A flexible shaft, having a first end and, a second end and capable of being bent about its axis while transferring rotary motion from a device to tool is disclosed. The shaft, manufactured from a rigid material, has at least one flexible segment having two sinuous slots ascending in a helical path from a common start point in opposite rotational directions. In other segments the slots can be a single helical slot, double helical slots, parallel or crossing, or circumferential. The helical paths can vary within each segment or from segment to segment.

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). This is achieved by providing a free space (11) between the chuck body (3) and a clamping jaw carrier (9) accommodating the respective clamping jaw (6), in that an elastically deformable sleeve (12) is inserted in the free space (11), which sleeve (12) rests on the outside (8) of the chuck body (3) at two positions (21) spaced apart from one another, and in that a pressure chamber (14) is created between the chuck body (3), the sleeve (12) and the two support positions (21) thereof, into which pressure chamber (14) a medium (16) can be filled, by means of which a pressure force directed outwards acts on the wall (W2) of the sleeve (12) and bulges the latter in the direction of the clamping jaw carrier (9) between the support positions (21).

A machining tool for deburring boreholes, which lead laterally into a recess, comprising: a shaft; a cutting head with at least one circumferential cutting blade associated with a chip groove and having a cutting edge extending, at least in sections, in an axial direction, and which can perform a cutting process by virtue of relative movement between the tool and a workpiece, and which lies on a virtual cylindrical rotation surface; and at least one cutting-blade-free and chip-groove-free surface area; at least one fluid channel closed on the cutting head side, extending through the shaft into the cutting head; and at least one branch channel with an outlet opening. The outlet opening is in a dynamic pressure active surface radially set back relative to the virtual rotation surface, and is larger than a flow cross-sectional area of the at least one branch channel at the outlet opening.

A new, innovative tool useful in fluidly coupling a lateral pipeline to a reinstated pipeline containing a continuous liner is provided. The pipeline reinstatement tool includes a flexible shaft that is coupled to a cutting head at a first end and a coupling assembly at a second end. The cutting head includes a hollow cylindrical member having cutting teeth that project longitudinally from the first end of the hollow cylindrical member. The tool includes a first compressible tensioner portion disposed about the flexible shaft proximate cutting head, a second compressible tensioner portion disposed about the flexible shaft proximate the coupling assembly, and a flexible sleeve portion disposed about the flexible shaft between the first compressible tensioner portion and the second compressible tensioner portion.

A centering guide cage apparatus for interior wall drilling includes a drill-bit holder, a flange bearing, a centering guide cage, a flexible casing, a hand-grip turnbuckle, and a flexible drill shaft. The centering guide cage, equipped with plurality of shape-memory supports, is terminally connected to an outer race of the flange bearing. The centering guide cage is terminally connected a distal end of the flexible casing from the opposite end. The hand-grip turnbuckle is terminally pressed against a proximal end of the flexible casing. A distal end of the flexible drill shaft is terminally connected to the drill-bit holder as the flexible drill shaft traverses through the flange bearing, the centering guide cage, the flexible casing, and the hand-grip turnbuckle. The flexible drill shaft is radially connected within an inner race of the flange bearing, wherein a proximal end of the flexible drill shaft is engaged with a drill driver.

A chip-removing tool for deburring bores, which laterally open into a cylindrical recess for example, comprising a shaft; a cutting head with at least one cutting wedge on the circumference, said cutting wedge being paired with a flute and having a cutter, which extends in an axial direction at least in some sections, carries out a cutting process on the basis of a relative movement between the tool and a workpiece, and lies on a virtual cylindrical rotational surface with a diameter that corresponds to the nominal diameter of the chip-removing tool, and at least one cutting wedge- and flute-free surface region; at least one fluid channel closed on the cutting head side and extending through the shaft and into the cutting head; and at least one puncture channel which starts from the fluid channel and comprises an opening that lies in the cutting wedge- and flute-free surface region.

The micro-gripper includes a support (301) to which are articulated fingers (304) and an actuating diaphragm (305), adjusting the spacing of the fingers (304). The support being circular, the fingers (304) may be arranged in any number around it, and the diaphragm (305) delimits a chamber with the support (301) assembled to an equipment (18) for distributing fluids, the pressure of which elastically deforms the diaphragm (305) and controls a simultaneous movement of variations in spacings of the fingers (304).

If the diaphragm is conical and the fingers link up all around, an independence of the movements of the fingers remains, which is invaluable for correctly gripping objects and avoiding excessive efforts.

Application to the gripping of objects, which can be very small and fragile, with a determined and moderate force.

The present invention discloses an industrial high speed micro drill that is made to access remote and inaccessible locations in order to blend, grind, polish and cut materials and parts as determined by visual inspection powered via a pneumatic power source. The high speed drill is deployed by a controlled, articulating guide tube that acts in a multidirectional fashion to direct the action of the assemblage and allow for discrete manipulation of the pneumatically powered drill while harboring a channel and pneumatic power source carrying rubber tubing.

A fully steerable flexible curved drilling robot device comprises a first flexible tube including a concentric through hole centered on a longitudinal axis, a second flexible tube including an eccentric through hole, wherein the second flexible tube is positioned in the concentric though hole of the first flexible tube, and configured to move translationally along the longitudinal axis and rotationally about the longitudinal axis, and a drill bit connected via a bearing to a flexible drive shaft, the drill bit positioned at a distal end of the first flexible tube, and wherein the flexible drive shaft extends through the eccentric through hole of the second flexible tube and is configured to provide a rotational torque to the drill bit. A steerable flexible curved drilling robot system and drilling method are also disclosed.

The present invention discloses an industrial high speed micro drill that is made to access remote and inaccessible locations in order to blend, grind, polish and cut materials and parts as determined by visual inspection powered via a pneumatic power source. The high speed drill is deployed by a controlled, articulating guide tube that acts in a multidirectional fashion to direct the action of the assemblage and allow for discrete manipulation of the pneumatically powered drill while harboring a channel and pneumatic power source carrying rubber tubing.