Segmented Clamping Ring for Precise Large-Diameter Workpiece Holding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping apparatuses struggle to achieve precision during the clamping of workpieces with large diameters, as they are prone to tilting and mechanical stress, which affects the transmission of axial forces into radial clamping forces effectively.
Innovation Solution
The clamping apparatus features a segmented force transfer device with multiple transfer elements arranged circumferentially, a cage-like structure, and a guide arrangement that improves the guide ratio, allowing for precise force transmission and reduced tilting, along with a segmented clamping ring to distribute mechanical stress, enabling precise clamping of workpieces with diameters exceeding 400 mm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rigid cup-like force transfer device is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the guiding precision deteriorates and tilting occurs during clamping of large diameter workpieces
Solution Approach 1:
The force transfer device is segmented into multiple transfer elements (typically 3-6) arranged circumferentially, replacing the rigid cup-like structure. Each transfer element is individually guided, which improves guiding precision and prevents tilting during clamping of large diameter workpieces while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Individual guides are introduced as intermediary elements between the transfer elements and the clamping apparatus body. These guides precisely constrain the movement of each transfer element, eliminating the tilting problem that occurs with rigid cup-like structures while maintaining ease of manufacture
2Adaptability or versatility
If the clamping diameter is increased to accommodate larger workpieces, then the versatility is improved, but the guiding precision deteriorates due to reduced guide ratio
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the force transfer device into multiple smaller transfer elements, the effective diameter of each element is reduced compared to a single large cup-like structure. This maintains a high guide ratio even when clamping large diameter workpieces, thereby preserving clamping precision while increasing versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The force transfer elements are arranged in the circumferential direction (tangential to the spindle axis) rather than radially. This dimensional arrangement allows the clamping apparatus to handle larger workpiece diameters while maintaining a favorable guide ratio, as the guiding length remains comparable while the effective diameter is reduced
3Device complexity
If a single rigid force transfer element is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to tilting and mechanical stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The single rigid force transfer element is divided into multiple segmented transfer elements that are distributed circumferentially. This segmentation distributes mechanical stress across multiple elements, preventing stress concentration and tilting, thereby improving reliability while maintaining relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The structural parameters of the force transfer device are changed from a single large rigid element to multiple smaller elements with individual guides. This parameter change reduces the risk of tilting and stress concentration, improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity
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
This design ensures high precision and stability during clamping of large workpieces by enhancing the guide ratio and reducing mechanical stress, allowing for reliable clamping forces even at higher speeds and larger diameters up to 1000 mm.
Implementation Method 1
a clamping mechanism, which converts an axial force transferred via a force transfer device into a clamping force directed radially to the spindle axis
Implementation Method 2
This enables an improvement in the guiding of the force transfer device in the guide arrangement. In particular, the risk of the force transmission device tilting in the guide arrangement and the force transfer device knocking against the guide arrangement is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a clamping apparatus (1) for clamping a workpiece (100), which is or is to be toothed and has an axis of rotation, onto a spindle, which can be rotationally driven and has a spindle axis defining an axial direction (A), with a clamping mechanism (20), which converts an axial force (FA) transferred via a force transfer device (10) into a clamping force (Fg) directed radially to the spindle axis, wherein the force transfer device (10) has a first section (12) movably guided by a guide arrangement (30) in relation to a movement having an axial direction component, wherein the first section (12) is segmented into several transfer elements (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction.