Gel-slab plate assembly

Abstract

Disclosed is an end clamp for use with a gel slab plate assembly, such assembly including a pair of flat, rectilinear plates separated at their longitudinal end surfaces by a resilient spacer. The end clamp includes an elongate wedge element having a longitudinal dimension substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of said pair of flat plates. The wedge, in transverse cross-section, substantially defines a scalene triangle having a major base, a minor base and a hypotenuse. Said major base is adapted for flush press-fit contact with a flat end of said pair of rectilinear plates. Further provided is a substantially U-shaped clamp housing proportioned to longitudinally surround, on three sides, one longitudinal edge of the pair of plates. The clamp housing is provided, upon its plate-edge surrounding surface, with an inclined plane proportioned to mate with the hypotenuse of the wedge element. Further provided is a sub-assembly for selectively moving the hypotenuse of the wedge element along the inclined plane of the clamp housing. This includes a knob and threaded post for mechanically coupling the wedge through its minor base, to the clamp housing through an analog range of linear motion including, at one boundary condition thereof, a press-fit flush contact of the major base against the longitudinal end of the pair of plates. Thus, a uniform pressure of the major base of the wedge element against the plate edge may be obtained.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.