Patents by Inventor Eckhard Maurer

Eckhard Maurer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200078872
    Abstract: In a coupling device (1), in particular for a man-machine interface (21) for operating inductively operated chucks (2), the coupling device comprising: an inductively operated chuck (2) for centering a workpiece (3) to be machined in space with at least one movable clamping jaw (4), an electric motor (6) drivingly connected to each of the said jaws (4), the said electric motor (6) being incorporated in the said chuck (2) and each jaw (4) being driven or fixed by the said electric motor (6), a first inductive transmission device (7) assigned to the chuck (2), a carrier or machine frame (10) spatially separated from the chuck (2), a second inductive transmission device (8) assigned to the frame (10), which is arranged in the region of the first inductive transmission device (7) of the chuck and exchanges measuring signals and voltages inductively therewith, and an external control device (11), by means of which command and monitoring data required for the operation and setting of the clamping jaws (4) and fo
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Publication number: 20200055124
    Abstract: A device (1) for clamping a workpiece (2) to be machined, in particular a chuck or vice, the device comprising: (i) a chuck body (3) and a drive (5) fastened thereto, and (ii) at least one clamping jaw (6), which is coupled to the drive (5) in a driveable arrangement either directly or via intermediate elements (7) and which is or are held movably in or on the chuck body (3) in the direction of the workpiece (2). On the one hand, reliable and centric clamping of the workpiece (2) in a predetermined position is achieved and, on the other hand, the mounting of the clamping jaw carrier (9) on the chuck body (3) is free of backlash in the clamped condition in order to prevent any possibility of movement of the workpiece (2) relative to the chuck body (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Patent number: 10476277
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement such as for energy and/or signal transmission, optionally for use in a machining center, respectively a turning and/or milling center, comprising a clamping unit comprising an outer housing of a preferably cylindrical basic shape, an inner housing received within the outer housing, as well as an inner cylinder held within the inner housing to be adjustable in an actuating direction A, said inner cylinder being configured to transmit a compressive or tensile force for clamping purposes, wherein the inner housing is supported against the outer housing via springs, and is displaceably mounted in the actuating direction A with respect to the outer housing and thus forms a spring force storage, wherein an electric motor is arranged integrated within the clamping unit to apply force in the actuating direction A to the inner cylinder via intermediate gear means, a console having a rotary table mounted therein to be rotatable, at least one first transmission device connected to the console
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SMW-AUTOBLOK Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Patent number: 10239169
    Abstract: A steady rest (1) for centering a rotationally symmetrical workpiece (2) in relation to a longitudinal axis of a processing machine, having, two housing shells (4, 5) separated by a distance from one another and connected together, an actuating piston (7) mounted in an axially moving arrangement in the housing shells (4, 5) which acts on the workpiece (2), three steady rest arms (8, 9, 10) mounted to the two housing shells (4, 5) in a swiveling arrangement by a bearing pin, and configured to move in concert so as to clamp the workpiece, wherein the clamping forces actually occurring on the steady rest arms (8, 9, 10) can be registered reliably using a force measuring device (21) provided on at least one of the two steady rest arms (8, 9), and passed onto an evaluation device (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SMW-Autoblok Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Publication number: 20180229337
    Abstract: In a fixture (1) by means of which a workpiece (2) to be machined is held on a tool table (3) of a machine tool (4), comprising: a housing (10) into which a passage opening (11) is worked, in which a clamping pin (12) is inserted for supporting the workpiece (2) on the housing (10) of the fixture (1), a fastening screw (14) engaging in the passage opening (11) by means of which the housing (10) is fixed onto the tool table (3) in an oriented position, a driving ring (15) mounted in the housing (10) in a rotating arrangement which is in a driving active connection with a driving spindle (20) inserted in the housing (10), by means of which the driving ring (15) can be moved about the longitudinal axis (11?) of the passage opening (11) within a specified angle range (?), and at least two locking pins (18) facing the longitudinal axis (11?) of the passage opening (11), mounted in the housing (10) in such a way as to allow radial movement and each of which is in a driving connection with the driving ring (15),
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Eckhard Maurer, Jürgen Marquart
  • Patent number: 9969039
    Abstract: In a steady rest (1) for centring a rotationally symmetrical workpiece (2) in the space, consisting of: two housing halves (4, 5) arranged at a distance from one another and firmly connected together, a middle steady rest arm (6) arranged between the two housing shells (4, 5) that is mounted in the housing shells (4, 5) by means of an actuation piston (7) so as to be moved in an axial direction (3) towards the workpiece (2), and two outer steady rest arms (11, 12) that are in a driving connection with the middle steady rest arm (6) by means of a guide slide (13) which has a control track (14) on two opposite outside sides, on which a roller (16) attached to the free ends (15) of both outer steady rests (11, 12) is arranged which roll along the control track (14), workpieces (2) with different diameters should be held in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SMW-Autoblok Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Maurer, Jürgen Marquart
  • Patent number: 9937596
    Abstract: In a steady rest (1) for centering a rotationally symmetrical workpiece (2) in the space, consisting of: two housing halves (4, 5) arranged at a distance from one another and firmly connected together, a middle steady rest arm (6) arranged between the two housing shells (4, 5) that is mounted in the housing shells (4, 5) by means of an actuation piston (7) so as to be moved in an axial direction (3) towards the workpiece (2), and two outer steady rest arms (11, 12) that are in a driving connection with the middle steady rest arm (6) workpieces (2) with the largest possible diameters should be held centerd in the space by the steady rest (one), while retaining the greatest possible movement of travel of the actuation piston (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SMW-Autoblok Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Publication number: 20180029181
    Abstract: In a clamping fixture 1, in particular a vice, with a housing (2) in which a guide track (10) is provided and with at least one base jaw (3, 4) to each of which a clamping jaw (6, 7) can be attached, the cavities or air gaps (21) between the inner wall of the guide grooves (10) and the base jaws (3, 4) should be completely covered. This is achieved in that a seal (11) is inserted into each of the air gaps (21) existing in the housing 2 between the base jaw (3, 4) and the inner wall of the guide track (10) as well as in the parting plane between the base jaws (6, 4) and at the face ends (16) in the area of the guide track (10) running there, and that the particular seal (11) is held in a specified position by means of a support strip (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Patent number: 9862033
    Abstract: The invention relates to an indexing chuck comprising a chuck body having an opening; a pivoting ring disposed in the opening, the pivoting ring having at least three clamping jaws that can be advanced radially, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chuck body; an advancing device which is disposed in the pivoting ring and by means of which the clamping jaws can be moved synchronously; and two pivot pins, supported in the chuck body and forming a pivot axis, wherein the advancing device comprises a synchronizing ring which is movable relative to the pivoting ring, a driving surface extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the chuck body where it contacts a clamping jaw, and a contact surface on the respective clamping jaw which interacts with the driving surface of the synchronizing ring such that the clamping jaws are moved radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SMW—AUTOBLOK SPANNSYSTEME GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Maurer, Harald Deininger
  • Publication number: 20170355048
    Abstract: In a steady rest (1) for centring a rotationally symmetrical workpiece (2) in relation to a longitudinal axis of a processing machine, consisting of, two housing shells (4, 5) arranged at a distance from one another and firmly connected together, an actuating piston (7) mounted in an axially moving arrangement in the housing shells (4, 5) for generating a clamping force (3) which acts on the workpiece (2), with three steady rest arms (8, 9, 10) in a driving connection with the actuating piston (7) mounted in the two housing shells (4, 5), by means of which the workpiece (2) is clamped at three positions spaced apart, in which case the two outer steady rest arms (8, 9) are held in a swiveling arrangement on the housing shells (4, 5) about a bearing pin (11), the clamping forces actually occurring on the steady rest arms (8, 9, 10) should be registered reliably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Patent number: 9821423
    Abstract: A clamping unit, in particular for use in a machining center, or a turning or milling center, wherein the clamping unit comprises an external housing (12), preferably having a cylindrical basic design, an internal housing (15) accommodated in the external housing (12), and an internal cylinder (11) that is retained in the internal housing (15) such that it can be displaced in a vertical adjustment direction A when in the operating state, which is designed for transferring a pressure or tensile force for clamping purposes, wherein the internal housing (15) is supported in the external housing (12) by means of springs (13, 14), and is supported with respect to the external housing (12) such that it can be displaced in the adjustment direction A, and thus forms a spring force storage unit (21), and wherein an electric motor (16) is disposed inside the clamping unit, integrated therein, preferably encompassed by the external housing (12), furthermore, preferably accommodated inside the internal housing (15), in o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SMW-AUTOBLOK SPANNSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Deininger, Eckhard Maurer
  • Publication number: 20160332270
    Abstract: In a steady rest (1) for centring a rotationally symmetrical workpiece (2) in the space, consisting of: two housing halves (4, 5) arranged at a distance from one another and firmly connected together, a middle steady rest arm (6) arranged between the two housing shells (4, 5) that is mounted in the housing shells (4, 5) by means of an actuation piston (7) so as to be moved in an axial direction (3) towards the workpiece (2), and two outer steady rest arms (11, 12) that are in a driving connection with the middle steady rest arm (6) workpieces (2) with the largest possible diameters should be held centred in the space by the steady rest (one), while retaining the greatest possible movement of travel of the actuation piston (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Publication number: 20160332271
    Abstract: In a steady rest (1) for centring a rotationally symmetrical workpiece (2) in the space, consisting of: two housing halves (4, 5) arranged at a distance from one another and firmly connected together, a middle steady rest arm (6) arranged between the two housing shells (4, 5) that is mounted in the housing shells (4, 5) by means of an actuation piston (7) so as to be moved in an axial direction (3) towards the workpiece (2), and two outer steady rest arms (11, 12) that are in a driving connection with the middle steady rest arm (6) by means of a guide slide (13) which has a control track (14) on two opposite outside sides, on which a roller (16) attached to the free ends (15) of both outer steady rests (11, 12) is arranged which roll along the control track (14), workpieces (2) with different diameters should be held in the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Eckhard Maurer, Jürgen Marquart
  • Patent number: 9492874
    Abstract: A chuck for a machine tool for supporting rotationally symmetrical components, the chuck being adapted to prevent contamination of a guide groove area, wedge rods and the chuck body, in any operational position of the clamping jaws of the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SMW-AUTOBLOK Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Publication number: 20160164305
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement such as for energy and/or signal transmission, optionally for use in a machining center, respectively a turning and/or milling center, comprising a clamping unit comprising an outer housing of a preferably cylindrical basic shape, an inner housing received within the outer housing, as well as an inner cylinder held within the inner housing to be adjustable in an actuating direction A, said inner cylinder being configured to transmit a compressive or tensile force for clamping purposes, wherein the inner housing is supported against the outer housing via springs, and is displaceably mounted in the actuating direction A with respect to the outer housing and thus forms a spring force storage, wherein an electric motor is arranged integrated within the clamping unit to apply force in the actuating direction A to the inner cylinder via intermediate gear means, a console having a rotary table mounted therein to be rotatable, at least one first transmission device connected to the console
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: SMW-AUTOBLOK Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Publication number: 20160158848
    Abstract: In a chuck (1) for supporting rotationally symmetrical workpieces (2) that are to be machined using a machine tool, consisting of a chuck body (3) that has at least three guideways (5) worked into its end face running in the direction of the longitudinal axis (4) of the chuck (3), at least three clamping jaws (6) that are inserted individually into each of the guideways (5) in a movable arrangement and a driving means (12) in a driving connection with the clamping jaws (6) directly or via intermediate elements (8, 11), each of the clamping jaws (6) of the chuck (1) should be adjustable during machining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Publication number: 20160001376
    Abstract: The invention relates to an indexing chuck (1), comprising a chuck body (2), in which an accommodating opening (3) is incorporated; comprising a pivoting ring (5) inserted in the accommodating opening (3) of the chuck body (2), on which pivoting ring at least three clamping jaws (6) that can be advanced radially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (4) of the chuck body (2) are supported; comprising an advancing device (8), which is inserted into the pivoting ring (5) and by means of which the clamping jaws (6) can be moved synchronously; comprising two pivot pins (11, 12), which are supported in the chuck body (2) and which form a pivot axis (13), wherein the advancing device (8) of the at least three clamping jaws (6) is formed by a synchronizing ring (33), which is supported so as to be movable parallel to the longitudinal axis (4) of the chuck body (2) in the pivoting ring (5), a driving surface (36) extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis (4) of the chuck body (2) is fastened to the synchroniz
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Eckhard MAURER, Harald DEININGER
  • Patent number: 9038510
    Abstract: A steady rest for centering a rotationally symmetrical workpiece in a space comprises: two housing halves arranged at a distance from one another and connected together, a plate-shaped middle piece arranged between the two housing halves, the middle piece mounted in the housing halves by means of an actuator piston so it can be moved in an axial movement direction to the workpiece, two linear guide grooves disposed in both opposite end faces of the middle piece, with the linear guide grooves running in a cross-shaped arrangement and at an angle to the movement direction of the middle piece, two outer steady rest arms, each of which has its free ends mounted in each of the linear guide grooves of the middle piece in a movable arrangement, and a middle steady rest arm attached to the middle piece between the outer steady rest arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SMW-AUTOBLOK Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Maurer, Jürgen Marquart
  • Publication number: 20150048565
    Abstract: A clamping unit, in particular for use in a machining center, or a turning or milling center, wherein the clamping unit comprises an external housing (12), preferably having a cylindrical basic design, an internal housing (15) accommodated in the external housing (12), and an internal cylinder (11) that is retained in the internal housing (15) such that it can be displaced in a vertical adjustment direction A when in the operating state, which is designed for transferring a pressure or tensile force for clamping purposes, wherein the internal housing (15) is supported in the external housing (12) by means of springs (13, 14), and is supported with respect to the external housing (12) such that it can be displaced in the adjustment direction A, and thus forms a spring force storage unit (21), and wherein an electric motor (16) is disposed inside the clamping unit, integrated therein, preferably encompassed by the external housing (12), furthermore, preferably accommodated inside the internal housing (15), in o
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Harald Deininger, Eckhard Maurer
  • Patent number: D736284
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: SMW-AUTOBLOK Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer