Small part clamping device providing a high degree of parallelism
AssigneeHoneywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
InventorKevin William Swallow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp assembly for securing small parts is described herein. In some embodiments, the clamp assembly comprises a free jaw and a fixed jaw configured to secure a part positioned at a proximal end of the clamp assembly between a free jaw pad and a fixed jaw pad. The free jaw is configured to rotate at least about a size pin positioned at a distal end of the fixed jaw opposite the part. The free jaw is rotated by a tightening feature positioned proximate the free jaw pad and fixed jaw pad at the proximal end. As the tightening feature is actuated, the free jaw pad rotates toward the fixed jaw pad securing the part therebetween when the fixed jaw pad and the free jaw pad are substantially parallel.
Claims15
A clamp assembly for securing a part, comprising:
- a free jaw comprising a free jaw pad at a free jaw proximal end and an extension fixed to the free jaw and immovable relative to the free jaw;
- a fixed jaw comprising a fixed jaw pad at a fixed jaw proximal end;
- a size pin disposed between the free jaw and the fixed jaw and contacting the free jaw at a free jaw distal end and contacting the fixed jaw at a fixed jaw distal end;
- and
- an actuator spanning a space between the free jaw and the fixed jaw,
- wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the free jaw and move the free jaw pad relative to the fixed jaw pad until the free jaw pad and the fixed jaw pad are substantially parallel and secure the part therebetween;
- a support plate adjacent the free jaw and configured to press against the free jaw to move the free jaw securing the size pin between the free jaw and the fixed jaw;
- and
- wherein the extension is configured to contact the support plate providing lateral and vertical support to the free jaw.
A clamp assembly for securing a part, comprising:
- a free jaw comprising a free jaw pad at a free jaw proximal end and an extension;
- a fixed jaw comprising a fixed jaw pad at a fixed jaw proximal end;
- a support plate configured to receive the extension and provide lateral support to the free jaw by the extension,
- wherein the support plate is provided on a first side of the free jaw, and the fixed jaw is provided on a second side of the free jaw opposite the first side,
- wherein the extension extends from the first side of the free jaw;
- a size pin disposed between the free jaw and the fixed jaw and contacting the free jaw at a free jaw distal end and contacting the fixed jaw at a fixed jaw distal end;
- and
- a actuator spanning a space between the free jaw and the fixed jaw,
- wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the free jaw about the size pin and move the free jaw pad relative to the fixed jaw pad until the free jaw pad and the fixed jaw pad are substantially parallel and secure the part therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.