US3790152A — Meltable matrix chucking apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 264 words

A chuck for machining a workpiece of the type having an axis between two sides to be machined, according to the process of machining in which one such workpiece side is embedded in a matrix of a low-melting point material flowed beneath it and contained in such chuck, then the other side is machined and then embedded in such material of a second such chuck, and the first such chuck is released to permit machining of the side first so embedded, and the side last embedded is then released; which chuck comprises a rigid chuck body having a generally horizontally disposed upper matrix-supporting surface, fencing means, surrounding said upper surface and extending to a level thereabove, whereby to provide a hollow chuck top within which to contain such matrix material when in molten condition, passage means through said chuck body communicating from said upper surface within said fencing means to the exterior of the body, filling means extending from a level spaced above said upper surface and communicating with said passage means, means to drain molten matrix material from said upper surface, locating means, remote from said upper surface, to locate the chuck body on a machine tool, and support means to establish a support axis for such workpiece at a predetermined spacing spacedly above said upper surface, whereby to permit flow of molten matrix material beneath such workpiece supported on such support axis and whereby the transfer of such workpiece, so supported on said axis, to support means of a second similar chuck permits preprogrammed successive machining of both sides of such workpiece.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 264 words

A chuck for machining a workpiece of the type having an axis between two sides to be machined, according to the process of machining in which one such workpiece side is embedded in a matrix of a low-melting point material flowed beneath it and contained in such chuck, then the other side is machined and then embedded in such material of a second such chuck, and the first such chuck is released to permit machining of the side first so embedded, and the side last embedded is then released; which chuck comprises a rigid chuck body having a generally horizontally disposed upper matrix-supporting surface, fencing means, surrounding said upper surface and extending to a level thereabove, whereby to provide a hollow chuck top within which to contain such matrix material when in molten condition, passage means through said chuck body communicating from said upper surface within said fencing means to the exterior of the body, filling means extending from a level spaced above said upper surface and communicating with said passage means, means to drain molten matrix material from said upper surface, locating means, remote from said upper surface, to locate the chuck body on a machine tool, and support means to establish a support axis for such workpiece at a predetermined spacing spacedly above said upper surface, whereby to permit flow of molten matrix material beneath such workpiece supported on such support axis and whereby the transfer of such workpiece, so supported on said axis, to support means of a second similar chuck permits preprogrammed successive machining of both sides of such workpiece.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

A chuck as defined in claim 1, wherein the chuck body is formed of heat-conductive metal, together with means to heat and to cool the chuck body.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

A chuck as defined in claim 2, together with means to heat the filling means and the means to drain.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 56 words

The chuck as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper matrix supporting surface of the chuck body includes a matrix retaining groove, and wherein said passage means which extends to the exterior of the body connects from the bottom of said groove sidewardly downward and outward to both the filling means and the means to drain.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 266 words

Chucking apparatus for precise positioning of a workpiece having an axis in two related positions for machining surfaces thereof on opposite sides of such axis, comprising two chucks, each including a rigid body formed of heat-conductive metal and having an upper matrix-supporting surface, means to establish a workpiece support axis at a predetermined spacing above said upper surface and to support a workpiece positioned along such axis, fencing means, surrounding said upper surface and extending to a level thereabove, whereby to provide a hollow chuck top, passage means communicating from said upper surface within said fencing means to the exterior of the body, means communcating with said passage means, to fill molten matrix material into said upper surface under such workpiece, means to heat and means to cool the chuck body of each chuck separately from that of the other chuck, means to drain molten matrix material from said upper surface, and locating means, remote from said upper surface, to locate the chuck body on a machine tool, in combination with fixture means to position either chuck closely adjacent to the other in positions located in part by the said locating meaNs of the chucks and known in relation to such workpiece support axis, said fixture means comprising a pair of support plates, each having means to define a plane of support for one of said chucks, and arms projecting from said support plates to pin means at a hinge axis, whereby the support plates may be moved to a closed position in which such planes of support are parallel to and spaced from each other.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 266 words

Chucking apparatus for precise positioning of a workpiece having an axis in two related positions for machining surfaces thereof on opposite sides of such axis, comprising two chucks, each including a rigid body formed of heat-conductive metal and having an upper matrix-supporting surface, means to establish a workpiece support axis at a predetermined spacing above said upper surface and to support a workpiece positioned along such axis, fencing means, surrounding said upper surface and extending to a level thereabove, whereby to provide a hollow chuck top, passage means communicating from said upper surface within said fencing means to the exterior of the body, means communcating with said passage means, to fill molten matrix material into said upper surface under such workpiece, means to heat and means to cool the chuck body of each chuck separately from that of the other chuck, means to drain molten matrix material from said upper surface, and locating means, remote from said upper surface, to locate the chuck body on a machine tool, in combination with fixture means to position either chuck closely adjacent to the other in positions located in part by the said locating meaNs of the chucks and known in relation to such workpiece support axis, said fixture means comprising a pair of support plates, each having means to define a plane of support for one of said chucks, and arms projecting from said support plates to pin means at a hinge axis, whereby the support plates may be moved to a closed position in which such planes of support are parallel to and spaced from each other.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 47 words

Chucking apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said means to heat comprises, for each chuck, a parallel-surfaced heater body fixed in position on one of said support plates, and wherein the upper surfaces of said heater bodies serve as said means to define planes of support.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 75 words

Chucking apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the fixture means further has an open position in which the planes of chuck support are in a common horizontal plane, and has means cooperating with the locating means of the chuck bodies to locate them on said support plates symmetrically relative to said hinge axis, the hinge axis being at a height above such common plane equal to the height thereabove of such workpiece support axis.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 122 words

Chucking apparatus of the meltable matrix type for partially embedding and thus holding workpieces in a plurality of different positions for machining, comprising two similar chucks, each having a rigid heat conductive metal body having an upper surface, means to heat and to cool the heat-conductive chuck bodies, whereby such matrix may be melted and solidified, fencing means, surrounding said upper surface and extending to a level thereabove, to contain such matrix when molten, and means remote from said upper surface to locate the body in a predetermined alignment, at least one of said chucks having means to establish a workpiece support axis spacedly above its upper surface, together with fixture means to superimpose either of said chucks inverted over the other.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 122 words

Chucking apparatus of the meltable matrix type for partially embedding and thus holding workpieces in a plurality of different positions for machining, comprising two similar chucks, each having a rigid heat conductive metal body having an upper surface, means to heat and to cool the heat-conductive chuck bodies, whereby such matrix may be melted and solidified, fencing means, surrounding said upper surface and extending to a level thereabove, to contain such matrix when molten, and means remote from said upper surface to locate the body in a predetermined alignment, at least one of said chucks having means to establish a workpiece support axis spacedly above its upper surface, together with fixture means to superimpose either of said chucks inverted over the other.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

Chucking apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the fencing means has an uppermost portion formed of a heat resistant, elastic rubber-like material.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 63 words

Chucking apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the fencing means to contain the molten matrix has a plan form corresponding to that of such workpiece and the elevation of its said uppermost portion rises and lowers correspondingly to such workpiece, whereby to so seal against such workpiece as to permit filling molten matrix material against substantially the entire undersurface of such workpiece.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-02-04	1977-08-06	1978-02-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-02-04	1981-08-06	1982-02-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-02-04	1985-08-06	1986-02-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Meltable matrix chucking apparatus

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag