Chuck of high-low operation

Claim 2

A chuck of high-low operation comprising an operationally rotary chuck component having a body with an axis, a plurality of jaws, a plurality of pivots each fixed in a jaw and having opposite projecting lengths, antifriction bearings in said body in which said projecting pivot lengths are journalled, with the pivot axes being spaced from and extending normal to said body axis and the jaws being rockable about the respective pivot axes into and from work engagement, and each jaw having a follower end spaced from the associated pivot, and a member guided in said body for movement axially thereof and having two spaced faces lying in planes normal to said body axis and being in substantial line contact with said follower ends for rocking said jaws on movement of said member; and an actuating component having a cylinder with opposite first and second ends for chuck closing and opening, respectively, a movable piston in said cylinder adapted for connection with said member, a swivel coupling having relatively turnable companion parts of which one part is carried by said cylinder and the other part has first and second ports, and said coupling parts have ducts providing communication between said first port and first cylinder end and between said second port and second cylinder end, and a device sequentially operable to first supply said first port with fluid of a given high pressure and simultaneously vent said second port, then to bleed fluid from said first port to bring the pressure of the fluid therein to a given low level and hold it at said low level and simultaneously vent said second port, and finally to supply said second port with fluid pressure and simultaneously vent said first port, whereby said antifriction bearings will, on reducing the fluid pressure in said first port from said high level to said low level, release said pivot lengths therein for turning motion to reduce the jaw pressure on work substantially linearly with said fluid pressure reduction in said first port from said high level to said low level.

Claim 3

A chuck of high-low operation comprising an operationally rotary chuck component having a body with an axis, a plurality of jaws, a plurality of pivots in said body having axes spaced from and extending normal to said body axis and supporting said jaws, respectively, for rocking movement to and from work engagement, and each jaw having a follower end spaced from the associated pivot, and a member guided in said body for movement axially thereof and having two spaced faces lying in planes normal to said body axis and being in substantial line contact with said follower ends for rocking said jaws on movement of said member; and an actuating component having a cylinder with opposite first and second ends for chuck closing and opening, respectively, a movable piston in said cylinder adapted for connection with said member, a swivel coupling having relatively turnable companion parts of which one part is carried by said cylinder and the other part has first and second ports, and said coupling parts have ducts providing communication between said first port and first cylinder end and between said second port and second cylinder end, and a device sequentially operable to first supply said first port with fluid of a given high pressure and simultaneously vent said second port, then to bleed fluid from said first port to bring the pressure of the fluid therein to a given low level and hold it at said low level and simultaneously vent said second port, and finally to supply said second port with fluid pressure and simultaneously vent said first port, said device providing a first valve having third and fourth ports and a vent opening, and being spring-urged into a first position in which to provide communication between said third port and vent opening, and shiftable into a second position in which to provide communication between said third and fourth ports, with said fourth port being in communication with a first fluid source of said given low level pressure, valve means operable into first, second and third positions, to provide communication between a second fluid source of said given high pressure and said first port and simultaneously vent said second port when in said first position, to provide communication between said first and third ports and simultaneously vent said second port when in said second position, and to provide communication between said second fluid source and second port and simultaneously vent said first port when in said third position, and an instrumentality sensing the pressure of fluid in said first port, and operative in said second position of said valve means to shift said first valve into said second position when the sensed pressure reaches said given low level, and to hold said first valve in said second position while said valve means remains in said second position.

Claim 4

A chuck of high-low operation comprising an operationally rotary chuck component having a body with an axis, a plurality of jaws, a plurality of pivots in said body having axes spaced from and extending normal to said body axis and supporting said jaws, respectively, for rocking movement to and from work engagement, and each jaw having a follower end spaced from the associated pivot, and a member guided in said body for movement axially thereof and having two spaced faces lying in planes normal to said body axis and being in substantial line contact with said follower ends for rocking said jaws on movement of said member; and an actuating component having a cylinder with opposite first and second ends for chuck closing and opening, respectively, a movable piston in said cylinder adapted for connection with said member, a swivel coupling having relatively turnable companion parts of which one part is carried by said cylinder and the other part has first and second ports, and said coupling parts have ducts providing communication between said first port and first cylinder end and between said second port and second cylinder end, and a device sequentially operable to first supply said first port with fluid of a given high pressure and simultaneously vent said second port, then to bleed fluid from said first port to bring the pressure of the fluid therein to a given low level and hold it at said low level and simultaneously vent said second port, and finally to supply said second port with fluid pressure and simultaneously vent said first port, said device providing a first valve having third and fourth ports and a vent opening, and being spring-urged into a first position in which to provide communication between said third port and vent opening, and shiftable into a second position in which to provide communication between said third and fourth ports, with said fourth port being in communication with a first fluid source of said given low level pressure, valve means operable into first, second and third positions, to provide communication between a second fluid source of said given high pressure and said first port and simultaneously vent said second port when in said first position, to provide communication between said first and third ports and simultaneously vent said second port when in said second position, and to provide communication between said second fluid source and second port and simultaneously vent said first port when in said third position, and an instrumentality sensing the pressure of fluid in said first port, and operative in said second position of said valve means to shift said first valve into said second position when the sensed pressure reaches said given low level, and to hold said first valve in said second position while said valve means remains in said second position.

Claim 5

A chuck of high-low operation as in claim 2, which further provides a pressure reducing valve with an inlet and outlet, of which said outlet is in communication with said fourth port and constitutes said first fluid pressure source, and said inlet is in communication with said second fluid source.

Claim 6

A chuck of high-low operation, comprising an operationally rotary chuck component having a body with an axis, a plurality of jaws, a plurality of pivots in said body having axes spaced from and extending normal to said body axis and supporting said jaws, respectively, for rocking movement to and from work engagement, and each jaw having a follower end spaced from the associated pivot, and a member guided in said body for movement axially thereof and having two spaced faces lying in planes normal to said body axis and being in substantial line contact with said follower ends for rocking said jaws on movement of said member; and an actuating component having a cylinder with opposite first and second ends for chuck closing and opening, respectively, a movable piston in said cylinder adapted for connection with said member, a swivel coupling having relatively turnable companion parts of which one part is carried by said cylinder and the other part has first and second ports, and said coupling parts have ducts providing communication between said first port and first cylinder end and between said second port and second cylinder end, and a device sequentially operable to first supply said first port with fluid of a given high pressure and simultaneously vent said second port, then to bleed fluid from said first port to bring the pressure of the fluid therein to a given low level and hold it at said low level and simultaneously vent said second port, and finally to supply said second port with fluid pressure and simultaneously vent said first port, said device providing a first valve having third and fourth ports and a vent opening, and being spring-urged into a first position in which to intercept communication between said fourth port and vent opening, and shifted on admission of fluid pressure into said third port into a second position in which to provide communication between said fourth port and vent opening, with said fourth port being in communication with said first port, a second valve having fifth and sixth ports and another vent opening, and being spring-urged into a first position in which to provide communication between said fifth and sixth ports, and shiftable into a second position in which to provide a communication between said fifth port and other vent opening, with said fifth port being in communication with said third port of said third valve, valve means operable into first, second third positions, to provide communication between a fluid source of said given high pressure and said first port and vent second port when in said first position, to provide communication between said fluid source and sixth port of said second valve, vent said second port, and intercept communication between said fluid source and first port when in said second position, and to provide communication between said fluid source and second port and vent said first port when in said third position, and an instrumentality operative in said second position of said valve means to sense the pressure of fluid in said first port, and when the same reaches said given low level to shift said second valve into said second position and hold it in the latter position while said valve means remains in said second position.

Claim 7

A chuck of high-low operation, comprising an operationally rotary chuck component having a body with an axis, a plurality of jaws, a plurality of pivots in said body having axes spaced from and extending normal to said body axis and supporting said jaws, respectively, for rocking movement to and from work engagement, and each jaw having a follower end spaced from the associated pivot, and a member guided in said body for movement axially thereof and having two spaced faces lying in planes normal to said body axis and being in substantial line contact with said follower ends for rocking said jaws on movement of said member; and an actuating component having a cylinder with opposite first and second ends for chuck closing and opening, respectively, a movable piston in said cylinder adapted for connection with said member, a swivel coupling having relatively turnable companion parts of which one part is carried by said cylinder and the other part has first and second ports, and said coupling parts have ducts providing communication between said first port and first cylinder end and between said second port and second cylinder end, and a device sequentially operable to first supply said first port with fluid of a given high pressure and simultaneously vent said second port, then to bleed fluid from said first port to bring the pressure of the fluid therein to a given low level and hold it at said low level and simultaneously vent said second port, and finally to supply said second port with fluid pressure and simultaneously vent said first port, said device providing a first valve having third and fourth ports and a vent opening, and being spring-urged into a first position in which to intercept communication between said fourth port and vent opening, and shifted on admission of fluid pressure into said third port into a second position in which to provide communication between said fourth port and vent opening, with said fourth port being in communication with said first port, a second valve having fifth and sixth ports and another vent opening, and being spring-urged into a first position in which to provide communication between said fifth and sixth ports, and shiftable into a second position in which to provide a communication between said fifth port and other vent opening, with said fifth port being in communication with said third port of said third valve, valve means operable into first, second third positions, to provide communication between a fluid source of said given high pressure and said first port and vent second port when in said first position, to provide communication between said fluid source and sixth port of said second valve, vent said second port, and intercept communication between said fluid source and first port when in said second position, and to provide communication between said fluid source and second port and vent said first port when in said third position, and an instrumentality operative in said second position of said valve means to sense the pressure of fluid in said first port, and when the same reaches said given low level to shift said second valve into said second position and hold it in the latter position while said valve means remains in said second position.