Chuck assembly and collet

A collet for receiving and retaining a tool comprising:

• a radially resilient body having an outer surface and a tool-receiving bore extending axially therethrough, said body having an aperture extending radially from the outer surface into said bore;
• a tool-securing pin having a head portion at one end thereof, and a tool-securing surface toward the other end thereof for engaging the tool within the bore;
• and
• means for movably mounting the pin within the collet aperture, said means comprising:
• undercut portions associated with the collet aperture providing a larger opening in the aperture mediate the collet bore and the collet outer surface, said undercut portions each including an arcuate wall defined by a locus of lines parallel to said radial aperture and extending from the collet aperture only partially through the collet body and terminating without reaching the outer surface of the collet;
• a compressible member for mounting the pin within the collet aperture, said member including telescoping end portions each mounted within the undercut and a medial portion extending through the pin aperture, with the pin aperture being larger than the medial portion of the member to allow limited movement of the pin of locking and releasing the tool within the collet, whereby the member is compressible for mounting the member in the undercut portions.

A tool-retaining resilient collet comprising:

• a radially resilient body having an outer surface and a tool-receiving bore extending axially therethrough, said body having an aperture extending between the outer surface and said bore;
• a tool-securing pin having a head portion at one end thereof, and a tool-securing surface toward the other end thereof;
• and
• means for movably mounting the pin within the collet aperture, said means comprising:
• a recess cut into the collet body and only partially therethrough from the collet aperture providing a larger opening in the aperture mediate the collet bore and the collet outer surface said recess including an arcuate wall defined by a locus of lines parallel to said aperture and terminating prior to reaching the outer surface of the collet;
• a member compressible mounting the pin within the collet aperture including telescoping end portions mounted within the undercut and a medial portion extending through the pin aperture, said medial portion of the member being smaller than the pin aperture to allow limited movement of the pin for locking and releasing the tool within the collet.