Patent ID: 8236117

Claim:
A method of processing a toroidal structure, the toroidal structure having an internal circumference and tapered internal ends, the method comprising: (a) providing a chuck system including first and second chucks, each chuck having a non-expandable fixed diameter circumferential external surface defined about a central rotational axis of the chuck system, the chucks being co-axially mounted relative to each other and the central rotational axis, each chuck including a plurality of rotatable friction reducing members extending radially outward from its non-expandable fixed diameter circumferential external surface, the friction reducing members being radially non-expandable relative to the central rotational axis; (b) positioning the toroidal structure on the chucks with the rotatable friction reducing members engaging the internal circumference of the toroidal structure; (c) axially moving the chucks to a separated position relative to each other with the chucks engaging the tapered internal ends of the toroidal structure, and during the axial movement rotating the friction reducing members relative to the external surface of their respective chucks and thereby reducing friction between the chucks and the toroidal structure; (d) processing the toroidal structure; (e) axially moving the chucks to a retracted position relative to each other; and (f) removing the processed toroidal structure from the chucks.