Collet Chuck

Abstract

The invention relates to a collet chuck (1) for clamping a preferably cylindrical tool shank with a chuck body (2) of a collet (3) and an union nut (4), which are matched in such a way that the collet (3) can be driven into the chuck body (2) by tightening the union nut (4) such that it secures the tool shank in the collet chuck (1) ready for operation, wherein the collet (3) and the union nut (4) are permanently connected to one another and at the same time connected in a rotatable manner relative to one another.

Claims

1. A collet chuck (1) for chucking a preferably cylindrical tool shaft with a chuck body (2), a receiving sleeve (3), and a screw cap (4), which are matched to one another in such a way that by tightening the screw cap (4), the receiving sleeve (3) can be driven into the chuck body (2) so that it fixes the tool shaft in the collet chuck (1) in a ready-to-operate fashion, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (3) and screw cap (4) are permanently connected to each other and at the same time, are able to rotate relative to each other.

2. The collet chuck (1) preferably according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (3) and screw cap (4) are supported against each other in rotary fashion by means of rolling elements (5) of a preferably barrel-shaped, conical, or cylindrical design, which each roll against the receiving sleeve (3) and the screw cap (4).

3. The collet chuck (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the collet chuck (1) has a set of rolling elements (5) in a V-shaped arrangement whose rolling elements (5) are arranged so that the orthogonals to the rotational axes of the rolling elements (5) only intersect with the chuck longitudinal axis of the chuck body (2) on the inside of the chuck body (2).

4. The collet chuck (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the collet chuck (1) has a second set of rolling elements (5) in a V-shaped arrangement whose rolling elements (5) are arranged so that the orthogonals to the rotational axes of the rolling elements (5) only intersect with the longitudinal axis of the chuck body (2) on the outside of the chuck body (2).

5. The collet chuck (1) according to one of claims 2 through 4, characterized in that the rolling elements (5) form a roller bearing, with the aid of which the receiving sleeve (3) holding a tool shaft can be pressed into the chuck body (2) and pulled out from it again by screwing and unscrewing the screw cap (4).

6. The collet chuck (1) according to one of claims 2 through 5, characterized in that the rolling elements (5) are arranged so that the receiving sleeve (3) is automatically centered in the screw cap (4) during the tightening of the screw cap (4).

7. The collet chuck (1) according to one of claims 2 through 6, characterized in that the rolling elements (5) are installed between the receiving sleeve (3) and the screw cap (4), without a bearing cage.

8. The collet chuck (1) according to one of claims 2 through 7, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (3) has a collar (7) that protrudes radially beyond the chuck body (2) and on its outer circumference surface, the collar (7) has a running track for the rolling elements, preferably in the form of a flute provided in it.

9. The collet chuck (1) according to one of claims 2 through 8, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (3) is not slit in the region in which the running track for the rolling elements (5) is embodied on it.

10. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (3) is rotationally secured relative to the chuck body (2) through form-fitting engagement.

11. The collet chuck (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one section that achieves a rotational securing has a non-round and/or polygonal outer contour (9) or a locking groove or locking projection and the chuck body (2) is embodied as complementary to it.

12. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screw cap (4) has an installation opening (8*) that is accessible from the outside of the screw cap (4) for inserting rolling elements (5) between the screw cap (4) and the receiving sleeve (3).

13. The collet chuck (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the installation opening (8*), which preferably only permits the insertion of individual rolling elements (5) one after another, is closed by means of a screw, a press-fitted plug, or a closure that is glued into place or thermally fastened, preferably in the form of a pin.

14. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in its end oriented away from the screw cap (4), the receiving sleeve (3) has an opening (10) for a length-adjusting screw.

15. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (3) has a collar (7), which in the chucked state, rests flat against the end (11) of the chuck body (2) and/or the screw cap (4) has an inner end (12), which, in the chucked state, rests flat against the end (11) of the chuck body (2).

16. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screw cap (4) can be screwed to the chuck body (2) by means of a multi-start thread (13, 14) and/or a thread (13, 14) embodied as a trapezoidal thread.

17. The collet chuck (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that rolling elements (23) are held in a rolling element cage (18), which is positioned between the outer circumference surface of the chuck body (2) and the inner circumference surface of the screw cap (4).

18. The collet chuck (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the rolling element cage (18) is a cylindrical ring that has openings (21) situated one after another along at least one helix, each provided for a respective rolling element (23).

19. The collet chuck (1) according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that on two opposing sides [of an] opening (21) for a rolling element (23), the rolling element cage (18) has blocks (20) that [protrude] in the radial direction relative to the base part of the rolling element cage (18) and form a boundary through which a rolling element (23) can be spread-inserted into an opening (21) of the rolling element cage (18).

20. The collet chuck (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that each opening (21) is allocated a pair of blocks (20), one of which is situated after the rolling element (23) in the rotation direction and another of which is situated before the rolling element (23).

21. The collet chuck according to one of claims 17 through 20, characterized in that the rolling element cage (18) is equipped with rolling elements (23) along a helix that extends at least three times around its outer circumference.

22. The collet chuck according to one of claims 17 through 21, characterized in that the base body (19) of the rolling element cage (18) is thin-walled and has a thickness (D) of no more than 2 mm and preferably no more than 1 mm.

23. The collet chuck according to one of claims 17 through 22, characterized in that the entire rolling element cage (18) is composed of plastic.

24. The collet chuck (1) with a trapezoidal thread according to claim 16, characterized in that at least one of the two thread flanks of a thread forms an angle of approximately 90 relative to the tool axis.

25. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at its outer circumference between its end (11) and an external thread for the screwing-on of the screw cap (4), the chuck body (2) has a damping element, which encloses the chuck body (2) in annular fashion at its outer circumference.

26. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at its end (11) oriented toward the screw cap (4), the chuck body (2) has a damping element.

27. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at its outer circumference, the chuck body (2) has a mating surface (15), which interacts with a corresponding counterpart mating surface on the inside of the screw cap (4) and as a result, centers the screw cap (4) relative to the chuck body (2) in a form-fitting way.

28. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the region between its external thread (13) for screwing on the screw cap (4) and its end (11) oriented toward the screw cap (4), the outer diameter of the chuck body (2) tapers toward said end.

29. The collet chuck (1) according to claim 28, characterized in that the inner circumference of the screw cap (4) is adapted so that it is complementary to the tapering of the chuck body (2), preferably so that the chuck body (2) centers the screw cap (4) when the screw cap (4) is tightened all the way.

30. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (3) and/or the screw cap (4) and/or the chuck body (2), preferably at least in the region in which they come into form-fitting contact with one another, is/are provided with an in particular electrically non-conductive coating to improve the mechanical properties, in particular, a shape-memory alloy and/or a sliding coating and/or a wear-protection coating; the coating of the chuck body (2) and/or the receiving sleeve (3) and/or screw cap (4) can be different and in particular, the receiving sleeve (3) and/or screw cap (4) can each have several different coated regions, namely a coating is provided in the region in which the screw cap (4) and receiving sleeve (3) interact with each other and another coating is provided in the region in which the receiving sleeve (3) interacts with the chuck body (2) or another coating is provided in the region in which the screw cap (4) interacts with the receiving sleeve (3), or another coating is provided in the region in which a respective running surface for the rolling elements.

31. The collet chuck (1) according to claim 30, characterized in that the outer region of the receiving sleeve section and/or the inner region of the tool holder is provided with an electrically non-conductive coating.

32. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (3) has at least two different types of slit, in particular slits that differ in terms of their length in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the receiving sleeve (3).

33. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (3) has a form-fitting pull-out prevention element by means of which it can interact with a complementary pull-out prevention element on the tool shaft, thus providing a pull-out prevention for the tool.

34. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conical surface by means of which the receiving sleeve (3) is compressed by the chuck body (2) has a cone angle of 0.5 to 4, preferably 1 to 3.

35. The collet chuck (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the chuck body (2) has a receiving sleeve socket with an inner cone whose cone angle is less than or equal to that of the outer cone of the receiving sleeve (3).

36. The collet chuck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving sleeve socket of the chuck body (2) has at least one groove that makes it possible to dispense coolant and/or lubricant into the working region of the tool through the tool holder.

37. A working unit for a machine tool that particularly operates by means of material-removing machining, composed of a collet chuck (1) in which a tool with a preferably cylindrical tool shaft is chucked; the collet chuck (1) includes a chuck body (2), a receiving sleeve (3), and a screw cap (4), which are matched to one another in such a way that by tightening the screw cap (4), the receiving sleeve (3) is driven into the chuck body (2) so that it fixes the tool shaft in the collet chuck (1) in a ready-to-operate fashion, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (3) and the screw cap (4) are permanently connected to each other and at the same time, are able to rotate relative to each other.

38. The working unit according to claim 37, characterized in that the collet chuck (1) is embodied according to one of claims 2 through 36.

39. A receiving sleeve assembly for a collet chuck (1) according to one of claims 1 through 36, composed of a receiving sleeve (3) and a screw cap (4) that are permanently connected to each other and at the same time, are able to rotate relative to each other.

40. The receiving sleeve assembly according to claim 39, characterized in that the receiving sleeve assembly has other features that relate to the receiving sleeve (3) and/or screw cap (4) from claims 2 through 39.

41. The receiving sleeve assembly for a collet chuck (1) according to one of claims 1 through 36, characterized in that the outer contour is embodied as non-round and/or polygonal over the entire length and the receiving sleeve assembly can have different sections with differently embodied polygons.

42. A tool-chucking system, including a collet chuck (1) according to one of claims 1 through 26 and at least two receiving sleeve assemblies according to claim 39 or 41, characterized in that the receiving sleeve assemblies have receiving sleeves (3) whose tool-chucking regions have different inner diameters.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

[0062] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of the collet chuck.

[0063] FIG. 2 is a 3D view of the collet chuck.

[0064] FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail from FIG. 1.

[0065] FIG. 4 is an overall sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment.

[0066] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial section through a second embodiment.

[0067] FIG. 6 shows another enlarged detail of the region of a rolling element in a flute in the screw cap and the matching flute in the chuck body.

[0068] FIG. 7 shows a view of the rolling element cage of the second exemplary embodiment.

[0069] FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the section line labeled with the letters AA in FIG. 7.

[0070] FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the section line labeled with the letters BB in FIG. 7.

[0071] FIG. 10 shows a detail of a side view of FIG. 7.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0072] FIG. 1 shows the collet chuck (1) according to the invention in the chucked state, without showing the tool.

[0073] The screw cap 4 has already been tightened until the receiving sleeve 3 has been almost completely driven into the chuck body 2.

[0074] It is clear how the receiving sleeve and screw cap are permanently connected to each other and at the same time, are able to rotate relative to each other. Between the receiving sleeve and the screw cap, which in this case, each have a rolling element running surface in the form of a flute that is machined into itwhich flute has a V-shaped cross-section in the specific case, a number of rolling elements 5 are provided, which produce a form-fitting engagement between the screw cap and the receiving sleeve.

[0075] More details are shown in FIG. 3, which shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 1.

[0076] Each of the rolling elements rotates around its rotational axis, which is depicted with a dot-and-dash line. As is clear, the long-dashed orthogonals to these rotational axes intersect with the working rotational axis on the inside of the chuck body. The flow of force that is transmitted by means of form-fitting engagement from the screw cap to the receiving sleeve takes place in the arrow direction along the above-mentioned orthogonals.

[0077] The rolling elements and the flutes that accommodate them are embodied so that they hold the screw cap and the receiving sleeve against each other with a small amount of play orbecause of the transition fit or a slight prestressing force that is already present in the unstressed statewith the play eliminated, i.e. they at least produce a pre-centering of these components relative to each other.

[0078] It also stands to reason based on what is shown in the figures that another improvement of the centering occurs as soon as the rolling elements between the screw cap and the receiving sleeve start to roll during the tightening of the screw cap. With a steel on steel, ground rolling, only friction-induced cornering forces occur, which are unable to prevent the rollers from moving into an optimally centered position.

[0079] The reference numeral 8* in FIG. 3 indicates a closure element. This closure element lies outside the main flow of force between the screw cap and the collet chuck, extending through the rollers. The closure element could be a ring extending in the circumference direction that has been glued or welded into place after the insertion of the rolling elements. Preferably, the closure element has only a limited spatial dimension and closes an opening that is only large enough that it is only ever possible to insert one rolling element after another into the running channel composed of the flutes between the screw cap and the receiving sleevefor example through a movement parallel to the dot-and-dash axis line.

[0080] This illustrates very clearly what the expression permanently connected to each other means: in the normal production application, e.g. on material-removing machines in the production sector, the connection between the screw cap and the receiving sleeve is not detached. At most, it is detached when the bearing is defective and must be overhauled.

[0081] Both the receiving sleeve 3 and the receiving sleeve socket in the chuck body 2 are embodied as conical in this case. Typically, the cone angle in this case encloses an angle of 0.1 to 4, preferably an angle of 0.5 to 3 with the rotational axis 6.

[0082] The remaining gap between the end 11 of the chuck body 2 on the one side and the collar 7 of the receiving sleeve 3 and the end 12 of the screw cap 4 on the other side better shows the damping properties of the collet chuck 1.

[0083] A collar 7 is understood to be any region of the receiving sleeve 3 that protrudes in the radial direction, i.e. transverse to the rotational axis 6. In this case, the collar 7 has an outer circumference surface 8, which either directly adjoins the screw cap 4 or, like the screw cap 4, has recesses in order to accommodate the rolling elements 5.

[0084] Through further tightening of the screw cap 4, the collar 7 of the receiving sleeve can be moved until it comes into flat contact against the end 11 of the chuck body 2.

[0085] In this case, the external thread 13 on the chuck body 2 and the internal thread 14 in the screw cap 4 that are required for this movement are embodied as trapezoidal threads.

[0086] The region between the external thread 13 of the chuck body 2 and the end 11 of the chuck body 2 is embodied as a mating surface 15 between the screw cap 4 and the chuck body 2, with the screw cap 4 being guided in a precise fashion during the insertion since a trapezoidal thread exhibits only a reduced centering action.

[0087] Since the receiving sleeve 3 does not rotate along with this rotary motion and/or is rotationally secured even when subjected to stress, the rear region has a section with a polygonal outer contour 9, which engages in a section of the chuck body 2 that is embodied as complementary thereto.

[0088] Likewise in the rear region, there is an opening 10 for an optional length-adjusting screw; when the screw is not inserted, the opening 10 can also be used to convey coolant and/or lubricant that is/are introduced via the through bore 17. Naturally, this through bore 17 is also used for re-tightening a length-adjusting screw as needed in order to optimally adjust a tool.

[0089] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional illustration of the collet chuck according to the invention 1.

[0090] As in FIG. 1, the receiving sleeve 3 is driven into the chuck body 2 by tightening the screw cap 4, with the collar 7 protruding beyond the receiving sleeve 3 in the radial direction.

[0091] This view shows with particular clarity that a design according to the invention, with a small cone angle on the one hand and on the other, the permanent connection of the receiving sleeve 3 and screw cap 4 so that they are able to rotate relative to each other is essentially more compact than a conventional ER-collet chuck and at the same time, has a smaller interference contour. This effect becomes important particularly when chucking large shaft diameters.

[0092] FIGS. 4 through 10 show another exemplary embodiment of the invention for which separate protection is also claimed. That which has already been stated above, along with all of its options, applies to this exemplary embodiment so long as nothing to the contrary is expressly stated in the following description of the differences.

[0093] FIG. 4 shows this whole exemplary embodiment. In this case, the receiving sleeve and the screw cap are also connected to each other by means of rolling elements 5 in the manner described above. This figure also clearly shows how before and after the region of the rolling elements 5 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L, this connection is sealed in relation to the outside, preferably by means of an O-ring, as also shown in FIG. 5. In this case, the rolling elements 5 can be embodied in the form of balls or also in the form of rolling elements from the above-described, different type of arrangement.

[0094] The receiving sleeve 3 is built into the chuck body 2, as has been described above. By tightening the screw cap, the receiving sleeve is driven deeper into the conical seat and thus closed. This enables it to exert the necessary pressing force relative to the tool shaft inserted into it.

[0095] This exemplary embodiment differs from the preceding exemplary embodiment in that the screw cap travels with the aid of rolling elements 23 on a thread provided in the outer circumference of the chuck body 2, said rolling elements each being held in their proper, exact position by a rolling element cage 18. This prevents the inserted balls 23 from coming too close to one another and thus prevents an unwanted friction from occurring between the balls 23. As is readily apparent from FIG. 5, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis L, the screw cap 4 is sealed off from the outside in front of and behind the balls or rolling elements, preferably by means of an O-ring, as is shown in this Fig.

[0096] The flutes in the screw cap 4 and the chuck body 2 are embodied as shown in FIG. 3. In other words, they each have a recess 22, in which, even under load, no direct surface pressure occurs between the ball surface and the bottom of the flute. Any foreign matter or dirt that has penetrated can collect here without yielding a destructive effect of the kind that occurs when such particles are rolled over under load. The rolling element cage 18 best graphically illustrated in FIG. 7 is in this case composed of a base body 19, which has the shape of a cylinder. This cylinder is preferably composed of plastic and ideally, is thin-walled in the region of most of its circumferential surface. In this case, it then has a wall thickness or thickness D of preferably less than 1 mm, see FIG. 10. It is particularly advantageous if the D is so slight that the base body finally constitutes a kind of foil with a thickness of less than 0.5 mm. In this way, the rolling element cage 18 can change its shape to the required degree.

[0097] In order to nevertheless hold the individual rolling elements securely in their position, blocks 20 protrude beyond the base body of the rolling element cage 18 in a radially outward and radially inward direction. Each opening 21 (see FIG. 10, but with rolling elements inserted into the opening 21) of the rolling element cage 18, which is provided for a rolling element, is bordered by at least two blocks 20. The blocks 20 define the inner cross-section of the opening 21 on the inside and outside so that a rolling element 23 can be spread-inserted into the opening 21 and then remains there permanently and cannot inadvertently fall out of the rolling element cage 18, see FIG. 9. Each block 20 has a dimension in the radial direction that is preferably at least 2.5 times the thickness D of the base body of the rolling element cage, see FIG. 8.

[0098] Through the use of the above-described rolling element cage 18, the rolling element density can be significantly increased. Preferably, at least 40 or better still, at least 60 rolling elements 23 are used.

[0099] Preferably, each opening 21, viewed in the rotation direction, is allocated a block 20 before the rolling element 23 and a block 20 after the rolling element 23. The two blocks are on diametrically opposite sides of the opening 21. The blocks 20 naturally do not protrude beyond the rolling elements 23 in the radial direction.

[0100] As is readily apparent, the openings 21 are positioned one after another along at least one helix. Ideally, the rolling element cage 18 is thus equipped with rolling elements 23 along a helix that extends at least three times around its outer circumference.

[0101] In this exemplary embodiment, the rolling element cage 18 is accompanied by an entirely decisive advantage. With the opening and closing of the screw cap 4, it is specifically possible to move the rolling elements 23 beyond the end of the flute provided for accommodating them in the chuck body 2 and/or screw cap 4, in a region in which they lose the contact with the chuck body or screw cap or their flute, see the region labeled with the letter K in FIG. 4. The balls nevertheless maintain a definite position and are automatically threaded back into both of the flutes allocated to then when the screw cap 4 is turned again in the closing direction or opening direction. Because of this, another important factor in this exemplary embodiment is the blocks 20 that securely hold the rolling elements 23 in their position and not just spaced apart from one another, as would be the case in a normal rolling element cage. It should be noted that preferably, balls are used as the rolling elements 23.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0102] (1) collet chuck

[0103] (2) chuck body

[0104] (3) collet chuck

[0105] (4) screw cap

[0106] (5) rolling elements

[0107] (6) rotational axis

[0108] (7) collar of collet chuck

[0109] (8) outer circumference surface of collar

[0110] (8*) closure element for closing the installation opening of the rolling elements

[0111] (9) polygonal outer contour

[0112] (10) opening for length-adjusting screw

[0113] (11) end of chuck body

[0114] (12) end of screw cap

[0115] (13) chuck body thread

[0116] (14) screw cap thread

[0117] (15) mating surface

[0118] (16) cone angle

[0119] (17) through bore

[0120] (18) rolling element cage

[0121] (19) base body

[0122] (20) block

[0123] (21) opening for a rolling element

[0124] (22) recess

[0125] (23) rolling elements between chuck body and screw cap

[0126] (L) longitudinal axis

[0127] (K) region in which, during the opening or closing of the chuck, rolling elements lose contact on at least one side with the flute that guides them