Hydraulic Expansion Clamping with Membrane Pressure Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic expansion clamping devices face issues with maintaining constant clamping force during temperature fluctuations, leading to potential damage due to increased pressure from hydraulic fluid expansion during high-temperature workpiece processing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a hollow chamber separated by a compensating membrane within the pressure chamber arrangement, allowing the membrane to deform and absorb fluid expansion, thereby maintaining clamping force and preventing mechanical overstressing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the hydraulic fluid is used to generate clamping force through pressure chamber arrangement, then the clamping force can be effectively applied to the component, but when temperature increases during workpiece processing, the hydraulic fluid expands and increases pressure on the thin wall, which may damage the clamping device
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure chamber arrangement is segmented into multiple independent pressure chambers, each capable of expanding independently. This segmentation allows the system to better accommodate thermal expansion of the hydraulic fluid while maintaining effective clamping force distribution across the component.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow chamber positioned behind the pressure chamber arrangement serves as a pre-designed cushioning space. When the hydraulic fluid expands due to temperature increase, it can expand into this hollow chamber, cushioning the pressure increase and preventing damage to the thin wall and clamping device components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a thin wall is formed between the receptacle and pressure chamber arrangement to enable elastic deformation for clamping, then the clamping device can effectively secure components, but the thin wall is vulnerable to damage from excessive pressure during temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow chamber acts as a pre-prepared cushioning space behind the pressure chamber arrangement. When thermal expansion causes pressure increase, the hydraulic fluid can expand into this hollow chamber, preventing excessive pressure from damaging the thin wall while preserving its elastic deformation capability for effective clamping.
Solution Approach 2:
The thin wall is designed as a flexible elastic deformation wall that can radially expand or contract based on pressure changes. This flexible design allows the wall to adapt to clamping requirements while the hollow chamber provides a safety buffer against excessive pressure that could compromise the wall's structural integrity.
3Power
If the pressure chamber arrangement is acted upon by hydraulic medium to deform the thin wall, then clamping force can be applied, but temperature increase causes hydraulic fluid expansion that may exceed the strength of the base body
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow chamber serves as a pre-designed safety buffer zone behind the pressure chamber arrangement. When thermal expansion of the hydraulic fluid generates excessive pressure that could compromise the base body, the fluid can expand into this hollow chamber, cushioning the pressure increase and preventing damage to the base body while maintaining hydraulic power transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harmful effect of hydraulic fluid thermal expansion is converted into a beneficial feature. Instead of allowing uncontrolled pressure increase that could damage the base body, the expansion is directed into the hollow chamber, transforming what would be a harmful pressure surge into a controlled volume expansion that protects the structural integrity of the clamping device.
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 solution ensures a consistent clamping force and prevents damage to the clamping device by allowing the hydraulic fluid to expand without increasing pressure on the thin wall, thus maintaining stability during temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
when the temperature of the hydraulic fluid increases and it expands
Implementation Method 2
the compensating membrane can deform into the hollow chamber
Implementation Method 3
a thin wall is formed between the receptacle and the pressure chamber arrangement which can be elastically deformed radially outwards or inwards by increasing the pressure in the pressure chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a hydraulic expansion clamping device (1), in particular for fixing a workpiece or a tool on a machine tool, with a base body (2) defining a longitudinal axis (X) on which a clamping area (3) is formed, wherein the clamping area (3) comprises a receptacle (4) with an external clamping surface (5) for a component and a pressure chamber arrangement (7) that can be pressurized with a hydraulic medium and arranged radially within the receptacle (4), wherein a thin wall (10) is formed between the receptacle (4) and the pressure chamber arrangement (7) such that it can be elastically deformed radially outwards by increasing the pressure in the pressure chamber arrangement (7) in order to fix a component pushed onto the receptacle (4) from the inside in a force-fit manner.