Timed rotation tool assembly and actuator

A fluid-powered tool assembly, usable with a support, the tool assembly comprising:

• a first tool member having left and right side portions;
• a second tool member positioned to cooperate with said first tool member, said second tool member having left and right side portions;
• a body having a longitudinal axis and left and right longitudinal end portions, said body being configured for connection to the support, said body having said left end portion thereof positioned toward said left side portions of said first and second tool members and said right end portion thereof positioned toward said right side portions of said first and second tool members;
• a first shaft rotatably disposed within said body at said body left end portion and in general alignment with said body axis for rotation about said axis, said first shaft having a left end portion attached to said left side portion of said first tool member for rotational movement of said first tool member with said first shaft as a unit;
• a second shaft rotatably disposed within said body at said body right end portion and in general alignment with said body axis for rotation about said axis, said second shaft having a right end portion attached to said right side portion of said second tool member for rotational movement of said second tool member with said second shaft as a unit;
• and
• a force transmitting member mounted for movement within said body in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said force transmitting member engaging said first shaft and said second shaft to translate movement of said force transmitting member in a first direction into counter rotational movement of said first and said second shafts about said body axis relative to said body to move said first and second tool members toward each other, and to translate movement of said force transmitting member in a second direction into counter rotational movement of said first and said second shafts about said body axis relative to said body to move said first and second tool members away from each other.

A fluid-powered tool assembly, comprising:

• a first tool member;
• a second tool member positioned to cooperate with said first tool member;
• a body;
• a first rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said body for rotation about a first axis, said first rotatable member having a portion attached to said first tool member for rotational movement of said first tool member with said first rotatable member as a unit;
• a second rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said body for rotation a second axis, said second rotatable member having a portion attached to said second tool member for rotational movement of said second tool member with said second rotatable member as a unit;
• and
• a force transmitting member mounted for movement in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said force transmitting member engaging said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member to translate movement of said force transmitting member into rotational movement of said first and said second rotatable members about said first and second axes, respectively, to produce timed rotational movement of said first and second tool members relative to said body.

A fluid-powered tool assembly, comprising:

• a first tool member;
• a second tool member positioned to cooperate with said first tool member;
• a body having a longitudinal axis;
• a first rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said body for rotation about a first rotation axis, said first rotatable member being attached to said first tool member for rotational movement of said first tool member with said first rotatable member as a unit;
• a second rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said body for rotation about a second rotation axis, said second rotatable member being attached to said second tool member for rotational movement of said second tool member with said second rotatable member as a unit;
• and
• a linear-to-rotary force transmitting member mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said force transmitting member engaging said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member to translate longitudinal movement of said force transmitting member in a first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis relative to said body in a first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said body in a second rotational direction, and to translate longitudinal movement of said force transmitting member in a second longitudinal direction opposite said first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis relative to said body in a rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said body in a rotational direction opposite said second rotational direction.

A fluid-powered tool assembly, usable with a support platform having an arm, the tool assembly comprising:

• a first tool member;
• a second tool member positioned to cooperate with said first tool member;
• an outer body having a longitudinal axis, said outer body being configured for connection to the arm for movement of said outer body with the arm as a unit;
• an inner body having a longitudinal axis substantially coaxial with said outer body axis, said inner body being rotatably disposed at least partially within said outer body;
• a first rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said inner body for rotation about a first rotation axis, said first rotatable member being attached to said first tool member for rotational movement of said first tool member with said first rotatable member as a unit;
• a second rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said inner body for rotation about a second rotation axis, said second rotatable member being attached to said second tool member for rotational movement of said second tool member with said second rotatable member as a unit;
• a first linear-to-rotary force transmitting member mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said first force transmitting member engaging said inner body, said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member to translate longitudinal movement of said first force transmitting member in a first longitudinal direction into counter rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis and said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said inner body to move said first and second tool members toward each other, and to translate longitudinal movement of said first force transmitting member in a second longitudinal direction opposite said first longitudinal direction into counter rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis and said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said inner body to move said first and second tool members away from each other;
• and
• a second linear-to-rotary force transmitting member mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said second force transmitting member engaging said inner and outer bodies to translate longitudinal movement of said second force transmitting member in said first longitudinal direction into one of clockwise or counterclockwise relative rotational movement of said inner body about said inner body axis relative to said outer body and to translate longitudinal movement of said second force transmitting member in said second longitudinal direction into the other of clockwise or counterclockwise relative rotational movement of said inner body about said inner body axis relative to said outer body.

A fluid-powered tool assembly, usable with a support, the tool assembly comprising:

• a first tool member;
• a second tool member positioned to cooperate with said first tool member;
• a first body and a second body, one of said first and second bodies being at least partially positioned coaxially within the other with a common longitudinal axis, said second body being connectable to the support;
• a first rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said first body for rotation about a first rotation axis, said first rotatable member being attached to said first tool member for rotational movement of said first tool member with said first rotatable member as a unit;
• a second rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said first body for rotation about a second rotation axis, said second rotatable member being attached to said second tool member for rotational movement of said second tool member with said second rotatable member as a unit;
• a first linear-to-rotary force transmitting member mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said first force transmitting member engaging said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member to translate longitudinal movement of said first force transmitting member in a first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis relative to said first body in a first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said first body in a second rotational direction, and to translate longitudinal movement of said first force transmitting member in a second longitudinal direction opposite said first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis relative to said first body in a rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said first body in a rotational direction opposite said second rotational direction;
• and
• a second linear-to-rotary force transmitting member mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said second force transmitting member engaging said first and second bodies to translate longitudinal movement of said second force transmitting member in said first longitudinal direction into one of clockwise or counterclockwise relative rotational movement of said first body about said body axis relative to said second body and to translate longitudinal movement of said second force transmitting member in said second longitudinal direction into the other of clockwise or counterclockwise relative rotational movement of said first body about said body axis relative to said second body.

A fluid-powered rotary actuator for providing timed rotational movement of first and second external members, comprising:

• a body having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal end portions, said body having a grooved portion within said body;
• a first shaft rotatably disposed within said body at said body first end portion and in general alignment with said body axis for rotation about said body axis, said first shaft having a grooved portion positioned toward said body first end portion and a portion adapted for coupling to the first external member for rotational movement of the first external member with said first shaft as a unit;
• a second shaft rotatably disposed within said body at said body second end portion and in general alignment with said body axis for rotation about said body axis, said second shaft having a grooved portion positioned toward said body second end portion and a portion adapted for coupling to the second external member for rotational movement of the second external member with said second shaft as a unit;
• and
• a linear-to-rotary force transmitting member mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement within said body in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said force transmitting member having a grooved first portion positioned within said body engaging said first shaft grooved portion, a grooved second portion positioned within said body engaging said second shaft grooved portion and a grooved third portion positioned within said body engaging said body grooved portion to translate longitudinal movement of said force transmitting member in a first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first shaft about said body axis relative to said body in a first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second shaft about said body axis relative to said body in a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction, and to translate longitudinal movement of said force transmitting member in a second longitudinal direction opposite said first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first shaft about said body axis relative to said body in said second rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second shaft about said body axis relative to said body in said first rotational direction.

A fluid-powered rotary actuator for providing timed rotational movement of first and second external members, comprising:

• a body having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal end portions;
• a first shaft rotatably disposed within said body at said body first end portion and in general alignment with said body axis for rotation about said body axis, said first shaft having a portion adapted for coupling to the first external member for rotational movement of the first external member with said first shaft as a unit;
• a second shaft rotatably disposed within said body at said body second end portion and in general alignment with said body axis for rotation about said body axis, said second shaft having a portion adapted for coupling to the second external member for rotational movement of the second external member with said second shaft as a unit;
• and
• a linear-to-rotary force transmitting member mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement within said body in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said force transmitting member engaging said body and both of said first and second shafts to translate longitudinal movement of said force transmitting member in a first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first shaft about said body axis relative to said body in a first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second shaft about said body axis relative to said body in a second rotational direction, and to translate longitudinal movement of said force transmitting member in a second longitudinal direction opposite said first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first shaft about said body axis relative to said body in a rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second shaft about said body axis relative to said body in a rotational direction opposite said second rotational direction.

A fluid-powered rotary actuator for providing timed rotational movement of first and second external members, comprising:

• a body having a longitudinal axis;
• a first rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said body for rotation about a first rotation axis with a portion adapted for coupling to the first external member for rotational movement of the first external member with said first rotatable member as a unit;
• a second rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said body for rotation about a second axis with a portion adapted for coupling to the second external member for rotational movement of the second external member with said second rotatable member as a unit;
• and
• a linear-to-rotary force transmitting member mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said force transmitting member engaging said first and second rotatable members to translate longitudinal movement of said force transmitting member in a first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis relative to said body in a first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said body in a second rotational direction, and to translate longitudinal movement of said force transmitting member in a second longitudinal direction opposite said first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis relative to said body in a rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said body in a rotational direction opposite said second rotational direction.

A fluid-powered rotary actuator for providing timed rotational movement of first and second external members, comprising:

• a body having a longitudinal axis;
• a first rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said body for rotation about a first rotation axis with a portion adapted for coupling to the first external member for rotational movement of the first external member with said first rotatable member as a unit;
• a second rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said body for rotation about a second axis with a portion adapted for coupling to the second external member for rotational movement of the second external member with said second rotatable member as a unit;
• and
• a force transmitting member mounted for movement in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said force transmitting member engaging said first and second rotatable members to translate movement of said force transmitting member in a first direction into rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis relative to said body in a first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said body in a second rotational direction, and to translate movement of said force transmitting member in a second direction into rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis relative to said body in a rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said body in a rotational direction opposite said second rotational direction.

A fluid-powered rotary actuator for providing timed rotational movement of first and second external members, comprising:

• a first body and a second body, one of said first and second bodies being at least partially positioned coaxially within the other with a common longitudinal axis;
• a first rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said first body for rotation about a first rotation axis, said first rotatable member having a portion adapted for coupling to the first external member for rotational movement of the first external member with said first rotatable member as a unit;
• a second rotatable member rotatably disposed with respect to said first body for rotation about a second rotation axis, said second rotatable member having a portion adapted for coupling to the second external member for rotational movement of the second external member with said second rotatable member as a unit;
• a first linear-to-rotary force transmitting member mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said first force transmitting member engaging said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member to translate longitudinal movement of said first force transmitting member in a first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis relative to said first body in a first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said first body in a second rotational direction, and to translate longitudinal movement of said first force transmitting member in a second longitudinal direction opposite said first longitudinal direction into rotational movement of said first rotatable member about said first axis relative to said first body in a rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction and into rotational movement of said second rotatable member about said second axis relative to said first body in a rotational direction opposite said second rotational direction;
• and
• a second linear-to-rotary force transmitting member mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said second force transmitting member engaging said first and second bodies to translate longitudinal movement of said second force transmitting member in said first longitudinal direction into one of clockwise or counterclockwise relative rotational movement of said first body about said body axis relative to said second body and to translate longitudinal movement of said second force transmitting member in said second longitudinal direction into the other of clockwise or counterclockwise relative rotational movement of said first body about said body axis relative to said second body.