Claims
- 1. A tool for gripping the peripheral surface of a cylindrical object comprising:an outer cylinder having a first end, a second end, an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the inner surface includes a threaded portion and a frusto-conical portion; an inner cylinder having a first end, a second end, an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the outer surface includes a threaded portion to engage the outer cylinder threaded portion; and a collet sized to fit within the outer cylinder and having a first end, a second end, an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the outer surface has a generally frusto-conical profile generally complementary to the outer cylinder frusto-conical portion and the collet defines a gap extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, and from the first end to the second end.
- 2. The tool of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of protrusions formed on the inner surface of the collet.
- 3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the inner surface of the collet has a constant diameter when in a non-compressed state, wherein the frusto-conical portion of the outer cylinder is adjacent to the second end, and wherein the threaded portion of the inner cylinder is proximate to the first end and the inner cylinder has a reduced diameter outer surface adjacent to the second end, which acts upon the first end of the collet when the inner cylinder is rotated with respect to the outer cylinder.
- 4. The tool of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the collet has a constant diameter when in a non-compressed state.
- 5. The tool of claim 1 wherein the frusto-conical portion of the outer cylinder is adjacent to the second end.
- 6. The tool of claim 1 wherein the threaded portion of the inner cylinder is proximate to the first end.
- 7. The tool of claim 6 wherein the inner cylinder has a reduced diameter outer surface adjacent to the second end, which acts upon the first end of the collet when the inner cylinder is rotated with respect to the outer cylinder.
- 8. The tool of claim 1 further comprising an end stop rotatably coupled to the outer cylinder.
- 9. The tool of claim 1 wherein the collet is constructed from a material having memory whereby when the radially compressive force is removed, the collet substantially returns to a non-compressed state.
- 10. The tool of claim 1 further comprising an end stop rotatably coupled to the outer cylinder.
- 11. A tool for gripping the peripheral surface of a cylindrical object comprising:an outer cylinder having a first end, a second end, an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the inner surface includes a threaded portion and a frusto-conical portion; and an inner cylinder having a first end, a second end, an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the outer surface includes a threaded portion to engage the outer cylinder threaded portion, and wherein the outer surface of the second end has a generally frusto-conical profile which defines a gap extending from the outer surface to the inner surface.
- 12. The tool of claim 11 wherein the frusto-conical portion of the outer cylinder has a threaded portion and the second end of the inner cylinder has threaded portion to engage the outer cylinder threaded portion.
- 13. A method for gripping the peripheral surface of a cylindrical object comprising:placing a collet having a first end, a second end, an outer surface and an inner surface over the cylindrical object wherein the collet defines a gap extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, and from the first end to the second end to accommodate cylindrical objects of various diameters; and applying a radially compressive force to the collet so as to increase the coefficient of friction between the inner surface of the collet and the cylindrical object.
- 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:surrounding the collet with an outer cylinder wherein the outer cylinder comprises a first end, a second end, an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface having a frusto-conical portion at the second end; and urging the collet towards the second end whereby the interaction between the outer surface of the collet and the frusto-conical portion causes generally radial constriction of the collet.
- 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the collet has a uniform inner diameter and a frusto-conical outer surface profile generally complementary to the frusto-conical portion of the outer cylinder when the collet is disposed in the outer cylinder.
- 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the urging of the collet towards the second end comprises:directing an inner cylinder having a first end, a second end, an outer surface having a diameter less than an internal diameter of the outer cylinder at the first end, and an inner surface towards the collect.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the inner cylinder outer surface includes a threaded portion adapted to engage a threaded portion of the inner surface of the inner cylinder whereby,rotation of the inner cylinder relative to the outer cylinder urges the inner cylinder towards the collet.
- 18. The method of claim 13 wherein the coefficient of friction is increased by forming protrusions on the inner surface of the collet.
- 19. A collet comprising:a first end; a second end; an outer surface having a generally frusto-conical profile; and an inner surface wherein the collet defines a gap extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, and from the first end to the second end.
- 20. The collet of claim 19 further comprising a plurality of protrusions formed on the inner surface of the collet.
Parent Case Info
This application claims benefit under 35 USC §120 as a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending application PCT/US99/20706, filing date Sep. 9, 1999 designating the United States.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/US99/20706 |
Sep 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/804685 |
|
US |