US1351530A

US1351530A - Lifting-clamp

Info

Publication number: US1351530A
Application number: US324103A
Authority: US
Inventors: Casper D Meals
Original assignee: READING STEEL CASTING Co
Current assignee: READING STEEL CASTING Co
Priority date: 1919-09-16
Filing date: 1919-09-16
Publication date: 1920-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 1937-08-31

Description

C. D. MEALS.

LIFTING CLAMP.

APPLICAUDN mw sEPr.1s, |919.

Patented Aug. 31,1920.

2 SHEETSY-SHEET l.

C. D. MEALS.

LIFTING CLAMPl APPLIcAnoN msu SEPT. le, |919.

1 35 1 5 30. Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MII/ENTUR UNITED STATESY OASYER D. MEALS, OF TBENTON, NEW JERSEY,

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

COMPANY, 0F READING,

YPATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR T0 READING STEEL CASTING Y Application led September plates of varyingthicknesses can be successfully handled, the clamp automatically adapting itself to the thickness of the plates being handled and vthen positively gripping the same. The invention comprehends a construction which may be employed with equal facility to both horizontal and vertical lifting clamps.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a lifting clamp which can be manually adjusted so as to clamp and grip plates of a dierent class or degree of thickness'and accomplish all of the aforementionedrends in a clamp which is inherently rugged, of simple design, and comparatively few working)parts.

ther objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds, wherein it is to be understood that changes in the precise embodimentof the invention may be made within the seopefof what is claimed without de arting from the spirit thereof.

n the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my novel clamp, various positions of the clampingqlever being illustrated in dotted lines;

i ig. 2 is a front view in elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view .in section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a detail view of the eccentric fulcrum or pin mounting of the clamping lever taken on the line V1---4 of Fig. 3.

Fi 5 is a view in side elevation of a modied or developed form of my lifting clamp; i

Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation thereof, portions of the clamp being broken away, illustrating the details of construction;

Fig. 7 is aV detail view of the lower end of the clamping lever; and

Fig. 8 isV a view in side elevation of a vertical clam Aembodying the characteristic features o my invention. i

Referringnow to the' several views, my

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

16, 1919. Serial N0. 324,103.

improved clamp is formed with a main frame l1, the same Ybeing generally U-shape in that it is formed with the over-hanging arms 12--13 which are connected at one extremity by the cross-piece 14. The arm 12 is formed so as to receive thereagainst the plates or other articles 15 which are to be lifted or handled, and in abutment, while the overhanging arm 13 is provided with an opening 1G to which a clampin lever 17 is pivoted.

The c amping lever is formed of the two side sections 1S-18, portions of the same being bent in opposite directions so as to form the slot 19 in which the supportino' arm 13 of the clamping frame is receiver. The sections 18--18 are held together so as to form an integral construction by the rivets or other fastening means 20. ln this connection, note is made that the arm 13 is reduced in thickness at'its upper extremity so as to reduce Vthe required size of the slot 19, thus lightening the entire clamp without detracting from its strength. 'The upper ei;- tremity oi' the lever is provided with the opening 21 for the reieption of a shackle or chain which is connected to a lifting crane or other device, while the lower end of the lever is provided with the cam face 22, the saine being a developed eccentric curve taken in connection with pivot receiving openings 23, with which the clamping lever is provided.

ln order to materially increase the range of adjustment or action ot' the clamp and at the same time not in any way prevent the elicient gripping action thereof, I provide an eccentric pin 24, the saine being formed with a. cylindrical body 25 which rotates within the pivotal opening 16 in the overhanging arm 13 of the clamp frame. Projecting to each side of the cylindrical body 25 are the eccentric lugs or trunnions 26 which fit within the openings 23 of the clamping lever and are fastened thereto by the keys 27, the effect of such construction being that as the clamping lever 17 is rotated or moved hy the action of the hoisting chain, the turning movement thereof will be imparted to the eccentric pivot 211 and through the action of the keys 27 and the trunnions 26 the cylindrical body 25 will be rotated in the opening 16 and the trunnions 26 will be accordingly raised or lowered with relation to the abutment portion 12 of effect constitutes an the clamping frame, according to the direction ol' rotation of the clamping lever. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the clamp automatically adjusts itself to the class or species oi' plates being handled; the rotation oi' the clamping lever moving the cam end thereof into engagement with a plate and causing the rigid and eliicient gripping of the plate between the cam lever and the opposite abutment.

ln assembling the clamping lever to the frame the eccentric pivot 24 is First inserted so that the cylindrical portion 25 is located within the opening lli in the clamp frame. The two side sections of the clamping lever are then brought together so that the trunnions 2G project within the openings 23 in said sections and are so secured by the lugs 2T. The two sei-tions are then permanently secured or fastened together by the rivets 2() or other suitable fasteninT means.

F or those instances where a very large variation in the size of the plates or articles to be handled is met with, provide the arrangement as disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein the trunnions 26 of the pivot pin are not keyed directly to the side sections lli of the clamping arms but are continued therethrough and are keyed to the indexing plates 28; these indexing plates being provided with the oppositely located openings 29 which are adapted to be engaged by the latches 3H, the same being normally held in engagement therewith by the springs 3l., although it will be readily understood that any equivalent means for holding the indexing plates in position may be utilized. The openings or indexing points 29 being located at lSllO apart and the plates being rigidly keyed to the trunnions 26 of the pivot piu, provide that the trunnions may be held in either a raised or lowered position. Thus when it is desired to clamp and grip plates which are relatively thick, the indexing plates 29 are turned so that the trunnions 2li lit` above thc axis oi the cylindricz l portion of the eccentric pivot, which position oi the truunions causes the clamping lever to be raised and allows the cam face 22 of the clamping lever to engage and grip relatively thick plates. In a similar manner, when it is desired to operate the clamp with relatively thin plates, the latches 30 are moved inwardly and the indexing points 29 turned through 180". which causes the lowering of the trunnions 2G and corresponding lowering or moving of the clamping lever 17 t0- ward the abutment portion l2 of the l rame; it being understood that should it be so desired the plates 2S Ymay be provided with additional indexing points.

The clamps above described are for the handling of horizontal plates and accordingly are known as horizontal clamps. My invention, however, may be applied with erual facility to vertical clamps such as illustrated in Eig. 8, wherein the clampV is formed with the frame l5 which isV com posed ot the ovcrhanging arms lll-37, the arm lo forming the abutment and nu y be provided with the serrated face 8, while the arm 3T is provided with the pivot-receiving opening 3l) in which extends the cylindrical portion 40 of th.nr eccentric pivot. The cccen tric pivot is lormed in the manner )reviously described and includes the cylindrical portion il) and the projectingr eccentric trunnions 4l, the latter being keyed to, so as to be rotated by, the clamping lever -lv The clamping .lever Ll2 is formed with two .side sections permanently secured together by rivets or other fastening means lf-Z5, the sections being assembled upon the eccentric pivot after the latter has been assembled in the opening 39 in the clamp frame; the clampin lever in this instance extending over an across the clamp frame and provided with thc opening 44 for the reception of the chain or shackle by which the clamp is secured to the hoisting chain. The opposite extremity ot' the clamping lever is provided with the cam face e5 which is thrust into wedged engagement with the plate and forces the same against the opposite abutment of the frame and accordingl f grips the same when upward pressure is brought to hear upon the clamping lever.

Having thus described and explained my invention, l claim and desire to secure by .Letters Patent:

l. A lifting clamp comprising a frame composed of connected overhanging arms, the one arm being formed as an abutment and the opposite arm reduced in thickness and provided with a pivot opening extending therethrough. a clamping lover com` posed of two side sections forming a slot therebetween receiving the reduced arm within said slot, a pivot pin engaging openings provided in the side sections of said clamping lever and within the arm ol" thc frame, the lower extremity of the clamping lever provided with a cam i'acc and the opposite eitremity oi' the lever provided with means for securing it to a lifting member.

2. A device oi" the class described comprising an abutment and a supporting arm held in fixed relation thereto, a clamping member, and an eccentric pivot rotatably secured to said supporting arm and zfedly secured to said clamping member so as to be rotated thereby and for the movement of said clamping member toward and away trom said' abutment.

3. A lifting clam) comprising a frame one portion of whici constitutes an abutment and another portion constituting a supporting arm, a clamping lever with the one extremity thereof having a cam face adapted to cooperate with the abutment ofY the frame, and an eccentric pivot member extending within openings Within the supporting arm and the clamping lever, said eccentric pivot rotatably connected to the one and fixedly connected to the other of said meinbers whereby the rotation of the clamping lever With relation to the frame moves the cani face thereof toward and away from the abutment of said frame.

4. A lifting clamp comprising a frame including an abutment and an overhanging arm, a clamping lever provided With a cam face cooperating with the abutment for the gripping of articles, the remote extremity of the clamping lever adapted to be rotated when a lifting force is applied to the clamp, and an eccentric pivot formed with a cylindrical portion rotatably engaging the overhanging arm of the clamp frame and eccentric trunnions projecting from the cylindrical portion engaging the said clamping lever adapted to support the same and to move the clamping lever toward and away from the abutment of the frame upon the rotation of said clamping lever.

5. A lifting or holding clamp comprising a frame one portion of which is formed as an abutment and the other portion as an ovcrhanging anni, said arm being provided with an opening therein, a clamping lever provided With a cam face adapted to cooperate with the abutment for the gripping oi' articles, means whereby said clamp lever will be rotated upon the application of a lifting force, said clamping lever formed of two side sections with portions thereof bent in opposite directions to form a slot, receiving the overhanging arm of the frame therein, means for securing the side sections of the clamping lever together, and an eccentric pivot having a cylindrical portion rotatably engaging and fitting Within the opening in the arm of the frame, trunnions projecting from the central cylindrical portion of said pivot and eccentric thereto, said trunnions projecting Within openings formed in the side sections of said clamping lever, and means whereby said trunnions are rotated by the rotation of said clamping lever.

(S. In an apparatus of tbc class described, a frame having an abutment and an overhanging arm, a clamping member, and an eccentric pivot rotatably engaging the overhanging arm with the eccentric portions of said eccentric pivot extending through openings formed in said clamping arm, and means whereby the position of the said eccentric pivot may be adjusted for given positions of said clamping lever and held in adjusted positions.

7. An adjustable clamp comprising a frame including an abutment and an overhanging arm, a pivot having a cylindrical portion engaging said arm, eccentric trunnions opecting from said cylindrical portion, f clamping lever mounted upon said eccentric trunnions, and means for locking said trunnions to said clamping lever in adjusted positions.

8. An adjustable clamp comprising a frame including an abutment and an overhanging arm, a pivot having a cylindrical portion engaging said arm, eccentric trunnions projecting from said cylindrical portion, a clamping lever mounted upon said eccentric trunnions, and means for locking said trunnions to said clamping lever in adjusted positions, said clamping lever being provided with a cam face.

9. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame including an abutment and an overhanging arm, a pivot rotatably engaging and mounted within an opening within said arm, said pivot provided with eccentric trunnions projecting therefrom, a clamping lever provided with openings therein receiving the said trunnions therethrough, means whereby the application of a lifting force tends to rotate said clamping lever, indexing plates secured to said trunnions, and means mounted upon said clamping lever adapted to hold said indexing plates in adjusted positions.

10. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame including an abutment and an overhanging arm, a pivot rotatably engaging and mounted Within an opening within said arm, said pivot provided with eccentric trunnions projecting therefrom, a clamping lever provided with openings therein receiving the said trunnions therethrough, means whereby the application of a lifting force tends to rotate said clamping lever, indexing plates secured to said trunnions, and means mounted upon said clamping lever adapted to hold said indexing plates in adjusted positions, the lower end of said clamping lever provided with a cam face.

Signed at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, this 12th day of September A. D. 1919.

CASPER D. MEALS.

Witnsses WILLIAM L. KERK, HERMAN J. RICHARDSON.