Abstract: A centering clamping apparatus has a housing (1) with a centering element (2) mounted to be displaceable along a longitudinal axis between an open position and a clamping position. A finger element (3), mounted with centering element (2), is displaceable transversely to the longitudinal axis between a retracted position and an extended position. The finger element (3) is operatively connected to an adjusting member (4). The adjusting element (4) is mounted to be displaceable in the centering element (2). A blocking device (5) is provided on the centering element (2). The blocking device (5) either precludes a relative movement between the housing (1) and the centering element (2), with the finger element (3) fully retracted, or precludes a relative movement between the centering element (2) and the adjusting member (4), with the finger element (3) fully extended.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chuck comprising a chuck casing (3) and jaws (1) moved radially outwardly and having an axially extending clamping face (17) for clamping a workpiece. The jaws (1) are guided in radial guides and are provided with two sloping guideways on an axially slidable clamping piece (4) is guided in such a manner that the jaws (1) are moved radially upon an axial sliding motion of the clamping piece (4). A jaw casing (2) accommodating the radial guides of the jaws (1) is carried for axial movement in the chuck casing (3) and is supported on the chuck casing (3) in the direction of the clamping movement of the clamping piece (4) via an axially resilient spring element (9).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, for clamping a fiber placement tool to a fiber placement machine, along a rotational axis of the fiber placement machine, through use of a clamping apparatus having a plurality of drive lugs extending axially from the machine, and having three intersecting faying surfaces thereof which mate simultaneously in substantially intimate contact with three corresponding intersecting faying surfaces of a plurality of drive lug receptacles extending axially from the tool. Pairs of movable tines, disposed on opposite sides of each drive lug, pull the drive lugs into intimate contact with the drive lug receptacles. Master fixtures are used for setting the drive lugs and lug receptacles with respect to corresponding ones of the other, to achieve a desired intimate fit between faying surfaces thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for clamping a workpiece holder (3) on a collect chuck (2) that can be fixed to a machine tool, having a plurality of clamping elements distributed around the circumference of the collet chuck (2; 42). Said clamping elements that can be adjusted radially to the axis (4) of the collect chuck from a release to a clamping position can be pressed against a circumferential surface (25) of the workpiece holder (3) positioned relative to the collet chuck (2) in the clamping position. The clamping element are designed as rollers (20) having axes (30) aligned nearly tangentially to the collet chuck circumference. A determinable surface pressure thus results in the clamping position as said rollers (20) mutually contact the workpiece holder (3), a clamping mandrel (10) of the collet chuck (2), and the collect chuck part (11). Said surface pressure is thereby reduced and the collet chuck can also be used in the range of greater tensile forces.

Abstract: A failsafe workholding clamping assembly includes a base, an axially slidable draw bar and collet, and a force amplifier. A driver applies a continuous driving force to the force amplifier. The force amplifier amplifies the driving force and applies a resulting amplified force to the draw bar to bias the draw bar toward its closed position and the collet toward its gripping position. A collet opener mounts to the base and selectively applies an opening force to the draw bar to counteract the driving force and move the collet into its released position. The workholding clamping assembly holds a collet in a predetermined rotational orientation and includes a draw bar rotating mechanism to enable an operator to rotate the draw bar to threadingly engage the draw bar and a rotationally-fixed collet.

Abstract: A chuck holds a disk by the inside diameter with a plurality of contact surfaces at the end of fingers. Axial motion of an actuator is translated into outward radial movement of the fingers to place the contact surfaces in contact with the inside diameter of the disk. The force that is applied to the disk is limited to reduce or eliminate warping or curvature of the disk, e.g., a sleeve that surrounds the fingers can be used as a hard stop to physically limit the range of outward radial movement of the fingers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chuck comprising a chuck casing (3) and jaws (1) moved radially outwardly and having an axially extending clamping face (17) for clamping a workpiece. The jaws (1) are guided in radial guides and are provided with two sloping guideways on an axially slidable clamping piece (4) is guided in such a manner that the jaws (1) are moved radially upon an axial sliding motion of the clamping piece (4). A jaw casing (2) accommodating the radial guides of the jaws (1) is carried for axial movement in the chuck casing (3) and is supported on the chuck casing (3) in the direction of the clamping movement of the clamping piece (4) via an axially resilient spring element (9).

Abstract: The invention pertains to a chuck for detachable connection of two machine parts, with a chuck assembly arranged on or in a first machine part and a cooperating complementary part on or in a second machine part. The chuck assembly contains an axially displaceable tensioning element and several gripper elements associated with the tensioning element and radially movable by axial displacement of the latter, with a clamping surface for contact with a corresponding opposing surface of the complementary part. In order to allow a subsequent alignment or adjustment of the chucked machine part, the complementary part contains an outer part, an intermediate part arranged in the outer part, and an inner part arranged in the intermediate part, which are connected to one another by flexible outer and inner webs and are otherwise separated by outer and inner gaps. The intermediate and inner parts are adjustable in different directions relative to the outer part.

Abstract: [Problems] A gripping method for a turbocharger housing and a work gripping device that can accurately grip an inner diameter using a reference for shape during casting when processing. [Means for Solving Problems] In a gripping method of a turbocharger housing W, an end surface Y of a large diameter hole 22 facing a small diameter hole 25 is used for positioning in an axial direction. The inner diameter of the large diameter hole 22 is then gripped. A work gripping device 1 includes a cylindrical body 2, a plunger 3 that moves back and forth along an axial direction of the body 2, a jaw 4 that moves in a radial direction of the body 2 in tandem with the plunger 3, and a pusher 6 that presses the work W in a direction away from the body 2 in accompaniment with movement of the plunger 3. The jaw 4 includes a gripping surface 24 that grips the work W and a contact surface 5 that projects in an outward radial direction from an end edge of the gripping surface 24 away from the body 2.

Abstract: A work piece carrier is provided with two reference systems for accurately positioning it with regard to a chuck member. The work piece carrier comprises a central aperture with the two opposite ends of the aperture surrounded by one of the reference systems. The two reference systems are independent from each other and allow the work piece carrier to be attached to the chuck member in two different positions. Assigned to each reference system is a protrusion surrounding the central aperture and extending substantially in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the work piece carrier. The particular protrusion is provided with a shoulder serving as a clamping surface, adapted to be engaged by clamping elements provided in the chuck member. Preferably, also the centering elements for defining the position of the work piece carrier with regard to the chuck member are located on the particular protrusion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rapid clamping system (50), comprising a clamping housing (12), with a piston (18) acted on from one side by springs (15) and which may be pressurised from the other side, with an actuator (60) arranged on the piston (18) to follow the piston movement, with at least one clamping bolt (32) arranged to be displaced perpendicular to the piston axis (28), in a working coupling acting in both directions of displacement with the actuator (60) by means of an inclined guide (52), whereby, with the springs (16) extended, the clamping bolt (32) takes up a locking position for locking a clamping pin (14) which may be introduced in the clamping housing (12) and which adopts an unlocking position for removal of the clamping pin (14) on corresponding pressurization of the piston (18).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, for clamping a fiber placement tool to a fiber placement machine, along a rotational axis of the fiber placement machine, through use of a clamping apparatus having a plurality of drive lugs extending axially from the machine, and having three intersecting faying surfaces thereof which mate simultaneously in substantially intimate contact with three corresponding intersecting faying surfaces of a plurality of drive lug receptacles extending axially from the tool. Pairs of movable tines, disposed on opposite sides of each drive lug, pull the drive lugs into intimate contact with the drive lug receptacles. Master fixtures are used for setting the drive lugs and lug receptacles with respect to corresponding ones of the other, to achieve a desired intimate fit between faying surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A new and improved wafer support for supporting wafers in a process chamber such as an edge bead removal (EBR) chamber. The wafer support comprises multiple wafer support units each including a gripper block that engages an edge portion or bevel of the wafer. The gripper block is attached to an engaging and disengaging mechanism for selectively causing engagement of the gripper blocks with the wafer to support the wafer and disengagement of the gripper blocks from the wafer to release the wafer for removal of the wafer from the chamber. The gripper blocks contact little or none of the surface area on the patterned surface of the wafer to prevent or substantially reduce the formation of contact-induced defects on the wafer.

Abstract: In a cylinder having a piston 2 and a cylinder body 3 having a piston chamber 4 in which said piston 2 is slidably accommodated, a guide shaft 9 extending toward the piston chamber 4 is provided on a head-side end wall 8 of the cylinder body 3, and the piston 2 includes a guide hole 2c in which the guide shaft 9 is accommodated. A plurality of grooves 9a and 2d respectively extending in axial directions are provided between an outer peripheral surface of the guide shaft 9 and an inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 2c. A plurality of steel balls 13 are provided between the grooves 9a and 2d.

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.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a chuck member to be mounted within the operating area of the machine tool and a work piece carrier that can be put onto the chuck member and clamped thereto. First positioning members provided on the chuck member and second positioning members provided on the work piece carrier cooperate to define the position of the work piece carrier along three coordinate axes each running perpendicular to each other as well as with regard to the angular orientation. A clamping mechanism fixes the work piece carrier member to the chuck member in the afore mentioned defined position. In order to ensure an increased resistance against tilting momenta and torque occurring during the machining of a work piece, the first positioning members are constituted by conical centering pins and the second positioning members are constituted by recesses in the shape of a two-stage groove having two shoulders.

Abstract: The apparatus for clamping a work piece in a well defined position within the operating area of a machine tool comprises a chuck member to be mounted within the operating area of the machine tool and a work piece carrier that can be put onto the chuck member and clamped thereto. First positioning members provided on the chuck member and second positioning members provided on the work piece carrier cooperate to define the position of the work piece carrier along three coordinate axes each running perpendicular to each other as well as with regard to the angular orientation. A clamping mechanism fixes the work piece carrier member to the chuck member in the afore mentioned defined position. In order to ensure an increased resistance against tilting momenta and torque occurring during the machining of a work piece, the clamping mechanism comprises a plurality of clamping devices.