Tool Holder Clamping Wedge for Compact Turret Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping mechanisms for driven tool holders in machine tools require significant axial space and are not suitable for tool turrets with limited space, necessitating a compact and automated solution.
Innovation Solution
A clamping device with a housing, drawbar, wedge engagement member, and sleeve arrangement that uses a wedge mechanism to achieve locking without a gas spring, allowing for compact design and integration within tool turrets, and can be automated for tool change processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional clamping mechanism with gas spring and hydraulic piston is used, then the clamping function is reliable, but the axial space required is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gas spring from the clamping mechanism, extracting the component that causes excessive axial space occupation. The self-locking wedge mechanism replaces the gas spring's function of maintaining clamping force, eliminating the need for this space-consuming component while preserving reliable clamping functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge mechanism is designed to be self-locking, meaning it automatically maintains the clamping force without requiring additional components like gas springs. The wedge geometry itself provides the locking function through its inclined surfaces and friction characteristics, making the system self-sufficient and space-efficient.
2Device complexity
If manual operation of cam shaft is used for clamping, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual cam shaft operation with an automated hydraulic piston system that actuates the wedge mechanism. This substitution maintains the simplicity of the core clamping mechanism while enabling automated tool changes, thus improving productivity 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
The solution enables a compact, self-locking clamping mechanism suitable for tool turrets, eliminating the need for separate locking means and allowing for efficient automatic tool changes without manual operation.
Implementation Method 1
The wedge engagement member comprises a wedge engagement slide surface... the first and second wedge surfaces sliding and pressing against the wedge engagement slide surface and the aperture slide surface... resulting in the drawbar being forced to displace
Implementation Method 2
a wedge comprising a first pressure receiving surface, a first wedge surface facing towards the rear end, and a second wedge surface facing towards the forward end, wherein the first and second wedge surfaces approach each other in a radial direction towards the longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping device is arranged for releasably holding a tool holder shank and includes a housing, a wedge engagement member reciprocally mounted inside the housing, and a wedge having a first pressure receiving surface and first and second wedge surfaces. An aperture extends radially through a wall of the housing and the wedge engagement member extends radially outwards into the aperture. The first wedge surface acts upon a wedge engagement slide surface on the wedge engagement member and the second wedge surface acts upon an aperture slide surface. The wedge is arranged between a surface of the housing and a surface of a member securely arranged to a drawbar to effectuate a displacement of the drawbar when the wedge is moved inwards, to clamp the tool holder shank. A sleeve is arranged around the peripheral surface of the housing for moving the wedge inwards when the sleeve is moved.