Self-aligning chuck

A chuck configured to be operably coupled to a power driver having a rotatable drive spindle, the chuck comprising:

• a body having a center axis about which the body rotates;
• a sleeve that is externally disposed and configured to rotate relative to the body;
• a clamping jaw nut configured to rotate relative to the body with the sleeve, the clamping jaw nut comprising a clamping jaw nut thread;
• a plurality of clamping jaws configured to clamp onto a working bit, each clamping jaw comprising a clamping jaw thread that is configured to operably couple with the clamping jaw nut thread, the clamping jaws being configured to angularly translate relative to the center axis within clamping jaw passageways of the body towards or away from a clamping jaw point of convergence to close or open a working bit opening defined by the clamping jaws due to the operable coupling of the clamping jaw nut thread with the clamping jaw threads, wherein the clamping jaw point of convergence is on the center axis;
• and
• a plurality of bit alignment jaws, wherein the bit alignment jaws are configured to maintain the working bit within the working bit opening by being configured to translate towards or away from a bit alignment jaw point of convergence that is on the center axis and disposed rearward of the clamping jaw point of convergence;
• wherein each bit alignment jaw includes bit alignment jaw threading;
• and
• wherein the chuck further comprises a bit alignment jaw nut including bit alignment jaw nut threading that engages with the bit alignment jaw threading of the bit alignment jaws such that rotation of the bit alignment jaw nut causes translation of the bit alignment jaws.

A chuck configured to be operably coupled to a power driver having a rotatable drive spindle, the chuck comprising:

• a body having a center axis about which the body rotates;
• a plurality of clamping jaws configured to clamp onto a working bit, the clamping jaws being configured to angularly translate relative to the center axis within clamping jaw passageways of the body towards or away from a clamping jaw point of convergence to close or open a working bit opening defined by the clamping jaws, wherein the clamping jaw point of convergence is on the center axis;
• a plurality of bit alignment jaws, wherein the bit alignment jaws are configured to maintain the working bit within the working bit opening by being configured to translate towards or away from a bit alignment jaw point of convergence that is on the center axis and disposed rearward of the clamping jaw point of convergence;
• a drive plate;
• and
• a drive spring;
• wherein the bit alignment jaws are operably coupled to the drive plate;
• wherein the drive spring is configured to urge the drive plate in a forward direction and cause the bit alignment jaws to translate in a closing direction toward the bit alignment jaw point of convergence;
• wherein the drive plate is operably coupled to an external adjustment control that permits a user to directly contact and slide the external adjustment control rearward, relative to the sleeve, to translate the drive plate rearward, against the urging of the drive spring, thereby causing the bit alignment jaws to translate in an opening direction and away from the bit alignment jaw point of convergence.