HONING TOOL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a honing tool and a method for honing the inner surface of an opening in a workpiece with a honing tool according to the invention.

Claims

1. A honing tool for honing an inner surface of an opening in a workpiece, comprising a tool body extending in an axial direction (A) and having a honing section which comprises a group of hone strips, characterised in that the honing tool comprises a workpiece checking element for checking a size and/or a position of the opening, the workpiece checking element being arranged on the tool body so as to be movable relative to the tool body, preferably in the axial direction (A), in order to check during the insertion of the honing tool into the opening whether the opening in the workpiece has a sufficient opening width and/or to check for a positioning or alignment error of the opening of the workpiece, wherein the workpiece checking element is biased into an initial position (AS) and is arranged on the tool body such that the workpiece checking element is moved out of the initial position (AS) when the workpiece checking element comes into contact with the workpiece, wherein the workpiece checking element is coupled to a detection device which is adapted to detect a movement of the workpiece checking element relative to the tool body, wherein the detecting device is coupled to a controller such that the controller interrupts the insertion of the honing tool into the opening if the detecting device detects a movement of the workpiece checking element relative to the tool body.

2. The honing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece checking element is arranged resiliently supported on the tool body.

3. (canceled)

4. The honing tool according to claim 1, characterised in that the workpiece checking element comprises a contact portion for contacting the workpiece which expands in a radial direction (R) when viewed from a workpiece-side end of the tool body along the axial direction (A).

5. The honing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece checking element is ring-shaped, and preferably extends around the tool body.

6. The honing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece checking element is arranged in the axial direction (A) between the workpiece-side end of the tool body and the honing section, or in that the workpiece checking element forms a workpiece-side end of the tool body.

7. The honing tool according to claim 1, characterized by a second honing section comprising a second group of hone strips, wherein the first honing section is arranged on the tool body spaced apart from the second honing section in the axial direction (A).

8. The honing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece checking element is coupled to a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator such that the pneumatic or hydraulic actuator changes a flow cross-section of a pneumatic or hydraulic checking medium channel when the workpiece checking element is moved out of the initial position (AS).

9. The honing tool according to claim 1, characterized by at least one air measuring nozzle which, when viewed in the axial direction (A), is arranged offset with respect to the hone strips, in particular, when viewed from a workpiece-side end of the tool body, behind the hone strips of one of the honing sections, preferably of all of the honing sections, and/or by at least one air measuring nozzle which, when viewed in the axial direction (A), is located adjacent to the hone strips of the honing section or of one of the honing sections, preferably wherein the honing tool comprises at least one air measuring nozzle per honing section which is arranged adjacent to the hone strips of the respective honing section when viewed in the axial direction (A).

10. The honing tool according to claim 8, characterised in that the actuator which is coupled the workpiece checking element is a pneumatic actuator and the checking medium channel whose flow cross-section is changed by the actuator, is pneumatically connected to a measuring air channel via which at least one air measuring nozzle can be supplied with measuring air.

11. The honing tool according to claim 1, characterized by an infeed device by which the respective hone strips of the two honing sections are feedable in the radial direction (R) independently of each other or always simultaneously.

12. The honing tool according to claim 11, characterized in that the infeed device has one infeed cone per honing section, which is designed to interact with wedge surfaces of the hone strips, in order to convert an axial movement of an infeed element into a radial infeed of the hone strips, preferably wherein the infeed cones of a plurality of honing sections are arranged on a single infeed element such that both infeed cones are moved upon movement of the infeed element.

13. The honing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the honing tool comprises a brush section.

14. The honing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that a tool guide is arranged on the honing tool in the region of the workpiece-side end of the tool body.

15. A method of honing an inner surface of an opening in a workpiece with a honing tool for honing an inner surface of an opening in a workpiece, comprising a tool body extending in an axial direction (A) and having a honing section which comprises a group of hone strips, characterised in that the honing tool comprises a workpiece checking element for checking a size and/or a position of the opening, the workpiece checking element being arranged on the tool body so as to be movable relative to the tool body, preferably in the axial direction (A), in order to check during the insertion of the honing tool into the opening whether the opening in the workpiece has a sufficient opening width and/or to check for a positioning or alignment error of the opening of the workpiece, wherein the workpiece checking element is biased into an initial position (AS) and is arranged on the tool body such that the workpiece checking element is moved out of the initial position (AS) when the workpiece checking element comes into contact with the workpiece, wherein the workpiece checking element is coupled to a detection device which is adapted to detect a movement of the workpiece checking element relative to the tool body, wherein the detecting device is coupled to a controller such that the controller interrupts the insertion of the honing tool into the opening if the detecting device detects a movement of the workpiece checking element relative to the tool body, wherein the method comprises the following steps in succession: a) axially inserting the honing tool into the opening and pre-checking, in particular of an opening width, of the opening in the workpiece by means of the workpiece checking element; b) honing the opening by the hone strips of the honing section, preferably measuring the opening width via an air measuring nozzle; preferably c) axially moving the honing tool, in particular further axially inserting the honing tool into the opening, and re-measuring the opening width via an air measuring nozzle which is spaced apart from the honing section of step b) in the axial direction (A); preferably d) axially moving the honing tool in particular further axially inserting the honing tool into the opening, and subsequently honing the opening by the hone strips of the second honing section, preferably measuring the opening width via an air measuring nozzle which is arranged adjacent to the hone strips of the second honing section when viewed in the axial direction (A); preferably e) re-measuring the opening width via an air-measuring nozzle which is arranged adjacent to the hone strips of the second honing section of step d) when viewed in the axial direction (A), or axially moving the honing tool in particular further axially inserting the honing tool into the opening, and re-measuring the opening width via an air-measuring nozzle which is spaced apart from the second honing section of step d) in the axial direction (A); preferably f) axially moving the honing tool, in particular further axially inserting the honing tool into the opening, and subsequently brushing of the opening by the brush section of the honing tool; g) axially retracting the honing tool from the opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Further characteristics, application possibilities and advantages of the invention can be derived from the following description of embodiments of the invention, which are explained on the basis of the drawings, wherein the characteristics can be essential for the invention, both singly and in different combinations, even if this is not explicitly pointed out again.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a side view of a honing tool according to the invention;

[0047] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the honing tool of FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the honing tool of FIG. 1 in another sectional plane;

[0049] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the honing tool of FIG. 1 in another sectional plane;

[0050] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the honing tool of FIG. 1 in another sectional plane;

[0051] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another honing tool according to the invention;

[0052] FIG. 7 is a sketch of a sequence of the method according to the invention;

[0053] FIG. 8 is a sketch of an alternative sequence of the method according to the invention; and

[0054] FIG. 9 is a sketch of an alternative sequence of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In the following Figures, corresponding components and elements have the same reference signs. For the sake of better clarity, not all reference signs are shown in all Figures.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a honing tool 10 according to the invention for honing an inner surface 12 of an opening 14 in a workpiece 16, wherein workpiece 16 is not shown in FIG. 1. Honing tool 10 comprises a tool body 17 which extends in an axial direction A from a workpiece-side end 18 to a workpiece-far-side end 20. At workpiece-far-side end 20, honing tool 10 has a coupling section 22, and an infeed pin 24 protrudes from the honing tool.

[0057] Adjacent to coupling section 22, honing tool 10 comprises a connection section 25. In the region of connection section 25, honing tool 10 comprises a first connection 26 for measuring air and a second connection 28 for measuring air. Connections 30 for a cooling lubricant are also located in the region of connection section 25.

[0058] Adjacent to connecting portion 25, honing tool 10 comprises a functional portion 32. In the present embodiment, a workpiece checking element 34, a first honing section 36, a second honing section 38, and a brush section 40 are arranged in functional section 32. Functional section 32 also comprises an in-process measuring arrangement 42 with a first air measuring nozzle 44 or a plurality of first air measuring nozzles 44, and a follow-up measuring arrangement 46 with a second air measuring nozzle 48 or a plurality of second air measuring nozzles 48.

[0059] A tool guide 50 extends from functional section 32 to workpiece-side end 18 of honing tool 10. Tool guide 50 is designed to interact with a guide bushing and to axially align honing tool 10 when tool guide 50 is received in a corresponding guide bushing.

[0060] First honing section 36 has a group of first hone strips 52. Second honing section 38 has a group of second hone strips 54. First honing section 36 may be equipped with hone strips 52 which are designed to carry out a pre-honing. Second honing section 38 may be equipped with hone strips 54 which are designed to carry out a finishing honing.

[0061] The first honing section 36 is located on tool body 17 spaced apart from second honing section 38 in the axial direction A.

[0062] Workpiece checking element 34 is movably arranged opposite to tool body 17. Workpiece checking element 34 is arranged on tool body 17 with resilient support. For this purpose, workpiece checking element 34 is connected to tool body 17 via a plurality of coil springs 56.

[0063] Workpiece checking element 34 is preloaded (biased) to an initial position AS which corresponds to the position shown in FIG. 1. In this example, the preload is realized by coil springs 56.

[0064] Workpiece checking element 34 is arranged on tool body 17 such that workpiece checking element 34 is moved out of the initial position AS when workpiece checking element 34 comes into contact with workpiece 16.

[0065] Workpiece checking element 34 has a contact section 58 for contacting the workpiece 16. When viewed from workpiece-side end 18 of tool body 17 along the axial direction, contact section 58 expands in a radial direction R.

[0066] Workpiece checking element 34 is ring-shaped and extends around tool body 17.

[0067] Workpiece checking element 34 is located, in the axial direction A, between workpiece-side end 18 of tool body 17 and first honing section 36. However, it is also within the meaning of the invention if, for example, workpiece checking element 34 forms the workpiece-side end 18 of tool body 17.

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along line II-II through honing tool 10. In the section plane of FIG. 2, the course of a first measuring air channel 60 can be seen. Measuring air channel 60 connects first connection 26 for measuring air with second air measuring nozzles 48 of re-measuring arrangement 46.

[0069] FIG. 3 also shows a sectional view along line II-II through honing tool 10. However, the sectional plane of FIG. 3 is offset from that of FIG. 2 in a circumferential direction U. In the sectional plane of FIG. 3, the course of a second measuring air channel 62 can be seen. Measuring air channel 62 connects second connection 28 for measuring air with first air measuring nozzles 44 of in-process measuring arrangement 42.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows that workpiece checking element 34 is coupled to a pneumatic actuator 64 or a plurality of such actuators 64 such that pneumatic actuator 64 changes a flow cross-section of a pneumatic checking medium channel 66 when the workpiece checking element is moved from the initial position AS. Checking medium channel 66 is formed by a part of measuring air channel 62. Actuator 64 is rod-shaped and projects into the region of a T-junction 68 of measuring air channel 62. If workpiece checking element 34 is moved in the direction of workpiece-far-end 20 of tool body 17, actuator element 64 moves into the region of T-crossing 68 such that T-crossing 68 is blocked. This blocking of T-junction 68 can be detected by a pressure sensor (not shown). The furcation of T-crossing 68, which can be blocked by the actuator 64, forms checking medium channel 66, the flow cross-section of which can be changed by actuator 64.

[0071] FIG. 4 also shows a sectional view along line II-II through honing tool 10. The sectional plane of FIG. 4 is, however, offset from those of FIGS. 2 and 3 in the circumferential direction U. The sectional plane of FIG. 4 shows the course of a cooling lubricant channel 70. Cooling lubricant channel 70 connects connections 30 for the cooling lubricant with outlets 72 for the cooling lubricant, wherein outlets 72 are arranged in the region of honing sections 36 and 38.

[0072] FIG. 5 also shows a sectional view along line II-II through honing tool 10. However, the sectional plane of FIG. 5 is offset from those of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in the circumferential direction U.

[0073] In FIG. 5 it can be seen that honing tool 10 comprises an infeed device 74 by which the respective hone strips 52, 54 of the two honing sections 36 and 38 can always be fed simultaneously in the radial direction R. Infeed device 74 is used to feed the respective hone strips 52, 54 of the two honing sections 36 and 38 at the same time.

[0074] Infeed device 74 has an infeed element 75 which has a first infeed cone 76 and a second infeed cone 78, wherein first infeed cone 76 is assigned to hone strips 52 of first honing section 36 and second infeed cone 78 is assigned to hone strips 54 of second honing section 38.

[0075] The respective infeed cones 76 and 78 are designed to interact with wedge surfaces 80 and 82 of hone strips 52 and 54, respectively, in order to convert an axial movement of infeed element 75 into a radial infeed of hone strips 52 and 54, respectively. Infeed cones 76 and 78 of both honing sections 36 and 38 are arranged on the single infeed element 75 such that both infeed cones 76 and 78 are moved when infeed element 75 moves. The movement of infeed element 75 can be controlled by actuating infeed pin 24. There is a guide pin at the lower end of the infeed element which guides the infeed element into a stable coaxial position inside the tool body.

[0076] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view along the line II-II through an alternative embodiment of a honing tool 10 according to the invention. The sectional plane of FIG. 6 corresponds to that of FIG. 2.

[0077] The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 in that a further in-process measuring arrangement 84 with a corresponding air measuring nozzle 86 is arranged in second honing section 38. With the embodiment of FIG. 6, no re-measuring arrangement 46 is provided. However, a re-measuring arrangement 46 can also be provided in addition to the further in-process measuring arrangement 84.

[0078] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 each illustrate the sequence of a method according to the invention for honing an inner surface 12 of an opening 14 in a workpiece 16 using a honing tool 10 according to the invention, which may be, for example, honing tool 10 of FIG. 1 (used in the methods according to FIGS. 7 and 8) or FIG. 6 (used in the methods according to FIG. 9). Workpiece 16 is a gear wheel. The method comprises the following steps in sequence:

[0079] Step a): axially inserting (illustrated by a corresponding arrow) honing tool 10 into opening 14 and pre-checking, in particular an opening width, of opening 14 in workpiece 16 by means of workpiece checking element 34.

[0080] During the pre-checking, workpiece checking element 34 moves into opening 14 if opening 14 has a sufficient width (i.e. if opening 14 has a nominal dimension) and correct axial alignment.

[0081] If the width of opening 14 is too small or workpiece 16 is not correctly aligned, workpiece checking element 34 contacts workpiece 16 with contact section 58 and workpiece checking element 34 is moved out of the initial position AS. Since workpiece checking element 34 is coupled to actuators 64 such that actuators 64 change the flow cross-section of pneumatic checking medium channel 66 formed by the bifurcation of T-crossing 68 (see FIG. 3) when workpiece checking element 34 is moved from the initial position AS, actuators 64 block T-crossings 68 and thus change the flow cross-section of checking medium channel 66. By changing the flow cross-section, an increase in pressure can be detected during the flow through checking medium channel 66, and the insertion operation of honing tool 10 can be interrupted.

[0082] Step b): honing the opening 14 by hone strips 52 of honing section 36 (symbolically represented by a double arrow and a curved arrow). During step b) (during or after honing) it is optionally possible to carry out a measurement of the opening width of opening 14 via an air measuring nozzle 44 of the in-process measuring arrangement 42 which is arranged adjacent to hone strips 52 of first honing section 36 when viewed in the axial direction A.

[0083] The method preferably comprises a step c): axially moving honing tool 10, in particular further axially inserting honing tool 10 into opening 14, and re-measuring the opening width via an air measuring nozzle which is spaced apart from honing section 36 of step b) in the axial direction A. This step is not shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

[0084] Preferably, the method comprises a step d): axially moving honing tool 10, in particular further axially inserting honing tool 10 into opening 14, and then honing opening 14 by hone strips 54 of second honing section 38. During step b) it is optionally possible to carry out a measurement of the opening width of opening 14 via an air measuring nozzle 86 of the in-process measuring arrangement 84 which is arranged adjacent to hone strips 54 of second honing section 38 when viewed in the axial direction A.

[0085] Preferably, the method comprises a step (e): re-measuring the opening width via an air measuring nozzle 86 which is arranged adjacent to the hone strips 54 of the second honing section 38 of step d) when viewed in the axial direction A (this alternative of the method is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8); or axially moving honing tool 10, in particular further axially inserting honing tool 10 into the opening 14, and re-measuring the opening width via an air measuring nozzle 48 which is spaced apart from second honing section 38 of step d) in the axial direction A (this alternative is shown in FIG. 9).

[0086] Preferably, the method comprises a step f): axially moving honing tool 10, in particular further axially inserting honing tool 10 into opening 14, and subsequently brushing the opening 14 by brush section 40 of honing tool 10;

[0087] g) axially retracting honing tool 10 from opening 14 (not shown).

[0088] With the method variant of FIG. 7, workpiece 16 is stationary and honing tool 10 is moved relative to workpiece 16. With the method variants shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, honing tool 10 is stationary and workpiece 16 is moved relative to honing tool 10. Both ways of generating a relative movement between honing tool 10 and workpiece 16 are in the sense of this invention.