US3242249A - Automatic clamping means for separable rotatable parts - Google Patents

Description

March 22, 1966 R. NOUEL 3,242,24

AUTOMATIC CLAMPING MEANS FOR SEPARABLE ROTA'I'ABLE PARTS Filed Aug. 9, 1962 INVENTOR FF/ 2 n2 ROfiQ W Noue/f I AUTOMATIC CLAMPING MEANS FOR SEPARABLE ROTATABLE PARTS Robert None], Villejuif, Seine, France, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Inventions Finance Corporation, New

York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 215,982 18 Claims. (Cl. 264311) The present application is a continuation-in-part of each and all of my copending applications; Serial No. 173,103, filed February 13, 1962, Serial No. 187,480, filed April 16, 1962, and Serial No. 206,508, filed June 29, 1962.

The present invention relates to apparatus for forming molded or cast components, and finds particular utility when applied to so-called rotational casting or molding machines. However, it is to be understood from the outset that the present invention is applicable to any apparatus wherein two or more separable components are to be maintained in engagement during rotation.

In machines of the so-called rotational casting type, two parts, either themselves defining, or carrying means defining, a component forming cavity must be maintained in engagement during rotation. Various means have heretofore been suggested for maintaining such parts in engagement during rotation, but there remains a need for a simple and efficient device which can automatically achieve such function.

The present invention is directed to satisfying the aforesaid need, and is particularly concerned with the provisions of automatically operable clamping device-s which are comparatively small and light in weight and yet which serve to maintain the separable parts in engagement during rotation under substantial clamping pressure.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to the combination of a clamping means or mechanism such as disclosed in my prior co-pending applications, Serial No. 173,103, filed February 13, 1962, and entitled Hydromechanical Clamp, Serial No. 187,480, filed April 16, 1962, and entitled Hydromechanical Clamps, and Serial No. 206,508, filed June 29, 1962 and entitled High Power Hydromechanical Clamps, and means for automatically operating such mechanisms on a rotational casting machine or the like. In particular, the present invention is directed to the combination of a high power hydro-mechanical clamping device and hydraulic means for operating the clamping device automatically in response to rotation of the rotatable parts of an apparatus on which the combination is incorporated.

In accordance with my aforesaid prior applications, a hydro-mechanical clamping device is provided, which in its basic aspects, comprises a support means having a recess therein, slide means partially slidable in and out of the recess in the support means, fulcrum means on the slide means adjacent one end thereof, and a force multiplying lever carried on the fulcrum means and pivotally movable with respect thereto. The support means is either directly or indirectly engageable with one of the parts to be maintained in engagement, and the lever is engageable either directly or indirectly with the other of the parts, whereby pivoting of the lever about the fulcrum means results in clamping the parts together.

To achieve the desired operation, the slide means of the clamping device is preferably provided with a plurality of fluid passageways therein, and piston means are associated therewith so as to automatically sequentially 3,242,249 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 cause sliding of the slide means and pivoting of the lever about the fulcrum means. To this end, a slide control piston is carried by the support means and extends within the fluid channels of the slide means, whereby the introduction of fluid within the slide means through an inlet to the passageways therein causes such fluid to act on the slide control piston, thereby causing the slide means to move into clamping position. With such movement, a passageway to the chamber of the lever actuating piston means is opened, and fluid is passed through into such chamber thereby causing the piston therein to move in a direction which results in pivoting of the lever about the fulcrum means in a direction causing clamping thereby. The fulcrum means is so disposed that the distance between the fulcrum means and the clamping surface, edge, or face of the lever is substantially smaller than the distance between the fulcrum means and the point at which the pivoting forces are applied to the lever by the lever actuating piston means.

In accordance with my prior applications, hydraulic fluid is fed to the passageways within the slide means from an external source which can be controlled in any suitable manner, but which is preferably controlled by a hydraulic system having electrically operable valves therein. In contrast, in accordance with the present invention, the feed of hydraulic fluid to the passageways within the slide means is automatically controlled by an auxiliary hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement which causes fluid to be fed under pressure to the inlet of the slide means, causing automatic operation. in response to rotation of the parts of the apparatus on which the present invention is incorporated.

A primary object of the present invention is to disclose a system, apparatus and method of providing a hydro-mechanical clamping means as described above in combination with an auxiliary piston and cylinder arrangement, (a) which auxiliary piston and cylinder arrangement serves as a feed means for the hydro-mechanical clamping means, and operates the clamping means automatically in response to operation of the machine on which the invention is provided, and (b) which is operable through the action of centrifugal force. Still further, in this regard, it is another object of the present invention to provide a system, apparatus and method wherein the action of the centrifugal force not only automatically causes sequential operation of the clamping means, but also provides for selective and automatic release thereof in response to stopping of the apparatus on which the invention is incorporated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide hydro-mechanical clamping means adapted to be incorporated on rotational casting machines or the like with selfoperative automatic feed power means therefor, said antomatic feed power means being self-contained, self-controlled, and self-operated without requiring any external supply or additional source of power. Additionally, it is an object of the invention to provide such a system, apparatus and method that eliminates in every way any necessity for the actuation of the clamping mechanism from a main pressing hydraulic system or section on the apparatus with which it is used. In this latter regard, the invention eliminates the provision of any high powered hydraulic system or section for pressing the separable cavity defining parts in engagement, and yet serves to effect the necessary maintaining or clamping force on the molding components through simple, light, and automatically operable expedients.

The invention lies in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, as well as in certain methods of operation, and will be better understood after referring to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmental side view, partially in section, showing the invention as adapted for use with a rotational casting machine, and with the parts thereof in operative clamping position; and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmental side view, partially in section and similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the parts in the positions assumed immediately prior to the start of the clamping operation.

In FIGURE 1, the relative vertically movable mold members or parts defining a mold cavity or the like are designated by the numerals l and 2, and the cavity defined therebetween is generally designated by the numeral 3. The molding parts 1 and 2 are rotatably supported in vertically separable relation, in any desired manner, and either one or both of the parts can be directly supported. In the illustrative embodiment shown, a plate member 4 is carried at the upper end of a rotatable shaft 5 supported in suitable bearings (not shown). The plate member 4 is suitably coupled with the part 2 in any desired manner, for example, by means of bolts 6. The shaft 5 carries a drive pulley or coupling 7 thereon which cooperates with a drive belt 8 extending from the drive system of a conventional motor arrangement (not shown).

The illustration of the parts 1 and 2, the support plate 4, the rotatable shaft 5, and the drive arrangement including components 7 and 8, is merely illustrative and generally schematic. In fact, this section of the system is presented merely to facilitate an understanding of the operation of the invention, and can be widely varied with different machines.

In the particular illustrative embodiment shown, the mold sections l and 2 are respectively provided with suitable bores 66 and 61 which are aligned when the parts 1 and 2 are in proper engagement, and through which passes the stem 62 of a supporting bolt 64. The head 65 of the supporting bolt 64 engages the top of the part 1 and the bolt stem 62 has a threaded lower end 63 threadably engaged with a block member 29. The block member 20 is recessed and has a forward wall 20a with an opening 20b therein. The block member 26 is closed at the rear end thereof by a plate member 31, secured to the block member 20 by means of bolts 66. The block member 20 and plate member 31 provide an enclosed slide housing. Plate member 31, moreover, has a horizontally extending recess 67 therein forming part of the slide housing.

Slidable partially in and out of the recess 67 is a slide block or slide member 26. The slide member 26 carries a fulcrum shaft or pin 23 on the upper surface thereof, and a lever member 22 is pivotally supported on the fulcrum 23 as shown. The lever member 22 has a forwardly projecting clamping edge, face, or abutment 34, and an upwardly projecting hub or offset portion 38 which is closely spaced to, and tangentially engageable with the underside of the upper part of block 20.

Moreover, the slide block 26 is provided with a plurality of passageways therein, including the inter-connecting passageways 42, 46, and 43. Still further, the slide block 26 has a downwardly opening recess 49 therein which defines the chamber of a piston 28 reciprocal within the recess 49. The piston 28 has an upwardly extending stem 29 which projects beyond the upper end of the slide block 26 and through a suitable bore 68 in the lever 22. The stem 29 terminates in a head 69 engageable with the walls of a recess 70 in the upper face of the lever 22. The stem 29 has a passageway 41 extending partially therethrough, and the piston 28 has an inlet 46 therein, communicating with the passageway 41. In the stem section 29, the passageway 41 opens into a channel 42 and thereby into the passageway 46. Carried by the plate member 31, and projecting within the recess 67 thereof, is a slide control piston 71. This piston extends through a horizontal bore 72 in the slide block 26, which bore opens into the passageway 46.

In addition to the above, the clamping means hereof incorporates a spring 73 or other suitable biasing means disposed in a downwardly opening cylindrical recess 74 within the lever member 22. The spring means 73 thrusting upwardly against the top wall of the recess 74 as well as downwardly against the upper surface of the slide block 26. Another spring means 33 or other suitable biasing means is provided which cooperates. between the slide block 26 and the forward wall 20a of the block member 20. Preferably, the forward wall 20a has a recess 75 therein which is coaxial with a similar recess 76 facing in the opposite direction and provided in the slide block 26. The spring means 33 thus bears between the end wall of the recess 75 and the end wall of the recess 76 and normally urges the slide block 26 to the left as shown in FIG. 2 to a position in which its left end face abuts against the inner face of the recess 67. The spring means '73, in a similar manner, normally urges the lever member 22 clockwise about fulcrum 23, as shown.

By reference to the drawings, it will be noted that the passageway 41 communicates with the channel passageway 42, and in turn through the bore 42a with the channel passageway 46. The passageway 46 also communicates through the passageway 43 with the cylinder chamber defined by recess 49. Still further, the passageway 41 and the chamber defined by recess 49 are in communication through a passageway 52 in piston 28 which has a nonreturn ball valve 50 therein, urged to closed position by a spring means 51. The ball valve is such that fluid entering the inlet 40 of piston 28 and passing through the passageway 41 cannot directly enter the chamber defined by the recess 49; however, fluid from the chamber defined by the recess 49 can, as explained more fully below, pass the ball valve 50 and into the passageway 41 to the inlet coupling 40.

When the clamping arrangement described above is in its initial position, and fluid under pressure is not fed to the inlet coupling 40, the parts assume the position shown in FIGURE 2 with fixed slide control piston 71 closing passageway 43. However, when fluid under pressure is fed to the inlet coupling 46, the fluid passes through the passageway 41, the channel 42, and the passageway 42a into the passageway 46. Such fluid there bears against the forward end of the slide control piston 71 and since this piston is stationarily fixed, the slide block 26 moves outwardly of the recess 67, or to the right as shown in FIGURE 1. With this movement, communication between the passageway 41 and the passageway 43 is established since there is movement of slide 26 relative to piston 71 whereby piston 71 opens communication between the passageway 46 and the passageway 43. With the opening of the passageway 43, fluid is fed into the cylinder or recess 49, and bears against the upper face of the piston 28. At this time, it will be seen that the slide block 26 has been moved to a position where its forward edge abuts the inner face of the wall 20a. The spring means 33 at the same time is compressed. With passage of fluid into the chamber 49, and resultant downward movement in the direction F of the piston 28, the stem 29 thereof, through the nut head 69 bears on the lower face of the recess 70 in the lever 22, thereby urging the lever counterclockwise and compressing the spring 73 simultaneously therewith. The forward projection 34 of the lever 22, as shown, engages the lower end of a downwardly extending abutment member suitably secured to the mold 2, as by means of bolts 91 or the like.

Since the support block 20 is rigidly secured to the lower end of support bolt 62, the tilting of the lever 22,

5 through the action of the piston means 28 and the resultant upward hearing or thrust against abutment member 90, causes the mold parts 1 and 2 to be effectively pressed or squeezed together through the reaction of the head 65 of the support bolt 64 on mold part 1 and the upper end of the abutment member 90 on mold part 2. Accordingly, with this operation the parts 1 and 2 are effectively clamped in engagement.

Now, in accordance with my prior applications referred to above, the clamping operation is achieved by feeding fluid under pressure to the inlet coupling 40 from an external independently operable pressure fluid source. In the instant invention this feeding operation is automatically achieved through means operable in response to centrifugal force, and preferably intimately associated with the clamping means per se.

By reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be noted that a bracket member 100, preferably of right angle form, is fixed by any suitable means to the support plate 31 and provided with a radially disposed, horizontally positioned cylinder 102 having a piston chamber 102a. Disposed within the piston chamber 102a is a piston head 104, from which extends a piston rod 105. At its radially inward end (closest to the axis of rotation), piston chamber 102a is suitably vented to the atmosphere by a small vent passage 102). The rod slidably passes through a bore 106 in the plate member 31 and terminates at a threaded end 107 threadably secured in a threaded bore in the adjacent or left end of block member 26, as shown. The piston head 10d, through its rod 105 and connections with the slide block 26, is movable with the slide block. The piston cylinder 102 has an inlet and outlet coupling 110 to piston chamber 102a and this coupling is connected with the inlet coupling 40 of the clamping means by a flexible conduit 112.

All of the piston means as shown, and all of the slidable connections where necessary, in accordance With conventional practice, include rings, or the like, of the sealing type to prevent the leakage of any fluid within the system. Various types of seals can be provided and the 0 rings are merely illustrated as exemplary of the type of sealing arrangements which are satisfactory.

Now, having explained the overall construction, attention can be directed to the automatic operation achieved in accordance with the instant invention. When the machine is set for operation, the parts 1 and 2 are relatively moved into engagement with one another, in any suitable manner and/or any suitable means, although preferably under no substantially great pressure. Thereafter, the shaft 5 is caused to rotate through the drive arrangement of belt 8 and pulley 7 and the parts 1 and 2 likewise rotated. Due to the described supporting arrangement of the clamping means and the auxiliary cylinder housing 102, the clamp means and auxiliary housing rotate with the parts 1 and 2. With rotation, and in accordance with the basic laws of physics, centrifugal force is exerted on the slide means comprised by block 26 in the direction F (FIGURE 1). With the exertion of centrifugal force on the slide block 26, the same is urged to the right as shown, or in the direction F and movement of the slide block 26 in a direction outwardly of the recess 67 starts. Movement of the slide block 26 causes corresponding movement of the piston head 104 (moved by centrifugal force also) by virtue of the coupling provided therebetween through the pis ton stem or rod 105. Thus, as the speed of rotation increases, and the centrifugal force correspondingly increases, the slide block 26 moves to the right, and the piston head 104 also moves to the right, toward the radially outer or forward wall 1020 of the piston cylinder 102a. Movement of the piston 104 toward the wall 1020 compresses the fluid within the space 118 between the forward face 104a of piston 104 and the wall 102a. This fluid under pressure passes through the flexible coupling 112 and to the inlet coupling 40 of slide piston 28 thereby forcing fluid under pressure into the passageway 41, the passageway 42, and the passageway 42a and in bearing relation against the head or radially outer end of the slide control piston 71. Accordingly, the fluid under pressure acts in additive relation to the centrifugal force urging the slide block 26 outwardly of the recess 67 into a position compressing the spring 33, as shown, (FIGURE 1).

The centrifugal force exerted on the slide block, and correspondingly on the piston head 104 is proportional to the weight of the slide block 26 and the speed of rotation, centrifugal force being defined by the formula:

In the above formula, F equals the centrifugal force, M equals the weight of the slide block 26, V equals the velocity ofrotation, and R equals the radius, or mean radius of rotation of the slide block. Of course, allowance must be made for friction and the like but since the frictional action is constant, and the weight of the slide is constant, the only variables are the mean radius of rotation R and the speed of rotation or velocity. As the slide block 26 moves outwardly of the recess 67, the radius of rotation increases only minimally, and a mean value therefor can be accepted. Thus, with an increase in the speed of rotation, the centrifugal force increases substantially, proportionally thereto, and the fluid in the space between the forward face 104a of piston 104- and the inner wall 102a of the cylinder housing 102 is compressed to a maximum value. With this compression the fluid is maintained under a substantial pressure and this pressure is exerted, with movement of the slide block 26 in the direction F on the upper face of the piston 28, thereby urging the piston downwardly and causing tilting of the lever 22 in the manner described above.

From the preceding description, it should be apparent that the provision of the auxiliary piston and cylinder means including the piston chamber 102a or housing 102 and the piston head 10 1 which is directly coupled with the slide block 26 through its rod or stem 105, permits automatic pressure application with rotation of the machine on which the invention is used. The automatic application of pressure results from the action of the centrifugal force in causing the slide block to move outwardly from the axis of rotation, as well as from the arrangement wherein the fluid is acted on by centrifugal force and compressed within the housing or chamber 102a.

Now after the fluid under pressure has been exerted on the piston 28 in the manner explained and the parts have been maintained in engagement for a sufficient period, quite naturally it is desired to end the clamping operation, and permit opening of the cavity 3 so as to remove the formed or molded component therefrom. When the rotation of the parts 1 and 2 stops, or in effect when the machine stops, there is no longer any centrifugal force acting on the slide block 26. As a result, the piston head 104 is not urged toward the cylinder wall 1020 under pressure. Accordingly, the spring or other means 73 which urges the lever 22 clockwise about its fulcrum shaft 23 starts tilting the lever 22 in the clockwise direction which moves the piston 28 upwardly. This naturally exerts a pressure on the fluid in the cylinder or recess 49, but the pressure of this fluid unseats the ball valve 50 and the fluid flows therepast and thence through the inlet coupling 41 and flexible connection or hose 112 into the cylinder chamber 102a of the housing 102. The spring 73 thus initially results in expulsion of fluid from the chamber 49 and the return thereof to the auxiliary piston and chamber means 102a, or specifically, to the space 118 between the face 104a of piston 104 and wall 1020 of the piston chamber or housing 102. When the lever 22 has been tilted to its original position by the action of the spring 73, or simultaneously with this tilt ing, the spring means 33 exerts its return force on the slide block 26. The return force exerted on the slide block 26 causes the slide block 26 to move to its initial position, i.e., from the position shown in FIGURE 1 toward the position shown in FIGURE 2, and this results in fluid in the passageway 46 being placed under pressure. Placing such fluid under pressure, results in draining thereof through the passageway 42a and the passageway 41 to the inlet coupling 40, and from the inlet coupling 4-0 through the flexible connection 112 to the auxiliary piston and chamber housing 1G2. Thus, the springs 73 and 33 serve to provide an automatic return of the components to their original positions once operation is stopped. With return of the components to their original positions, the abutment face or edge 34 of the lever, and the underlying position of the slide block 26 are moved out of abutting alignment with the abutment member Ml. The abutment member 90 is thus free of the clamping arrangement whereby to free the mold part 2 for movement relative to mold part 1, and permit removal of the formed or molded component from the mold cavity 3.

It is of course to be understood, that to obtain proper balance in the centrifuge and desired circumferential clamping of the molding components 1 and 2, the centrifugally operated clamping mechanism herein disclosed may be either duplicated at opposite sides of centrifuge shaft 5 or at as many equally circumferentially spaced positions of the mold parts 1 and 2, as may be found expedient, depending on such factors as size, molding materials, and the pressure power required, etc.

Moreover, it is to be further understood that the specific hydraulically actuated clamping mechanism disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 260,508 filed June 29, 1962, may be substituted for that which is herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

After reading the foregoing detailed description of the illustrative and preferred embodiments of the instant invention presented in the annexed drawings, it should be apparent that the objects set forth have been successfully achieved. Various modifications, other than those specifically suggested may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art, and accordingly, I do not limit myself to such details except as required by the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling hydraulically operable clamp means maintaining rotatable members in engagement, comprising the steps of rotating said clamp means with said members, rotating a fluid power means with said members thereby placing fluid under pressure independently of any external source of power through centrifugal force developed by rotation of said members, and feeding said fluid to said rotating clamp means to press said rotatable members into engagement with each other.

2. A method of controlling a hydraulically operable clamp means maintaining rotatable members in engagement, and including slidable jaw means and fluid power means rotatable with said members, comprising the steps of continually yieldably urging said jaw means in a retracted direction, compressing fluid under pressure in said fluid power means independently of any external source of power through centrifugal force developed by rotation of said fluid power means, and directing said fluid in said clamp means to slide said jaw means in an advance clamping direction opposite said retracted direction, said fluid power means generating its own power to automatically feed said clamp means.

3. A method of controlling hydraulically operable clamp means for maintaining rotatable members in engagement, and including slidable jaw means rotatable with said members and fulcrumed lever means carried by said jaw means, comprising the steps of continuously urging said jaw means in a retracted direction, compressing fluid under pressure through centrifugal force developed by rotation of said members, applying said fluid to said jaw means in said clamp means to slide said jaw means in a clamping direction opposite said retracted direction, and

applying the pressure of the same fluid to said lever means 5 to pivot the same into clamping position.

4. Apparatus for clamping separable parts rotatable about an axis in engagement, comprising support means rotatable with said parts, slide means on said support means slidable transversely of the axis of rotation of said parts, fulcrum means on said slide means, a force multiplying lever pivotally mounted on said fulcrum means, first piston and cylinder means cooperating between said support means and said slide means for sliding said slide means to an operative position, second piston and cylinder means cooperating between said slide means and said lever for pivoting said lever to clamp said parts, auxiliary piston and cylinder means disposed transversely of said axis of rotation and rotatable with said parts to utilize centrifugal force to increase the pressure of a fluid, and fluid coupling means for establishing operative fluid connection between all of said piston and cylinder means, such that the parts are clamped by utilizing the fluid from said auxiliary piston and cylinder means.

5. Apparatus of the type described comprising, a pair of members rotatable about a fixed axis, said members being relatively movable toward and away from each other along said fixed axis, clamping means operated by fluid under pressure and rotatable with at least one of said members to clamp said members together, said clamping means comprising means powered by the centrifugal force created by the rotating parts and responsive to such centrifugal force to apply pressure to said fluid to effect actuation of said clamping means to clamp said members.

6. Apparatus of the type described, comprising a plurality of members rotatable about a fixed axis and relatively movable therealong into and out of contact with each other, clamping means secured to and rotatable with one of said members to clamp said members in engagement with each other, said clamping means including fluid pressure-actuated means for engaging said other member, and means rotatable with said members and powered by the centrifugal force created by the rotation of said members to move said fluid pressure actuated means into engagement with said other member.

'7. An automatic self-operated device for clamping separable and engageable parts rotatable about a given axis, comprising fluid operable clamping means for maintaining said parts in engagement and rotatable therewith, piston and cylinder means disposed transversely of the axis of rotation of said parts and powered by the centrifugal force created by the rotating parts for applying pressure to fluid in response to rotation of said parts, means supporting said piston and cylinder means and said clamping means for rotation with said parts, and fluid conduit means operatively connecting said piston and cylinder means to said clamping means to apply fluid under pressure to the latter means to clamp said parts.

8. An automatic self-operated clamping device, comprising a plurality of members rotatable about an axis and relatively movable therealong into and out of engagement, clamping means rotatable with said members to clamp the latter, and fluid power means rotatable with said members and powered by the centrifugal force created by the rotation of said members, said fluid power means being operably connected to said clamping means to move the latter into engagement with said members, said fluid power means being self-feeding to automatically operate said clamping means without requiring any outside source of power fluid.

9. A self-contained clamping device for clamping and releasing separable and engageable parts rotatable about an axis, comprising clamping means rotatable with said parts to clamp the latter, fluid power means rotatable with said parts utilizing the centrifugal force generated by said rotating parts and operable independently of any external power supply to increase the pressure of the fluid, conduit means providing communication between said fluid power means and said clamping means, said clamping means further comprising control means operable to receive said fluid under pressure from said fluid power means to sequentially move said clamping means into an operating position and thereafter utilizing said fluid under pressure to clamp said parts.

10. A self-contained clamping device for clamping and releasing separable and engageable members rotatable about an axis, comprising clamping means rotatable with said members and operated by fluid under pressure to clamp said members, fluid actuated means rotatable with said members and utilizing the centrifugal force created by the rotating members and operable independently of any external power supply to operate the clamping means, said clamping means comprising a housing and a slide means slidable therein in a direction radially of said axis, said clamping means further comprising a power operated lever carried on said slide means, said slide means being responsive to fluid under pressure from said fluid actuated means to slide in said housing to an operable position where said lever is operable to clamp said members.

11. An automatic self-contained clamping device for clamping and releasing a pair of members rotatable about an axis and relatively movable toward and away from each other along said axis, comprising clamping means actuated by fluid under pressure and rotatable with said members to clamp the latter, means rotating with said members and responsive to centrifugal force to utilize the latter to supply fluid under pressure to said clamping means, said clamping means comprising a slide mounting a lever, and a fluid control circuit means operable to pivot said lever to clamp said parts after having operated said slide to move the lever into a clamping position.

12. In an apparatus comprising separable and engageable members rotatable about an axis, one of said members being fixedly mounted on a shaft rotatable about said axis, clamping means powered by the centrifugal force created by the rotating members to clamp said members, said clamping means comprising a housing and means mounting said housing on said other rotatable member, said mounting means depending from said housing and extending through an aperture means in said one memher to said other member, said clamping means further comprising slide means radially slidable with said housing relative to said shaft, said clamping means being mounted for movement into engagement with said one member to effect the clamping engagement of said members.

13. In an apparatus comprising separable and engageable parts rotatable about an axis, clamping means rotatable with said parts and movble into an operative position to clamp said parts, piston and cylinder means disposed transversely of the axis of rotation of said parts, the last said means being mounted for rotation with said parts and being operable to utilize centrifugal force to increase the pressure of the fluid in response to rotation of said parts, conduit means communicating said piston and cylinder means with said clamping means, said clamping means comprising a power operable slide means mounting a power operated lever means, and a fluid control circuit operable to sequentially receive fluid from said piston and cylinder means to actuate said power operable slide means to move the clamping means into said operative position and thereafter activate said power operated lever means to cause the latter to clamp said parts.

14. An automatic self-operated clamping device comprising separable and engageable members rotatable about an axis, fluid actuated means rotatable with said members and powered by the centrifugal force created by the rotating members to supply fluid under pressure, clamping means comprising a housing and a slide means slidable therein, fulcrum means carried by said slide means, lever 10 means pivotally mounted on said fulcrum means, first power means coupled between said slide means and said lever means for pivoting said lever means about said fulcrum means, second power means to move said slide means from a retracted to an operative position relative to said members, and fluid circuit means communicating said fluid actuated means with said first and second power means after said slide means has moved to said operative position.

15. In an apparatus comprising separable and engageable structures rotatable about an axis, one of said structures being mounted on a shaft rotatable about said axis, said one structure having an aperture therein, clamping means powered by the centrifugal force created by the rotating structures to clamp the latter, said clamping means comprising a housing and means mounting said housing on said other rotatable structure, said mounting means extending from said housing through said aperture to said other structure to effect simultaneous and corresponding rotation of both structures when said shaft is rotated, said clamping means being mounted for movement into engagement with said other structure to eifect the clamping engagement of said structures.

16. A self contained device for clamping and releasing comprising separable and engageable members rotatable about an axis, clamping means rotatable with said members to clamp the latter in engagement with each other, fluid pressure actuated means powered by the centrifugal force created by the rotation of said members to supply fluid under pressure to said clamping means, said clamping means comprising a slide housing, slide means therein slidable in a direction radially of said axis between nonclamping and clamping positions, a force multiplying clamping lever pivotally mounted on said slide means, said slide means and said lever being sequentially acted upon by the fluid from the fluid pressure actuated means when said members are rotated about said axis to move said slide means into clamping position and said clamping lever into clamping engagement with one of said members.

17. In an apparatus comprising a pair of members rotatable about an axis, said members being relatively movable toward and away from each other along said axis, clamping means operated by fluid under pressure and rotatable with said members to clamp said members together, fluid power means powered by the centrifugal force created by the rotating parts and responsive to such centrifugal force to apply fluid under pressure to said clamping means to effect actuation of the latter to clamp said members, said fluid power means being mounted on a shaft rotatable about said axis, one of said rotatable members being fixedly mounted on said shaft, said fluid power means comprising a housing and means mounting said housing on said other rotatable member, said mounting means depending from said housing through an aperture means in said one member to effect simultaneous rotation of both members when said shaft is rotated, slide means radially slidable within said housing relative to said shaft, said slide means being mounted for movement into engagement with said one member to effect clamping engagement of said members.

18. Apparatus for clamping separable rotating parts, comprising support means rotatable with said parts, slide means on said support means slidable radially of the axis of rotation of said parts, fulcrum means on said slide means, a force multiplying lever pivotally mounted on said fulcrum means, first piston and cylinder means cooperating between said support means and said slide means for sliding said slide means so that the lever mounted thereon is moved into an operating position in which subsequent pivoting thereof will clamp said parts, second piston and cylinder means cooperating between said slide means and said lever for pivoting said lever to clamp said parts, third cylinder and piston means carried on said support means and disposed transversely of said axis of rotation, an auxiliary piston therefor fixed to said slide 1 l 1 2 means and operable in response to rotation of said parts References Cited by the Examiner to increase tliepressure of the fluid, first fluid coupling UNITED STATES PATENTS means establishing an operative fluid connectlori between said third cylinder and piston means and said first piston 25121071 6/1950 9 and cylinder means, and second fluid coupling means 5 2,526,918 10/1950 wflbfa'rschled 18*50 X sequentially establishing an operative fluid connection 21569863 10/1951 Monn 22 92 between said first piston and cylinder means and said 21988778 6/1961 glaze at 18*30 second piston and cylinder means such that the latter is 3,068,538 12/1962 Lmder operable to pivot said lever after the first cylinder and piston means has slid said lever into said operating 10 SPENCER OVERHOLSER Exammer' position. ALEXANDER H. BRODMERKEL, Examiner.

Claims (2)

1. 2. A METHOD OF CONTROLLING A HYDRAULICALLY OPERABLE CLAMP MEANS MAINTAINING ROTATABLE MEMBERS IN ENGAGEMENT, AND INCLUDING SLIDABLE JAW MEANS AND FLUID POWER MEANS ROTATABLE WITH SAID MEMBERS, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CONTINUALLY YIELDABLY URGING SAID JAW MEANS IN A RETRACTED DIRECTION, COMPRESSING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE IN SAID FLUID POWER MEANS INDEPENDENTLY OF ANY EXTERNAL SOURCE OF POWER THROUGH CENTRIFUGAL FORCE DEVELOPED BY ROTATION OF SAID FLUID POWER MEANS, AND DIRECTING SAID FLUID IN SAID CLAMP MEANS TO SLIDE SAID JAW MEANS IN AN ADVANCE CLAMPING DIRECTION OPPOSITE SAID RETRACTED DIRECTION, SAID FLUID POWER MEANS GENERATING ITS OWN POWER TO AUTOMATICALLY FEED SAID CLAMP MEANS.
2. 4. APPARATUS FOR CLAMPING SEPARABLE PARTS ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS IN ENGAGEMENT, COMPRISING SUPPORT MEANS ROTATABLE WITH SAID PARTS, SLIDE MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS SLIDABLE TRANSVERSELY OF THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID PARTS, FULCRUM MEANS ON SAID SLIDE MEANS, A FORCE MULTIPLYING LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FULCRUM MEANS, FIRST PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS COOPERATING BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND SAID SLIDE MEANS FOR SLIDING SAID SLIDE MEANS TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION, SECOND PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS COOPERATING BETWEEN SAID SLIDE MEANS AND SAID LEVER FOR PIVOTING SAID LEVER TO CLAMP SAID PARTS, AUXILIARY PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID AXIS OF ROTATION AND ROTATABLE WITH SAID PARTS OF UTILIZE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE OF A FLUID, AND FLUID COUPLING MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING OPERATIVE FLUID CON-

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