Force generating mechanism
AssigneeBTM Corporation
InventorEdwin G. Sawdon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a unique force generating mechanism which is easily adapted for use in a compact lightweight tool requiring high work forces. The mechanism includes a force generating member disposed within an actuation chamber where either pneumatic or hydraulic fluid pressure is allowed to bear against a relatively large ram surface causing a deflection of the ram in a first direction and translation of the ends of the ram in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A working force, larger than the force of the fluid bearing on the ram surface, is thereby generated along this direction of translation.
Claims13
A force generating mechanism comprising:
- a body having walls defining an elongated longitudinally extending chamber;
- means for closing said chamber;
- an elongated longitudinally extending resilient ram disposed within said chamber, said ram having a non-planar arcuate shape in a relaxed state and having first and second ends, said ram being movable transversely in said chamber;
- a seal member disposed within said chamber adjacent said ram for sealing said ram with respect to the walls of said chamber when said ram moves transversely therein, said seal member being separate from said means for sealing said chamber;
- means for fastening tooling to said second end of said ram;
- and
- means for selectively pressurizing and depressurizing said chamber on one side of said ram whereupon pressurizing said chamber causes said ram and said seal member to deflect in a transverse direction towards a planar flattened condition, whereby said ends of said ram are caused to move in a longitudinal direction with respect to one another to generate a longitudinal working force at said second end of said ram for actuating said tooling, and whereupon said ram automatically returns from a substantially planar unrelaxed state having said flattened condition to said relaxed non-planar arcuate shape to retract said tooling when said chamber is depressurized.
A force generating mechanism comprising:
- a body having walls defining a longitudinally extending chamber;
- a resilient ram disposed within said chamber, said ram having a non-planar shape when in a relatively relaxed state and first and second ends, said ram dividing the chamber into a first working chamber and a second working chamber and being movable transversely in said chamber;
- fastening means for fastening tooling to said second end of said ram for reciprocating movement substantially in a plane of said ends of said ram;
- sealing means for sealing the first working chamber from the second working chamber;
- and
- means for selectively pressurizing and depressurizing said first working chamber whereupon pressurizing said first working chamber causes said ram to deflect in a transverse direction toward a substantially planar shape whereby said ends of said ram move apart with respect to one another in a longitudinal direction in said plane for actuating said tooling to move in said plane to engage a workpiece disposed in said plane, and whereupon depressurizing said first working chamber causes said ram to automatically return to said relatively relaxed state having said non-planar shape and automatically retract said tooling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.