AU2009200734A1

AU2009200734A1 - Three axis clamp

Info

Publication number: AU2009200734A1
Application number: AU2009200734A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard Maurice Boyar
Original assignee: RICHARD BOYAR
Current assignee: RICHARD BOYAR
Priority date: 2009-02-25
Filing date: 2009-02-25
Publication date: 2010-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-25
Also published as: AU2009200734B2

Description

1 CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to improved apparatus for clamping at least 5 two separate elements in a predefined abutting angular relationship so that the initially separate elements might be secured to one another. Preferably the apparatus will be capable of clamping three separate elements in abutting and mutually angular relationship, for example, elongate elements disposed at mutually spaced 900 angles. 10 2. Description of the Related Art US patent no. 6860475 discloses a clamping device having a fixed jaw, a movable jaw movable relative to the fixed jaw having angularly disposed engagement surfaces and a threaded shaft cooperable with the movable jaw such that rotation of the shaft causes the movable jaw to move either towards or 15 away from the fixed jaw. This arrangement permits elongate elements or members to be clamped in mutually angular positions, conveniently with their ends abutting one another. When it is desired to position and clamp a third elongate element angularly relative to the join of the first two elements, a further attachment is disclosed that may be connected to the clamping device that 20 includes a clamping part swingable from an inactive position to an operating position intended, in use, to clamp the third element in the desired position relative to the first two elements. The clamping device disclosed in US patent no. 6860475 can obstruct access to the joint area of abutting ends of members when they are to be connected to one another, for example, by welding or similar. 25 Further the attachment for creating a three-dimensional joint can result in the third member not necessarily being aligned correctly or held securely. The objective of the present invention is to provide an improved clamp device of the type generally disclosed in the above discussed US patent specification that will minimise or avoid problems associated with the known 30 clamping device.

2 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a clamping device is provided including a first member having a first engagement surface located in a first plane and a second member having a second engagement surface located in a second 5 plane, said first and said second planes defining an included fixed angle of less than 1800, a first strut member having a first arm extending laterally from said first plane and a second arm extending laterally from said second plane, said first and said second arms being connected to define a first work space between said first and said second arms and said first and said second engagement surfaces, at 10 least one clamp member operatively connected to said first strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within said first work space to press, in use, against a first elongate work element aligned by engagement with said first and said second engagement surfaces. Preferably, the fixed angle is 900. Conveniently, the said first and said 15 second arms are configured in an L-shape having a corner region intermediate said first and said second arms. Preferably the at least one clamp member is located within said corner region. In addition or alternatively, a said clamp member may be provided operatively connected to each of said first arm and said second arm. 20 In one preferred arrangement, the or each said clamp member may include a threaded shaft threadingly engaged in a threaded bore in the first strut member, the engagement portion of the or each said clamp member being releasably connected to an inner end of said shaft located, in use, within the first work space. Preferably the engagement portion is also independently rotatable 25 on said shaft. Conveniently a free end of each of said first arm and said second arm includes releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to the first member and the second arm to said second member. Preferably, each said releasable connection means comprise a head portion separated from the 30 respective said first arm and said second arm by a neck portion of smaller dimension, each of said first member and said second member having an opening with an enlarged region to allow said head portion to pass there through and a narrower slot region into which the neck portion of the releasable 3 connection means can seat. Conveniently the neck portion is smaller than the head portion and the remainder of the first or second arms but it may in one arrangement be of a similar dimension to the remainder of the first or second arms. 5 In one preferred embodiment, the first member may be a first plate and the second member may be a second plate, the first and the second plates being joined at a corner region defining a first axis, the clamping device further including a third member in the form of a third plate respectively connected to said first and said second members at opposed corner regions whereby the opposed corner 10 regions define a second axis and a third axis, the first, second and third axes mutually intersecting and being disposed at 900 to one another, each of said first, second and third plates defining an open region where the first, second and third axes intersect. Conveniently a second strut member may be provided having a first arm extending laterally from said first plate and a second arm extending 15 laterally from said third plate defining a second work space between said first and said second arms of the second strut member and said first and said third plates, said second strut member further having at least one clamp member operatively connected to said second strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within said second work space to press, in use, against a second 20 elongate work element aligned by engagement with said first and said third plates. Preferably the first and the second arms of said second strut member are configured in an L-shape having a corner region intermediate the first and the second arms of the second strut member, a free end of each of the first arm and 25 the second arm of the second strut member having releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to the first plate and the second arm to the third plate. Conveniently each of the aforesaid releasable connection means may comprise a head portion separated by a neck portion of smaller dimension than the head portion from the remainder of the second strut member, each of said 30 first plate and said third plate having an opening with an enlarged region allowing a said head portion to pass there through and a narrower slot region into which a said neck portion of the releasable connection means of the second strut member can seat.

4 The aforesaid clamping device may further include a third strut member having a first arm extending laterally from said second plate and a second arm extending laterally from said third plate defining a third work space between said first and said second arms of the third strut member and said second plate and 5 said third plate, said third strut member further having at least one clamp member operatively connected to the third strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within the third work space to, in use, press against a third elongate work element aligned by engagement with said second and said third plates. Conveniently the first and the second arms of said third strut member are 10 configured in an L-shape having a corner region intermediate the first and the second arms of the third strut member, a free end of each of the first arm and the second arm of the third strut member having releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to the second plate and the second arm to the third plate. Preferably each said releasable connection means comprises a head 15 portion separated by a neck portion of smaller dimension than the head portion from the remainder of the third strut member, each of said second plate and said third plate having an opening with an enlarged region allowing a said head portion to pass there through and a narrower slot region into which a said neck portion of the releasable connection means of the third strut member can seat. 20 In yet another possible preferred embodiment, the clamping device may be configured as an attachment to an existing style of clamp structure. In this embodiment the first member is a first plate and the second member is a second plate, the first and the second plates being joined at a corner region defining a first axis, each of said first and said second plates including attachment means 25 enabling attachment of the first and the second plates to the separate existing clamp structure. In accordance with a further aspect, the present invention provides a clamping device including: a first plate defining a first engagement surface in a first plane; 30 a second plate defining a second engagement surface in a second plane; a third plate defining a third engagement surface in a third plane; 5 the first, the second and the third plates being joined to one another at corner regions whereby the corner regions define mutually intersecting first, second and third axes disposed at 900 to one another; said first, second and third plates defining an opening around an 5 intersection zone of said first, second and third axes; a first strut member having a first arm extending laterally from said first plate, a second arm extending laterally from said second plate and a corner region joining a first and said second arms of the first strut member, at least one first clamp member operatively connected to said first strut member having an 10 engagement portion selectably movable within a first work space located between the first and the second arms of said first strut member and the first and the second plates; a second strut member having a first arm extending laterally from said first plate, a second arm extending laterally from said third plate and a corner region 15 joining said first and said second arms of the second strut member, at least one second clamp member operatively connected to said second strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within a second work space located between the first and the second arms of the second strut member and the first and the third plates; and 20 a third strut member having a first arm extending laterally from the second plate, a second arm extending laterally from the third plate and a corner region joining said first and said second arms of said third strut member, at least one third clamp member operatively connected to said third strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within a third work space located 25 between the first and the second arms of the third strut member and the second and the third plates. Conveniently free end regions of the first and the second arms of at least one of the first, the second and the third strut members have releasable connection means whereby the first, the second and the third strut members can 30 be connected to or removed from the first, the second and the third plates. Preferably the free ends of the first and the second arms of said at least one of the first, the second and the third strut members have a head portion and an adjacent portion of smaller dimension than the head portion whereby the portion 6 of smaller dimension is adapted, in use, to seat within a slot of cooperating size extending from an opening of greater dimension in one or more of the first, the second or the third plates. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with 5 reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clamping device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1a is a detailed view of the region marked A in Figure 1; 10 Figure 2 is a schematic elevation view of one work space region of the clamping device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention with some parts omitted; Figure 4 is an elevation view and end view of a part of a clamping member 15 capable of use in the devices illustrated in preceding drawings; Figure 5 is an end view of one possible engagement member for use with a clamping member shown partially in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a section view along line VI-VI of Figure 5; Figure 7 is an end view of another possible engagement member for use 20 with a clamping member shown partially in Figure 4; and Figure 8 is a section view along line VIII-VIII of Figure 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a clamping structure 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The clamping 25 structure 10 comprises three plates 11, 12 and 13 connected to one another along adjacent corners 14, 15 and 16 whereby the plates 11, 12, 13 on either side of each such corner 14, 15, 16 are arranged at 900 to one another. Each of the corners 14, 15 and 16 define one axis of an x, y, z axis intersecting at a point 17 such that the x, y, z axes are arranged at 900 to one 30 another. Preferably a corner region 18, 19 and 20 of each of the plates 11, 12, 13 are removed to define a large opening 21 enabling relatively free access to this region of the clamping structure 10.

7 The clamping structure 10 further includes three strut members 22, 23, 24, each of which are preferably similarly configured with a first arm 25, a second arm 26 and a corner region 27 joining the two arms 25, 26. The strut member 22, 23 and 24 are generally L-shaped as illustrated and have releasable connection 5 means 28 at the free ends of the arms 25, 26 to enable quick and reliable connection with the plates 11/12, 12/13 and 13/11. A particularly preferred connection means 28 comprises a head portion 29 with a neck portion 30 of smaller dimension separating the head portion 29 from the remainder of the first arm 25 or the second arm 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the head portion 29 10 is generally of the same size and configuration as the form of the arms 25, 26 however, this is not necessarily an essential requirement. The neck portions 30 are conveniently joined by creating grooves 31, 32 extending inwardly from opposed surfaces of the arms 25, 26, however, this is also not necessarily an essential feature. For example, in a possible alternative structure, the head 15 portions 29 might have any perimeter shape including a circular shape and the neck portions 30 might also have a variety of cross-sectional shapes including a circular cross-section. As illustrated in Figures 1, 1a and 2, each of the plates 11, 12 and 13 have a pair of openings 33 having a larger region 34 allowing the head portions of the releasable connection means 28 to pass there through and a 20 narrower slot 35 opening onto the larger region 34. The narrower slot 35 has a dimension equal to or slightly greater than the operative width of the neck portion 30 whereby the neck portions 30 can slide into and be retained, in use, in the narrower slots 35. Conveniently, each of the slots 35 are arranged parallel to one of the axes x, y or z and extend generally towards the intersection point 17 of the 25 x, y, z axes. In Figure 1, the strut member 22 is shown separate from the plates 11, 12 and 13 but where it might be connected to the plates 11, 12, the strut member 23 is shown operatively connected to the plates 12, 13, and the strut member 24 is shown in a position capable of being connected to the plates 13, 11. Once the strut members 22, 23 or 24 are operatively connected to a pair of 30 plates 11/12, 12/13 or 13/11, they define a work space 36 between the first arm 25, the second arm 26 and the pair of plates to which they are connected. As represented in the detailed view of Figure la, the inlet region leading to each of 8 the slots 35 may have corners 37 with a radius of curvature or chamfered corners to assist with entry of the neck portion 30 into the slots 35. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2, conveniently supporting feet 48 are secured to or formed on the outer faces of the plates 11, 12 and 13 to 5 provide an even supporting plane for the clamping structure 10 on each of the plates 11, 12 or 13 beyond the extension distance of the head portions 29 on these plates. The feet 48 are represented schematically in broken outline in Figure 1. They may be welded to the plates or formed by a stamping or pressing operation from the material of the plates themselves. 10 In addition to the above described features, each of the strut members 22, 23 or 24 include at least one clamping member 38, 39 or 40. Each clamping member 38, 39, 40 includes a threaded shaft 41 threadingly engaged in a threaded bore 42, 43, 44 passing through either the first arm 25, the corner region 27 or the second arm 26 of each of the strut members 22, 23, 24. Each of the 15 clamping members also includes an engagement portion 45 releasably connected to the inner ends of the shafts 41 to enable selective clamping engagement with a work piece in the work space 36. Releasable connection of the engagement portion 45, as described in greater detail hereafter, permits selection of a suitable configuration of an engagement portion 45 for a particular work piece to be held. 20 If desired, the shafts 41 may also be constructed in two or more sections that are releasably connectable together to provide any desired length of shaft 41. Preferably, gripping means (not shown) might be permanently or releasably connected to the outer ends of the shafts 41 to assist with rotating same towards a clamping position or releasing same from a clamping position. As shown in 25 Figures 1 and 2, work pieces 46 that have a square or rectangular outer periphery can be held by the clamping members 38, 39 or 40 and an elongate work piece 47 having a circular or curved outer periphery might be held by the clamping member 39. Further, with a slightly redesigned engagement portion 45, an elongate angle member might be held by the clamping member 39. The 30 clamping structure 10 thus described enables selectably two or three elongate work pieces to be held by clamping members 38, 39, 40 associated with strut members 22, 23, 24 such that ends of the work pieces meet an abutting relationship at a corner region adjacent the axes intersection point 17. In this 9 location, the joint region is relatively free of obstruction enabling any joining operation to be conveniently carried out such as welding, soldering or the like. Referring now to Figure 3, an alternative preferred embodiment is shown in the form of an attachment 50 adapted for mounting to a known form of rise 51. 5 The known rise 51 includes a stationary jaw 52 defining work engagement surfaces 53, 54 located in planes positioned at 900 to one another. The attachment 50 is a clamping structure adapted to convert the rise 51 into clamping apparatus capable of securing three elongate work elements at 900 to one another. The known rise 51 includes a movable jaw 55 with work engaging 10 surfaces 56, 57 disposed at 900 to one another and which are cooperable with the engagement surfaces 53, 54 on the stationary jaw 52. A threaded shaft 58 is cooperable with a threaded bore 59 on part 60 of the structure of the stationary jaw 52. Rotation of the shaft 58 causes the work engaging surfaces 56, 57 to move towards or away from the cooperating surfaces 53, 54 on the stationary jaw 15 52. The attachment 50 comprises a pair of plates 61, 62 connected along adjacent edge regions to form a 900 corner 63. Lower edge regions 64, 65 of the plates 61, 62 have a plurality of countersunk attachment holes 66 that enable a fastener 67 (one of which is illustrated) to pass there through and subsequently 20 through attachment holes 68 formed in the surfaces 53, 54 of the stationary jaw 52, the fasteners 67 being secured in place by engagement with a nut 69. Conveniently the lower edge regions 64, 65 of the plates 61, 62 are positioned, in use on the inside of the surfaces 53, 54, that is between the stationary jaw 52 and the movable jaw 55. 25 In addition, each of the plates 61, 62 include an opening 33 configured in the same manner as openings 33 in the plates 13/11 of the clamping device 10 illustrated in Figure 1. In this manner, a strut member such as strut member 24 described above in relation to Figures 1/2 can be used with the attachment 50 including the clamping members 38, 39, 40 described above. Desirably, the arms 30 25, 26 of the strut member 24 extend generally at right angles from the plates 61, 62. The attachment 50 further includes a relatively large opening 70 in its lower corner region to provide good access to the joint formed by work pieces held by the clamping device 50, 51.

10 Reference will now be made to Figures 4 to 8. Figure 4 illustrates the connection zone of a snap together fitting 80 for releasably connecting two parts 81 and 82 of a threaded shaft 41 as shown in earlier drawings. The part 81 includes a rotational drive recess 83 capable of being engaged by a drive arm or 5 similar (not shown) to rotate the shaft 41 in use. The part 81 includes an end projection 84 adapted to fit within a recessed zone 85 of the second part 82 in a snap together connection. The recessed zone 85 has a rim rib 86 engagable behind a ledge 87 on the end projection 84 to retain the two parts 81, 82 together in an axial direction. To provide sufficient 10 flexibility to enable such a snap together connection, the regions of the second part 82 around the recessed zone 85 are provided with a plurality of radial slots 88. In this case, rotational forces are intended to be transferred from the part 81 to the part 82 and axial engaging ribs such as an axial key way or a plurality of axial key ways or a plurality of axial interengaging ribs (not illustrated) may be 15 provided for this purpose. Figures 5/6 and 7/8 show two possible engagement portions 45 capable of being connected via a snap together connection with an end projection 89 on the second part 82 (Figure 4) or a similar part on a one piece shaft 41. The interconnecting region of the engagement portion 45 and the end projection 89 is 20 essentially similar to the construction of the snap together connection of parts 81 and 82 described above with reference to Figure 4 and like features have been given the same reference numbers. The exception is that it is desirable that the engagement portion 45 be rotatable relative to the shaft 41 and in this case therefore, axial engagements to enable co-rotation of the end projection 89 with 25 the engagement portion 45 are omitted. In Figures 5/6, the engagement portion 45 has essentially a flat pressure surface 90 and this type of engagement portion 45 might be used with clamping members 38 and 40 shown in the earlier drawings. In Figures 7/8, the pressure surface 91 is formed with separate pairs of angular surfaces 92, 93 and 94, 95. 30 The outer surfaces 92, 93 form an included angle of 900 and might be used to engage the surfaces of an angle iron, channel or similar when using a clamping member such as 39 shown in earlier drawings. The inner pair of angular surfaces 11 94, 95 might be used to engage a circular work piece 47 as shown in earlier drawings. Various modifications to the apparatus described above may be made within the scope of the accompanying claims. For example, alternative means of 5 connecting the strut members to the clamp plates 11, 12, 13, 61, 62 might be utilised although it is preferred that quick release connection means be utilised. It is of course also possible for the strut members to be permanently connected to the plates of the clamping structure.

Claims

1. A clamping device is provided including a first member having a first engagement surface located in a first plane and a second member having a second engagement surface located in a second plane, said first and said second 5 planes defining an included fixed angle of less than 1800, a first strut member having a first arm extending laterally from said first plane and a second arm extending laterally from said second plane, said first and said second arms being connected to define a first work space between said first and said second arms and said first and said second engagement surfaces, at least one clamp member 10 operatively connected to said first strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within said first work space to press, in use, against a first elongate work element aligned by engagement with said first and said second engagement surfaces.

2. A clamping device according to claim 1 wherein said fixed angle is 900. 15

3. A clamping device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first and said second arms are configured in an L-shape having a corner region intermediate said first and said second arms.

4. A clamping device according to claim 3 wherein said at least one clamp member is located within said corner region. 20

5. A clamping device according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein a said clamp member is provided operatively connected to each of said first arm and said second arm.

6. A clamping device according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the or each said clamp member includes a threaded shaft threadingly engaged in a 25 threaded bore in said first strut member, the engagement portion of the or each said clamp member being releasably connected to an inner end of said shaft located, in use, within said first work space. 13

7. A clamping device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein a free end of each of said first arm and said second arm includes releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to the first member and the second arm to said second member. 5

8. A clamping device according to claim 7 wherein each said releasable connection means comprises a head portion separated from the respective said first arm and said second arm by a neck portion of smaller dimension, each of said first member and said second member having an opening with an enlarged region to allow said head portion to pass there through and a narrower slot region 10 into which the neck portion of the releasable connection means can seat.

9. A clamping device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the first member is a first plate and the second member is a second plate, the first and the second plates being joined at a corner region defining a first axis, the clamping device further including a third member in the form of a third plate respectively 15 connected to said first and said second members at opposed corner regions whereby the opposed corner regions define a second axis and a third axis, the first, second and third axes mutually intersecting and being disposed at 900 to one another, each of said first, second and third plates defining an open region where the first, second and third axes intersect. 20

10. A clamping device according to claim 9 wherein a second strut member is provided having a first arm extending laterally from said first plate and a second arm extending laterally from said third plate defining a second work space between said first and said second arms of the second strut member and said first and said third plates, said second strut member further having at least one 25 clamp member operatively connected to said second strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within said second work space to press, in use, against a second elongate work element aligned by engagement with said first and said third plates. 14

11. A clamping device according to claim 10 wherein the first and the second arms of said second strut member are configured in an L-shape having a corner region intermediate the first and the second arms of the second strut member, a free end of each of the first arm and the second arm of the second strut member 5 having releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to the first plate and the second arm to the third plate.

12. A clamping device according to claim 11 wherein each said releasable connection means comprises a head portion separated by a neck portion of smaller dimension than the head portion from the remainder of the second strut 10 member, each of said first plate and said third plate having an opening with an enlarged region allowing a said head portion to pass there through and a narrower slot region into which a said neck portion of the releasable connection means of the second strut member can seat.

13. A clamping device according to any one of claims 9, 10, 11, or 12 further 15 including a third strut member having a first arm extending laterally from said second plate and a second arm extending laterally from said third plate defining a third work space between said first and said second arms of the third strut member and said second plate and said third plate, said third strut member further having at least one clamp member operatively connected to the third strut 20 member having an engagement portion selectably movable within the third work space to, in use, press against a third elongate work element aligned by engagement with said second and said third plates.

14. A clamping device according to claim 13 wherein the first and the second arms of said third strut member are configured in an L-shape having a corner 25 region intermediate the first and the second arms of the third strut member, a free end of each of the first arm and the second arm of the third strut member having releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to the second plate and the second arm to the third plate. 15

15. A clamping device according to claim 14 wherein each said releasable connection means comprises a head portion separated by a neck portion of smaller dimension than the head portion from the remainder of the third strut member, each of said second plate and said third plate having an opening with an 5 enlarged region allowing a said head portion to pass there through and a narrower slot region into which a said neck portion of the releasable connection means of the third strut member can seat.

16. A clamping device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the first member is a first plate and the second member is a second plate, the first and the 10 second plates being joined at a corner region defining a first axis, each of said first and said second plates including attachment means enabling attachment of the first and the second plates to separate clamp structure.

17. A clamping device including: a first plate defining a first engagement surface in a first plane; 15 a second plate defining a second engagement surface in a second plane; a third plate defining a third engagement surface in a third plane; the first, the second and the third plates being joined to one another at corner regions whereby the corner regions define mutually intersecting first, second and third axes disposed at 900 to one another; 20 said first, second and third plates defining an opening around an intersection zone of said first, second and third axes; a first strut member having a first arm extending laterally from said first plate, a second arm extending laterally from said second plate and a corner region joining a first and said second arms of the first strut member, at least one 25 first clamp member operatively connected to said first strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within a first work space located between the first and the second arms of said first strut member and the first and the second plates; a second strut member having a first arm extending laterally from said first 30 plate, a second arm extending laterally from said third plate and a corner region 16 joining said first and said second arms of the second strut member, at least one second clamp member operatively connected to said second strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within a second work space located between the first and the second arms of the second strut member and 5 the first and the third plates; and a third strut member having a first arm extending laterally from the second plate, a second arm extending laterally from the third plate and a corner region joining said first and said second arms of said third strut member, at least one third clamp member operatively connected to said third strut member having an 10 engagement portion selectably movable within a third work space located between the first and the second arms of the third strut member and the second and the third plates.

18. A clamping device according to claim 17 wherein free end regions of the first and the second arms of at least one of the first, the second and the third strut 15 members have releasable connection means whereby the first, the second and the third strut members can be connected to or removed from the first, the second and the third plates.

19. A clamping device according to claim 18 wherein the free ends of the first and the second arms of said at least one of the first, the second and the third strut 20 members have a head portion and an adjacent portion of smaller dimension than the head portion whereby the portion of smaller dimension is adapted, in use, to seat within a slot of cooperating size extending from an opening of greater dimension in one or more of the first, the second or the third plates. 25 RICHARD MAURICE BOYAR