Refrigerated chuck and method for holding workpiece

Claim 1

A CHUCK FOR SUPPORTING AND SECURING THE LOWER END PORTION OF A WORKPIECE FOR MACHINING OF THE UPPER END PORTION THEREOF COMPRISING: A RIGID WORKPIECE SUPPORTING MEMBER HAVING A RECESSED SURFACE FOR RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING THE WORKPIECE IN CONTACT THEREWITH AND FOR RECEIVING A POOL OF LIQUID FOR IMMERSION OF SAID LOWER END PORTION OF THE WORKPIECE THEREIN, SAID WORKPIECE SUPPORTING MEMBER HAVING INTERNAL MEANS IN HEAT TRANSFER RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID WORKPIECE SUPPORTING SURFACE FOR WITHDRAWING HEAT FROM SAID LIQUID SUFFICIENT TO SOLIDIFY THE SAME AND SECURE THE WORKPIECE TO ITS SUPPORTING MEMBER, OR SELECTIVELY, FOR TRANSFERRING HEAT TO THE SOLIDIFIED LIQUID SUFFICIENT TO MELT THE SAME AND RELEASE THE WORKPIECE FROM ITS SUPPORTING MEMBER; A RIGID BASE MEMBER HAVING SAID WORKPIECE SUPPORTING MEMBER SLIDABLY SEATED THEREON; FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID WORKPIECE SUPPORTING MEMBER ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF AND ALIGNED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A FIRST CENTER LINE OF THE WORKPIECE SUPPORTING MEMBER; THIRD AND FOURTH MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID WORKPIECE SUPPORTING MEMBER ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF AND ALIGNED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A SECOND CENTER LINE OF THE WORKPIECE SUPPORTING MEMBER PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FIRST CENTER LINE THEREOF; FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH COMPLEMENTARY MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID BASE MEMBER FOR SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY OF THE WORKPIECE SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR SAID MOVEMENT OF THE MEMBERS EACH ALONG ITS CENTER LINE WHILE PREVENTING MOVEMENT LATERALLY THEREOF AS THE WORKPIECE SUPPORTING MEMBER CONTRACTS AND EXPANDS IN RESPONSE TO SAID WITHDRAWING AND TRANSFERRING OF HEAT FROM AND TO SAID LIQUID.