CN114555295B

CN114555295B - Honing machine and method for honing orthogonally aligned holes in a workpiece

Info

Publication number: CN114555295B
Application number: CN202080072802.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 奥利弗·贝; 迈克尔·佩茨基
Original assignee: Germany Green Machine Tool Co ltd
Current assignee: Germany Green Machine Tool Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-21
Filing date: 2020-10-21
Publication date: 2023-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-21
Also published as: CN114555295A; EP3860804A1; DE102019128351A1; EP3860804B1; WO2021078775A1; US20220371149A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a honing machine and method for honing orthogonally aligned bores in a workpiece, particularly for honing cylinder bores and bearing race bores in a cylinder crankcase.

Description

Honing machine and method for honing orthogonally aligned holes in a workpiece

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a grinder and a method for honing orthogonally aligned holes in a workpiece, in particular for honing cylinder holes and bearing race holes in a cylinder-crankcase, having the features of the preamble of claim 2, a honing machine having the features of the preamble of claim 4, a method for honing orthogonally aligned holes in a workpiece, in particular for honing cylinder holes and bearing race holes in a cylinder-crankcase, having the features of the preamble of claim 8, a method having the features of the preamble of claim 9, a method having the features of the preamble of claim 10, and a method having the features of the preamble of claim 11.

Background

Cylinder-crankcase, commonly referred to as "crankcase" or "engine block", is an internal combustion engine or component part of an internal combustion engine, for example, that is used in personal or freight vehicles, aircraft, watercraft and stationary equipment. The most common variant is a multi-cylinder engine, the pistons of which are connected to a rotating crankshaft via connecting rods and which transmit the forces generated by the engine to wheels, marine propellers, aircraft propellers, generators, etc.

The cylinder-crankcase is one example of a workpiece having orthogonally aligned holes.

There are a plurality of cylinder bores aligned in a straight line within the engine block. The crankshaft in an inline or V-engine is located below, and in a cylinder-opposed engine the crankshaft is located between the cylinders and is disposed against the cylinder-crankcase in the bearing of the crankshaft bearing bore. The bearings are typically plain bearings, sometimes roller bearings. In order to ensure high concentricity of the crank shaft and thereby minimize undesirable wear and vibration signs during operation, the crank shaft must meet stringent shape tolerance requirements. The size of the bearings and the location in the cylinder-crankcase must also have a high degree of tolerance.

Relatively tight tolerances of the components associated with the internal combustion engine and the cylinder-crankcase stem from the complex functioning of these components. The shape, size and surface topography of the cylinder bores determine to a large extent the wear, friction, oil usage and emission values of the internal combustion engine, as well as friction-based performance and effectiveness. The compressed combustion chamber volume primarily affects the compression of the engine. Which in turn affects performance and, due to the combustion process, emissions values and engine sounds.

Among other things, the precise location of the crankshaft relative to the piston or cylinder bore is important to mitigate wear of highly strained engine components. In particular, these components are piston/piston bolts on the crankshaft, connecting rod and connecting rod bearings, and bearings of the crankshaft in the cylinder-crankcase. The position of the hole axis not only serves as an absolute position in space, but also as an angular position or orientation. For example, in a control gear having a coupling, a crank shaft moves together with an input shaft of the gear. This means that the exact coaxiality of the two shafts is critical for a long service life.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a honing machine and a method for honing orthogonally aligned bores in a workpiece (cylinder-crankcase as described above), wherein the bores in the workpiece can be machined in a short time in a reliable manner completely by means of honing with high precision.

This object is achieved by a honing machine for honing orthogonally aligned bores in a workpiece, wherein the honing machine comprises:

a machine base and an internal machine transport system disposed on the machine base.

The transport system includes a turntable that rotates about a vertical turntable axis. The turntable includes a plurality of workpiece inlets. The workpiece inlets are arranged offset from each other in the circumferential direction at a radial distance from the turret axis, so that the workpieces inserted into the workpiece inlets can be moved continuously along a circular path and through the individual work stations of the honing machine via rotation of the turret. In other words, the turntable moves the workpiece along a circular path from one workstation to another. The transport system facilitates rapid passage of workpieces between the various workstations. The turntable may be designed as a lifting turntable. The turntable or its flat plate may be circular or have a different geometry, for example triangular or rectangular.

The in-machine transport system, in particular the turret, may for example load and unload the workpiece inlets with a single loading station. Unlike conveyors, the workpieces may leave the honing machine at the same location where they enter. This simplifies the loading and unloading, in particular the coupling of the honing machine to the external transport system. If necessary, the external transfer system may be used with other honing machines and/or other processing machines to create the production line.

To this end, at least one of the work stations is a vertical honing station comprising at least one vertical honing unit. The vertical honing unit includes a honing spindle having a honing tool, wherein the spindle axis is aligned parallel to the turret axis. Honing of vertically aligned holes is performed by relative movement between the workpiece and the honing spindle or honing tool, rotating about the spindle axis and translating along the spindle axis. This relative motion is typically oscillatory. The spindle typically rotates within the bore and moves back and forth along the bore axis.

The other workstation is a horizontal honing station comprising at least one horizontal honing unit. The horizontal honing unit includes a honing spindle having a honing tool. Honing of the horizontally aligned holes is performed by relative movement between the workpiece and the honing spindle or honing tool that rotates about and translates along the horizontal spindle axis. The relative motion is typically oscillatory. The spindle typically rotates within the bore and moves back and forth along the bore axis. However, when honing horizontally aligned holes, it may be configured that the honing tool rotates and only translationally moves in and out of the hole once. Typically, honing retainers of the tool are set to be large, which means that their working diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole being worked.

The honing machine further comprises an actuator unit. The actuator unit is designed and arranged such that the actuator unit moves the work piece for honing in the horizontal honing station.

The honing spindle of the horizontal honing unit can be arranged immovably in the honing machine, in particular during honing. However, it is also possible that during honing, in addition to the movement of the workpiece, the honing spindle of the horizontal honing unit can also be moved, in particular in the opposite direction, to take part in the above-described relative movement between the workpiece and the honing spindle.

The movement of the workpiece by the actuator unit may reduce the movement of the horizontal honing unit or, if the horizontal honing unit is not movable, is limited to the rotation of the honing spindle. This improves the accuracy of use of the honing spindle or honing tool during honing. This produces the overall result of a more accurate honing operation.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a honing machine having the features of the preamble of claim 1, in particular having the features of claim 1, wherein the machine internal transport system is designed to move the workpiece from the turret for honing in the horizontal honing station. Honing is performed outside the turret. The workpiece is transported, in particular, outside a circular path in which the turntable moves the workpiece. The workpiece may be rotated and aligned outside of the turntable. Means are generally provided for moving the workpiece from the turret and also returning the workpiece to the turret. During the movement of the turret, the workpiece does not leave the honing machine. The machining is usually done outside the turntable but on the same machine base where the turntable is located.

Because honing is performed outside the turret, unwanted vibrations and oscillations caused by honing are not transmitted to the turret or are minimized. Thus, other workpieces on the turntable are also not affected by these vibrations or oscillations. This improves the accuracy during processing of the workpiece at the other workstations.

The object of the invention is furthermore achieved by a honing machine having the features of the preamble of claim 1, in particular having the features of claim 1 or 2, wherein the horizontal spindle axis extends in the machine direction. The relative translational movement during honing occurs along an axis specified by the machine direction. The machine direction is parallel to the direction extending radially through the turntable axis but spaced apart from the turntable axis. In other words, the machine direction extends along a straight line that does not pass through the center of the turntable.

This means that the horizontal honing unit can be positioned and aligned more flexibly on the honing machine. For example, a plurality of, in particular two, horizontal honing units can be placed adjacent to one another and/or parallel to one another on the honing machine. This produces a result of acceleration of the overall process.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved by a honing machine having the features of the preamble of claim 1, in particular the features of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the horizontal honing station comprises a workpiece inlet comprising a rotation device having a rotation axis parallel to the turret axis, with which the alignment of the workpiece can be changed. Honing in the horizontal honing station may be performed in a different alignment than in the vertical honing station.

This means that the horizontal honing unit can be positioned and aligned more flexibly on the honing machine. For a stationary workpiece or a workpiece that is securely positioned on the turret in a fixed alignment, the position and alignment of the horizontal honing unit will be dictated by the orientation or alignment of the workpiece.

For an advantageous construction of the honing machine, all the work stations of the individual honing machines are arranged on a common machine base. Alignment of the turntable with at least one of all of the workstations on the machine base increases the compactness and speed of the honing machine.

In a further advantageous variant of the honing machine, the honing machine comprises at least two vertical honing stations. At least one vertical honing station comprises a vertical honing unit which is movably arranged on the portal carrier via a slider. All vertical honing units can also be movably arranged on the portal carrier via the slide. The use of multiple vertical honing stations and/or vertical honing units facilitates the simultaneous processing of multiple vertically aligned holes. The vertical honing station may further include a plurality of vertical honing units so that honing operations may be performed simultaneously in a plurality of vertically aligned holes in the work piece in the vertical honing station. Thus, honing operations can be performed simultaneously in a plurality of vertically aligned holes in various workpieces in various vertical honing stations. Performing multiple honing operations simultaneously reduces the total machining time of the honing machine.

At least one of the stations may be an empty station or a station for performing other machining operations (e.g., chamfering).

In a further advantageous variant of the honing machine, the honing machine comprises four work stations. The first work station is a loading and unloading station where the work piece to be honed is placed on or removed from the turret.

The second workstation is designed as a first vertical honing station. In particular, the second workstation may be used for pre-honing.

The third workstation is designed as a horizontal honing station. Where a horizontal honing operation is performed.

The fourth workstation is designed as a second vertical honing station. The fourth station may be used for final honing.

The direction of transport of the turret is from the first to the second station or, more precisely, from the third to the fourth station. After the fourth workstation is completed, the workpiece is returned to the first workstation. The number of work stations and their respective designs (i.e., as a load/unload station, two vertical honing stations, one horizontal honing station) optimize the total processing time of the work pieces by operating as much simultaneously as possible, and also facilitate the honing machine to work as compactly and accurately as possible. In particular, such a division of work can advantageously integrate the movement or tilting of the workpiece in the horizontal honing station into the working cycle. This therefore applies to the acceleration of the workpiece as it moves.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved by the method for honing orthogonally aligned holes in a workpiece according to the invention having the features of claim 8. The workpiece is moved in a horizontal honing station during honing. In particular, the honing spindle of the horizontal honing unit remains stationary at least in the direction of the relative translational movement.

The movement of the workpiece may reduce the movement of the horizontal honing unit or, if the horizontal honing unit is not movable, is limited to the rotation of the honing spindle or the honing tool arranged at the honing spindle. This improves the accuracy of use of the honing spindle or honing tool during the honing process. This produces a more accurate overall result of the honing operation. The method steps described herein correspond in part to the structural design of the honing machine. Benefits listed herein also exist in the method steps.

The object of the invention is furthermore achieved by a method having the features of the preamble of claim 8, in particular having the features of claim 8, wherein for horizontal honing the workpiece is moved away from the turret and honing is carried out outside the turret, in particular wherein the workpiece is moved outside the circular path of the turret moving the workpiece.

Because honing is performed outside the turret, unwanted vibrations and oscillations caused by honing are not transmitted to the turret or are minimized. Thus, other workpieces located on the turntable are not affected by these vibrations or oscillations. This improves the accuracy of machining the workpiece at the other workstations.

The object of the invention is furthermore achieved by a method having the features of the preamble of claim 8, in particular the features of claim 8 or 9, wherein the horizontal spindle axis extends in the machine direction. The relative translational movement during honing occurs along this axis. The machine direction is parallel to the direction extending radially through the turntable axis but spaced apart from the turntable axis. In other words, the machine direction extends along a straight line that does not pass through the turntable axis.

This means that the horizontal honing units can be arranged and aligned more flexibly. For example, two horizontal honing units may be positioned adjacent and parallel to each other. It is also possible to position the horizontal honing unit and the measuring station adjacent and parallel to each other. This accelerates the overall process.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a method having the features of the preamble of claim 8, in particular the features of claim 8, 9 or 10, in which the alignment of the workpiece is changed before the horizontal honing is carried out. The alignment of the workpiece may also be changed during and/or after horizontal honing.

This means that the horizontal honing units can be arranged and aligned more flexibly. In the case of an immovable or firmly positioned workpiece, the position and alignment of the horizontal honing unit will be dictated by the orientation or alignment of the workpiece.

Drawings

Other features, details, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, which is based on the claims. These illustrations show:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the honing machine of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the honing machine of this invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of another exemplary embodiment of the honing machine of this invention; and

fig. 4 is a side view of the honing machine of this invention as shown in fig. 3.

In the following description and in the drawings, corresponding parts and elements have the same reference numerals. In the interest of clarity, not all reference numerals are listed in all figures.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a top view of a honing machine 10 of the present invention for honing orthogonally aligned holes in a workpiece 12. Honing machine 10 includes a machine base 14 with a transfer system 16 located on machine base 14. The transport system 16 includes a turntable 18 that rotates about a vertical turntable axis 20. Four workpiece inlets 22 are arranged on the turntable 18, wherein each workpiece inlet 22 can receive one workpiece 12. Rotation of the turntable 18 about the turntable axis 20 transports the workpiece 12 in a circular path. The workpiece 12 is then directed to each workstation. The four work stations are represented by four work pieces 12. The workstation shown on the right side of figure 1 is a horizontal honing station 24. The horizontal honing station 24 includes a horizontal honing unit 26 that includes a honing spindle 28 having a honing tool. The honing spindle 28 or honing tool is aligned along a horizontal spindle axis 30. Thereby, a horizontal honing operation is performed along this horizontal spindle axis 30.

The honing machine 10 further includes an actuator unit 32 positioned on the machine base 14 that can move the workpiece 12 back and forth along the horizontal spindle axis 30 via a rail system. During operation, the workpiece 12 moves radially away from the turntable 18 such that there is no longer direct contact between the workpiece 12 and the turntable 18, and the turntable is substantially vibrationally decoupled from the workpiece. This disconnection of the work piece 12 prevents vibrations and oscillations from the horizontal honing operation from being transferred via the work piece 12 to the turret 18 and thereby to other work pieces 12 or work stations.

Before performing a horizontal honing operation on the workpiece 12, the workpiece 12 is aligned in the actuator unit 32 such that the horizontally aligned holes to be honed are arranged along the horizontal spindle axis 30. In the exemplary embodiment, horizontal honing unit 26 is securely positioned on machine base 14 such that honing spindle 28 is not movable along horizontal spindle axis 30. The honing spindle 28 or honing tool is only rotated during the horizontal honing operation. The workpiece 12 is moved back and forth along the horizontal spindle axis 30 via the actuator unit 32 while the honing spindle 28 or honing tool is rotated so that honing operations can be performed on holes previously aligned along the horizontal spindle axis 30. After the horizontal honing operation is completed, the work piece 12 is returned to the work piece entry 22 of the turret 18 and transferred to the next work station via rotation of the turret 18 about its vertical turret axis 20.

Each workstation may be a loading and unloading station, a vertical honing station, a measuring station or another horizontal honing station 24. For example, the work station indicated by the work piece 12 on the left side in fig. 1 may be a loading and unloading station, and the work station indicated via the work piece 12 on the top and bottom of fig. 1 may be a vertical honing station having a vertical honing unit (not shown). In particular, the workstation indicated by the workpiece 12 at the top of fig. 1 may be used for vertical pre-honing, while the workstation indicated by the workpiece 12 at the bottom of fig. 1 may be used for vertical final honing. At least one of the work stations may also be a measuring station with which honing operations carried out at the respective bores can be evaluated and monitored. However, the measurement may also be performed with the measuring unit 34 at a workstation other than a measuring station.

The measuring unit 34 shown in fig. 1 is arranged on the machine base 14 via a slide so that a post-measurement of the horizontal bore is possible, while, for example, the workpiece 12 is located in a workstation for vertical shape honing (see above).

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the honing machine 10 according to the invention shown in fig. 1. Obviously, for honing in the horizontal honing station 26, the workpiece 12 is moved radially outwardly away from the turret 18 so as to effect the above-described disconnection of the workpiece 12 from the turret 18. Further, the turntable 18 in this exemplary embodiment is a lifting turntable. This means that the turret 18 can be lowered after the workpiece 12 has been transferred to the next corresponding workstation. The work pieces 12 are then retained in the respective work stations and are no longer connected to the turret 18. Thus, the turntable 18 is not a medium through which undesired vibrations or oscillations generated in the various work stations can be transferred between the various work pieces 12 or work stations.

Fig. 3 shows a top view of another exemplary embodiment of the honing machine 10 described in the invention. Here, similar to the previous exemplary embodiment, four workstations indicated by four workpieces 12 are also shown. In the exemplary embodiment shown herein, the horizontal honing unit 26 is positioned on the machine base 14 such that the horizontal spindle axis 30 does not extend through the turret axis 20. Thus, the workpiece 12 must be aligned with its horizontally aligned holes along the horizontal spindle axis 30. This is done with a rotation device, which is not further explained herein.

In this exemplary embodiment, the horizontal honing unit 26 is movable by rails so that the horizontal honing unit 26 and thus the honing spindle 28 can be moved back and forth along the horizontal spindle axis 30 using the honing tool. For the horizontal honing operation, the honing spindle 28 is lowered into the workpiece 12 or into the hole of the workpiece 12 to be honed by moving the horizontal honing unit 26 after the alignment of the workpiece 12.

After the horizontal honing operation is completed, the workpiece 12 is rotated again by the rotating device (not shown) so that the honing operation can be evaluated and monitored by the measuring device 34. The rotating workpiece 12 and its alignment are shown in fig. 3 with thin dashed lines. The measuring device 34 is also movably positioned along an axis on the machine base 14 via a track. Thus, the horizontal honing and post-measurement can be performed at the same workstation. No separate workstation for post-measurement or post-monitoring of the horizontal honing operation is required. However, the measuring station may be provided as a workstation for making only post-measurements.

Similar to the previous exemplary embodiment, each workstation may be a loading and unloading station, a vertical honing station, an (additional) measuring station or another horizontal honing station 24.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of the honing machine 10 according to the invention as shown in fig. 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the turntable 18 is also designed to lift the turntable in order to prevent unwanted oscillations or vibrations from being transferred/propagated via the turntable 18.

Claims

1. A honing machine (10) for honing orthogonally aligned holes in a workpiece (12), the honing machine (10) having:

a machine base (14);

at least one machine internal transport system (16), the at least one internal transport system (16) being arranged on the machine base (14) and comprising a turntable (18), the turntable (18) rotating about a vertical turntable axis (20) and having a plurality of workpiece inlets (22), the plurality of workpiece inlets (22) being arranged offset from each other in the circumferential direction at a radial distance from the turntable axis (20) such that a workpiece (12) inserted into a workpiece inlet (22) can be continuously moved along a circular path and pass through the respective work stations of the honing machine (10) via rotation of the turntable (18);

wherein at least one of the work stations is a vertical honing station comprising at least one vertical honing unit having a honing spindle designed for honing a vertically aligned bore by a relative movement between the workpiece (12) and the honing spindle rotating about and translating along a spindle axis, wherein the spindle axis is aligned parallel to the turret axis (20);

wherein the other of the work stations is a horizontal honing station (24) comprising at least one horizontal honing unit (26), the horizontal honing unit (26) having a honing spindle (28), the honing spindle (28) being designed for honing a hole aligned in a horizontal direction by a relative movement between the workpiece (12) and the honing spindle (28) rotating about a horizontal spindle axis (30) and translating along the horizontal spindle axis (30),

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the honing machine (10) comprises an actuator unit (32), the actuator unit (32) being arranged and designed to perform the honing in the horizontal honing station (24) by moving the workpiece (12), wherein the honing spindle (28) of the horizontal honing unit (26) is immovably arranged in the honing machine (10) for performing the honing, or

The machine-internal transmission system (16) is designed to: in order to perform the honing in the horizontal honing station (24), the workpiece (12) is moved away from the turret (18) and the honing is performed outside the turret (18), wherein the workpiece (12) is moved outside the circular path in which the turret (18) moves the workpiece (12).

2. Honing machine (10) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the horizontal spindle axis (30) extends in a machine direction parallel to a direction extending radially through the turret axis (20) but spaced from the turret axis (20) and along which relative translational movement occurs during the honing.

3. Honing machine (10) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that there are rotation means in the horizontal honing station (24) that enable changing the alignment of the work piece (12) so that the machining in the horizontal honing station (24) can be performed in a different alignment than the work piece (12) in the vertical honing station.

4. Honing machine (10) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that all the work stations of the honing machine are arranged on the machine base (14).

5. Honing machine (10) according to claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the honing machine (10) comprises at least two vertical honing stations,

wherein at least one vertical honing station comprises a vertical honing unit movably arranged on the portal carrier via a slider.

6. Honing machine (10) according to claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the honing machine (10) comprises: a first workstation designed as a loading and unloading station;

a second one of the work stations is provided with a first work station,

wherein the second work station is a first vertical honing station;

a third one of the plurality of work stations,

wherein the third work station is a horizontal honing station (24); and

a fourth station is provided which is configured to receive the first and second stations,

wherein the fourth workstation is a second vertical honing station.

7. A method for honing orthogonally aligned holes in a workpiece (12), wherein the method comprises the steps of:

-receiving the workpiece (12) at a turntable (18) rotating about a vertical turntable axis (20); -continuously transferring said work pieces (12) between the respective work stations along a circular path by rotation of said turret (18);

wherein at least one of the work stations is a vertical honing station in which vertically aligned holes are honed by relative movement between the work piece (12) and a honing spindle, rotating about and translating along a spindle axis, wherein the spindle axis is aligned parallel to the turret axis (20);

wherein the other of the work stations is a horizontal honing station (24), in which horizontal honing station (24) horizontally aligned bores are honed by relative movement between the work piece (12) and a honing spindle (28) rotating about a horizontal spindle axis (30) and along the horizontal spindle axis (30),

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

for honing in the horizontal honing station (24), the workpiece (12) is moved and the honing spindle (28) of the horizontal honing unit (26) is held stationary at least in the direction of the relative translational movement, or

For horizontal honing, the workpiece (12) is removed from the turret (18) and honing is performed outside the turret (18), wherein the workpiece (12) is moved outside the circular path in which the turret (18) moves the workpiece (12).

8. The method according to claim 7,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the horizontal spindle axis (30) extends in a machine direction parallel to a direction extending radially through the turret axis (20) but spaced from the turret axis (20) and along which relative translational movement occurs during honing.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the alignment of the work piece (12) is changed prior to horizontal honing.

10. The method according to claim 7 or 8,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

honing machine (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6 for performing the method.