Wire-Driver Chuck With Interleaving Jaws for Off-Center Shaft Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing jaw chucks face difficulties in quickly and easily inserting and clamping shafts, particularly during surgical procedures, as low-end diameter shafts can be unintentionally inserted off-center or at an angle, leading to ineffective clamping.
Innovation Solution
A chuck design featuring an axially extending jaw guide with interleaving jaws and an inclined engagement surface, where the jaws have protrusions and cavities on lateral sides, allowing for precise alignment and clamping of shafts across a range of diameters, with a clamping lever and actuator system for controlled displacement of the jaws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional jaw chuck is used to clamp shafts, then the chuck can accommodate a range of shaft diameters, but low-end diameter shafts may be unintentionally inserted off-center or at an angle, leading to ineffective clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw guide is provided with a centered engagement surface that engages the driving surface of the jaws before clamping occurs. This preliminary engagement automatically centers the jaws relative to the chuck axis, ensuring that even small-diameter shafts are inserted and clamped concentrically without requiring manual alignment by the operator
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement surface acts as an intermediary element between the jaws and the chuck body. This inclined surface mediates the positioning of the jaws by converting axial movement into radial positioning, automatically centering the jaws on the chuck axis before the clamping action takes place
2Strength
If the chuck uses multiple jaws for clamping, then it can secure shafts firmly, but the complexity of the jaw guide and alignment mechanisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chuck combines multiple jaws with a single integrated jaw guide structure that contains all positioning and clamping functions. The engagement surface is formed directly on the jaw guide body, eliminating the need for separate alignment mechanisms. This merged design achieves firm clamping of multiple jaws while minimizing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw guide serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the axial movement of the jaws, provides the centered engagement surface for automatic positioning, and supports the clamping action. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate alignment mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining secure clamping
3Productivity
If the chuck allows quick insertion and release of shafts, then operational efficiency improves, but precision alignment and centering may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The chuck is designed so that the engagement surface automatically centers the jaws during the quick insertion operation itself. As the jaws move axially during rapid insertion, the inclined engagement surface automatically positions them concentrically on the chuck axis. This self-centering action occurs during the normal operational cycle, maintaining precision without sacrificing speed
Solution Approach 2:
The centered engagement surface performs preliminary centering of the jaws during the insertion motion itself, before the final clamping position is reached. This preliminary alignment action is built into the quick insertion process, ensuring precision alignment is achieved automatically during rapid operations without requiring separate alignment steps
Data Source
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Figure 5A
AI summary
A chuck (10) includes a jaw guide (64), interleaving jaws (66), and an inclined engagement surface (84). The jaw guide defines a longitudinal axis (24) and includes jaw channels (65) circumferentially distributed about the axis. The jaws are slidably disposed in the jaw channels. Each jaw has a clamping surface (88) facing the axis and a driving surface (90) substantially opposite the clamping surface and a protrusion (92) on a first lateral side and a cavity (96) on a second lateral side. The protrusion of each jaw is disposed at least in part in the cavity of an adjacent jaw. The engagement surface is on one of an inner surface of the jaw guide and an engagement sleeve (80), and is substantially centered about the axis and substantially parallel to the driving surface. Displacement of the jaws relative to the engagement surface in a clamping direction displaces the clamping surfaces toward the axis.