Zero-Point Clamping with Rotary Actuation for Compact Housings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing zero-point clamping devices are bulky due to the need for a large outer diameter and height to accommodate axial feed movements and radial movement of clamping slides, making them unsuitable for space-constrained machine tools, and require multiple drives for operation.
Innovation Solution
A compact zero-point clamping device design featuring a rotatably mounted actuating element with pivot pins and spiral guide grooves, allowing for synchronous radial movement of clamping slides and enabling multiple devices to be driven by a single manual, electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic drive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If axial feed movements are supported in the housing with inclined surfaces, then the clamping slides can be actuated synchronously, but the housing height and outer circumference increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from axial feed movement to rotational movement as the actuation dimension. The actuating element rotates about an axis, and this rotational motion is converted to radial movement of clamping slides through guide grooves and pivot pins, thereby reducing the housing height requirement while maintaining synchronous actuation capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of converting axial linear motion to radial motion through inclined surfaces, the patent inverts the approach by using rotational motion that directly generates radial movement through spiral guide grooves. The actuating element rotates to move clamping slides radially inward, eliminating the need for large axial feed space
2Ease of operation
If the outer diameter of the housing is increased to accommodate radial movement of clamping slides, then the clamping slides have sufficient movement freedom, but the overall device size becomes too large for space-constrained machine tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the actuating element with spiral guide grooves inside the housing, allowing the guide grooves to be integrated within the housing volume rather than requiring external space. The pivot pins rotate within the housing, and their circular paths are contained within the housing inner diameter, enabling compact design while maintaining full radial movement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses rotational movement in a different dimension to achieve radial displacement. Instead of requiring large radial space for linear movement, the spiral guide grooves convert rotational motion into radial motion, allowing clamping slides to move freely radially while the housing maintains a compact outer diameter
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 design achieves a compact form factor, allowing for reliable and repeatable fixing of objects with reduced external dimensions, and enables multiple devices to be combined for efficient operation in various spatial configurations.
Implementation Method 1
the guide groove (18) incorporated in the actuating element (11) runs in a spiral shape, i.e. is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the actuating element (11). Thus, the pivot pins (14, 15) move outwards or inwards or circularly to the axis of rotation of the actuating element (11)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
In a zero-point clamping device (1) for the centric and repeatable locking of an object (2), in particular a workpiece, a tool ora pallet consisting of: - a housing (4), - a receiving opening (5) incorporated in the housing (4) which has a centering axis (6) to which the object (2) is aligned during the clamping process, - and with two opposing clamping slides (7, 8) which are each axially displaceable in a bore (9) provided in the housing (4) and which open into the receiving opening (5) during the clamping state and thereby act on the object (2) or a support part (32) and center it, this is intended to enable, on the one hand, a reliable, permanent and repeatable fixing of a large number of workpieces, tools, pallets or other objects (2) and, on the other hand, the housing (4) of the clamping device (1) is to be extremely compact, so that its external dimensions in height and diameter can be made extremely small.This is achieved by: - an actuating element (11) being rotatably mounted in the housing (4), the axis of rotation (12) of which runs parallel to the clamping slides (7, 8), - a through-opening (13) being incorporated into each clamping slide (7, 8) which is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10) of the clamping slides (7, 8), - a pivot pin (14, 15) being inserted into each through-opening (13), one free end (16) of which engages in a guide groove (18) incorporated in the actuating element (11) and is drivenly connected to it, and the opposite second free end (17) of which is inserted into a support (21) associated with the housing (4) and is tiltably held in it.