Segmented Piston Chuck for Eccentric Part Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chuck devices struggle to accurately center and clamp parts with varying dimensions or shapes, particularly when external dimensions are not perfectly known, leading to poor holding and machining issues due to uneven jaw contact and misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A chuck design where at least two pairs of jaws are actuated by a single piston, with slight offset contacts to center and clamp the part, allowing for phase shifts between jaw movements to accommodate different dimensions and shapes, ensuring precise centering and holding through adjustable stroke lengths and elastic elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single piston actuates multiple pairs of jaws, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to independently adjust jaw positions
Solution Approach 1:
The single piston is segmented into multiple independent actuation paths, with each path controlling one pair of jaws through separate transmission mechanisms. This allows the piston's unified actuation force to be distributed and independently adjusted for each jaw pair, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission mechanisms incorporate adjustable components that allow dynamic modification of the actuation characteristics for each jaw pair. This enables adaptive positioning precision while maintaining the simplicity of a single piston actuator, as the system can be configured for different precision requirements based on the workpiece.
2Speed
If jaws contact the part simultaneously, then the clamping speed is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to center eccentric parts
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables preliminary centering action by allowing certain jaw pairs to contact and position the workpiece before other jaw pairs apply full clamping force. This preliminary action centers eccentric parts accurately, while the subsequent action of remaining jaw pairs completes the clamping, thus maintaining both speed and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping process is divided into periodic stages: first stage for centering with selective jaw contact, second stage for final clamping with all jaws engaged. This periodic action sequence ensures eccentric parts are properly centered before full clamping, resolving the contradiction between speed and centering accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple independent actuators are used for each jaw pair, then the manufacturing precision is improved through independent stroke adjustment, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple actuator control functions are merged into a single centralized control system that manages all jaw pairs through one piston. This consolidation reduces the number of independent control units while maintaining the ability to independently adjust each jaw pair's stroke and timing, thus improving precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single piston actuator is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple jaw pairs simultaneously through different transmission paths. Each path can be independently configured for specific precision requirements, making the unified actuator system as effective as multiple independent actuators while reducing overall system 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 reliable centering and clamping of parts with varying dimensions, preventing misalignment and ensuring accurate machining by allowing for minimal stroke differences between jaw pairs, thus guaranteeing perfect centering and holding during machining.
Implementation Method 1
A projection 70 on the outer surface of the piston 7 comes into abutment against the second mobile support 4 when the piston rises to move the jaws apart, in order to bring the second pair of jaws 3A-3B back into position when the chuck is open.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The device has mobile supports (4, 5) connected to an oblique surface and another oblique surface (50) for converting longitudinal displacements of the mobile supports into reciprocal radial displacements of two pairs of jaws. A piston (7) is connected to the mobile supports in a manner to simultaneously drive the mobile supports in a displacement part of the piston or uniquely drive one of the mobile supports in another displacement part of the piston such that one of the pairs of jaws is in contact with a front part of the other pair of jaws. An independent claim is also included for a method for maintaining a part.