US 4,786,204 AGranted

Clamping apparatus with bi-directional clamping device

AssigneeThe Eversman Mfg. Company

InventorBruce H. Mayeda

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Abstract

A clamping device for exerting clamping forces in two directions to a shank between a pair of spaced clamping members having a transverse stop. The device includes an elongated bolt like body having a pair of axially spaced sections, a head at one end and external threads on an opposite end portion with a nut on the threads for applying a first clamping force to the spaced members. An eccentric section between the shaft sections applies a transverse clamping force to the shank. A pair of flat plates forming the clamping members has two spaced clamping devices and is arranged to slidably clamp to a variety of movable supports. A pair of spaced clamping plates are affixed to the end of a longitudinal frame with the option of a shim to accomodate shanks of smaller sizes.

Claims15

Dependent claims

In a clamping apparatus, the combination comprising an element disposed between a pair of spaced clamping members having free end portions and a transverse stop between said members opposite said free end portions;

a clamping device including an elongated one piece body extending through said free end portions, said body having a pair of axially spaced shaft sections with a common center, said body having a head at one end and external threads on an opposite end portion with a nut threaded on the threads for applying a first clamping force directed along the longitudinal axis of said body which first clamping force through said head and nut provides a pair of opposite inwardly directed clamping forces to said pair of spaced clamping members;
and
an eccentric section between said shaft sections having a center offset from the center of said shaft sections for applying a second clamping force directed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body to move said element against said stop in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first clamping force upon the rotation of said body from a release position to a clamping position to provide a second pair of opposite inwardly directed clamping forces to said element, said eccentric section being integral with said shaft sections and head for holding said body against rotation in said clamping position to enable said nut to be rotated to change said first clamping forces and said eccentric section to be rotated by the rotation of said head for the selective changing of said second clamping forces, said shaft sections being provided by a bolt shaped body having a substantially uniform diameter and having a generally circular cross section, said eccentric section being provided by having a recessed surface in a side of said body between said shaft sections into which an end portion of said element will slide when said eccentric section is in a release position, said eccentric section being generally smaller than said shaft sections and having an external surface opposite said recessed surface that is the same radius as said shaft sections.

In clamping apparatus, the combination comprising:

a pair of spaced clamping members having free end portions and a transverse stop, an element disposed between said clamping members, and
at least one clamping device including an elongated one piece body extending through said free end portions, said body having axially spaced shaft sections supported for rotation by said free end portions, said body having a head at one end and external threads on an opposite end portion with a nut threaded on said threads for applying a first clamping force directed along the longitudinal axis of said body which first clamping force through said head and nut provide a pair of opposite inwardly directed clamping forces to draw said clamping members against said element between said members, and an eccentric section between said shaft sections movable between a release position and a clamping position for applying a second clamping force directed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body to move said element against said stop in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first clamping force to provide a second pair of opposite inwardly directed clamping forces to said element, said eccentric section being integral with said shaft sections and head for holding said body against rotation in said clamping position to enable said nut to be rotated to change said first clamping forces and said eccentric section to be rotated by the rotation of said head for the selective changing of said second clamping forces, said shaft sections being provided by a bolt shaped body having a substantially uniform diameter and having a generally circular cross section, said eccentric section being provided by having a recessed surface in a side of said body between said shaft sections into which an end portion of said element will slide when said eccentric section is in a release position, said eccentric section being generally smaller than said shaft sections and having an external surface opposite said recessed surface that is the same radius as said shaft sections.

In clamping apparatus, the combination comprising:

a pair of spaced flat-sided clamping plates having free end portions and an opposite transverse stop, and
a pair of spaced clamping devices extending through the free end portions, each said clamping device including an elongated one piece body having axially spaced shaft sections supported for rotation by said free end portions, said body having a head at one end and external threads on an opposite end portion with a nut threaded on said threads for applying a first clamping force directed along the longitudinal axis of said body which first clamping force through said head and nut provide a pair of opposite inwardly directed clamping forces to force said free end portions of said clamping plates, said free end portions bearing against the sides of a shank between said plates, and an eccentric section between said shaft sections movable between a release position and a clamping position for applying a second clamping force directed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body to move said shank against said stop, said eccentric section being integral with said shaft sections and head for holding said body against rotation in said clamping position to enable said nut to be rotated to change said first clamping forces and said eccentric section to be rotated by the rotation of said head for the selective changing of said second clamping forces, said shaft sections being provided by a bolt shaped body having a substantially uniform diameter and having a generally circular cross section, said eccentric section being provided by having a recessed surface in a side of said body between said shaft sections into which an end portion of said shank will slide when said eccentric section is in a release position, said eccentric section being generally smaller than said shaft sections and having an external surface opposite said recessed surface that is the same radius as said shaft sections, and
detachable bolts supported between said plates opposite said free end portions for clamping said plates to a movable support, and
a transverse connecting member between said bolts for engaging said movable support, said connecting member cooperating with connecting means for clamping said plates to said movable support.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

a clamping device including an elongated one piece body extending through said free end portions, said body having a pair of axially spaced shaft sections with a common center, said body having a head at one end and external threads on an opposite end portion with a nut threaded on the threads for applying a first clamping force directed along the longitudinal axis of said body which first clamping force through said head and nut provides a pair of opposite inwardly directed clamping forces to said pair of spaced clamping members;
and
an eccentric section between said shaft sections having a center offset from the center of said shaft sections for applying a second clamping force directed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body to move said element against said stop in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first clamping force upon the rotation of said body from a release position to a clamping position to provide a second pair of opposite inwardly directed clamping forces to said element, said eccentric section being integral with said shaft sections and head for holding said body against rotation in said clamping position to enable said nut to be rotated to change said first clamping forces and said eccentric section to be rotated by the rotation of said head for the selective changing of said second clamping forces, said shaft sections being provided by a bolt shaped body having a substantially uniform diameter and having a generally circular cross section, said eccentric section being provided by having a recessed surface in a side of said body between said shaft sections into which an end portion of said element will slide when said eccentric section is in a release position, said eccentric section being generally smaller than said shaft sections and having an external surface opposite said recessed surface that is the same radius as said shaft sections.