Mounting tool for hydromechanical chuck

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a mounting tool for a hydromechanical chuck or a hydromechanical mandrel of the type which is pressurized by means of a pressure medium for clamp connecting a shaft or a shaft tool or a working piece and which is dismantled for releasing said shaft or working piece from the chuck, and which for the purpose is formed with two separate pressure chambers, a pressurization chamber for clamp connecting the tool or work piece and a dismantling chamber for releasing the tool or work piece from the chuck or mandrel, and which for this purpose is formed with inlets/outlets provided on opposite sides of the chuck and opening at the periphery surface thereof.

[0003] In FIGS. 2 and 3 of the attached drawings there is shown, as one out of several examples, a hydromechanical cone coupling chuck formed by an inner sleeve having a conical outer surface and a central bore in which the shaft of a tool is adapted to be clamp connected, and an outer sleeve which is axially displaceable on the conical outer surface of said inner sleeve, and having two separate hydraulic actuation systems for displacement of the outer sleeve on the inner sleeve, a first system for displacement of the outer sleeve in clamp direction and a second system for displacement of the outer sleeve in a direction for releasing the tool.

[0004] It is, however, to be understood that the invention is useful for many other types of hydromechanical clamps than the chuck illustrated in the attached drawings, for instance a hydromechanical mandrel.

[0005] Conical mechanical chucks or mandrels are known in the art, in which the clamping means are of purely mechanical type, like screws, nuts, threads etc. For pressurizing and dismantling, respectively, of a hydromechanical chuck or mandrel of the above mentioned type it has been suggested to use a separate, external pressurization means which is connected to the inlet/outlet of the hydraulic pressurization and dismantling chamber, respectively. There are problems involved in such activation of the clamp bushing or mandrel. For instance, upon pressurization of the clamp connection chamber hydraulic oil is pressed out from the dismantling chamber, and upon introducing pressure fluid in the dismantling chamber an equivalent amount of fluid is pressed out from the clamp pressure chamber; the connection of the pressure source can be complicated and time consuming; there is generally a need for using thread, screw or nut connections for mounting of the pressure source means.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and useful mounting tool for use in connection to hydromechanical chucks or mandrels etc. of the above mentioned type, which tool

[0007] is adjustable for use in connection to chucks or mandrels etc. having different diameters,

[0008] which can be quickly and easily connected to the chuck etc.,

[0009] which is connected both to the inlet/outlet of the clamp connection chamber and to the inlet/outlet of the dismantling chamber by a fluid system operating concurrently at both pressure chambers,

[0010] which is connected to the chuck simply by forcing pressure pistons into contact with said inlets/outlets of the pressure chambers, and in which said pressure pistons are sealed more strongly against the chuck inlets/outlets as the inlet pressure is increased,

[0011] which pressure pistons are spring biased, so that the evacuation piston becomes pressed back, which can likewise quickly and simply be released,

[0012] in which the pressurization and dismantling, respectively, can quickly and simply be reversed by means included in the mounting tool,

[0013] which automatically receives pressure medium which is evacuated from any of the chambers, so that there is no waste and overflow of oil/fat from the chuck.

[0014] Now the invention is to be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a cross section view of a mounting tool according the invention,

[0016] FIG. 2 shows another cross section view of the tool while used in connection to a type of hydromechanical chuck, and

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective cross section view of the mounting tool according to the invention used in combination with a hydromechanical chuck.

[0018] The mounting tool shown in the drawing generally comprises a handle 1 which at one end is formed with a generally U-shaped yoke 2, or a ring, adapted to be moved stridingly over the chuck (or mandrel etc.) to be pressurized or dismantled, and which at the opposite end is formed with means 3 for supply of pressure medium to the each hydraulic clamp connection/dismantling chambers of the chuck. Each leg 4 and 5 of the yoke 2 is formed with passageways 6, 7 for supply of pressure medium to a pressure nozzle 8, 9 with a splash protection cup at the end of each leg. The flow of fluid is moved round the tool and is sealed at both opposite sides of the clutch. The left nozzle 8, as seen in FIG. 1, is fixed mounted to the leg 4, the right nozzle 9 is mounted at the end of a nozzle carrier 10 which is axially displaceable in a sleeve 11 which is integral with the right yoke leg 5. At the outer end 12 of the nozzle carrier 10, which extends out of the sleeve 11 there is rotatably mounted a hollow nut 13 formed with inner threads 14 co-operating with outer threads 15 at the outer end of the sleeve 11. By turning the hollow nut 13 the shaft like nozzle carrier 10 is moved to the left or to the right on the sleeve 11, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1. By turning the nut 13 in the clamp connection direction the right nozzle is moved closer to the left nozzle 8 so as to engage the chuck. At the same time the left nozzle is moved into contact with the opposite side of the chuck. By turning the nut 13 in the opposite direction the nozzles are moved apart from the chuck.

[0019] As indicated with the dotted circles in FIG. 1 the mounting tool can be used for chucks of widely differing diameters only by turning the hollow nut 13, acting like a micrometer screw, in or out in the sleeve 11.

[0020] For distributing the pressure medium entering at the pressure inlet 3 there is a distribution box 16 which can be mounted in the handle 1 or the tool, and from which box 16 pressure oil or fat is pressed through the passageway 6 or 7, which passageways are in direct communication with pressure chambers 17, 18 and with the nozzles 8 and 9 and with axial bores 19 and 20 thereof. The distribution box 16 is formed with means for reversing the direction of distribution of pressure medium so as to supply pressure medium to the left nozzle 8 or the right nozzle 9, respectively, and concurrently therewith allowing escape of evacuated oil or fat from the opposite nozzle.

[0021] In FIG. 2 the mounting tool is shown during pressurization of a chuck 21 adapted to clamp connecting a shaft 22, e.g. a shaft of a tool. Said chuck is only one, out of many different types of mounting means which can be handled by the mounting tool means of the invention. In the illustrated case the chuck is formed with an inner sleeve 23 which is integral with a mounting cone 24 for mounting of the chuck in a working machine (not shown), and with an outer sleeve 25 which is axially displaceable on the inner sleeve 23. Between said inner and outer sleeves there are formed two separate pressure chambers, a first chamber 26 for tightening the outer sleeve 25 on the inner sleeve 23 thereby clamp connecting the tool shaft 22 in the chuck, and a second pressure chamber 27 for forcing the outer sleeve 25 in the opposite direction thereby releasing the tool shaft 22. Each of the pressure chambers 26, 27 is connected to an inlet/outlet opening 28, 29, which openings are preferably provided opposite each other and opening at the periphery of the chuck.

[0022] The pressure pistons comprising the nozzles 8, 9 and the splash protection cups can be formed with different pressure areas depending on type and size of chuck to be pressurized. The nozzles 8, 9 preferably are formed with blocking means arranged to stop and seal the flow of fluid out of the nozzle when said nozzle is out of contact with the chuck. Also, the splash protection cups of the nozzles can be formed with vacuum means adapted to vacuum seal said cups against the outer periphery of the chuck while the nozzles 8 and 9 are sealed against the bottom inlets/outlets 28, 29 of the chuck during pressurization and dismantling. The splash protection cups mainly act to prevent splash of oil or fat from the nozzles 8, 9 and the inlets/outlets 28, 29 upon clamp connecting and dismantling, respectively, of the tool to/from the chuck (or mandrel).

[0023] When using mounting tool according to the invention the tool is moved with the fixed nozzle 8 into contact with one of the inlet/outlet openings 28, 29 of the chuck or mandrel, no importance which one, and the hollow nut 13 is turned in clamp connection direction so that the opposite nozzle 9 comes into contact with the other inlet/outlet opening. The nut 13 is turned enough as to secure a provide a tight seal between the chuck and the mounting tool. Pressure fluid is introduced by means of the pressure supply means 3, and the distribution box 16 is set so as to supply pressure fluid to the clamp connection chamber 26 or to the dismantling chamber 27, respectively. After the shaft 22 has been clamp connected to the chuck the mounting tool is unscrewed from the chuck and the chuck is ready for use. The mounting tool now can be used for clamp connecting or for dismantling of other chuck appliances.

[0024] 1 handle

[0025] 2 yoke

[0026] 3 pressure supply means

[0027] 4 leg

[0028] 5 leg

[0029] 6 passageway

[0030] 7 passageway

[0031] 8 nozzle

[0032] 9 nozzle

[0033] 10 nozzle carrier

[0034] 11 sleeve

[0035] 12 outer end

[0036] 13 hollow nut

[0037] 14 inner threads

[0038] 15 outer threads

[0039] 16 distribution box

[0040] 17 pressure chamber

[0041] 18 pressure chamber

[0042] 19 bore

[0043] 20 bore

[0044] 21 chuck

[0045] 22 shaft

[0046] 23 inner sleeve

[0047] 24 mounting cone

[0048] 25 outer sleeve

[0049] 26 connection pressure chamber

[0050] 27 release pressure chamber

[0051] 28 inlet/outlet (of 26)

[0052] 29 inlet/outlet (of 27)