Jaw Is Expansible Chamber; I.e., Bladder Type Patents (Class 279/2.08)
  • Patent number: 11534839
    Abstract: A workholder with a sleeve carried by a body and providing at least in part a circumferentially continuous fluid chamber between them and at least two circumferentially spaced apart locators carried by the body axially over the sleeve and projecting radially of the sleeve. A pressurized fluid in the chamber can change the diameter of the sleeve to move the locators generally radially relative to the body into firm engagement with a workpiece so that it is carried by the workholder. The locators may be received in part in a collar received at least in part axially over the sleeve with a portion of each locator projecting radially of the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HYDRA-LOCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: John V. Bartolone
  • Patent number: 11215296
    Abstract: A valve (1) having at least one closure member (2) for closing a valve opening (3) and at least one valve rod (4), at least one first connecting section (5) being provided in or on the valve rod (4), at least one second connecting section (6) being provided in or on the closure member (2), and the closure member being fastenable or fastened to the valve rod by the connection of the first connecting section to the second connecting section. The first connecting section (5) and/or the second connecting section (6) has/have at least one pressure chamber (8) for a fluid, this chamber being delimited by at least one elastically deformable boundary wall (7) and the boundary wall can be elastically deformed by the fluid provided in the pressure chamber (8) in order to form a clamped connection of the first connecting section (5) to the second connecting section (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: VAT Holding AG
    Inventor: Michael Zickar
  • Patent number: 10875103
    Abstract: A device for clamping a workpiece comprises a chuck body and a drive fastened thereto, and at least one clamping jaw, which is coupled to the drive in a driveable arrangement either directly or via intermediate elements and which is or are held movably in or on the chuck body in the direction of the workpiece. This is achieved by providing a free space between the chuck body and a clamping jaw carrier accommodating the clamping jaw, in that an elastically deformable sleeve is inserted in the free space, which sleeve rests on the outside of the chuck body at two positions spaced apart from one another, and in that a pressure chamber is created between the chuck body, the sleeve, and the two support positions into which a medium can be filled, whereby to bulge the latter in the direction of the clamping jaw carrier between the support positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SMW-AUTOBLOK Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Patent number: 10870142
    Abstract: A hydraulic tube expander includes expanding jaws engageable with an interior surface of a tube to expand the tube; a source of hydraulic fluid, a valve located between the source and the expanding jaws and a single-action release actuator operatively coupled to the valve. The valve is moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, hydraulic fluid can pass from the source to the expanding jaws and in the open position the hydraulic fluid can pass from the expanding jaws to the source. The actuator is movable between first and second positions. In the first position the valve is in the closed position. Movement of the actuator in a direction from the first position toward the second position moves the valve into the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Diversitech Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Houle, Roman Lomeli
  • Patent number: 10843457
    Abstract: An adapting sleeve for flexographic printing machines defines an exterior surface appropriate for the mounting of a printing sleeve. The adapting sleeve has an outer cylindrical member made of a rigid material and surrounding an inner cylindrical member that defines a cylindrical passage for mounting of the adapting sleeve on a rotary core of a flexographic printing machine. The adapting sleeve has some ring separators that are mounted between the outer cylindrical member and the inner cylindrical member and spaced longitudinally from each other. The adapting sleeve has a hydraulic device that includes hydraulic pads arranged between the inner surface of the inner cylindrical member and the ring separators and connected by a hydraulic circuit to a pressurization element that is actionable manually from the exterior of the adapting sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Rossini Spain Printing Rollers SAU
    Inventor: Javier Boadas Matamala
  • Patent number: 10821523
    Abstract: A counter bearing for machining spindles of machine tools has at least one expansion bushing with an elastically deformable wall that delimits at least one pressure chamber. The pressure chamber accommodates a pressure medium. A supply line for the pressure medium opens into the pressure chamber. A pressure conduit opens into the pressure chamber. A mechanically actuatable pressure element is disposed in the pressure conduit and actuated by an actuating tool. A piston is slidably arranged in the pressure conduit and actuated by the pressure element, wherein the piston loads the pressure medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Michael Weinig AG
    Inventors: Ralf Wagner, Rainer Gramlich
  • Patent number: 9440295
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic expanding chuck (1) having a main body (2) and an expanding bush (3), which is inserted into the main body (2) to form at least one pressure chamber (5a, 5b) and is intended for chucking a tool. The expanding bush (3) has a radial opening (20), which is arranged in alignment with a driver (21) which is held adjustably in the main body (2) and can be moved via the opening (20) into positive engagement with a driving surface (22) on the tool shank of a tool to be received in the expanding bush (3). According to the invention, the driver (21) has a driver screw (23), which can be driven from radially outside the hydraulic expanding chuck (1) and is screwed into a threaded bore (24) formed in the main body (2) in alignment with the radial opening (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Rainer Pfister
  • Patent number: 9346103
    Abstract: A tool for machining a workpiece is presented. The tool has a cutting insert with at least one cutting edge, a holder having a shank, and a cutting insert receptacle, wherein the cutting insert receptacle is arranged in a region of a workpiece-side end face of the shank, and the cutting insert is disposed in the cutting insert receptacle. The holder has a coolant bore, which opens out into a plurality of coolant outlets. The plurality of coolant outlets are arranged on the workpiece-side end face of the shank, alongside the cutting insert receptacle, and are oriented such that coolant is discharged towards the cutting insert. At least some of the coolant outlets lie in a coolant outlet plane which runs parallel to and offset from a cutting insert plane running through the cutting insert receptacle, where the coolant outlet plane and the cutting insert plane run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: HARTMETALL-WERKZEUGFABRIK PAUL HORN GMBH, ERNST GRAF GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Luik, Edgar Fuchs
  • Patent number: 8944438
    Abstract: A workholder to hold a workpiece, including a main body partially defining a fluid chamber, and a bladder carried by the main body with an interference fit, further defining the fluid chamber, and composed of an 80 to 100 durometer Shore A scale hardness polymer of a 12:1 to 18:1 diameter-to-wall-thickness ratio. Annular seals may further define the fluid chamber, and are disposed radially between the bladder and main body and axially adjacent the fluid chamber, and are composed of a 60 to 80 durometer Shore A scale hardness polymer. A collet is carried and driven by the bladder for gripping engagement with the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hydra-Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Andre
  • Patent number: 8800997
    Abstract: A stepped collet includes a first section of generally hollow cylindrical shape having a first outer diameter and an inner diameter, a wall extending radially inwardly from an outboard end of the first section, and a second section of generally split cylindrical shape cantilevered from the wall and having a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hydra-Lock Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond L. Smith, John V. Bartolone, Dan J. O'Lear
  • Patent number: 8585061
    Abstract: A workholding apparatus includes a body, and a workholding sleeve composed of metal and carried by the body. A fluid chamber receives a fluid between the body and the workholding sleeve. Under fluid pressure, the sleeve is radially displaceable and recoverable to a high degree. For example, when displaced under fluid pressure, the sleeve experiences substantially complete and repeatable strain recovery of at least about 2% of its overall cross-sectional area. Preferably, the sleeve is composed of Nitinol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hydra-Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Andre
  • Patent number: 8424857
    Abstract: A fixture (10) for supporting a workpiece (18) during a machining operation. The fixture comprising a base (12) provided with a channel (14) for receiving part (16) of the workpiece (18), the channel having a first wall (20) facing an opposing second wall (22). An inflatable diaphragm (24) is located on the first wall (20), and configured to engage with an engagement surface (36) on the workpiece and bias the workpiece against the second wall. The diaphragm comprises a deformable portion (26) spaced apart from the first wall of the channel, the deformable portion having ends (28,30) which provide a seal with the first wall to define a chamber (32) enclosed by the first wall and diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Richard Green, Michael Annear
  • Publication number: 20120133103
    Abstract: A fixture for securing a cylindrical or shell thin-walled component includes a support having one or more securing devices for securing the component to the support. The fixture also includes an inflatable pressure element which, in use, is positioned within the secured component and is adapted to press outwardly, when inflated, against a liner inserted between the pressure element and the inner thin wall of the component. The liner has one or more elastic members, which bias it against the outward expansion of the inflated pressure element. The inflated pressure element and the liner damp vibrations in the component during machining of the outer side of the thin wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Matthew Marshall, Zunmin Geng
  • Patent number: 7967300
    Abstract: A workholding apparatus includes a body, and a workholding sleeve composed of metal and carried by the body. A fluid chamber receives a fluid between the body and the workholding sleeve. Under fluid pressure, the sleeve is radially displaceable and recoverable to a high degree. For example, the sleeve is radially displaceable to at least one percent in diameter with runout within about 0.03% of its diameter, and after release of fluid pressure repeatably recovers to within about 0.01% of its original relaxed diameter. In another example, when displaced under fluid pressure, the sleeve experiences substantially complete and repeatable strain recovery of at least about 2% of its overall cross-sectional area. Preferably, the sleeve is composed of Nitinol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Hydra-Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Andre
  • Patent number: 7861830
    Abstract: A safety device is provided having a clamping system that uses pressure admission into a chamber of a clamp element dependent on the position of a weight to be carried relative to the clamping system. For this purpose a valve is provided in a medium supply line, which valve is to be opened or closed by means of a movable actuation element. Here, the actuation element should be movable in the same direction in which the weight moves, preferably in a vertical direction. As a result of the arrangement of such a valve, the device couples the vertical movement or position of the weight with an actuation of the valve, and thus to provide an additional control for the pressure admission into the chamber or the clamping force resulting therefrom. A preferred chamber has curved top and bottom walls that elongate with a pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Klaus Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20100253015
    Abstract: A workholder to hold a workpiece, including a main body partially defining a fluid chamber, and a bladder carried by the main body with an interference fit, further defining the fluid chamber, and composed of an 80 to 100 durometer Shore A scale hardness polymer of a 12:1 to 18:1 diameter-to-wall-thickness ratio. Annular seals may further define the fluid chamber, and are disposed radially between the bladder and main body and axially adjacent the fluid chamber, and are composed of a 60 to 80 durometer Shore A scale hardness polymer. A collet is carried and driven by the bladder for gripping engagement with the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Hydra-Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Andre
  • Publication number: 20080179838
    Abstract: The invention relates to an expansion chuck comprising a base, a thin-walled expansion sleeve that is disposed in a final axial zone of the base and forms a central seat for a component that is to be clamped, and a clamping ring which surrounds the expansion sleeve so as to form an intermediate annular pressure chamber and is screwed to the base. Said pressure chamber is filled with a hydraulic means while the expansion sleeve can be elastically deformed for fixing a component within the seat by axially displacing the clamping ring, said clamping ring being twisted in relation to the base such that the volume of the pressure chamber decreases. The inventive expansion chuck is characterized in that the pressure chamber is filled wit a hydraulic means while a sliding ring element is placed between the ela: pressure surface of the clamping ring in order to transmit an axial con clamping ring to the solid body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Retzbach, Andreas Schuster
  • Patent number: 7331583
    Abstract: A workpiece holding apparatus comprises a body, a bladder carried by the body, and a sleeve that is carried by the bladder. A fluid chamber is at least partially defined by the body and the bladder for containing a fluid therein. The bladder comprises at least one first polymer-containing section composed of a first polymer-containing material and is adapted to radially deflect the sleeve into engagement with the workpiece. The bladder further comprises at least one second polymer-containing section disposed adjacent to the first polymer-containing section(s) and is composed of a second polymer-containing material that is less flexible than the first polymer-containing material and where at least a portion of the second polymer-containing section(s) are constructed to engage elastomeric seals of the body of the workpiece holding apparatus to thereby seal pressurized fluid within the fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hydra-Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Andre
  • Patent number: 7316403
    Abstract: A workpiece holding apparatus comprises a body, a cartridge assembly carried by the body and a sleeve. The cartridge assembly comprises at least one sealing member and a bladder supported by a retainer and at least partially defining a fluid chamber that houses a pressurized fluid. At least one annular seal is axially provided between the bladder and the sealing member(s). The annular seal(s) correspond with a sealing member, which engages the annular seal(s) upon adjustment of the sealing member. A seal is formed between the sealing member and the bladder that prevents fluid from escaping the fluid chamber. The annular, cylindrical sleeve engages a workpiece when the fluid chamber houses a pressurized fluid, which exerts a radial force against the bladder to the sleeve and into engagement with the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventors: William M. Andre, Bruce W. Irwin, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7140819
    Abstract: An adjustment device for adjusting the position of at least one cutter of a fine machining tool, particularly a reamer, with respect to a cutter support (ST) is described. To allow the cutter to be adjusted as precisely as possible, the cutter support (ST) borders at least one pressure chamber (DK) which is arranged in the adjustment direction of the cutter (S) with a displacement with respect to it and which is filled with a pressure medium which can be placed under pressure using a pressure generation device. Between the cutter (S) and the pressure chamber (DK), a cutter support wall (W) remains which is elastically deformable upon application of pressure by the pressure transfer means to adjust the cutter position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Broghammer, Rolf Ehrler
  • Publication number: 20040262855
    Abstract: A workholding apparatus including a body and a drive member carried by the body, so that the drive member and body partially define a fluid chamber therebetween for containing a fluid. A driven member is also carried by the body and includes multiple displacement reliefs therein. An intermediate member with a displacement relief is received between the drive and driven members. The intermediate member prevents the drive member from extruding through the displacement reliefs in the driven member under fluid pressures of the fluid, thereby enabling use of the apparatus under higher performance applications that would not be possible without the intermediate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Eugene R. Andre
  • Patent number: 6311987
    Abstract: An arrangement for a hydraulically operated tool holder has a pressurizing system for operating a clamping device for a tool or workpiece. The pressurizing system comprises a movable operating element for pressure generation whereby the movement of the operating element causes a movement of a guideway which has an inclined or end or bend surface with respect to its direction of movement. The guideway coacts with the actuator rolling or sliding at the surface thereof whereby the movement resulting from the movement of the guideway is transmitted to at least one pressure transfer piston in a pressure cylinder. The pressure transfer piston comprises at least one support part for the actuator and a lip seal and coacts with the clamping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Unicraft Oy
    Inventors: Erkki Rinne, Lauri Toikka
  • Patent number: 6189196
    Abstract: A shaft assembly including an inner hub having a centrally-disposed bore therethrough and an outer surface for carrying a first member concentrically thereon for rotation therewith, an outer hub having a centrally-disposed bore therethrough and an outer surface for carrying a second member thereon for rotation therewith. The bore of the outer hub is adapted for receiving the inner hub concentrically therein for rotation therewith. An outer pressure-expansible sleeve is provided for being concentrically-mounted within the bore of said outer hub and pressurized for locking the outer hub onto the inner hub. An inner pressure-expansible sleeve is concentrically-positioned in the bore of the inner hub and pressurized for locking the inner hub onto a rotatable spindle, whereby the inner hub and outer hub and the respective members mounted thereon are locked in fixed, concentric relation relative to each other and to the rotatable spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Triangle Pacific Corp.
    Inventor: David L. Weathers
  • Patent number: 6182977
    Abstract: The clamping apparatus (10) has a clamping ring (13) of an elastomer, which has a U-shaped cross section. The clamping ring (13) is seated in a recess (15) in a holding device (12) having parallel side walls. The recess (50) can be connected via a connecting line (18) to a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure source. The outside of the web part (21) of the U-profile acts as a clamping surface (24). Embedded in the area of this clamping surface is a number of clamping elements (27) made of a material of higher strength, in which at least that envelope line which faces away from the clamping surface (24) is exposed. The clamping elements (27) have the same axial extent as the clamping ring (13). One of the side walls of the recess (15) is formed by a clamping part (31), which is part of a clamping device (36) and is guided axially displaceably on the holding device (12) and is sealed off with respect to the latter by means of a circumferential seal element (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hainbuch GmbH Spannende Technik
    Inventor: Hans-Michael Weller
  • Patent number: 6179530
    Abstract: An expansion chuck for simultaneously chucking a tool shaft and a hollow tool part such as a beveling bush. A solid chuck body which can be chucked in the working spindle of a machine tool has in its chucking part a central receptacle bore to receive the tool shaft to be chucked as well as an external chucking face to mount the hollow tool part. An elongated toroidal chamber is arranged coaxially with the receptacle bore and the outside chucking face in the interior of the chucking part of the chuck body and is filled with an incompressible medium. Due to a hydraulic internal pressure in the toroidal chamber, both of its peripheral walls undergo elastic deformation, radially inwardly to chuck the tool shaft, and radially outwardly to chuck the hollow tool part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Schunk GmbH & Co. KG Fabrik f{umlaut over (u)}r Spann - und Greifwerkzeuge
    Inventors: Thomas Retzbach, Joachim M{umlaut over (u)}ller