Rigid clamp
AssigneeSandia Corporation
InventorsGilbert L. Benavides, Jack D. Burt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a clamp mechanism that can be used to attach or temporarily support objects inside of tubular goods. The clamp mechanism can also be modified so that it grips objects. The clamp has a self-centering feature to accommodate out-of-roundness or other internal defections in tubular objects such as pipe. A plurality of clamping shoes are expanded by a linkage which is preferably powered by a motor to contact the inside of a pipe. The motion can be reversed and jaw elements can be connected to the linkage so as to bring the jaws together to grab an object.
Claims32
An apparatus for selective fixation of an object to another comprising:
- a housing;
- at least two shoes movably mounted to said housing;
- drive means mounted to said housing further comprising:
- at least one driver;
- at least one shaft operably connected to said driver;
- at least one linkage connecting said shaft to said shoe for selective movement of said shoe from a retracted position to an extended position for selective contact with the object;
- and
- lost motion means for allowing said driver to move one of said shoes after contact by another of said shoes with the object prevents its further movement.
A clamp for gripping an object, comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of shoes with said housing movable between a retracted position and an extended position for selective contact and release with the object;
- a driver connected to said housing capable of producing at least a rotational output;
- means for converting said rotational output of said driver into movement of said shoe between said expanded and retracted positions;
- said means for converting said rotational output further comprising:
- a shaft operably connected to said driver;
- means on said shaft to selectively allow said driver to rotate said shaft to extend and retract all said shoes in tandem and to allow said shaft to rotate and translate on its axis to allow movement of at least one shoe when another is immobilized by contact with the object.
A clamp, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of shoes selectively movable with respect to said housing;
- said housing having opening for each of said shoes;
- said shoes extending through said formed openings and having guide means for providing rigidity of said shoes against release when subjected to a torque;
- said quids means further comprises:
- a ridge on each shoe;
- a conforming groove on each opening;
- and
- said shoes operable in different planes, extending through said longitudinal axis, for contact with an object.
An apparatus for selective fixation of an object to another comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one shoe movably mounted to said housing;
- drive means mounted to said housing further comprising:
- at least one driver;
- at least one shaft operably connected to said driver;
- at least one linkage connecting said shaft to said shoe for selective movement of said shoe from a retracted position to an extended position for selective contact with the object;
- at least a first nut connected by a first linkage to a first shoe;
- at least a second nut connected by a second linkage to a second shoe;
- and
- means on said shaft adjacent said first and second nut to move said first and second nuts in tandem for selective extension and retraction of said shoes.
A clamp, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of shoes selectively movable with respect to said housing;
- said shoes operable in different planes, extending through said longitudinal axis, for contact with an object;
- and
- means for selectively driving said shoes in tandem and to selectively drive at least one of said shoes independently when at least another one of said shoes comes in contact with the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.