Clamping mechanism for hydraulic work support

A clamping mechanism for a holding device, the clamping mechanism comprising:

• a translatable component;
• a hollow, rigid collet surrounding the translatable component such that the translatable component is hydraulically axially translatable relative to the collet, the collet having one or more sidewalls, a first open end, and a second open end, the collet having a plurality of slots formed through the one or more sidewalls, wherein the slots are circumferentially spaced around the one or more sidewalls of the collet and are vertically or angularly extending from at least one of the first open end, the second open end, and a point between the first open end and the second open end;
• a hollow sleeve covering the collet, the sleeve having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the sleeve is radially flexible and configured to be radially actuated to press against the one or more sidewalls of the collet with sufficient force to flex portions of the collet to grip the translatable component;
• a preload ring positioned near and spaced from the second open end of the collet, the preload ring further being positioned between the hollow sleeve and the translatable component;
• and
• a preload O-ring positioned between the preload ring and the collet, the preload ring having a contoured portion contacting the preload O-ring so that the preload O-ring is biased away from the translatable component.

A clamping mechanism for a holding device, the clamping mechanism comprising:

• a translatable component;
• a hollow, rigid collet surrounding the translatable component such that the translatable component is hydraulically axially translatable relative to the collet, the collet having one or more sidewalls, a first open end, and a second open end, the collet having a plurality of slots formed through the one or more sidewalls, wherein the slots are circumferentially spaced around the one or more sidewalls of the collet and are vertically or angularly extending from at least one of the first open end, the second open end, and a point between the first open end and the second open end, the collet having a longitudinal length;
• a hollow sleeve covering the collet, the sleeve having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the sleeve is radially flexible and configured to be radially actuated to press against the one or more sidewalls of the collet with sufficient force to flex portions of the collet to grip the translatable component;
• a first seal positioned near the first end of the sleeve;
• and
• a second seal positioned near the second end of the sleeve, a distance between the first seal and the second seal being equal or greater than the longitudinal length of the collet, the first end of the sleeve encircling the first seal, the second seal encircling the second end of the sleeve.