Collet Chuck Stirring Body Lubricant Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional chucks experience a reduction in clamping force due to centrifugal forces at high peripheral speeds, leading to lubricant separation in lubricant reservoir bores, with mineral oil and additives settling, causing hardening and reduced lubrication effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a stirring body, such as a helical spring or steel balls, within the lubricant reservoir bores to mix the lubricant during acceleration and deceleration, and establishing a closed lubrication circuit connecting pockets and reservoirs via circumferential channels to ensure consistent lubrication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If centrifugal force balancing weights are used to compensate for centrifugal forces at high speeds, then clamping force is maintained, but lubricant separation occurs in the lubricant reservoir bores due to high centrifugal forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping forceVSAvoidlubricant composition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful centrifugal forces that cause lubricant separation into a beneficial mixing mechanism. The stirring body (helical spring or steel balls) utilizes the centrifugal acceleration and deceleration during jaw adjustment to actively mix the lubricant, transforming the harmful separation effect into a useful mixing action that prevents sedimentation of additives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The stirring body is designed to be movable within the lubricant reservoir bore rather than fixed. During acceleration and deceleration of the centrifugal balance weights, the stirring body moves dynamically, creating turbulence and mixing the lubricant. This dynamic element adapts to the operational cycles of the chuck, providing mixing action precisely when centrifugal forces change.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If high peripheral speeds are used to increase productivity, then machining efficiency improves, but centrifugal forces cause clamping jaws to be pulled outward reducing clamping force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining efficiencyVSAvoidclamping force
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs centrifugal force balancing weights that are radially displaceably arranged in the chuck body. These counterweights generate centrifugal forces that oppose and compensate for the centrifugal forces acting on the clamping jaws during high-speed rotation. When the chuck rotates at high peripheral speeds, the counterweights move radially outward, creating a balancing force that prevents the clamping jaws from being pulled outward, thereby maintaining effective clamping force throughout the machining process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Reliability

If lubricant reservoir bores are filled with lubricant for continuous lubrication, then lubrication effectiveness improves, but centrifugal separation of mineral oil and additives occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication effectivenessVSAvoidlubricant homogeneity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful centrifugal forces that cause lubricant separation into a beneficial mixing mechanism. The stirring body (helical spring or steel balls) utilizes the centrifugal acceleration and deceleration during jaw adjustment to actively mix the lubricant, transforming the harmful separation effect into a useful mixing action that prevents sedimentation of additives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The stirring action occurs periodically during each acceleration and deceleration cycle of the centrifugal balance weights. This periodic mixing action continuously prevents lubricant separation throughout operation, ensuring that the lubricant remains homogeneous and effective during the periodic cycles of jaw adjustment and machining operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

Prevents lubricant separation and hardening, maintaining effective lubrication by ensuring thorough mixing and circulation of lubricant throughout the system, even under high centrifugal forces.

Implementation Method 1

due to the high centrifugal forces, particularly in the lubricant reservoir bores, the lubricant is centrifugally separated into its mineral oil and additive phases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

at least one stirring body is accommodated in the lubricant reservoir bores, which is arranged and/or designed such that it performs movements during operation in order to stir the lubricant contained in the respective lubricant reservoir bore

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStirring: Stirring

Data Source

PatentEP1974841B1Collet chuck
Publication Date: 2008.12.17 SCHUNK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP1974841B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1974841B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1974841B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The chuck has recesses formed in a chuck body (1), where conveying elements are radially and movably led into the recesses. A pumping unit pumps lubricant that is collected in the recesses by radial movement of the conveying elements into lubrication holes. Lubricant reservoir holes are formed in the chuck body and are connected with the recesses running in chuck axial direction. A stirring body (33) accommodated in the reservoir holes is arranged such that the stirring body performs movements to stir the lubricant contained in the respective reservoir holes.