Chuck apparatus for centering and locking aluminum wheels

A chuck apparatus for centering and locking an aluminum wheel in a lathe having a machining centerline, wherein the aluminum wheel has an outer rim portion, the chuck apparatus comprising:

• a face plate adapted for rotation about the centerline;
• first, second and third radial slide blocks slidably movable perpendicularly with respect to said centerline along said face plate;
• first, second and third locators mounted to said first, second and third radial slide blocks, respectively, such that the locators may be moved radially with respect to the centerline for engagement against the outer rim portion for centering the wheel;
• and
• first, second and third clamps equally spaced about the periphery of said face plate and positioned for applying a clamping force to the outer rim in a direction parallel to said centerline;
• wherein said slide blocks are selectively movable in a first direction radially outward from the centerline for causing said locators to engage the outer rim portion and in a second direction radially inward to cause said locators to engage the outer rim portion.

A chuck apparatus for centering and locking an aluminum wheel in a lathe having a machining centerline, the chuck comprising:

• a face plate adapted for rotation about the centerline;
• first, second and third radial slide blocks slidably movable perpendicularly with respect to said centerline and adapted to receive locators;
• first, second and third clamps equally spaced about the periphery of said face plate and adapted for applying a clamping force to the aluminum wheel in a direction parallel to said centerline;
• wherein said slide blocks are actuated independently of said clamps to facilitate centering the wheel prior to clamping, and said slide blocks are selectively movable in a first direction radially outward from the centerline for causing said locators to engage the wheel and in a second direction radially inward to cause said locators to engage the wheel;
• a yoke plate movable with respect to said face plate;
• a cam pin extending from said face plate;
• and
• wherein each of said clamps comprises a cam arm pivotally connected to said yoke plate, said cam arms each having a cam slot formed therein for cooperating with said cam pin, such that the cam pin travels within the cam slot as the yoke plate is moved with respect to the face plate, thereby causing the cam arm to pivot between clamped and unclamped positions.