EP0937538B1 - Dispositif pneumatique de bridage rétractable à profil bas - Google Patents

Dispositif pneumatique de bridage rétractable à profil bas Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0937538B1
EP0937538B1 EP19980301256 EP98301256A EP0937538B1 EP 0937538 B1 EP0937538 B1 EP 0937538B1 EP 19980301256 EP19980301256 EP 19980301256 EP 98301256 A EP98301256 A EP 98301256A EP 0937538 B1 EP0937538 B1 EP 0937538B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
clamp
bracket
low profile
clamp body
arm
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19980301256
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0937538A1 (fr
Inventor
Henry Dykstra
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Delaware Capital Formation Inc
Original Assignee
Delaware Capital Formation Inc
Capital Formation Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Delaware Capital Formation Inc, Capital Formation Inc filed Critical Delaware Capital Formation Inc
Priority to EP19980301256 priority Critical patent/EP0937538B1/fr
Priority to DE69815653T priority patent/DE69815653T2/de
Publication of EP0937538A1 publication Critical patent/EP0937538A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0937538B1 publication Critical patent/EP0937538B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B5/00—Clamps
    • B25B5/06—Arrangements for positively actuating jaws
    • B25B5/08—Arrangements for positively actuating jaws using cams
    • B25B5/087—Arrangements for positively actuating jaws using cams actuated by a hydraulic or pneumatic piston
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B5/00—Clamps
    • B25B5/06—Arrangements for positively actuating jaws
    • B25B5/061—Arrangements for positively actuating jaws with fluid drive
    • B25B5/064—Arrangements for positively actuating jaws with fluid drive with clamping means pivoting around an axis perpendicular to the pressing direction

Definitions

  • the invention broadly relates to pneumatic clamps, and more particularly, to a low profile clamp which provides a clamping force in two perpendicular directions through the motion of a pneumatic cylinder in a single plane.
  • Power clamps are frequently used in a wide variety of work stations to forcibly clamp a workpiece in place during any conceivable number of operations necessary for the particular workpiece.
  • a typical clamp includes clamp arms having a range of motion extending substantially outside the perimeter of the clamp body.
  • the typical clamp requires substantial space to accommodate the motion of the clamp arms during the clamping and releasing of the workpiece.
  • work space is routinely limited preventing the use of such typical clamps.
  • the motion may so severely interfere with other operations on the workpiece, necessary before or during the clamping function, that the clamp is rendered inoperable.
  • US-A-4 494 739 discloses a clamping assembly operated by a piston and cylinder assembly rotatably mounted on a support.
  • a mounting bracket rotatably mounted on the support is provided with a pair of pivotally mounted plates each having a clamping arm and a cam track.
  • a drive rod connected to the piston extends through the support and into an elongate slot in the bracket. Rollers secured to the outer end of the rod are disposed in the cam slots and drive the plates to pivot.
  • the cam slots are configured to lock the clamp in a locking position in the event that fluid pressure is lost in the piston.
  • EP-A-0 213 400 discloses a chucking fixture for work pieces comprising a clamping finger supported for swivelling and for moving longitudinally and a pressure-operated piston controlling the clamping finger responsive to the piston travel so that the swivel and displacement movements are performed successively.
  • the piston has an oblique control surface on which a sliding element of the clamping finger is slidable to swivel the clamping finger transverse to the piston direction.
  • a stop is provided at the piston which, at the end of the sliding movement, entrains the clamping finger in the direction of the piston.
  • the piston is arranged transverse to the clamping finger.
  • the sliding element engages a stop of the housing to keep the clamping finger in axial alignment as long as the clamping finger has not reached its outermost position.
  • the sliding element leaves the stop attached to the casing only in the outermost position of the clamping finger to allow for swivel movement of the clamping finger.
  • DE-A-1 478 857 discloses a clamp which uses a large spring to hold a clamp arm in a predefined position.
  • a low profile clamp comprising:
  • low profile clamp minimise the range of motion for the clamp arms while providing sufficient clamping power. They also have a low profile to maximise accessibility to a workpiece.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a low profile clamp according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention excluding the clamp body.
  • FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the present invention in a retracted position.
  • FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the present invention in an extended condition.
  • FIG. 5 is a longitudinal side view of the clamp block for the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a right end view of figure 5.
  • FIG. 7 is a bottom view of figure 5.
  • FIG. 8 is a left end view of figure 5.
  • FIG. 9 is a view of the pivot for the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a longitudinal view of figure 9 rotated 90°.
  • FIG. 11 is a side view of figure 9.
  • FIG. 12 is a longitudinal side view of the body for the present invention.
  • FIG. 13 is a top view of figure 12.
  • FIG. 14 is longitudinal cross-sectional view of figure 12.
  • FIG. 15 is a right end view of figure 12.
  • FIG. 16 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of figure 12.
  • FIG. 17 is a longitudinal side view of the pneumatic cylinder with a partial cross-sectional view.
  • FIG. 18 is a fragmentary side view of figure 17.
  • FIG. 19 is a longitudinal side view of the clevis bracket for the present invention.
  • FIG. 20 is a bottom view of figure 19.
  • FIG. 21 is a right end view of figure 19.
  • FIG. 22 is a left end view of figure 19.
  • FIG. 23 is a fragmentary view of figure 19 more particularly illustrating the slot.
  • FIG. 24 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a second embodiment of the present invention illustrating a clamp adaptor.
  • FIG. 25 is a top view of the clamp adaptor of figure 24 secured to the clamp arm of the present invention.
  • figure 1 demonstrates the present invention is a low profile pneumatic clamp 10 which provides a clamping force in two perpendicular directions through the motion of a pneumatic cylinder in a single plane.
  • the principle component of the clamping force is a horizonal force in line with the force generated by the pneumatic air cylinder. An additional vertically downward clamping force is also generated.
  • the fixture clamp 10 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, generally comprises an air cylinder 20 and a clamp body 30 containing a clevis bracket 40, a clamp block 50 and a pivot piece 60.
  • the air cylinder 20 is attached to the clamp body 30 within which the clevis bracket 40 and clamp block 50 are slidingly held.
  • the driven portion of the air cylinder 20 is threadingly attached to the clevis bracket 40 and both are movable along the axis of the air cylinder 20 within the clamp body 30.
  • the clamp block 50 is held relative to the clevis bracket 40 by pin member 42 within slots 44 in the arms 46 of the clevis bracket 40.
  • a tension spring 55 is securely positioned between the clevis bracket 40 and clamp block 50 within aligned recesses 47, 57, respectively, to bias each apart.
  • the clamp arm 52 which has a suitable configuration for clamping the particular work piece, here more particularly shown in figures 5-8, with a simple rectangular configuration for holding the square edge of a typical work piece.
  • a simple clamping pin (not shown) could be used which could be inserted into any number of clamping heads (not shown) which could have a variety of configurations depending on the work piece, including a roughened surface for frictional grip, or resilient surfaces for preserving a finish on a work piece or for softer work pieces.
  • the clamp could be powered by any fluid actuating means, including pneumatically or hydraulically powered systems.
  • the clamp arm 52 is slightly angled upwardly of the axis of the motion of the pneumatic cylinder 20, clevis bracket 40 and clamp block 50 when the piston 22 and piston rod 23 are in the retracted position.
  • the clamp arm 52 is slidingly held within a pivot piece 60, more particularly illustrated in figures 9-11, which is rotatably held within the clamp body 30 at the end opposite the pneumatic cylinder 20.
  • the clamp block 50 is moved axially within the clamping body 30 once the compressive force of the spring 55 is overcome, causing the clamp arm 52 to advance through the pivot piece 60.
  • the clamp block 50 is shown in more detail in figures 5-8.
  • the clamp block 50 has an opening 51 to receive pin 42, a longitudinal bore 57 to receive one end of tension spring 55, and a cylindrical clamp arm 52 extending from clamp block 50, said clamp arm 52 having two perpendicularly surfaces 58, 59, respectively.
  • the pivot 60 is shown in more detail in figures 9-11.
  • the pivot has a central portion forming a bore 62 to receive the clamp arm 52, circular ends having grooves 63 to receive the end of a bolt (not shown) threaded through an opening 36 in the clamp body 30 to stabilize the pivot 60 inside the clamp body 30.
  • the pivot is positioned in opening 32 of the clamp body 30 to rotatably cooperate with the clamp body and fluidly seal the end opposite the pneumatic cylinder 20.
  • the clamp body 30 is shown in more detail in figures 12-16.
  • the clamp body 30 is elongated and rectangular having a bore 31 extending longitudinally, four openings 33 extending from the top through to the bottom of the clamp body 30 to receive bolts (not shown) to secure the clamp body to a work station.
  • the clamp body 30 includes threaded bores 34 to receive the threaded ends 26 of bolts 25 to secure the pneumatic cylinder 20 longitudinally to the end of the clamp body 30.
  • the clamp body 30 also includes a second threaded opening 36 to receive a screw (not shown) threaded into the clamp body 30 and extending into the groove 63 of the pivot 60 to secure the pivot 60 in the opening 32 of clamp body 30.
  • the clamp body 30 also includes a carved out area 35 of the bore 31 to allow more room for the clamp block 50 to pivot as the piston rod 23 drives the clamp block 50.
  • the pneumatic cylinder 20 is shown in more detail in figures 17-18.
  • the cylinder has two fluid ports 21 longitudinally spaced in each cylinder head 27 which are in fluid communication with the fluid chamber 28 within the pneumatic cylinder 20.
  • a piston 22 is securely attached to a piston rod 23 which slidingly cooperating inside the fluid chamber 28 longitudinally.
  • Elongated bolts 25 extend longitudinally through each head 27 and have threaded ends 26.
  • the piston rod 23 also has a threaded end 24.
  • the clevis bracket 40 is shown in more detail in figures 19-23.
  • the clevis bracket 40 has two arms 46 extending longitudinally and parallel to one another, each arm 46 having slots 44 to receive pin 42, with clevis bracket including a first longitudinal bore 43 to receive one end of tension spring 55 and a second threaded bore 41 to receive the threaded end 24 of the piston rod 23.
  • the small rectangular body of this power clamp with the pneumatic cylinder extending longitudinally from one end of the body with no greater dimensions than the clamp body, and the range of motion for the clamp arm not extending outside the longitudinal perimeter of the clamp body provides for a very low profile power clamp which greatly improves the accessibility of the workpiece to any tooling or other machining operations. Furthermore, the clamp body with the ends enclosed by the pneumatic cylinder and pivot piece at the opposite end seals the clamp body adequately enough to hold lubricating grease without the necessity of lubrication being provided through the fluid actuating means. This provides a clamp body bore with a clean environment preventing failure and the necessity of continued maintenance for the power clamp.
  • An alternate embodiment of the present invention is a low profile clamp shown in Figs. 24 and 25, whereby a modified clamping adaptor 70 is slidingly cooperating with clamp arm 52 at opening 71 and securely attached by a screw or bolt (not shown) positioned through a second opening 73 and into the clamp arm 52.
  • the clamping adaptor 70 has a horizontal clamping surface 72 (which provides the vertical clamping force on the workpiece 80 in figure 24) which is positioned at or above the top horizontal surface 38 of the clamp 10 and the top horizontal surface 81 of the workpiece 80 which is also situated at or above the top horizontal surface 38 of the clamp 10.
  • the workpiece 80 is located at or above the clamp surface 38 by raising the fixture holding the work piece, by lowering the position of the clamping mechanism, or by providing a work piece riser 82 as shown in Fig. 24.
  • the only portion of the entire clamping mechanism which is exposed above the work piece surface 81 is the adaptor 70, which greatly improves the accessibility of the work piece 80 to any tooling or other machining operations.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Jigs For Machine Tools (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Pince à profil bas (10) comprenant :
    un corps de pince (30) ayant un trou longitudinal (31) ;
    un vérin (20) comportant une chambre à fluide (28) à l'intérieur et attachée de manière amovible audit corps de pince le long de l'axe longitudinal, ledit vérin comportant une paire d'orifices de fluide (21) espacés longitudinalement l'un de l'autre en communication de fluide avec ladite chambre à fluide ;
    un support (40) maintenu à coulissement dans le trou (31) dudit corps de pince (30) ;
    une tige (23) de piston disposée longitudinalement dans ledit trou (31) et ayant une première extrémité (24) fixée de manière amovible audit support ;
    un piston (22) attaché de manière amovible à la tige (23) de piston à l'opposé de la première extrémité (24), ledit piston étant disposé de manière étanche en vue de son mouvement longitudinal coulissant à l'intérieur de ladite chambre à fluide (28) entre lesdits orifices de fluide (21) afin d'étendre et de rétracter sélectivement ladite tige de piston longitudinalement en réponse à des pressions de fluide respectives supérieures ou inférieures dans l'un desdits orifices de fluide (21) par rapport à l'autre desdits orifices de fluide ; et
    un bloc de pince (50) maintenu à coulissement dans le trou (31) dudit corps de pince (30), ledit bloc de pince ayant une première extrémité maintenue dans le support (40) et coopérant à coulissement le long d'un trajet formant un angle par rapport au déplacement longitudinal du support, ledit bloc de pince comportant en outre un bras de pince (52) s'étendant depuis une deuxième extrémité et une partie faisant saillie à l'extérieur du corps de pince.
  2. Pince à profil bas selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit support (40) comprend deux bras (46) s'étendant longitudinalement, chaque bras ayant une fente (44) en vis-à-vis et parallèle à l'autre, lesdites fentes formant un angle par rapport au déplacement longitudinal dudit support.
  3. Pince à profil bas selon la revendication 2, comprenant en outre un axe (42) s'étendant à travers ladite première extrémité dudit bloc de pince (50) et reposant à coulissement dans lesdites fentes (44).
  4. Pince à profil bas selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un pivot (60) maintenu à rotation à l'intérieur du corps de pince (30) et rendant étanche le trou (31) à l'extrémité dudit corps de pince située à l'opposé du vérin (20), ledit bras de pince (52) étant maintenu à coulissement dans ledit pivot perpendiculairement à l'axe de rotation.
  5. Pince à profil bas selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un moyen de sollicitation (55) solidement positionné entre ledit support (40) et ledit bloc de pince (50) pour maintenir de force ces deux éléments écartés longitudinalement.
  6. Pince à profil bas selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle :
    ledit corps de pince (30) est allongé et comporte au moins une surface plate ;
    ledit support (40) est un support à manille et comporte deux bras (46) s'étendant longitudinalement, chaque bras ayant une fente (44) en vis-à-vis de l'autre et parallèle à celle-ci, lesdites fentes formant un angle par rapport au déplacement longitudinal dudit support à manille, ledit support à manille comportant en outre une première ouverture longitudinale (43) ;
    ladite première extrémité dudit bloc de pince (50) comporte un axe (42) maintenu à coulissement dans les fentes (44) dudit support à manille ; et
    dans laquelle ledit bloc de pince (50) comporte en outre une deuxième ouverture longitudinale (57).
  7. Pince à profil bas selon la revendication 6, comprenant en outre :
    un ressort de tension (55) solidement maintenu dans lesdites première et deuxième ouvertures (43, 57) desdits bloc de pince (50) et support à manille (40) pour maintenir de force ces deux éléments écartés longitudinalement ; et
    un pivot (60) maintenu à rotation à l'intérieur du corps de pince (30) et rendant étanche le trou (31) à l'extrémité dudit corps de pince située à l'opposé du vérin (20), ledit bras de pince étant maintenu à coulissement dans ledit pivot perpendiculairement à l'axe de rotation.
  8. Pince à profil bas selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ledit bras de pince (52) comporte à la fois des surfaces de serrage verticale et horizontale (58, 59).
  9. Pince à profil bas selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ledit piston est actionné de façon pneumatique.
  10. Pince à profil bas selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un adaptateur de pince (70) fixé de manière amovible audit bras de pince (52), ledit adaptateur de pince ayant une surface de serrage horizontale (72) qui est à une distance prédéfinie par rapport à la surface du corps de pince.
EP19980301256 1998-02-18 1998-02-18 Dispositif pneumatique de bridage rétractable à profil bas Expired - Lifetime EP0937538B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19980301256 EP0937538B1 (fr) 1998-02-18 1998-02-18 Dispositif pneumatique de bridage rétractable à profil bas
DE69815653T DE69815653T2 (de) 1998-02-18 1998-02-18 Einschiebbare pneumatische Flachprofilspannvorrichtung

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19980301256 EP0937538B1 (fr) 1998-02-18 1998-02-18 Dispositif pneumatique de bridage rétractable à profil bas

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0937538A1 EP0937538A1 (fr) 1999-08-25
EP0937538B1 true EP0937538B1 (fr) 2003-06-18

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ID=8234678

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19980301256 Expired - Lifetime EP0937538B1 (fr) 1998-02-18 1998-02-18 Dispositif pneumatique de bridage rétractable à profil bas

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0937538B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69815653T2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TWI494188B (zh) * 2012-08-30 2015-08-01 Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd 定位裝置

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008089145A2 (fr) * 2007-01-15 2008-07-24 Phd, Inc. Ensemble de pince à bras conducteur
DE102010044327A1 (de) 2010-09-03 2012-03-08 De-Sta-Co Europe Gmbh Zentrierspannvorrichtung

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1478857A1 (de) * 1965-05-15 1970-01-08 Ludwig Dasser Zwei-Weg-Spannvorrichtung,pneumatisch oder handbetaetigt
US4365792A (en) * 1980-08-26 1982-12-28 Johns Consolidated Limited Hydraulic mould clamp
US4494739A (en) * 1983-03-04 1985-01-22 State Die & Engineering, Inc. Power operated rotatable clamping assembly
DE3531766C1 (de) * 1985-09-06 1989-07-20 Honsberg Gmbh Geb Spannvorrichtung fuer Werkstuecke
DE19531889A1 (de) * 1995-08-30 1997-03-06 Rudolf Kohlert Spannelement

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TWI494188B (zh) * 2012-08-30 2015-08-01 Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd 定位裝置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0937538A1 (fr) 1999-08-25
DE69815653T2 (de) 2004-06-03
DE69815653D1 (de) 2003-07-24

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