Tool holder assembly, and seating/securing components and activation systems therefor

Abstract

A tool holder assembly, as well as activation system used therewith. In some cases, the tool holder assembly is configured to shift as needed to engage tooling when the assembly is activated. For instance, the assembly has an activation system that is in fluid communication with one or more fingers via an intermediary.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool holder assembly comprising:
 a stationary portion that partially defines a tool channel;   one or more movable portions situated opposite the stationary portion;   an electrical activation system and a driving system, the electrical activation system operably coupled to the driving system, the driving system being in communication with the one or more movable portions, such that at least one of the one or more movable portions moves into the tool channel to secure tooling therein in response to the electrical activation system triggering the driving system.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the driving system is a hydraulic system. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the one or more movable portions comprise a plurality of movable portions, the movable portions comprising fingers collectively aligned adjacently along a side of the assembly opposite the stationary portion. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the stationary portion is on a front side of the tool holder assembly, whereas the one or more movable portions are on a rear side of the tool holder assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tool holder assembly has a front side located to one side of the tool channel and a rear side located to an opposite side of the tool channel, and the driving system is located entirely on either the front side or the rear side of the tool holder assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the electrical activation system comprises a motor and a shaft, the shaft operably coupled to the driving system and configured to move in response to activation of the electrical activation system such that the shaft when so moved causes said triggering of the driving system. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the electrical activation system further comprises a gearbox connected to the motor and from which the shaft extends, the driving system comprising a driven element, the shaft comprising an output shaft, the output shaft when moved causing movement of the driven element and thereby pressuring fluid so as to drive said movement of at least one of the one or more movable portions. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the output shaft has outer threading comprising multi-start thread, the multi-start thread configured to convert rotation of the output shaft into movement of the driven element in a linear direction. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the driving system comprises a driven element, and wherein said movement of the shaft causes said triggering of the driving system by moving the driven element of the driving system, the driven element being in communication with the one or more movable portions via an intermediary. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein the driven element is housed within a cavity that is in fluid communication with the one or more movable portions, at least part of the intermediary contained within the cavity such that the intermediary is between the driven element and the one or more movable portions. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein the intermediary comprises fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the driven element is a piston, the piston configured to move in a linear direction in response to said movement of the shaft of the electrical activation system. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the driven element is a pump component, the pump component configured to move in response to said movement of the shaft of the electrical activation system. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the pump component is gearing, the gearing configured to rotate in response to said movement of the shaft of the electrical activation system. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the intermediary further comprises a flexible membrane in contact with the one or more movable portions and in communication with the fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the flexible membrane is a bladder. 
     
     
         17 . A tool holder assembly comprising:
 a stationary portion that partially defines a tool channel;   one or more movable portions situated opposite the stationary portion;   a driving system comprising a driven element that is in communication with the one or more movable portions via an intermediary, such that a movement of the driven element causes a movement of the intermediary which thereby causes at least one of the one or more movable portions to move into the tool channel to secure tooling therein.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the driving system is a hydraulic system. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 17  further comprising a housing and an electrical activation system, the electrical activation system operably coupled to the driving system and located within the housing of the tool holder assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 17  further comprising a housing, the driven element is located within the housing of the tool holder assembly, and at least part of the intermediary is contained within a cavity of the housing such that the intermediary is between the driven element and the one or more movable portions. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the intermediary comprises fluid. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the stationary portion is on a front side of the tool holder assembly, whereas the one or more movable portions are on a rear side of the tool holder assembly. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the tool holder assembly has a front side located to one side of the tool channel and a rear side located to an opposite side of the tool channel, and the driving system is located entirely on either the front side or the rear side of the tool holder assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 17  further including an activation system comprising a shaft, the activation system operably coupled to the driving system such that the driven element moves in response to movement of the shaft. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 24  wherein the driven element is a piston, the piston configured to move in a linear direction in response to said movement of the shaft. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 24  wherein the driven element is a pump component, the pump component configured to move in response to said movement of the shaft. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the pump component is gearing, the gearing configured to rotate in response to said movement of the shaft. 
     
     
         28 . The tool assembly of  claim 21  wherein the intermediary further comprises a flexible membrane in contact with the one or more movable portions and in communication with the fluid. 
     
     
         29 . A tool holder assembly comprising:
 a plurality of modules operably linked together, each module comprising:
 a stationary portion that partially defines a tool channel; 
 one or more movable portions situated opposite the stationary portion; 
 a housing that contains an activation system and a driven element, the activation system operably coupled to the driven element, the driven element being in communication with the one or more movable portions via an intermediary such that at least one of the one or more movable portions moves into the tool channel to secure tooling therein in response to the activation system triggering movement of the driven element and thereby moving the intermediary. 
   
     
     
         30 . A tool holder assembly comprising:
 a stationary portion that partially defines a tool channel;   one or more movable portions situated opposite the stationary portion;   an activation system and a driving system, the driving system being hydraulic or pneumatic, the activation system operably coupled to the driving system, the driving system being in communication with the one or more movable portions, such that at least one of the one or more movable portions moves into the tool channel to secure tooling therein in response to the activation system triggering the driving system.   
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 30  wherein the tool holder assembly comprises a housing, and an entirety of the driving system is internal to the housing. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 30  wherein the activation system is an electrical activation system and the driving system comprises a fluid. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 32  wherein the electrical activation system comprises a motor and a shaft, the shaft is configured to rotate in response to operating the motor, and the fluid of the driving system is hydraulic fluid. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 33  wherein the tool holder assembly comprises a housing, the motor and the shaft both contained within the housing. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 30  wherein the driving system comprises a fluid as well as a piston or a pump. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 30  wherein the driving system includes a pocket and at least one channel in fluid communication with the pocket.