Centrifugally-actuated chuck attachment

摘要

A multi-jaw chuck having a centrifugally-actuated attachment for counterbalancing the adverse effect of centrifugal force on the chuck jaws during high speed operation. The chuck attachment includes an annular, hollow housing coaxially mounted on the chuck body and a lever associated with each of the jaws of the chuck which is pivotally mounted in the housing for pivotable movement about an axis parallel to the chuck body axis. Each of the levers includes a first pivot arm, disposed on one side of the pivot axis, for engagement with the jaw associated therewith and a second pivot arm, disposed on the other side of the pivot axis. The second arm has an effective length and weight such that it moves outwardly from the axis of the chuck body as a result of the centrifugal force developed upon rotation of the chuck body and, in turn, urges the first arm into engagement with the jaw associated therewith. This action counterbalances the centrifugal force acting on the jaws and, therefore, enhances the clamping force thereof. The attachment is readily-adaptable to most conventional chucks without requiring any modification of the chuck or its internal components.