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 and defining an attachment end and a tool receiving end;
- a plurality of jaws, each of the jaws including a jaw end and a drive end, each of the jaws movable along a respective jaw axis between a closed position and an open position, each respective jaw axis oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the chuck body;
- a biasing member coupled to each of the jaws and operable to bias the plurality of jaws toward the closed position, the biasing member including a spring disposed radially between the longitudinal axis of the chuck body and the drive ends of the jaws;
- 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 and defining an attachment end and a tool receiving end;
- a plurality of jaws, each of the jaws including a first engagement portion, a jaw end, and a drive end, each of the jaws movable along a respective jaw axis between a closed position and an open position, each respective jaw axis oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the chuck body;
- a biasing member coupled to the plurality of jaws and operable to bias the plurality of jaws toward the closed position, the biasing member including a spring positioned radially between the longitudinal axis of the chuck body and the drive ends of the jaws;
- and
- a rotating assembly coupled to the chuck body and rotatable with respect to the chuck body between a disengaged position, an engaged position, and a tightened position, the rotating assembly including a second engagement portion, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion being disengaged when the rotating assembly is in the disengaged position, the first engagement portions and the second engagement portion being engaged when the rotating assembly is in the engaged position such that each of the jaws is movable along its respective jaw axis in response to rotation of the rotating assembly, and rotation of the rotating assembly from the engaged position to the tightened position moves the plurality of jaws toward the closed 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.