Multiple vice for clamping at least two workpieces

A multiple vise for the clamping of at least two workpieces simultaneously, comprising:

• a vise body;
• guide means in said vise body;
• two fixed jaws mounted in relative spaced relationship on said vise body;
• means for rigidly mounting said fixed jaws on said vise body;
• two movable jaw means mounted on said vise body between said two fixed jaws in sliding engagement with said guide means for substantially linear movement relative to said fixed jaws and each other, so that each movable jaw means is movable between clamping and non-clamping positions in cooperation with one of said fixed jaws;
• spindle means having first and second spindle parts rotatably mounted within said vise body and having opposite screw threads thereon, each screw thread being engaged with a cooperating screw thread on a respective one of said movable jaw means, and said spindle parts being relatively movable with respect to each other in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said jaw means, so that rotation of said spindle parts in one direction simultaneously moves said movable jaw means apart and toward said clamping position with respective fixed jaws and rotation of said spindle parts in the opposite direction moves said movable jaw means toward each other and said non-clamping position and away from said respective fixed jaws;
• a drive shaft rotatably disposed within said spindle parts for relative rotation with respect thereto and releasably engageable with said spindle means for rotating said first and second spindle parts;
• and
• clamping force increasing means interposed between said first and second spindle parts for urging said spindle parts away from each other in the clamping position.