US3869002A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spindle clamp
Assignee: K&T A WISCONSIN CORP
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Filing: 1974-01-14
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Granted: 1975-03-04
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Expires: 1994-01-14
Abstract
Abstract An improved spindle clamp is utilized to prevent axial movement of the spindle of a horizontal boring machine relative to a drive sleeve. The spindle clamp includes a generally cylindrical metallic clamp member which circumscribes the spindle. This clamp member has a thin metallic wall or membrane which is resiliently deflectable inwardly under the influence of fluid pressure to grip the spindle and retain it against axial movement relative to the drive sleeve. To operate the spindle clamp from a disengaged condition to an engaged condition, an intensifier piston is exposed to control fluid pressure to intensify or increase the fluid pressure applied against the membrane portion of the clamp member. The intensifier piston is disposed in a readily accessible cylinder block which is mounted on an outer end portion of the drive sleeve. To facilitate access to the clamp member, it is disposed radially inwardly of the cylinder block. The clamp member is provided with an axially extending rib having a greater flexural rigidity than the membrane portion of the clamp member. This rib spans a slot or key way in the spindle and prevents the membrane portion of the clamp member from being deflected into the slot.
Inventors
- 👤 Iii Carl F Koenig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:22
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/25; B23Q1/26; B23Q1/28; B23Q1/287; B23Q1/70; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30; Y10T409/309352
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
403 words
An apparatus comprising a housing, a rotatable longitudinally extending drive sleeve at least partially disposed within said housing, said drive sleeve having an axially outer end portion, a longitudinally extending spindle telescopically disposed within said drive sleeve and movable axially relative to said drive sleeve between a retracted position and an extended position extending axially outwardly beyond said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve, and clamp means connected with said drive sleeve and operable between an engaged condition holding said spindle against axial movement relative to said drive sleeve and a disengaged condition in which said clamp means is ineffective to hold said spindle against axial movement relative to said drive sleeve, said clamp means including a generally cylindrical metallic clamp member circumscribing said spindle, said clamp member including a rigid metallic body portion having a first radial thickness and a metallic membrane portion disposed in engagement with said spindle and having a second radial thickness which is less than said first radial thickness, said metallic membrane portion of said clamp member being resiliently deflectable radially inwardly under the influence of a first fluid pressure to grip said spindle upon operation of said clamp means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, first surface means cooperating with said body and membrane portions of said clamp member to define a pressure chamber, second surface means disposed axially outwardly of said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve for at least partially defining a piston chamber which is at least partially disposed axially outwardly of said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve, a piston disposed in said piston chamber and located axially outwardly of said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve, said piston including a first end surface having a relatively large area and a second end surface having a relatively small area, means for exposing said second end surface of said piston to a body of fluid connected in fluid communication with and filling said pressure chamber, and actuator means for effecting operation of said clamp means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition by exposing said first end surface of said piston to a second fluid pressure which is less than said first fluid pressure to thereby effect an increase in the fluid pressure in said body of fluid to a fluid pressure which is at least as great as said first fluid pressure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
403 words
An apparatus comprising a housing, a rotatable longitudinally extending drive sleeve at least partially disposed within said housing, said drive sleeve having an axially outer end portion, a longitudinally extending spindle telescopically disposed within said drive sleeve and movable axially relative to said drive sleeve between a retracted position and an extended position extending axially outwardly beyond said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve, and clamp means connected with said drive sleeve and operable between an engaged condition holding said spindle against axial movement relative to said drive sleeve and a disengaged condition in which said clamp means is ineffective to hold said spindle against axial movement relative to said drive sleeve, said clamp means including a generally cylindrical metallic clamp member circumscribing said spindle, said clamp member including a rigid metallic body portion having a first radial thickness and a metallic membrane portion disposed in engagement with said spindle and having a second radial thickness which is less than said first radial thickness, said metallic membrane portion of said clamp member being resiliently deflectable radially inwardly under the influence of a first fluid pressure to grip said spindle upon operation of said clamp means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, first surface means cooperating with said body and membrane portions of said clamp member to define a pressure chamber, second surface means disposed axially outwardly of said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve for at least partially defining a piston chamber which is at least partially disposed axially outwardly of said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve, a piston disposed in said piston chamber and located axially outwardly of said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve, said piston including a first end surface having a relatively large area and a second end surface having a relatively small area, means for exposing said second end surface of said piston to a body of fluid connected in fluid communication with and filling said pressure chamber, and actuator means for effecting operation of said clamp means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition by exposing said first end surface of said piston to a second fluid pressure which is less than said first fluid pressure to thereby effect an increase in the fluid pressure in said body of fluid to a fluid pressure which is at least as great as said first fluid pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said pressure chamber is disposed axially outwardly of the axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first end surface of said piston is disposed in abutting engagement with said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve when said clamp means is in said disengaged condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said piston chamber is disposed radially outwardly of said clamp member and has a central axis extending generally parallel to and spaced apart from the central axis of said drive sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including bearing means connected with said housing and said drive sleeve for supporting said drive sleeve for rotation about its central axis, said bearing means being disposed in engagement with said drive sleeve at a location axially inwardly of the axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a generally annular cylinder block circumscribing said clamp member at a location axially outwardly of said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve, said second surface means being formed by said cylinder block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first surface means is formed by said cylinder block and is disposed radially inwardly of said second surface means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said piston is integrally formed and includes a head portion on which said first end surface is disposed and a rod portion on which said second end surface is disposed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spindle includes surface for defining a longitudinally extending slot, said apparatus further including retainer means connected with said drive sleeve and extending into said longitudinally extending slot for preventing relative rotation between said spindle and drive sleeve, said body portion of said clamp member being disposed in a spanning relationship with said slot throughout the axial extent of said clamp member to prevent inward deformation of said clamp member at said slot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for exposing said second end surface of said piston to a body of fluid includes a fluid passage extending between said pressure and piston chambers and disposed axially outwardly of said axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
462 words
An apparatus comprising a housing, a rotatable longitudinally extending drive sleeve at least partially disposed within said housing, a longitudinally extending spindle telescopically disposed within said drive sleeve and movable axially relative to said drive sleeve between a retracted position and an extended position, said spindle including surface means defining a longitudinally extending slot in said spindle, retainer means connected with said drive sleeve and extending into said spindle slot to retain said spindle and drive sleeve against rotation relative to each other, and clamp means connected with said drive sleeve and operable between an engaged condition holding said spindle against axial movement relative to said drive sleeve and a disengaged condition in which said clamp means is ineffective to hold said spindle against axial movement relative to said drive sleeve, said clamp means including a generally cylindrical metallic clamp member circumscribing said spindle, said clamp member including a rigid axially extending metallic rib disposed radially outwardly of said slot and having a first radial thickness and a metallic membrane portion disposed in engagement with said spindle and having a second radial thickness which is less than said first radial thickness, said metallic membrane portion of said clamp member being resiliently deflectable radially inwardly under the influence of a first fluid pressure to grip said spindle upon operation of said clamp means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said rib having an axial extent which is at least as great as the axial extent of said membrane portion and a width which is at least as great as the width of said slot, said rib being disposed in a sPanning relationship with an axially extending opening define by said slot to prevent deflection of said membrane portion into said slot under the influence of said first fluid pressure, first surface means cooperating with said clamp member to define a pressure chamber which is at least partially defined by a radially inner surface of said membrane portion, second surface means for at least partially defining a piston chamber, a piston disposed in said piston chamber, said piston including a first end surface having a relatively small large area and a second end surface having a relatively small area, means exposing said second end surface of said piston to a body of fluid connected in fluid communication with and filling said pressure chamber, and actuator means or effecting operation of said clamp means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition by exposing said first end surface of said piston to a second fluid pressure which is less than said first fluid pressure to thereby effect an increase in the fluid pressure in said body of fluid to a fluid pressure which is at least as great as said first fluid pressure.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
462 words
An apparatus comprising a housing, a rotatable longitudinally extending drive sleeve at least partially disposed within said housing, a longitudinally extending spindle telescopically disposed within said drive sleeve and movable axially relative to said drive sleeve between a retracted position and an extended position, said spindle including surface means defining a longitudinally extending slot in said spindle, retainer means connected with said drive sleeve and extending into said spindle slot to retain said spindle and drive sleeve against rotation relative to each other, and clamp means connected with said drive sleeve and operable between an engaged condition holding said spindle against axial movement relative to said drive sleeve and a disengaged condition in which said clamp means is ineffective to hold said spindle against axial movement relative to said drive sleeve, said clamp means including a generally cylindrical metallic clamp member circumscribing said spindle, said clamp member including a rigid axially extending metallic rib disposed radially outwardly of said slot and having a first radial thickness and a metallic membrane portion disposed in engagement with said spindle and having a second radial thickness which is less than said first radial thickness, said metallic membrane portion of said clamp member being resiliently deflectable radially inwardly under the influence of a first fluid pressure to grip said spindle upon operation of said clamp means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said rib having an axial extent which is at least as great as the axial extent of said membrane portion and a width which is at least as great as the width of said slot, said rib being disposed in a sPanning relationship with an axially extending opening define by said slot to prevent deflection of said membrane portion into said slot under the influence of said first fluid pressure, first surface means cooperating with said clamp member to define a pressure chamber which is at least partially defined by a radially inner surface of said membrane portion, second surface means for at least partially defining a piston chamber, a piston disposed in said piston chamber, said piston including a first end surface having a relatively small large area and a second end surface having a relatively small area, means exposing said second end surface of said piston to a body of fluid connected in fluid communication with and filling said pressure chamber, and actuator means or effecting operation of said clamp means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition by exposing said first end surface of said piston to a second fluid pressure which is less than said first fluid pressure to thereby effect an increase in the fluid pressure in said body of fluid to a fluid pressure which is at least as great as said first fluid pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said clamp member further includes a continuous cylindrical inner surface disposed in abutting engagement with an outer surface of said spindle and extending the slot opening in said spindle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said clamp member further includes a pair of annular body portions disposed at axially opposite ends of said membrane portion and intersecting said rib, said body portions having a radial thickness which is at least as great as said first radial thickness.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said rib extends axially outwardly of an axially outer end portion of said drive sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-03 | 1978-09-02 | 1979-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-03 | 1982-09-02 | 1983-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-03 | 1986-09-02 | 1987-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |