US 6,611,418 B2 · Compliant collet chuck

Abstract

A compliant collet chuck for firmly clamping a workpiece has a base member attachable to the faceplate or spindle of a lathe. The base member has a central bore having a tapered portion and which is surrounding by a channel. A bayonet cylinder occupies the channel and has circumferential bayonet slots which receive eccentric locking pins therein. An adjustable collet chuck has a tapered portion at one end that bears against the tapered bore in the base member and a second tapered portion at the other end. An axial free play nut having a tapered bore, which is adapted to bear against the second taper, is threaded into the bayonet cylinder, and rotation thereof produces through the tapers, a radial force to compress the central bore of the chuck to grip the workpiece. Rotation of the actuating pins flexes the bayonet beam to lock the workpiece in place within the chuck.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A compliant collet chuck comprising:

a base member having a central bore extending therethrough and having at least one exterior side wall, said bore having a first tapered cone section therein;
a channel in said base member surrounding said bore;
an adjustable collet chuck having a first tapered portion at one end thereof adapted to bear against said first tapered cone section, said collet chuck having a central adjustable opening for containing and gripping a workpiece, and a second tapered portion at the other end thereof;
a bayonet cylinder having a central axis and a first end in said channel, said first end having at least one bayonet slot therein forming a resilient beam, and a second end;
a nut having a bore therein having a second tapered cone adapted to bear against the second tapered portion of said collet chuck member, said nut being axially movable against said collet chuck to apply a radial force thereto for gripping a workpiece;
and
at least one locking pin extending into said slot within said channel to bear against said resilient beam and to apply axial pressure thereto when said pin is rotated.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Compliant collet chuck

Life of this patent

Compliant collet chuck

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20