PRECISION COUPLING

Abstract

A precision coupling for securing a component to an apparatus. The precision coupling includes a first coupling half for connection to the apparatus and a second coupling half for connection to the component. The first coupling half has a clamping lever configured for pivoting about a pivot axle, the clamping lever having at least one lateral flap with a first inclined tightening face. The second coupling half has at least one locking finger with a second inclined tightening face so that when the clamping lever is pivoted and the first coupling half and the second coupling half are placed against each other in an open position, the at least one lateral flap engages behind the at least one locking finger and the first inclined tightening face slides along the second inclined tightening face and to thereby pull the first coupling half and the second coupling half against each other in order to assume a locking position.

Claims

1. A precision coupling for securing a component to an apparatus, the precision coupling comprising: a first coupling half having a clamping lever configured for pivoting about a pivot axle, the clamping lever having at least one lateral flap with a first inclined tightening face; and a second coupling half having at least one locking finger with a second inclined tightening face so that when the clamping lever is pivoted and the first coupling half and the second coupling half are placed against each other in an open position, the at least one lateral flap engages behind the at least one locking finger and the first inclined tightening face slides along the second inclined tightening face and to thereby pull the first coupling half and the second coupling half against each other in order to assume a locking position.

2. The precision coupling of claim 1, wherein: the clamping lever comprises a lateral contour and a resiliently loaded fixing pin configured to slide along the lateral contour when the clamping lever is activated, and the lateral contour has a curve which radially declines in the direction towards the locking position.

3. The precision coupling of claim 2, wherein the lateral contour comprises a notch and the resiliently loaded fixing pin engages in the notch in the open position.

4. The precision coupling of claim 1, further comprising a central positioning stud on the pivot axle of the first coupling half to facilitate pivoting of the clamping lever thereabout can be pivoted about the central positioning stud.

5. The precision coupling of claim 4, wherein the second coupling half comprises a central opening to facilitate positioning of the first coupling half and the second coupling half with respect to each other by introducing the central positioning stud into the central opening.

6. The precision coupling of claim 1, further comprising at least one non-central positioning stud and an opposing non-central opening to facilitate securing of the first coupling half and second coupling half against rotation relative to each other.

7. The precision coupling of claim 1, wherein: the first coupling half comprises a receiving space for the clamping lever, and limitations of the receiving space limit a possible path for pivot movement of the clamping lever, the receiving space is axially terminated by a closure plate.

8. The precision coupling of claim 1, wherein an inclination of the first inclined tightening face and an inclination of the second inclined tightening face are approximately 3 degrees.

9. The precision coupling of claim 1, wherein: the first coupling half comprises one or more first fastening members for securing the first coupling half to the apparatus, and the second coupling half comprises one or more second fastening members for securing the second coupling half to the component.

10. A precision coupling for securing a component to an apparatus, the precision coupling comprising: a first coupling half having a clamping lever configured for pivoting about a pivot axle, the clamping lever having at least two lateral flaps arranged are opposite each other with the pivot axle as a centre point, each lateral flap in the at least two lateral flaps having a first inclined tightening face; and a second coupling half having at least two locking fingers, each locking finger in the at least two locking fingers having a second inclined tightening face so that when the clamping lever is pivoted and the first coupling half and the second coupling half are placed against each other in an open position, the at least two lateral flaps engage behind the at least two locking fingers and the first inclined tightening face slides along the second inclined tightening face and to thereby pull the first coupling half and the second coupling half against each other in order to assume a locking position.

11. The precision coupling of claim 10, wherein: the clamping lever comprises a lateral contour and a resiliently loaded fixing pin configured to slide along the lateral contour when the clamping lever is activated, and the lateral contour has a curve which radially declines in the direction towards the locking position.

12. The precision coupling of claim 11, wherein the lateral contour comprises a notch and the resiliently loaded fixing pin engages in the notch in the open position.

13. The precision coupling of claim 10, further comprising a central positioning stud on the pivot axle of the first coupling half to facilitate pivoting of the clamping lever thereabout can be pivoted about the central positioning stud.

14. The precision coupling of claim 13, wherein the second coupling half comprises a central opening to facilitate positioning of the first coupling half and the second coupling half with respect to each other by introducing the central positioning stud into the central opening.

15. The precision coupling of claim 10, further comprising at least one non-central positioning stud and an opposing non-central opening to facilitate securing of the first coupling half and second coupling half against rotation relative to each other.

16. The precision coupling of claim 10, wherein: the first coupling half comprises a receiving space for the clamping lever, and limitations of the receiving space limit a possible path for pivot movement of the clamping lever, the receiving space is axially terminated by a closure plate.

17. The precision coupling of claim 10, wherein an inclination of the first inclined tightening face and an inclination of the second inclined tightening face are approximately 3 degrees.

18. The precision coupling of claim 10, wherein: the first coupling half comprises one or more first fastening members for securing the first coupling half to the apparatus, and the second coupling half comprises one or more second fastening members for securing the second coupling half to the component.

19. A precision coupling for securing a component to an apparatus, the precision coupling comprising: a first coupling half having a clamping lever configured for pivoting about a pivot axle, the clamping lever having at least one lateral flap; and a second coupling half having at least one locking finger so that when the clamping lever is pivoted and the first coupling half and the second coupling half are placed against each other in an open position, the at least one lateral flap engages behind the at least one locking finger and slides along the at least one locking finger to thereby pull the first coupling half and the second coupling half against each other in order to assume a locking position.

20. The precision coupling of claim 19, wherein: the first coupling half comprises one or more first fastening members for securing the first coupling half to the apparatus, and the second coupling half comprises one or more second fastening members for securing the second coupling half to the component.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0025] Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description hereinbelow:

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded illustration of a precision coupling in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a three-dimensional illustration of the precision coupling of FIG. 1 in an open position, with the closure plate removed.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a three-dimensional illustration of a precision coupling of FIG. 2 in an open position, with a closure plate positioned.

[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates a transparent front view of a precision coupling of FIG. 2 in an open position.

[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates a three-dimensional illustration of a precision coupling of FIG. 1 in a locking position.

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates a transparent front view of a precision coupling of FIG. 5 in a locking position.

[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates a sectioned illustration of a precision coupling taken along section D-D of FIG. 6.

[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of a clamping lever of a precision coupling of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 9 illustrates a sectioned illustration of a clamping lever taken along section A-A of FIG. 8.

[0035] FIG. 10 illustrates a sectioned illustration of a clamping lever taken along section B-B of FIG. 8.

[0036] FIG. 11 illustrates a sectioned illustration of a clamping lever taken along section C-C of FIG. 8.

[0037] FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of a clamping lever of a precision coupling of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION

[0038] In FIG. 1, the individual components of a precision coupling in accordance with one or more embodiments are illustrated as an exploded view. The precision coupling for securing a component to an apparatus comprises a first coupling half 1 and a second coupling half 2. The first coupling half 1 comprises a substantially flat, cylindrical base member which has a receiving space 15 for a clamping lever 3. In addition, the first coupling half 1 has a round closure plate 16 which is configured to axially close the base member of the first coupling half 1 and consequently the receiving space 15. The clamping lever 3 can be pivoted about a pivot axle. The pivot axle is constructed via a central positioning stud 11 and a bush 18 which can be rotated on the central positioning stud 11. A hole of the clamping lever 3 is secured to the bush 18 in a rotationally secure manner.

[0039] As illustrated in detail in FIGS. 8 to 12, the clamping lever 3 has two lateral flaps 4, each with an inclined tightening face 5. The second coupling half 2 has two locking fingers 6 which are in each case associated with the lateral flaps 4 and which each have an inclined tightening face 5. When the coupling halves 1, 2 are placed against each other in the open position (FIGS. 2 to 4), when the clamping lever 3 is pivoted the lateral flaps 4 of the first coupling half 1 engage behind the locking fingers 6 of the second coupling half 2 and the inclined tightening faces 5 of the lateral flaps 4 slide along the inclined tightening faces 5 of the locking fingers 6 so that the two coupling halves 1, 2 are pulled against each other in order to assume the locking position (FIGS. 5 and 6). In order to achieve a uniform clamping force of the two locking fingers 6, the two locking fingers 6 can be adjusted in terms of height via thin bearing plates 22.

[0040] The two lateral flaps 4 are, with the pivot axle as the centre, constructed opposite each other on the clamping lever 3, preferably in one (unitary) piece. The clamping lever 3 additionally has a lever element 19 as an extension of the lever and a ball handle 20 for operating the lever.

[0041] The clamping lever 3 has a side contour 7 which has a curve 9 which declines radially in the direction towards the locking position (FIG. 8), and a notch 10 at the beginning of the radially declining curve 9. A fixing pin 8 which is pretensioned by a spring 21 engages in the open position of the clamping lever 3 in the notch 10 (see FIG. 4). When the clamping lever 3 is activated in the direction towards the locking position, the fixing pin 8 slides along the radially declining curve 9 of the side contour 7 (FIG. 6).

[0042] On the pivot axle of the first coupling half 1, a central positioning stud 11 is constructed, wherein the clamping lever 3 can be pivoted about the central positioning stud 11. The second coupling half 2 has in a state associated with this positioning stud 11 a central opening 12, i.e., a hole, so that the two coupling halves 1, 2 can be positioned with respect to each other by introducing the central positioning stud 11 into the central opening 12.

[0043] In addition, the first and second coupling halves 1, 2 are secured against rotation with respect to each other via two non-central positioning studs 12 and an opposing non-central opening 14. The non-central openings 14 are constructed as radially expanded elongate holes. The inclination of the tightening faces 5, the flaps 4 and the locking fingers 6 as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 10, and 11 is approximately 3 degrees with respect to the base faces of the first and second coupling halves 1, 2, respectively. The first coupling half 1 and the second coupling half 2 further have a plurality of screw holes 17 for securing to a desired component, for example, manipulator, or an apparatus.

[0044] The base member of the first coupling half 1 may, for example, be produced from aluminium. The base member of the second coupling half 2 and/or the closure plate 16 and/or the clamping lever 3 and/or the locking fingers 6 may, for example, be produced from hardened steel.

[0045] The terms “coupled,” “attached,” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

[0046] Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0047] 1 First coupling half [0048] 2 Second coupling half [0049] 3 Clamping lever [0050] 4 Lateral flap [0051] 5 Tightening face [0052] 6 Locking finger [0053] 7 Side contour [0054] 8 Fixing pin [0055] 9 Radially declining curve [0056] 10 Notch [0057] 11 Central positioning stud [0058] 12 Central opening [0059] 13 Non-central positioning stud [0060] 14 Non-central opening [0061] 15 Receiving space [0062] 16 Closure plate [0063] 17 Screw hole [0064] 18 Bush [0065] 19 Lever element [0066] 20 Ball handle [0067] 21 Spring [0068] 22 Bearing plate