KR20030064606A - Toggle lever clamping device - Google Patents

Abstract

In the toggle lever clamping device 10 for clamping the workpiece P to the support frame 14, the clamping device 10 pivots to rotate between the open and closed states to lock or release the workpiece P. The clamping arm 12 is connected to the actuator 15 by a toggle lever device having a dead point tightened tightly to the workpiece P. The toggle device is deformed to some extent in sequence when reaching the dead point of the toggle lever device, and an elastically deformable connecting link that is deformed as controlled by the stop devices 28 and 29 provided on the same clamping arm 12 ( 19).

Description

Toggle Clamping Device {TOGGLE LEVER CLAMPING DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a toggle lever clamping device for securing a workpiece, and more particularly, to a device for clamping a metal plate on a body of an automobile. However, the clamping device according to the present invention can be used for various other purposes.

The toggle lever clamping device used to fix the material to the support frame is already well known as follows. By way of example in US-A-4,445,676; US-A-4, 921, 233; US-A-4, 923, 184; US-A-5, 165,670; EP-A-1.025.950, EP-A-0.268.176.

In general, clamping devices of the type described above have been connected to pneumatic, electric or other types of linear actuators to deflect between the open and closed positions to secure and release the material.

The clamping arm is connected to the sliding rod of the actuator by a toggle lever device consisting of a sliding rod of the actuator and an intermediate connecting link hinged to the clamping arm.

In this type of clamping device, the axial movement of the actuator is transmitted to the clamping arm as a rigid link, which must pass through the dead center of the toggle lever during the movement, in which the actuator rod and clamping arm Assume that the joint is connected.

Indeed, it is necessary to generate a relatively strong force when the device must move to the clamping position in order to overcome the dead center. In addition, in order to perform the reverse movement or the opening movement, the actuator rod is generated by generating a force similar to the aforementioned force, which is considerably stronger than necessary to move the device to the closed position, or generating a force axially pushing out from the outside. And the connecting link moves backwards, allowing the clamping lever to rotate.

In the toggle connection between the clamping arm and the actuator, the rigid force link used to activate the clamping device in order to open and close it causes considerable tension on the various parts of the device, causing severe wear on the moving parts and periodically checking Should be replaced.

Not only is the clamping device broken or malfunctioning, but replacing worn parts is time-consuming and expensive.

To partially solve these problems, US Pat. No. 4,445,676 describes a long T-shaped slit for splitting the same link into two hinge regions connected by intermediate elastic arms that can be bent laterally to move between the two hinge axes of the link. We propose a toggle lever device composed of an elastically deformable connecting link made of slit).

On the one hand, the use of simple elastically deformable connection links solves the problems caused by severe wear and stress on the moving parts of the device, and on the other hand, when the clamping arm is subjected to external forces, As a missed device, this can lead to problems that cannot have optimal properties that prevent clamping from going backwards.

Not only can the material not remain tightly clamped, but there is also a risk that the link will no longer be damaged or broken due to the strong clamping force after repeated use by means of a simple elastic linkage.

To this end, during the course of several tests, the same system does not accurately calculate the tightening torque or the same system for stresses that pass through one dead point from one side to the other. If not, or if the material is thicker than observed, damage to the connecting links threatens the function of the clamping device or its irreversible capability.

As a result, there is a need to improve the clamping device having a very stable and safe improvement of the clamping device so that it cannot be reversed.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a clamping device with a toggle connecting link that is elastically deformable to operate the clamping device in a structurally simpler, safer and more stable state.

It is a further object to provide a clamping device provided with a toggle lever device that can control the axial compression of the connecting link and perform a distinct clamping operation that cannot be reversed with the device clamped.

Still another object is to provide a clamping device with a toggle lever device consisting of an elastically deformable connecting link which maintains a strong force for prescribing the material and is simple but inexpensive, increasing the safety and stability of the same clamping device. It is.

All of this can be implemented with a toggle lever clamping device according to claim 1.

To be more precise, the toggle lever clamping device according to the present invention

A box-shaped head with a longitudinal axis,

A clamping arm pivoted to the box-shaped head end to rotate between open and closed states to release and secure the material,

A linear actuator at the other end of the box-shaped head,

Consists of a toggle lever operably connected between the clamping arm and the actuator.

The toggle lever device consists of an elastically deformable connecting link having a longitudinal axis extending between the hinged ends, the device having a dead point for maintaining the clamping arm tightened relative to the material.

The elastically deformable connecting link comprises a stop mean spaced apart from each other arranged to prevent the connecting link from compressing in the axial direction when overcoming the dead point of the toggle lever device.

According to another aspect of the invention, a stop device for preventing the link link from being compressed beyond the point of view of the toggle lever device while the clamping device is closed is arranged axially extending from the hinged end of the link link and on the opposite side. It consists of a stop member, preferably, the aircraft stop member is arranged such that the connecting link is sequentially axially compressed when the dead point is reached, and such that a continuous angular deflection of the same link occurs above the dead point when the clamping device is closed. It is so configured.

By arranging the front contact means on the front end of the stop member on the inclined or ground plane, the connecting link is elastically slowly deformed while the clamping device is closed so that it can pass through the dead point without applying excessive force.

After passing through the dead point according to the present invention, the connecting link continues to operate in a controlled state until reaching the final stop state, the surface contact means of the stop member takes a relative position, the connecting link in the inclined plane And prevents axial compression so that the same link can cause angular deformation, resulting in a final motion that holds the material and cannot be reversed, resulting in characteristics not obtainable with the other clamping devices described above.

Therefore, the stability and safety of the clamping device are increased considerably.

1 is a view of a clamping device according to the present invention with one half of the box-shaped head portion removed to show the internal device;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the connecting link of the toggle lever device according to the invention.

3-6 are enlarged views of FIG. 2 in another operational state.

Figure 7 is a second embodiment of the link according to the invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG.

9-12 are enlarged views of FIG. 8 in another operational state.

* Code Description *

1 head 10 clamping device

12: clamping arm 13: pivot shaft

14 support frame 15 actuator

16 piston member 17 rod

18: Fork 19: Link

21: crank lever 23: roller

25, 26: Hinge end 28, 29: Stop member

1 shows the clamping device 10 as a whole. The device 10 is composed of a box-shaped head 1 made by arranging two shell members side by side, the position being raised or lowered from the up or down position as shown in FIG. The clamping arm 12 connected to the pivot shaft 13 is pivotally connected to rotate the clamping arm 12, and the clamping arm 12 fixes the metal sheet or the material P to the support frame 14.

The clamping arm 12 is hinged between the actuator 15 and the clamping arm 12 and operatively connected to a linear actuator 15 such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder by a three-joint system consisting of intermediate connecting links 19. .

More precisely, as shown in FIG. 1, the cylinder 15 is equipped with a fork 18 hinged at the point marked 20 at the end of the elastically deformable connecting link 19. A crank member 16 having a rod 17, the other end of the link 19 being clamped or integral to the clamping lever 12 due to the same pivot shaft 13 at point 22. Hinged to the lever 21, the fork 18 of the piston rod 17, the connecting link 19 and the crank lever 21 forms a three-joint system or a toggle lever device having a dead center. When the cylinder 15 is in the inoperative state, the system is unable to back by keeping the arm 12 clamped against the workpiece P as shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 23 denotes a guide roller for the fork 18, and reference numeral 24 reduces noise and stops the fork 18 when reaching the stop position with respect to the clamping arm 12. To the front end of the guide relative to the roller 23.

According to the general aspect of the present invention, the toggle lever device is composed of an elastically deformable connecting link 19 with a stop device for limiting and controlling the compression in the axial direction, and the device in the clamped state and the non-operating state. The lever device, together with the actuator of, smoothly overcomes the reaction force at the dead point and cannot be operated in the reverse direction.

According to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and enlarged in FIG. 3, the connecting link 19 is connected to each other by two hinge ends connected by two elastically deformable arc-shaped side arms 27 which are bent inwardly. 25, 26, which allows axial compression and allows the sides of the same link to be deformed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the two anti-compression stop members 28, 29 spaced in line with the longitudinal axis S of the connecting link 19 are hinged ends 25, 26 of the link 19. Extending inwardly, the stop member consists of two central arms, the two ends of which are not stressed, being slightly spaced from each other so that the same link is elastically controlled while closing the clamping device. Is compressed.

More precisely, both planes 30, 31 at the ends of the two stop arms 28, 29, as shown in Fig. 2, have a length δ of 0.1 millimeters, such as 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm. Spaced apart, the length being slightly greater than or equal to the maximum elastic deformation generated on the same link 19 at the dead point of the toggle lever device, the dead center of the guide relative to the roller 23 and the axis of the hinges 21, 20. Three points corresponding to are aligned in line with the longitudinal axis of the connecting link 19. In addition, the front surfaces of the stop arms 28 and 29 are slightly inclined so that the axially controlled compression occurs after the side of the link link 19 is deflected when the clamping arm 12 is closed.

The connecting link 19 can be made in a one-piece suitable shape, but can preferably be composed of several plate members, as shown in FIG. 8.

More specifically, as shown enlarged in FIG. 3, one of the stop arms 28, 29, such as the arm 29, is provided at the front end along with the rectangular sheet 34, and the longitudinal axis ( A contact plane 33 ′ is provided which lies in a plane perpendicular to S), which seat fits against the contact member 33 protruding from the front surface 31 of the arm 29. The contact member 33 may be loosely supported by the arm 29 or press fit into the seat 34.

The other stop arm 28 is a front surface 30 'whose end is in a slightly inclined plane with an angle β1 about 5 ° or 6 ° relative to the front surface 33' of the contact member 33. Is finished. With no stress on the link link 19 as described above, both surfaces 30 ', 33' at the ends of the two stop arms 28, 29 are connected to the link link 19 when the clamping device is closed. Are slightly spaced apart from each other by a length δ to allow elastic deformation in the axial direction, and excessively elastic arms 27 connecting two hinge regions 25 and 26 of the same connecting link when stress is repeatedly generated. It is intended to avoid deformation and the occurrence of fatigue failure.

The minimum distance δ and angle β1 between the two surfaces 30 'and 33' of the stop arms 28 and 29 are given by way of example and the shape, dimensions and elastic parameters, clamping of the connecting link 19 New calculations are to be made each time, depending on the design characteristics of the device as a whole and the insufficient force or pressure on the material P.

As described above, the stop arms 28 and 29 with both front surfaces slightly inclined allow the resilient connecting link 19 to perform two movements, and when the clamping device is actually closed, the connecting link 19 first It is elastically deformed in the axial direction to overcome the dead point of the linking device with a relatively reduced thrusting force, allowing the rigid body to move completely closed. This causes the system to be inoperative from the point of view of the fact that the external forces that can be generated to cause the clamping arm 12 to rise up or rotate in the open direction are resistant to the axially rigid, non-bending characteristics caused by the link 19. With the actuator 15 in a state that is absolutely impossible to reverse, it is assumed that the two stop arms 28 and 29 are slightly inclined, so that the reaction force against the arm 12 increases the piston rod ( The hinge 20 with the fork 18 of 17 is increasingly dependent on the shoulder 24 on which the guide roller 23 of the fork 18 rests while the clamping device is closed.

The foregoing can be clearly seen with reference to Figs. 2-6, since it shows the continuous position of the stop pressures 28,29 while the clamping device is closed. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a state in which the link link 19 is inclined before reaching the dead point of the linkage, wherein the longitudinal axis S of the link 19 is formed at the center stop arms 28 and 29 of the link link 19. A straight line R and an angle α1 associated with the aligned state are formed for three points of the linkage device that are slightly larger than or approximately equal to the angle β1 between the front surfaces 30 'and 33'.

In this state, the two front surfaces 30 'and 33' of the stop arm are slightly spaced apart from each other by the distance δ as shown in FIG.

The connecting link 19 rotates continuously during closing, and when the axis S of the same link coincides with the line R for the three-point alignment condition for the linkage, both of the stop members 28, 29 The dog surfaces 30 ', 33' are slightly in contact with each other, and the gap δ therebetween disappears as shown in FIG. In this state, only the clamping arm 12, or a part connected thereto, comes into contact with the material P, but does not generate the force necessary to fix it to the support frame 14.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the linkage is due to the elastic deformation of the properly controlled and limited linkage 19 due to the contact of the front surfaces 30 ', 33' of the two stop elements 28,39. 19 is rotated continuously due to the angle larger than the angle due to the rigid connection link of the conventional clamp device, such as the angle α2 of about 4 ° or 5 ° depending on the characteristics of the entire clamp device and the link.

The relative position of the front surfaces 30 'and 33' of the two stop members 28 and 29 and the final clamping state of the connecting link 19 are enlarged in FIG. 27 is elastically flexible and the longitudinal axis S of the link 19 forms an angle α2 on a straight line R due to the rotation between the contact surfaces of the stop members 28, 29. That is, the two arms 28 and 29 are no longer straight and are slightly tilted.

Therefore, whenever the clamping arm 12 rotates upwards or toward the open position by a strong external force, the two front surfaces 30 ', of the stop members 28, 29, due to the resilient bottle of the link link 19, Since the angle β2 is still maintained between 33 ', the front surface 33' of the stop member 29 comes into close contact with the front surface 30 'of the other arm 28, The arms 28 and 29 rotate slightly relative to form an angle α3 that is larger than the angle α2 so that the system cannot reverse, such that the link link 19 moves like a rigid body.

This ensures that a system that can only be de-clamped with the cylinder 15 or other type of control to reverse the movement cannot be fully reversed.

A further embodiment of the elastic connecting link 19 for the clamping device according to the invention is shown in Figures 7-12, where like reference numerals are used to like parts.

As shown in FIG. 7, the connecting link 19 consists of stop members 28, 29 extending axially from the hinged ends 25, 26, and on both sides of the two stop members 28, 29. The ends consist of front contact surface means 30 ', 33', which are spaced apart from each other by a gap δ of 0.2 or 0.3 mm, without stress in the connecting link 19. Or an angle β1 of 6 °.

One of the stop members 28, 29 comprises a front contact surface provided by a second contact element 36 and a first contact element 35 spaced apart from each other, preferably in a semicircle seat respectively. It consists of a cylindrical pin housed, which pin protrudes axially from the front end of the stop member 29 and extends transversely.

In this case the contact surface 33 ′ is constituted by an ideal plane tangent to the contact elements 35, 36.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 9-11, the contact elements 35, 36 consist of a first cylindrical element 35 having a first diameter and a second cylindrical element 36 having a smaller second diameter, both contacting The longitudinal axes of the elements 35, 36 lie in the same plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stop member 29.

The contact elements 35, 36 may be press fit to the seat at the front end of the stop member 29, respectively, or may be loosely supported between both sides of the fork 18 of the lever 21.

The use of stop members 28 and 29 having a front contact surface or means as described above allows for a double action of the elastic linking link 19, in fact the connecting link in the axial direction when the clamping device is in the closing stage. 19 can be elastically deformed, and the dead point is easily overcome with relatively reduced thrusting forces. In addition, the same connecting link (19) acts as a rigid body when the system finally reaches the closed position so that the system cannot be reversed.

The foregoing is clarified by Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the same reference numerals being used in comparison with Figs. 3-6.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the means for limiting the axial compression of the connecting link 19, as shown in FIG. 12, is characterized by the fact that the longitudinal axis has the same diameter in a plane parallel to the contact plane 33 '. It consists of 1,2 cylindrical contact elements 37, 38.

As shown in the figure, the clamping device consists of a toggle lever that is elastically deformable between the clamping arm and the movable rod of the actuator, allowing the device to open and close without creating excessive stress on the moving parts. The problem of wear and fastening is reduced and the clamping cannot be reversed to prevent accidental opening of the clamping device with the actuator when not in operation.

The things described with reference to the drawings are examples and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

Claims (16)

Toggle clamping device 10 for tightly tightening the material (P) to the support frame 14 is A box-shaped head 11 with a longitudinal axis, A clamping arm 12 pivotally connected to the end of the box-shaped head 11 to rotate between the open and closed states to release and fix the workpiece P, A linear actuator 15 at the other end of the box-shaped head 11, A toggle lever device 18, 19, 21 operatively connected between the clamping arm 12 and the actuator 15, The toggle lever device consists of an elastically deformable connecting link 19 having a longitudinal axis extending between the hinged ends 25, 26, wherein the connecting link 19 is connected to the material P. Having a dead point for holding the clamped clamping arm 12, The elastically deformable connecting links 19 are spaced apart stop means 28 which are arranged to prevent the connecting link 19 from being compressed in the axial direction when the dead point of the toggle lever device is overcome. Toggle clamping device, characterized in that consisting of 29). 2. The toggle lever clamping according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop devices (28, 29) are arranged such that an angular deformation of the link link (19) occurs beyond the dead point of the toggle lever device when the clamping arm (12) is closed. Device. 2. A toggle lever clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop device (28,29) consists of first and second surface devices (30'.33 ') arranged on an inclined contact plane. 4. The stop device (28,29) according to claim 3, characterized in that the stop device (28,29) consists of first and second stop members axially extending from the hinged ends (25,26) of the connecting link (29) and arranged oppositely. Toggle lever clamping device. 5. A contact element (33) according to claim 4, characterized in that one of the stop members (28, 29) consists of a contact element (33) projecting partially across from the front end of the same stop member (29) of the clamping device. Toggle lever clamping device. 5. The first and second contact elements (35, 36; 37) of claim 4, wherein one row of stop members (28, 29) is projected across from the front end of the same stop member (29) of the clamping device. Toggle clamping device, characterized in that consisting of 38). 7. A toggle lever clamping device according to claim 6, wherein the first and second contact elements (35,36; 37,38) are in the form of contact members having a circular peripheral surface. 8. A toggle lever clamping device according to claim 7, wherein each of said first and second contact elements (35,36; 37,38) consists of a cylindrical member. 9. A toggle lever clamping device according to claim 8, characterized in that the contact elements consist of a first contact element (35) having a first diameter and a second contact element (36) having a small second diameter. 10. A toggle lever clamping device according to claim 9, characterized in that the longitudinal axes of the first and second contact elements (35,36) lie in the same plane arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the connecting link (19). 9. A toggle lever clamping device according to claim 8, characterized in that the contact element consists of first and second cylindrical contact members (37,38) having the same diameter. 12. A toggle lever clamping device according to claim 11, characterized in that the longitudinal axis of the first and second contact members (37, 38) lies in a plane arranged inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connecting link (19). 7. A toggle lever clamping device according to claim 6, characterized in that each of said first and second contact elements (35,36; 37,38) is press fit to the front end of the stop member (28,29). 2. A toggle lever clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting link (19) consists of several side-by-side steel plates (19 '). 15. The first and second stop members (28, 29) of claim 14, wherein the steel plates (19 ') of the link (19) are hinged ends (25, 26), extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the link (19). ), A toggle lever clamping device, characterized in that it comprises an elastically deformable side arm (27) for connecting the ends (25, 26) of the steel plate (19 '). 16. A toggle lever clamping device according to claim 15, wherein the side arms (27) are inwardly arched arms.