Workpiece support tooling

Claim 2

A workpiece support tool comprising, in combination: a base member having an axially extending post, the end of said post being radially tapered toward its tip around the axial centerline of said post; a sleeve member for placement over said post and resilient means for supporting said sleeve member on said base member, said sleeve member including a plurality of radially extending races, each race designed to retain a bearing member for radial movement within said sleeve, said radially extending races and respective bearing members being spaced radially around the centerline of said post proximate said tapered end, said sleeve member further including a concentric ridge spaced from said bearing members and extending around the exterior surface of said sleeve member, wherein a workpiece having a central axial bore when placed upon said support tool first engages said ridge forming a first point of contact with such bore, and the weight of such workpiece exerts a force overcoming said resilient means causing said sleeve member to move axially with respect to said post, thereby engaging said bearing members with said expanding tapered end of said post and forcing said bearing members to move radially outward to engage such workpiece at a second point of contact so that such workpiece is maintained in a centered and level orientation with respect to such tooling by said ridge and bearing members.

Claim 3

The tool of claim 1, wherein said resilient means includes at least one spring member located between said sleeve member and said post.

Claim 4

The tool of claim 1, further including an alignment member located between said base member and said sleeve member to prevent relative rotation between said sleeve member and said base member.

Claim 5

The tool of claim 1, further including a first ring member having an outside dimension designed to mate within such workpiece bore and having an inside dimension of a lessening diameter taper as such workpiece is mated with said ring member and placed in postion over said sleeve wherein such lessening diamter taper causes the interior surface of said ring member to gradually engage said ridge of said sleeve member as such workpiece is moved with respect to said sleeve, whereby the weight of such workpiece exerts a force overcoming said resilient means as said ring member and said ridge become fully engaged and causes said sleeve member and such engaged workpiece to move axially with respect to said post thereby forcing said bearing members to move radially outward by their engagement with said tapered end of said post and engage such workpiece at a second point spaced from said point of engagement between said ridge and ring member.

Claim 6

The tool of claim 4, further including a second ring member having an outside dimension designed to mate within such workpiece at a location adjacent said bearing members when said first ring member is engaged with said ridge, said second ring member having an inside dimension defining a reverse taper opposed to said taper end of said post, wherein said bearing members move radially outward as they move down said tapered post to engage said reverse taper inside dimension of said second ring member.

Claim 7

A workpiece support tool comprising in combination: a cup-shaped base member having a concentric wall with an inside diameter an outside diameter; a plurality of radically extending races positioned in said wall and spaced radially around the centerline of said base member, each race designed to retain a bearing member for radial movement within said wall; a concentric ridge spaced from said bearing members and extending around the inside diameter of said wall; a sleeve member encompassing said wall for moving axially with respect to said base member, said sleeve member including a tapered surface for engaging said bearing members and pressing said bearing members radially inward when said sleeve member moves axially downward with respect to said base member; and, at least one resilient member located between said sleeve member and said base member, wherein a workpiece having an elongated hub when placed upon said sleeve member first engages said concentric ridge forming a first point of contact with such hub of such workpiece and the weight of such workpiece exerts a force overcoming said resilient means causing said sleeve member to move in a downward direction with respect to said cup member, thereby engaging said tapered surface of said sleeve member with said bearing members forcing said bearing members to move radially inward to engage such workpiece at a second point of contact with such hub of such workpiece so that such workpiece is maintained in a centered and level orientation with respect to such tool by said ridge member and said bearing members.

Claim 8

A workpiece support tool comprising in combination: a cup-shaped base member having a concentric wall with an inside diameter an outside diameter; a plurality of radically extending races positioned in said wall and spaced radially around the centerline of said base member, each race designed to retain a bearing member for radial movement within said wall; a concentric ridge spaced from said bearing members and extending around the inside diameter of said wall; a sleeve member encompassing said wall for moving axially with respect to said base member, said sleeve member including a tapered surface for engaging said bearing members and pressing said bearing members radially inward when said sleeve member moves axially downward with respect to said base member; and, at least one resilient member located between said sleeve member and said base member, wherein a workpiece having an elongated hub when placed upon said sleeve member first engages said concentric ridge forming a first point of contact with such hub of such workpiece and the weight of such workpiece exerts a force overcoming said resilient means causing said sleeve member to move in a downward direction with respect to said cup member, thereby engaging said tapered surface of said sleeve member with said bearing members forcing said bearing members to move radially inward to engage such workpiece at a second point of contact with such hub of such workpiece so that such workpiece is maintained in a centered and level orientation with respect to such tool by said ridge member and said bearing members.