Curved Pathway Chuck for Perpendicular Clamp Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Longworth Chuck, commonly used for centering and clamping workpieces, faces limitations due to its constant curvature arc design, leading to mechanical interference, workpiece chatter, and restricted size handling, as it requires more force to move clamps when slots are not perpendicular, causing binding and reduced holding force.
Innovation Solution
The use of mirrored curved shapes, specifically spiral pathways and mirrored pathways, ensures that push/pull locating pins remain perfectly perpendicular during counter-rotation, minimizing rotational force and preventing binding, allowing for a greater range of movement and improved holding force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If constant curvature arc slots are used in Longworth Chuck, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the slots become less perpendicular during rotation causing mechanical interference and binding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved pathways with specifically designed variable curvature instead of constant curvature arcs. The pathways are shaped so that they maintain perpendicularity between opposing slots throughout the rotation range, eliminating binding while remaining manufacturable through conventional slot cutting processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If slot length is increased to handle larger workpieces, then versatility improves, but perpendicularity is lost causing force variation and workpiece chatter
Solution Approach 1:
The curved pathways are designed with variable curvature that maintains perpendicularity between opposing slots across the entire slot length. This allows slots to be extended for larger workpieces while preventing the force variation and chatter that occur with constant curvature arcs.
3Ease of operation
If clamps are forced inward or outward through plate rotation, then centering and clamping function is achieved, but excessive force is required when slots are not perpendicular
Solution Approach 1:
The curved pathways are specifically shaped to maintain perpendicularity between opposing slots during rotation, ensuring that the force required to move clamps remains minimal and constant throughout the centering and clamping operation.
4Length of moving object
If intersect angle increases as slots move inward, then clamping range is extended, but holding force decreases causing mechanical interference
Solution Approach 1:
The variable curvature of the pathways is designed to maintain perpendicularity between opposing slots throughout their entire length, allowing slots to extend inward for greater clamping range while maintaining consistent holding force and preventing mechanical interference.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is the shape of a curvature of two or more pathways for a device having moving parts that cause movement of an object along those pathways, such that the device can locate or hold the object. In the embodiment, an apparatus is described that centers and optionally locks an object at a desired location. The applications for such a device are varied and can range from chucking a workpiece of varying diameters in a lathe, to centering a drone on a landing zone, to medical and scientific devices to capture and center objects to study, to moving atomic level objects using an electromagnetic field. The scope of this disclosure is the mathematics that defines the mirrored curvatures of each curved pathway and the positioning of the curvatures relative to each other, and the relative movement of the mirrored curvatures to cause the desired effect.