# US 2014/0154024 A1 · High-frequency spindle

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- Number: US 2014/0154024 A1
- Document ID: US20140154024A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/689,942
- Filed: 2012-11-30
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: Roehm GmbH
- Inventors: Peter SCHENK
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154024A1

## CPC

- B23B 31/263: {by means of balls}
- B23C 5/26: Securing milling cutters to the driving spindle
- B23B 2231/12: Chucks having means to amplify the force produced by the actuating means to increase the clamping force
- B23B 2231/50: Devices to counteract clamping forces exerted within the spindle in order to release the tool or workpiece
- B23B 2270/027: Pneumatics
- Y10T 409/309408: with cutter holder
- Y10T 409/309464: and draw bar
- B23B: TURNING; BORING (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B23C: MILLING (broaching B23D; broach-milling in making gears B23F; arrangement for copying or controlling B23Q)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A high-frequency spindle has a tube shaft extending along and rotatable about an axis, a chuck carried on a front end of the shaft, adapted to fit with a tool or tool holder, and a ball cage in the shaft and having a radially extending window. A locking ball os radially displaceable in the window between a holding position engaging in a seat of the tool and a freeing position clear of the seat. An angled surface is engageable radially with the ball, and an actuating rod is axially shiftable and coupled to the cage or to the angled surface. An actuator can axially shift the rod and thereby relatively axially displace the ball and the angled surface and cam the ball with the angled surface into the holding position. A primary spring biases the rod so as shift the ball with the angled surface into the holding position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A high-frequency spindle comprising:
a tube shaft extending along and rotatable about an axis;
a chuck carried on a front end of the shaft, adapted to fit with a tool or tool holder;
a ball cage in the shaft and having a radially extending window;
a locking ball radially displaceable in the window between a holding position engaging in a seat of the tool and a freeing position clear of the seat;
an angled surface engageable radially with the ball;
an actuating rod axially shiftable and coupled to the cage or to the angled surface;
actuating means for axially shifting the rod and thereby relatively axially displacing the ball and the angled surface and camming the ball with the angled surface into the holding position; and
primary spring means for biasing the rod so as shift the ball with the angled surface into the holding position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 1, there are at least two such locking balls.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 1, wherein an outside diameter of the high-frequency spindle is smaller than 15 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 3 wherein the outside diameter is smaller or equal to 10 mm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 1, further comprising:
a biaser housing holding the ball cage in the shaft and in which the ball cage can move axially.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 5, further comprising:
secondary spring means for urging the biaser housing in a direction opposite to the direction in which the primary spring means biases the rod; and
structure limiting axial travel of the biaser housing in the tube shaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 5, wherein the angled surface is formed on the rod.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 4, wherein the tool and the tube shaft are formed centered on the axis with interfitting collars and one of the collars is formed with an outwardly open groove forming the seat.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 8, wherein the collars fit complementarily together and have complementary inter engaging surfaces.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 1, wherein the ball cage is axially fixed to the rod, the spindle further comprising:
a tool guide sleeve fixed in the shaft, the tool having a shank snugly fittable in the tool guide sleeve with the seat being radially outwardly open.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 10, wherein the guide sleeve forms the angled surface that faces radially inward.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 1, wherein the actuating means has a small-diameter cylinder and plurality of axially spaced cylinders therein coupled axially together and forming a plurality of axially spaced pressurizable compartments.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 12, wherein the actuating means further has respective axially fixed cylinder cups each forming with a respective one of the cylinders the respective chamber.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 13, wherein each cylinder cup forms with the tube shaft a gap through which the respective chamber can be vented.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 1, wherein the actuating means includes a double-acting cylinder having a piston formed with the angled surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 15, wherein the rod has an angled face adjacent the angled surface and axial displacement of the face and surface relative to each other cams the rod axially forward.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 16, wherein the surface and face are angled for force multiplication in that a small movement of the piston creates a large movement of the rod.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 1, wherein the tool has a shank with a standard dimension and is formed with a radially outwardly open groove forming the seat.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The high-frequency spindle defined in claim 18 wherein the tool has a diameter smaller than or equal to 3 mm.