Patent ID: 8667660
Filing Date: 2014-03-11
Classification: B23B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A clamping assembly for a toolholder, comprising: a toolholder body having an access hole defined therein, the access hole extending into the toolholder body from a toolholder face of the toolholder body to a base surface; a locking sleeve slidably disposed within the access hole, the locking sleeve extending between a sleeve face and a base surface and having an interior surface defining a hollow cavity, the interior surface including an engaging portion extending into the hollow cavity; a center collet disposed within the hollow cavity of the locking sleeve and fixedly connected to the toolholder body, the center collet including a gripping portion having an interior surface defining a recess and an exterior surface, the gripping portion being adapted to receive a retaining tip of a tool therein; a spring assembly disposed within the hollow cavity of the locking sleeve and engaging the center collet and the locking sleeve to bias the locking sleeve toward the base surface of the access hole; and a release device engaging the locking sleeve, wherein the spring assembly and the release device are configured to cause the locking sleeve to move within the access hole between a load position where the engaging portion of the locking sleeve is disengaged from the exterior surface of the gripping portion of the center collet such that the center collet is open and the recess is able to receive the retaining tip of the tool and a lock position where the engaging portion of the locking sleeve engages the exterior surface of the gripping portion of the center collet such that the center collet is closed and locks the retaining tip of the tool within the access hole.