Diaphragm chuck

• US 6,145,850 A
• Filed: 10/20/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smw-Autoblok Spannsysteme GmbH
• Original Assignee: Smw-Autoblok Spannsysteme GmbH
• Inventors: Rehm, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Bishop, Steven C.
• Application Number:
  US09/422,009
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 279/4.05, 279/130, 279/139, 279/2.05, 279/123, 279/124, 279/152, 279/153
• US Class Current: 279/139
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/1077 acting on a floating pin
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/1627 Details of the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/16279 Fixation on the master jaw
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/32 with jaws carried by diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/1993 with means to facilitate jaw removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/243 to counterbalance jaws
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/31 Jaws mounted on flexible member; i.e. , diaphragm

Abstract

In a diaphragm chuck (3) with clamping jaws (3) which are in a drivable connection with a deformable diaphragm (4) by means of jaw carriers (6) and in which counterweights (8) allocated to the clamping jaws (3) are inserted in the chuck body (2), the clamping jaws (3) are provided with axially aligned joining pieces (23) which are held in the counterweights (8). The clamping jaws (3) can be clamped together with the jaw carriers (4) and the diaphragm as well as with the counterweights (8) by means of quick clamping devices (31) which engage in the joining pieces (23).

This embodiment achieves a situation in which the clamping jaws (3) can be changed rapidly and in a straightforward procedure by releasing the quick clamping devices (31) by means of a tool which can be inserted radially from the outside into the chuck body (2). Furthermore, the clamping jaws (3), the jaw carriers (6) and the counterweights (8) form a unit which is chucked in itself, which possesses a high degree of rigidity and also no impurities can achieve ingress between these components.

Claims

1. A diaphragm chuck (1) with clamping jaws (3) inserted in a chuck body (2) adapted to act on a workpiece (10), and in drivable connection with a diaphragm (4) attached to an outer area of an end (11) of the chuck body (2), to deform the diaphragm (4) by means of a centrally arranged, axially movable actuator (5) via jaw carriers (6) supported on the diaphragm (4);

wherein said diaphragm chuck (1) is provided with counterweights (8) attached to the clamping jaws (3) and engaging in recesses (7) in the chuck body (2), each of the clamping jaws (3) having a joining piece (23) offset in a direction of the chuck body (2) in axial alignment with and axially parallel to the chuck body (2), with the joining pieces (23) being held in openings (27) in the counterweights (8), and wherein the clamping jaws (3) are adapted to be clamped together with the jaw carriers (6), the diaphragm (4) and the counterweights (8) by means of quick clamping devices (31) which engage in the joining pieces (23) and which act in the axial direction of the joining pieces (23).

2. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of

the jaw carriers (6) and the clamping jaws (3) is provided with a groove (43) which is formed by guide gibs (42) arranged laterally in external edge zones of at least one of the jaw carriers (6) and the clamping jaws (3).

3. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the jaw carriers (6) are provided with a contact surface (44) on a side facing the diaphragm (4), said surface (44) being shaped, as a circle, and serving to support on an inside jacket surface (66) a projection (18) in the shape of a circular ring protruding axially from the diaphragm (4).

4. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 3, wherein

each of the jaw carriers (6'"'"') is adapted to be clamped together with the diaphragm (4) by means of a clamping element (62) which is movable axially in relation to the jaw carriers (6'"'"') and which acts on the outer jacket surface of the projection (18).

5. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 4, wherein

each of the clamping elements (62) comprises a ring segment and is equipped with a wedge surface (63) which interacts with a corresponding countersurface (64) on the jaw carrier (6'"'"').

6. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 1, wherein

a stop ring (9) protrudes between the clamping jaws (3) and is attached to the chuck body (2).

7. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 1, wherein

each of the jaw carriers (6) is provided with a central recess (41) for accommodating the joining pieces (23) formed on the clamping jaws (3).

8. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the counterweights (8) is equipped with a centering bush (68) surrounding the openings (27) in the counterweights (8), said bush protruding in a direction of the jaw carriers (6) and engaging at least partially in the jaw carriers (6).

9. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 1 wherein

each of the jaw carriers (6) is connected to an associated counterweight (8) by screws (47).

10. A diaphragm chuck (1) with clamping jaws (3'"'"') inserted in a chuck body (2) adapted to act on a workpiece (10) and in drivable connection with a diaphragm (4) attached to an outer area of an end (11) of the chuck body (2), to deform the diaphragm (4) by means of a centrally arranged, axially movable actuator (5) via jaw carriers (6'"'"') supported on the diaphragm (4), wherein

a joining piece (23'"'"') is formed onto each jaw carrier (6'"'"') protruding in the direction of the clamping jaw (3'"'"'), with said joining piece (23'"'"') engaging in an opening (27'"'"') in the clamping jaw (3'"'"'), and wherein the clamping jaws (3'"'"') are adapted to be clamped onto the jaw carrier (6'"'"') and the joining pieces (23'"'"') by quick clamping devices (31) arranged in the clamping jaws (3'"'"') and on the joining pieces (23'"'"') and which act in the axial direction of the clamping jaws (3'"'"') and the joining pieces (23'"'"'), and wherein each of the clamping jaws (3, 3'"'"') is provided with a spring detent (72, 72'"'"') which engages in a circumferential groove (73, 73'"'"') in each of the joining pieces (23'"'"').

11. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 10, wherein the joining pieces (23, 23'"'"') are each configured as a cylindrical shank (24, 24'"'"') and corresponding openings (41, 27 or 27'"'"') in at least a selected one of the jaw carriers (6) and counterweights (8) and the clamping jaws (3'"'"') are configured as at least one of circular holes and blind holes.

12. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 11 wherein the diaphragm (4) is supported against cams (58) attached to at least a selected one of counterweights (8), support elements (8'"'"') and jaw carriers (6) on surfaces thereof facing the diaphragm (4) in an area of screws (47) connecting said cams and the holes (27;

41) accommodating the joining pieces (23).

13. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 12, wherein each of the jaw carriers (6) is circumferentially positioned by a pin (46) inserted in a selected one of a corresponding counterweight (8) and a support element (8'"'"') and which engages in a recess (45) in the jaw carrier (6) which extends in a radial direction.

14. The diaphragm chuck in accordance with claim 10, wherein each of the quick clamping devices (31) is made from a self-aligning pin (32) which is held in a radially aligned hole in the joining pieces (23, 23'"'"') in such a way as to permit limited sliding movements, with ends of the pins (32) having a selected one of a recessed cone (33) and a projecting cone (34), and from two holding screws (37, 38) guided in diametrically opposed threaded holes (28, 29) in a selected one of counterweights (8) and the clamping jaws (3'"'"'), with said screws (37, 38) possessing a selected one of a projecting cone (39) and a recessed cone (40) corresponding to the recessed cone (33) or projecting cone (34) of the self-aligning pin (32), and located with an axial offset in relation to the self-aligning pin (32) by means of which the clamping jaws (3, 3'"'"') are pressed on.

15. A diaphragm chuck comprising clamping jaws (3) inserted in a chuck body (2) adapted to act on a workpiece (10), and in drivable connection with a diaphragm (4) attached to an outer area of an end (11) of the chuck body (2), to deform the diaphragm (4) by means of a centrally arranged, axially movable actuator (5) via jaw carriers (6) supported on the diaphragm (4);

wherein said diaphragm chuck (1) is provided with counterweights (8) attached to the clamping jaws (3) and engaging in recesses (7) in the chuck body (2), each of the clamping jaws (3) having a joining piece (23) offset in a direction of the chuck body (2) in axial alignment with and axially parallel to the chuck body (2), with the joining pieces (23) being held in openings (27) in the counterweights (8), and wherein the clamping jaws (3) are adapted to be clamped together with the law carriers (6), the diaphragm (4) and the counterweights (8) by means of quick clamping devices (31) which engage in the joining pieces (23) and which act in the axial direction of the joining pieces (23) and wherein each of the clamping jaws (3, 3'"'"') is provided with a spring detent (72, 72'"'"') which engages in a circumferential groove (73, 73'"'"') in each of the joining pieces (23'"'"').

16. A diaphragm chuck comprising:

a chuck body;

clamping jaws mounted in said chuck body and adapted to engage and retain a workpiece;

a diaphragm mounted on an end of said chuck body;

jaw carriers connected to said diaphragm;

an actuator axially movable relative to said jaw carriers to deform said diaphragm;

wherein

a joining piece extends from each of said jaw carriers in a direction toward one of said clamping jaws, said joining piece being adapted to enter an opening in one of said clamping jaws, and quick clamping devices, each arranged in one of said clamping jaws and on one of said joining pieces, and which are movable in an axial direction toward said one clamping jaw and said one joining piece to lock the clamping jaws on said jaw carriers and said joining pieces.