Clamping apparatus
AssigneeTygard Machine & Manufacturing Company
InventorEdward Tygard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamping apparatus for lifting objects includes a frame and first and second opposing clamping arms pivotably supported by the frame about first and second parallel axes. Each clamping arm has a contact portion. A drive member is connected to the first and second clamping arms to simultaneously pivot the first and second clamping arms about the first and second axes. The height of the contact portions when spaced apart by a first separation is the same as when spaced apart by a second separation. As a result, the clamping apparatus can securely grasp both square and elongated rectangular objects.
Claims28
A clamping apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- first and second opposing clamping arms pivotably supported by the frame for pivoting about parallel first and second horizontal axes, respectively, each clamping arm including a support arm and a contact portion for contacting an object to be lifted, each support arm having a first section pivotably connected to the frame at a pivot point and a second section extending downwards from a portion of the first section spaced from the pivot point at an acute angle with respect to the first section, the contact portion being supported by the second section;
- and
- one or more drive members connected to the first and second clamping arms to pivot the first and second clamping arms about the first and second axes.
A system for lifting an object comprising:
- a clamping device comprising a frame, first and second opposing clamping arms pivotably supported by the frame about first and second parallel axes, respectively, and having first and second contact portions, respectively, for grasping an object, and one or more drive members operatively connected to the first and second clamping arms to pivot the first and second clamping arms about the first and second axes;
- a fork lift;
- a side shifter mounted on the fork lift for moving the clamping device in a transverse direction of the fork lift;
- and
- a joint connecting the side shifter and the clamping device to permit relative vertical movement of the side shifter and the clamping device upon impact of the clamping device against an object.
A clamping apparatus for use in lifting an object comprising:
- a support frame;
- a first pair of opposing clamping arms pivotably supported by the frame for pivoting about a first pair of parallel axes separated by a first distance, and a second pair of opposing clamping arms pivotably supported by the frame for pivoting about a second pair of parallel axes separated by the first distance and extending perpendicular to the first pair of parallel axes, each clamping arm having a first section with a lower portion pivotable about one of the axes and an upper portion extending upwards from the lower portion, a second section extending downwards from the upper portion of the first section at an angle in the range of approximately 15 to approximately 80 degrees, and a contact portion mounted on a lower portion of the second section;
- and
- one or more drive members connected to the clamping arms to pivot the clamping arms about the two pairs of axes and press the contact portions against an object with a force sufficient for the contact portions to support the weight of the object,
- wherein the lower portion of the second section of each clamping arm is movable along a corresponding arc centered on one of the axes between a first point at which the contact portion of each clamping arm is separated from the contact portion of the opposing clamping arm by approximately 32 inches, and a second point at which the contact portion of each clamping arm is separated from the contact portion of the opposing clamping arm by approximately 38 inches, the lower portion of each clamping arm being at a minimum height of the corresponding arc between the first and second points.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.