Arrangement for crankshaft straightening

Abstract

An arrangement for straightening a bent crankshaft is provided. In a crankshaft manufacturing process, a hardened crankshaft is measured and compared to reference tolerance specifications. If the crankshaft is determined to be out tolerance, data identifying the out of tolerance location and quantity is generated and the crankshaft is selectively induction rehardened in predetermined areas as a function of the measurement data to remedy the out of tolerance condition. The crankshaft is then remeasured and the process repeated until the crankshaft is within the reference tolerance specifications. The results can be logged to facilitate matching of subsequent detected out of tolerance conditions.

1 . A process for straightening a bent crankshaft after hardening, the process comprising: 
 generating data indicative of a condition of crankshaft straightness;    comparing the data to a predetermined tolerance specification to detect an out of tolerance condition;    in response to a detected out of tolerance condition, generating data indicative of location and quantity of the out of tolerance condition; and    selectively rehardening the crankshaft as a function of the data indicative of location and quantity of the out of tolerance condition to remedy the detected out of tolerance condition.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein selectively rehardening the crankshaft further comprises: 
 accessing a plurality of predetermined sets of rehardening parameters to identify a set of rehardening parameters correlated to the location and quantity of the out of tolerance condition; and    applying these identified predetermined parameters in the selective rehardening process.    
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 measuring the rehardened crankshaft to detect any out of tolerance condition;    if an out of tolerance condition is detected, applying a set of predetermined rehardening parameters correlated to the newly detected out of tolerance condition; and    logging information regarding unsuccessful rehardening attempt as historical record for use in correlating subsequent out of tolerance conditions.    
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 measuring the rehardened crankshaft to detect any out of tolerance condition; and    if an out of tolerance condition is not detected, log information regarding successful rehardening attempt as historical record for use in correlating subsequent out of tolerance conditions.    
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein selectively rehardening the crankshaft comprises selectively induction rehardening the crankshaft.  
   
   
       6 . A system for straightening a bent crankshaft after hardening, the system comprising: 
 a processing station including a hardening apparatus and a measurement apparatus; and    a controller coupled to the hardening apparatus and the measuring apparatus, wherein the controller is arranged to receive data from the measurement apparatus, compare the measurement data to predetermined tolerance specifications to detect an out of tolerance condition, and control operation of the hardening apparatus as a function of the data to selectively reharden the crankshaft to remedy an out of tolerance condition.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further arranged to: 
 instruct the measurement apparatus to measure the rehardened crankshaft;    detect any out of tolerance condition as a result of the measurement;    if an out of tolerance condition is detected, apply a set of predetermined rehardening parameters correlated to the newly detected out of tolerance condition; and    log information regarding unsuccessful rehardening attempt as historical record for use in correlating subsequent out of tolerance conditions.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further arranged to: 
 instruct the measurement apparatus to measure the rehardened crankshaft;    detect any out of tolerance condition as a result of the measurement; and    if an out of tolerance condition is not detected, log information regarding successful rehardening attempt as historical record for use in correlating subsequent out of tolerance conditions.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is arranged to correlate the received measurement data to a plurality of sets of predetermined rehardening parameters to identify a set of rehardening parameters correlated to the location and quantity of the out of tolerance condition, and apply the identified predetermined parameters as instructions for the hardening system to use in the selective rehardening process.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein selectively rehardening the crankshaft comprises selectively induction rehardening the crankshaft.