Patent ID: 7157676

Claim:
A device for thermally clamping and releasing tools ( 11 ) in shrink-fit chucks ( 12 ), comprising: a socket ( 15 ) for a shrink-fit chuck ( 12 ); a heating unit ( 16 ) that is adapted to move toward and away from a mounted shrink-fit chuck ( 12 ); a cooling unit ( 20 ) for cooling the heated shrink-fit chuck ( 12 ), wherein the cooling unit ( 20 ) has at least one coolant distributor ( 21 , 22 ), wherein the at least one coolant distributor ( 21 , 22 ) is adapted to move in relation to the socket ( 15 ) with the mountable shrink-fit chuck ( 12 ), conveys a fluid coolant, and has outlets ( 23 ) for the coolant, wherein the outlets are oriented toward the socket ( 15 ) with the mountable shrink-fit chuck ( 12 ) and wherein the coolant travels out of the outlets under pressure to act on the outside of the socket ( 15 ) with the mountable shrink-fit chuck ( 12 ) for cooling purposes; wherein the at least one coolant distributor ( 21 , 22 ) is embodied as a separate component and is located inside at least one guide device ( 40 ); and guiding means ( 70 ) for the socket ( 15 ) with the mountable shrink-fit chuck ( 12 ), wherein by means of said guiding means ( 70 ), the socket ( 15 ) with the mountable shrink-fit chuck 12 is radially supportable and guidable for at least part of the way during movement away from a starting position and back into the starting position in relation to the at least one guide device ( 40 ).