Hydraulic chuck

Claim 2

Chuck apparatus dependingly mounted on a drive housing for clampingly engaging a drill rod or the like comprising a tubular vertical drive member rotatably extending in the housing and having a lower chuck body portion extending axially below said housing, said chuck body portion having a jaw receiving slot extending generally radially therethrough, a jaw mounted in the slot for radial movement, annular jaw actuating first means on the chuck body portion for axial movement relative thereto to move the jaw radially relative the chuck body portion between a rod release position and a rod clamping position, said jaw and actuating means having cooperating ramp surfaces for moving the jaw radially inwardly relative the chuck body portion to the jaw rod clamping position as the actuating means is moved away from the drive housing, second means mounting the actuating means for rotary movement relative thereto and moving the actuating means axially relative the chuck body portion, and power means mounted on the housing for mounting the second means and selectively moving the second meanS axially to move the actuating means between a jaw rod clamping position and a jaw rod release position.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the second means comprises a chuck housing and third means mounted by the chuck housing for mounting the actuating means for rotary movement relative thereto and in fixed axial relationship thereto.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the power means includes a piston cylinder combination having a piston rod and cylinder and a bracket secured to the chuck housing to extend radially outwardly therefrom, the piston rod being secured to one of the bracket and the drive housing and the cylinder being secured to the other.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the actuating means has an upwardly facing shoulder, that the chuck housing has a downwardly facing shoulder and that the third means comprises a bearing between said shoulders for transmitting a downward force from the chuck housing to the actuating means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that the chuck housing is annular, that the actuating means has a downwardly facing shoulder, and that the third means comprises annular means mounted on the chuck housing and bearing against the actuating means downwardly facing shoulder to support the actuating means and block axial downward movement of the actuating means relative the chuck housing.

Claim 7

Chuck apparatus mounted on a drill head housing for clampingly engaging a drill rod or the like comprising a tubular drive spindle extending rotatably within the drill head housing and axially away therefrom, said drive spindle having a chuck body portion extending axially outwardly of the drill head housing, said chuck body portion having a jaw receiving slot extending generally radially therethrough, a jaw mounted in the slot for radial movement between a drill rod clamping position and a drill rod release position, annular jaw actuating first means freely axially slidably movable on and relative chuck body portion for moving the jaw radially inwardly to the drill rod clamping position and being movable relative the chuck body portion to a jaw rod release position, said jaw and actuating means having cooperating ramp surfaces for moving the jaw radially inwardly relative the body portion as the actuating means is moved away from the drill head housing, an annular chuck housing surrounding the actuating means, second means for mounting the actuating means on the chuck housing for rotary movement relative thereto and moving the actuating means with the chuck housing, said second means including bearing means for transmitting a force from the chuck housing to the actuating means to move the actuating means away from the drill head housing when the chuck housing is moved in the same direction, said actuating means and chuck housing having cooperating shoulders for mounting the bearing means for transmitting said force, and third means mounted on the drill head housing for mounting the chuck housing and selectively move the chuck housing to move the actuating means between the jaw rod clamping position and the release position.

Claim 8

Chuck apparatus mounted on a drill head housing for clampingly engaging a drill rod or the like comprising a tubular drive spindle extending rotatably within the drill head housing and axially away therefrom, said drive spindle having a chuck body portion extending axially outwardly of the drill head housing, said chuck body portion having a jaw receiving slot extending generally radially therethrough, a jaw mounted in the slot for radial movement between a drill rod clamping position and a drill rod release position, annular jaw actuating first means freely axially slidably movable on and relative chuck body portion for moving the jaw radially inwardly to the drill rod clamping position and being movable relative the chuck body portion to a jaw rod release position, said jaw and actuating means having cooperating ramp surfaces for moving the jaw radially inwardly relative the body portion as the actuating means is moved away from the drill head housing, an annular chuck housing surrounding the actuating means, second means for mounting the actuating means on the chuck housing for rotary movement relative thereto and moving the actuating means with the chuck housing, said second means including bearing means for transmitting a force from the chuck housing to the actuating means to move the actuating means away from the drill head housing when the chuck housing is moved in the same direction, said actuating means and chuck housing having cooperating shoulders for mounting the bearing means for transmitting said force, and third means mounted on the drill head housing for mounting the chuck housing and selectively move the chuck housing to move the actuating means between the jaw rod clamping position and the release position.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that said third means includes a piston cylinder combination.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the actuating means has an end portion remote from the drill head housing that has a shoulder facing away from the drill head housing, and that the second means includes means mounted by the chuck housing and bearing against the last mentioned shoulder for moving the actuating means toward the jaw rod release position when the chuck housing is moved toward the drill head housing.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that there is provided means for resiliently urging the jaw toward its release position, that the third means includes a pair of spaced piston cylinder combinations that dependingly mount the chuck housing from the drill head housing and selectively reciprocally move the chuck housing toward and away from the drill head housing.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that the chuck body portion has a terminal edge remote from the drill head housing, and at least three jaw slots, said jaw slots opening to the terminal edge, that there is a jaw for each of said slots, and that a retainer ring is bolted to the chuck body portion to aid in retaining the jaws in the slots while permitting the jaws moving radially.