Clamp assembly
AssigneeCogsdill Tool Products, Inc.
InventorWarren B. Depperman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp that encircles the outer rim of an out-of-round workpiece such as a deformed tubular pipe to reform the cross-section of same into one that is substantially round, the clamp including a frame, a plurality of pivotally mounted force applying assemblies each having a force applying member to engage the workpiece, and drive means for pivoting all of the force applying assemblies simultaneously such that the force applying members are simultaneously and uniformly repositioned radially inwardly and outwardly relative to a circle defining the locus of pivot axes for the force applying members, the force applying members being adapted to close into a circle having a diameter sized to engage the workpiece when inserted therein.
Claims25
An improved clamping assembly for reforming an out-of-round, relatively thin walled workpiece, said improvement comprising:
- (a) frame means for providing a relatively stationary base, said frame means defining at least one generally circular edge portion;
- (b) a plurality of force applying assemblies, each having a rigid elongated member which has first and second end portions, each elongated member coupled to said frame means by a pivotal coupling disposed between said end portions, closer to said second end portion than said first end portion, such that said force applying assemblies are located at equal radial distances from a central axis of said at least one generally circular edge portion;
- and
- (c) a rigid one piece annular driving member pivotally coupled to said first end of all of said elongated members such that as said driving member is moved along an annular path, said elongated members pivot about said pivotal coupling, thereby causing said second ends of said elongated members to simultaneously pivot into and out of engagement with said workpiece to reform said workpiece.
An improved apparatus for actuating a plurality of force applying assemblies into and out of engagement with a workpiece, said force applying assemblies being coupled to the frame of a pipe or cylindrical vessel fit up clamp, said improved apparatus comprising:
- (a) a one piece rigid annular driving member pivotally coupled to one end of a rigid elongated member within each of said force applying assemblies, said driving member being coupled to all of said rigid elongated members, each of said elongated members being coupled to said frame by a pivotal coupling disposed at an intermediate portion of said elongated member;
- (b) actuating means for actuating said rigid driving member along an annular path such that said elongated members within said force applying assemblies are pivoted, about said pivotal coupling, into and out of engagement with said workpiece;
- and
- (c) means for controlling the actuation of said actuating means such that said force applying assemblies are accurately displaced into and out of engagement with said workpiece by said driving means.
An improved method for reforming an out-of-round, relatively thin walled workpiece with a clamping assembly having a frame with a generally circular edge portion, a one piece rigid annular driving member and a plurality of force applying assemblies pivotally coupled to said rigid driving member and said frame, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing said out-of-round, relatively thin walled workpiece within said clamping assembly adjacent to said generally circular edge portion;
- (b) actuating said rigid driving member with an actuating means to cause said rigid driving member to move along an annular path while causing one end of a rigid elongated member within each of said force applying assemblies to pivot about an intermediate portion of said elongated member which is pivotally coupled to said frame, thereby causing opposite ends of all of said elongated members to pivotally extend from said generally circular edge portion of said frame and forcibly engage with said workpiece to reform the same;
- (c) ceasing actuation of said driving member, thereby stopping said force applying assemblies;
- (d) actuating said driving member in an opposite annular direction, thereby causing all of said force applying assemblies to retract toward said generally circular edge portion of said frame and disengage from said workpiece;
- and
- (e) removing said workpiece from its position adjacent said generally circular edge portion of said frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.