Spindle for gripping and closing a mounting member
First Claim
1. A spindle for gripping and closing a mounting member, comprising:
- A housing having a spindle assembly mounted therein, said spindle assembly including a first rotary member being capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis, and a second rotary member disposed about said first rotary member in coaxial relation and being capable of rotation about the longitudinal axis;
said first rotary member having a gripping portion for gripping the mounting member, and said second rotary member having a thrust surface and a contacting portion for contacting the mounting member;
a radial bearing for supporting said second rotary member for the rotational movement, and a fluid thrust bearing for axially supporting said thrust surface of said second rotary member;
one of said first and second rotary members being capable of axial movement relative to the other of said rotary members and having an engagement surface engageable by fluid pressure for causing axial movement of said one of said rotary members; and
an actuating assembly constructed and arranged to selectively engage said engagement surface to move said one of said rotary members axially relative to said other of said rotary members, thereby drawing the mounting member against said contacting surface for closure.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A spindle for gripping and closing a mounting member which includes a housing having a spindle assembly mounted therein including a first rotary member capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis and a second rotary member disposed about the first rotary member in coaxial relation and being capable of rotation about the longitudinal axis. The first rotary member has a gripping portion for gripping the mounting member and the second rotary member has a thrust surface and a contacting portion for contacting the mounting member. A radial bearing in the housing supports the second rotary member, and a fluid thrust bearing supports the thrust surface of the second rotary member. One of the first and second rotary members is capable of axial movement relative to the other rotary member and has an engagement surface engageable for causing axial movement of the axially moveable rotary member. An actuating assembly is provided to selectively engage the engagement surface to move the axially movable rotary member relative to the other rotary member to draw the mounting member against the contacting surface for closure.
48 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A spindle for gripping and closing a mounting member, comprising:
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A housing having a spindle assembly mounted therein, said spindle assembly including a first rotary member being capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis, and a second rotary member disposed about said first rotary member in coaxial relation and being capable of rotation about the longitudinal axis; said first rotary member having a gripping portion for gripping the mounting member, and said second rotary member having a thrust surface and a contacting portion for contacting the mounting member; a radial bearing for supporting said second rotary member for the rotational movement, and a fluid thrust bearing for axially supporting said thrust surface of said second rotary member; one of said first and second rotary members being capable of axial movement relative to the other of said rotary members and having an engagement surface engageable by fluid pressure for causing axial movement of said one of said rotary members; and an actuating assembly constructed and arranged to selectively engage said engagement surface to move said one of said rotary members axially relative to said other of said rotary members, thereby drawing the mounting member against said contacting surface for closure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A spindle for gripping and closing a collet, comprising:
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a housing having a radial fluid bearing disposed therein; a hollow spindle shaft rotationally supported in said radial bearing for rotation about its longitudinal axis and having a pair of thrust surfaces and a collet contacting portion; a through-hole drawbar received in the hollow interior of said spindle shaft in coaxial relation thereto for rotation about the axis and axial movement relative to said spindle shaft, said drawbar having a gripping portion for gripping the collet, and an annular flange having an engagement surface; an integral electric drive motor disposed in said housing for driving said spindle shaft and including a rotor attached to said spindle shaft for rotational movement therewith and a stator mounted about said rotor; a locking member arranged for selectively locking said spindle shaft and the collet for unitary rotational movement; a pair of fluid thrust bearings each supporting one of said thrust surfaces; and a fluid pressure piston assembly mounted about said flange to selectively engage said engagement surface to move said drawbar axially relative to said spindle shaft, thereby drawing the collet against said contacting surface for closure.
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16. A spindle for gripping and closing a mounting member, comprising:
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A housing having a spindle assembly mounted therein, said spindle assembly including a through-hole drawbar being capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis, and a spindle shaft and being disposed about said drawbar in coaxial relation and being capable of rotation about the longitudinal axis; said spindle shaft having a central bore having a flow of fluid therein, and said drawbar being supported in said bore in said flow of fluid; said drawbar having a gripping portion for gripping the mounting member, and said spindle shaft having a thrust surface and a contacting portion for contacting the mounting member; a radial bearing for supporting said spindle shaft for the rotational movement, and a fluid thrust bearing for axially supporting said thrust surface of said spindle shaft; said drawbar being capable of axial movement relative to said spindle shaft and having an engagement surface engageable for causing axial movement of said drawbar; and an actuating assembly constructed and arranged to selectively engage said engagement surface to move said one of said drawbar axially relative to said spindle shaft, thereby drawing the mounting member against said contacting surface for closure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification