Ball locking clamp

Abstract

This application discloses a ball-locking clamp, relating to the field of clamps, comprising a locking body, a cover, and a piston. The locking body has multiple sets of annular through grooves, each containing a movably disposed ball. A piston that engages with the ball is located inside the locking body. The cover engages with the outer surface of the locking body. The precise engagement of the piston guide ramp with the ball, combined with the stability of spring return, reduces component jamming and wear. Furthermore, the circular retaining spring and limiting block further enhance structural reliability. The point-to-surface contact between the ball and the arc-shaped groove ensures uniform clamping force distribution, avoiding localized force concentration and improving service life.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of clamps, and more particularly to ball-locking clamps. Background Technology

[0002] In fields such as machining, automated equipment, and assembly lines, clamps are key components for positioning workpieces and fixing parts. Their locking reliability and ease of operation directly affect production efficiency and equipment stability.

[0003] Currently, most clamps on the market adopt structural forms such as threaded locking and lever clamping. Among them, threaded locking clamps require manual rotation, which is not only inefficient, but also prone to loosening in vibration environments, making it difficult to meet the rapid response requirements of automated production. Lever clamps are limited by their structure, with a small clamping stroke and a narrow range of applications, making them unsuitable for workpieces or parts of different specifications. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a ball-locking clamp.

[0005] The steel ball locking clamp provided in this application adopts the following technical solution: it includes a locking body, a cover and a piston. The locking body has multiple sets of annular through grooves, and steel balls are movably arranged in each of the multiple sets of annular through grooves. The locking body is provided with a piston that cooperates with the steel balls. The cover is engaged with the outer surface of the locking body.

[0006] By adopting the above technical solution, the annular groove provides space for the steel ball to move. The piston can push the steel ball to extend and retract radially through axial movement. With the locking assembly of the cover and the locking body, the locking and unlocking functions can be realized. The overall structure is compact and easy to integrate and install.

[0007] Preferably, the inner wall of the locking body is provided with multiple sets of springs for driving the piston to reset.

[0008] By adopting the above technical solution, the piston can be automatically reset by utilizing the elastic force of the spring, ensuring that the piston can promptly push the steel ball into the locking state after the air is cut off. This improves the response speed and automation of the clamp, while the multiple sets of springs ensure that the piston is subjected to uniform force, making the reset process more stable.

[0009] Preferably, a limiting block is fixedly installed on the outer surface of the locking body, and the limiting block is used to limit the engagement position of the cover.

[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, the assembly position of the cover on the locking body can be precisely defined, avoiding deviation in the fit between the cover and the steel ball due to assembly offset, ensuring the alignment accuracy of the arc groove and the steel ball, and preventing axial movement of the cover during use, thus improving the assembly stability of the overall structure.

[0011] Preferably, a circular retaining spring is provided at the bottom of the inner wall of the locking body, which is used to prevent the piston from falling out of the locking body.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, the circular retaining ring can axially limit the piston, preventing the piston from falling off the bottom of the inner wall of the locking body during the spring return thrust or assembly process, ensuring the stability of the fit between the piston and the steel ball, and facilitating the disassembly and maintenance of the piston, thus improving the safety and assembly convenience of the overall structure of the clamp.

[0013] Preferably, the inner wall of the cover is provided with an arc-shaped groove adapted to multiple sets of steel balls, and the depth of the arc-shaped groove is adapted to the radius of the steel balls, so that the steel balls can be partially embedded in the arc-shaped groove to achieve a locking fit.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, when the steel ball is pushed outward, it can be partially embedded in the arc groove to form a point-to-surface contact locking fit. The fitting depth of the arc groove ensures the locking effect after the steel ball is embedded, increases the locking friction, effectively prevents the cover and the locking body from sliding relative to each other, improves the locking reliability, and avoids excessive pressure of the steel ball on the cover, which would cause wear.

[0015] Preferably, the multiple sets of annular through grooves are evenly spaced along the axial direction of the locking body.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, multiple sets of steel balls form evenly distributed locking points in the axial direction. When locking is achieved, the clamping force on the cover is evenly distributed along the axial direction, avoiding excessive local force that could cause deformation or damage to the components.

[0017] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0018] 1. By utilizing the precise fit between the piston guide ramp and the steel ball, combined with the stability of the spring return, component jamming and wear are reduced. At the same time, the circular retaining ring and the limit block further improve the structural reliability. Furthermore, the point-to-surface contact fit between the steel ball and the arc groove ensures uniform clamping force distribution, avoids localized force concentration, and improves service life.

[0019] 2. Automatic locking and unlocking are achieved by using air pressure and springs, with a rapid response, solving the problems of low efficiency and difficulty in adapting to automated production of threaded locking clamps. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the locking main structure in this utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cover structure in this utility model;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the structure of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the piston mounting structure in this utility model.

[0025] Reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Locking body; 11. Annular through groove; 12. Limiting block; 13. Spring; 14. Circular snap ring; 2. Steel ball; 3. Cover; 31. Arc groove; 4. Piston. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figures 1-5 This application will be described in further detail.

[0027] This application discloses a ball-locking clamp.

[0028] Example 1

[0029] Reference Figures 1 to 5 The device includes a locking body 1, a cover 3, and a piston 4. The locking body 1 has multiple sets of annular grooves 11, each containing a steel ball 2. The annular grooves 11 are evenly spaced along the axial direction of the locking body 1. The locking body 1 has a piston 4 that cooperates with the steel ball 2 inside. The cover 3 is engaged with the outer surface of the locking body 1.

[0030] Example 2

[0031] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 The inner wall of the locking body 1 is provided with multiple sets of springs 13 for driving the piston 4 to reset. When the piston 4 moves upward by air supply, the piston 4 compresses the springs 13 to store elastic potential energy. When the air supply is cut off, the springs 13 release the elastic potential energy, pushing the piston 4 to reset downward along the inner wall of the locking body 1, thereby driving the steel ball 2 to achieve the locking action. The elastic force of the springs 13 can be selected and adapted according to the actual clamping force requirements. A circular retaining spring 14 is provided at the bottom of the inner wall of the locking body 1. The circular retaining spring 14 is used to prevent the piston 4 from falling out of the locking body 1. At the same time, the reserved movement gap does not affect the normal axial reset stroke of the piston 4, ensuring that the piston 4 can drive the steel ball 2 to complete the locking action.

[0032] Example 3

[0033] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 A limiting block 12 is fixedly installed on the outer surface of the locking body 1. The limiting block 12 is used to limit the engagement position of the cover 3. When the cover 3 is engaged from the bottom end of the locking body 1 upwards, the top end face of the cover 3 can abut against the bottom end face of the limiting block 12, thereby accurately limiting the upper limit position of the engagement of the cover 3.

[0034] Example 4

[0035] Reference Figure 3 The inner wall of the cover 3 has arc-shaped grooves 31 that are adapted to multiple sets of steel balls 2, and the depth of the arc-shaped grooves 31 is adapted to the radius of the steel balls 2, so that the steel balls 2 can be partially embedded in the arc-shaped grooves 31 to achieve a locking fit. When the piston 4 returns to its original position and pushes the steel balls 2 radially outward, the outer part of the steel balls 2 can be embedded in the arc-shaped grooves 31 to form a point-to-surface contact locking fit. The arc surface design of the arc-shaped grooves 31 can increase the contact area with the steel balls 2, reduce local pressure, reduce wear, effectively prevent the cover 3 from moving axially, and improve the locking reliability.

[0036] The implementation principle of the steel ball locking clamp in this embodiment is as follows: When it is necessary to release the workpiece, air is introduced into the lower part of the piston 4 inside the locking body 1. The air pressure generates an upward thrust to drive the piston 4 to slide upward along the inner wall of the locking body 1. During the movement, the piston 4 compresses multiple sets of springs 13 to store elastic potential energy. As the piston 4 moves upward, the guide slope of its outer wall gradually disengages from contact with the steel ball 2. The steel ball 2 loses radial support and contracts towards the inner side of the annular through groove 11 under the squeezing action of the inner wall of the cover 3. At this time, the steel ball 2 disengages from the arc groove 31 of the inner wall of the cover 3, and the cover 3 can move freely along the axial direction of the locking body 1 to realize the release of the workpiece.

[0037] Locking process: When it is necessary to clamp the workpiece, the air supply is stopped, the air pressure inside the locking body 1 disappears, the multiple sets of springs 13 release elastic potential energy, and push the piston 4 downward to reset. During the downward movement of the piston 4, its guide slope contacts the steel ball 2 and generates radial thrust, pushing the steel ball 2 to extend outward of the annular through groove 11 until the steel ball 2 is partially embedded in the arc groove 31 on the inner wall of the cover body 3. The arc groove 31 and the steel ball 2 form a point-to-surface contact locking fit. At the same time, the steel balls 2 evenly distributed along the axial direction in the multiple sets of annular through grooves 11 make the cover body 3 uniformly stressed, thereby achieving reliable locking between the cover body 3 and the locking body 1, and thus clamping the workpiece.

[0038] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A ball-locking clamp, characterized in that: It includes a locking body (1), a cover (3) and a piston (4). The locking body (1) has multiple sets of annular through grooves (11), and steel balls (2) are movably arranged in each set of annular through grooves (11). The locking body (1) is equipped with a piston (4) that cooperates with the steel ball (2); The cover (3) engages with the outer surface of the locking body (1).

2. The ball-locking clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the locking body (1) is provided with multiple sets of springs (13) for driving the piston (4) to reset.

3. The ball-locking clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that: A limiting block (12) is fixedly installed on the outer surface of the locking body (1), and the limiting block (12) is used to limit the engagement position of the cover (3).

4. The ball-locking clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that: A circular retaining ring (14) is provided at the bottom of the inner wall of the locking body (1), which is used to prevent the piston (4) from falling out of the locking body (1).

5. The ball-locking clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the cover (3) is provided with an arc-shaped groove (31) that is adapted to multiple sets of steel balls (2), and the depth of the arc-shaped groove (31) is adapted to the radius of the steel ball (2), so that the steel ball (2) can be partially embedded in the arc-shaped groove (31) to achieve a locking fit.

6. The ball-locking clamp according to claim 4, characterized in that: The multiple sets of annular through grooves (11) are evenly spaced along the axial direction of the locking body (1).

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