US2947275A

US2947275A - Clamp

Info

Publication number: US2947275A
Application number: US672078A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kinzy M Edmonds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-07-15
Filing date: 1957-07-15
Publication date: 1960-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-02

Description

All@ 2, 1960 K. M. EDMoNps 2,947,275

CLAMP Filed July 15, 1957 CLAMP M. Edmonds, 8313 Eastern Ave., Bell Gardens, Calif.

Filed VJuly 1s, 1957, ser. No. 672,078 y1 claim. (c1. 11s-49) tors comprise a core of tubes formed to provide a large heat radiating surface, with a top water tank extending \across. the tops of the radiator tubes and a bottom tank connecting the lower ends of the tubes, the core and top and bottom tanks being connected together in any suitable manner and mounted in the engine compartment by means of a wide strap or hanger passing around the vertical edges of'the radiator shell and under the .bottom tank and which is secured over the ends of the top water tank. This strap or hanger has to be soldered or brazed or spot welded in close contacting position with the radiator shell, and the tool of this invention is intended to pull the ends of the hanger strap together and hold the strap securely and in close contact against the radiator core or shell while the strap is being accurately fitted into position, and then soldered or brazed to the parts of the radiator shell. v

While tools of the hand operated clamp type have been proposed for the purposes referred to, they were not suited for fast and accurate use, such as is needed in modern garages.

The means provided on the hangers for engagement by the tools by whichthe ends of hanger are drawn together are usually small ears struck up from the ends of the straps, and it is easy for the points of the clamp engaging the ears to slip off the ears while the clamp is being tightened, or for the iingers of the clamp to slack back and work free of the ears.

'Ihe general object of my invention is to provide a novel radiator hanger manipulating tool free from the drawbacks referred to.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel clamp for holding radiator hangers in position around the radiator shell, the clamp being provided with novel means for effecting, by a very rapid movement, the gripping of the hanger by the clamp, and whereby the grip of the clamp is retained without danger of the arms `,of the clamp slipping oif the hanger, while the releasing movement of the clamp is equally rapid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple and strong clamping device of the kind described, particularly adapted for rapid handling of and efficiently securing the hanger strap to automobile radiators.

A further object is to provide a novel clamp means forl securely holding a radiator hanger strap against the radiator shell or core when the hanger strap is being soldered thereto (either in original assembly of the radiator and its associated hanger strap, or, in assembly thereof after the radiator core has been repaired), and which will continuously apply clamping pressure to the strap so that any slack occasioned by melting a lump of solder between the strap and core during assembly operations will be automatically taken up.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention will hereinafter appear from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying illustrative g United States d Y Fr. A Qv 1C@ 2,941,275

f f f PatentedV Aug. 2,

drawings showingY an embodiment of the invention at pres-l ent deemed preferable by me.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention in` a form I, at present, deem preferable.` v `Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing the cl p of my invention holding a hanger in position on an automobile radiator. Y Fig. 2 is a sideA elevational view of the clamp, drawn" on a larger scale andA with some parts shown in section; to more fully disclose interior construction. Fig. 3 is -a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Pig. 4 is a fragmentary section on line if-4,' Fig'.r 1, drawn onalargerscale; and g A Y Q; Fig. 5 is a detail in' vertical section and on ala'r'ger-v scale, of the valve operating means for the device.

Referring now to Figure 1, a radiator is generallyiril` dicatedat 10 and the hanger lstrap running around the vertical edges, bottom, and portions of the top thereof, ,is indicated at 11.

Ears

12 and 13 are struck up froni'and adjacent tothe ends of the hanger strap and overlietlieA opposite ends ofthe top tank 14, the parts referred-to be' ing those found in most radiators for motor vehicles.

Theclamp of Vmy invention, best shown in'Fig. 2, comprises a slide bar 15 preferablyrectangular in cross-sel:- tion, and on which

brackets

16 and 17 are slidably mounted with a close sliding lit thereon.

An ann 18 is pivoted by bolt 19 offset from center in bracket 16 and the upper end of arm 18 being squared off and lying spaced from but closely adjacent to, and in juxtaposition with, the lower edge of bar 1S, the corner 18a contacting the under edge of slide bar 15 to provide a dogging action between arm 18 and bar 15 to prevent sliding movement of bracket 16 on the bar 15. The lower end of the arm 18 is hooked inwardly and brought to a tapered point 20, so that such point 20 may be fully inserted under ear 12.

The bracket 17 is preferably formed integral with a depending arm 21, the lower end of which is formed similarly to that of arm 18 and is brought to a tapered point 22, so that it may be fully inserted under ear 13.

The operating means for the clamp is provided by a pneumatic cylinder 23, preferably welded to the end of bar 15 at the end opposite to that on which bracket 16 is mounted.

The cylinder 23 contains a piston 24, a piston rod 25 extending from the piston to bracket 17, to which it is secured in any convenient manner. A take-oif spring 26 is larranged between the piston 24 and the inner end of the cylinder through which the piston rod 25 extends.

Admission of compressed air to the cylinder 23 is controlled by a valve 27 which comprises an inlet port 28 (to which the pressure `air is led by flexible hose 29), and an exhaust port 30. An air passage 31 connects the inlet and exhaust ports and connects through port 32 with the interior of the cylinder 23. The inlet and

exhaust ports

28, 30 are controlled by a valve spindle 33 manually moved by a handle 34 to admit compressed air to the cylinder while closing the exhaust port 30 or to close the inlet port 28 while opening the 'exhaust port 30.

If it is found that the ears 12 and 13' on a particular hanger do not afford a suicient holding surface for the

points

20, 22 of the arms of the clamp, a short length of small rod 40 may be welded or brazed on the outside of, and adjacent the

tapered points

20, 22 of each

arm

18, 21 to prevent the points of the arms from tilting and slipping out from under the ears, as may otherwise happen when using or operating the clamp.

Operation In using the hanger clamp to hold the hanger strap around the edge of a radiator, the hanger is bent approximately to the contour of the edge of the radiator core and withthe pressure 'air cut olf or released from cylinder ton will force arm 21 toward arm 1S and n.8 50.011 .'Sthis happengarm 18 will be tilted slightly on pivot bolt 19 and will cause the corner 18a to bite into Yand gripobar 15,V

thus preventing bracket 16 from allowing bar 15 from being drawn through it and forcing the ends of the hanger strap toward each other so as toy obtain a secure and tight Contact of the hanger strap with'the shell of the radiator, during vthe soldering, or otherwise securing of the strap to the core, as by bravzing or spot welding; and at the same time the air pressure is continuously exerting a clamping effecten the arms, and automatically takes up'any slack occuring between the strap and shell in the event a lump of solder is .between the twoand is melted.

While a preferred embodiment has been specifically described and illustrated, it is to be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of my invention and without departing from the spirit or vscope thereof, and it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawing as to its use shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

, A clamp comprising an elongate Vslide bar; a pair of bracket members slidably mounted in spaced relation on said bar; a clamp arm depending from and pivotall'y connected to one of said bracket members and adapted to be maintained in an adjusted fixed position along said slide bar; said pivoted clamp arm being mounted in one of said bracket members to position one end of said arm so that it will jam with the bar when the free end of the arm is engaged with Ian object to be clamped; another clamp arm depending from the other Vof said bracket members;

. iluid pressure operating means mounted on one end of said bar, and comprising a fluid cylinder connected to one end of said slide bar, a piston within said cylinder, a piston rod extending from said piston to, and connected to the other of said bracket members; valve means associated with said operating means whereby lluid under prespointed free ends of said arms to prevent tiltingof the clamp arms when in engagement with an article to be clamped.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Godfrey Apr. 16, 1889 665,208 Goodwin Jan. 1, 1901 2,165,504 Pfauser July 11, 1939 2,575,412 Fechter Nov. 20, 1951