Compact support clamp

A clamp for mounting and positioning a structure on a support comprising:

• a clamp body including a fixed jaw, a base, and a moveable thruster plate between the fixed jaw and the base, wherein the thruster plate is adapted to engage a support between the fixed jaw and the thruster plate;
• and
• a rotatable thruster cylinder located in the clamp body, wherein the thruster cylinder includes threads that engage a screw connected to the thruster plate such that when the thruster cylinder is rotated the screw is advanced or retracted to move the thruster plate into and out of engagement with the support between the fixed jaw and the thruster plate;
• and
• a knob for rotating the thruster cylinder,
• a friction washer located in an annular opening in the base, wherein the friction washer surrounds the thruster cylinder, and
• wherein the clamp is configured so that when the thruster plate engages the support further axial movement of the screw is prevented and further rotation of the knob and thruster cylinder compresses the friction washer.

A clamp for mounting and positioning a structure on a support comprising:

• a clamp body having a C-shaped profile and including
• a fixed jaw,
• a base, and
• a moveable thruster plate between the fixed jaw and the base, the thruster plate adapted to engage a support between the fixed jaw and the thruster plate;
• and
• a thruster cylinder configured to be rotatably received through the clamp body, the thruster cylinder having threads that engage a screw such that when the thruster cylinder is rotated the screw is advanced or retracted to move the thruster plate into and out of engagement with the support between the fixed jaw and the thruster plate;
• and
• a knob for rotating the thruster cylinder,
• wherein
• the base includes an annular opening storing a collet and is configured to receive the screw and the thruster cylinder, and
• the clamp is configured so that when the thruster plate engages the support further axial movement of the screw is prevented and further rotation of the knob and thruster cylinder compresses the collet.