MORSA A SERRAGGIO RAPIDO

Centrifugal chucking apparatus for fixing a member to be rotated to a rotatable driving member includes a cylindrical cage member adapted to be mounted for rotation with the driving member, at least one clamping body movably mounted within an aperture formed in the cage member and which moves into engagement with the member to be rotated during rotation of the driving member under the action of centrifugal force, and at least one lever member associated with the clamping body and mounted for rotation with the driving and cage members. The lever member mutually engages both the clamping body and the cage member and during rotation of the driving member the lever member is urged outwardly under the action of centrifugal force. The lever member is appropriately positioned so that as a result of this outward urging under centrifugal force, the lever member exerts a force against the clamping body which has a direction to increase the force with which the clamping body engages the member to be rotated. Further, the clamping body is positively braced in engagement with the member to be rotated by the lever member which forms a rigid link interconnecting the cage member and clamping body. This additional bracing prevents any reduction in the clamping force exerted by the clamping body on the member to be rotated which might otherwise result from vibrations or other disturbances which occur during a particular application of the apparatus, e.g., where the member to be rotated is a workpiece which is being treated.