Working method and device for smoothing gearwheels

Abstract

A working method and a device for smoothing gearwheels may be operated cost-effectively and in an environmentally friendly way and enables a simple method sequence and device construction. The device for performing the working method is equipped with at least one smoothing wheel, similar to a gearwheel, that acts radially on a gearwheel to be smoothed and that may be engaged with and disengaged from the wheel to be smoothed. A spray nozzle generates a fine spray mist of lubricant such as oil. The spray mist is sprayable in the form of a minimal quantity of lubrication onto the operating region of the gearwheel to be smoothed and/or onto the smoothing wheel.

1 . A working method for smoothing gearwheels, which method comprises: 
 providing a device having at least one smoothing wheel disposed to act radially on a gearwheel to be smoothed and to selectively engage and disengage the gearwheel to be smoothed, the device further having a motor driving the smoothing wheel;    pressing the gearwheel to be smoothed with high pressing force against the smoothing wheel and thereby oscillating the gearwheel along an axis of rotation thereof during a main operating step; and    applying a minimal quantity of lubricant to at least one of the gearwheel to be smoothed and the smoothing wheel.    
   
   
       2 . The working method according to  claim 1 , which comprises applying the lubricant after the rotating smoothing wheel has been engaged load-free with the gearwheel to be smoothed.  
   
   
       3 . The working method according to  claim 1 , which comprises applying the minimal quantity of lubricant through a spray nozzle.  
   
   
       4 . The working method according to  claim 3 , which comprises spraying the lubricant as a very fine spray mist.  
   
   
       5 . The working method according to  claim 1 , wherein the applying step comprises spraying the lubricant onto a free surface region of the gearwheel to be smoothed.  
   
   
       6 . The working method according to  claim 1 , wherein the applying step comprises spraying the lubricant with a short pump stroke of a pressure generator.  
   
   
       7 . The working method according to  claim 1 , which comprises applying the lubricant on the gearwheel to be smoothed during a complete rotation thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The working method according to  claim 1 , which comprises cooling at least one of the smoothing wheels and the gearwheel to be smoothed by blowing an air stream thereonto.  
   
   
       9 . The working method according to  claim 8 , which comprises cooling with an air stream of cooled air.  
   
   
       10 . The working method according to  claim 9 , which comprises generating the cooled air by first subjecting ambient air to high pressure with a pressure generator and subsequently, utilizing the Joule-Thompson effect, passing the air through a narrow nozzle in an air cooler for cooling the air.  
   
   
       11 . A device for smoothing gear wheels, comprising: 
 at least one smoothing wheel disposed to act radially on a gearwheel to be smoothed and to be engaged therewith and disengaged therefrom;    a spray nozzle configured for generating a fine spray mist of lubricant and disposed to spray the lubricant onto at least one of an operating region of a gearwheel to be smoothed and onto said smoothing wheel; and    a pressure generator communicating with said spray nozzle.    
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein said smoothing wheel is a gearwheel.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein said spray nozzle is pointed toward the gearwheel to be smoothed.  
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 11 , which comprises a device for generating an air stream and distributor lines communicating with said device and leading to said at least one smoothing wheel.  
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said device for generating the air stream includes an air cooler, utilizing the Joule-Thomson effect, having a narrow expansion nozzle for compressed air for strongly cooling the air stream.