Spindle clamp for removable disks
OwnerDonald L. Ekhoffinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spindle clamp for supporting a disk for rotation about an axis, the disk having a central aperture, in which fluid pressure actuates release of the disk and split jaws clamp the disk in the absence of fluid pressure. The clamp includes a hub which is rotatable about a central axis, an annular jaw split into a plurality of jaw pieces and disposed in a trough defined in the hub. A cap is spring biased downward against the jaw pieces. A central cone located radially inward from the trough defines a wedge surface. O-ring springs bias the jaw pieces inward into engagement with the wedge surface. Fluid pressure applied through passageways in the hub against a diaphragm causes the diaphragm to bulge upward against the jaw pieces, releasing the disk.
Claims10
A spindle clamp comprising,
- a hub rotatable about an axis, said hub having a trough defined in a top end surface thereof, a portion of said trough defining a wedge surface,
- a jaw split into a plurality of jaw pieces and disposed in said trough, a portion of said jaw pieces extending above said top end surface defining a disk clamping face, a portion of said jaw pieces engaging said wedge surface,
- means for biasing said jaw pieces inward toward said axis,
- a cap in contact with a top surface of said jaw pieces,
- means for biasing said cap downward against said jaw pieces, and
- means for applying fluid pressure against said jaw pieces, said fluid pressure forcing said jaw pieces upward.
A spindle clamp for removably supporting a disk for rotation about an axis, the disk having a central aperture of a predetermined inside diameter, the clamp comprising,
- a cylindrical hub mountable on a base for rotation about a central axis, said hub having a diameter greater than an inside diameter of a disk, said hub having an annular trough defined in a top end surface of the hub, a portion of said top end surface radially outward from said trough forming a substantially flat rim for seating said disk, a portion of said hub radially inward from said trough forming a central cone with an angled wedge surface,
- a flexible annular diaphragm disposed in said trough, inner and outer side surfaces of said trough having annular recessed regions, inner and outer edges of said annular diaphragm engaging said recessed regions of said respective inner and outer side surfaces of said trough in a fluid tight fit,
- an annular jaw having an annular channel formed in a top surface thereof, a plurality of annular grooves being defined on a radially inner surface of said channel, said jaw being split into a plurality of pieces and disposed in said trough over said diaphragm, radially inward surfaces of said jaw pieces engaging said wedge surface, portions of radially outward surfaces of said jaw pieces forming a clamping face for securely engaging said disk at its central aperture,
- a plurality of O-ring springs disposed in said grooves for biasing said jaw pieces radially inward against said wedge surface,
- a cap having a disk-shaped head and a post extending from the center of said head, said hub having an axial bore through said central cone to a bottom end surface of said hub, said post fitting into said axial bore, a bottom surface of said disk-shaped head being in contact with said top surface of said split jaw,
- means for biasing said cap downward against said split jaw, and
- means for applying fluid pressure against said diaphragm, said fluid pressure means communicating with said diaphragm via a plurality of passageways through said hub.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.