US1477219A - Clamp - Google Patents

Description

Dec. l1 1923.

A. J. HALVORSEN CLAMP Filed nec. s, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec.- 11, 1923, y

A. J. HALVORSEN CLAMP --iled Dec. 8, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @mmf i, QT. Hummm Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

Unno stares trice.

.ALBERT J. HALVORSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO OLIVER E. BECKER, or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLAMP.

Application filed December 8, 1919. Serial No'. 343,440.

' exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to clamps, and has general reference to a construction of universal clamp adapted to grasp objects of di'erent sizes and different formations for rigidly holding the same.

In its .more specific aspect, the invention relates to a universal clamping device for supporting' small power units, such as electric moto-rs, generators, and various other power appliances for performing tests upon the units to determinel their torque, efiiciency, speed characteristic, etc. The utility of this clamp resides particularly in the fact that quite frequently small motor or generator units are without any convenient means of mounting or, support when removed from their permanent mounting in the machine, or other place of location, this having particular illustration in the electrical units removed from gasoline or electric vehicles, and consequently the mounting of the motor or generator unit preparatory to making the desired' test is timeconsuming and inconvenient. Even where' the motor or generato-r is pro-vided with a mounting base, the rigid mounting of `the same on the testingblock is inconvenient and difficult.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a form of universal clamp which will be applicable tothe supporting of power units and other objects of various sizes and formations.

A secondary object of the invention is io devise a clamp of this description which will be shiftable with the object being clamped to impose greater or less tension on the testing belt or chain or for general adjusting for facilitating the performance of the testing operations.

As I have previously intimated, the invention is not necessarily limited to universal clamps for supporting electrical power units, but is capable of extensive adaptation to other apparatus, such as to vises and the like forsupporting various objects being measured, tested or having` machiningk operations performed thereon. 'y

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved clamp; v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal o-f the same; andk Figure 3 isa transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

sectional view The clamp proper comprises a bed platev 4 and an integral upright standard 5, from which projects a forwardly extending portion 6. The standard 5 isof T-shaped section to give rigidity and strength to the standard.` The extending portion 6 is slotted as indicated at 7 for the reception of a threaded bearing block 8 through which screws a vertical clamping screw 9. At its lower end the bearing block S.l is formed with an integral flange or collar 11, adapted to bear against the under side of the projecting head portion 6. At its upper end the bearing block is provided with pairs of short pins 12, which rest upon the upper margins of the slot 7 and supportl the bearing block. The mounting of the 4bearing block 8 in the slot 7 permits of ahorizontal translational adjustment ofthe clamping screw 9 in addition toits vertical adjustment. The upper-end of the clamping screw 9 is provided with a suitable pin or handle 13 and the lower end is provided lwith a swiveled head 14 for bearing upon the motor or other obj ect being clamped. The swiveled head 14 is also arranged to have a certain degree of rocking motion relative to the stem 9, so as to permit the head 14 to adjust itself to inclined surfaces on the motor or other object being clamped.,

Referring' now to the construction of the bed plate 4, it will be noted that the entire upper surface thereof is formed with a series of transversely extending serrations or teeth 16. Adapted for longitudinal adjustment along this bed plate, is a transverse saddle ,block or supporting member 17 of shallow trough-shaped formation. This saddle block is designed to lsupport the motor M or other unit being tested. Across Ithe bottom of the saddle block 17 are formed longitudinally `extending segments 1818 which are formed with serrations or teeth meshing in vthe serrations 16 in the bed plate. The saddle block 1'? is held against lateralshifting,

by short. pinslinits lateral edges, whieli embrace the sides ofthe bed platee.,

Then the motor M is relatively large and of general oblong formation, such as illustrated in Figure 2, it is preferable to substitute the saddle block 17 by a wedge block 21, so as to incline the motor and wedgeI it against the standard 5. ln such arrangement the front surfaee of the stand.-

ard 5 functions as a point of clamping support. The wedge bleek 21 is block can be made .by small degrees, and furthermore when in fixed/positlen the supportingbloek isrigidly held-:against theA vibration and strain of the4 motor. This saine relation of' interengaging toothedy surfaces-.may be adapted .to the bearing bloclr 8 and slotted. head portion. 6, by providingv serrationsnon the. uppersurfaee ofthe, flange 11 and on the lower. surface of the head portion, but this is not in the present case necessary as the serrations on the blocks 17 and 2l prevent shifting ef the object which is being clamped. Supporting blocks of other forms than those herein shown may be provided for suitably supporting any special mach-inery or object of peculiar formation. rlhe standard 5 is formed with lateral wing extensions 24, projecting up from Ithe bed plat et for inereasing the area of Clamping support adjacent this portion ofthe standard.

. These win(r extensions afford anextensive transverse clamping area for clamping objects which. ean be placed in eontaetwith the lower portion, ofthe standardiso as to securely hold-such objects against twisting in the transverse plane of the clamp. These wing extensions are made low, however, so as not to interfere with the testing chain. If desired, the generator may be so clamped that the shaft end carrying the pulley Willprojectbeyendthe wings 24 and thus permit the. driving chain to escape the wing, as shown in Figure 2.

The clamp proper,` together with the motor vM, is movable as an entirety. alonga stationarybase25, so as to provide for increasing or deereasingthetension on the chain or belt, er forv performing other adjustments. Thebase member 25 is formed with upturned dangers 27 atits ends.y in `which are Amounted Qyliadreal; .guide bars, 2te-.28.. he

flange 27 and has threaded engagement in a hole 32 in the forwaijd guide member 29. The rear guide member 29 is provided with an aligned hole 33 'through which the lead screw is adaptedto slide freely. It will be apparent that by rotation of the 4 handle Bal on `the front-end of the lead Ascrew theelainp and motor canbe. easily shifted to impose y any desired tension oir the driving belt or chain. The base memberi. is, suppoigted on three short supperting legs 315 through which pass screws or bolts 36y forrigidly fastening thedevice to the testing block or other working surface.

Referring now to the, operation of the clamps, it will be observedthat the swiveled head. 14, thefront face4 of thel standard `5C and the sloping. faeesof the saddle and wedge blocks 17 and 21 constitute ayplurality, lof peints, clamping support, designated for reference, a, b, and o. respeetiyely. These points. of clamping support all lie Ain 1thelofn.- gitudinalplane of the.e.lam.p in whichA plane the pull otthechain or the. strain of thel torquearm is. at ,its maximum. In thel transverse plane et the clamp. the, motorelaniping point is afforded bythe swivel head 1li andthe twoA lower clamping peints d; and e,

at the endsofthesupporting bleek (Eignre 1),. Erein the aboveit willv beseen that the motor vis always supported at three circumsc'ribing points inbotlr the longitudinal and transverse planesl of the clamp, and aj result is rigidly held against movement inany A direetion.

It will be apparent that thekseve-ral points of clamping support a, Y?, c` and of in the longitudinal plane of the clamp circumscribe. or .define a closed geometricalfigure, which., by reason of the lateral and radial adjustments of the clamping pointst. is conformable in size and shape to accommodate the size and shape of the particular meter to be clamped. For example, when itis desired to. mount a motor of. oblong formation, such as is shown in Figure 2, one end of the motor is rested on the inclined slope of either the saddle block 17 or` the Wedge block` 21 so as to incline the upperedge of the motor against the .standardv` 5, `and thereupon the clamping screw. 9 is screwed down hard upon the opposite edge of the motor to rigidly Clamp the motor inposition. For motors olf this Vgeneral formation, but of greater or lesser. breadth, the yclamping pointed` and c are. simply moved toward or away from the clamping point @by-.virtue of the. translational; adjustment @inthe @lag-Pise: seres Sv Qt.- tligsupfperting Cil block. This translational adjustment of the clamping points a and c hence enables these clamping points to be always arranged in Such relation as to circumscribe or embrace the object being clamped.

For mounting a motor of circular form, the saddle block 17 may be employed and the motor mounted as illustrated in Figure l, either in or out of engagement with the standard or the wedge block 21 may be employed and the motor wedged against the standard for its third point of clamping support. In the latter relation different sizes of motors can obviously be accommodated by the translational adjustment of the clamping screw and wedge block. v l

It will be apparent from the foregoing that practically any formation or size of power unit or other object can be accommodated in the clamp by the .proper arranging and adjusting of the several clamping points.

After mounting the motor vin the clamp, the clamp and motor may be shifted as an entirety along the guide' rails of the base in an obvious manner for the purpose of imposing tension on the driving connection, or for varying the frictional contact of a variable speed Jfriction drive.

I do not intend to be limited to the particular details herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. In a univers-al clamp, clamping members affording a plurality of clamping points oircumscribing a closed geometrical tlgure, and adjusting means for permitting translational motion in the longitudinal plane of said clamp of certain oi' said clamping points and radial motion relative to the geometrical center or' said ligure of one of said clamping points for modifying the size and formation of said figures.

2. In a universal clamp, a plurality of clamping members, said clamping members affording a plurality of points of clamping support dening a closed geome-tric figure, and adjusting means for permitting lateral translational adjustment of a plurality of said clamping points relative to said geometric gure and for permitting radial adjustment of one of said clamping points rela-tive to the geometric center of said figure.

3. In a universal clamp, supporting member thereon, a standard, a clamping member carried by said standard, and adjusting means for permitting a translational adjustment of said supporting member and said clamping member relativeto said standard.

4. In a universal clamp, a bed plate, a supporting member thereon, a standard, a clamping member carried by said standard, adjusting' means for permitting a horizontal adjustment ot' said supporting member a bed plate, a

'shifftably mounted on said head and said clamping member relative to said standard, and means for permitting vvertical adjustment of said clamping member.

5. In a device of the class described, a clamp comprising a bed plate, a supporting block movable along said bed plate, a standard, a clamping screw carried by said standard, means for permitting translational and longitudinal adjustment of said clamping screw relative to said'. standard, a base 'inembeig guide members on said base memendof said bed plate, said standard coml prising ahead portion, a bearing block portion, a clamping screw carried in said bearing block, a base member', guide rails supported by said base member, said clamp being mounted onsaid guide rails, and a lead screw for traversing said clamp along said guide rails.

7. In combination, a universal clamp comprising a bed lplate having a supporting member thereon, a standard, a clamping member carried by said standard, adjusting means for permittingtranslational adjustment of said supporting member and said clamping member relative to saidstandard, a

base member for supporting said clamp,

guides on said base member, said clamp being movable along` said guides.

8. In combination, a universal clamp comprising a plurality of points of clamping support, said clamping points defining a closed ligure, adjusting means for permitting lateral translational adjustment of one or more of said clamping points relative to said closed figure, and for permitting radial l adjustment relative to said closed ligure, a base for saidk clamp, and guide means on said base, said clamp being shiftable along said guide means, said shifting being independent of said adjustable means. v

9. In a universal clamp, a corrugated bed, a corrugated supporting block adjustable on said bed, a support stationary with relation 'to said bed, a nut shiftable alongsaid support, and a clamping screw threading'4 through said nut and co-operating with said supporting block.

l0 In a universal clamp, a corrugated bed, a corrugated supporting block adjustamember, said supporting slotted, a nut shiltable in said slot parallel 'to the adjusting motion of said supporting of one of said clamping` points vble along said bed, a superposed supporting member being Y block, and a Clamping screw` threading through, said nut.

11. 1n a universal olarnp,.a corrugated bed, a corrugated supporting block adjustable along said corrugated bed, means for laterally guiding said supporting block on said beth-a slotted standard above said beda nut shiiitable in said slotted, standard, parallel 'to the adjusting' motion of Said supporting bleek,A ineansv for guiding and supporting said nut in said slot, ,a clamping screw threadingthrough said nut, a base member having guides thereon, said corrugated bed being mounted on Said guides, and means for shifting said bed along said guides.

12. In a universal clamp,.a bed plate, the surface of said bed plate being serrated, a supporting bloclrhavingcooperating` serrations and adapted torV adjustable positioning on said bed plate, a standard rising from one end of said bed plate, said standard comprisa slottedl head portion, a shiftable bearing block supported in. said slotted headporably seated with respect to its support, and 30 interlocking means between said clamping member and its support to prevent accidental longitudinal'or transverse shifting ot the clampingmember.

14. In a elanip, adjustable supporting member on said bed plate, a vertical standardl projecting from Said bedy plate, anda clamping inernber earried by said standard having horizontalfadjustlnent relative thereto to compensate k'tor 40 thehorizontal adjustment ofk said supporting member. c f

1n Witnesswvhereof I hereunto subscribe iny nainetbis 4th day of. December 1919.

ALBERT J. HALvoRsnN.

abed plate, a horizontally 35

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