GB2353492A

GB2353492A - Clamp with jacking assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2353492A
Application number: GB9920289A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony James Michael Nolan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-26
Filing date: 1999-08-26
Publication date: 2001-02-28
Also published as: GB9920289D0

Abstract

A clamping apparatus comprises a pair of co-acting clamp faces (14, 34, Figure 2) movable relatively along the axis of rod 3 and a jacking/pulling rod 2 movable along a second axis, preferably perpendicular to the axis of rod 3, the two rods 2,3 being joined at junction member 1. The movement of the jacking/pulling rod 2 is controlled by a clutch mechanism formed by a drive plate 4 driven by one end 5 of a pivoted member 6 with a trigger portion 7 moved by squeezing against a fixed member 8. The plate 4 is urged against a portion of the mount 8 by a spring 9. Unidirectional movement is ensured by means of a locking plate 11, mounted on rod 2 and acting against notch 12 (which forms part of junction member 1). The clamp (Figure 2) is operated via a similar clutch mechanism.

Description

CLAMP JACK This invention relates to a novel clamps that are able to hold

a workpiece and a jack or puller which can jack or 5 pull the workpiece against a second workpiece against the workpiece at any angle.

According to the present invention there is provided a clamp and a jacking/pulling assembly comprising one pair of co-acting clamp faces and a jacking/pulling rod that can be used for pushing or pulling whereby the action of the assembly and the rod is independent and may take place along two separate axes.

The preferred alignment of the two axes is at right angles to each other. The arrangement permits a clamping action to hold a workpiece and a pushing or pulling action to jack against or pull against a second workpiece.

In a preferred embodiment the pushing or pulling actions are transmitted through rigid rods that are mounted within a junction member so as to be permanently aligned along the two axes. Each rod is held by the junction member and and each carries one element of a pair of clamps, one of which is slidably mounted on the rod.

In one embodiment the clamp/jack/puller assembly comprises one clamp face of a pair of clamp faces carried by a slidable and lockable member which slides along the first rod and en acres the second, mating, clamp face that g is part of the junction member and is rigidly attached to the first rod. The jacking/pulling action is provided by the second rod which is accommodated by the junction member in a slidable manner. The junction member is capable of locking the second rod.

The locking mechanism used to hold each rod in position may consist of a ratchet having a pawl that engages serrations on each rod. Alternative locking mechanisms include a one-way gripper of the type described 5 in GBB-1 555 455.

The components of the clamp jack assembly are preferably formed from steel components to ensure adequate strength. The clamp faces can take a variety of forms according to the nature of the objects to be held by them. They may comprise substantially flat surfaces with slip reducing coverings, small area faces providing high pressure at the clamped points or rollers to assist in positioning the components to be clamped.

is In order that the invention may be clearly understood two forms thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial side view of a clamp jack in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a partial view of the dual clamp shown in Figure 1 rotated through a right angle, and Figures 3a to 3c illustrate different forms of clamp faces/ attachments to be used on the clamp jack.

A clamp jack according to the invention, see Figure 1, comprises a junction member 1 carrying a slidably mounted f irst rod 2 and a rigidly connected second rod 3 mounted at right angles with respect to the f irst rod 2. Movement of the rod 2 can be arrested by a clutch mechanism f ormed by drive plate 4 driven by one end 5 of a pivoted member 6 having a trigger portion 7 adapted to be moved by squeezing against a mount member 8. The plate 4 is urged against a portion of the mount 8 by a spring 9. One way movement is ensured by means of a locking plate 11 freely mounted on the rod 2 and acting against the junction member 1 through one end being located in a notch 12.

Jacking action takes place at one end 10 of the rod 2.

The bent angle forming the end 10 be substituted with a plate or other f ace that can be attached to the end 10. Pulling action takes place at an end 33 at the opposite end of the rod 2. The end 33 can be fitted with attachments in a similar manner to those proposed for the element 10.

The second rod 3, see Figure 2, carries a moveable clamp face 14 mounted on a frame 15. The frame 15 has a one way drive mechanism formed from a drive plate 16, pivoted member 17, spring 18 and locking plate 19. The drive mechanism operates in the same manner as described for the one fitted to the rod 2. The clamp face 14 mates with a second face 34.

The clamp f aces 14 and 34 may be selected to take into account the nature of the items to be jacked against the device. Figure 3a shows a disc 21 fitted to the end 10 of the rod 2 through a mount 22. The face of the disc 21 can optionally engage a cup 23 fitted to the mating face 14. In Figure 3b a mount 24 f itted to the end 10 carries a wheel member 26 pivotally mounted on a holder 26.

In further embodiments, see Figure 1, the opposite end of the rod 2 can be bent at a right angle to form an element 33 that can be used for pulling. The elements 10 and 33 on the rod 2 can carry a mount 28 fitted with a steel loop 27, see Figure 3c.

4

Claims

1. A clamp and a jacking/pulling assembly comprising one pair of coacting clamp faces and a jacking/pulling rod that can be used for pushing or pulling whereby the action of the assembly and the rod is independent and may take place along two separate axes.

2. The clamp and jacking/pulling assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the two axes are aligned at right angles to each other.

3. The clamp and lacking/pulling assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the pushing or pulling actions are transmitted through rigid rods that are mounted within a junction member so as to be permanently aligned along the two axes.

4. The clamp and jacking/pulling assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which each rod is held by the junction member and and each carries one element of a pair of clamps, one of which is slidably mounted on the rod.

5. The clamp and jacking/pulling assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the second slidable clamp face is capable of being locked in any position along the rod.

6. The clamp and jacking/pulling assembly as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in which the clamp and jacking/pulling assembly comprises one clamp face of a pair of clamp faces carried by a slidable and lockable member which slides along the first rod and engages the second, mating, clamp face that is part of the junction member and is rigidly attached to the first rod.

7. The clamp and jacking/pulling assembly as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 in which the junction member is capable of locking the second rod.

8. The clamp and jackincl/pullinq assembly as claimed in any of the claims 5 to 7 in which the locking mechanism used to hold each clamp f ace in position consists of a ratchet having a pawl that engages serrations on each rod.

10. The clamp and jacking/pulling assembly as claimed in any of the claims 5 to 7 in which the locking mechanism used to hold each clamp face in position is a one-way gripper.

11. The clamp and jacking/pulling assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the clamp faces comprise substantially flat surfaces with slip reducing coverings.

12. The clamp and jacking/pulling assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the components are fabricated from steel.

13. Clamp and a jacking/pulling assemblies comprising one pair of co-actinq clamp faces and a jackinq/pullinq rod that can be used for pushing or pulling as claimed in claim 1 and as herein described.

14. Clamp and a jacking/pullinq assemblies comprising one pair of co-acting clamp faces and a jacking/pulling rod that can be used for pushing or pulling as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.