Clamping arm position sensing apparatus
AssigneeNorgren Automotive, Inc.
InventorMichael J. Golden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor detects the absolute angular position of a rotatable clamp arm between full opened and full closed positions. The sensor is coupled to a clamp arm pivot shaft to provide output signals corresponding to the absolute position of the clamp arm. One or more programmable angular position set points are setable at angular positions in advance of the full open and full closed positions of the clamp arm. Outputs are generated when the clamp arm reaches and/or exceeds each set point.
Claims18
A clamp arm position detector for a clamp having a pivotal clamp arm fixedly mounted on a rotatable shaft rotatable by an external power source between first and second end positions, the detector comprising:
- means, coupled to a rotatable shaft on which a clamp arm is mounted, for detecting the absolute angular position of the clamp arm at all positions of the clamp arm between the first and second end positions.
A clamp arm position detector for a clamp having a pivotal clamp arm fixedly mounted on a rotatable shaft rotatable by an external power source between first and second end positions, the detector comprising:
- means, coupled to a movable element of the clamp, for detecting the absolute angular position of the clamp arm at all positions of the clamp arm between the first and second end positions.
A clamp apparatus comprising:
- a pivotal clamp arm fixedly mountable on a rotatable shaft rotatable by an external power source between first and second end positions;
- means, responsive to movement of the clamp arm between the first and second end positions, for measuring the travel time of the clamp arm between the first and second end position;
- means for establishing a minimum travel time of the clamp arm between the first and second end positions;
- and
- means for comparing the measured travel time with the established minimum travel time and for generating an error signal when the measured travel time is less than the established travel time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.