Chuck with improved clamping stroke

Abstract

A chuck for clamping a workpiece, the chuck comprising: a chuck body; a jaw connected to the chuck body for limited movement along a jaw path relative to the chuck body in a jaw closing direction and a jaw opening direction; an actuator body connected to the chuck body for limited movement along the actuator path relative to the chuck body; and a slider body connected to the chuck body for limited movement along the slider body path relative to the chuck body. The slider body is connected to the jaw for limited movement along a "slider body relative to jaw" path relative to the jaw. The slider body is connected to the actuator body for limited movement along a "slider body relative to actuator body" path relative to the actuator body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various embodiments are generally directed to machine chucks for clamping a workpiece. Background Art

[0002] Chucks are used on workpiece processing machines (such as lathes) to clamp workpieces during processing. Chucks usually work by converting the axial drive motion of an actuator (such as a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, a pull rod, etc.) into radial motion of the chuck's jaws toward the workpiece to clamp the workpiece.

[0003] like Figure 7 As shown, a conventional type of chuck 1000 provides an inclined sliding path connection between the actuator body and the jaws. The inclined surface / wedge converts the axial movement of the actuator body into radial movement of the jaws. This dual wedge path system provides a separate fast moving (low force) large wedge angle path 1010 and a discrete slow moving (high clamping force) small wedge angle path 1020. During the jaw closing, the jaws first slide on the large wedge angle path 1010 to quickly close the jaws. Then, the jaws slide on the small wedge angle path 1020 to provide high clamping force. During the movement of the large wedge angle path 1010, the clamping force provided by the jaws may be insufficient, so the dual wedge path system is only used to clamp the workpiece within a narrow jaw travel range, which corresponds to the slow speed, high force jaw movement associated with the small wedge angle path.

[0004] This conventional dual wedge path chuck 1000 combines the fast travel angle and the slow travel into one guide (one single path) 1010, 1020. This creates a wear problem when the jaws "turn" at the abrupt transition 1030 from the fast travel path 1010 to the slow travel path 1020. This results in significant wear of the jaws and they must be replaced after a period of time depending on the use of the chuck. Summary of the invention

[0005] One or more non-limiting embodiments improve upon conventional chucks by separating fast and slow angular travel paths and eliminating wear-prone transitions.

[0006] One or more non-limiting embodiments provide an improved chuck that (1) is axially compact and / or (2) provides sufficient clamping force at any point in the radial travel of the jaws to accommodate workpieces having widely varying diameters.

[0007] One or more non-limiting embodiments provide a chuck for clamping a workpiece, wherein the chuck includes: a chuck body; a jaw connected to the chuck body for limited movement relative to the chuck body in a jaw closing direction and a jaw opening direction along a jaw path; an actuator body connected to the chuck body for limited movement relative to the chuck body along the actuator path; and a slider body connected to the chuck body for limited movement relative to the chuck body along a slider body path, wherein the slider body path has one curvilinear or linear translational degree of freedom. The slider body is connected to the jaw for limited movement relative to the jaw along a "slider body relative to jaw" path. The slider body is connected to the actuator body for limited movement relative to the actuator body along a "slider body relative to actuator body" path.

[0008] According to one or more of these embodiments, an angle A is formed between the actuator path and the "slider body relative to actuator body" path; an angle J is formed between the actuator path and the "slider body relative to clamp jaw" path; and the angle A is less than the angle J.

[0009] According to one or more of these embodiments, an angle S is formed between the slider body path and the actuator path; and the angle S is between 110° and 165°.

[0010] According to one or more of these embodiments, the angle A is between 5° and 40°.

[0011] According to one or more of these embodiments, the angle J is between 30° and 60°.

[0012] According to one or more of these embodiments, the clamp includes a first clamp, which is mounted to the chuck body and is used to move in a first jaw closing direction and a first jaw opening direction relative to the chuck body along a first jaw path; the chuck includes a second clamp, which is mounted to the chuck body and is used to move in a second jaw closing direction and a second jaw opening direction relative to the chuck body along a second jaw path; the slider body includes a first slider body; the chuck includes a second slider body, which connects the second jaw to the actuator body so as to convert the movement of the actuator body in the first direction into the movement of the second jaw in the second jaw closing direction at a ratio of the movement of the actuator body along the actuator path to the movement of the second jaw along the clamp path.

[0013] In accordance with one or more of these embodiments, the jaw path and the actuator path are both linear.

[0014] According to one or more of these embodiments, the slider body path, the slider body to jaw path, and the slider body to actuator body path are all linear.

[0015] In accordance with one or more of these embodiments, the chuck comprises a through hole chuck having an axial through hole shaped and configured to allow a workpiece to be fed into the chuck from an axial side of the chuck opposite to where the jaws are located.

[0016] One or more non-limiting embodiments provide a workpiece processing machine (eg, a lathe) including a chuck according to one or more of these embodiments.

[0017] In accordance with one or more of these embodiments, the chuck includes a counterweight movably mounted to the chuck body and disposed relative to the slider body to apply a radially inward force to the slider body when the chuck is rotated.

[0018] One or more of these and / or other aspects of the various embodiments of the present invention, as well as the methods and functions of operation of the relevant elements of the structure and the economy of combination and manufacture of the components will become more apparent after considering the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein the same figure numerals represent corresponding parts in the various figures. In one embodiment, the structural components shown herein are drawn to scale. However, it should be clearly understood that the drawings are for illustration and description purposes only and are not intended to be a definition of limitations of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that the structural features shown or described in any one embodiment herein may also be used in other embodiments. As used in the specification and claims, the singular forms of "a", "an" and "said" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0019] All closed (e.g., between A and B) and open (greater than C) value ranges disclosed herein explicitly include all ranges falling within or nested within these ranges. For example, a disclosed range of 1-10 is understood to also disclose ranges of 2-10, 1-9, 3-9, etc. Similarly, where multiple parameters (e.g., parameter C, parameter D) are separately disclosed as having ranges, the embodiments disclosed herein explicitly include embodiments that combine any value within the disclosed range of one parameter (e.g., parameter C) with any value within the disclosed range of any other parameter (e.g., parameter D). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] For a better understanding of the various embodiments as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which will be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 is a partial front view schematic diagram of a lathe according to an embodiment;

[0022] Figure 2 It is along Figure 1 The line AA in Figure 1 A cutaway perspective view of a chuck of a lathe;

[0023] Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 The line AA in Figure 1 A cut-away side view of a chuck of a lathe, wherein the jaws of the chuck are shown in an open position;

[0024] Figure 4 It is along Figure 1 The line AA in Figure 1 A cut-away side view of a chuck of a lathe, wherein the jaws of the chuck are shown in a closed rest position;

[0025] Figure 5 It is along Figure 1 The line AA in Figure 1 a cut-away side view of a chuck of a lathe of , wherein the jaws of the chuck are shown in a closed rotational position (with a counterweight acting on the chuck to help hold the chuck closed);

[0026] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a slide body of a chuck of a lathe; and

[0027] Figure 7 is a side view of a prior art chuck. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Figure 1 A machine 10 is shown for holding and machining a workpiece 20. In the illustrated embodiment, while the machine 10 comprises a lathe, it may alternatively comprise various other workpiece holding and / or machining machines (e.g., a milling machine, etc.). In the illustrated embodiment, the workpiece 20 comprises a tubular blank, but it may alternatively comprise any other suitable type of workpiece held and machined by the machine 10.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the machine 10 includes a chuck 30 that is shaped and configured to selectively clamp a workpiece 20 for machining. In the illustrated embodiment, the chuck 30 is mounted to the machine 10 for rotation about an axis 40 relative to the remainder of the machine 10. According to various embodiments, the machine 10 includes a motor for rotationally driving the chuck 30 and the clamped workpiece 20 about the axis 40, for example, for a turning operation. However, according to alternative embodiments, the chuck may be non-rotating, or may be free-rotating (i.e., non-driven).

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown, the chuck 30 includes a plurality of jaws 50 that are evenly spaced circumferentially around the chuck 30. The jaws 50 simultaneously move radially inward toward the axis 40 to clamp the workpiece 20. In this configuration, the chuck 30 operates as an outside diameter (OD) clamping chuck 30. However, it should be understood that the relative direction of closure may be reversed to provide an inside diameter (ID) clamping chuck without departing from the scope of one or more embodiments.

[0031] Hereinafter, the structure and operation of one of the plurality of jaws 50 will be described in detail. It should be understood that this explanation also applies to the remaining jaws 50 that operate in the same manner.

[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, the clamping jaw 50 includes a main clamping jaw 60 and a top clamping jaw 70. The top clamping jaw 70 is bolted to the main clamping jaw 60 and provides a clamping surface for directly clamping the workpiece 20. The top clamping jaw 70 can be switched to a different top clamping jaw 70 based on the specific clamping requirements of different workpieces 20. As used herein, the main clamping jaw 60 alone is a clamping jaw even when the top clamping jaw 70 is not connected to the main clamping jaw 60.

[0033] The jaws 50 (particularly the main jaws 60) are connected to the body 80 of the chuck 30 for moving along a jaw path 90 (see FIG. Figure 3 ) relative to the chuck body 80 in both the jaw closing direction (outer diameter clamping chuck toward axis 40; inner diameter clamping chuck away from axis 40) and the jaw opening direction (outer diameter clamping chuck away from axis 40; inner diameter clamping chuck toward axis 40). In the illustrated embodiment, the jaw path 90 is perpendicular to the rotation axis 40, but may alternatively extend in a different direction.

[0034] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the chuck 30 also includes a slider body 100 for each clamping jaw 50. Figure 3As shown, the slider body 100 is connected to the chuck body 80 for limited movement relative to the chuck body 80 along a slider body path 110. The slider body 100 is connected to the jaw 50 for limited movement relative to the jaw 50 along a "slider body to jaw" path 120.

[0035] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the chuck 30 also includes an actuator body 130 connected to the chuck body 80 for limited movement relative to the chuck body 80 along an actuator path 140 over the actuator stroke. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator path 140 is parallel to the axis 40 and perpendicular to the jaw path 90. The actuator body 130 is connected to the slide body 100 for limited movement relative to the slide body 100 along a "slide body relative to actuator body" path 150.

[0036] like Figure 2-Figure 3 As shown, the chuck includes an actuator 160 connected to the actuator body 130 so as to selectively drive the actuator body 130 along the actuator path 140 over the actuator stroke. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 160 includes a spring-closed, pneumatic-opened actuator that provides a fail-safe closed / clamped position. However, according to alternative embodiments, any other suitable actuator (pneumatic-closed, spring-opened actuator; hydraulic actuator; manual lever-based actuator, etc.) may be used.

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, the "slider body relative to actuator body" path 150 forms an angle A with the actuator path 140. According to various embodiments, the angle A is: (1) greater than 5°, 10°, 15°, and / or 20°, (2) less than 45°, 40°, 35°, 30°, and / or 20°, and / or (3) between any two such values ​​(e.g., between 5° and 45°, between 10° and 40°, between 15° and 25°).

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown, the "slider body relative to jaw" path 120 forms an angle J with the actuator path 140. According to various embodiments, the angle J is: (1) greater than 20°, 25°, 30°, 35°, and / or 40°, (2) less than 75°, 70°, 65°, 60°, 55°, and / or 50°, and / or (3) between any two such values ​​(e.g., between 20° and 75°, between 30° and 55°, between 40° and 50°).

[0039] like Figure 3As shown, the slider body path 110 forms an angle S with the actuator path 140. According to various embodiments, the angle S is: (1) greater than 110°, 115°, 120°, and / or 125°, (2) less than 165°, 160°, 155°, 150°, 145°, and / or 140°, and / or (3) between any two such values ​​(e.g., between 20° and 75°, between 30° and 55°, between 40° and 50°). According to various embodiments, the paths 110, 120 are perpendicular to each other (such that the angle J minus the angle S equals 90°), or, according to various embodiments, are within 20°, 15°, 10°, and / or 5° of being perpendicular to each other.

[0040] According to various embodiments, as the slider body path 110 travels toward the jaw 50, the slider body path 110 tilts away from the axis 40. Conversely, both the "slider body to jaw" path 120 and the "slider body to actuator body" path 150 tilt toward the axis 40 as they advance toward the jaw 50.

[0041] The paths 90, 110, 120, 140, 150 are defined by cooperating sliding surfaces in the respective components 50 / 60, 80, 100, 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the paths 90, 110, 120, 150 are formed by guide rails (or guide rails) on both sides of one component and matching protrusions (or protrusions) in the other component, so that the protrusions slide within the two sides of the guide rails. For example, the chuck body 80 (see Figure 4 ) and the protruding portion 100b of the slider body 100 (see Figure 6 ) cooperate to define the path 110. The protrusion 60a of the main clamping jaw 60 (see Figure 3 ) and the guide rail 100a of the slider body 100 (see Figure 3 , Figure 6 ) cooperate to define the path 120. The protrusion 100c (see Figure 3 , Figure 6 ) and the guide rail 130a in the actuator body 130 (see Figure 3 ) cooperate to define path 150.

[0042] The relative positions of the guide rails 80a, 100a, 130a and the projections 60a, 100b, 100c may be reversed without departing from the scope of one or more embodiments. In addition, according to alternative embodiments, alternative types of structural connections between components may be used to define the paths 90, 110, 120, 150 (e.g., any structural connection that provides one curvilinear or linear translational degree of freedom between two interconnected components, linear bearings, etc.).

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, the paths 90, 110, 120, 150 are linear. However, according to alternative embodiments, one or more of the paths 90, 110, 120, 150 may have other shapes (e.g., a simple curve, a compound curve, a path formed by a combination of (one or more) curves and (one or more) lines, etc.).

[0044] The chuck 30 is used to clamp the workpiece 20. Figure 3-Figure 4 When the chuck 30 is opened (as shown in Figure 3 ), the chuck 30 may be closed by actuating the actuator 160, thereby driving the actuator body 130 away from the jaws 50 along the path 130 (ie, as shown in FIG. Figure 3-Figure 4 This movement causes the actuator body 130 to move along a path 150 (as shown) relative to the slider body 100. Figure 3 This causes the slider body 100 to slide relative to the chuck body 80 along a path 110 (as shown in FIG. Figure 3 This causes the jaws 50 to slide along a path 120 (as shown in FIG. Figure 3 The clamping jaw 50 slides relative to the slider body 100, which causes the clamping jaw 50 to move in a closing direction (as shown in FIG. Figure 3 8. As shown downwardly, the jaw 50 slides along the path 90 relative to the chuck body 80 until the jaw 50 (which is spaced apart from the other jaws 50 ( Figure 3-Figure 4 ) together) contact and clamp the workpiece 20, such as Figure 4 shown.

[0045] According to one or more non-limiting embodiments, the use of the slider body 100 and the combination of interconnecting components and paths 90, 110, 120, 150 provide a jaw 50 closure system that is (1): axially compact (along the axis 40), (2) provides sufficient mechanical advantage between the movement of the actuator body 130 and the closing movement of the jaw 50 to securely clamp the workpiece 20 at any point in the jaw travel to accommodate workpieces 20 having a variety of diameters, and / or (3) provides a fast closing speed for the jaw 50. If the actuator body 130 is directly connected to the jaw 50 along the large angle J path 120, the large angle J can provide good jaw 50 closing speed, but at the expense of reduced clamping force. If the actuator body 130 is directly connected to the jaw 50 along the small angle A path 150, the small angle A can provide good clamping force, but at the expense of jaw 50 closing speed. If the actuator body 130 were directly connected to the jaws 50 at an intermediate angle (eg, some angle between angles A and J), the path length required for the chuck 30 would be axially extended.

[0046] According to various embodiments, angles A, J, and S may be selected to optimize the competing benefits of providing an axially compact chuck of (1) fast jaw closing speed, (2) high jaw clamping force, and / or (3) minimized axial travel per path.

[0047] like Figure 2-Figure 5 As shown, the chuck 30 may also include a counterweight system designed to partially compensate for the loss of gripping force on the outer diameter of the jaws 50 that would occur when the chuck 30 rotates and centrifugal forces tend to push the jaws 50 and the slider body 100 radially outwardly away from the axis 40. Figure 2-Figure 4 As shown, a counterweight 170 may be provided for each set of jaws 50 and slider body 100. The counterweight 170 may be pivotally connected to the chuck body 80 for relative pivotal movement about a counterweight axis 180. Figure 3 As shown, when the chuck 30 is opened, the weighted arm 170a rests on the slider body 100. Figure 4 As shown, when the jaws 50 are closed and the chuck 30 is stationary (ie, not rotating about its axis 40), the counterweight 170 is spaced apart from the slider body 100. Figure 5 As shown, when the chuck 30 is rotated and the jaws 50 are closed (e.g., to clamp the workpiece 20), the centrifugal force causes the weight 170 to move radially outward (e.g., Figure 3-Figure 5 ), which causes the counterweighted arms 170a to contact and push radially inwardly against the slider body 100. The inward radial force tends to increase the clamping force applied by the jaws 50, which at least partially offsets the loss of clamping force caused by the centrifugal force tending to push the slider body 100 and the jaws 50 radially outwardly.

[0048] Although the illustrated chuck 30 and jaw 50 closure mechanism are configured for OD clamping, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the relative orientation, angle, or other aspects of the chuck 30 may be adjusted to additionally and / or alternatively provide ID clamping.

[0049] The chuck 30 is a through-hole chuck including an axial through-hole 190 extending along the axis 40. The through-hole 190 enables the workpiece 20 blank to be inserted through the hole 190 (i.e., from Figure 3 The left side shown in FIG. 1 is fed into the machine 10 and ... feed into the machine Figure 3 The right side of the chuck 30 shown is processed (e.g., turned, lathe, milled).

[0050] The embodiments described above are provided to illustrate the structural and functional principles of various embodiments and are not intended to be limiting. On the contrary, the principles of the present invention are intended to cover any and all variations, changes and / or substitutions thereof (e.g., any changes within the spirit and scope of the appended claims).

[0051] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 892,787, filed on August 28, 2019, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Claims

1. A chuck for clamping a workpiece, the chuck comprising: Chuck body; a jaw connected to the chuck body for limited movement along a jaw path relative to the chuck body in a jaw closing direction and a jaw opening direction; an actuator body connected to the chuck body for limited movement relative to the chuck body along an actuator path; as well as a slider body connected to the chuck body for restricted movement relative to the chuck body along a slider body path, the slider body path having one curvilinear or linear translational degree of freedom, wherein the slider body is connected to the clamping jaw for limited movement relative to the clamping jaw along a "slider body relative to the clamping jaw" path, wherein the slider body is connected to the actuator body for limited movement relative to the actuator body along a "slider body relative to the actuator body" path, Wherein, an angle A is formed between the actuator path and the "slider body relative to the actuator body" path, and the angle A is greater than 5°, wherein: an angle J is formed between the actuator path and the "slider body relative to the clamping jaw" path; and The angle A is smaller than the angle J.

2. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: forming an angle S between the slider body path and the actuator path; and The angle S is between 110° and 165°.

3. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: The angle A is between 5° and 40°.

4. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: The angle J is between 30° and 60°.

5. The chuck of claim 1, wherein: The jaws include a first jaw mounted to the chuck body for movement along a first jaw path relative to the chuck body in a first jaw closing direction and a first jaw opening direction; The chuck includes a second jaw mounted to the chuck body for movement along a second jaw path relative to the chuck body in a second jaw closing direction and a second jaw opening direction; The slider body includes a first slider body; and The chuck includes a second slide body that interconnects the second jaw with the actuator body so as to convert movement of the actuator body in a first direction into movement of the second jaw in a second jaw closing direction at a ratio of movement of the actuator body along the actuator path to movement of the second jaw along the jaw path.

6. The chuck of claim 1, wherein: The jaw path and the actuator path are both linear.

7. The chuck of claim 1, wherein: The slider body path, the slider body relative to the jaw path, and the slider body relative to the actuator body path are all linear.

8. The chuck of claim 1, wherein: The chuck comprises a through hole chuck having an axial through hole shaped and configured to allow a workpiece to be fed into the chuck from an axial side of the chuck opposite to where the jaws are located.

9. The chuck of claim 1 in combination with a workpiece processing machine.

10. The chuck of claim 9, wherein: The workpiece processing machine is a lathe.

11. The chuck of claim 1, wherein: The slider body is connected to the actuator body for limited movement of the slider body relative to the actuator body along the "slider body relative to actuator body" path during movement of the jaws in the jaw opening direction and the jaw closing direction.

12. A chuck for clamping a workpiece, the chuck comprising: Chuck body; a jaw connected to the chuck body for limited movement along a jaw path relative to the chuck body in a jaw closing direction and a jaw opening direction; an actuator body connected to the chuck body for limited movement relative to the chuck body along an actuator path; as well as a slider body connected to the chuck body for restricted movement relative to the chuck body along a slider body path, the slider body path having one curvilinear or linear translational degree of freedom, wherein the slider body is connected to the clamping jaw for limited movement relative to the clamping jaw along a "slider body relative to the clamping jaw" path, wherein the slider body is connected to the actuator body for limited movement relative to the actuator body along a "slider body relative to the actuator body" path, Wherein, an angle A is formed between the actuator path and the "slider body relative to the actuator body" path, and the angle A is greater than 5°, The chuck further comprises a counterweight which is movably mounted to the chuck body and arranged relative to the slider body to apply a radially inward force to the slider body when the chuck rotates.

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