Hydrostatic Arbor Sleeve With Radial Locators for Non-Marring Workholding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workholding apparatuses for machining and gauging cylindrical and annular workpieces often struggle to provide secure and precise engagement, especially when dealing with varying workpiece sizes and shapes, leading to potential marring and inconsistent measurements.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulically expandable arbor with radially movable locators and a retainer collar system that uses pressurized fluid to engage and securely hold workpieces, allowing for precise axial positioning and measurement without direct contact from the collar, utilizing materials like tool steel and Nitinol for enhanced expansion capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mechanical workholding apparatuses are used to hold cylindrical and annular workpieces, then the workpiece can be secured for machining and gauging operations, but the engagement may cause marring of the workpiece surface and inconsistent measurements due to varying workpiece sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydrostatic actuation system where fluid pressure is applied to an expandable sleeve, causing locators to move radially outward and engage the workpiece bore. This hydraulic mechanism provides smooth, controlled engagement that secures the workpiece without the impact and surface damage associated with traditional mechanical clamping systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The locators are designed to change their radial position parameter dynamically in response to fluid pressure changes. By controlling the pressure level, the system can adjust the engagement force and radial position of locators to match varying workpiece sizes and shapes, ensuring secure holding while minimizing marring through optimized contact pressure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fixed locators are used to hold workpieces, then the structure is simple, but the apparatus cannot adapt to varying workpiece sizes and shapes, leading to inconsistent measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed, static locators to dynamic, movable locators that can change their radial position. The expandable sleeve mechanism allows locators to move outward or inward based on fluid pressure, enabling the same apparatus to adapt to different workpiece diameters and shapes while maintaining secure engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrostatic workholding apparatus is designed to handle multiple workpiece sizes and shapes using a single device configuration. The expandable sleeve with movable locators provides universal adaptability, allowing the same apparatus to securely hold various cylindrical and annular workpieces without requiring multiple specialized fixtures.
3Measurement precision
If the retainer collar directly contacts the workpiece for axial positioning, then axial location is achieved, but the collar may cause marring and interfere with measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate mechanism where the expandable sleeve acts as a mediator between the retainer collar and the workpiece. The sleeve transmits the axial positioning force from the collar to the workpiece through the locators, preventing direct contact between the collar and workpiece surface, thereby eliminating marring while maintaining precise axial location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct mechanical contact from the retainer collar with a hydrostatically actuated indirect contact system. Fluid pressure actuates the expandable sleeve and locators to achieve axial positioning, substituting the potentially harmful direct mechanical pressure with a controlled, distributed force application that preserves workpiece surface integrity.
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 provides secure, non-marring engagement and precise axial positioning of workpieces, enabling reliable machining and gauging operations while allowing for easy disengagement, thus improving measurement accuracy and reducing the risk of workpiece damage.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid pressure system in communication with the interior of the sleeve to expand the sleeve and move the locators generally radially outward
Implementation Method 2
utilizing materials like tool steel and Nitinol for enhanced expansion capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A workholder with a sleeve carried by a body and providing at least in part a circumferentially continuous fluid chamber between them and at least two circumferentially spaced apart locators carried by the body axially over the sleeve and projecting radially of the sleeve. A pressurized fluid in the chamber can change the diameter of the sleeve to move the locators generally radially relative to the body into firm engagement with a workpiece so that it is carried by the workholder. The locators may be received in part in a collar received at least in part axially over the sleeve with a portion of each locator projecting radially of the collar.