Quick change bit holder

Abstract

The present invention is an expanding device for supporting grinding sleeves. The device has a cylindrical member with an outer bushing unit, an interior bushing unit, an upper control unit, an expanding unit, and a locking mechanism. The outer bushing unit receives the grinding sleeve, and has a first outer diameter of D, and a height H. The interior bushing unit receives a rotatable shaft, has a second outer diameter of I, which is less than D, and a height J, which is less than H. The expanding unit extends from within the upper control unit and between the outer and interior bushing units with protrusions below the outer and interior bushing units. The locking mechanism is interconnected to the upper control unit. And when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position, a grinding sleeve, which can have diamonds thereon, can be placed on or taken off the outer bushing unit and the device can be placed on or taken off a rotatable shaft. Obviously, when the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the grinding sleeve is locked in place on the outer bushing unit, and the device is secured to a rotatable shaft because the locking mechanism alter the position of the expanding unit and the upper control unit which expands the outer diameter and shortens the height of the outer bushing unit, and simultaneously expands the interior diameter and shortens the height of the interior bushing unit.

1. A grinding device comprising a cylindrical member with an outer bushing unit, an interior bushing unit, an upper control unit, an expanding unit, and a locking mechanism;
 wherein the outer bushing unit receives a grinding sleeve, and has, when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position, a first outer diameter of D, and a height H;  
 wherein the interior bushing unit receives a rotatable shaft, has, when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position, a second outer diameter of I, which is less than D, and a height J, which is less than H;  
 wherein the expanding unit extends from within the upper control unit and at least portions thereof between the outer bushing unit and interior bushing unit, and the expanding unit has a first protrusion below and contacting the outer bushing unit and a second protrusion below and contacting interior bushing unit;  
 wherein the locking mechanism is interconnected to the upper control unit so that when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position, the grinding sleeve can be placed on or taken off the outer bushing unit and the device can be placed on or taken off a rotatable shaft;  
 and when the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the locking mechanism pulls the expanding unit towards the upper control unit and pushes the upper control unit towards the expanding unit which expands the outer diameter and shortens the height of the outer bushing unit, and expands the interior diameter and shortens the height of the interior bushing unit.  
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve has diamonds. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2  wherein the diamonds are electroplated onto the sleeve. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve rests on the first protrusion. 
     
     
       5. A method of securing a grinding sleeve to an expanding device comprising the steps of:
 placing a cylindrical member upon the rotatable shaft wherein the cylindrical member has an outer bushing unit, an interior bushing unit, an upper control unit, an expanding unit, and a locking mechanism; 
 wherein the outer bushing unit receives a grinding sleeve, and has, when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position, a first outer diameter of D, and a height H;  
 wherein the interior bushing unit receives a rotatable shaft, has, when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position, a second outer diameter of I, which is less than D, and a height J, which is less than H;  
 wherein the expanding unit extends from within the upper control unit and at least portions thereof between the outer bushing unit and interior bushing unit, and the expanding unit has a first protrusion below and contacting the outer bushing unit and a second protrusion below and contacting interior bushing unit;  
 wherein the locking mechanism is interconnected to the upper control unit so that when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position, the grinding sleeve can be laced on or taken off the outer bushing unit and the device can be placed on or taken off a rotatable shaft;  
 sliding the grinding sleeve upon the outer bushing unit when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked, and placing the device onto a rotatable shaft;  
 positioning the locking mechanism into the locked position so the locking mechanism pulls the expanding unit towards the upper control unit and pushes the upper control unit towards the expanding unit which expands the outer diameter and shortens the height of the outer bushing unit, and expands the interior diameter and shortens the height of the interior bushing unit, which secures the sleeve to the device and the device to the rotating shaft.  
 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the sleeve has diamonds. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the diamonds are electroplated onto the sleeve. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5  wherein the sleeve rests on the first protrusion. 
     
     
       9. A grinding sleeve holder for securing a grinding sleeve on a rotatable shaft, comprising:
   a support unit;        a control unit;        a sleeve locking unit adapted to engage the grinding sleeve;        a shaft locking unit adapted to engage the rotatable shaft;        said support unit and said control unit being arranged for cooperative manipulation of said sleeve locking unit and said shaft locking unit into respective locking engagement with the grinding sleeve and the rotatable shaft; and        a locking mechanism operatively interconnecting said support unit and said control unit, said locking mechanism being adapted to effect said manipulation of said sleeve locking unit and said shaft locking unit.     
     
     
       10. The grinding sleeve holder of  claim 9  wherein said sleeve locking unit comprises a bushing member. 
     
     
       11. The grinding sleeve holder of  claim 9  wherein said sleeve locking unit comprises a pressure expandable material and is adapted to lock the grinding sleeve by way of expansion. 
     
     
       12. The grinding sleeve holder of  claim 9  wherein said shaft locking unit comprises a bushing member. 
     
     
       13. The grinding sleeve holder of  claim 9  wherein said shaft locking unit comprises a pressure expandable material and is adapted to lock the rotatable shaft by way of expansion. 
     
     
       14. In combination, a grinding sleeve and grinding sleeve holder for mounting the grinding sleeve on a rotatable shaft, comprising:
   a grinding sleeve;        a support unit;        a control unit;        a sleeve locking unit adapted to engage said grinding sleeve;        a shaft locking unit adapted to engage the rotatable shaft;        said support unit and said control unit being arranged for cooperative manipulation of said sleeve locking unit and said shaft locking unit into respective locking engagement with said grinding sleeve and the rotatable shaft; and        a locking mechanism operatively interconnecting said support unit and said control unit, said locking mechanism being adapted to effect said manipulation of said sleeve locking unit and said shaft locking unit.     
     
     
       15. The combination of  claim 14  wherein said sleeve locking unit comprises a bushing member. 
     
     
       16. The combination of  claim 14  wherein said sleeve locking unit comprises a pressure expandable material and is adapted to lock the grinding sleeve by way of expansion. 
     
     
       17. The combination of  claim 14  wherein said shaft locking unit comprises a bushing member. 
     
     
       18. The combination of  claim 14  wherein said shaft locking unit comprises a pressure expandable material and is adapted to lock the rotatable shaft by way of expansion. 
     
     
       19. The combination of  claim 14  wherein said grinding sleeve is adapted for use in a glass grinder. 
     
     
       20. A method for securing a grinding sleeve to a rotatable shaft of a grinding machine, comprising:
   selecting a grinding sleeve;        selecting a sleeve holder comprising:      a support unit;        a control unit;        a sleeve locking unit adapted to engage said grinding sleeve;        a shaft locking unit adapted to engage the rotatable shaft;        said support unit and said control unit being arranged for cooperative manipulation of said sleeve locking unit and said shaft locking unit into respective locking engagement with said grinding sleeve and the rotatable shaft; and        a locking mechanism operatively interconnecting said support unit and said control unit, said locking mechanism being adapted to effect said manipulation of said sleeve locking unit and said shaft locking unit;          placing said grinding sleeve on said sleeve locking unit to form a grinding sleeve unit;        placing said grinding sleeve unit on the rotatable shaft; and        actuating said locking mechanism to simultaneously lock said grinding sleeve to said sleeve locking unit and said shaft locking unit to the rotatable shaft.     
     
     
       21. A method for securing a grinding sleeve to a rotatable shaft, comprising simultaneously generating a shaft gripping force and a sleeve gripping force to respectively effect locking engagement with the rotatable shaft while effecting locking engagement with the grinding sleeve, thereby securing the grinding sleeve to the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  wherein said shaft gripping force and said sleeve gripping force are simultaneously generated by activating a locking mechanism from an unlocked position to a locked position. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  wherein said grinding sleeve is a glass grinding sleeve and said rotatable shaft is part of a glass grinder. 
     
     
       24. In combination:
   a grinding sleeve;        a grinding sleeve holder for securing said grinding sleeve to a rotatable shaft of a grinding machine;        sleeve locking means on said grinding sleeve holder for locking said grinding sleeve to said grinding sleeve holder;        shaft locking means on said grinding sleeve holder for locking said grinding sleeve holder to the rotatable shaft; and        actuating means for simultaneously effecting locking engagement of said sleeve locking means to said grinding sleeve and of said shaft locking means to the rotatable shaft.     
     
     
       25. A grinding sleeve holder for securing a grinding sleeve on a rotatable shaft, comprising:
   grinding sleeve locking means for locking the grinding sleeve to the grinding sleeve holder;        shaft locking means for locking the grinding sleeve holder to the rotatable shaft; and        actuating means for simultaneously effecting locking engagement of said grinding sleeve locking means to the grinding sleeve and of said shaft locking means to the rotatable shaft.