IE45350B1 - Device and metohd fro performing an operation along a helical path inside a cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATION IN AN HELICAL PATTERN INSIDE A CYLINDER A DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING AN OPERATION ALONG AN HELICAL PATH ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL ROLL FROM ONE END OF THE ROLL TOWARD THE OTHER END, THE DEVICE COM PRISING:a) A CARRIAGE SUPPORTED ON A PLURALITY OF WHEELS HAVING AXES ORIENTED IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF A ROLL UPON WHICH AN OPERATION IS TO BE PERFORMED:b) THE CARRIAGE HAVING A SUPPORT BRACKET ADJUSTABLY SECURED THEREON WITH FIRST MEMBERS FOR ADJUSTING THE BRACKET IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXES OF THE WHEELS; (c) A TOOL HELD IN A CLAMP SUPPORTED BY THE BRACKET FOR PERFORMING AN OPERATION ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF A ROLL; ANDd) FOLLOWER MEMBER EXTENDING GENERALLY IN A PORTION OF AN HELICAL PATTERN ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CARRIAGE FOR COOPERATION WITH A GUIDE ELEMENT TO MAINTAIN THE TOOL OPERATING ALONG AN HELICAL PATH OF THE ROLL RECEIVING AN OPERATION FROM THE TOOL. THE METHOD COMPRISES THE STEPS OF:a) SUPPORTING A ROLL FOR ROTATION WITH ITS AXIS EXTENDING IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION;b) SUPPORTING A TOOL ASSEMBLY ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE ROLL WITH ROTATABLE SUPPORTS IN A MANNER TO PERMIT ROLLING MOVE MENT OF THE SUPPORTS WHEN THE ROLL IS TURNED BUT ALSO CONSTRAINING THE SUPPORTS AND THE TOOL ASSEMBLY TO MOVE IN THE PATH OF AN HELI CAL PATTERN FROM ONE END OF THE ROLL TO THE OTHER AS THE ROLL IS TURNED; (c) PROVIDING THE TOOL ASSEMBLY WITH A TOOL EXTENDING IN POSITION TO PERFORM AN OPERATION ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE ROLL: ANDd) TURNING THE ROLL AT A SLOW RATE OF ROTATION WHEREBY THE TOOL ASSEMBLY WILL MOVE ACROSS THE INSIDE SURFACE ALONG AN HELICAL PATTERN WITH THE TOOL THEREOF PERFORMING AN OPERATION ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE ROLL ALONG AN HELICAL PATTERN.

Description

This invention relates to a device and method, for performing an operation along a helical path inside a cylinder.

The field of the invention relates to perforated suction 5 rolls of the type used in machinery for manufacturing paper or related products thereof. Soils of this type include forming cylinders, couch rolls, and the like. More particularly hut not exculsively, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming a cleaning groove on the . inside surface of a suction roll against which sealing elements are pressed in operation of the suction roll.

Of the prior art known to applicant, U.S. Patents Ho. 1,512,520 (Burt et al) and Ho. 2,979,595 (Hedstrom) are noted as being of possible relevance. Burt et al is of I5 interest in that it relates to a machine for forming threads on the inside surface of a sleeve or like member. In Burt et al the bore of the sleeve member on which threads are formed appears to be conical. The Hefistrom patent also relates to an apparatus for forming helical threads or 20 grooves on the inside surface of a sleeve member. The inside of the sleeve member of Eedstrom appears to he cylindrical prior to formation of the threads.

The cutting tools in Burt et al and Eedstrom are both supported from a machine having a base outside the respec25 tive pieces worked on so that travel of the tool within a long work piece would be limited by the shaft length of the machine.· According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device for performing an operation along an 30 helical path on the inside surface of a hollow cylindrical roll from one end of the roll toward the other end, said device comprising: 4S3S0 a) a carriage supported on a plurality of wheels having axes which in use are oriented in a direction generally parallel to the axis of a roll upon vti'li an operation is to be performed; h) the carriage having a support bracket adjustably secured thereon with first means for adjusting said bracket in a direction generally parallel to the axes of said wheels; c) a tool held in a clamp supported by said bracket for performing as operation on the inside surface of s roll; and d) follows. · aeans provided on the underside of said carriage for co-operation with a helically-extending guide element provided on the inside surface of the roll to maintain said tool operating along an helical path of tr? roll receiving an operation from said tool.

In one embodiment, the follower means extends only along a portion of one turn of a helix. Suitably, one of the follower means and the guide «lament is a groove and the other of the follower means aid the guide element is a web portion.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of performing an operation along a helical path on the inside surface of a cylindrical roll comprising the steps cf: a) supporting a roll for· rotation with its axis extending in a generally horizontal directionb) supporting a tool assembly on the inside surface Of the - 3 45350 roll with rotatable supports in a manner to permit rolling movement of the supports when the roll is turned but also constraining the supports and the tool assembly to move in the path of a helix from one end of the roll to the other as the roll is turned; c) providing the tool assembly with a tool extending in position to perform said operation on the inside surface of the roll; and d) turning the roll at a slow rate of rotation whereby 10 the tool assembly will move across the inside surface along a helical path with the tool thereof performing said operation on the inside surface of the roll.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Fig. 1 shows a view in perspective of an apparatus embodying the invention installed inside a. cylindrical roll; Fig. 2 shows in perspective and on an enlarged 20 scale a portion of a guide element forming part of the apparatus; Fig. 3 shows on an enlarged scale a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig, 1; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 25 4-4 in Fig. 3. - 4 Referring now to the drawings in decail, the reader will readily appreciate that Fig. 1 shows a hollow cylindrical roll 10 cf the type suitable for use ss a suction roll in the manufacture of paper. The roll 10 may be used as a forming cylinder, a couch roll os like device having perforations’ in the shell thereof for the passage of anh/or holding of water therein in the process of manufacturing paper. The roll 10, as may be readily seen, is a hollow shell 12 having an outer cylindrical surface 14 and an inner cylindrical surface 16. Shell 12 is forme*’ with a plurality of groups A, B, C, etc. of perforations 18 extending from outer surface 14 to inner surface 1.6, Each group of perforations 18 is formed on an helical pattern cn the shell 12 with the pattern of each group being similar to and spaced apart from each other, A guide element 20 is seen in Pig, λ to be secured in place against the inner surface 16 of shell 12. The guide element 20 is disposed over one group of perforations 18 and extends along the helical pattern thereof, The guide element 20 has on the surface directed toward the inner surface 16 of shell 12 a plurality of plugs 22 which are snapped into the perforations 13 of the one group of plurality of perforations over whieh the guide element is disposed. To ensure secure attachment of 453S0 guide element 20, each plug 22 is formed with a bore 23 into which a pin or bolt 24 may be threadedly engaged.

The guide element 20 may be made from any suitable material which would facilitate shaping to conform to the helical pattern illustrated. Use of polyamide material to form the guide element 20 has been found to be satisfactory.

To carry out the objective of performing an operation on the inside of the roll 10, a drilling jig 26 has been conceived and put to use. Drilling jig 26 comprises a carriage 28 with a groove or follower means 30 on the underside thereof. Carriage 28 includes a plurality of rollers or wheels 32 mounted on axles or stub shafts 34. In use of drilling jig 26, carriage 28 is placed inside a shell 12 which is supported in a horizontally extending position. The carriage 28 is placed in shell 12 so that the axes of the wheels 32 and axles or stub shafts 34 extend in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the shell 12 and also with groove 30 extending 2Q over and around portions of the exposed surfaces of guide element 20. Groove 30 must extend in the path of an helical pattern conforming to that of the groups A, B, C, etc. of perforations 18 and in particular to that helical pattern of guide element 20 which is disposed over and secured to one of the groups of perforations 18.

Adjustably secured by' bolts .. λ: ti.o top side of carriage 28 is a support bracket 36, A key 40 disposed between keyway portions in carriage 23 and bracket 36 ensures aligned adjustment of bracket 3fi when bolts 28 are loosened, A plate i2 is secured to carriage 2? by bolts 44 and has s portion extending upwardly beside bracket 36, A threaded adjustment belt 46 extends through an oversize bore 48 in the plate 42 and is Threaded into a portion of xO bracket 36. Pairs of leek nuts 50 are provided on bolt 46 on opposite sides of the plate 42 aftar support bracket 36 is locate'· in a desired position. To adjust the position of broket 36, it is necessary to loosen bolts 38, lovfca lock nuts 50, move bracket 26 in the desired direction along key 40, tighten lock nuts 50 and bolts 38, Movement of bracket 36 along key 40 will vary the position cf bracket 3' and any tool carried cr supported thereon with respect t* carriage 28, guide element 20 and the groups A, E, C etc. oi performcicns in the axial direction of the roil. 10, so that operation of a tool »1)1 be closer to, farther away from, or even over any particular group of perforations 18.

Adjustably secured on support bracket 36 is a tool elamp 52 in which the housing 54 of a power driven tool is secured. At the working end oi: tha power driven tool is a router device 56. It is to be understood that while the driven tool is illustrated with a router device , 56, on.the working end thereof, any suitable tool may be provided thereat to perform a desired operation. For example, instead of router device 56 and drilling jig 26, a reciprocating tool, a paint brush, or whatever desired tool may be incorporated thereat to perform an operation along an helical path inside a drilled roll.

To vary and/or control the effective working depth of the tool in a radial direction with respect to roll 10, an adjustment screw 58,which is similar in operation to adjustment screw 46, is provided. Adjustment screw 58 extends in a direction parallel to or in a radial direction and is threaded to tool clamp 52 so that adjustment will effect the working depth of tool 56. Adjustment screw 58 extends through an oversized bore 60 in a plate portion 62 of bracket 36 by pairs of lock nuts 64 on opposite sides of the plate portion 62 of bracket 36. Tool clamp 52 is secured to bracket 36 by a plurality of bolts 66, which when loosened along with lock nuts 64 will facilitate adjustment of tool 56 toward or away from the inner surface 16 of shell 12 by turning adjustment screw 58. To ensure straight line adjustment of tool 56 a key 68 is provided between tool clamp 52 and the cooperating portion of support bracket 36. After the desired working depth of tool 56 has been obtained by adjusting screw 58, lock nuts 64 and boLts are tightened to secure tool 56 in the desired working position. - 8 45350 Fig. 4 shows three portions of guidt element 20 ail of which lie on tha path of an heiica.’ According- to the operation of the apparatus, carriage 28 and the tool 56 are moving from loft to right so that an helical groove 70 has teen cut fay tool 56 and appears t? the right of guide 2lamest 20 ac the left side of F.-.g, 4. At the center ci Fig. 4 tool 56 is in the process of continuing the cutting on tha right of guide element 20 of groove 70.. which doe-ε not appear to be cut behind tool 56. At the right side of Fig. 4, the portion of the inner surface 16 to che right of guide element 20 stands waiting for arrival of tool 56 and continuation of formation of helical groove 70.

Drive means are broadly represented in Figs,. 1 and 3 at D for slowly turning roil 10 at a very slew rate of speed in carrying out the operation with the present invention, Roll 10 must be understood to be supported in a generally horizontal position for rcratio'i about its horizontal axis. In carrying cut tha method of performing an operation along a path cocfcming to an helical pattern on the inside surface 16 of 3 hollow cylindrical shell .12 of a roll 10 rotatably supported about its axis, a drilling jig 26 is disposed on the inner surface 16 of shell 12, with power tool 56 turned on and the roll rotated at a low rate of speed. With groove 30 of carriage 28 disposed in straddle ralationship over guide element 20 and cutting being effected by routing - 9 45350 tool 56, carriage 28 will move from left to right in Fig. 1 if roll 10 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction as driven, for example by a friction wheel D which must be turning in the clockwise direction. Considering Fig. 3 along with Fig. 1, as the roll 10 is turned in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, carriage 28 by reason of gravity will seek its lowest level with wheels 32 turning and rolling on inner surface 16 of shell 12. As carriage 28 seeks its lowest level when roll 10 is turned in the counterclockwise direction, carriage 28 will effectively move both in the clockwise direction and also be constrained to move and trace the path of the helical pattern of guide element 20 disposed over and secured along the pattern of a group of perforations formed in the surface of shell 12. In thus tracing the path of an helical pattern, carriage 28 and tool 56 carried thereby will also move and operate from one end of shell 12 to the other end thereof.

With suitable adjustment of either or both adjustment screws 46 and 58, desired adjustments may be made to position tool 56 with respect to its distance to and/or from the helical path of a group of perforations 18 and guide element 20 and also with respect to its depth of cut with respect to the inner surface 16 of shell 12. Rotation of roll 10 at a low relative speed is necessary to ensure optimum operation.

Applicant has reduced to practice invention disclosed with reference tc the drawings, and by way of example notes that suction rr-’ls 20 ha’-’ihg shells 12 with diameters of the order oi forty to forty-eight inches have had helical grooves 70 successfully produced on the inner surface 16 with the device and by the mathed disclosed with referer-ce tc too drawings. The d?./iea that has been reduced to practice used a router tool 56 having a rated speed of 23,000 rpm with the speed of rotation of suction roll 1C being between two to fifteen lir.sar inches per minute in the formation of groove 70. It. actual practice rotation of suction roil 10 may be effected by hand as well as by the illustrated friction wheel The speeds of rotation of the router tool 56 and oi suction roll and the diameter sizes of suction roll 10 noted above are mentioned by way of example only.

Use of -he method and apparat·.·.? aabodying the invention as described and illustrated with reference to the drawings herein provides the following advantages» 1. Compactness In a portable firturc fc’· mounting and guiding a single tool cutter, 2. Adaptability to machining a helio?'!, groove on the inside of any cylindrical drilled Gheil regardless of pitch, depth or etna? features. 3., Automatic advancement- and guided positioning of cutter head or tool. 4., Manual adjustment of cutter head or tool, if necessary, tc compensate for drilled hole pattern variations in a drilled shell.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. Device for performing an operation along an helical path on the inside surface of a hollow cylindrical roll from one end of the roll toward the other end, said device 5 comprising: a) a carriage supported on a plurality of wheels having axes which in use are oriented in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the roll upon which an operation is to be performed; 10 b) the carriage having a support bracket adjustably secured thereon with first means for adjusting said bracket in a direction generally parallel to the axes of said wheels; e) a tool held in a clamp supported by said bracket for performing an operation on the inside surface of a roll; and 15 d) follower means provided on the underside of said carriage for co-operation with a helically-extending guide element provided on the inside surface of the roll to maintain said tool operating along an helical path of the roll receiving an operation from said tool.

2. O 2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said tool is a cutting tool and wherein said bracket also includes means for adjustably locating said tool to control the depth of its cutting operation on the inside surface of a roll.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1,wherein said first 25 means for adjusting said bracket comprises an adjusting screw extending through an oversize aperture in a plate secured to said carriage, said adjusting screw being secured to said plate.by lock nuts on opposite sides thereof and also having an end threadedly engaged to said bracket for adjust 30 ment of said tool in the axial direction of said roll.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein .ri.id tool is a cutting tool and wherein said means for adjustably locating said tool to control its e’epth of cutting opsrmti-sn comprises a second adjusting screw extending tb;;.-ugi. on oversize aperture in c plate portion oi said bracket, said second, adjusting screw being secured to said plate portion by lock nuts on opposite sides thereof and having rn end threadedly engaged to said tool support for adjustment of said tool to set the depth of its cutting operation -.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said tool includes a router head which is operation of said device forms an helical groove on the inside surface of said roll having a helical pith extending parallel to the guide element. o. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the follower means extends only along a portion of one turn oi a helix.

6. 7. A device & ϋ. A device as claimed in any preceding Oleim, in combination with a helically-extenuing guide element provided on the inside surface of the roil.

7. 9. A combination as claimed in Claim .j, wherein said carriage is disposed inside the horizontally oriented roll with the wheels of said carriage freely supported on the inside surface of the roll and the axes cf «said wheels being generally parallel to the axis of the roll, and with tha follower means in co-operating engagement with the guide element provided on the inside surface of the .roll. - 13 45350

8. 10. A combination as claimed, in Claim b or Claim 9» wherein the guide element extends in an helical path on the inside surface of the roll from one end of the roll to the other end thereof and wherein the tool is supported to perform 5 an operation on the inside surface of the roll along the path of an helix similar to but spaced apart from the helix of the guide element.

9. 11. A combination as claimed in any one of Claims s to 10, wherein the roll'which is operated on by said tool comprises 10 a plurality of spaced-apart groups of perforations in the surface thereof with each of said groups of perforations being located in an helical pattern from one end of the roll to the other.

10. 12. A combination as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the 15 guide element has an helical pattern and is disposed over one of said groups of perforations on the inside surface of the roll and the follower means of said carriage in co-operating engagement with said guide element maintains the carriage along an helical path. 20 15. A combination as claimed in Claim 9, or any one of Claims 10 to 12 when appended to Claim 9, wherein said tool includes power means for driving it and means are provided for turning said roll at low speed during operation of said tool at which time said carriage by reason of the 25 wheels on which it is supported on the inside surface of the roll will by reason of gravity seek its lowest level and be guided by the guide element to move across the inside surface of the roll from one end thereof to the other while the tool will operate on the inside surface 30 of the roll along the path of an helix on one side of said guide element. ^S3S O

11. 14. A combination as claimed, in Claim 12. tz Claim 12., or Claim 1J when appended to Claim 11 cr Claim Sa wherein said, guide element comprises a plurality of p.b.-ft's cn one side thereof which in assembly cf aid guide ele-ont ore in snap-fit relationship within the perforations of the group over which said guide element is disposed,

12. 15· A combination as claimed in Claim 14, wherein said plugs are each formed with a bore within which a belt or pin extends to oecuro said guide elearnt in place. Io. A method of performing an operation along a helical path on the inside surface of a cylindrical roll comprising the steps of: a) supporting a soli for rOtallon with its ε-'-u' extending in a generally horisontai direction; b) supporting a tool a.-t-iambly on the inside surface of the roll with rotatable supports in a manner ic permit rolling movement of the supports when the roll is turned bat also constraining the supports and the tool assembly to move in the path of a helix from one and of the roll to the other as the roll is turned; c) providing the tool assembly ’.-ith a tool attending in position to perform said operation on tie iiiwide surface of the roll: and d) turning the roll at a slow rate of rotation whereby the tool assembly will move across the inside surface along a helical path with the bool thereof per formxng said operation cn the inside surface of che roil.

13. 17. The method according to Claim 16. wherein the support of the tool assembly is constrained to iaovv in the helical path by a helical guide secured to the inside surface of the roll and a guide follower provided on the tool assembly. 1 C. — 453ov Its. A method (according to Claim lo or Claim 17, wherein the operation performed by the tool is a cutting operation so that· a helical groove is formed on the, inside surface of the roll during operation of the tool assembly. 5 19. A device for performing an operation along an helical path on the inside surface of a hollow cylindrical roll from one end of the roll toward the other end, substantially as herein described with reference to and ss shown in the accompanying drawings. 10 20. A method of performing an operation along a helical path on the inside surface of a cylindrical roll, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.