Auto sizing chuck
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorsTroy C. Thorson, Jeffrey Holly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chuck includes a chuck body extending along a longitudinal axis, the chuck body including a plurality of slots each arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. A plurality of jaws each includes a first engagement portion, a jaw end, and a drive end. Each of the jaws is disposed within one of the plurality of slots and is movable between a close position and an open position. A biasing member is coupled to the plurality of jaws and is operable to bias the plurality of jaws toward the close position and a rotating assembly is selectively engageable with the plurality of jaws such that when engaged, the plurality of jaws are movable in response to rotation of the rotating assembly.
Claims20
A chuck for a power tool, the chuck comprising:
- a chuck body extending along a longitudinal axis, the chuck body including a plurality of slots each arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of jaws each including a first engagement portion, a jaw end, and a drive end, each of the jaws disposed within one of the plurality of slots and movable between a close position and an open position;
- a biasing member coupled to the plurality of jaws and operable to bias the plurality of jaws toward the close position;
- and
- a rotating assembly selectively engageable with the plurality of jaws such that when engaged, the plurality of jaws are movable in response to rotation of the rotating assembly.
A chuck for a power tool, the chuck comprising:
- a chuck body extending along a longitudinal axis, the chuck body including a plurality of slots each arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of jaws each including a first engagement portion, a jaw end, and a drive end, each of the jaws disposed within one of the plurality of slots and movable between a close position and an open position;
- a biasing member coupled to the plurality of jaws and operable to bias the plurality of jaws toward the close position;
- and
- a rotating assembly coupled to the chuck body and including a second engagement portion, the rotating assembly rotatable with respect to the chuck body between a disengaged position, an engaged position, and a tightened position, wherein the first engagement portions and the second engagement portion are disengaged when the rotating assembly is in the disengaged position such that the plurality of jaws are movable along the longitudinal axis independent of the rotating assembly and wherein the first engagement portions and the second engagement portion are engaged when the rotating assembly is in the engaged position such that the plurality of jaws are movable along the axis in response to rotation of the rotating assembly, and wherein rotation of the rotating assembly from the engaged position to the tightened position moves the plurality of jaws toward the close position.
A method of engaging a tool in a chuck, the method comprising:
- movably positioning a plurality of jaws within a chuck body, the jaws movable between a close position and an open position;
- disengaging a rotating assembly from the plurality of jaws;
- moving the jaws to the close position in response to the disengagement of the rotating assembly from the plurality of jaws;
- pushing the jaws toward the open position until the tool can be positioned within the jaws;
- biasing the jaws toward the close position such that the jaws lightly hold the tool in a desired position;
- rotating the rotating assembly to engage the rotating assembly and the plurality of jaws;
- further rotating the rotating assembly to force the jaws toward the close position to firmly hold the tool in the desired position;
- and
- maintaining the position of the rotating assembly to hold the plurality of jaws in the desired position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.