Diaphragm Chuck Clamping Jaws with Radial Play and Reference Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing diaphragm chucks require ground-in clamping jaws, limiting their exchangeability and increasing setup times and costs, as new jaws must be ground for each chuck, making them inflexible and costly to maintain.

Innovation Solution

The diaphragm chuck design features clamping jaws with radial play and two reference surfaces for precise positioning, using spring detents and quick-clamping devices to securely attach the jaws to the diaphragm, allowing for easy exchange and machining without regrinding, and enabling concentric contact surfaces for consistent clamping accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If clamping jaws are ground in for a particular chuck to maintain precision, then clamping accuracy is improved, but exchangeability of clamping jaws deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping accuracyVSAvoidexchangeability of clamping jaws

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping system is divided into separate functional components: the chuck body with diaphragm and reference surfaces, and the detachable clamping jaws with contact pieces. This segmentation allows the jaws to be manufactured separately with standard precision and exchanged without affecting the chuck's reference surfaces, resolving the contradiction between maintaining accuracy and enabling exchangeability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Reference surfaces and contact pieces act as intermediaries between the chuck body and clamping jaws. These standardized interfaces enable precise positioning and reproducible clamping accuracy without requiring the jaws to be ground in for each specific chuck, thus allowing both high accuracy and easy exchangeability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If clamping jaws are ground out when machining operation is modified, then clamping precision is maintained, but setup time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping precisionVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The reference surfaces on the chuck body and the contact pieces on the clamping jaws are pre-manufactured with precise dimensions and geometries during the initial manufacturing process. This preliminary action ensures that when clamping jaws are exchanged, no additional grinding or time-consuming adjustments are needed, thus maintaining precision while minimizing setup time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple clamping jaws are stocked for different operations, then adaptability is improved, but investment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of clamping operationsVSAvoidinvestment costs for stocking jaws

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The standardized reference surfaces and contact pieces create a universal interface system where a single set of clamping jaws can be used across multiple chuck units and different machining operations. This universality reduces the need to stock numerous specialized jaw sets, thereby lowering investment costs while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration allows for rapid and straightforward exchange of clamping jaws, reducing setup times and costs, while maintaining high clamping accuracy and broadening the chuck's application range by enabling the use of specially produced jaws without regrinding, thus simplifying jaw stocking and machining operations.

Implementation Method 1

composed of a detent pin arranged axially in parallel to the first reference surface of the diaphragm and inserted in a hole in the diaphragm or the clamping jaws or clamping heads that can be moved axially against the force of a spring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7862051B2Diaphragm chuck

Publication Date: 2011.01.04 SMW AUTOBLOK SPANNSYST GMBH

AI summary

A diaphragm chuck assembly having clamping jaws disposed in a chuck body and in driven connection with a diaphragm deformable by an axially adjustable actuator, the clamping jaws having contact pieces, in which counterweights are disposed in recesses of the chuck body and the clamping jaws are clamped against the diaphragm by means of quick-clamping devices engaging in the contact pieces, the contact pieces being arranged in the diaphragm and in the counterweights with radial play. The clamping jaws are supported against a first surface extending axially in parallel to the chuck body in the clamping position and against a second reference surface extending at right angles to the first reference surface and into the diaphragm. The clamping jaws can be changed in a short time and the clamping jaws can be replaced without having to be reground.