Dual stage rotary workholding chuck
AssigneeHammill Manufacturing Company, Co-op Tool Division
InventorsDavid Steven Bermudez, Greg Lentner, Robert Jay Newell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A workholding chuck that allows for a sizable gripping range by utilizing a rotary clamping method with dual stage motion. The dual stage rotary gripping chuck allows small diameter parts to be clamped, as well as parts that are larger than the main chuck body diameter. The dual stage motion allows resistance to be first achieved by lightly clamping on a workpiece, which is then converted to a high force-to-movement ratio. The workholding chuck employs two helical connections that allow for a large gripping diameter variation with a short amount of axial travel.
Claims10
A dual stage rotary gripping chuck comprising:
- a machine adapter having a centrally disposed actuator movable by a drawbar adapter;
- a sun gear engaging said actuator, said sun gear coupled to said machine adapter by a bearing support race positioned by a plurality of biasing springs;
- a body positioned over said machine adapter having a plurality of apertures;
- a clamp post extending through each said aperture, each said clamp post having an upper end and a lower end;
- a planetary gear secured to the lower end of each said clamp post for engaging said sun gear;
- and
- an offset clamp arm having a proximal end secured to the upper end of each said clamp post and a distal end extending outwardly therefrom;
- wherein said distal end of said offset clamp arm is adjustable to engage workpieces ranging from a small diameter, less than the diameter of the actuator, to a large diameter greater than the diameter of the chuck body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.