Futter chuck

Abstract

An improved chuck for holding an object such as a tool or work piece. The chuck includes circumferentially spaced jaws for grasping an object and a gear mechanism for adjusting the radial position of the jaws to grasp object of varying size. The jaws of the chuck are movable radially outwardly to an open position to permit insertion of an object there between and are adapted to move radially inwardly to an object grasping position. The improvements in the chuck include inclined key threads on the jaws; a rotatable jaw positioning collar around the jaws, including inclined, inwardly extending, circumferentially spaced key threads adapted to cooperatively engage and disengage the key threads on the jaws; a member positioned around the collar for engaging and rotating the collar to engage and disengage the key threads; and, a spring for normally yieldably urging the jaws axially outwardly and radially inwardly when the key threads are disengaged. The jaw positioning collar urges the jaws axially outwardly and radially inwardly to the object grasping position when the collar is rotated to engage the key threads, and permits free axial and radial movement of the jaws to the open position when the collar is rotated to disengage the key threads.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.