Chuck with locking sleeve

Abstract

A collet (300) may include a locking disk (380), a ball retainer (350), a locking sleeve (360), a wedge pin (371), and a pin drive spring (320). The wedge pin (371) is positionable by the pin drive spring (320) in wedge engagement between a pin engagement surface of the ball retainer (350) and a locking disk wall (381) of the locking disk (380) to prevent rotation of the first sleeve (30) and the nut (40) relative to the body (41) in a first rotational direction but permit rotation in a second rotational direction when the locking sleeve (360) is disposed in a locked position. When the locking sleeve (360) is disposed in the unlocked position, the wedge pin (371) is positionable by the pin drive spring (320) such that the wedge pin (371) is not in wedge engagement to allow rotation of the first sleeve (30) and the nut (40) in the first and second rotational directions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Exemplary embodiments relate generally to chucks for use with power drivers including power drill bits and, more particularly, to chucks having features that counteract the effects of inertial forces generated by rotation and sudden stopping of the chuck. Background Art

[0002] A power driver with a rotating drive shaft is usually operably connected to a chuck, which includes an adjustable opening that can be clamped to various working bits, such as a drilling bit or other tools, which rotate with the chuck through the drive shaft of the power driver. The chuck usually adopts a movable jaw, which is operable to adjust the size of the opening in the chuck for receiving the working bit. In many cases, when the power driver is in a working mode (e.g., drilling, driving or removing fasteners, etc.), these jaws are kept in place by a nut with a threaded engagement. The frictional engagement of the threads on the nut can be a way for the threads to keep the jaws firmly engaged with the working bit. However, in some cases, due to the inertia generated by the rotation of the chuck, when performing processing operations such as drilling, driving or removing fasteners, the nut may be forced to move unintentionally. In this regard, for example, the considerable inertial force in the chuck sleeve causes the nut to rotate due to the sudden stop of the spindle. This movement of the nut can result in unexpected and undesirable movement of the nut, which in some cases can cause the jaws to loosen their clamping force on the working bit. In some cases, this loosening of the jaws can result in the working bit no longer being secured to the chuck, and the working bit can slip out of the opening of the chuck and fall out. Therefore, innovations are needed in the field of preventing unexpected and undesirable movement of the nut so as to maintain and control the clamping force on the working bit even in the presence of inertial forces that may affect the nut. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to some exemplary embodiments, a chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft is provided. The chuck may include a plurality of jaws, a body configured to rotate with the drive shaft, and a nut. The nut may be operably coupled to the jaws so that rotation of the nut relative to the body causes the jaws to move relative to the body in an open or closed direction. The chuck may also include a first sleeve and a locking disk, the first sleeve being operably coupled to the nut to rotate with the nut in response to rotation of the first sleeve, the locking disk being coupled to the body so that the locking disk rotates with the body. The locking disk may include a locking disk wall. The chuck may also include a ball retainer coupled to the first sleeve so that the ball retainer rotates with the first sleeve. In this regard, the ball retainer may include a pin engagement surface. The chuck may also include a locking sleeve and a wedge pin, the locking sleeve being rotatable relative to the ball retainer to a locked position and an unlocked position, the wedge pin being in contact with the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer. In addition, the chuck may include a pin drive spring coupled to the locking sleeve so that the pin drive spring rotates with the locking sleeve. The pin drive spring may engage with the wedge pin to move the wedge pin along the pin engagement surface in response to rotation of the locking sleeve. In this regard, when the locking sleeve is set in the locked position, the wedge pin may be positioned by the pin drive spring to be in wedge engagement between the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer and the locking disk wall of the locking disk to prevent the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the body in a first rotational direction, but allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate relative to the body in a second rotational direction. The first rotational direction may be opposite to the second rotational direction. In addition, when the locking sleeve is set in the unlocked position, the wedge pin may be positioned by the pin drive spring so that the wedge pin is not in wedge engagement to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

[0004] According to some exemplary embodiments, another embodiment of a chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft is provided. The chuck may include a plurality of jaws, a locking disk including a locking disk wall, and a nut operably coupled to the jaws such that rotation of the nut relative to the locking disk moves the jaws in an open or closed direction. The chuck may further include a first sleeve operably coupled to the nut, a ball retainer operably coupled to the first sleeve such that the ball retainer rotates with the first sleeve. The ball retainer may include a pin engagement surface. The chuck may further include: a locking sleeve rotatable to a locked position and an unlocked position relative to the ball retainer; a wedge pin in contact with the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer; and a pin drive spring coupled to the locking sleeve such that the pin drive spring rotates with the locking sleeve. The pin drive spring may engage with the wedge pin to move the wedge pin along the pin engagement surface in response to rotation of the locking sleeve. When the locking sleeve is set in the locked position, the wedge pin can be positioned by the pin drive spring to be in wedge engagement between the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer and the locking disk wall of the locking disk to prevent the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the locking disk in a first rotational direction, but to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate relative to the locking disk in a second rotational direction. The first rotational direction can be opposite to the second rotational direction. In addition, when the locking sleeve is set in the unlocked position, the wedge pin is positioned by the pin drive spring so that the wedge pin is not in wedge engagement to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

[0005] According to some exemplary embodiments, another embodiment of a chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft is provided. The chuck may include a plurality of jaws, a body configured to rotate with the drive shaft, and a nut operably coupled to the jaws and threadedly engaged with the inner cavity of the body so that rotation of the nut relative to the body causes the jaws to move relative to the body in an open or closed direction. The chuck may also include a first sleeve operably coupled to the nut to rotate the nut when the first sleeve rotates, and a locking disk coupled to the body so that the locking disk rotates with the body. The locking disk may include a locking disk wall. The chuck may also include a ball retainer coupled to the first sleeve so that the ball retainer rotates with the first sleeve. The ball retainer may include a pin engagement surface. The chuck may also include a locking sleeve that is rotatable relative to the ball retainer to a locked position and an unlocked position. The wedge pin may contact the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer. The chuck may also include a pin drive spring coupled to the locking sleeve so that the pin drive spring rotates with the locking sleeve. The pin drive spring may engage the wedge pin to move the wedge pin along the pin engagement surface in response to rotation of the locking sleeve. When the locking sleeve is set in the locked position, the wedge pin may be positioned by the pin drive spring to be in wedge engagement between the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer and the locking disk wall of the locking disk to prevent the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the body in a first rotational direction, but to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate relative to the body in a second rotational direction. The first rotational direction may be opposite to the second rotational direction. When the locking sleeve is set in the unlocked position, the wedge pin may be positioned by the pin drive spring so that the wedge pin is not in wedge engagement to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Having thus generally described some example embodiments, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which:

[0007] Figure 1 shows a perspective side view of a chuck according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0008] Figure 2 shows a front view of a chuck according to an exemplary embodiment, defining a section AA;

[0009] Figure 3 According to an exemplary embodiment, Figure 1 and 2 A cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a chuck, the cross-sectional side view being taken from Figure 2 A plane defined by AA and defining cross sections BB, CC and DD;

[0010] Figure 4shows an exploded view of a collet according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0011] Figure 5A and 5B shows front and rear perspective views of a ball retainer according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0012] Figure 6 shows a perspective side view of a coupling ring and a guide ring according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0013] Figure 7 shows a rear perspective view of a locking sleeve according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0014] Figure 8 shows a perspective side view of a locking ring, ball bearing, gear ring, and gear ring coupler according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0015] Fig. 9 The chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in Figure 3 a rear cross-sectional view taken at a plane defined by BB;

[0016] Fig.10 The chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in Figure 3 a cross-sectional rear view taken at a plane defined by CC;

[0017] Fig.11 The chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in Figure 3 a cross-sectional rear view taken at a plane defined by DD;

[0018] Fig. 12A An enlarged portion of a cross-sectional rear view of a chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Figure 3 , wherein the locking sleeve is in a locked position;

[0019] Fig. 12B An enlarged portion of a rear cross-sectional view of a chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Figure 3 DD, wherein the locking sleeve is in the locked position;

[0020] Fig.13A An enlarged portion of a cross-sectional rear view of a chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Figure 3 The locking sleeve is in the unlocked position;

[0021] Fig. 13B According to an exemplary embodiment, Figure 3an enlarged portion of a cross-sectional rear view of the chuck taken at a plane defined by DD, with the locking sleeve in an unlocked position;

[0022] Fig.14 Shows Figure 1 and 2 A cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a chuck, the cross-sectional side view being made of Figure 2 The chuck has an alternative support and locking assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0023] Fig.15 According to an exemplary embodiment, Figure 1 and 2 An embodiment of the chuck is provided by Figure 2 a cross-sectional side view taken at a plane defined by AA and defining cross sections EE and FF;

[0024] Fig.16 shows an exploded view of a locking assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0025] Fig.17A and 17B shows front and rear perspective views of a ball retainer according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0026] Fig.18 shows a perspective view of a locking disk according to an example embodiment;

[0027] Fig.19A According to an exemplary embodiment, Fig.15 A rear cross-sectional view of the chuck taken at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck is in an unlocked state;

[0028] Fig.19B A chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. Fig.15 A rear cross-sectional view at a plane defined by EE of , wherein the chuck is in an unlocked state;

[0029] Fig.19C A chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. Fig.15 A rear cross-sectional view at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck is in a locked state;

[0030] Fig.19D A chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. Fig.15 A rear cross-sectional view at a plane defined by EE of , wherein the chuck is in a locked state;

[0031] Fig. 20A A chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. Fig.15A rear cross-sectional view at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck is in an unlocked state;

[0032] Fig. 20B A chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. Fig.15 A rear cross-sectional view at a plane defined by EE of , wherein the chuck is in an unlocked state;

[0033] Fig. 20C A chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. Fig.15 A rear cross-sectional view at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck is in a locked state;

[0034] Fig.20D A chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. Fig.15 A rear cross-sectional view at a plane defined by EE of , wherein the chuck is in a locked state;

[0035] Fig.21A In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, Fig.15 A rear cross-sectional view of the chuck taken at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck is in an unlocked state;

[0036] Fig.21B In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, Fig.15 A rear cross-sectional view of the chuck taken at a plane defined by EE, wherein the chuck is in an unlocked state;

[0037] Fig. 21C A chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. Fig.15 A rear cross-sectional view at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck is in a locked state; and

[0038] Fig.21D A chuck according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. Fig.15 Rear cross-sectional view at the plane defined by EE, wherein the chuck is in a locked state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Some example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some but not all example embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and depicted herein should not be construed as limiting the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure satisfies applicable legal requirements. The same reference numerals represent the same elements throughout. As used herein, an operable connection should be understood to involve a direct or indirect connection, in either case, which enables functional interconnection of components that are operably coupled to one another.

[0040] As mentioned above, chuck loosening may be caused by high potential energy stored in the form of inertia, such as in the sleeve of the chuck. This inertia can be generated by the rotation of the power driver when performing a working operation (e.g., drilling, tightening fasteners, etc.), which also rotates the sleeve. In particular, in the case where the sleeve is formed of a heavy material such as metal (e.g., steel), the inertia of the sleeve may be considerable. Moreover, a sudden stop of the power driver may cause the inertia to be converted into a large force applied by the sleeve to other components of the chuck. In this regard, since the sleeve is usually connected to a nut that engages with the body of the jaws or chuck, the force applied by the sleeve may be transmitted to the nut, which may result in an accidental loosening of the nut (or in some cases, tightening depending on the direction of rotation), and thus in an accidental loosening of the jaws. As mentioned above, an accidental loosening may result in an accidental release of the working drill bit, and the working drill bit may fall from the power driver.

[0041] To overcome these challenges, various exemplary embodiments of chucks are provided that allow a user to lock a sleeve into a fixed position during operation to prevent the inertia of the sleeve from being transferred to the nut. According to some exemplary embodiments, a locking pawl operably coupled to the nut may engage with a ratchet to hold the nut in a fixed position relative to the body of the chuck when the inertial forces generated by the rotation of the chuck would otherwise tend to cause the nut to loosen. In addition, the sleeve may be operably connected to the locking pawl so as to also hold the sleeve in a fixed position relative to the body of the chuck. In this way, for example, when the spindle of the power drive stops, the inertia of the sleeve is not only transferred to the nut, because the sleeve and the nut are locked and engaged with the body and the spindle, for example, through the locking pawl and the ratchet.

[0042] However, in order to operate the chuck to allow opening and closing of the jaws for insertion and removal of a working drill bit, an exemplary embodiment includes a control or locking sleeve that allows a user to switch the chuck between a locked mode (i.e., not allowing loosening, but allowing tightening) and an unlocked mode (i.e., allowing loosening and tightening). The locking sleeve may include an internal feature that is operable to control the engagement of a locking pawl with a ratchet tooth of a toothed ring that is rotationally coupled to the body. In an alternative embodiment, the locking pawl may be rotationally coupled to the body, and the ratchet tooth of the toothed ring may be rotationally coupled to the nut. In either case, the locking sleeve may be rotated to a first position (e.g., a locked position) that allows the locking pawl to engage with a plurality of ratchet teeth that are angled to allow ratchet rotation in a tightening direction and prevent rotation in a loosening direction. The locking sleeve may also be rotated to a second position (e.g., an unlocked position) that allows free rotational movement in both tightening and loosening rotational directions.

[0043] Thus, according to some exemplary embodiments, a mechanism may be incorporated into the collet to integrate a locking feature operable to lock the sleeve to prevent unintentional loosening when the collet is in a working mode (e.g., drilling, driving fasteners, etc.). However, as further described herein, the mechanism also allows the sleeve to be transformed into an unlocked mode to allow rotational movement of the nut and sleeve relative to the body in a tightening direction or a loosening direction.

[0044] in this regard, Figure 1 and Figure 2 An exemplary chuck 1 is shown according to some exemplary embodiments. Figure 1 is a perspective side view of the chuck 1, Figure 2 is a front view of the chuck 1. Generally, when the chuck 1 and the power driver fixed to the chuck 1 work, the chuck 1 can be operated to fix a working drill bit (not shown) in the jaws 20 of the chuck 1. The chuck 1 can also be operated to allow the installation and removal of working drill bits of different sizes (e.g., diameters) by moving the jaws 20 in an open or closed direction. In addition, the chuck 1 can be operably connected to any type of power driver, including, for example, a pneumatic or electric tool (e.g., a drill), which is configured to rotate a drive shaft that is operably connected to the chuck 1 in an opening on the rear side of the chuck 1.

[0045] The chuck 1 can define a central axis 11 about which the chuck 1 can rotate when in operation due to the rotation of the drive shaft of the connected power driver. For orientation purposes, the chuck 1 can have a front end 13 and a rear end 14. The chuck 1 can include, among other components, a jaw 20, a front sleeve 30, a locking sleeve 31, a rear sleeve 32, and a nose 21. According to some exemplary embodiments, the front sleeve 30 can be disposed near the front end 13, the rear sleeve 32 can be disposed near the rear end 14, and the locking sleeve 31 can be disposed between the front sleeve 30 and the rear sleeve 32. As further described herein, the jaw 20 can be configured to move or translate in a closing or opening direction within a channel in the nose 21 to change the size of the jaw opening formed by the front end of the jaw 20.

[0046] The front sleeve 30 can operate as a user interface for opening and closing the jaws 20, and according to some exemplary embodiments, the front sleeve 30 is rotatably coupled to the nose 21. In this regard, according to some exemplary embodiments, the front sleeve 30 can also be operably coupled to the nut 40, for example, via the nose 21, so that rotation of the front sleeve 30 also rotates the nut 40 to move the jaws 20. In this way, rotation of the front sleeve 30 can cause the nut 40 to move the jaws 20 so that the jaws 20 are clamped on the working drill bit or opened to allow removal or installation of the working drill bit.

[0047] According to some exemplary embodiments, the rotation of the front sleeve 30 in the direction 12 can cause the jaws 20 to translate in the opening (loosening) direction via the rotation of the nut to expand the jaw opening to receive the working drill bit. In addition, the rotation of the front sleeve 30 in the direction opposite to the direction 12 can cause the jaws 20 to translate in the closing (tightening) direction via the rotation of the nut in the opposite direction to reduce the opening of the jaws and clamp them onto the working drill bit. According to some exemplary embodiments, the rear sleeve 32 of the chuck 1 can be fixed to the body 41 so that the rear sleeve 32 and the body 41 rotate together, and the rear sleeve 32 can operate as a dust cover to prevent debris from entering the internal component cavity of the chuck 1, and the rear sleeve 32 can be secured by a retaining ring 44 ( Figure 4 ) is fixed to the main body 41.

[0048] Reference now Figure 3 , an exemplary embodiment of the chuck 1 is shown as chuck 10 , and in order to better understand the components and operation of the chuck 10 , Figure 3 Provided in Figure 2 A cross-sectional side view taken at the plane defined by AA in FIG. 1 , and further, Figure 4 An exploded view of the various components of the chuck 10 is provided.

[0049] Reference Figure 4 In the order shown, the chuck 10 may include a front sleeve 30, a jaw 20, a nose 21, a nut 40, a body 41, a ball retainer 50, a ball 55, a locking sleeve 31, a coupling ring 51, a guide ring 52, a locking ring 70, a ball bearing 73, a gear ring 72, a gear ring coupling 74, a rear sleeve 32 and a retaining ring 44.

[0050] According to some exemplary embodiments, the body 41, nose 21 and nut 40 may be components of the chuck 10 that may be operably connected to a drive shaft of a power driver through the spindle cavity 43. The body 41 may be operable to directly or indirectly transmit the rotation of the drive shaft to the jaws 20 to drive a working drill bit held in the jaws 20. According to some exemplary embodiments, the jaws 20 may be moved relative to the body 41 through threads on the jaws 20 that directly engage with the nut, and the body may include a passage through which the jaws 20 pass when the jaws 20 are opened or closed. However, in an exemplary embodiment of the chuck 10, the jaws 20 engage with the jaw plates 140 of the nut 40, and the jaws 20 pass through the jaw passages 121 in the nose 21. The nose 21 may be fixed to the front sleeve 30 so that the nose 21 and the front sleeve 30 rotate together. The jaws 20 may be rotationally and translationally connected through complementary engagement features of the jaws 20 and the jaw plates 140 of the nut 40. Since the jaws 20 can be rotationally restrained within the jaw passages 121 in the nose 21, the jaws 20 and therefore the nut 40 can rotate with the nose 21 and the front sleeve 30 relative to the body 41. However, the nut 40 can also translate relative to the nose 21 within the central opening of the nose 21. The chuck 10 can also include a threaded engagement 42 between the nut 40 and the body 41, so that when the nut 40 rotates relative to the body 41, the nut 40 also translates within the nose 21 and the body 41 in a direction parallel to the axis 11. In this regard, when the nut 40 is rotated in a closing or tightening direction relative to the body 41, the nut 40 translates in a forward direction (i.e., toward the front end 13 of the chuck 10), and when the nut 40 is rotated in an opening or rearward direction relative to the body 41, the nut 40 translates in a loosening direction (i.e., toward the front end 14 of the chuck 10). Thus, when the nut 40 translates forward, the jaw 20 can close, and when the nut 40 translates rearward, the jaw 20 can open due to the angled engagement of the complementary sliding features between the jaw 20 and the nose 21 and the translational engagement between the jaw 20 and the jaw plate 121 of the nut 40.

[0051] The chuck 10 may also include a bearing and locking assembly 170, which, depending on the mode of operation, may provide smooth, low-friction rotation of the nut 40 relative to the body 41 through a bearing engagement, and / or may provide a fixed rotational coupling of the nut 40 to the body 41 in at least one direction through a locking engagement. The bearing and locking assembly 170 may include a ball retainer 50, a locking sleeve 31, a coupling ring 51, a guide ring 52, a locking ring 70, a ball bearing 73, a gear ring 72, and a gear ring coupler 74. A first portion of the bearing and locking assembly 170 may be configured to rotate with the front sleeve 30, while a second portion of the bearing and locking assembly 170 may be configured to rotate with the body 41. According to some exemplary embodiments, these components may operate as a subsystem of the chuck 10 to perform the low-friction relative rotation and locking functions described above and elsewhere herein.

[0052] In this regard, the ball retainer 50, the coupling ring 51, the guide ring 52, and the locking ring 70 can be rotatably coupled to the front sleeve 30. In this regard, the ball retainer 50 can be fixed to the front sleeve 30, for example, and the ball retainer 50 can be operably coupled to the coupling ring 51, the guide ring 52, and the locking ring 70, as further described below. The ball 55 can be disposed on the stop lip 141 and the inner flange 152 ( Figure 5A ) to reduce friction when the ball retainer 50 rotates with the body 41. Similarly, the gear ring 72 and the gear ring coupling 74 can be rotatably coupled to the body 41. At this point, the gear ring coupling 74 can be rotatably engaged between the gear ring 72 and the body 41 to allow the gear ring 72 to rotate with the body 41.

[0053] Reference now Figure 5A and 5B , shows an exemplary embodiment of the ball retainer 50. More specifically, Figure 5A A front perspective view of the ball retainer 50 is shown. Figure 5BA rear perspective view of the ball retainer 50 is shown. In this regard, the ball retainer 50 may include an internal opening in which the body 41 may be disposed. The front portion of the ball retainer 50 may be fixed to the front sleeve 30, or may be fixed to the nose 21 (which may be fixed to the front sleeve 30). In either case, the ball retainer 50 may be rotationally coupled to the front sleeve 30 directly or indirectly. The ball retainer 50 may include an internal flange 152 that retains the balls 55 to engage with the stop lip 141 of the body 41, thereby preventing the ball retainer 50 from sliding forward and allowing the ball retainer 50 to rotate relative to the body 41 in a low friction manner due to the coupling via the balls 55. The engagement between the stop lip 141, the balls 55 and the internal flange 152 forms a forward engagement point for an assembly coupled to the body 41 behind the ball retainer 50. Similarly, snap ring 44 may engage recess 143 on body 41, which may form a rearward engagement point for coupling to a component on body 41 forward of snap ring 44 and rearward of ball retainer 50. Ball retainer 50 may include cutout 151 on the rearward facing side of ball retainer 50.

[0054] Reference now Figure 6 , according to some exemplary embodiments, a coupling ring 51 and a guide ring 52 are shown. The coupling ring 51 includes a protrusion 153 that is complementary to and fits into the cutout 151 of the ball retainer 50. Through such engagement between the protrusion 153 and the cutout 151, the coupling ring 51 can rotate with the ball retainer 50 and can therefore be rotatably connected to the front sleeve 30 and the nut 40. According to some exemplary embodiments, the protrusion 153 can be provided on a coupling ring drive dog 163. In this regard, the coupling ring 51 can include a plurality of coupling ring drive dogs 163 that extend in a forward direction from the ring portion 161 of the coupling ring 51 as protrusions extending from the ring portion 161. The coupling ring drive dogs 163 can be arranged at intervals around the circumference of the coupling ring 51 to form gaps between the coupling ring drive dogs 163. These gaps can be referred to as coupling ring drive dog gaps 154, which are configured to receive the locking sleeve drive dogs 131 ( Figure 7 ), as further described below. The coupling ring drive pawl 163 may include drive surfaces 156 and 157 on the sides of the coupling ring drive pawl 163, and the drive surfaces 156 and 157 may form the boundaries of the coupling ring drive pawl space 154.

[0055] In addition, the coupling ring 51 may include one or more coupling ring grooves 155. According to some exemplary embodiments, the coupling ring drive pawls 163 may each include a corresponding coupling ring groove 155. The coupling ring groove 155 may be configured to receive the locking ring drive tab 171 ( Figure 8), as further described below. The coupling ring 51 may be rotatably coupled to the locking ring 70 through engagement between the coupling ring groove 155 and the locking ring drive tab 171 .

[0056] According to some example embodiments, a guide ring 52 may be included to improve locking performance. However, in other exemplary embodiments, the guide ring may be omitted and the locking function may be maintained. The guide ring 52 may be configured to slide or otherwise couple to a rear portion (e.g., ring portion 161) of the coupling ring 51. In this way, the inner surface 162 of the guide ring 52 may interface with the outer surface of the ring portion 161. The guide ring may be rotatably connected to the coupling ring 51, or the guide ring 52 may be freely rotatable relative to the coupling ring 51. The guide ring 52 may include a plurality of protruding components that are used to engage with components of the locking ring 70. In this regard, the guide ring 52 may include components that engage with components of the locking ring 70 on the inner side of the components of the locking ring 70 (i.e., closer to the axis 11). In this regard, the guide ring 52 may include a locking pawl control protrusion 158, a locking pin control protrusion 159, and a locking pawl ramp 160. According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking pawl control projection 158 can limit the inward (i.e., toward the axis 11) deflection distance of the locking pawl control member 173 and thus limit fatigue (e.g., metal fatigue) on the locking pawl control member 173 and the locking pawl arm 180 of the locking ring 70 ( Figure 8 According to some exemplary embodiments, the deadbolt control projection 159 can limit the inward (ie, toward the axis 11) deflection distance of the deadbolt control member 172, thereby limiting the deadbolt control member 172 and the deadbolt arm 181 of the locking ring 70 ( Figure 8 Finally, according to some exemplary embodiments, the locking pawl ramp 160 can limit the inward (i.e., toward the axis 11) deflection distance of the locking pawl 174, and thus limit the locking pawl 174 and the locking pawl arm 180 ( Figure 8 ) on the surface (e.g., metal fatigue).

[0057] Reference now Figure 7 , the locking sleeve 31 is shown in a perspective front view showing the internal control features of the locking sleeve 31. In this regard, the locking sleeve 31 can be generally cylindrical with an inner bore forming an opening and an inner surface. The inner surface can include a plurality of control features that engage with components of the coupling ring 51 and the locking ring 70 to control the collet 10 in a locked state when the locking sleeve 31 is rotated to the locked position and to control the collet in an unlocked state when the locking sleeve 31 is rotated to the unlocked position.

[0058] In this regard, the locking sleeve 31 may include a plurality of locking sleeve drive pawls 131. The locking sleeve drive pawls 131 may be arcuate protrusions that extend inwardly and are spaced apart around the inner circumference of the locking sleeve 31. The locking sleeve drive pawls 131 may be positioned to align with the coupling ring drive pawl gaps 154. The locking sleeve drive pawls 131 may include drive surfaces 136 and 137 on opposite sides of the locking sleeve drive pawls 131 that are configured to engage with the drive surfaces that may be configured to engage with the drive surfaces 156 and 157 of the coupling ring drive pawls 163.

[0059] Behind the locking sleeve driving pawl 131, the locking sleeve 31 may also include a plurality of locking ring engaging features disposed on the inner surface of the locking sleeve 31. In this regard, the locking sleeve 31 may include an unlocking flange 138, a latching flange 132, and a latching gap wall 133. The unlocking flange 138, the latching flange 132, and the latching gap wall 133 may be protrusions extending from the inner surface of the locking sleeve 31 toward the axis 11, and may be aligned along a common circumferential line of the inner surface of the locking sleeve 31. The unlocking flange 138 may be configured to engage with the locking pawl control member 173 when the locking sleeve 31 is in the unlocked position, thereby moving the locking pawl control member 173 inwardly and moving the locking pawl 174 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 176 of the toothed ring 72 ( Figure 8 ). In this regard, since the locking pawl control member 173 can slide upward onto the unlocking flange 138, the unlocking flange 138 can include an inclined portion 139 leading to a platform portion of the unlocking flange 138. According to some exemplary embodiments, when the locking sleeve 31 is in the unlocked position and the locking pawl 174 is disengaged from the ratchet teeth 176 of the gear ring 72, a dimple 144 can be provided on the platform portion, which can receive the locking pawl control member 173. According to some exemplary embodiments, when the locking sleeve 31 is in the unlocked position, the locking pawl control member 173 can be provided on the platform portion.

[0060] The locking sleeve 31 may further include a locking void 135 adjacent to the unlocking flange 138. According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking void 135 may be disposed between the unlocking flange 138 and the latching flange 132. The locking void 135 may be recessed relative to the unlocking flange 138. When the locking sleeve 31 is rotated to the locked position, the locking pawl control member 173 may be disposed in the locking void 135, which allows the locking pawl 174 to engage with the ratchet teeth 176 of the gear ring 72, as further described below.

[0061] The latching flange 132 and the latching void wall 133 can be configured to engage with the locking latch control member 172 of the locking ring 70. In this regard, the latching flange 132 and the latching void wall 133 can form a void space, i.e., a latching void 134, between them. When the locking sleeve 31 is in the locked position, the locking latch control member 172 can be disposed in the latching void 134, which is recessed relative to the latching flange 132. The latching flange 132 can include an inclined portion adjacent to the latching void 134 and an inclined portion adjacent to the locking void 135. According to some exemplary embodiments, the inclined portion adjacent to the latching void 134 is operable to generate a mechanical resistance to the locking latch control member 172, which is necessary, for example, to overcome in order to rotate the locking sleeve 31 from the locked position to the unlocked position. According to some exemplary embodiments, when the locking sleeve 31 is in the unlocked position, the locking latch control member 172 can be disposed in the locking void 135. In this regard, the angled portion of the latch flange 132 adjacent the locking void 135 may be operable to create a mechanical resistance to the locking latch control member 172 that may need to be overcome when rotating the locking sleeve 31 from the unlocked position to the locked position, for example.

[0062] Now refer to Figure 8 , according to some exemplary embodiments, details of the locking ring 70, the ball bearing 73, the gear ring 72, and the gear ring coupler 74 are shown. In this regard, according to some exemplary embodiments, the locking ring 70 includes a ring portion 175. A plurality of locking ring drive tabs 171 may extend from the ring portion 175 in a forward direction. In this regard, as described above, the locking ring drive tabs 171 may be configured to engage with the coupling ring groove 155. According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking ring 70 may also include a locking arm 180. The locking arm 180 may have a locking pawl 174 disposed at the end of the locking arm 180 and a locking pawl control member 173 disposed at the end of the locking arm 180. The locking arm 180 may be mechanically biased (e.g., spring biased) to be pushed outward (i.e., away from the axis 11), and thus the locking pawl control member 173 and the locking pawl 174 may also be biased in an outward direction. The locking arm 180 can be fixed to the ring portion 175, or the locking arm 180 can extend from one side of the locking ring drive tab 171. The locking pawl control member 173 can be operably coupled to the locking pawl 174 so that movement of the locking pawl control member 173 causes the same movement of the locking pawl 174. The locking pawl control member 173 can have a curved or arcuate shape to facilitate sliding engagement with the unlocking flange 138, the inclined position 139, or the locking gap 135. The locking pawl 174 can be an extended tab (e.g., a metal tab) that is specifically angled to engage with the locking surface of the ratchet teeth 176 of the toothed ring 72. According to some exemplary embodiments, the bias of the locking arm 180 can operate to facilitate ratcheting engagement between the locking pawl 174 and the ratchet teeth 176.

[0063] Similarly, according to some exemplary embodiments, the locking ring 70 may also include a latch arm 181. The latch arm 181 may have a latch control member 172 disposed at the end of the latch arm 181. The latch arm 181 may also be mechanically biased to be pushed outward (i.e., away from the axis 11), and therefore, the locking latch control member 172 may also be biased in an outward direction. The latch arm 181 may be fixed to the ring portion 175, or the latch arm 181 may extend from one side of the locking ring drive tab 171. The locking latch control member 172 may have a curved or arcuate shape to facilitate sliding engagement with the latch void 134, the latch flange 132, and the locking void 135. According to some exemplary embodiments, the latch control member 172 may be operable to cooperate with the latch void 134, the latch flange 132, and the locking void 135 to generate mechanical resistance to maintain the locking sleeve 31 in the locked position or the unlocked position.

[0064] The ball bearings 73 may be a plurality of balls engaged between the locking ring 70 and the toothed ring 72. As described above, the locking ring 70 may be operably coupled to the nut 40, and the toothed ring 72 may be operably coupled to the body 41. As such, the ball bearings 73 may operate to reduce friction between the nut 40 and the body 41 as the nut 40 moves relative to the body 41. In this regard, the locking ring 70 may include an arcuate rearward side of the ring portion 175 to receive a front portion of the ball bearings 73. Similarly, the toothed ring 72 may include an arcuate surface 182 on a forward side of the toothed ring flange 183 to receive a rear portion of the ball bearings 73.

[0065] The gear ring 72 may include a gear ring flange 183 and a gear ring sidewall 184. The gear ring flange 183 may be a generally annular member including an engagement feature for engaging with the gear ring coupling 74 and an arcuate surface 182 for engaging with the ball bearing 73. The gear ring sidewall 184 may extend from the gear ring flange 183 in a forward direction. The inner diameter of the gear ring sidewall 184 may be greater than the diameter of the ring portion 175 of the locking ring 70 to allow the locking ring 70 to be inserted into the gear ring sidewall 184. The locking ring 70 may be inserted into the gear ring 72 to a depth at which the locking pawl 174 may engage with the inner surface of the gear ring sidewall 184, but the locking pawl control member 173 and the locking latch control member 172 may be positioned forward of the front rim of the gear ring sidewall 184 to allow the locking pawl control member 173 and the locking latch control member 172 to engage with the locking sleeve 31.

[0066] The inner surface of the gear ring side wall 184 may include a plurality of ratchet teeth 176 arranged around the circumference of the gear ring side wall 184. According to some exemplary embodiments, each ratchet tooth 176 may extend inwardly (i.e., toward the axis 11) and may include two angled surfaces that intersect at the maximum inward extension point. The two angled surfaces may include a ratchet surface and a locking surface. The ratchet surface may have a smaller slope (size) than the locking surface. As described above, the locking pawl 174 may be configured to engage with the ratchet teeth 176. When the locking sleeve 31 is in the locked position, the locking pawl 174 may be positioned to arch upward and slide over the ratchet surface of the ratchet teeth 176 in a ratchet manner when the front sleeve 30 rotates in the tightening direction. However, when the locking sleeve 31 is in the locked position, the locking pawl 174 may engage with the locking surface in such a manner that the engagement prevents the locking pawl 174 from moving in the direction toward the locking surface (i.e., in the nut loosening direction).

[0067] As described above, the gear ring 72 can be rotatably connected to the body 41 via the gear ring coupling 74. In this regard, the gear ring 72 can include a protrusion 177 that can engage with a complementary groove 178 in the gear ring coupling 74. Through the engagement between the protrusion 177 and the recess 178, the gear ring 72 can be rotatably coupled to the gear ring coupling 74 so that the gear ring 72 and the gear ring coupling 74 rotate together. In addition, the gear ring coupling 74 may include a body engagement surface 179. In this regard, the gear ring coupling 74 may include a central opening through which the body 41 can pass. Figure 4 As shown, the body 41 can have a substantially cylindrical rear portion. However, the rear portion of the body 41 can also include flat areas 142. These flat areas 142 of the body 41 can be complementary to the linear body engagement surfaces 179 of the gear ring coupling 74. Due to the engagement between the body engagement surfaces 179 and the flat areas 142, the gear ring coupling 74 and the gear ring 72 can be rotationally connected, so that when the body 41 rotates, the gear ring coupling 74 and the gear ring 72 also rotate.

[0068] Having described various structural features of the chuck 10 according to some exemplary embodiments, the Figure 9-13B , which illustrates the operation of the chuck 10 . Figure 9-11 shows a cross section of the chuck 10 viewed from the rear with the locking sleeve 31 in the locked position, Fig. 12A and 12B An enlarged view of the engagement between the locking ring 70, the locking sleeve 31 and the toothed ring 72 is shown in the locked position. Fig.13A and 13B An enlarged view of the engagement between the locking ring 70 , the locking sleeve 31 and the gear ring 72 is shown in the unlocked position.

[0069] At this point, now refer to Fig. 9, which is along Figure 3 The cross section of the chuck 10 is taken from BB in FIG. Fig. 9 1, the locking sleeve drive pawl 131 is disposed within the coupling ring drive pawl gap 154 ​​between the coupling ring drive pawls 163. The coupling ring drive pawl 163 is shown as having a locking ring drive tab 171 engaged in the coupling ring groove 155. Moreover, the coupling ring drive pawl gap 154 ​​has an arcuate length greater than the length of the locking sleeve drive pawl 131, and thus the locking sleeve drive pawl 131 can move a certain distance within the coupling ring drive pawl gap 154 ​​without rotating the coupling ring drive pawl 163. When the locking sleeve 31 is in the locked position, the locking sleeve drive pawl 131 has been rotated so that the drive surface 137 of the locking sleeve drive pawl 131 abuts the drive surface 157 of the coupling ring drive pawl 163. According to some exemplary embodiments, due to friction within the chuck 10, the user can hold the front sleeve 30 stationary while the locking sleeve 31 rotates to cause relative rotation between the front sleeve 30 and the locking sleeve 31, thereby moving the locking sleeve 31 to the locked position. In this way, the engagement between the locking sleeve drive pawl 131 and the coupling ring drive pawl 163 can act as a stopper because the relative rotation between the front sleeve 30 and the locking sleeve 31 cannot continue due to the engagement, thereby notifying the user that the locking sleeve 31 is in the locked position and the chuck 10 is in the locked mode. In order to move the locking sleeve 31 to the unlocked position, in which the drive surface 136 of the locking sleeve drive pawl 131 abuts the drive surface 156 of the coupling ring drive pawl 163, the user can again hold the front sleeve 30 stationary and rotate the locking sleeve 31 so that the locking sleeve drive pawl 131 moves within the coupling ring drive pawl gap 154 ​​to engage the drive surface 136 with the drive surface 156. Due to the engagement of the drive surface 136 with the drive surface 156, the user will again be prevented from further rotating the locking sleeve 31, thereby notifying the user that the locking sleeve 31 is in the unlocked position.

[0070] Now refer to Fig.10 , showing the Figure 3 The cross section of the chuck 10 is taken along the CC line in FIG. Fig. 12A, shows an enlarged view of the engagement between the control member of the locking ring 70 and the engagement feature of the locking sleeve 31, wherein the locking sleeve 31 is in the locked position. With the locking sleeve 31 in the locked position, the locking pawl control member 173 is disposed in the locking void 135, so the mechanical bias in the locking arm 180 is not pushed outward (i.e., away from the axis 11) by the mechanical bias. When the locking sleeve 31 is in the locked position, the locking latch control member 172 is disposed within the latch void 134, and the mechanical bias on the latch arm 181 pushes the locking latch control member 172 outward and into the latch void 134. In this way, the latch control member 172 can operate to maintain the locking sleeve 31 in the locked position unless a threshold rotational force is applied to the locking sleeve 31 to allow the latch control member 172 to slide upward along the inclined surface of the latch flange 132 and reach the platform portion of the latch flange 132.

[0071] Now refer to Fig.11 , showing the Figure 3 The cross section of the chuck 10 is taken along the DD line. Fig. 12B , shows an enlarged view of the engagement between the locking pawl 174 and the ratchet teeth 176 of the toothed ring 72, wherein the locking sleeve 31 is in the locked position. At this point, because the locking pawl control member 173 is disposed in the locking gap 135, and the mechanical bias in the locking arm 180 is allowed to push the locking pawl 174 outward, the locking pawl 174 engages with the ratchet teeth 176 of the toothed ring 72. As can be seen, the slope of the ratchet surface of the ratchet teeth 176 will allow the locking pawl 174 to move in the tightening direction ( Fig.11 At this point, the user can turn the front sleeve 30 to further tighten the nut 40, and the locking pawl 174 will pass over the ratchet surface of the ratchet teeth 176 and ratchet engagement. However, due to the large inclination of the locking surface, the locking pawl 174 is caught by the toothed ring 72 and the body 41 and is prevented from rotating relative to the toothed ring 72 and the body 41, so the front sleeve 30 is not allowed to rotate in the loosening direction (trying to make the locking pawl 174 rotate in the direction of rotation). Fig.11 clockwise movement in the ).

[0072] Reference now Fig.13A and 13B , showing Figure 3 1 and 2 are enlarged views of cross sections CC and DD of the embodiment of the invention, wherein the chuck 10 is in the unlocked position. At this point, the user has held the front sleeve 30 stationary and has Figure 9-12BThe position shown rotates the locking sleeve 31 in a clockwise direction. Sufficient force is applied to overcome the mechanical resistance of the ramped portion of the latching flange 132, and the locking sleeve 31 has caused the locking latch control member 172 to rotate on the latching flange 132 and into the locking gap 135. In this position, moving the locking sleeve 31 back to the locked position will require forcing the locking latch control member 172 up to the ramped portion of the latching flange 132, which operates as a mechanical resistance to hold the locking sleeve 31 in the unlocked position. This rotational movement in the unlocked position has also caused the locking pawl control member 173 to rise onto the ramped portion 139 of the unlocking flange 138 and move onto the flat portion of the unlocking flange 138 and into the recess 144. In this way, the locking pawl control member 173 overcomes the mechanical bias in the locking arm 180 and deflects the height of the unlocking flange 138 inwardly.

[0073] See now Fig. 13B , the deflection of the locking pawl control member 173 due to engagement with the unlocking flange 138 has also deflected the locking pawl 174 inward. Therefore, the deflected distance (i.e., the height of the unlocking flange 138) is such that the locking pawl 174 is no longer engaged with the ratchet teeth 176 of the toothed ring 72. In this way, the locking ring 70 is free to rotate relative to the toothed ring 72 in the tightening or loosening direction. Therefore, the front sleeve 30 and the nut 40 are also free to rotate relative to the body 41 in the tightening or loosening direction.

[0074] Now refer to Fig.14 , an exemplary embodiment of the chuck 1 is shown as chuck 280 . Fig.14 Shown along Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a chuck 1 with an alternative support and locking assembly 270 taken at AA. In general, the configuration of the support and locking assembly 270 swaps the positions and operative couplings of the locking ring and the toothed ring. In this regard, the ball retainer 250 can be rotatably coupled to the front sleeve 30, and the toothed ring 272 can be rotatably coupled to the ball retainer 250. The support and locking assembly 270 can include a locking ring coupling 274 (as opposed to the toothed ring coupling 74 described above). The locking ring coupling 274 can be rotatably coupled to the body 41, for example, in the same manner as the toothed ring coupling 74 is rotatably coupled to the body 41. The locking ring coupling 274 can also be rotatably coupled to the locking ring 270. As such, the locking ring 270 can include features complementary to the locking ring coupling 274 that engage to rotate the locking ring 270 when the locking ring coupling 274 and the body 41 are rotated.

[0075] Similar to the locking ring 70 and the toothed ring 72, the locking ring 270 and the toothed ring 272 can be engaged via the ball bearing 73 and the controlled engagement of the locking pawl 274 of the locking ring 270 with the ratchet teeth 276 of the toothed ring 272. Also similar to the above, the locking pawl 274 can be movably controlled by the movement of the locking pawl control member 273, which is operably connected to the locking pawl 274 due to, for example, being connected to a common locking arm that is mechanically biased in the outward direction.

[0076] Similar to the locking sleeve 31, the locking sleeve 231 may include an engagement feature on the inner surface of the locking sleeve 231 to move the locking pawl control member 273 inwardly by a threshold distance, thereby disengaging the locking pawl 274 from the ratchet teeth 276 in the unlocked position, or outwardly by a threshold distance, thereby engaging the locking pawl 274 with the ratchet teeth 276 in the locked position, so as to ratchet in the tightening direction and prevent rotation in the loosening direction. According to some exemplary embodiments, in order to rotate the locking sleeve 231, the user can hold the rear sleeve 32 stationary and rotate the locking sleeve 31 relative to the rear sleeve 32 to convert the locking sleeve 231 between the locked position and the unlocked position. In addition, according to some exemplary embodiments, where the chuck 10 is connected to a power driver having a spindle lock, the spindle lock can be operated to keep the body 41 (and therefore the rear sleeve 32) fixed. In this way, the user does not need to keep the rear sleeve 32 stationary because the spindle lock will keep the body 41 stationary, so the user can simply rotate the locking sleeve 231 without also keeping the rear sleeve 32 stationary.

[0077] According to some exemplary embodiments, alternatives to the locking jaws may be implemented to allow the chuck to operate in a locked state and an unlocked state as described herein. In this regard, an alternative wedge arrangement may be employed that includes one or more cylindrical or circular wedge pins that are moved into and out of a wedging or jamming position to prevent accidental loosening of the nut and jaws.

[0078] As described above, a locking sleeve may be used that operates as a user interface to allow a user to switch the chuck between a locked mode (i.e., not allowing loosening, but allowing tightening) and an unlocked mode (i.e., allowing loosening and tightening). The locking sleeve may include an internal feature that is operable to control the position of the wedge pin to transition between a wedging engagement position disposed between the ball retainer and the locking disk (i.e., a wedge pin locked position) and a position in which the pin is not in wedging engagement (i.e., a wedge pin unlocked position). Thus, when the wedge pin is in the wedge pin locked position, the wedge pin is positioned to wedged or jammed engagement between the converging surfaces of the ball retainer and the locking disk to prevent further relative rotational movement in a wedging or jamming direction (e.g., a loosening direction). Thus, because the locking disk is rotationally coupled to the body and the ball retainer is rotationally coupled to the nut, the wedging engagement of the wedge pin causes the body and the nut to be rotationally engaged by the wedge pin to prevent relative rotation that would cause the jaws to loosen. However, according to some exemplary embodiments, when the wedge pin is in wedged engagement between the locking disk and the ball retainer, rotation of the nut relative to the body in a tightening direction can be performed because such rotation pushes the wedge pin out of wedged engagement in the direction of the bifurcated surfaces of the locking disk and the ball retainer to allow relative rotation.

[0079] Now refer to Figures 15 to 21D , which shows various exemplary embodiments of a collet implementing a wedge scheme as described herein. In this regard, reference is now made to Fig.15 , an exemplary embodiment of a collet 1 is shown as collet 300 that operates using a wedge scheme. Fig.16 The locking assembly 310 of the collet 300 is shown. Fig.17A and 17B A view showing the ball retainer 350 of the locking assembly 310, Fig.18 An exemplary locking disk 380 is shown. Fig.19A -D shows a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of an exemplary embodiment of the chuck 300, Fig. 20A -D shows a cross-sectional view showing the operation of another exemplary embodiment of the chuck 300, Figures 21A-21D A cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of yet another exemplary embodiment of collet 300 is shown.

[0080] Reference Fig.15 , some components of the chuck 300 are the same or similar to the chuck 1 or 10, and function in the same or similar manner. In this regard, the chuck 300 may include a jaw 20, a nose 21, a front sleeve 30, a rear sleeve 32, a nut 40 having a jaw plate 140, a body 41, and a snap ring 44. The nut 40 may be connected to the body 41 by a threaded engagement 42.

[0081] According to some exemplary embodiments, the chuck 300 may include a locking assembly 310. The locking assembly 310 may include a ball retainer 311, a locking sleeve 312, a spring and pin assembly 313, and a locking disk 380. Due to the rotation of the locking sleeve 312 relative to the front (or first) sleeve 30, the locking assembly 310 may operate to convert the chuck 300 between a locked state and an unlocked state. According to some exemplary embodiments, the ball retainer 311 may rotate with the front sleeve 30. As such, the locking sleeve 312 may rotate relative to the ball retainer 311. Both the ball retainer 311 and the locking sleeve 312 may rotate separately relative to the body 41 and the locking disk 380, which is coupled to rotate with the body 41. As such, the rotation of the locking sleeve 312 relative to the ball retainer 311 may operate to position the wedge pin to be wedgedly engaged between the ball retainer 311 and the locking disk 380, as further described below. Having described an exemplary embodiment of the locking assembly 310 , various exemplary embodiments of wedge-based locking assemblies will now be described that operate in a similar manner, yet have components with different structures.

[0082] Reference now Fig.16 , an exemplary embodiment of a locking assembly is shown in the form of a locking assembly 314, which is associated with the body 41, the rear sleeve 32 and the snap ring 44. The body 41 is shown as having the stop lip 141, the flat area 142 and the snap ring recess 143 as described above. The rear sleeve 32 may include an internal cavity that can accommodate the locking disk 380, and the rear sleeve 32 may be keyed to engage with the flat area 142 of the body 41, thereby forming a rotational coupling between the rear sleeve 32 and the body 41.

[0083] The locking assembly 314 may include a ball retainer 350, a locking sleeve 360, a spring and pin assembly 370, and a locking disk 380. As a unit, the locking assembly 314 may be secured to the body 41 between the ball 55 engaged with the stop lip 141 of the body and the snap ring 44 engaged with the body 41 at the snap ring recess 143. Fig.17A and 17B In some aspects, ball retainer 350, similar to ball retainer 50, may include an inner flange 352 that engages ball 55 disposed between inner flange 352 and stop lip 141. This engagement limits forward axial movement of ball retainer 350 and provides a low friction engagement with body 41. Ball retainer 350 may include a front portion 356 and a locking assembly engagement portion 355 ( Fig.17A and 17B). The front portion 356 can be connected to the nose 21 or the front sleeve 30 to form a rotational connection with the nose 21 or the front sleeve 30. The locking assembly engagement portion 355 of the ball retainer 350 can include a plurality of features that facilitate the operation of the locking assembly 314. According to various exemplary embodiments provided herein, the locking assembly engagement portion can take a variety of different forms with respect to different exemplary embodiments of the locking assembly, as further described below.

[0084] The locking sleeve 360 ​​may be an exemplary locking sleeve disposed about the locking assembly engagement portion 355 of the ball retainer 350. The spring and pin assembly 370 may be coupled to the inner surface of the locking sleeve 360. Thus, rotation of the locking sleeve 360 ​​may also rotate the spring and pin assembly 370 relative to the lock assembly engagement portion 355 to position one or more wedge pins 371 of the spring and pin assembly 370 in a desired operating position (i.e., in wedging engagement or out of wedging engagement). According to some exemplary embodiments, as Fig.16 As best shown in FIG. 3 , a wedge pin 371 may extend rearwardly from the locking sleeve 360 ​​and into the locking disk 380 .

[0085] The spring and pin assembly 370 may include at least one pin drive spring 320 and at least one wedge pin 371. It is contemplated that, while the exemplary embodiment of the spring and pin assembly 370 includes two pin drive springs 320 and wedge pins 371, the spring and pin assembly 370 may include any number of pin drive springs 320 and associated wedge pins 371 configured to perform the functions described herein in association with the corresponding surfaces of the ball retainer 350. The pin drive spring 320 may be coupled to the interior of the locking sleeve 360 ​​such that the pin drive spring 320 moves with the locking sleeve 360. As further described below, the pin drive spring 320 may include features configured to couple with and control the position of the wedge pin 371. The pin drive spring 320 may be formed of a flexible material (e.g., a flexible metal) that may be connected in a compressive manner to the interior of the locking sleeve 360 ​​between two fixed points to generate a spring force or bias that is at least partially directed toward the central axis of the collet 300. Thus, the locking sleeve 360 ​​may include an internal recess that provides clearance for the pin drive spring 320 to flex. The pin drive spring 320 may tend to push the wedge pin inwardly against the ball retainer 350.

[0086] The wedge pin 371 may include a cylindrical insert having a length extending from a portion engaged with the pin drive spring 320 to a portion disposed within the locking disk 380. According to some example embodiments, the wedge pin 371 may be formed of metal. The outer surface of the wedge pin 371 may have a coefficient of friction that allows the wedge pin 371 to be accommodated between two converging metal surfaces (e.g., surfaces of the ball retainer 350 and the locking disk 380) and does not tend to allow the surfaces to slide relative to each other in converging directions.

[0087] refer to Fig.18 , the locking disk 380 can be rotatably coupled to the body 41 due to the engagement of the keyed surface 383 of the central opening of the locking disk 380 with the flat area 142 of the body 41. The locking disk 380 can also include a locking disk wall 381, for example, disposed around the circumference of the outer edge of the locking disk 380. In this regard, the locking disk wall 381 can be raised from the base of the locking disk 380 to form an internal cavity 382. The locking disk wall 381 may include an inner wall surface 384 that selectively engages with the wedge pin 371. In this way, the wedge pin 371 can extend rearwardly into the internal cavity 382 of the locking disk 380. Similarly, the locking disk 380 can be disposed in the internal cavity of the rear sleeve 32.

[0088] Having described the various components of the locking assembly 314, reference will now be made to Figures 19A to 19D A discussion of the operation of locking assembly 314 is provided. Fig.19A is Fig.15 A cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck 300 is in an unlocked state. Fig.19B is Fig.15 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by EE, wherein the chuck 300 is in an unlocked state.

[0089] Reference Fig.19A, the rear sleeve 32 is shown as having a locking disk 380 and an inner wall surface 384 thereof disposed therein. The body 41 and the ball retainer 350 are also shown. A cross section of the structure of the locking assembly engaging portion 355 of the ball retainer 350 can also be seen. At this point, the lock assembly engaging portion 355 may include a pin engaging surface, and the wedge pin 371 may move along the pin engaging surface. For the ball retainer 350. According to some exemplary embodiments, the pin engaging surface may include an unlocking stop wall 357, an unlocking pin recess 352, and a wedge surface 351. According to some exemplary embodiments, the wedge surface 351 may be linear. In addition, the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 may be arc-shaped or circular. According to some exemplary embodiments, the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 may converge with the wedge surface 351 of the ball retainer 350 to form a wedge-shaped space for the wedge pin 371 in one direction, and diverge in the opposite direction into a space having a width greater than the diameter of the wedge pin 371.

[0090] exist Fig.19A , the chuck 300 is in an unlocked state. Thus, the wedge pin 371 is positioned so that the wedge pin 371 is not in a wedge engagement (i.e., disengaged) between the inner wall surface 384 and the wedge surface 351. In this regard, according to some exemplary embodiments, the wedge pin 371 may be positioned within the unlocking pin recess 352 and abut against the unlocking stop wall 357. The unlocking stop wall 357 may be configured to limit the movement of the wedge pin 371 beyond the unlocking stop wall 357 and prevent engagement with the locking disk 380 beyond the unlocking stop wall 357. In addition, the unlocking pin recess 352 may be a recessed portion on the surface of the ball retainer 350 having a depth that prevents the wedge pin 371 from contacting the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 when the wedge pin 371 is positioned within the unlocking pin recess 352. In this regard, the distance from the inner wall surface 384 to the bottom of the unlocking pin recess 352 may be greater than the diameter of the wedge pin 371. Since the wedge pin 371 is not engaged between the pin engagement surface and the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380, and the wedge pin 371 is in the wedge pin unlocking position, the front sleeve 30 and the nut 40 are allowed to rotate in the tightening direction (e.g., the first direction) and the loosening direction (e.g., the second direction).

[0091] Now refer to Fig.19B , shows a cross section of the collet 300 including the locking sleeve 360 ​​and the pin drive spring 320, and their positioning when the locking sleeve 360 ​​is in the unlocked position. Fig.19B300, but a description of a single pin drive spring is provided below, with the understanding that the description may apply to any number of pin drive springs and related components that may be implemented according to some exemplary embodiments. According to some exemplary embodiments, the pin drive spring 320 may be a flexible metal strip that includes strategically placed features for controlling the movement of the wedge pin 371 and maintaining the position of the wedge pin 371 when desired. The pin drive spring 320 may be fixed to the inner wall of the locking sleeve 360 ​​in a compressed state that pushes the central portion of the pin drive spring 320 toward the central axis of the collet 300, thereby generating an inward bias. In order to maintain the pin drive spring 320 in a proper position within the locking sleeve 360, the pin drive spring 320 may include fixed tabs 321 and 322. Each fixed tab 321 and 322 may be disposed within a corresponding recess 361 and 362 within the inner wall of the locking sleeve 360 ​​to maintain the pin drive spring 320 in a bent position.

[0092] The pin drive spring 320 may also include a pin engagement feature in the form of a pin drive recess 323. The pin drive recess 323 may be formed in the pin drive spring 320 to have an arc shape for receiving and maintaining engagement with the wedge pin 371. In this regard, the pin drive recess 323 may have a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the outer surface of the wedge pin 371. Due to the engagement between the wedge pin 371 and the pin drive recess 323, the wedge pin 371 may move through the pin drive recess 323 when the pin drive spring 320 and the locking sleeve 360 ​​are rotated. However, when the locking sleeve 360 ​​is in the unlocked position, the pin drive spring 320 may apply an inward bias on the wedge pin 371 to force the wedge pin 371 to engage with the pin engagement surface, and more specifically, the unlock pin recess 352 and the unlock stop wall 357.

[0093] The pin drive spring 320, or another spring or member according to some exemplary embodiments, may include a lock control feature. The lock control feature may be coupled to the locking sleeve 360 ​​and engage with the locking feature and unlocking features of the ball retainer 350 in a latching manner. According to some exemplary embodiments, the lock control feature may be alternatively coupled to the ball retainer 350, and the lock feature and unlocking feature may be provided on the locking sleeve 360.

[0094] According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking control feature may be an arcuate locking protrusion 324 on the pin drive spring 320. The locking control feature may be operable to latch the wedge pin 371 to a wedge pin unlocking position, in which the wedge pin 371 is disengaged, or to a wedge pin locking position, in which the wedge pin 371 is engaged between the ball retainer 350 and the locking disk 380. In this regard, the arcuate locking protrusion 324 may interface with a locking feature or an unlocking feature of the ball retainer 350 to latch the locking sleeve 360 ​​and the wedge pin 371 in the unlocking position or in the locking position. According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking feature and the unlocking feature may be an unlocking recess 353 and a locking recess 354.

[0095] exist Fig.19B 3, because the locking sleeve 360 ​​is in the unlocking position, the arcuate locking projection 324 is disposed within the unlocking recess 353. The compression on the pin drive spring 320 may force the arcuate locking projection 324 to move in an inward direction and engage with the unlocking recess 353. Due to the engagement between the arcuate locking projection 324 and the unlocking recess 353, the wedge pin 371 may remain in place unless the user applies sufficient force to the locking sleeve 360 ​​to move the arcuate locking projection 324 out of engagement with the unlocking recess 353.

[0096] We will now describe Fig.19C and 19D , which shows the collet 300 in a locked state. Fig.19C is Fig.15 A cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck 300 is in a locked state. Fig.19D is Fig.15 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by EE, wherein the chuck 300 is in a locked state.

[0097] Fig.19C The wedge pin 371 is shown positioned in a wedge engagement due to the locking sleeve 360 ​​being positioned in the locked position. At this point, the wedge pin 371 has been moved along the pin engagement surface, and more specifically, along the wedge surface 351 from the disengaged position ( Fig.19A and 19B) is moved to a position where the outer surface of the wedge pin 371 contacts both the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 and the wedge surface 351 of the ball retainer 350. In this way, rotation of the ball retainer 350, and therefore rotation of the front sleeve 30 and the nut 40, is prevented in the clockwise (i.e., loosening) direction, but will be permitted in the counterclockwise (i.e., tightening) direction. In this regard, attempting to rotate the ball retainer 350 in the clockwise direction will tend to force the wedge pin 371 into the converging surfaces of the wedge surface 351 and the inner wall surface 384, thereby increasing the wedging force and further securing the wedge engagement. However, attempting to rotate the ball retainer 350 in the counterclockwise direction will tend to force the wedge pin 371 away from the converging surfaces (and toward the diverging surfaces). As further described below, although force is applied by the pin drive spring 320 to hold the wedge pin 371 in place, the flexibility of the pin drive spring 320 can allow sufficient movement of the wedge pin 371 as the front sleeve 30 rotates in the tightening direction to relieve the wedging force and allow relative movement of the ball retainer 350 in a counterclockwise direction and movement of the wedge pin 371 along the inner wall surface 384 of the locking plate 380.

[0098] Now refer to Fig.19D , shows a cross section of the collet 300, which includes the locking sleeve 360 ​​and the pin drive spring 320. In this regard, relative to Fig.19B In the illustrated configuration, the locking sleeve 360 ​​and the pin drive spring 320 have been rotated to the locked position, which causes the wedge pin 371 to move along the wedge surface 351 and into the Fig.19C In addition, because the locking sleeve 360 ​​is in the locked position, the arcuate locking projection 324 is now engaged with the locking recess 354. The compression on the pin drive spring 320 can force the arcuate locking projection 324 to move in an inward direction and engage with the locking recess 354. Due to the engagement between the arcuate locking projection 324 and the unlocking recess 354, the wedge pin 371 can be held in place unless the user applies sufficient force to the locking sleeve 360 ​​to move the arcuate locking projection 324 out of engagement with the locking groove 354.

[0099] Having described the various components of the locking assembly 314, reference will now be made to Figures 20A to 20D A discussion of the construction and operation of alternative locking assemblies is provided. Fig. 20A is Fig.15 A cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck 300 is in an unlocked state. Fig. 20B is Fig.15 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by EE, wherein the chuck 300 is in an unlocked state.

[0100] Reference Fig. 20A , the rear sleeve 32 is shown with a locking disk 380 having an inner wall surface 384 disposed therein. The body 41 and the alternative ball retainer 400 are also shown. A cross section of the structure of the locking assembly engaging portion of the ball retainer 400 can also be seen. At this point, the lock assembly engaging portion may include a pin engaging surface, and the wedge pin 371 may move along the pin engaging surface. For the ball retainer 400, according to some example embodiments, the pin engaging surface may include an unlocking stop wall 410 and a wedge surface 405. According to some example embodiments, the wedge surface 405 may be linear. In addition, the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 may be arcuate or circular. According to some example embodiments, the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 may converge with the wedge surface 351 of the ball retainer 350 to form a wedge space for the wedge pin 371 in one direction, and diverge in the opposite direction into a space having a width greater than the diameter of the wedge pin 371.

[0101] exist Fig. 20A , the chuck 300 is in an unlocked state. Thus, the wedge pin 371 is positioned so that the wedge pin 371 is not in a wedge engagement (i.e., disengaged) between the inner wall surface 384 and the wedge surface 351. In this regard, according to some exemplary embodiments, the wedge pin 371 may be positioned against the unlock stop wall 410. The unlock stop wall 410 may be configured to limit the movement of the wedge pin 371 beyond the unlock stop wall 410 and prevent engagement with the locking disk 380 beyond the unlock stop wall 410. In addition, the wedge pin 371 may be positioned on a pin engagement surface where a maximum distance exists between the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 and the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer 400. The wedge pin 371 may be positioned at a position where the distance between the inner wall surface 384 and the pin engagement surface is greater than the diameter of the wedge pin 371, and thus the wedge pin 371 does not contact the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380. Since the wedge pin 371 is not engaged between the pin engagement surface (e.g., the wedge surface 351) and the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380, the front sleeve 30 and the nut 40 are allowed to rotate in the tightening direction (e.g., the first direction) and the loosening direction (e.g., the second direction).

[0102] Now refer to Fig. 20B , shows a cross section of the collet 300 including the locking sleeve 360 ​​and the pin drive spring 420, and their positioning when the locking sleeve 360 ​​is in the unlocked position. Fig. 20B300, but a single pin drive spring is described below, it should be understood that the description can be applied to any number of pin drive springs that can be implemented according to some exemplary embodiments. According to some exemplary embodiments, the pin drive spring 420 can be a flexible metal strip that includes strategically placed features for controlling the movement of the wedge pin 371 and maintaining the position of the wedge pin 371 when needed. The pin drive spring 420 can be fixed to the inner wall of the locking sleeve 360 ​​in a compressed state so that the pin drive spring 420 pushes the central portion of the pin drive spring 420 toward the central axis of the collet 300, thereby generating an inward bias. In order to keep the pin drive spring 420 in place, the pin drive spring 320 may include fixed tabs 321 and 322. Each fixed tab 321 and 322 can be arranged in a corresponding recess 361 and 362 in the inner wall of the locking sleeve 360. Each fixing tab 321 and 322 may be disposed within a corresponding recess 361 and 362 within an inner wall of the locking sleeve 360 ​​to retain the pin drive spring 320 in a bent position.

[0103] The pin drive spring 420 may also include a pin engagement feature in the form of a pin drive recess 423. The pin drive recess 423 may be formed in the pin drive spring 420 to have an elongated shape for receiving and retaining engagement with the wedge pin 371. In this regard, the pin drive recess 423 may take the form of an extended notch having a flat area 424 between the side walls 425 and 426, wherein the length of the pin drive recess 423 between the side walls 425 and 426 is longer than the diameter of the wedge pin 371. Due to the length of the pin drive recess 423, when the pin drive spring 420 is repositioned by the locking sleeve 360, the wedge pin 371 may roll or travel within the pin drive recess 423 along the flat area 424 between the side walls 425 and 426.

[0104] like Fig. 20B As shown, the wedge pin 371 is in the wedge pin unlocked position due to the positioning of the locking sleeve 360. When the locking sleeve 360 ​​is in the unlocked position, the pin drive spring 420 can apply an inward bias on the wedge pin 371 to force the wedge pin 371 to engage with the pin engagement surface, and more specifically, the wedge surface 405. The engagement between the side wall 425 and the wedge pin 371 can force the wedge pin 371 to engage with the unlock stop wall 410.

[0105] The pin drive spring 420, or another spring or member according to some exemplary embodiments, may include a lock control feature. The lock control feature may be coupled to the locking sleeve 360 ​​and engage with the locking feature and the unlocking feature of the ball retainer 450 in a latching manner. According to some exemplary embodiments, the lock control feature may be alternatively coupled to the ball retainer 450, and the lock feature and the unlocking feature may be provided on the locking sleeve 360.

[0106] According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking control feature of the pin drive spring 420 may be an arcuate locking protrusion 324, which may be operated to latch the wedge pin 371 to a wedge pin unlocking position, in which the wedge pin 371 is disengaged from the locking disk 380, or to a wedge pin locking position, in which the wedge pin 371 is engaged between the ball retainer 350 and the locking disk 380. In this regard, the arcuate locking protrusion 324 may engage with a locking feature or an unlocking feature of the ball retainer 450 to latch the locking sleeve 360 ​​and the wedge pin 371 in the unlocking position or in the locking position. According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking feature and the unlocking feature may be an unlocking recess 353 and a locking recess 354 of the ball retainer 400.

[0107] exist Fig. 20B 3, because the locking sleeve 360 ​​is in the unlocking position, the arcuate locking projection 324 is disposed within the unlocking recess 353. The compression on the pin drive spring 420 may force the arcuate locking projection 324 to move in an inward direction and engage with the unlocking recess 353. Due to the engagement between the arcuate locking projection 324 and the unlocking recess 353, the wedge pin 371 may remain in place unless the user applies sufficient force to the locking sleeve 360 ​​to move the arcuate locking projection 324 out of engagement with the unlocking recess 353.

[0108] We will now describe Fig. 20C and 20D , which shows an embodiment of the collet 300 in a locked state. Fig. 20C is Fig.15 A cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck 300 is in a locked state. Fig.20D is Fig.15 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by EE, wherein the chuck 300 is in a locked state.

[0109] Fig. 20C The wedge pin 371 is shown positioned in a wedge engagement due to the locking sleeve 360 ​​being positioned in the locked position. At this point, the wedge pin 371 has been moved along the pin engagement surface, and more specifically, along the wedge surface 405, from the unlocked or disengaged position ( Fig. 20A and20B ) is moved out to a position where the outer surface of the wedge pin 371 contacts both the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 and the wedge surface 405 of the ball retainer 400. Thus, due to the wedge engagement of the wedge pin 371, rotation of the ball retainer 400, and therefore rotation of the front sleeve 30 and the nut 40, is prevented in a clockwise (i.e., loosening) direction, but will be permitted in a counterclockwise (i.e., tightening) direction. In this regard, attempting to rotate the ball retainer 400 in a clockwise direction will tend to force the wedge pin 371 into the converging surfaces of the wedge surface 405 and the inner wall surface 384, thereby increasing the wedging force and further securing the wedge engagement. However, attempting to rotate the ball retainer 400 in a counterclockwise direction will tend to force the wedge pin 371 away from the converging surfaces (and toward the diverging surfaces). As further described below, although the force applied by the pin drive spring 420 holds the wedge pin 371 in place, the flexibility of the pin drive spring 420 allows sufficient movement of the wedge pin 371 to relieve the wedge force when the front sleeve 30 rotates in the tightening direction, thereby allowing relative movement of the ball retainer 400 in a counterclockwise direction and movement of the wedge pin 371 along the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380.

[0110] Now refer to Fig.20D , shows a cross section of the collet 300, which includes the locking sleeve 360 ​​and the pin drive spring 420. In this regard, relative to Fig. 20B In the illustrated configuration, the locking sleeve 360 ​​and the pin drive spring 420 have been rotated to the locked position, which causes the wedge pin 371 to move along the wedge surface 405 and into the Fig. 20C To move to the wedge pin locked position, the wedge pin 371 moves from a position engaged with the side wall 425 of the pin drive recess 423 along the flat area 424 and into engagement with the side wall 426. Because the wedge pin 371 is able to move relative to the pin drive spring 420, the locking sleeve 360 ​​and the pin drive spring 320 can move a greater distance (e.g., radial distance) than the wedge pin 371 in the transition from the unlocked state to the locked state.

[0111] In addition, because the locking sleeve 360 ​​is in the locked position, the arcuate locking projection 324 is now engaged with the locking recess 354. The compression on the pin drive spring 420 can force the arcuate locking projection 324 to move in the inward direction and engage with the locking recess 354. Due to the engagement between the arcuate locking projection 324 and the unlocking recess 354, the wedge pin 371 can be held in place by the side wall 426 unless the user applies sufficient force to the locking sleeve 360 ​​to move the arcuate locking projection 324 out of engagement with the locking groove 354.

[0112] Having described the various components of some exemplary embodiments of the locking assembly, reference will now be made to Figures 21A to 21D A discussion of the construction and operation of yet another alternative locking assembly is provided. Fig.21A is Fig.15 A cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck 300 is in an unlocked state. Fig.21B is Fig.15 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by EE, wherein the chuck 300 is in an unlocked state.

[0113] Reference Fig.21A , the rear sleeve 32 is shown with a locking disk 380 having an inner wall surface 384 disposed therein. The body 41 and an alternative ball retainer 500 are also shown. A cross-section of the structure of the locking assembly engagement portion of the ball retainer 500 can also be seen. At this point, the lock assembly engagement portion may include a pin engagement surface, and the wedge pin 371 may move along the pin engagement surface. For the ball retainer 500, according to some example embodiments, the pin engagement surface may include a wedge surface 510. According to some example embodiments, the wedge surface 510 may be linear. In addition, the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 may be arcuate or circular. According to some example embodiments, the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 may converge with the wedge surface 351 of the ball retainer 350 to form a wedge space for the wedge pin 371 in either direction, and diverge into a central space having a width greater than the diameter of the wedge pin 371.

[0114] exist Fig.21A , the chuck 300 is in an unlocked state. As such, the wedge pin 371 is positioned such that the wedge pin 371 is not in wedge engagement (i.e., out of engagement) between the inner wall surface 384 and the wedge surface 351. In this regard, according to some exemplary embodiments, the wedge pin 371 may be positioned at a central position on the pin engagement surface or wedge surface 351, for example, at which the gap or distance between the wedge surface 351 and the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 is greater than the diameter of the wedge pin 371. Additionally, the wedge pin 371 may be positioned on the pin engagement surface where a maximum distance exists between the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 and the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer 400. The wedge pin 371 may be positioned at a position where the wedge pin 371 does not contact the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380. Since the wedge pin 371 is not engaged between the pin engagement surface (e.g., the wedge surface 351) and the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380, the front sleeve 30 and the nut 40 are allowed to rotate in the tightening direction (e.g., the first direction) and the loosening direction (e.g., the second direction).

[0115] See now Fig.21B , shows a cross section of the collet 300 including the optional locking sleeve 530 and the optional pin drive spring 520, and their positioning when the locking sleeve 530 is in the unlocked position. Fig.21B 30, but a single pin drive spring is described below, it should be understood that the description can be applied to any number of pin drive springs that can be implemented according to some exemplary embodiments. According to some exemplary embodiments, the pin drive spring 520 can be a flexible metal strip that includes strategically placed features for controlling the movement of the wedge pin 371 and maintaining the position of the wedge pin 371 when needed. The pin drive spring 520 can be fixed to the inner wall of the locking sleeve 530 in a compressed state so that the pin drive spring 520 pushes the central portion of the pin drive spring 520 toward the central axis of the collet 300, thereby generating an inward bias. In addition, the locking sleeve 530 can include an internal column 532, which can further support the pin drive spring 520 and create an increased bias area between the fixing points of the pin drive spring 520. In this regard, in order to keep the pin drive spring 520 in place, the pin drive spring 520 can include fixing tabs 321 and 322. The fixed tab 321 can be arranged in the recess 361, and the fixed tab 322 can be held by compression of the pin drive spring 520 against the fixed wall 531 of the locking sleeve 530. Fixed in this way, the pin drive spring 520 can be held by the locking sleeve 530 in a bent position.

[0116] The pin drive spring 520 may also include two pin engagement features in the form of an unlock pin drive recess 523 and a lock pin drive recess 524. The unlock pin drive recess 523 and the lock pin drive recess 524 may be formed in the pin drive spring 520 to provide for secure and precise positioning of the wedge pin 371 in both the wedge pin unlock position and the wedge pin locked position while also facilitating movement between these positions. According to some exemplary embodiments, when the locking sleeve 530 is rotated, the wedge pin 371 may travel along the wedge surface 351 and within one of the unlock pin drive recess 523 or the lock pin drive recess 524.

[0117] like Fig.21BAs shown, due to the positioning of the locking sleeve 530, the wedge pin 371 is in the wedge pin unlocked position. When the locking sleeve 530 is in the unlocked position, the pin drive spring 520, with the assistance of the post 532, can exert an inward bias on the wedge pin 371 to force the wedge pin 371 to engage with the pin engagement surface, and more specifically, the wedge surface 510. Due to the positioning of the wedge pin 371 within the unlocking pin drive recess 523, the wedge pin 371 (and the locking control feature described below), the wedge pin 371 is maintained in a position where the wedge pin 371 does not contact the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380. In this case, the position is centered on the linear wedge surface 351.

[0118] The pin drive spring 520, or another spring or member according to some exemplary embodiments, may include a lock control feature. The lock control feature may be coupled to the locking sleeve 530 and engage with the locking feature and the unlocking feature of the ball retainer 500 in a latching manner. According to some exemplary embodiments, the lock control feature may be alternatively coupled to the ball retainer 500, and the lock feature and the unlocking feature may be provided on the locking sleeve 530.

[0119] According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking control feature of the pin drive spring 520 may be an arcuate locking protrusion 324, which may be operated to latch the wedge pin 371 to a wedge pin unlocking position, in which the wedge pin 371 is disengaged from the locking disk 380, or to a wedge pin locking position, in which the wedge pin 371 is engaged between the ball retainer 500 and the locking disk 380. In this regard, the arcuate locking protrusion 324 may engage with a locking feature or an unlocking feature of the ball retainer 500 to latch the locking sleeve 530 and the wedge pin 371 in the unlocking position or in the locking position. According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking feature and the unlocking feature may be an unlocking recess 353 and a locking recess 354 of the ball retainer 500.

[0120] exist Fig.21B , because the locking sleeve 530 is in the unlocked position, the arcuate locking projection 324 is disposed within the unlocking recess 353. With the help of the post 532, the compression on the pin drive spring 530 can force the arcuate locking projection 324 to move in an inward direction and engage with the unlocking recess 353. Due to the engagement between the arcuate locking projection 324 and the unlocking recess 353, the wedge pin 371 can remain in place unless the user applies sufficient force to the locking sleeve 530 to move the arcuate locking projection 324 out of engagement with the unlocking recess 353.

[0121] We will now describe Fig. 21C and 21D , which shows an embodiment of the collet 300 in a locked state. Fig. 21C is Fig.15 A cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by FF, wherein the chuck 300 is in a locked state. Fig.21D is Fig.15 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a chuck 300 taken at a plane defined by EE, wherein the chuck 300 is in a locked state.

[0122] Fig. 21C 5. The wedge pin 371 is shown positioned in a wedge engagement due to the locking sleeve 530 being positioned in the locked position. At this point, the wedge pin 371 has been moved along the pin engagement surface, more specifically, along the wedge surface 510 from the unlocked or disengaged position ( Fig.21A and 21B ) is moved out to a position where the outer surface of the wedge pin 371 contacts both the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 and the wedge surface 510 of the ball retainer 400. In this way, rotation of the ball retainer 500, and therefore rotation of the front sleeve 30 and the nut 40, is prevented in the clockwise (i.e., loosening) direction, but is permitted in the counterclockwise (i.e., tightening) direction due to the wedge engagement of the wedge pin 371. In this regard, attempting to rotate the ball retainer 500 in the clockwise direction will tend to force the wedge pin 371 into the converging surfaces of the wedge surface 510 and the inner wall surface 384, thereby increasing the wedge force and further securing the wedge engagement to prevent relative rotation of the ball retainer 500. However, attempting to rotate the ball retainer 500 in the counterclockwise direction will tend to force the wedge pin 371 away from the converging surfaces (and toward the center of the bifurcated surfaces and the wedge surface 351). As further described below, although the force applied by the pin drive spring 520 holds the wedge pin 371 in place, the flexibility of the pin drive spring 520 allows sufficient movement of the wedge pin 371 to relieve the wedging force as the front sleeve 30 rotates in the tightening direction and to allow relative movement of the ball retainer 500 in a counterclockwise direction and movement of the wedge pin 371 along the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380.

[0123] Now refer to Fig.21D , shows a cross section of the collet 300, which includes the locking sleeve 530 and the pin drive spring 520. In this regard, relative to Fig.21B In the illustrated configuration, the locking sleeve 530 and the pin drive spring 520 have been rotated to the locked position, which causes the wedge pin 371 to move along the wedge surface 510 and into the Fig. 20C371 is moved into the wedge engagement shown (i.e., the wedge pin locked position). To move to the wedge pin locked position, the wedge pin 371 moves within the unlocked pin drive recess 523 until the wedge pin 371 engages with the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380. At this point, the arcuate locking projection 324 is not yet disposed within the locking recess 354. However, the locking sleeve 530 and the pin drive spring 520 continue to rotate, causing the unlocked pin drive recess 523 to move out of engagement with the wedge pin 371. Upon further rotational movement, the pin drive spring 520 moves relative to the wedge pin 371, causing the locking pin drive recess 524 to move into engagement with the wedge pin 371 (which is already in wedge engagement), and the arcuate locking projection 324 moves into the locking recess 354. In this configuration, the locking pin drive recess 524, with the help of the engaged arcuate locking protrusion 324, can hold the wedge pin 371 in the wedge pin locking position, wedgingly engaging between the wedge surface 351 and the inner wall surface 384. Because the wedge pin 371 is able to move relative to the pin drive spring 520, the locking sleeve 530 and the pin drive spring 520 can move a greater distance (e.g., radial distance) than the wedge pin 371 in the transition between the unlocked state and the locked state. In addition, the compression on the pin drive spring 520 can force the arcuate locking protrusion 324 to move in an inward direction and engage with the locking recess 354. Due to the engagement between the arcuate locking protrusion 324 and the unlocking recess 354, the wedge pin 371 can be held in place by the locking pin drive recess 524 unless the user applies sufficient force to the locking sleeve 530 to move the arcuate locking protrusion 324 out of engagement with the locking recess 354.

[0124] Referring back to FIG. 21 , to move from the wedge pin locked position to the wedge pin unlocked position, the wedge pin 371 may move within the locking pin drive recess 524 until the wedge pin 371 engages with the inner wall surface 384 of the locking disk 380 (on the side of the wedge surface 351 opposite to the wedge pin locked position, relative to the center of the wedge surface 351). At this point, the arcuate locking projection 324 is not yet disposed within the unlocking recess 353. However, the locking sleeve 530 and the pin drive spring 520 continue to rotate, causing the locking pin drive recess 523 to move out of engagement with the wedge pin 371. Upon further rotational movement, the pin drive spring 520 moves relative to the wedge pin 371, causing the unlocking pin drive recess 523 to move into engagement with the wedge pin 371, and the arcuate locking projection 324 moves into the unlocking recess 354 and may slightly pass the unlocking recess 354. In this configuration, with the aid of the engaged arcuate locking projection 324, the unlocking pin drive recess 524 can move the wedge pin 371 to the wedge pin unlocking position, possibly with a slight backlash, so that the wedge pin 371 does not engage the locking plate 380. The wedge pin 371 can then be held in the wedge pin unlocking position by the pin drive spring 520, as described above.

[0125] According to some exemplary embodiments, a first chuck embodiment for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft is provided. The first chuck embodiment may include a plurality of jaws, a body, a nut, a first sleeve, a locking ring, a toothed ring, and a locking sleeve. The body may be configured to rotate with the drive shaft. The plurality of jaws may be configured to rotate with the body around the central axis of the first chuck embodiment. The plurality of jaws may also be configured to move in an open or closed direction relative to the body. The nut may be operably connected to the jaws so that rotation of the nut relative to the body moves the jaws relative to the body in an open or closed direction. The first sleeve may be operably coupled to the nut to rotate the nut when the first sleeve rotates, and the locking ring may be operably coupled to the first sleeve. The locking ring may include a locking pawl and a locking pawl control member. The locking pawl may be operably coupled to the locking pawl control member. The toothed ring may be operably coupled to the body so that the toothed ring rotates with the body. The toothed ring may include a plurality of ratchets. The locking sleeve may include an unlocking flange and a locking gap. The locking sleeve may rotate relative to the locking ring to a locked position and an unlocked position. When the locking sleeve is set in the locked position, the locking pawl control member can be set in the locking gap to allow a first mechanical bias on the locking pawl to urge the locking pawl to engage with a ratchet tooth of the plurality of ratchet teeth, thereby preventing the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the body in a first rotational direction, but allowing the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in a second rotational direction. The first rotational direction may be opposite to the second rotational direction. When the locking sleeve is set in the unlocked position, the locking pawl control member can engage with the unlocking flange against the force of the first mechanical bias to move the locking pawl out of engagement with the ratchet tooth of the plurality of ratchet teeth, thereby allowing the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

[0126] According to some exemplary embodiments, the first chuck embodiment may include a locking ring, the locking ring further including a locking latch control member. The locking sleeve may also include a latch gap. When the locking sleeve is disposed in the locked position, the latch control member is disposed in the latch gap to form a releasable rotational connection between the locking sleeve and the locking ring, so that the locking sleeve rotates with the first sleeve.

[0127] According to some exemplary embodiments of the first chuck embodiment, the snap lock control member can be subjected to a second mechanical bias, which pushes the snap lock control member into the snap lock gap. The locking ring can be configured to rotate relative to the locking ring away from the locked position by overcoming the second mechanical bias to move the latch control member out of the latch gap.

[0128] According to some exemplary embodiments, the first chuck embodiment may further include a coupling ring operably coupled to the first sleeve to rotate with the first sleeve and the locking ring. The coupling ring may include a coupling ring drive pawl void that receives a locking sleeve drive pawl of the locking sleeve. According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking sleeve drive pawl may be moved within the coupling ring drive pawl void between a locked position and an unlocked position without rotating the coupling ring. According to some exemplary embodiments, the first sleeve may be operably coupled to the locking ring via the coupling ring.

[0129] According to some exemplary embodiments of the first chuck embodiment, the first sleeve may be a front sleeve disposed at an end of the chuck adjacent to the jaws, and the locking sleeve may be disposed adjacent to and behind the first sleeve.

[0130] According to some exemplary embodiments of the first chuck embodiment, the first chuck embodiment may further include a rear sleeve disposed at an end of the chuck adjacent the socket opening in the body, and the locking sleeve may be disposed adjacent and forward of the rear sleeve.

[0131] According to some exemplary embodiments of the first collet embodiment, the locking sleeve may be configured to be movable relative to the first sleeve by a user rotating the locking sleeve while holding the first sleeve stationary.

[0132] According to some exemplary embodiments, the first chuck embodiment may further include a plurality of ball bearings disposed between the locking ring and the gear ring.

[0133] According to some exemplary embodiments, a second chuck embodiment for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft is provided. The second chuck embodiment may include a plurality of jaws, a nut, a first sleeve, a locking ring, a toothed ring, and a locking sleeve. The nut may be operably coupled to the jaws so that rotation of the nut moves the jaws in an open or closed direction. The first sleeve may be operably coupled to the nut to rotate the nut when the first sleeve rotates. The locking ring may include a locking pawl and a locking pawl control member. The locking pawl may be operably coupled to the locking pawl control member. The toothed ring may include a plurality of ratchets, and the locking sleeve may include an unlocking flange and a locking gap. The locking sleeve may be rotated relative to the locking ring to a locked position and an unlocked position. When the locking sleeve is disposed in the locked position, the locking pawl control member may be disposed in the locking gap to allow a first mechanical bias on the locking pawl to push the locking pawl into engagement with a ratchet in the plurality of ratchets, thereby preventing rotation of the first sleeve and the nut in a first rotational direction, but allowing engagement rotation of the first sleeve and the nut in a second rotational direction. The first rotational direction may be opposite to the second rotational direction. When the locking sleeve is disposed in the unlocked position, the locking pawl control member can engage the unlocking flange against the force of the first mechanical bias to move the locking pawl out of engagement with the plurality of ratchet teeth and allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

[0134] According to some exemplary embodiments of the second chuck embodiment, the locking ring may further include a locking latch control member, and the locking sleeve may further include a latch gap. When the locking sleeve is disposed in the locked position, the latch control member may be disposed in the latch gap to form a releasable rotational connection between the locking sleeve and the locking ring, so that the locking sleeve rotates with the first sleeve. According to some exemplary embodiments, the latch control member may be subjected to a second mechanical bias that pushes the latch control member into the latch gap. Additionally, according to some exemplary embodiments, the locking ring may be configured to rotate relative to the locking ring away from the locked position by overcoming the second mechanical bias to move the locking latch control member away from the latch gap.

[0135] According to some exemplary embodiments, the second chuck embodiment may further include a coupling ring operably coupled to the first sleeve to rotate with the first sleeve and the locking ring. The coupling ring may include a coupling ring drive pawl void that receives a locking sleeve drive pawl of the locking sleeve. According to some exemplary embodiments, the locking sleeve drive pawl may be moved within the coupling ring drive pawl void between a locked position and an unlocked position without rotating the coupling ring. According to some exemplary embodiments, the first sleeve may be operably coupled to the locking ring via the coupling ring.

[0136] According to some exemplary embodiments of the second chuck embodiment, the first sleeve may be a front sleeve disposed at an end of the chuck adjacent to the jaws, and the locking sleeve may be disposed adjacent to and behind the first sleeve.

[0137] According to some exemplary embodiments of the second collet embodiment, the second collet embodiment may include a rear sleeve disposed at an end of the collet adjacent to the socket opening in the collet, and the locking sleeve may be disposed adjacent to and forward of the rear sleeve.

[0138] According to some exemplary embodiments of the second collet embodiment, the locking sleeve may be configured to be movable relative to the first sleeve by a user rotating the locking sleeve while holding the first sleeve stationary.

[0139] According to some exemplary embodiments, a third chuck embodiment for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft is provided. The third chuck embodiment may include a plurality of jaws, a body, a nut, a first sleeve, a second sleeve, a locking ring, a toothed ring, and a locking sleeve. The body may be configured to rotate with the drive shaft, and the plurality of jaws may be configured to rotate with the body around the central axis of the third chuck embodiment. The plurality of jaws may also be configured to move in an open or closed direction relative to the body. The nut may be operably coupled to the jaws so that rotation of the nut relative to the body moves the jaws relative to the body in an open or closed direction. The first sleeve may be operably coupled to the nut to rotate the nut when the first sleeve rotates. The second sleeve may be disposed near the spindle opening in the body at the rear end of the third chuck embodiment. The locking ring may be operably coupled to the second sleeve. The locking ring may include a locking pawl and a locking pawl control member. The locking pawl may be operably coupled to the locking pawl control member. The toothed ring may be operably coupled to the first sleeve so that the toothed ring rotates with the first sleeve. The toothed ring may include a plurality of ratchets. The locking sleeve may include an unlocking flange and a locking gap. The locking sleeve may be rotated relative to the locking ring to a locked position and an unlocked position. When the locking sleeve is set in the locked position, a locking pawl control member may be set in the locking gap to allow a first mechanical bias on the locking pawl to push the locking pawl into engagement with a ratchet tooth among the plurality of ratchet teeth, thereby preventing the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the body in a first rotational direction, but allowing the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in a second rotational direction. The first rotational direction may be opposite to the second rotational direction. When the locking sleeve is set in the unlocked position, the locking pawl control member may engage with the unlocking flange against the force of the first mechanical bias to move the locking pawl out of engagement with the plurality of ratchet teeth, thereby allowing the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

[0140] According to some example embodiments, a fourth chuck embodiment is provided. The fourth chuck embodiment can be used with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft. The fourth chuck embodiment can include a plurality of jaws, a body configured to rotate with the drive shaft, and a nut. The nut can be operably coupled to the jaws so that rotation of the nut relative to the body causes the jaws to move relative to the body in an open or closed direction. The fourth chuck embodiment can also include: a first sleeve operably connected to the nut to rotate with the nut in response to rotation of the first sleeve; and a locking disk connected to the body so that the locking disk rotates with the body. The locking disk can include a locking disk wall. The fourth chuck embodiment can also include a ball retainer connected to the first sleeve so that the ball retainer rotates with the first sleeve. In this regard, the ball retainer can include a pin engagement surface. The fourth chuck embodiment can also include a locking sleeve and a wedge pin, the locking sleeve can be rotated relative to the ball retainer to a locked position and an unlocked position, and the wedge pin contacts the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer. In addition, the fourth chuck embodiment may include a pin drive spring connected to the locking sleeve so that the pin drive spring rotates with the locking sleeve. The pin drive spring may engage with the wedge pin to move the wedge pin along the pin engagement surface in response to the rotation of the locking sleeve. In this regard, when the locking sleeve is set in the locked position, the wedge pin may be positioned by the pin drive spring to wedge engage between the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer and the locking disk wall of the locking disk to prevent the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the body in a first rotational direction, but allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate relative to the body in a second rotational direction. The first rotational direction may be opposite to the second rotational direction. In addition, when the locking sleeve is set in the unlocked position, the wedge pin may be positioned by the pin drive spring so that the wedge pin is not in wedge engagement to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

[0141] According to some exemplary embodiments, the fourth chuck embodiment can be changed according to other exemplary embodiments. In this regard, the ball retainer of the fourth chuck embodiment can include a locking feature and an unlocking feature. The lock control feature can be coupled to the locking sleeve. In the locked position, the lock control feature can be configured to engage with the locking feature of the ball retainer in a biased manner to hold the wedge pin in the wedge engagement. In addition, in the unlocked position, the lock control feature can be configured to engage with the unlocking feature of the ball retainer in a biased manner to hold the wedge pin in a position that is not in the wedge engagement.

[0142] Additionally or alternatively, for the fourth chuck embodiment or for an alternative to the fourth chuck embodiment, the pin drive spring may include a locking control feature, and the locking control feature may be an arc-shaped locking protrusion. The locking feature and the unlocking feature may be recesses configured to receive the arc-shaped locking protrusion.

[0143] Additionally or alternatively, for the fourth chuck embodiment or for an alternative to the fourth chuck embodiment, the pin drive spring includes a pin drive recess. The wedge pin can be received in the pin drive recess so that movement of the pin drive spring relative to the ball retainer causes corresponding movement of the wedge pin.

[0144] Additionally or alternatively, for the fourth chuck embodiment or for an alternative to the fourth chuck embodiment, the pin drive spring may include a pin drive recess. The wedge pin may be received in the pin drive recess, and the pin drive spring may move relative to the wedge pin until the wedge pin engages with a side wall of the pin drive recess.

[0145] Additionally or alternatively, for the fourth collet embodiment or for an alternative to the fourth collet embodiment, the pin engagement surface may include an unlocking stop wall.When the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position, the wedge pin may contact the unlocking stop wall.

[0146] Additionally or alternatively, for the fourth chuck embodiment or an alternative to the fourth chuck embodiment, the locking disk wall can be arcuate and the pin engaging surface can be linear such that the locking disk wall and the pin engaging surface converge to form a wedge-shaped space for receiving the wedge pin when the locking sleeve is in the locked position.

[0147] Additionally or alternatively, for the fourth chuck embodiment or for an alternative to the fourth chuck embodiment, the pin drive spring includes a locking pin drive recess and an unlocking pin drive recess.

[0148] Additionally or alternatively, for the fourth chuck embodiment or for an alternative to the fourth chuck embodiment, when the locking sleeve is in the locked position and the wedge pin is in wedging engagement, the wedge pin can be received in the locking pin drive recess. When the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position and the wedge pin is not in wedging engagement, the wedge pin can be received in the unlocking pin drive recess.

[0149] Additionally or alternatively, for the fourth collet embodiment or an alternative to the fourth collet embodiment, the pin engaging surface may be linear and the wedge pin may be positioned at the center of the pin engaging surface when the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position.

[0150] According to some exemplary embodiments, a fifth chuck embodiment is provided. According to some exemplary embodiments, the fifth chuck embodiment can be used with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft. The fifth chuck embodiment can include a plurality of jaws, a locking disk including a locking disk wall, and a nut operably connected to the jaws so that rotation of the nut relative to the locking disk moves the jaws in an open or closed direction. The fifth chuck embodiment can also include: a first sleeve operably connected to the nut; a ball retainer operably connected to the first sleeve so that the ball retainer rotates with the first sleeve. The ball retainer can include a pin engagement surface. The fifth chuck embodiment can also include: a locking sleeve that rotates to a locked position and an unlocked position relative to the ball retainer; a wedge pin that contacts the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer; and a pin drive spring that is coupled to the locking sleeve so that the pin drive spring rotates with the locking sleeve. The pin drive spring can engage with the wedge pin to move the wedge pin along the pin engagement surface in response to rotation of the locking sleeve. When the locking sleeve is set in the locked position, the wedge pin can be positioned by the pin drive spring to be in wedge engagement between the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer and the locking disk wall of the locking disk to prevent the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the locking disk in a first rotational direction, but to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate relative to the locking disk in a second rotational direction. The first rotational direction can be opposite to the second rotational direction. In addition, when the locking sleeve is set in the unlocked position, the wedge pin is positioned by the pin drive spring so that the wedge pin is not in wedge engagement to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

[0151] In addition, for the fifth chuck embodiment or for an alternative to the fifth chuck embodiment, the ball retainer may include a locking feature and an unlocking feature. The locking control feature may be coupled to the locking sleeve. In the locked position, the locking control feature may be configured to engage with the locking feature of the ball retainer in a biased manner to hold the wedge pin in a wedged engagement. In the unlocked position, the locking control feature may be configured to engage with the unlocking feature of the ball retainer in a biased manner to hold the wedge pin in a position not in a wedged engagement.

[0152] Additionally or alternatively, for the fifth chuck embodiment or for an alternative to the fifth chuck embodiment, the pin drive spring may include a locking control feature, and the locking control feature may be an arc-shaped locking protrusion. The locking feature and the unlocking feature may be recesses configured to receive the arc-shaped locking protrusion.

[0153] Additionally or alternatively, for the fifth chuck embodiment or for an alternative to the fifth chuck embodiment, the pin drive spring may include a pin drive recess. The wedge pin may be received in the pin drive recess such that movement of the pin drive spring relative to the ball retainer causes corresponding movement of the wedge pin.

[0154] Additionally or alternatively, for the fifth chuck embodiment or for an alternative to the fifth chuck embodiment, the pin drive spring may include a pin drive recess. The wedge pin may be received in the pin drive recess, and the pin drive spring may move relative to the wedge pin until the wedge pin engages with a side wall of the pin drive recess.

[0155] Additionally or alternatively, for the fifth collet embodiment or for an alternative to the fifth collet embodiment, the pin engagement surface may include an unlocking stop wall.When the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position, the wedge pin may contact the unlocking stop wall.

[0156] Additionally or alternatively, for the fifth chuck embodiment or an alternative to the fifth chuck embodiment, the locking disk wall can be arcuate and the pin engaging surface can be linear such that the locking disk wall and the pin engaging surface converge to form a wedge-shaped space for receiving the wedge pin when the locking sleeve is in the locked position.

[0157] Additionally or alternatively, for the fifth chuck embodiment or for an alternative to the fifth chuck embodiment, the pin drive spring may include a locking pin drive recess and an unlocking pin drive recess. When the locking sleeve is in the locked position and the wedge pin is in wedging engagement, the wedge pin may be received in the locking pin drive recess. When the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position and the wedge pin is not in wedging engagement, the wedge pin may be received in the unlocking pin drive recess.

[0158] Additionally or alternatively, for the fifth collet embodiment or an alternative to the fifth collet embodiment, the pin engaging surface may be linear and the wedge pin may be positioned at the center of the pin engaging surface when the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position.

[0159] According to some exemplary embodiments, a sixth chuck embodiment is provided. According to some exemplary embodiments, the sixth chuck embodiment can be used with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft. The sixth chuck embodiment can include a plurality of jaws, a body configured to rotate with the drive shaft, and a nut operably connected to the jaws and threadedly engaged with the internal cavity of the body, so that rotation of the nut relative to the body causes the jaws to move relative to the body in an open or closed direction. The sixth chuck embodiment can also include: a first sleeve operably connected to the nut to rotate the nut when the first sleeve rotates; and a locking disk connected to the body so that the locking disk rotates with the body. The locking disk can include a locking disk wall. The sixth chuck embodiment can also include a ball retainer connected to the first sleeve so that the ball retainer rotates with the first sleeve. The ball retainer can include a pin engagement surface. The sixth chuck embodiment can also include a locking sleeve that can rotate relative to the ball retainer to a locked position and an unlocked position. The wedge pin can contact the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer. The sixth chuck embodiment may further include a pin drive spring connected to the locking sleeve so that the pin drive spring rotates with the locking sleeve. The pin drive spring may engage with the wedge pin to move the wedge pin along the pin engagement surface in response to rotation of the locking sleeve. When the locking sleeve is set in the locked position, the wedge pin may be positioned by the pin drive spring into a wedge engagement between the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer and the locking disk wall of the locking disk to prevent the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the body in a first rotational direction, but allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate relative to the body in a second rotational direction. The first rotational direction may be opposite to the second rotational direction. When the locking sleeve is set in the unlocked position, the wedge pin may be positioned by the pin drive spring so that the wedge pin is not in a wedge engagement to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

[0160] With the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings, a person skilled in the art to which these embodiments belong will think of many modifications and other embodiments of the chucks set forth herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the chuck is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be understood that different combinations of elements and / or functions can be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, combinations of elements and / or functions different from those explicitly described above are also expected to be set forth in some of the appended claims. Where advantages, benefits, or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be understood that these advantages, benefits, and / or solutions may be applicable to some example embodiments, but not necessarily to all example embodiments. Therefore, any advantages, benefits, or solutions described herein should not be considered to be key, necessary, or essential to all embodiments or the embodiments claimed herein. Although specific terms are used herein, they are used only in a general and descriptive sense, not for the purpose of limitation.

Claims

1. A chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft, the chuck comprising: Multiple grippers; a body configured to rotate with the drive shaft; a nut operably coupled to the jaws such that rotation of the nut relative to the body moves the jaws relative to the body in an open direction or a closed direction; a first sleeve operably coupled to the nut to rotate with the nut in response to rotation of the first sleeve; a locking disk coupled to the body so that the locking disk rotates with the body, the locking disk comprising a locking disk wall; a ball retainer coupled to the first sleeve so that the ball retainer rotates with the first sleeve, the ball retainer including a pin engaging surface; a locking sleeve rotatable relative to the ball retainer to a locked position and an unlocked position; a wedge pin in contact with a pin engaging surface of the ball retainer; a pin drive spring coupled to the locking sleeve so that the pin drive spring rotates with the locking sleeve, the pin drive spring contacting the wedge pin to move the wedge pin along the pin engagement surface in response to rotation of the locking sleeve; wherein, when the locking sleeve is arranged in the locked position, the wedge pin is positioned by the pin drive spring to be in wedge engagement between the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer and the locking disk wall of the locking disk to prevent the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the body in a first rotational direction, but allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate relative to the body in a second rotational direction, the first rotational direction being opposite to the second rotational direction; and Wherein, when the locking sleeve is arranged in the unlocked position, the wedge pin is positioned by the pin drive spring so that the wedge pin is not in the wedge engagement to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

2. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: The ball retainer includes a locking feature and an unlocking feature; wherein a locking control feature is coupled to said locking sleeve; wherein, in the locked position, the lock control feature is disposed in biased engagement with the locking feature of the ball retainer to retain the wedge pin in the wedge engagement; Wherein, in the unlocked position, the lock control feature is arranged to be in biased engagement with the unlocking feature of the ball retainer to retain the wedge pin in a position not in the wedging engagement.

3. The chuck according to claim 2, wherein: The pin drive spring includes the lock control feature, and the lock control feature is an arc-shaped lock protrusion; The locking feature and the unlocking feature are recessed portions configured to receive the arc-shaped locking protrusion.

4. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: The pin drive spring includes a pin drive recess; wherein the wedge pin is received within the pin drive recess such that movement of the pin drive spring relative to the ball retainer causes corresponding movement of the wedge pin.

5. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: The pin drive spring includes a pin drive recess; wherein the wedge pin is received within the pin drive recess; Wherein, the pin drive spring is movable relative to the wedge pin until the wedge pin engages with a side wall of the pin drive recess.

6. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: The pin engagement surface includes an unlock stop wall, wherein the wedge pin contacts the unlock stop wall when the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position.

7. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: The locking disk wall is arcuate and the pin engaging surface is linear such that the locking disk wall and the pin engaging surface converge to form a wedge-shaped space for receiving the wedge pin when the locking sleeve is in the locked position.

8. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: The pin drive spring includes a locking pin drive recess and an unlocking pin drive recess; wherein when the locking sleeve is in the locked position and the wedge pin is in the wedging engagement, the wedge pin is received within the locking pin drive recess; Wherein, when the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position and the wedge pin is not in the wedging engagement, the wedge pin is received in the unlocking pin driving recess.

9. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: The pin engaging surface is linear and the wedge pin is positioned at the center of the pin engaging surface when the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position.

10. The chuck according to claim 1, wherein: The wedge pin is rotatable relative to the ball retainer and the locking sleeve about a wedge pin axis, the wedge pin axis being parallel to a central axis of the collet.

11. A chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft, the chuck comprising: Multiple grippers; a locking disk including a locking disk wall; a nut operably coupled to the jaws such that rotation of the nut relative to the locking disk moves the jaws in the opening direction or the closing direction; a first sleeve operably coupled to the nut; a ball retainer operably coupled to the first sleeve so that the ball retainer rotates with the first sleeve, the ball retainer including a pin engaging surface; a locking sleeve rotatable relative to the ball retainer to a locked position and an unlocked position; a wedge pin in contact with a pin engaging surface of the ball retainer; a pin drive spring coupled to the locking sleeve so that the pin drive spring rotates with the locking sleeve, the pin drive spring contacting the wedge pin to move the wedge pin along the pin engagement surface in response to rotation of the locking sleeve; wherein, when the locking sleeve is disposed in the locked position, the wedge pin is positioned by the pin drive spring to be in wedge engagement between the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer and the locking disk wall of the locking disk to prevent the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the locking disk in a first rotational direction but to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate relative to the locking disk in a second rotational direction, the first rotational direction being opposite to the second rotational direction; and Wherein, when the locking sleeve is arranged in the unlocked position, the wedge pin is positioned by the pin drive spring so that the wedge pin is not in the wedge engagement to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

12. The chuck according to claim 11, wherein: The ball retainer includes a locking feature and an unlocking feature; wherein a locking control feature is coupled to said locking sleeve; wherein, in the locked position, the lock control feature is disposed in biased engagement with the locking feature of the ball retainer to retain the wedge pin in the wedge engagement; Wherein, in the unlocked position, the lock control feature is arranged to be in biased engagement with the unlocking feature of the ball retainer to retain the wedge pin in a position not in the wedging engagement.

13. The chuck according to claim 12, wherein: The pin drive spring includes the lock control feature, and the lock control feature is an arc-shaped lock protrusion; The locking feature and the unlocking feature are recessed portions configured to receive the arc-shaped locking protrusion.

14. The chuck of claim 1, wherein: The pin drive spring includes a pin drive recess; wherein the wedge pin is received within the pin drive recess such that movement of the pin drive spring relative to the ball retainer causes corresponding movement of the wedge pin.

15. The chuck of claim 1, wherein: The pin drive spring includes a pin drive recess; wherein the wedge pin is received within the pin drive recess; Wherein, the pin drive spring is movable relative to the wedge pin until the wedge pin engages with a side wall of the pin drive recess.

16. The chuck of claim 11, wherein: The pin engagement surface includes an unlock stop wall, wherein the wedge pin contacts the unlock stop wall when the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position.

17. The chuck of claim 11, wherein: The locking disk wall is arcuate and the pin engaging surface is linear such that the locking disk wall and the pin engaging surface converge to form a wedge-shaped space for receiving the wedge pin when the locking sleeve is in the locked position.

18. The chuck of claim 11, wherein: The pin drive spring includes a locking pin drive recess and an unlocking pin drive recess; wherein when the locking sleeve is in the locked position and the wedge pin is in the wedging engagement, the wedge pin is received within the locking pin drive recess; Wherein, when the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position and the wedge pin is not in the wedging engagement, the wedge pin is received in the unlocking pin driving recess.

19. The chuck of claim 11, wherein: The pin engaging surface is linear and the wedge pin is positioned at the center of the pin engaging surface when the locking sleeve is in the unlocked position.

20. A chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive shaft, the chuck comprising: Multiple grippers; a body configured to rotate with the drive shaft; a nut operably coupled to the jaw and threadedly engaged with the interior cavity of the body such that rotation of the nut relative to the body moves the jaw relative to the body in an open direction or a closed direction; a first sleeve operably coupled to the nut to rotate the nut when the first sleeve rotates; a locking disk coupled to the body so that the locking disk rotates with the body, the locking disk comprising a locking disk wall; a ball retainer coupled to the first sleeve so that the ball retainer rotates with the first sleeve, the ball retainer including a pin engaging surface; a locking sleeve rotatable relative to the ball retainer to a locked position and an unlocked position; a wedge pin in contact with a pin engaging surface of the ball retainer; as well as a pin drive spring coupled to the locking sleeve so that the pin drive spring rotates with the locking sleeve, the pin drive spring contacting the wedge pin to move the wedge pin along the pin engagement surface in response to rotation of the locking sleeve; wherein, when the locking sleeve is arranged in the locked position, the wedge pin is positioned by the pin drive spring to be in wedge engagement between the pin engagement surface of the ball retainer and the locking disk wall of the locking disk to prevent the first sleeve and the nut from rotating relative to the body in a first rotational direction, but allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate relative to the body in a second rotational direction, the first rotational direction being opposite to the second rotational direction; and Wherein, when the locking sleeve is arranged in the unlocked position, the wedge pin is positioned by the pin drive spring so that the wedge pin is not in the wedge engagement to allow the first sleeve and the nut to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction.

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