said front face adapted to removably attach a clamping means parallel to the front face, said clamping means being capable of mounting a ring forging such that the centerline of the forging is collinear with the longitudinal axis of rotation of the rotating headstock;

a tool holder adjustably mounted spaced from and parallel to said axis;

means for controlling a displacement of said tool holder from the front face of the headstock along said axis, thereby allowing an operator to determine a thickness of a ring to be cut from the ring forging;

means for controlling a displacement of the tool holder from said axis to affect cutting of the ring from the ring forging;

first and second cutter bars, said first and second cutter bars being removably mounted to said tool holder such that said cutter bars are positioned orthogonally with respect to said axis;

said first cutter bar including a first cutting bit, said first cutting bit having a first cutting edge of a first predetermined width, said first cutting edge being positioned to move along a diameter of the ring forging toward said axis;

said second cutter bar including a second cutting bit, said second cutting bit having a second cutting edge of a second predetermined width, said second predetermined width being wider than said first predetermined width, said second cutting edge being positioned to move along a line parallel to and spaced from said diameter, said line being coplanar with said diameter;

said second cutting bit being disposed to engage said ring forging after said first cutting bit engages said ring forging as said first cutting edge is moved along said diameter; and

whereby, when said first cutting bit engages the ring forging as said forging is rotated toward the first cutting edge a cut of the first predetermined width will be produced, and when said second cutting bit engages said forging, the cut will be widened to the second predetermined width, chips will be removed from the cut and heat produced by said first cutting bit will be reduced.

3. An apparatus for cutting rings from ring forgings of either of titanium and related materials as described in claim 2, wherein the clamping means is a centering three-jaw chuck.

4. An apparatus for cutting rings from ring forgings of either of titanium and related materials as described in claim 2, wherein the means for controlling the displacement of the tool holder from said axis further comprises a horizontal drive mechanism, said drive mechanism being capable of moving the tool holder toward the axis of rotation at at least one predetermined speed.

5. An apparatus for cutting rings from ring forgings of either of titanium and related materials as described in claim 2, wherein each of the first and second cutter bars further comprise:

a flattened rectangular bar, said bar having a first end, a second end, first and second parallel side edges, a first uniform thickness and at least one receiving notch;

said receiving notch being disposed at either of the first and second end adjacent either of the first and second side edges;

said receiving notch having an upper edge and a lower edge, said edges tapering toward each other and terminating in a rounded release opening;

said upper and lower edges having a convex profile and being sized and shaped to receive a tapered cutting bit;

at least one tapered cutting bit, each of said cutting bits having a cutting edge, upper and lower edges tapering toward each other and having a concave profile sized and shaped to fit slidably the convex profile of the upper and lower edges of the receiving notch; and

either of the first and second end of the bar being relieved so that when the cutting bit is installed in the receiving slot, the cutting edge will protrude beyond either of the first and second ends of the bar.

6. An apparatus for cutting rings from ring forgings of either of titanium and related materials as described in claim 5, wherein the tool holder further comprises:

a base, said base including means for removably mounting the tool holder to the means for controlling a displacement of said tool holder;

a tool bar mounting surface, said surface being orthogonal to said base and orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the headstock;

a horizontal receiving slot, said horizontal slot being disposed in said tool bar mounting surface and having parallel upper and lower edges and being sized and shaped to slidably fit the rectangular bar of the first cutter bar;

said horizontal receiving slot having a depth slightly less than said first uniform thickness;

said horizontal slot being disposed so that the first cutting edge of the first cutter bit can be moved along a diameter of the ring forging;

an angled receiving slot, said angled slot being disposed in said tool bar mounting surface and having parallel upper and lower edges and being sized and shaped to slidably fit the rectangular bar of the second cutter bar;

said angled receiving slot having a depth slightly less than said first uniform thickness;

said angled slot being disposed so that the second cutting edge of the second cutter bit can be moved along a line parallel to and spaced from said diameter, said line being coplanar with said diameter;

means for securing each of the first and second cutter bars to the tool holder.

7. An apparatus for cutting rings from ring forgings of either of titanium and related materials as described in claim 6, wherein the means for securing each of the first and second cutter bars to the tool holder further comprises:

at least two threaded holes penetrating said tool bar mounting surface on either side of said horizontal slot and said angled slot perpendicular to said mounting surface;

at least one rigid plate, said rigid plate have at least two holes disposed to slidably fit threaded bolts sized to fit said threaded holes;

at least two bolts, said bolts being sized and shaped to penetrate the holes in the rigid plate and engage said threaded holes without reaching a bottom of said threaded holes; and

whereby, when said first and second tool bars are disposed in said horizontal slot and said angled slot and said bolts penetrate said rigid plate and threadedly engage said threaded holes and are tightened therewithin, the first and second tool bars will be removably attached to said tool holder.

8. A method for cutting rings from ring forgings of either of titanium and related materials, comprising:

providing means for removably holding and rotating said ring forging about a longitudinal axis, said axis extending through a centerline of the ring forging;

rotating said ring forging at at least one speed and in at least one direction;

providing a tool holder adjustably mounted spaced from and parallel to said axis;

controlling a displacement of the tool holder from the means for holding the ring forging along said axis, thereby allowing an operator to determine a thickness of a ring to be cut from the ring forging;

controlling a displacement of the tool holder from said axis to affect cutting of the ring from the ring forging;

providing first and second cutter bars, said first and second cutter bars being removably mounted to said tool holder such that said cutter bars are positioned orthogonally with respect to said axis;

said first cutter bar including a first cutting bit, said first cutting bit having a first cutting edge of a first predetermined width;

moving said first cutting edge along a diameter of the ring forgings toward said axis;

said second cutter bar including a second cutting bit, said second cutting bit having a second cutting edge of a second predetermined width, said second predetermined width being wider than said first predetermined width;

moving said second cutting edge along a line parallel to and spaced from said diameter, said line being coplanar with said diameter; and

engaging said ring forging with said second cutting bit after said first cutting bit engages said ring forging as said first cutting edge is moved along said diameter.