US3237463A

US3237463A - Double acting plunger clamp

Info

Publication number: US3237463A
Application number: US275104A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander W Mcpherson
Original assignee: STA CO CORP DE
Current assignee: DE-STA-CO Corp; STA CO CORP DE
Priority date: 1963-04-23
Filing date: 1963-04-23
Publication date: 1966-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-01

Description

March 1966 A. w. M PHERSON DOUBLE ACTING PLUNGER CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1963 March 1, 1966 A. w. M PHERSON 3,237,463

DOUBLE ACTING PLUNGER CLAMP Filed April 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,237,463 DOUBLE ACTING PLUNGER CLAMP Alexander W. McPherson, Detroit, Mich, assignor to De- Sta-Co Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 275,104 7 Claims. (Cl. 74-106) This invention relates to a toggle actuated plunger clamp having common linkage adapted to actuate and lock the plunger in both push and pull directions and provided with further versatility through the incorporation of a substantially universal mounting base.

The objects and advantages of this plunger clamp as well as its construction and operation may best be understood by reference to the drawings disclosing a preferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the clamp with the plunger actuated to fully extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation with the base partially sectioned;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the clamp with the base sectioned and largely broken away to reveal the clamp linkage;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing an alternate linkage and stop construction;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with the plunger actuated to its fully retracted and locked position; and

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of the modified construction shown in FIGURE 4.

With reference to FIGURES 1-3 the clamp comprises a plunger 10 extending through a closely fitting aperture in a plunger guide 11 to an innermost end which is pinned to a pair of handle links 12 which are integral extensions of handle elements 13 pivotally connected by pivots 14 to a pair of side link elements 15 joined by an integral bridge 16 the forward ends of which are pivotally connected by a pair of pins 17 to sides of the plunger guide 11. A threaded extension 18 of the plunger guide passes through a circular aperture in the base element 19 being tightly secured thereto in any adjusted position throughout a 36% degree range of adjustment by lock nut 20. A base 19 is formed as an angle stamping having mounting holes 21 provided in a vertical face as well as further mounting holes 22 in the base portion which extends substantially parallel to the line of action of the clamp. In operation the handle 13 may be actuated to the position shown in FIG. 2 moving the plunger 10 to its fully extended position with the handle links 12 in substantial alignment with the forward and

rear pivots

17 and 14 of the side links 15 such handle links 12 being in stop registration with the underside of the bridge element 16. As shown in phantom in FIG. 2 the handle element 13 can be actuated to a retracting position 13a where the handle links 12a are again in substantial alignment with the

side bar pivots

17, 14 but with the plunger now in fully retracted position and with the handle ele ments now in stop registration with the edge 16a of the bridge so that the clamp may be fully actuated and locked in either a fully extended push position or fully retracted pull position utilizing common elements for actuation and stop functions. The ability of the clamp to be mounted in any rotative position relative to the base is illustrated by the 90 degree rotation shown in phantom in FIG. 2.

The operation of the clamp is also illustrated in the modified constructions of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 wherein simple unbridged side link elements 15a are employed and 3,237,463 Patented Mar. 1, 1966

stop ear extensions

24 and 25 are integrally provided in the handle element 13a for alternate engagement the bottom side of the links 15a when the plunger 10 is in extended position and with the top side of the links 15a when the plunger 10 is in retracted position.

While a preferred embodiment and modification have been shown and described above in detail, it will be understood that further modifications might be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A double acting plunger clamp comprising a plunger guide, a clamp plunger moving along a linear path established by said guide, a handle having extension linkage pivotally connected to one end of such plunger, interconnecting linkage pivotally anchored to said guide and pivotally connected to said handle at a position spaced from said first pivotal connection, the respective pivotal connections being substantially alignable with said plunger in alternate positions wherein said first named pivotal connection is alternately between and exterior of said other pivotal connections, and positive stop means for arresting the travel of said handle at the end of the plunger stroke to either of its extreme positions wherein said alignment of pivotal connections takes place.

2. A double acting plunger clamp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting linkage comprises a pair of side links integrally connected by a bridge.

3. A double acting plunger clamp as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bridge is operative to stop the travel of said handle in either of its extreme positions.

4. A double acting plunger clamp as set forth in claim 1 including a base having a wall extending substantially normal to the plunger path, a circular aperture through said wall, said plunger guide having an extension passing through said circular aperture providing swivel adjustment for said plunger clamp relative to said base, and means for securing said plunger clamp in any adjusted position relative to said base.

5. A double acting plunger clamp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting linkage comprises a pair of side links, and said stop means comprises ear extensions on said handle alternately engageable with opposite edges of said side links.

5. A double actmg plunger clamp as set forth in claim 4 wherein said base comprises an angle bracket having an attachment surface substantially parallel to the line of action of said plunger.

'7. A double acting plunger clamp comprising a cylindrical plunger, a guide for said plunger having a mating cylindrical aperture therethrough, a handle having a pair of spaced links pivotally connected at either side of one end of said plunger, said links having integral right angle extensions converging to form a handle, interconnecting side links pivotally connected to said guide and to the right angle handle link juncture, and stop means for arresting the travel of said handle in actuating said linkage at either of two extreme positions wherein said respective pivotal connections are all in substantial alignment with said plunger.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,412,736 12/1946 James 269228 X 2,567,436 9/1951 Lampe 74-l06 2,574,281 11/1951 Olson 74106 X BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A DOUBLE ACTING PLUNGER CLAMP COMPRISING A PLUNGER GUIDE, A CLAMP PLUNGER MOVING ALONG A LINEAR PATH ESTABLISHED BY SAID GUIDE, A HANDLE HAVING EXTENSION LINKAGE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ONE END OF SUCH PLUNGER, INTERCONNECTING LINKAGE PIVOTALLY ANCHORED TO SAID GUIDE AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID HANDLE AT A POSITION SPACED FROM SAID FIRST PIVOTAL CONNECTION, THE RESPECTIVE PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNABLE WITH SAID PLUNGER IN ALTERNATE POSITIONS WHEREIN SAID FIRST NAMED PIVOTAL CONNECTION IS ALTERNATELY BETWEEN AND EXTERIOR OF SAID OTHER PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS AND POSITIVE STOP MEANS FOR ARRESTING THE TRAVEL OF SAID HANDLE AT THE END OF THE PLUNGER STROKE TO EITHER OF ITS EXTREME POSITIONS WHEREIN SAID ALIGNMENT OF PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS TAKES PLACE.