Boring Head Active Clamping for Stable Tool Carrier Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boring heads with motor-driven tool carriers face challenges in maintaining the tool carrier's position during boring operations due to large radial forces, requiring stronger motors and passive clamping mechanisms that are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
An active clamping mechanism that uses an energy source, such as batteries, to adjust and apply a high clamping force on the tool carrier, allowing for precise control over the tool carrier's displacement and preventing unwanted movement during boring operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a motor-driven tool carrier is used to enable easy radial displacement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the tool carrier becomes unstable during boring operations due to insufficient clamping force
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism transitions from a static passive spring-based system to a dynamic active system that can adjust clamping force in real-time. The motor-driven clamping mechanism activates during boring operations to provide additional clamping force, then deactivates during displacement operations, dynamically adapting to operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive mechanical spring-based clamping mechanism is replaced with an active motor-driven clamping system. This substitution enables controlled activation and deactivation of clamping force, allowing the system to overcome the fundamental limitation of passive springs which cannot adapt their force level based on operational state.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pre-stressed spring elements are used to clamp the tool carrier, then the stability during boring operations is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase due to larger motors needed
Solution Approach 1:
The displacement motor and clamping mechanism are merged into a single integrated system. The same motor that drives radial displacement of the tool carrier also drives the clamping mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate clamping motor and reducing overall device complexity and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacement motor performs multiple functions: it both displaces the tool carrier radially and actuates the clamping mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of motor components needed in the system, simplifying the overall structure and reducing space requirements within the boring head.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The active clamping mechanism reduces the required motor force, enables precise control over tool carrier displacement, and ensures the tool carrier remains fixed during boring, improving safety and efficiency by maintaining the clamping force even if energy supply is interrupted.
Implementation Method 1
Some prior art documents, such as WO 00/62962 A1 and US 2014/0133930 A1, propose a motorized radial or axial displacement of a tool carrier in a boring head by means of a piezoelectric mechanism.
Implementation Method 2
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,710 B1 and in EP 2 095 897 A1 pre-stressed spring elements are used to effect a clamping force on a tool carrier, in order to prevent an unwanted radial or axial displacement of the tool carrier during the boring operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A boring head is provided comprising a tool body (1) having a main rotation axis (R) about which the tool body (1) rotates during boring operations. The boring head further comprises a tool carrier (6) arranged in or on the tool body (1), a first motor (9) for displacing the tool carrier (6) relative to the tool body (1) and a clamping mechanism (26) with a clamping element (27, 55, 68, 81) for effecting a clamping force on the tool carrier (6), in order to prevent a displacement of the tool carrier (6) relative to the tool body (1) during boring operations. The clamping mechanism (26) is an active clamping mechanism which effects a clamping force that can be adjusted actively.