Hydrostatic workpiece holder with a removable cartridge assembly

Abstract

A workpiece holding apparatus comprises a body, a cartridge assembly carried by the body and a sleeve. The cartridge assembly comprises at least one sealing member and a bladder supported by a retainer and at least partially defining a fluid chamber that houses a pressurized fluid. At least one annular seal is axially provided between the bladder and the sealing member(s). The annular seal(s) correspond with a sealing member, which engages the annular seal(s) upon adjustment of the sealing member. A seal is formed between the sealing member and the bladder that prevents fluid from escaping the fluid chamber. The annular, cylindrical sleeve engages a workpiece when the fluid chamber houses a pressurized fluid, which exerts a radial force against the bladder to the sleeve and into engagement with the workpiece.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.