Rubber-Expansion Chuck for Easy Tube Insertion and Strong Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chuck devices using fluid pressure for clamping have limited radial contraction of metal tubular members, making it difficult to achieve large clearance and reliable clamping, especially in automated systems, and result in weak clamping forces that can lead to components being easily dislodged.
Innovation Solution
A chuck device with a rubber elastic body and a tapered metal core part, where the rubber elastic body expands to clamp the component, providing a large clearance for easy insertion and supporting the component, and utilizing high-temperature fluid for enhanced clamping force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a thin metal tubular member is used as the elastic member and fluid pressure is applied to cause radial contraction, then the device structure is simple, but the radial contraction amount is small making it difficult to achieve large clearance and reliable clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to rubber, which fundamentally alters the deformation characteristics. Rubber can achieve much larger radial contraction ratios compared to metal, enabling both large clearance for easy insertion and strong clamping force for reliable holding, thus resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and clamping reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a rubber elastic body fitted within a metal main body. The rubber provides large elastic deformation capability for reliable clamping, while the metal main body maintains structural integrity and guides the clamping action, combining the advantages of both materials to achieve both simplicity and reliability
2Device complexity
If a thin metal tubular member is used as the elastic member, then the device structure is simple, but the clearance between the member and clamping target component is small making quick and reliable insertion difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the material from metal to rubber, the elastic deformation capability is dramatically increased. This allows the rubber elastic body to contract radially by a much larger amount, creating sufficient clearance for the clamping target component to be inserted quickly and easily without requiring precise positioning, while maintaining structural simplicity
3Device complexity
If fluid pressure is applied to cause radial contraction of the elastic member, then the clamping mechanism is simple, but the clamping force is not strong enough and the component can be easily dislodged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to rubber, which has much higher elasticity and can achieve larger deformation under the same fluid pressure. This results in significantly stronger radial contraction and clamping force, preventing the clamped component from being dislodged, while keeping the clamping mechanism simple with no additional components
Solution Approach 2:
The rubber elastic body can be replaced if worn or damaged, and its elastic properties ensure consistent clamping performance throughout its service life. The simplicity of the mechanism means there are fewer wear points, and the rubber's ability to maintain elastic recovery ensures sustained clamping force
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 device allows for easy and precise attachment of tubular components with powerful and reliable clamping, reducing the need for high precision in automated systems and enhancing the clamping force through rubber deformation and thermal expansion.
Implementation Method 1
the rubber elastic body is deformed to expand toward the metal core part by a pressure of a fluid introduced to the pressure chamber via the passage
Implementation Method 2
utilizing high-temperature fluid for enhanced clamping force
Data Source
AI summary
A chuck device that allows easy attachment of a clamping target component and can provide powerful and highly reliable clamping includes a main body including a metal core part and an annular space coaxial with and formed around the metal core part; a rubber elastic body fitted in the annular space of the main body such that there is a pressure chamber between a circumferential wall that defines the annular space and the rubber elastic body, and a clearance for allowing a tubular clamping target component to be inserted between the rubber elastic body and the metal core part; and a passage for introducing a fluid to the pressure chamber, wherein the rubber elastic body is deformed to expand toward the metal core part by a pressure of a fluid introduced to the pressure chamber via the passage so that a tubular clamping target component that is attached to the metal core part is clamped by the metal core part and the rubber elastic body that has deformed to expand.