US 6,568,055 B1Granted

Arbor clamping apparatus for boring and milling machines

AssigneeIndustrial Technology Research Institute

InventorsKou-Yu Tang, Lei-Yi Chen, Wen-Rey Wang

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Abstract

An arbor clamping apparatus providing a steady way for clamping boring arbor and improves structure rigidity and boring accuracy for boring and milling machines. The milling arbor of the present invention is designed and characterized by two steps spindles and includes the first step spindle used mainly to clamp a boring arbor and to hold large cutting tools and fixtures, and the second step spindle designed principally to support and contain the boring arbor. With the first step spindle a clamping mechanism is established and includes a hydraulic cylinder, a piston and movable wedges. Hydraulic force is applied through the action of the piston to drive the wedges to move between the boring and milling arbors and hence the clamping for a boring arbor is achieved through the approaching action of the wedges.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An arbor clamping apparatus for a boring and milling machine, comprising:

a hollow milling arbor, having:
a first step spindle having a head part adapted for receiving cutting tools and fixtures;
and
a second step spindle connected with said first step spindle, and having an inner wall;
a boring arbor disposed in a center hollow space of said milling arbor, and being movable in an axial direction of said milling arbor, and rotatable with said milling arbor and at a same speed thereof;
and
a clamping mechanism, including:
wedges disposed in a region near where said second step spindle is connected to said first step spindle, and between the inner wall of said second step spindle and the boring arbor, said wedges being movable in the axial direction of said milling arbor;
a fixed shell that is fixable with a primary body housing of the boring and milling machine, said fixed shell having an annular shape, and enclosing an outside region of said milling arbor, an inner wall of said fixed shell defining a hydraulic chamber;
an annular piston disposed inside the hydraulic chamber;
a bearing disposed against an inner wall of said piston;
and
a driving element disposed against the bearing, and surrounding said first step spindle, said driving element being fixed with said wedges such that a motion induced from said piston and said bearings is transmitted to said wedges by way of said driving element, and via an approaching action between said wedges and said boring arbor, a clamping for said boring arbor is achieved;
wherein said piston has a stretching rib on one side thereof, and which projects toward an axis of said milling arbor, and wherein an annular lid is fixed to said piston at another side thereof.

11 more elements

An arbor clamping apparatus for a boring and milling machine, comprising:

a hollow milling arbor, having:
a first step spindle having a head part adapted for receiving cutting tools and fixtures;
and
a second step spindle connected with said first step spindle, and having an inner wall;
a boring arbor disposed in a center hollow space of said milling arbor, and being movable in an axial direction of said milling arbor, and rotatable with said milling arbor and at a same speed thereof;
and
a clamping mechanism, including:
wedges disposed in a region near where said second step spindle is connected to said first step spindle, and between the inner wall of said second step spindle and the boring arbor, said wedges being movable in the axial direction of said milling arbor;
a fixed shell that is fixable with a primary body housing of the boring and milling machine, said fixed shell having an annular shape, and enclosing an outside region of said milling arbor, an inner wall of said fixed shell defining a hydraulic chamber;
an annular piston disposed inside the hydraulic chamber;
a bearing disposed against an inner wall of said piston;
and
a driving element disposed against the bearing, and surrounding said first step spindle, said driving element being fixed with said wedges such that a motion induced from said piston and said bearings is transmitted to said wedges by way of said driving element, and via an approaching action between said wedges and said boring arbor, a clamping for said boring arbor is achieved;
wherein the hydraulic chamber is an annular space, which is defined by a slot surrounding the inner wall of said fixed shell, the slot being defined by an annular end covering plate placed between said fixed shell and the primary body housing, the hydraulic chamber being connected with a hydraulic oil supply source by two oil pipes established at two axial sides of the hydraulic chamber.

11 more elements

An arbor clamping apparatus for a boring and milling machine, comprising:

a hollow milling arbor, having:
a first step spindle having a head part adapted for receiving cutting tools and fixtures;
and
a second step spindle connected with said first step spindle, and having an inner wall;
a boring arbor disposed in a center hollow space of said milling arbor, and being movable in an axial direction of said milling arbor, and rotatable with said milling arbor and at a same speed thereof;
and
a clamping mechanism, including:
wedges disposed in a region near where said second step spindle is connected to said first step spindle, and between the inner wall of said second step spindle and the boring arbor, said wedges being movable in the axial direction of said milling arbor;
a fixed shell that is fixable with a primary body housing of the boring and milling machine, said fixed shell having an annular shape, and enclosing an outside region of said milling arbor, an inner wall of said fixed shell defining a hydraulic chamber;
an annular piston disposed inside the hydraulic chamber;
a bearing disposed against an inner wall of said piston;
and
an annular driving element having an outer side disposed in contact with the bearing, and surrounding said first step spindle so that an inner side of said driving element is close to an outer side of said first step spindle, said driving element being fixed with said wedges such that a motion induced from said piston and said bearings is transmitted to said wedges by way of said driving element, and via an approaching action between said wedges and said boring arbor, a clamping for said boring arbor is achieved;
wherein said driving element has a stretching rib disposed on an inner side thereof, and a protrusion on an outer side thereof, said protrusion extending toward said milling arbor, said protrusion and said stretching rib being disposed on opposite ends of said driving element;
wherein an annular tighten-ring is fixed to said driving element, and
wherein said tighten-ring, said protrusion and a tail hook of a respective wedge are fixed together.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.