Hydraulic chuck

Abstract

For enabling accurate and efficient cutting work on a narrow area, in a hydraulic chuck configured such that a pressurization fluid pressurized by a push member (8b) is fed through a pressurization passage (8) to a pressurization chamber (6) to reduce a diameter of an elastic deformable part (2b), the hydraulic chuck includes a body (1) having a flange accommodating part (5a) opening at a small-diameter portion at a tip end of the body and a sleeve accommodating part (5b) opening in a bottom face of the flange accommodating part (5a), and a sleeve (2) having a hole (2a) in which a gripped object is inserted, the sleeve being engageable and insertable with/to the sleeve accommodating part (5b) from a leading end side of the flange accommodating part (5a), the sleeve (2) forming the pressurization chamber (6) reserving therein an amount of the pressurization fluid between this sleeve (2) and the sleeve accommodating part (5b), the sleeve (2) having a flange (7) engageable with the flange accommodating part (5a).

Claims

1. A hydraulic chuck configured such that a pressurization fluid pressurized by a push member is fed through a pressurization passage to a pressurization chamber to reduce a diameter of an elastic deformable part, the hydraulic chuck comprising: a body having a flange accommodating part opening at a reduced-diameter portion at a tip end of the body and a sleeve accommodating part opening with a smaller diameter than the flange accommodating part in a bottom face of the flange accommodating part; a sleeve having a hole in which a gripped object is inserted, the sleeve being engageable and insertable with/to the sleeve accommodating part from a leading end side of the flange accommodating part, the sleeve forming the pressurization chamber reserving therein an amount of the pressurization fluid between this sleeve and the sleeve accommodating part, the sleeve having a flange engageable with the flange accommodating part; wherein the hydraulic chuck further comprises a coolant feeding passage which extends through the inside of the body, the coolant feeding passage being communicated with a coolant discharging opening provided at the tip end of the body; at least a portion of a circumferential edge of the coolant discharging opening is formed on a more radially inner side than an arc defining a maximum outer diameter of the flange; at least a portion of an outer edge of the flange has a small-diameter portion which is formed smaller in its outer diameter than the remaining portion of the flange; and the coolant discharging opening is open on a radially outer side of the small-diameter portion of the flange and away from the outer edge of the flange.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view showing a hydraulic chuck relating to Embodiment 1,

(2) FIG. 2 is a front view showing the hydraulic chuck relating to Embodiment 1,

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the hydraulic chuck relating to Embodiment 1,

(4) FIG. 4 is a section view taken along an axial direction of the hydraulic chuck relating to Embodiment 1,

(5) FIG. 5 is a front view showing a body tip portion with a sleeve being removed therefrom, relating to Embodiment 1,

(6) FIG. 6 is a section view for explaining a coolant discharging portion, relating to Embodiment 1,

(7) FIG. 7 is a section view for explaining a pressurization arrangement of a pressurization chamber, relating to Embodiment 1,

(8) FIG. 8 is a front view showing a hydraulic chuck relating to Embodiment 2,

(9) FIG. 9 is a front view showing a body tip portion with a sleeve being removed therefrom, relating to Embodiment 3,

(10) FIG. 10 is a section view for explaining a pressurization arrangement of a pressurization chamber, relating to Embodiment 3,

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a body tip portion with a sleeve being removed therefrom, relating to Embodiment 3,

(12) FIG. 12 is a front view showing a body tip portion with a sleeve being removed therefrom, relating to Embodiment 4,

(13) FIG. 13 is a section view for explaining a pressurization arrangement of a pressurization chamber, relating to Embodiment 4,

(14) FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the body tip portion with the sleeve being removed therefrom, relating to Embodiment 4,

(15) FIG. 15 is a section view for explaining a pressurization arrangement of a pressurization chamber, relating to Embodiment 5,

(16) FIG. 16 is a front view showing a hydraulic chuck relating to Embodiment 5,

(17) FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing the hydraulic chuck relating to Embodiment 5,

(18) FIG. 18 is a front view showing a hydraulic chuck relating to Embodiment 6, and

(19) FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing the hydraulic chuck relating to Embodiment 6.

EMBODIMENTS

(20) Next, embodiments of a hydraulic chuck relating to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

(21) FIGS. 1 through 7 show Embodiment 1 of a hydraulic chuck relating to the invention.

(22) A hydraulic chuck A is configured such that pressurization fluid pressurized by an operation plug 8b as a push member is caused to flow through a pressurization passage 8 to be fed into a pressurization chamber 6, thereby to reduce a diameter of an elastic deformable part 2b for gripping a gripped shank B1 of a gripping object B.

(23) More particularly, the hydraulic chuck A includes a metal body 1 having a tapered shape to be mounted to a machine such as a working machine, the body 1 forming a sleeve receiving portion 5 provided as a cylindrical space provided along a direction of axis X. The chuck A further includes a sleeve 2 accommodated into the sleeve receiving portion 5 from its leading end side coaxially. This sleeve 2 includes a shank inserting portion 2a to which the gripped shank B1 of the gripping object B such as a cutting tool is inserted, with the shank inserting portion 2a being provided coaxially with the axis X. Between the sleeve 2 and the body 1, there is formed the pressurization chamber 6 which stores an amount of pressurization fluid such as oil. Further, the hydraulic chuck A includes a pressurization mechanism configured to feed the pressurization fluid to the pressurization chamber 6 for realizing diameter reduction of the elastic deformable part 2b provided in the sleeve 2. The pressurization mechanism includes a pressurization passage 8 extending from the pressurization chamber 6 toward a base end portion and an operational plug 8b provided in the body 1 continuously from an end portion of the pressurization passage 8 to pressurize the pressurization fluid. Incidentally, the sleeve 2 can be inserted to the sleeve receiving portion 5 from the leading end side thereof and includes a flange 7 which comes into contact with the tip end of the body 1, and this flange 7 and the body 1 are brazed to each other.

(24) The body 1 is provided in the form of a rotary body rotatable about the axis X. And, as a sleeve receiving portion 5 opening at a small-diameter portion at the tip of the body 1, the body 1 includes a flange accommodating part 5a and a sleeve accommodating part 5b opening with a smaller diameter than the flange accommodating part 5a in the bottom face of this flange accommodating part 5a, with the parts 5a, 5b being coaxial.

(25) The sleeve 2 is engaged and inserted from the tip end of the body 1 to the inside (sleeve receiving portion 5) of this body 1. As bonding faces of these are brazed to each other such as sliver brazing, the sleeve 2 and the body 1 are integrated with each other.

(26) The sleeve 2 grips therein the gripped shank B1 of the cutting tool B. The body 1 includes a coolant discharging portion 3 for discharging coolant against the cutting tool B gripped by the hydraulic chuck A for cooling this tool B. The tip end of the coolant discharging portion 3 is formed as a coolant discharging opening 3a opening at the tip end face of the body 1.

(27) The body 1 includes a chuck body 1a defining an outer circumferential groove 4 to be gripped by a manipulator, a chuck cylinder 1b formed integrally with the tip end side of the chuck body 1a, a shank 1c formed integrally with the rear end of the chuck body 1a to be engaged with a spindle of the working machine, and the sleeve receiving portion 5 forming a circular space coaxial with the axis X for accommodating the sleeve 2. The chuck cylinder 1b is provided in the form of a truncated cone whose diameter progressively decreases away from the chuck body 1a.

(28) The coolant discharging portion 3, as shown in FIGS. 4 through 6, includes a coolant feeding passage 3c which extends through the inside of the body 1, and this coolant feeding passage 3c is communicated with the coolant discharging opening 3a provided at the tip end of the body 1. More particularly, in the tip end face 1d of the body (chuck cylinder 1b) 1, there are provided a plurality of coolant discharging openings 3a as circular openings. In the instant embodiment, there are provided two coolant discharging openings 3a. Each coolant discharging opening 3a includes a plurality of coolant discharging passages 3b opening at the tip end of the body and having e.g. a circular cross section. In this embodiment, there are provided two such coolant discharging passages 3b. On the other hand, on the base end side of the body 1, there is provided one coolant feed passage 3c opening coaxially with the axis of the body and having a circular cross section. These parts, i.e. the coolant discharging passages 3b and the coolant feeding passage 3c are communicated via a coolant communicating passage 3d provided along the radial direction of the body and having a circular cross section. Advantageously, the multiple coolant discharging openings 3a, the coolant discharging passages 3b and the coolant communicating passage 3d will be disposed equidistantly along the circumferential direction of the body. With this arrangement, it is possible to maintain favorable rotational balance and to allow coolant to be discharged uniformly around the cutting tool also.

(29) With the above-described provision of the coolant discharging openings 3a in the tip end face of the body 1, that is, in the tip end face of the hydraulic chuck A, there is no need to provide a coolant discharging device, separately of the hydraulic chuck A. Therefore, when a cutting work is effected on a narrow deep area of the working object, this cutting work will be facilitated.

(30) Further, as the coolant discharging openings 3a are provided in the tip end face of the body 1, by e.g. setting the opening directions of the coolant discharging openings 3a appropriately, coolant can be fed to the cutting portion reliably. And, with the possibility of reliable setting of the discharging directions of coolant, the feeding efficiency of coolant can be enhanced, through e.g. reduction of the discharge amount of coolant.

(31) With provision of one coolant feeding passage 3c coaxial with the body 1 on the base end side of the body 1 and at least one coolant discharging passage 3b communicated with this coolant feeding passage 3c on the tip end side of the body 1, a feeding circuit for coolant can be configured in a rational manner. The coolant feeding passage 3c provided at the center configures a coolant feeding circuit with the simplest arrangement relative to the body 1. In this coolant feeding passage 3c on the side of the tip end of the body 1, the cutting tool B will be inserted and gripped, so that the coolant feeding passage 3c will be sealed by the cutting tool B. Therefore, the coolant communicating passage which communicates the coolant feeding passage 3c with the coolant discharging passage 3b is provided on the tip end side of the body 1, relative to the base end portion of the cutting tool B gripped in the sleeve 2. The coolant discharging passage 3b may be formed appropriately around the cutting tool B so as to be able to feed coolant in an efficient manner, according to the size, the wall thickness of the body 1.

(32) The coolant feeding passage 3c is formed by a tubular space whose diameter is reduced stepwise toward the chuck cylinder 1b. When the shank 1c is engaged with the spindle of the working machine, the coolant feeding passage 3c will be connected to a coolant feeding section included in the working machine. The chuck cylinder 1b side of the coolant feeding passage 3c is communicated with the sleeve receiving portion 5. Incidentally, the coolant feeding passage 3c need not be communicated with the sleeve receiving portion 5.

(33) The two coolant discharging openings 3a are arranged at positions point-symmetric relative to the axis X. Each one of the coolant communicating passages 3d is formed by drilling a cutting hole having a circular cross section extending obliquely off the axis X from the outer circumference side of the chuck cylinder 1b relative to the coolant feeding passage 3c, such that the cutting hole may be communicated with an end of each coolant discharging passage 3b.

(34) The two coolant communicating passages 3d are formed in point-symmetry relative to the axis X. An opening portion of each coolant communicating passage 3d which is opened in the outer circumferential face of the chuck cylinder 1b is closed liquid-tightly by an unillustrated plug.

(35) The sleeve receiving portion 5 includes the annular flange accommodating part 5a forming the opening at the tip end of the body 1 and the sleeve accommodating part 5b having a circular cross section and communicated coaxially with the inside of the flange accommodating part 5a, with these parts 5a, 5b being formed continuously with each other.

(36) Between the sleeve 2 and the body 1, there is formed the annular pressurization chamber 6. The sleeve 2, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, includes the shank inserting hole 2a having a circular cross section to which the gripped shank B1 of the cutting tool B is inserted, and the annular thin-walled elastic deformable part 2b which can be reduced in its diameter to press the gripped shank B1 inserted into the shank inserting hole 2a for gripping this shank B1 in association with pressurization of the pressurization chamber 6.

(37) The sleeve 2 includes the shank inserting hole 2a coaxially with the sleeve accommodating part 5b. As the sleeve 2 is inserted and engaged with the sleeve accommodating part 5b from the tip end side of the flange accommodating part 5a, the pressurization chamber 6 is formed between this sleeve 2 and the sleeve accommodating part 5b.

(38) Referring to the elastic deformable part 2b, a wide circumferential groove 6a forming the pressurization chamber 6 is provided on the outer circumference side of the sleeve 2, and a groove bottom portion of this wide circumferential groove 6a forms the elastic deformable part 2b.

(39) At the tip end portion of the sleeve 2, there is integrally formed the flange 7 whose diameter progressively increases along the sleeve radius direction, and this flange 7 is engaged in the flange accommodating part 5a. Therefore, as the sleeve 2 is inserted and accommodated from the flange accommodating part 5a to the sleeve accommodating part 5b until the flange 7 comes into contact with the bottom face of the flange accommodating part 5a, the single pressurization chamber 6 is formed between the outer circumferential face of the sleeve 2 and the inner circumferential face of the sleeve accommodating part 5b.

(40) That is, the flange accommodating part 5a engaged with the flange 7 is formed at the tip end portion of the body 1 and the tip end face of the sleeve 2 and the tip end face of the body 1 may be continuous with each other along the direction of the axis X.

(41) With the above-described arrangement of the flange accommodating pat 5a, it is possible to increase the contact area between the body 1 and the sleeve 2. For instance, the back face of the flange 7 can be contacted with the bottom face of the flange accommodating part 5a, and the lateral face of the flange 7 can be contacted with the inner wall face of the flange accommodating part 5a. As these parts or portions are brazed to each other, the bonding strength between the body 1 and the sleeve 2 can be increased.

(42) Further, by inserting and accommodating the sleeve 2 from the opening on the tip end side of the body 1 with the flange 7 being engaged with the flange accommodating part 5a, the pressurization chamber 6 between the outer circumferential face of the sleeve 2 and the inner circumferential face of the body 1 as well as the pressurization passage 11 communicating between the pressurization passage 8 and the pressurization chamber 6 can be formed readily.

(43) As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the pair of pressurization passages 8, 9 for pressurizing the pressurization chamber 6 are provided in symmetry in the body 1 to be opened in the bottom face of the flange accommodating part 5a. One pressurization passage 8 is communicated with an operational passage 8a formed by drilling a hole in the chuck body 1a from its outer circumferential face side in the radial direction, and within this operational passage 8a, the operational plug 8b is threaded in liquid-tight manner. The other pressurization passage 9 is provided as a dummy with consideration to rotational balance of the body 1, and this passage 9 is not directly communicated with the operational passage 8a.

(44) A space 15 formed between the bottom face of the flange accommodating part 5a and the back face of the flange 7 constitutes the pressurization passage 11 communicating the respective pressurization passages 8, 9 with the pressurization chamber 6. Accordingly, the pressurization chamber 6 is communicated with the space between the bottom face of the flange accommodating part 5a and the back face of the flange 7.

(45) The sleeve 2 accommodated in the sleeve accommodating part 5b is brazed with use of e.g. silver braze, thus being fixed integrally to the body 1 in liquid-tight manner. Pressurization fluid such as oil is filled in liquid-tight manner in and between the operational passage 8a, the respective pressurization passages 8, 9, the pressurization communicating passage 11 and the pressurization chamber 6.

(46) In operation, by threading-in the operational plug 8b such as a hexagonal wrench to the operational passage 8a, the volume of this operational passage 8a will be reduced. As a result, the pressurization fluid will be pressurized to deform the elastic deformable part 2b for reducing its diameter, so that the gripped shank B1 inserted into the shank inserting hole 2a may be pressed thus being gripped.

(47) A boundary 10 between the body 1 and the sleeve 2 is provided in the tip end face 2d of the body 1. With this, the area in the sleeve 2 used for gripping the cutting tool B is extended to the tip end of the sleeve 2, whereby the cutting tool B is gripped with use of the large area extending to the leading end portion of the body 1. Thus, the gripping force for gripping the cutting tool B is increased, so that a high-precision cutting work is made possible with effective restriction of vibration of the the cutting tool B.

(48) As shown in FIG. 2, at least a portion of the circular circumferential edge of the coolant discharging opening 3a is formed on the more inner side in the body radius direction than an arc L which defines the maximum outer diameter of the flange 7.

(49) More particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer circumferential shape of the flange 7 is configured of a pair of arcuate outer circumferential portions 7a centering about the axis X and a pair of flat outer circumferential portions 7b parallel with each other which are disposed in point-symmetry relative to the axis X as the point of symmetry, so that the flange 7 has an irregular radial shape having different radiuses in the flange circumferential direction. Therefore, the arc L which defines the maximum outer diameter of the flange 7 means an arcuate segment which is drawn about the axis X by the radius of the arcuate outer circumferential portions 7a.

(50) At least a portion of the outer edge of the flange 7 is formed smaller in its outer diameter than the remaining portion thereof. And, the coolant discharging opening 3a is opened on the radially outer side of this small-diameter portion of the flange 7 away from the outer edge of the flange 7.

(51) The flange accommodating part 5a, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, is formed of a pair of arcuate inner circumferential face portions 12 engaged with the respective arcuate outer circumferential face portions 7a and a pair of flat face portions 13 engaged with the respective flat outer circumferential face portions 7b.

Embodiment 2

(52) FIG. 8 shows a hydraulic chuck A according to Embodiment 2.

(53) In this embodiment, at least a portion of the circumferential edge of the coolant discharging opening 3a is formed on the inner side of the body radius relative to the arc L defining the maximum outer diameter of the flange 7.

(54) According to this embodiment, the diameter of the outer circumference of the coolant discharging opening can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes possible to simplify the shapes of the flange 7 and the flange accommodating part 5a while achieving diameter reduction at the tip end portion of the body 1. The rest of the arrangement is identical to that of Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 3

(55) FIGS. 9 through 11 show a hydraulic chuck A according to Embodiment 3.

(56) In this embodiment, the space 15 forming the pressurization passage 11 to which the pressurization passages 8, 9 are opened, is formed of one continuous circular ring-like stepped portion 16 formed in the bottom face of the flange accommodating part 5a and having a greater diameter than the inner diameter of the sleeve accommodating part 5b.

(57) The rest of the arrangement is identical to that of Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 4

(58) FIGS. 12 through 14 show a hydraulic chuck A according to Embodiment 4.

(59) In this embodiment, the pressurization passage 11 to which the pressurization passages 8, 9 are opened, is formed of a recessed portion 17 provided in the bottom face of the flange accommodating part 5a and provided respectively for the pressurization passages 8, 9 connected to the sleeve accommodating part 5b.

(60) The rest of the arrangement is identical to that of Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 5

(61) FIGS. 15 through 17 show a hydraulic chuck A according to Embodiment 5.

(62) In this embodiment, the space 15 forming the pressurization passage 11 is formed of one continuous circular ring-like groove portion 18 provided in the flange 7 at a deep end face side of the flange accommodating part 5a and at a portion along the outer circumferential face of the elastic deformable part 2b into which the pressurization passages 8, 9 are opened.

(63) The rest of the arrangement is identical to that of Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 6

(64) FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 show a hydraulic chuck A according to Embodiment 6.

(65) In this embodiment, the space 15 forming the pressurization passage 11 is formed of a recessed portion 19 provided at a deep tip end face side of the flange accommodating part 5a of the flange 7 and at a portion along the outer circumferential face of the elastic deformable part 2b, communicated respectively with the pressurization passages 8, 9.

(66) The rest of the arrangement is identical to that of Embodiment 1.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(67) The present invention is applicable to a variety of hydraulic chucks usable for attaching a cutting tool to a working machine.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE MARKS/NUMERALS

(68) 1 body 2 sleeve 2a hole 2b elastic deformable part 3a coolant discharging opening 3c coolant feeding passage 5 sleeve receiving portion 5a flange accommodating part 5b sleeve accommodating part 6 pressurization chamber 7 flange 8 pressurization passage 8b push member 15 space B gripped object (object to be gripped) L arc defining maximum outer diameter of flange