Quick-release jaws with single-piece bearing chuck
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsBrian J. Crowley, Charlie S. Carmoney, Thomas H. Dejonghe, Thomas M. Grobbel, William R. Stickney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A workholding chuck can use actuating members that pivot within a non-split unitary front bearing. The non-split unitary front bearing can include pockets in its central bore that can allow a spherical section of an actuator arm to be inserted into the bearing. The spherical section can include radially recessed areas to facilitate the insertion into the bearing. The jaws can be retained to the actuator arms through the use of a quick-release assembly. The quick-release assembly allows the jaws to easily and quickly be changed to allow the chuck to grasp different workpieces.
Claims23
A workholding chuck assembly for holding a workpiece, the chuck assembly comprising:
- a housing having a front face;
- an actuator arm in the housing, wherein the actuator arm comprises a first end portion extending from the front face;
- a workpiece retaining jaw, wherein the workpiece retaining jaw and the first end portion are configured to connect and disconnect along a nested connection having a connection axis;
- and
- a quick-release assembly having a retaining member and an actuating member, wherein the quick-release assembly is configured to selectively secure and release the nested connection between the workpiece retaining jaw and the first end portion of the actuator arm through non-removing movement of the actuating member, and the actuating member is configured to move along the connection axis to bias the retaining member to move in a radial direction relative to the connection axis.
A work holding chuck retro-fit kit comprising:
- a workpiece retaining jaw configured to connect and disconnect with an actuator arm along a nested connection having a connection axis;
- and a quick-release assembly comprising a retaining member and an actuator member, wherein the quick-release assembly is configured to selectively secure and release the nested connection between the workpiece retaining jaw and the actuator arm through non-removing movement of the actuating member, the actuating member is disposed along the connection axis, and movement of the actuating member is configured to bias the retaining member to move in a radial direction relative to the connection axis.
A system, comprising:
- a quick-release jaw mount, comprising:
- a jaw retainer having a first range of movement in a radial direction between a released position and a retained position relative to an axis of a nested connection between a workpiece retaining jaw and a jaw actuator arm, wherein the nested connection is an annular interface disposed about the axis;
- and
- a retainer actuator having a second range of movement along the axis to bias the jaw retainer along the first range of movement in the radial direction, wherein the retainer actuator is not separable during the second range of movement.
A system, comprising:
- a quick-release jaw mount, comprising:
- a jaw retainer having a first range of movement in a radial direction between a released position and a retained position relative to an axis of a nested connection between a workpiece retaining jaw and a jaw actuator arm, wherein the jaw retainer comprises a ball;
- and
- a retainer actuator having a second range of movement along the axis to bias the jaw retainer along the first range of movement in the radial direction, wherein the retainer actuator is not separable during the second range of movement, and the second range of movement of the retainer actuator comprises rotational movement in a rotational direction about the axis.
A system, comprising:
- a quick-release jaw mount, comprising:
- a jaw retainer having a first range of movement in a radial direction between a released position and a retained position relative to an axis of a nested connection between a workpiece retaining jaw and a jaw actuator arm, wherein the jaw retainer comprises a ball;
- and
- a retainer actuator having a second range of movement along the axis to bias the jaw retainer along the first range of movement in the radial direction, wherein the retainer actuator is not separable during the second range of movement, the retainer actuator comprises a threaded shaft having the second range of movement in an axial direction in response to rotation along a threaded interface, the threaded shaft comprises an end portion that forces the ball along the first range of movement in the radial direction in response to the second range of movement of the threaded shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.