Snap-in chuck assembly and snap-in tool

A chuck assembly comprising:

• a chuck body having an outer end portion, an outer periphery and a central bore extending at least partially through said chuck body along a central axis;
• said chuck body further having three, substantially equidistantly spaced, generally axially extending, jaw receiving slots which open onto said central bore;
• mounting means for mounting said chuck assembly onto the outer end of a shaft of a drive mechanism;
• three axially and radially movable jaws received in respective ones of said axially extending slots;
• moving means for moving said jaws against the shank of a tool or tool holder received in said central bore;
• said chuck body having at least one inwardly extending passageway located in said chuck body between two of said axially extending slots, said passageway extending from said outer periphery of said chuck body inwardly to an opening which opens to said central bore;
• said opening having a diameter less than the diameter of said passageway;
• at least one detent in said passageway;
• urging means for urging said at least one detent toward said central bore;
• means for releasing the engagement of said at least one detent against a shaft or shank received in said central bore;
• a nose collar mounted for rotation on said outer end portion of said chuck body and said urging means comprises a cylindrical wall portion of a cylindrical cavity in said nose collar and said releasing means comprises one or more cavities or pockets in said cylindrical wall portion constructed and arranged to be aligned with said at least one passageway containing said at least one detent so that, upon rotation of said nose collar, said at least one detent in said at least one passageway is allowed to move away from said opening and into one of said pockets;
• and drive structure in said central bore for engaging mating drive structure on the shank of a tool or tool holder received in said central bore of said chuck body;
• whereby said chuck assembly can impart a rotary drive to the tool or tool holder by reason of the mating engagement of the mating drive structures;
• and whereby axial movement of the shank of the tool or tool holder received in said central bore of said chuck body is inhibited, if not prevented, by the engagement of said jaws with the shank or by the engagement of said at least one detent with the shank received in said central bore or by both engagements.

A chuck assembly comprising:

• a chuck body having an outer end portion, an outer periphery and a central bore extending at least partially through said chuck body along a central axis;
• said chuck body further having three, substantially equidistantly spaced, generally axially extending, jaw receiving slots which open onto said central bore;
• mounting means for mounting said chuck assembly onto the outer end of a shaft of a drive mechanism;
• three axially and radially movable jaws received in respective ones of said axially extending slots;
• moving means for moving said jaws against the shank of a tool or tool holder received in said central bore;
• said chuck body having at least one inwardly extending passageway located in said chuck body between two of said axially extending slots, said passageway extending from said outer periphery of said chuck body inwardly to an opening which opens to said central bore;
• said opening having a diameter less than the diameter of said passageway;
• at least one detent in said passageway;
• urging means for urging said at least one detent toward said central bore;
• means for releasing the engagement of said at least one detent against a shaft or shank received in said central bore;
• a nose collar being mounted on said outer end portion of said chuck body for axial movement relative to said outer end portion of said chuck body and said urging means comprising a first cylindrical wall portion of a cylindrical cavity in said nose collar having a diameter approximately the same diameter as said outer periphery of said outer end portion of said chuck body and said releasing means comprising a second cylindrical wall portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of said outer periphery of said outer end portion, whereby axial movement of said nose collar will position said second cylindrical wall portion in the area of said at least one passageway to allow said at least one detent therein to move laterally outwardly away from said opening of said at least one passageway and into said central bore;
• and drive structure in said central bore for engaging mating drive structure on the shank of a tool or tool holder received in said central bore of said chuck body;
• whereby said chuck assembly can impart a rotary drive to the tool or tool holder by reason of the mating engagement of the mating drive structures;
• and whereby axial movement of the shank of the tool or tool holder received in said central bore of said chuck body is inhibited, if not prevented, by the engagement of said jaws with the shank or by the engagement of said at least one detent with the shank received in said central bore or by both engagements.

A chuck assembly comprising:

• a chuck body having an outer end portion, an outer periphery and a central bore extending at least partially through said chuck body along a central axis;
• said chuck body further having three, substantially equidistantly spaced, generally axially extending, jaw receiving slots which open onto said central bore mounting means for mounting said chuck assembly onto the outer end of a shaft of a drive mechanism;
• three axially and radially movable jaws received in respective ones of said axially extending slots;
• moving means for moving said jaws against the shank of a tool or tool holder received in said central bore;
• and polygonal drive structure in said central bore for engaging with mating polygonal drive structure on the shank of a tool or tool holder or other accessory received in said central bore of said chuck body;
• whereby said chuck assembly can impart a rotary drive to the tool or tool holder or other accessory by one of engagement of said jaws with the shank of a tool or tool holder or other accessory or by engagement of said polygonal drive structure with mating drive structure on a tool or tool holder or other accessory having such mating polygonal drive structure thereon.