US 5,649,694 A · Multiple jaw vise with floating actuator

Abstract

A vise with first and second movable jaws slidable on elongate ways on a base. An actuator shaft extends longitudinally of the base and has first and second reversely threaded portions threadably engaged with the respective first and second movable jaws. A releasable retraining device cooperates between the base and the second jaw to restrain slidable movement thereof. The actuator shaft is axially floatable supported relative to the base and when rotated in one direction causes the first jaw to move in a first direction along the ways. The restraining device prevents slidable movement of the second jaw so that rotation of the actuator shaft causes the shaft to be axially displaced due to its threaded engagement with the second jaw, and this increases the movement rate of the first jaw due to its threadable engagement with the actuator shaft. When the first jaw encounters an obstruction preventing further movement, such as a workpiece, the restraining device releases so that continued rotation of the shaft causes the second jaw to move until it also encounters an obstruction such as a workpiece, and thereafter continued rotation causes both moving jaws to uniformly grippingly engage the workpiece or workpieces.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A vise for gripping at least one workpiece, comprising:

an elongate base defining thereon a slide way which is elongated longitudinally of said base;
first and second longitudinally-spaced jaw assemblies slidably mounted on said way for movement longitudinally of said base;
an elongate actuator shaft rotatably and axially movably supported on said base and extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, said shaft having first and second threaded shaft portions respectively disposed in threaded engagement with said first and second jaw assemblies, said first and second threaded portions being reversely threaded to cause said first and second jaw assemblies to move in opposite directions in response to rotation of said shaft in one rotational direction;
and
a releasable restraining member engaged between said base and said second jaw assembly for increasing the resistance of said second jaw assembly against movement relative to the resistance of said first jaw assembly against movement.

2 more elements

A vise for gripping a workpiece, comprising:

an elongate base defining thereon a pair of generally parallel and sidewardly spaced ways having upper slide surfaces which are elongated longitudinally of said base, and a guide passage which opens downwardly between said slide surfaces and is elongated longitudinally of said base;
first and second jaw structures mounted on said base for permitting gripping of a workpiece therebetween, at least one said jaw structure being longitudinally movably supported on said base and slidable along said ways for movement toward and away from the other jaw structure;
an elongate actuator shaft rotatably supported on said base and extending longitudinally along said guide passage and threadably coupled to said one jaw structure for effecting slidable movement thereof along said ways;
said one jaw structure including a bottom jaw member which is longitudinally movably disposed within said guide passage and has a bore formed therein in said longitudinal direction for accommodating said actuator shaft therein, and a top jaw member which is disposed above and is slidably supported on said ways and is fixedly but releasably joined to the bottom jaw member by a connecting structure;
and
said connecting structure including a connecting passage of dovetail-shaped cross section extending through said top jaw member transversely with respect to said longitudinal direction and opening downwardly through a bottom surface thereof, and a keypart of longitudinal dovetail-shaped cross section projecting upwardly from said bottom jaw member and being transversely slidably accommodated within said connecting passage, the dovetail-shaped cross sections of said connecting passage and said keypart being generally the same and having the widest cross section at upper ends thereof but with said keypart being of slightly smaller cross section than said connecting passage;
and
a resilient takeup device mounted on said keypart and coacting resiliently in the longitudinal direction between said keypart and one side of said connecting passage.

5 more elements

A vise for gripping a workpiece, comprising:

an elongate base defining thereon a pair of generally parallel and sidewardly spaced ways which extend longitudinally of said base, and a channel-like guide passage which is disposed between said ways and extends longitudinally of said base;
first and second stationary jaws mounted on said base and projecting upwardly from said ways in longitudinally spaced relationship, said first stationary jaw defining thereon a first gripping surface which faces toward said second stationary jaw, and said second stationary jaw defining thereon a second gripping surface which faces away from said first stationary jaw;
a movable jaw slidably mounted on said ways and projecting upwardly therefrom at a location between said first and second stationary jaws, said movable jaw defining thereon a third gripping surface which faces toward said first gripping surface, whereby external peripheral surface portions of a workpiece can be gripped between said first and third gripping surfaces, or alternatively internal peripheral surface portions of a workpiece can be gripped by said second and third gripping surfaces, said movable jaw including a bottom jaw member movably positioned within said guide passage, and a top jaw member which is slidably supported on said ways and is fixedly but releasably joined to the respective bottom jaw member by a connecting structure,
said connecting structure including a connecting passage formed in and extending between opposite side surfaces of said top jaw member, said connecting passage extending transversely with respect to said longitudinal direction and opening downwardly through a bottom surface of said top jaw member, said bottom surface having side surface parts which slidably engage said ways, said connecting passage having a generally dovetail-shaped cross section with said cross section being narrowest where it opens through said bottom surface;
said connecting structure including a keypart which is fixed to said bottom jaw member and projects upwardly above said ways into said connecting passage of the respective said top jaw member, said keypart having a dovetail-shaped cross section which corresponds to but is slightly smaller than the dovetail-shaped cross section of said connecting passage;
a resilient takeup device mounted on said keypart and including a takeup member movably mounted on said keypart and spring-urged outwardly for engagement with one inclined side surface of said connecting passage for eliminating clearance adjacent the opposite inclined side surface of said connecting passage and for causing said top jaw member to snug down against said way;
and
an actuator movably disposed within said guide passage and connected to said movable jaw for effecting slidable movement thereof along said ways in a direction toward said first stationary jaw for permitting gripping of a workpiece between said moving jaw and one of said first and second stationary jaws.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple jaw vise with floating actuator

Life of this patent

Multiple jaw vise with floating actuator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17