Locking Clutch Chuck for Stable Jaw Clamping Under Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chucks with power drivers experience unexpected nut movement due to inertia and vibration, leading to over-tightening or loosening of jaws, which can result in the working bit slipping or being released.
Innovation Solution
A chuck design incorporating a locking clutch mechanism that slides between a working position to lock the nut in place and a jaw actuating position to allow nut movement, preventing unwanted nut rotation and maintaining clamping force, while allowing for easy installation and removal of working bits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional nut is used to hold the jaws in place, then the jaws can be adjusted and held during operation, but the nut moves relative to the chuck body due to inertia and vibration, causing over-tightening or loosening of the jaws
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch is designed to dynamically transition between two states: a working position where clutch teeth engage with nut teeth to lock the nut, and a jaw actuating position where the clutch disengages to allow nut rotation. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by providing stability during operation while enabling adjustment when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The clutch acts as an intermediary mechanism between the nut and the chuck body. It mediates the conflict between needing the nut to be fixed (for stability) and needing it to be movable (for adjustment), by selectively engaging or disengaging the connection based on operational requirements
2Reliability
If the nut is locked in place to prevent movement, then clamping force is maintained, but the jaws cannot be adjusted for installing or removing working bits
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch mechanism dynamically switches between locked and unlocked states. During bit installation/removal, the clutch is in the jaw actuating position allowing nut rotation and jaw adjustment. During operation, it transitions to the working position to lock the nut and maintain consistent clamping force, thus resolving the contradiction between adjustability and force consistency
3Reliability
If the clutch teeth are engaged with the nut teeth to prevent nut rotation, then unwanted nut movement is prevented, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is segmented into discrete clutch teeth that can independently engage with corresponding nut teeth. This segmentation allows the locking mechanism to be integrated into the existing chuck structure without requiring a completely new complex system, as the teeth are simple geometric features that can be added to existing components
Data Source
AI summary
A chuck (10) is provided that includes a plurality of jaws (20) and a body (30) configured to rotate with a drive spindle of a power driver. The chuck (10) may also include a nut (80) comprising nut teeth (82). The nut (80) may be operably coupled to the jaws (20) and configured to move the jaws (20) relative to the body (30) in the opening or closing direction. The chuck (10) may also include a clutch (100) comprising clutch teeth (102). The clutch (100) may be configured to move between a working position and a jaw actuating position. In the working position, the clutch teeth (102) may be engaged with the nut teeth (82) to prevent movement of the nut (80) relative to the body (30), and, in the jaw actuating position, the clutch teeth (102) need not be engaged with the nut teeth (82) and the nut (80) may be free to move relative to the body (30).