Patent ID: 8123233
Filing Date: 2012-02-28
Classification: B23B,B23Q,B25B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A clamping device for use with a machine tool having a fixing element, the clamping device including: (a) a clamp body having a receptacle sized to receive an elongated shaft of the fixing element therein in an inserted position in which the longitudinal axis of the fixing element shaft coincides with a longitudinal axis of the receptacle, the clamp body also having at least one clamping element mounted thereon; (b) at least one clamping part in the receptacle that is (i) movable in one direction along a clamping part movement axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle in response to a clamping force from the clamping element, and that is (ii) movable in an opposite direction along the clamping part movement axis in response to a releasing force from the clamping element; (c) the at least one clamping element including at least one deformable chamber bounded by at least one wall that is resistant to tension and pressure, the at least one deformable chamber being deformable in response to a change in pressure therein to produce a deformation force from forces running along the longitudinal axis of the at least one wall, wherein the deformation force is applied to the clamping part to produce the clamping force or the releasing force, the at least one deformable chamber also being constructed, so that, for an expansion thereof in a first direction, the cross section of the deformable chamber undergoes a change in length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and (d) a contact surface on the clamping part which applies a force component in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the receptacle when the clamping part is extended into the receptacle for applying the clamping force to the fixing element inserted into the receptacle.