# US 5,188,378 A · Chuck for polygonal shank ends of tools

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- Number: US 5,188,378 A
- Document ID: US5188378A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/752,660
- Filed: 1991-08-21
- Granted: 1993-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 1990-01-11
- Assignees: Wera Werk Hermann Werner GmbH & Co.
- Inventors: Gerd Erlenkeuser
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5188378A

## CPC

- B25D 17/088: {with radial movable locking elements co-operating with bit shafts specially adapted therefor}
- B25B 23/0035: {Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool}
- B25D 2217/0003: Details of shafts of percussive tool bits
- B25D 2217/0038: Locking members of special shape
- B25D 2217/0042: Ball-shaped locking members
- Y10S 279/905: with ball detent
- Y10T 279/17145: Ball or roller
- Y10T 279/17752: Ball or roller jaws
- Y10T 279/17811: Reciprocating sleeve
- B25D: PERCUSSIVE TOOLS {(percussive machines for forging B21J; hand-held drilling machines, in general B23B45/00, for wood B27C3/08; drilling machines, used for mining or quarrying, with reciprocating tool which is turned intermittently when out of contact with the working face E21B1/00)}
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A chuck for polygonal shank ends of tools, has a bushing (5) which transmits the drive force and corresponds in its cavity (8) to the polygon cross section of the shank end (32). The bushing has a window-shaped opening in which a ball (22) is arranged as pressing member which acts on the shank. Behind the bushing there is arranged an actuating sleeve (11) which is displaceable against spring action and which lies in front of support shoulders in the region of the inner edge of the opening (23). In order to obtain an optimal form of use, the ball (22) is more than twice as great as the width of the corner recess (31) lying in the axial direction of the shank. The clamping surface (19) is inclined in wedge shape in the direction of action of the spring, and extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the chuck which lies within a self-locking region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A chuck for a polygonal shank end of a tool, comprising
a bushing for transmission of a driving force, the bushing having a cavity corresponding in shape to the polygonal cross section of the shank end;
a ball, the bushing having a window-shaped opening in which the ball is disposed to serve as pressing member which acts on the shank upon insertion of the shank into the cavity;
an actuating sleeve encircling the bushing and enclosing the window-shaped opening and being displaceable against spring action;
wherein the diameter of the ball is greater than the thickness of a wall of the bushing;
the actuating sleeve has an internal inclined clamped surface which presses against the ball upon activation of the sleeve;
the window-shaped opening has a first set and a second set of support shoulders for engagement with the ball, all of said support shoulders being located at an edge of said window-shaped opening face said cavity, the window-shaped opening communication with the chamber at one polygonal edge thereof;
the shank end has a recess for receiving the ball, the recess being located at a polygonal edge of the shank end, the recess having a V-shape with two triangular sidewalls, each sidewall having a vertex opposite a groove of the recess for engaging the ball;
the ball extends partially into the cavity and lies with two-point applicatin against the vertices of the sidewalls of the recess; and
a diameter of the ball is less than half a diameter of the shank end and more than twice as large as a spacing between the vertices of the sidewalls of the recess, the groove of the recess extending in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the tool.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A chuck according to claim 1, wherein
the first set of support shoulders have a thickness which differs from a thickness of the second set of support shoulders.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A chuck according to claim 1, wherein
the support shoulders of the first set are located in a longitudinal plane of the cavity, and the support shoulders of the second set are located in a transverse plane of the cavity; and
the thickness of the support shoulders of the first set decreases with progression toward the cavity.

### Claim 4

A chuck for a polygonal shank end of a tool comprising
a bushing for transmission of a driving force, the bushing having a cavity corresponding in shape to the polygon cross section of the shank end;
a ball, the bushing having a window-shaped opening in which the ball is disposed to serve as pressure member acting on the shank upon insertion of the shank into the cavity;
a spring supported by the bushing, and an actuating sleeve encircling the bushing and enclosing the window-shaped opening and being displaceable against action of the spring;
wherein the diameter of the ball is greater than the thickness of a wall of the bushing;
the actuating sleeve which presses against the ball upon activation of the sleeve;
the window-shaped opening has a first set and a second set of support shoulders for engagement with the ball, all of said support shoulders being located at an edge of said window-shaped opening facing said cavity, the window-shaped opening communicating with the chamber at one polygonal edge thereof;
the shank end has a recess for receiving the ball, the recess being located at a polygonal edge of the shank end, the recess having a V-shape with two triangular sidewalls, each sidewall having a vertex opposite a groove of the recess for engaging the ball;
the ball has a diameter which is less than half of a diameter of the shaft end, and extends partially into the cavity;
the ball lies in two-point application against the vertices of the sidewalls of the recess;
the diameter of the ball is more than twice as great as a spacing between the vertices of the sidewalls of the recess, the groove of the recess extending in a transverse plane of the shank end; and
the clamping surface of the sleeve is inclined in wedge shape manner in a direction of action of the spring, and is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the chuck, angulation of the clamping surface being within a self-locking region.