Projecting Collet Ram Clamping for Higher Holding Torque
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ram clamping systems suffer from high torsion due to the considerable length of the ram, leading to reduced holding torque and positioning accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A ram clamping system with a rotationally symmetrical main body and a collet that projects beyond the end face, featuring a drawbar, collet receptacle, and spring mechanism, allowing for shorter rams with lower torsion and improved holding torque, and enabling easy tool or workpiece exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a long ram is used in the traditional ram clamping system, then the tool or workpiece can be held between the contact surface and the collar, but the high torsion of the ram due to its considerable length reduces the holding torque
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping function is segmented between the collet (which clamps the ram) and the holder (which provides the contact surface). The collet is positioned closer to the holder, allowing the ram to be shorter while maintaining effective clamping leverage. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by decoupling the clamping action from the full ram length.
Solution Approach 2:
The collet acts as an intermediary component between the drawbar and the holder. It provides a clamping point closer to the holder, effectively reducing the lever arm for torsion while maintaining the clamping force transmission. This intermediary structure allows shorter rams to achieve the same holding torque.
2Manufacturing precision
If a shorter ram is used to reduce torsion and improve holding torque, then the positioning accuracy improves, but the traditional clamping mechanism cannot effectively clamp the ram
Solution Approach 1:
The collet mechanism provides dynamic clamping through tapered surfaces that convert axial drawbar force into radial clamping force. This dynamic mechanism adapts to the shorter ram geometry while maintaining effective clamping, resolving the contradiction between reduced ram length and adequate clamping capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping mechanism parameters are changed by introducing the collet with its specific taper angle and clamping geometry. This allows the system to effectively clamp shorter rams by changing the clamping interface parameters rather than relying on the traditional collar-to-ram-length relationship.
3Force
If the collet projects beyond the end face of the main body to enable shorter rams, then the holding torque improves, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The collet is merged with the drawbar assembly, forming an integrated clamping unit. This combination simplifies the overall structure by eliminating separate clamping components while maintaining the projecting collet geometry that enables shorter rams and higher holding torque.
Solution Approach 2:
The projecting collet structure serves multiple functions: it provides the clamping interface for shorter rams, maintains positioning accuracy, and integrates with the drawbar mechanism. This multi-functionality justifies the increased structural complexity by delivering multiple benefits simultaneously.
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 system achieves higher holding torques and maintains precise positioning accuracy through the use of shorter rams and a spring-actuated clamping mechanism, facilitating easy tool or workpiece changes.
Implementation Method 1
the collet receptacle is clamped within the main body in the axial direction by a spiral spring and is clamped in the direction of expansion by a disk spring
Implementation Method 2
the compression spring 145 pushes the drawbar 140 forward again
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is ram clamping system (100) comprising a rotationally symmetrical main body (110), which has an opening that passes through the rotationally symmetrical main body (110) along its axis of symmetry, in which opening a drawbar (140) extends, comprising a collet (120) which can be clamped by means of the drawbar (140) for fixing a ram (190) associated with the ram clamping system (100), and comprising an exchangeable holder (180), through the interior (181) of which the ram (190) passes before entering the collet (120), wherein at least one portion of the collet (120) projects in the direction of extension of the drawbar (140) beyond the end face of the main body (110), on which end face the exchangeable holder (180) is arranged, and enters the interior (181) of the exchangeable holder (180).