Patent ID: 6609851
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: B23H,B23Q,F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
A coupling device comprising a first coupling part having a first coupling part surface, a second coupling part having a second coupling part surface, and clamping means for releasably clamping said first coupling part with said second coupling part in a clamping direction that defines an axial direction and with said first and second coupling part surfaces facing each other, said second coupling part having at least two grooves spaced circumferentially and non-parallel with respect to each other, each of said at least two grooves formed from said second coupling part and extending in said axial direction from said second coupling part surface and defining a groove flank surface, said first coupling part including at least two pins projecting from said first coupling part surface, the number of pins equal to the number of grooves, each of said pins having opposed lateral surfaces, each said pin disposed to engage within said groove upon clamping, at least one of said lateral surfaces of each said pin disposed at an angle with respect to said groove flank surface, said clamping means including at least one clamping plate extending within each groove, each said at least one clamping plate having a clamping plate surface extending along the axial direction of clamping, each said clamping plate being wedged between said groove flank surface and said lateral surface of said pin within said groove, each said clamping plate connected to one of said first and second coupling parts to move axially and elastically within said groove, wherein said at least one of said lateral surfaces of each said pin that is disposed at an angle with respect to said groove flank surface engages said clamping plate and said clamping plate surface engages with said groove flank surface, said clamping plate surface, is slidably engaged in the axial direction with said groove flank surface to wedge the pin within the groove without deforming the clamping plate where the clamping plate engages with said pin, the engagement between said clamping plate, said pin and groove flank surface forming a reference within a plane perpendicular to the axial clamping direction.