DEVICE FOR COUPLING A FEMALE MEMBER TO A MALE MEMBER

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for coupling a female member (11) to a male member (10), said male member (10) having a spigot (12) with an internal boring (13) extending in the longitudinal direction of the spigot (12). The female member (11) having a cavity (15) that received the spigot (12) by slide-fit in coupled state of said member (10,11). Known devices of the type described above often have the disadvantage that the coupling and uncoupling are time-­ consuming since several clamping elements must be activated. The aim of the present invention is to present a device having only one clamping element to be activated. The present inventin is characterized in that a screw assembly (14) is mounted in the internal boring (13) and the said screw assembly (14) includes a floating washer (34).

Description: The present invention relates to a device for coupling a female member to a male member, said male member having a spigot with an internal boring extending in the longitudinal direction of the spigot, said female member having a cavity that receives the spigot by slide-fit in coupled state of said members, said device including a screw assembly having a screw with a shaft adapted to be received in the internal boring, and means for detachably anchor the shaft in the boring, said screw further including a head, at least two pins provided in the female member, said pins extending in radial direction of the screw and being located in a common radial plane relative to the screw at some distance from each other, at least one clamping screw provided in the female member and extending in the radial direction of the screw, said clamping screw being located in the same radial plane relative to the screw as the pins, said clamping screw being displaceable in radial direction relative to the screw. The invention also relates to a screw assembly per se. From SE-B-409 832 is previously known a device of the type described above. A spigot of the male member holds a screw that projects out from the spigot. The female member holds at least three circumferentially distributed clamping screws that extend radially relative to the spigot and cooperate with the head of the screw in operative position. However, a major disadvantage of the device according to SE-B- 409 832 is that all three clamping screws must be activated when coupling or uncoupling of the female and male member is carried out. It is at once realized that since all three clamping screws must be activated the operations are quite time consuming. The present invention has the aim of disclosing a device of the type mentioned above, said device, upon coupling or uncoupling of the female and male members, being activated through only one clamping screw. The aim of the present invention is realized by a device that has been given the characteristics of the appending claims. Below an embodiment of the present invention will be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, where Fig. 1 discloses the device according to the invention and the members to be coupled; Fig. 2 discloses a pin being included in the device according to the invention; Fig. 3 discloses a screw assembly being included in the device of the invention; Figs. 4a - 6b disclose in section and top view different stages of the coupling procedure. In Fig. 1 is disclosed a male member 10 and a female member 11. The male member 10 includes a spigot 12 having an internally threaded boring 13. In the disclosed embodiment said boring 13 extends beyond the inner end of the spigot 12. In the internally threaded boring 13 a screw assembly 14 is received. This screw assembly 14 has a special structural design and will be described in detail below with reference to Fig. 3. The male member 10 usually is in the shape of a standard tapered shank. The female member 11 comprises a cavity 15 that, to a depth that corresponds to the height of the spigot 12, has an internal diameter that mates with the external diameter of the spigot 12, i e there is a slide-fit between the spigot 12 and the cavity 15. The female member can e g be a turning tool or a milling tool. In the region adjacent its bottom the cavity 15 comprises a portion 16 having a bigger internal diameter than the portion 15a of the cavity 15 having slide-fit with the spigot 12. The reason for that will be explained below. At its left side in Fig. 1 the female member 11 includes a pin 17. A conical end portion 18 of the pin 17 extends into the portion 16. The pin 17 is received in an internally threaded boring 19 that cooperates with an externally threaded portion 20 of the pin 17. An intermediate portion 21 of the pin 17 bridges the pointed portion 18 and the externally threaded portion 20. The intermediate portion 21 is received in an opening 22 in the female member 11, said opening 22 having a reduced diameter compared to the internally threaded boring 19. As can be seen from Fig. 1 the intermediate portion 21 rests on the lower part of the opening 22. The pin 17 is stationary during normal operative conditions. However, due to the threaded connection between the pin 17 and the boring 19 it is possible to exchange the pin 17, e g when it is damaged. For that reason the pin 17 is in the shape of an Allen screw. As is appearant from below the disclosed embodiment holds two pins 17. At its right side in Fig. 1 the female member 11 includes a clamping screw 23 also in the shape of an Allen screw. The clamping screw 23 has an externally threaded portion 24 that is received in an internally threaded boring 25. An intermediate portion 26 of the clamping screw 23 is received in an opening 27 and a conical end portion 28 that projects into the portion 16 of the cavity 15. The intermediate portion 26 of the clamping screw 23 rests on the lower part of the opening 27. The clamping screw 23 can be displaced in its axial direction by means of an Allen key. An Allen screw of the type used for the pins 17 and the clamping screw 23 is shown in Fig. 2. The screw assembly 14 is also disclosed in Fig. 3 and said assembly 14 includes a screw 29 having an externally threaded shaft 30, a collar 31 having a larger diameter than the shaft 30, a neck 32 having a smaller diameter than the collar 31, and a head 33 having a larger diameter than the neck 32. The head 33 is provided with a hexagonal cavity 33a to cooperate with an Allen key. A floating washer 34 surrounds the neck 32 of the screw 29, said washer 34 having an external diameter that is smaller than the internal diameter of the slide-fit portion 15a of the cavity 15. Also, the internal diameter of the washer 34 is larger than the external diameter of the collar 31 in order to make it possible to push the washer 34 on to the neck passing the collar 31. Since the external diameter of the neck 32 is smaller than the internal diameter of the washer 34 and the height of the neck 32, i e the distance between the lower side of the head 33 and the collar 31, is larger than the height of the washer 34, said washer 34 can perform a floating motion relative the neck 32 in radial direction of the screw 29. This explains the denomination "floating". The periphery of the floating washer 34 includes two envelope surfaces 35 and 36 respectively having frusto-conical shape. The first envelope surface 35 tapers towards the shaft 30 of the screw 29 while the second envelope surface 36 tapers towards the head 33 of the screw. In the position disclosed in Fig. 1 the first envelope surface 35 is located below the second envelope surface 36. A supporting washer 37 surrounds the collar 31, said supporting washer 37 having a step 38 that contacts the collar 31 from below in Figs. 1 and 3. As can be seen from Fig. 1 in mounted position of the screw assembly 14, the supporting washer 37 rests on the spigot 12 and the collar 31 rests on the step 38 of the supporting washer 37. The cooperation of the spigot 12, the supporting washer 37 and the collar 31 thus defines the correct position of the screw assembly 14 relative to the male member 10. With reference to Figs. 4a - 6b the function of the device according to the present invention will be described. In the position described in Figs. 4a and 4b the spigot 12 of the male member 10 is during insertion into the cavity 15 of the female member 11. From Fig. 4a it is quite obvious that when a pin 17 contacts the floating washer 34 the second conical envelope surface 36 will cooperate with the conical end 18 of the pin 17 and the washer 34 is displaced to the right in Figs. 4a and 4b when the spigot 12 is pushed further into the cavity 15. Due to its first frusto-conical envelope surface 35 said displacement can take place without any interference between the washer 34 and the inner end of the slide-fit portion 15a of the cavity 15, said inner end in Fig. 4a being designated by 39. In the position according to Figs. 5a and 5b the spigot 12 is fully inserted into the cavity 15. The floating washer 34 is thereby, in order to bypass the pins 17, radially displaced to an eccentric position relative to a longitudinal centre axis 40 of the screw 29. Said eccentric position of the floating washer 34 is quite clear from both Figs. 5a and 5b. In order to effect the coupling between the male member 10 and the female member 11 the clamping screw 23 is displaced to the left in Figs. 6a and 6b. Said displacement causes the conical tip 28 of the clamping screw 23 to cooperate with the first conical envelope surface 35 of the floating washer 34. The displacement of the screw 23, via an Allen key, to the left in Figs. 6a and 6b in radial direction of the screw 23 brings about a corresponding displacement of the floating washer 34. In Figs. 6a and 6b the end positions of the clamping screw 23 and the floating washer 34 are disclosed, i e the coupling of the male member 10 and the female member 11 is completed. From Figs. 6a and 6b it is evident that the floating washer 34 has an eccentric end position relative to the longitudinal centre axis 40 of the clamping screw 23. In the position disclosed in Figs. 6a and 6b the conical ends 18 and 28 of the pins 17 and the clamping screw 23, via the first frustro-conical envelope surface 35, exert axial forces upon the head 33 of the screw 29, said axial forces being transferred to the spigot 12 via the externally threaded shaft 30 and the internally threaded boring 13 of the spigot 12. From Fig. 4b it should be noted that the angle α between the longitudinal centre axis of the pins 17 is smaller than the angle β between the longitudinal axis of one of the pins 17 and the longitudinal axis of the clamping screw 23. Exemplifying values are α = 110° and β = 125°. The reason for this design is that if equal partition is used there might be a risk that the washer 34 gets stuck between the pins 17 in its operative position. When the male member 10 and the female member 11 are to be uncoupled the clamping screw 23, via an Allen key, is displaced to the right in Figs. 6a and 6b until the position of Figs. 5a and 5b is reached. Then the spigot 12 can be drawn out of the cavity 15. The present invention is in no way restricted to the embodiment described above. Thus, the ends 18 of the pins 17 and the end 28 of the clamping screw 23 must not be conical but can have a concave shape that mates to the first frusto-conical envelope surface 35. This means that the pins 17 and the clamping screw 23 must not be rotatable and thus the displacement of the clamping screw is carried out by a further activating element. The connection between the shaft 30 of the screw 29 and the internal boring must not be effected by threads but e g through a bayonet joint. Thus, the expressions "screw assembly (14)" and "screw (29)" in the claims must not be interpreted as restricted to thread connections.

Claims: Device for coupling a female member (11) to a male member (10), said male member (10) having a spigot (12) with an internal boring (13) extending in the longitudinal direction of the spigot (12), said female member (11) having a cavity (15) that receives the spigot (12) by slide-fit in coupled state of said members (10,11), said device including a screw assembly (14) having a screw (29) with a shaft (30) adapted to be received in the internal boring (13), and means for detachably anchor the shaft (30) in the boring (13), said screw (29) further including a head (33), at least two pins (17) provided in the female member (11), said pins (17) extending in radial direction of the screw (29) and being located in a common radial plane relative to the screw (29) at some distance from each other, at least one clamping screw (23) provided in the female member (11) and extending in the radial direction of the screw (29), said clamping screw (23) being located in the same radial plane relative to the screw (29) as the pins (17), said clamping screw (23) being displaceable in radial direction relative to the screw (29), characterized in said screw (29) further including a collar (31) axially spaced from the head (33) of the screw (29), thereby defining a neck (32) between the the collar (31) and the head (33), said collar (31) having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the shaft (30), said collar (31) resting directly or indirectly against the free end of the spigot (12), said head (33) having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the neck (32), said screw assembly (14) further including a washer (34) that surrounds the neck (32), said washer (34) having an external maximum diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the cavity (15) and an internal diameter that is larger than the diameter of the neck (32) to such an extent that the washer (34) is displaceable in radial direction relative to the neck (32), the end (18) of the pins (17) and the end (28) of the clamping screw (23) cooperating with the washer (34) in mounted position of the spigot (12) in the cavity (15). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the washer (34) includes a first frusto-conical envelope surface (35) tapering towards the shank (30)of the screw (29), said envelope surface (35) in operative position making contact with the end of the pins (17) and the end of the clamping screw (23). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the washer (34) includes a second frusto-conical envelope surface (36) tapering towards the head (33) of the screw (29). Device according to anyone of the preceeding claims, characterized in that a supporting washer (37) is an intermediate element between the neck (31) and the spigot (12). Device according to anyone of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the end (18) of the pins (17) projects into the cavity (15) so that the radial distance from the axial centre axis (40) to the outmost ends of the pins (17) is smaller than half the diameter of the slide-fit portion of the cavity (15). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the cavity (15) at its bottom has a portion having a larger diameter than the slide-fit portion (15a). Device according to anyone of the preceeding claims, characterized in that seen in a radial plane relative to the screw 29 the angle (α) between the longitudinal centre axis of the pins (17) is smaller than the angle (β) between the longitudinal axis of one of the pins (17) and the longitudinal axis of the clamping screw (23). Screw assembly (14) to be mounted in an internal boring (13) of a spigot (12) of a male member (10), said screw assembly (14) including a screw (29) with a shaft (30) to be received in said boring (13), and means for detachably anchor the shaft (30) in the boring (13), said screw (29) further including a head (33), characterized in said screw (29) further including a collar (31) axially spaced from the head (33) of the screw (29), thereby defining a neck (32) between the collar (31) and the head (33), said collar (31) having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the shaft (30), said head (33) having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the neck (32), said screw assembly (14) further including a washer (34) that surrounds the neck (32), said washer (34) having an internal diameter that is larger than the diameter of the neck (32) to such an extent that the washer (34) is displaceable in radial direction relative to the neck (32). Screw assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the washer (34) includes a first frusto-conical envelope surface (35) tapering towards the shank (30) of the screw (29). Screw assembly according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the washer (34) includes a second frusto-conical envelope surface (36) tapering towards the head (33) of the screw (29).

Inventors: ANDERSSON, KJELL
Applicants: SECO TOOLS AB
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F16B17
IPC codes: F16B21, F16B35, B23B31