Zero-Point Clamping Bolt With Radial Locking for Thin Workpieces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing zero-point clamping systems are unable to securely fasten clamping bolts to workpieces with small thickness or material strength, as they require a correspondingly deep receptacle for fastening, making it impossible to clamp very flat or thin workpieces.
Innovation Solution
A clamping bolt with an actuator that can be moved axially and features diagonal pulls and slides, allowing secure fastening without the need for a thick workpiece, using an adjusting screw and T-shaped cross-sections for radial movement and gripping, enabling a form-fit engagement with minimal depth receptacle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional fastening screw is used to secure the clamping bolt to the workpiece, then the clamping bolt can be firmly fastened, but the workpiece must provide a correspondingly deep receptacle, making it impossible to clamp very flat or thin workpieces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the fastening mechanism from axial insertion (conventional screw) to radial movement (slide mechanism). The slide moves radially between release and fastening positions, engaging with fastening sections on the workpiece surface without requiring deep axial receptacles. This dimensional change enables secure fastening of thin workpieces that cannot accommodate deep screw receptacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system employs a dynamic slide mechanism that can transition between release position and fastening position. The slide is movement-coupled to the actuator and moves radially to engage or disengage from the workpiece fastening sections, providing a dynamic fastening solution that adapts to thin workpieces while maintaining secure attachment when engaged.
2Strength
If the workpiece provides a deep receptacle for fastening the clamping bolt, then secure fastening is achieved, but the workpiece material thickness must be significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention shifts the fastening action from the axial dimension (depth) to the radial dimension. The slide mechanism engages with fastening sections that extend only slightly from the workpiece surface, distributing the fastening strength requirement across radial engagement rather than axial insertion depth. This allows thin workpieces to provide sufficient fastening strength without increasing thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide acts as an intermediary element between the clamping bolt and the workpiece. It transfers the fastening force from the actuator to the workpiece fastening sections through radial movement and engagement. This intermediary mechanism enables strong fastening attachment without requiring the workpiece itself to have significant thickness or provide deep receptacles.
3Reliability
If conventional fastening methods are used, then reliable clamping is achieved, but the system cannot accommodate workpieces with small thickness or material strength
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping bolt system with the slide mechanism achieves universal applicability across workpieces of varying thicknesses and material strengths. The radial engagement mechanism adapts to thin workpieces that cannot accommodate conventional axial fastening, while still providing reliable clamping. This multi-functional design allows the same clamping system to securely fasten both thin and thick workpieces, expanding the system's adaptability range.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the engagement parameters from axial depth requirements to radial engagement dimensions. By modifying the fastening mechanism to operate in the radial direction with shallow engagement, the system can accommodate workpieces with small thickness parameters and lower material strength requirements, thereby expanding the range of adaptable workpiece specifications.
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
Enables secure fastening of clamping bolts to workpieces of varying thickness without requiring significant material strength, allowing for reliable clamping of thin workpieces with minimal depth receptacle, ensuring functional reliability and positional accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
An adjusting screw is advantageously provided on the clamping bolt, which is coupled to the actuator in such a way that when the adjusting screw is turned, the actuator is moved in the axial direction. The movement coupling can take place in particular via a thread
Implementation Method 2
the locking body being movement-coupled to the diagonal pull and designed as a slide, so that when the actuator moves axially, the slide is moved in the radial direction between the release position and the fastening position
Implementation Method 3
The clamping bolts are designed here as pull-in clamping bolts which have a cone-surface engaging section against which the locking elements of the clamping receptacle act in such a way that the bolt is drawn into the clamping receptacle when it is locked
Data Source
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AI summary
A clamping bolt (10) of a zero-point clamping system, which can be attached to a workpiece (12) or workpiece carrier and which is designed to be retractable and lockable in a clamping receptacle of the zero-point clamping system for clamping the workpiece (12) or workpiece carrier, characterized in that the clamping bolt (10) has a movable actuating element (22) with a movement-coupled locking body (30) such that when the actuating element (22) is moved, the locking body (30) is moved in a radial direction between a release position and a fastening position, wherein the locking body (30) acts against a workpiece-side or workpiece-carrier-side fastening section (46) to fasten the clamping bolt (10) to the workpiece (12) or workpiece carrier in the fastening position.