The present invention relates to a method for machining molded or an elastomeric coated part, and a machine tool for performing the machining.
Valves having an elastomeric or elastomeric-coated valve component are commonly used to ensure a tight seal between the valve and an associated structure when the valve is closed. The valve component is typically connected to a valve stem for positioning the valve component in an open or closed position. For example, a wedge gate valve is commonly used to control the flow of fluid through a pipe or conduit, particularly in waterworks and gas services. As illustrated, the conventional wedge-shaped disk has a T-shaped slot or cavity formed in an upper portion for receiving a corresponding T-shaped free end or T-nut of the valve stem member for connecting the disk to the stem member.
Molding, such as injection molding, is a common process of making elastomeric or elastomeric parts, such as coated valve components. For example, with injection molding, melted resin (i.e., elastomeric material) is injected at a high pressure into a cavity of a mold. The resin solidifies in the mold to form the valve component. The mold comprises at least two parts, each part defining a portion of the cavity of the mold. The mold is adapted to be separated after the molding process to allow for the molded valve member to be extracted from the mold. During the molding process, excess resin called “flash” flows beyond the edges of the mold into the location where the parts of the mold come together (called the “parting line”). The flash freezes to form a thin, sheet-like protrusion from the valve component.
It is desirable to trim the flash, particularly flash present in a slot of an applicable valve because the slot is sized and shaped to snugly receive the valve stem and the presence of flash or at least access flash inside the slot may interfere with or even prevent the ability of the valve stem to fit in the slot. The flash is conventionally trimmed manually using either a hot or cold cutting device such as a razor or a knife. This process, however, is inefficient, labor-intensive and time-consuming because the trimming is performed manually. Moreover, the quality of manually trimmed slots may be poor. For example, a worker may fail to trim an adequate amount of the flash, making it difficult to fit the valve stem in the slot, or the worker may trim beyond the flash, into the elastomeric coating, creating gaps between the valve stem and the slot when the stem is received in the slot.
One aspect of the invention is a method of machining an elastomeric coated valve component. The valve component includes a cast core coated by a non-uniform elastomeric coating. The coated valve component includes an outer periphery and a cavity formed by at least two elastomeric surfaces extending inward from the periphery. The elastomeric surfaces of the cavity are non-uniform in an as-coated condition due to the coating process. The method comprises providing a machine tool having a rotatable cutting tool, a positioning fixture conforming to portions of the component outer periphery, and a motor for moving at least one of the cutting tool and the fixture relative to one another. The method further comprises positioning the coated valve component on the positioning fixture to thereby fix the cavity surfaces relative to the cutting tool and actuating the machine tool. The machine tool thereafter automatically rotates the cutting tool and moves at least one of the cutting tool and the valve component to machine at least the cavity surfaces and thereby make the cavity surfaces more uniform than in the as-coated condition. Other aspects of the invention are directed to the machine tool for machining the elastomeric coated valve component. For example, the tool comprises a fixture sized and shaped for engaging portions of the outer periphery of the valve component and for fixing the position of the valve component on the machine tool. A rotatable cutting tool is disposed a predetermined distance from the fixture and has a shape corresponding to the shape of the valve component cavity.
Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to the above-mentioned aspects of the present invention. Further features may also be incorporated in the above-mentioned aspects of the present invention as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to any of the illustrated embodiments of the present invention may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present invention, alone or in any combination.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of a machine tool constructed according to the teachings of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The machine tool 10 is adapted to remove flash and/or other excess material from an elastomeric interior surface defining a cavity (e.g., a slot) of a molded part. For example, the illustrated machine tool 10 is adapted to remove flash and/or other excess material from an interior surface defining a T-shaped slot of a wedge gate valve component. It is understood, however, that the machine tool 10 of the present invention may be used to remove flash from cavities of other types of valves and other types of coated parts.
Referring to
The valve component 12 has a coupling member 24 (
Referring to
As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 13-15A, vertical pistons 42 contact and/or are connected to the platform 38 for moving the platform up and down. The pistons 42 may be either hydraulic pistons or pneumatic pistons or other types of pistons suitable for holding and moving the weight of the platform 38. The operations of these types of pistons 42 are generally known in the art, and therefore, will not being described in detail herein. The platform 38 may be moved in other ways without departing from the scope of this invention.
Referring to
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6-11, a pair of clamps, generally indicated at 50, located on the platform 38 is adapted to further secure the valve component 12 on the positioning fixture 44. In the illustrated embodiment, each clamp 50 comprises a base 52 secured to the platform 38 and an elongate arm 54 pivotally secured to the base. A contact member 56 extends generally orthogonally from the arm 54. Each clamp 50 is moveable between a retracted position and an engagement position. In the retracted position (FIGS. 1 and 6-9), the arm 54 is generally upright relative to the platform 38. In the engagement position (
In the illustrated embodiment, each clamp 50 is moveable between the retracted position and the engagement position by way of a piston 58 secured to the base 52. As shown best in
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 11-14, a rotatable cutting tool, generally indicated at 60, is disposed below the upper surface 34 within the housing 32 and is horizontally spaced from the edge 48 of the platform 38. In the illustrated embodiment, the cutting tool 60 includes a cylindrical head, generally indicated at 62, having a T-shaped longitudinal section sized and shaped to correspond with the T-shaped slot 28 of the valve component 12. For example, as shown best in
As shown best in
Referring to
Referring to
The machine tool 10 may also comprise a device (note shown) for trimming other portions of the coating 16 besides portions of the coating within cavities of the valve component 12. For example, such a device may trim along the outer periphery of the valve component or other portions of the coating. Moreover, other machine tools are also envisioned within the scope of the invention, such as those that include cutting tools mounted on a multi-axis robotic arm. Such a machine may be programmed to trim the coating along other portions of the valve component, e.g., along the outer periphery, as well as the cavity surfaces.
Referring to
In use, the machine tool 10 may be configured in a loading configuration in which the lid 82 is in the open position, the platform 38 is in its upper position (i.e., substantially flush with the upper surface 34 of the housing 32), and the clamps 50 are positioned in the retracted position. The valve component 12 is positioned on the positioning fixture 44, as explained above, such that the T-shaped slot 28, for example, projects off the edge 48 of the platform 38 and is aligned with the head 62 of the cutting tool 60. The clamps 50 are positioned in the engagement position to fixedly secure the valve component 12 to the positioning fixture 44. The lid 82 is positioned in the closed position to cover the valve component 12, the platform 38, the rectangular opening 36 and the U-shaped cutout 40. With the lid 82 closed, the machine tool 10 is in an operating configuration. The cutting tool 60 and the platform 38 are actuated such that the head 62 of the tool rotates and the platform moves downward through the rectangular opening 36. Optionally, where the machine tool comprises the device for trimming other portions of the coating 16 besides portions within cavities, e.g., along the outer periphery of the valve component 12, the device may be actuated before, after or during actuation of the cutting tool 60 and the platform 38.
As the platform 38 moves downward (
In one embodiment, the majority of the process is automated. For example, after positioning the valve component 12 on the positioning fixture 44, closing the lid 82 actuates the machine tool 10. A sensor 86 may be located on the side of the lid 82, as shown in
The machine tool 10 may also have safety features. One such safety feature may allow the user to stop the machine tool 10 during use. For example, an emergency stop button 84 may be disposed on the device which stops the machine tool 10 if, for example, a problem occurs during use. A reset button 88 may also be disposed on the machine tool for resetting the automated process if, for example, the emergency stop was employed. The machine tool 10 may include other safety features within the scope of the invention.
In one embodiment, the elastomeric coating 16 covering the interior surfaces of the cavity 28 of a machined valve component 12 according to the invention has a smooth, machined finish. The head 62 of the cutting tool 60 may be sized and shaped to machine no more than about 0.2 inches (5.08 mm), and more specifically no more than about 0.1 inches (2.54 mm) from the interior surface defining the cavity 28. This ensures that the cast core 14 at the interior surface of the cavity 28 remains completely covered by the coating 16 while also ensuring the cavity is uniformly sized and shaped.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070183859 A1 | Aug 2007 | US |