Patents Examined by Steven C. Bishop
  • Patent number: 6488287
    Abstract: A tool driver includes a housing and a rotatable drive shaft extending therefrom. A chuck for holding the tool includes a generally cylindrical body having a nose section and a tail section. Each of a plurality of jaws is slidably positioned in one of a plurality of angularly disposed passageways in the body. Each jaw has a jaw face and threads formed thereon. A nut is in operative communication with the drive shall so that the drive shaft rotationally drives the nut. The nut threads engage the jaw threads so that rotation of the nut moves the jaws axially within the passageways. A sleeve is selectively actuatable to a first axial position and a second axial position. The sleeve defines a first slot that receives a detent mechanism in the first axial position and a second slot that receives the detent mechanism in the second axial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Power Tool Holders Incorporated
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Gaddis, Gregory S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6488285
    Abstract: A hydraulic chuck includes a center bore for receiving a tool shank. At least one closed cavity is disposed in the chuck body adjacent the bore and extend circumferentially by a distance less than 360 degrees. The cavity containing device communicates with the medium for pressurizing the medium to radially deform and expand the bore wall from a normal diameter to a larger diameter to enable the tool shank to be moved into or from the bore. A depressurizing of the medium causes the bore wall to radially retract to the normal diameter for clamping the member in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Sandvik Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Mats Allard
  • Patent number: 6488286
    Abstract: A chuck assembly for use with a power driver having a forward end, a housing, a gearbox, and a rotating spindle extending therefrom includes a separate interface plate. The interface plate is received by and is rotationally fixed to the forward end and includes a forward face defining a center opening and a forward-facing rotational stop. The spindle extends through the center opening to receive a chuck. The chuck includes a body having a nose and a tail, the tail being configured to rotate with the spindle, and the nose including an axial bore. Chuck jaws are received by the body and movable toward and away from the chuck axis. A bracket is disposed about the body and extends rearward of the tail. The bracket defines a rearward surface engaging the stop to rotationally fix the bracket to the interface plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Theodore G. Yaksich
  • Patent number: 6481937
    Abstract: An adjustable holding device comprising a base and a guide removably secured to the base is disclosed. In one embodiment, more than two guide channels are angularly disposed within the guide to guide a drill bit, wherein the more than two guide channels provide multiple two-hole drilling combinations. In another embodiment, a step block is used to elevate the workpiece, thus allowing thinner workpieces to be accurately drilled. In yet another embodiment, a riser block is used to elevate and move the guide laterally backwards to allow thicker workpieces to be accurately drilled. In yet another embodiment, support wings can be used not only to support a large workpiece, but can also be used as a pre-drill guide for depth collar positioning along a drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventors: Craig A. Sommerfeld, Todd Sommerfeld
  • Patent number: 6478311
    Abstract: An expendable jaw combination for use in connection with a chuck for a lathe, milling machine, or the like to hold work stock. A receiver member is attached to the chuck, and an engagement member is provided in an elongated recess in the receiver member for engaging the stock. The receiver member is preferably constructed of tool material, such as tool steel, while the engagement member may be made of a lower cost material which is easier to work, such as mild steel. After the engagement member is used one or more times, it may be reworked or expended. Locking means are provided for securing the engagement member to the receiver member during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventor: Ronald L. Hinson
  • Patent number: 6478310
    Abstract: A stroke first air cylinder mechanism having a larger-diameter first piston and a larger-diameter first rod is incorporated in a casing, a chuck second air cylinder mechanism having a smaller-diameter second piston and a smaller-diameter second piston and a smaller-diameter second rod is coaxially incorporated into the first air cylinder mechanism, a base end portion of the second rod projects from the first piston and extends to such a position as to face a position detecting portion of the casing, a magnet is mounted to the base end portion of the second rod, and magnetometric sensor is mounted to the position detecting portion. By detecting an operating position of the second rod, opening and closing positions of jaw members can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Azami
  • Patent number: 6473954
    Abstract: A mounting tool for a hydromechanical chuck or mandrel of the type which is clamp connected using a pressure medium in order to clamp connecting a shaft or a shaft tool or a working piece, and in which said shaft or working piece is dismantled from the chuck, and which chuck using a pressure medium in the opposite direction, and which chuck is formed with two separate pressure chambers, a first chamber acting as a clamp connection chamber, and a second chamber acting as a dismantling chamber, which chambers are formed with inlets/outlets provided on opposite sides of the chuck and opening at the periphery thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignees: ETP Transmission AB, AB Sandvik Coromant, Abnox Ltd.
    Inventors: Niclas Rosberg, Mats Allard, Werner Iseli
  • Patent number: 6474656
    Abstract: A power drivable chuck 30 includes a body 72 which is formed with a shank-receiving opening 34 having a triangular cross section. A spring 104 is located about a forward section 78 of the body 72, and is captured within a chamber 102 between a base surface 98 of a sleeve 76 and a forward surface 100 of an intermediate section 80 of the body. A ball 90 is located in a passage 86 formed through the body 72 from an exterior surface 96 to the opening 34. A pair of slots 106 and 108 are also formed in the body in communication, and aligned, with the passage 86 on opposite sides of the passage. The ball 90 is formed with a through hole 112 and receives a pin 114 therein, with opposite ends of the pin extending from the ball and into respective ones of the slots 106 and 108. The spring 104 engages and normally urges the opposite ends of the pin 114 against the base surface 98 of the sleeve 76 normally to extend a portion 90a of the ball 90 into the opening 34 for locking a shank 42 within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Rickey J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6471450
    Abstract: A countersink cage for controlling a rotating countersink cutter to penetrate to a predetermined depth through a curved surface along a cutting axis. More specifically, the countersink cage comprises a top cage member with a top aperture which is formed for receiving the rotating countersink cutter axially therethrough. Rotatably attached to the top cage member is a bottom cage member. The bottom cage member has a bottom aperture aligning itself with the top aperture for receiving the rotating countersink cutter axially therethrough. Further, two contact members extend from the bottom cage member. The two contact members are sized and configured to contact the curved surface when the countersink cutter penetrates therethrough along the cutting axis to the predetermined depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey Garrett Mercier
  • Patent number: 6467775
    Abstract: A clamping device for objects, has a housing, at least two clamping jaws which is radially displaceably guided relative to a longitudinal central axis, actuating elements associated with the clamping jaws for actuating the latter, clamping pistons displaceable in a cylinder chamber and acted for clamping of the clamping jaws by a pressure medium under pressure at least in one working direction, the actuating element being in operative communication with the clamping piston at least in a working position, at least one central adjusting device displaceably arranged in the housing and acting on the actuating elements, abutment means including an abutment for each of the actuating element against which each of the actuating elements can abut, the actuating elements being formed as angular levers which are turnably held in the housing and engage at one end with associated one of the clamping pistons and on the other hand with an associated one of the clamping jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: C. Stiefelmayer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Otto Denzinger
  • Patent number: 6464235
    Abstract: A lathe chuck has a chuck body centered on and rotatable about a main axis and formed with a plurality of radially extending jaw-guide grooves and, transverse to the grooves, with respective guide passages each in turn formed with an abutment. Respective jaws displaceable in the grooves each have at least one tooth exposed in the respective guide passage and respective control rods displaceable along the passages each have at least one tooth meshing with the tooth of the respective jaw. A control pin is axially displaceable in each rod between an extended position projecting into the respective jaw-guide groove and a retracted position. The control pins are displaced on engagement with the teeth of the respective jaws into the retracted positions. A latch pin is axially displaceable in each rod between an extended latching position engaging the respective abutment and preventing movement of the respective rod in the respective passage and a retracted position permitting such movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Rohm GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Horst Röhm
  • Patent number: 6460863
    Abstract: A fixture for receiving and retaining a fitting having a through bore and an end wall. The fixture comprises a body for receiving the fitting, and an actuator for engaging the fitting at the intersection of the through bore and the end wall such that the fitting is held securely between the body and the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: William J. Wuertz, Ronald K. Fisher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6460862
    Abstract: There is provided a chuck having four radial jaw grooves, two pairs of opposed jaws movably provided in the grooves, a first rotary vane actuator for actuating one pair of the opposed jaws, and a second rotary actuator for actuating the other pair of the opposed jaws, an inlet for admitting fluid into chambers of the actuators, and an outlet for discharging fluid from the chambers. The first and second vane actuators are opearated by the fluid admitted from the one inlet such that the two pairs of opposed jaws are differentially actuated by said first and second rotary vane actuators. The first rotary vane actuator includes a first pressure chamber and the second rotary vane actuator includes a second pressure chamber, in which the first and second pressure chambers are in fluid communication via at least one fluid-conducting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Tokichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6457915
    Abstract: A ceiling driller including a dust collector, a seat rod, a drill bit, an adjustment rod, two tool mounting seats, two machining tools, a spring, and a nut. The dust collector is provided with a plurality of dust collecting slots for collecting the machining dust which is forced into the dust collecting slots by the air current brought about by the rotational motion of the seat rod and the machining tools of the ceiling driller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Chin-Fa Kao
  • Patent number: 6457916
    Abstract: The invention is an improvement to a chuck assembly of the type having a chuck hub with a longitudinally extending bore therein the longitudinally extending bore having a closed end, an open end, and a radially extending bit bore in communication with the longitudinally extending bore, and a bit ball movable in the ball bore between a first retracted position out of the longitudinally extending bore and a second engaged position partially in the longitudinally extending bore. The inventive improvement includes a shuttle slidably disposed in the longitudinally extending bore. The shuttle has a first longitudinally extending portion having a first lateral dimension and a second longitudinally extending portion having a second, smaller lateral dimension. The shuttle is movable longitudinally between a first release position and a second lock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Insty-Bit, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Wienhold
  • Patent number: 6454277
    Abstract: A fastening device for fastening a tool member to a machine tool includes a mouth having an inclined inner peripheral surface, a chuck member received in the mouth and having one or more spring blades and having an inclined outer peripheral surface for engaging with the inclined inner peripheral surface of the mouth, and a shaft received in the chuck member. The spring blades may be forced radially inward to clamp the shaft in the chuck member when the mating inclined peripheral surfaces of the chuck member and of the mouth are moved relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Inventor: Ben Yu
  • Patent number: 6454278
    Abstract: A power chuck assembly for securing a workpiece as the chuck assembly moves or rotates the workpiece is disclosed. The assembly includes a body portion, at least two gripping members and at least two counterweights wherein said counterweights operate to assist in securing a workpiece upon the chuck assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Inventors: Donald J. Wrobel, Carlson Waite, Ralph J. Gonnocci
  • Patent number: 6450739
    Abstract: A tool for chip-forming machining is made by passing first and second compounds through first and second coaxial dies, respectively, whereby the first material forms a center core of the tool, and the second material forms an outer rod of the material. The material of the core is tougher and less wear-resistant than the material of the outer rod. The coaxial first and second compounds are passed through a shaping die and then through a flute-forming structure which forms chip flutes in the outer rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Seco Tools AB
    Inventors: Mattias Puide, Johnny Bruhn, Mikael Grönkvist
  • Patent number: 6447220
    Abstract: A portable boring/facing machine having a rotatable boring bar on which is supported a cutting head assembly that is adapted to be axially translated by a lead screw drive powered by an AC variable speed servo motor is provided with mounting brackets attachable to the work piece that incorporate a swivel mechanism for facilitating alignment of the boring bar with the centerline of the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventors: Donato L. Ricci, Martin A. Gardzinski
  • Patent number: 6443462
    Abstract: A collet for carrying a high-speed drill which comprises a collar (2) arranged to enclose a drill shank (1), an outer rim support (8) arranged for attachment to a drill, and a clamping mechanism between the collar and the outer rim support (8). The clamping mechanism is arranged to provide clamping forces between said outer rim support (8) and said collar so that said collar tightly grips a drill shank (1), as a consequence of centrifugal forces and of off center sprag effect forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Westwind Air Bearings Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael C Tempest