The invention relates generally to clamping devices and particularly to a powered clamp having a toggle action with a self-locking feature.
Powered clamps are commonly used in industrial applications for holding work pieces of many sizes and shapes during forming, welding and/or machining operations. Such devices typically include a pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically actuated cylinder which causes one or more arms to move through a desired range of rotational motion. Furthermore, the user may wish to actuate the arms in a contaminated environment having weld splatter, saw chips, coolants, dust, dirt and the like. One such conventional powered clamp is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,001 entitled “Sealed Power Clamp” which issued on Dec. 15, 1992 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Other traditional clamps have arms which typically move or release pressure upon the work piece when the actuating force is reduced or lost. Furthermore, the machining tolerances of the majority of the internal clamp components must be accurately controlled in order to achieve desired component part motions and to achieve satisfactory clamping forces.
Another powered clamp disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,903 entitled “Powered Clamp and Engaging Apparatus” issued on Mar. 23, 1999 and is hereby incorporated by reference. This clamp incorporates a variety of components including a slide, a link, a crank and a hub. The components also combine to provide a lost linear motion device to maximize arm unlocking forces. While the above-mentioned clamps have satisfactorily performed a desired function, it is desirable to provide a clamp having a reduced number of components. Also, it is desirable to provide a powered clamp that will not release its grip when actuating pressure is removed.
In accordance with the present invention, an embodiment of the apparatus performs as a clamp with a moveable member or members which perform a clamping function. The clamp includes a pair of moveable members which mechanically butt against each other to maintain, at least temporarily, a locking position of an arm when actuating forces have been decreased or lost.
The powered clamp apparatus of the present invention is highly advantageous over conventional clamps because the present invention includes a tapered self-locking feature for holding a rotated arm in a desired position even after loss of actuating force occurs. Thus, work pieces will not fall from their locked or engaged positions, thereby preventing work piece and equipment damage. Another advantage of the present invention apparatus is that the overall packaging envelope required by the clamp is reduced by aligning the transverse axis of a rotating hub with a longitudinal axis of a piston. The present invention is further advantageous by employing a slide rod including an angled surface which selectively engages a seat on the hub when the actuator is in a fully extended position. The slide rod and hub mating surfaces function to restrict movement of the actuator away from the fully extended position regardless of the presence of actuating fluid pressure. The present invention apparatus includes presence of actuating fluid pressure. The present invention apparatus includes an end cap having a pair of fluid ports. The end cap is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the clamp to allow the user to easily connect the clamp to a fluid power source. Furthermore, the present invention advantageously includes a position sensor operable to indicate the presence or absence of an actuator at a predetermined location. A position sensor may be configured to accommodate electrical connections at twelve different orientations. The present invention apparatus is fully sealed and permanently lubricated and is therefore suitable for use in even the most contaminated environments. The power clamp apparatus is also very compact and lightweight, and may have its clamping or engaging arm easily preset to any one of a number of positions. The total rotational angle of the arm is also adjustable. Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and dependent claims, taking in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Referring to
Body 22 is forged or extruded and then machined from 6061-T651 aluminum as a unitary, substantially hollow, part. End cap 30 is coupled to the proximal end of body 22. End cap 30 includes a substantially cylindrical portion 34 and a flange portion 36. Cylindrical portion 34 includes a pair of annular seal grooves 38. Elastomeric seals 40 are positioned within grooves 38 to sealingly engage a bore 42 extending through body 22. Bore 42 extends along a longitudinal axis 44. End cap 30 includes another annular groove 46 axially spaced apart from seal grooves 38. Roll pins 48 extend through body 22 and are positioned within groove 46 to couple end cap 30 to body 22. It should be appreciated that this method of attachment axially restrains end cap 30 from movement while allowing the end cap to rotate 360 degrees about longitudinal axis 44.
A first fluid port 50 and a second fluid port 52 are positioned on an end face 54 of flange portion 36. First fluid port 50 is in fluid communication with a proximal end of bore 42. Second fluid port 52 exits at an aperture 56 located between elastomeric seals 40. Aperture 56 fluidly communicates with a passageway 58 extending substantially parallel to bore 42 within body 22. Passageway 58 is in fluid communication with a distal end of bore 42. A plug 60 is coupled to end cap 30 to assure that pressurized fluid entering second fluid port 52 exits at aperture 56 and supplies pressure to the distal end of bore 42.
Actuator 24 includes a piston 62 and a slide rod 64. A stroke spacer 66 may be coupled to piston 62 to adjust the total range of rotation of yoke arm 32. A set of stroke spacers is available to the user to vary the arm rotation range in increments of 15 degrees. It will be appreciated that any number of stroke spacers having varying thicknesses can be provided to achieve a desired total stroke range. Piston 62 is linearly moveable within bore 42. Piston 62 is axially moved in response to pneumatic or hydraulic fluid pressures forcing the piston in either longitudinal direction. Slide rod 64 is coupled to piston 62 via a threaded fastener 68. Slide rod 64 is axially translatable within a bore 70. Bore 70 extends substantially parallel to but offset from longitudinal axis 44. An annular piston seal 72 is provided between piston 62 and bore 42. An annular slide rod seal 74 is positioned between slide rod 64 and bore 70.
Piston 62 includes a generally cylindrical body 75 having a flat 76 for use in conjunction with a sensor assembly 78 as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Piston 62 includes a first end face 82 and a second end face 84. Stroke spacer 66, if necessary, is coupled to first end face 82 via a spacer fastener 86. A shim pack 88 is coupled to second end face 84 of piston 62 by a shim fastener 90. The thickness of shim pack 88 may be varied at final assembly to assure proper operation of clamp 20. Specifically, the thickness of shim pack 88 accounts for variance in machining and assures that yoke arm 32 continues to exert a clamping force on a work piece even if supply pressure is reduced or lost. Shim pack 88 also functions to assure that slide rod 64 is not overly forced into contact with hub 28. It is desirable for actuator 24 to be returned using available pressurized fluid acting on second end face 84 of piston 62 without additional assistance.
Slide rod 64 is a substantially cylindrical member having a first end 92 and a bifurcated second end 94. First end 92 is coupled to piston 62 as previously described. An aperture 96 extends through bifurcated second end 94. Slide rod 64 includes a flat 98 to assure that the slide rod does not trigger sensor assembly 78 during actuation. Slide rod 64 further includes an angled surface 100 (FIGS. 3 and 14-17) extending at a 5 degree angle. Angled surface 100 is positioned near second end 94. Slide rod 64 is preferably constructed from ASTMA311 Class B chrome material. Angled surface 100 includes a Titanium Nitride treatment or is otherwise hardened to improve the longevity of slide rod 64.
Link 26 includes a first aperture 102 aligned with aperture 96 extending through bifurcated second end 94 from slide rod 64. A pin 104 rotatably interconnects link 26 to slide rod 64. Preferably, pin 104 is slip fit within aperture 96 for easy assembly.
As shown in
With reference to
As shown in
As shown in
First sensor head 140 is positioned within first sensor bore 154 such that first end face 148 is adjacent bore 42. Second sensor head 142 is similarly positioned within second sensor bore 156. Cover 144 is coupled to body 22 to restrict the sensor heads from being axially pushed out of their respective bores during pressurization of bore 42. For example, second end face 150 of first sensor head 140 contacts cover 144 when bore 42 is pressurized. Controller switch 146 is mounted to cover 144. Wires (not shown) interconnect first sensor head 140 and controller switch 146 as well as second sensor head 142 and controller switch 146. The wires are at least partially positioned within a cavity 157 and concealed by cover 144. Controller switch 146 includes a pivotable plug 158 selectively positionable in one of three locations. Plug 158 may extend generally parallel to the mounting plane defined by cover 144, at 45 degrees thereto or at 90 degrees thereto. Furthermore, control switch 146 may be mounted to body 22 in one of four orientations relative to the body. Two such orientations are depicted at
Because the linear stroke of actuator 24 is adjusted by coupling spacers 66 of various thickness to piston 62, sensor assembly 78 may be positioned at one designated location on body 22. This is advantageous because it is not necessary to machine a plurality of apertures for receipt of sensor heads 140 and 142 for different strokes. Furthermore, the design of the present invention alleviates the need for sensor repositioning which may lead to inaccuracy possibly causing tool or component damage.
As mentioned earlier, piston 62 includes a generally cylindrical body 75 having a flat 76 positioned thereon. The discontinuity between cylindrical body 75 and flat 76 provides a trigger for second sensor head 142. When actuator 24 is in the fully extended position shown in
The sequence of operational steps may be observed with reference to
Actuator 24 may be moved from the fully extended position shown in
The powered clamp of the present invention has further advantageous features. The powered clamp of the present invention has a single hub capable of accommodating left, right or dual arm attachments. The dual slots formed in the end portions of the hub allow for changing the position of the arm without disassembling the internal mechanism of the powered clamp. The arm may be mounted in one of two positions. Additionally, the present invention encourages simplified arm mounting or changeover using a single threaded fastener thereby eliminating pressed-on arms, jack screws or set screw retention. The total angle of arm displacement may be easily adjusted by removal of the end cap and replacement of the spacer.
While an embodiment of the powered clamp has been disclosed, it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the slide rod, link, hub and arm may be partially or totally disposed externally from a body. Also, various other actuating mechanisms may be employed to move the slide rod such as electric motors, internal combustion motors or manual actuation in combination with a rack and pinion mechanism, gears, pulleys, screw drives or the like. Moreover, the moving arm may have many different shapes for engaging or holding a variety of work pieces or instruments. The specific shapes and moving motions of the slide rod, link and hub may be modified or combined while maintaining various of the other novel aspects of the present invention. Various materials and manufacturing processes have been disclosed in exemplary fashion. However, other materials and processes may be employed. It is intended by the following claims to cover these and other departures from the disclosed embodiment which fall within the true spirit of this invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4905973 | Blatt | Mar 1990 | A |
5171001 | Sawdon | Dec 1992 | A |
5575462 | Blatt | Nov 1996 | A |
5853211 | Sawdon et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
5884903 | Sawdon | Mar 1999 | A |
5938259 | Sawdon et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
6059277 | Sawdon et al. | May 2000 | A |
6189877 | Boris et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6364301 | Takahashi | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6412845 | Sawdon et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6557840 | Sawdon | May 2003 | B2 |
6557841 | Dellach et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
6612557 | Sawdon et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6666489 | Kruger | Dec 2003 | B2 |
20020190455 | Sawdon | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20040084823 | Rentz et al. | May 2004 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20040239023 A1 | Dec 2004 | US |