Belt tensioning apparatus for material removal machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11549571-B2
Application number	US-201916517183-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2019
Priority date	Aug 29, 2018
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and/or methods for adjusting belt tension in a material removal machine are disclosed. In some examples, the material removal machine includes a material removal tool secured on a spindle. A spindle pulley may be secured to the spindle, such that rotation of the spindle pulley causes the material removal tool to be rotated via the spindle. The material removal machine may further include a movable hub that retains the spindle, such that movement of the hub translated into movement of the spindle. Because the spindle pulley is securely attached to the spindle, movement of the hub may translate into movement of the spindle pulley. This movement of the spindle pulley may change a distance between the spindle pulley and an actuator pulley, thereby changing the tension in a belt connecting the spindle pulley and the actuator pulley.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A material removal apparatus, comprising:
a spindle configured to retain a material removal tool;
a spindle pulley secured to the spindle, the spindle pulley configured to actuate the spindle; and
a hub retaining the spindle, the hub configured to change a pulley position of the spindle pulley, wherein the hub is configured to change a spindle position of the spindle when changing the pulley position of the spindle pulley.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises a cylindrical body positioned between the spindle pulley and the material removal tool.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator pulley configured to actuate the spindle pulley via a belt, wherein the hub is configured to move the spindle pulley from a first pulley position at a first distance from the actuator pulley, to a second pulley position at a second distance from the actuator pulley, the first distance being different from the second distance, wherein the belt has a first tension when the spindle pulley is at the first pulley position, and a second tension when the spindle pulley is at the second pulley position, the first tension being different from the second tension.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a support arm that houses the spindle pulley and actuator pulley, wherein a first portion of the hub is positioned within the support arm and a second portion of the hub is not positioned within the support arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hub encircles both the spindle and a ball bearing assembly that is configured to allow the spindle to rotate within the hub.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hub is further configured to change a tool position of the material removal tool when changing the spindle position of the spindle or the pulley position of the spindle pulley.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises one or more features configured to engage a hub moving tool.

8. A material removal apparatus comprising:
a spindle configured to retain a material removal tool;
a spindle pulley secured to the spindle, the spindle pulley configured to actuate the spindle;
a hub retaining the spindle, the hub configured to change a position of the spindle pulley; and
a hub lock configured to prohibit movement of the hub when engaged, and allow movement of the hub when disengaged, wherein the hub lock is secured to a spindle housing that encircles at least a portion of the hub and the spindle, and the hub lock is configured to compress the spindle housing when engaged.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the spindle housing is configured to squeeze tightly against the hub when compressed, thereby resisting movement of the hub.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein at least the portion of the hub has an outer diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the spindle housing.

11. A method of adjusting belt tension in a material removal machine, comprising:
adjusting a pulley position of a spindle pulley of the material removal machine via a hub of the material removal machine, the spindle pulley being configured to actuate a spindle of the material removal machine, a material removal tool of the material removal machine being mounted on the spindle, and a spindle position of the spindle being adjusted when the pulley position of the spindle pulley is adjusted.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hub comprises a cylindrical body.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the pulley position of the spindle pulley comprises moving the spindle pulley from a first pulley position at a first distance from an actuator pulley, to a second pulley position at a second distance from the actuator pulley, the first distance being different from the second distance, wherein a belt connecting the spindle pulley to the actuator pulley has a first tension when the spindle pulley is at the first pulley position, and a second tension when the spindle pulley is at the second pulley position, the first tension being different from the second tension.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the spindle pulley and the actuator pulley are housed within a support arm, a first portion of the hub being positioned within the support arm and a second portion of the hub being positioned outside the support arm.

15. The method of claim 13 , the method further comprising:
gaining access to a hub lock of the material removal machine and locking the hub via the hub lock after adjusting the pulley position of the spindle pulley to be at the second pulley position;
gaining access to the hub lock and unlocking the hub via the hub lock;
adjusting the pulley position of the spindle pulley to be at a third pulley position at a third distance from the actuator pulley, the third distance being different than the first distance and second distance; and
locking the hub via the hub lock while the spindle pulley is at the third pulley position.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
actuating the spindle, and the material removal tool mounted on the spindle, via the spindle pulley, when the spindle pulley is at the second pulley position;
adjusting the pulley position of the spindle pulley to be at a third pulley position at a third distance from the actuator pulley, the third distance being different than the first distance and second distance; and
actuating the spindle, and the material removal tool mounted on the spindle, via the spindle pulley, when the spindle pulley is at the third pulley position.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the pulley position of the spindle pulley via the hub comprises moving the spindle pulley from the first pulley position to the second pulley position while the spindle pulley, actuator pulley, and belt are encased within a support arm.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hub is positioned between the spindle pulley and the material removal tool.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the pulley position of the spindle pulley via a hub comprises adjusting a tool position of the material removal tool.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hub encircles both the spindle and a ball bearing assembly that is configured to allow the spindle to rotate within the hub.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Kordus Bryan John

Classifications

• B24B47/26

  Accessories, e.g. stops · CPC title

• F16H7/08

  Means for varying tension of belts, ropes or chains  (pulleys of adjustable construction F16H55/52) · CPC title

• B24B47/12 Primary

  by mechanical gearing or electric power (B24B47/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16H7/14 Primary

  of a driving or driven pulley · CPC title

• B23D47/12

  of drives for circular saw blades · CPC title