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US 6,378,855 B1Granted
Locking pin clamp
AssigneeBTM Corporation
InventorsEdwin G. Sawdon, Brian D. Petit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp employs a workpiece-clamping member, a clamp body, and a driving member. A further aspect of the present invention provides a camming mechanism to couple a clamping member to a camming member. Still another aspect of the present invention employs a piston and a clamping member wherein the piston advances in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction of movement of the clamping member.
Claims61
A clamp comprising:
- a piston head operably advancing in a first linear direction;
- a clamp body;
- a driving member coupled to the piston head, the driving member being movable in the first direction in concert with the piston head, the driving member being movable at least partially inside the body;
- a clamping member movably coupled to the driving member, the clamping member being at least partially movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction when moving from a retracted position to a clamping position;
- a camming surface operably controlling at least a portion of the movement of the clamping member relative to the driving member;
- and
- a workpiece-locating pin externally projecting from the body.
4 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a piston head operably advancing in a first linear direction;
- a clamp body;
- a driving member coupled to the piston head, the driving member being movable in the first direction in concert with the piston head, the driving member being movable at least partially inside the body;
- a clamping member movably coupled to the driving member, the clamping member being at least partially movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction when moving from a retracted position to a clamping position;
- a workpiece-locating pin externally projecting from the body;
- a first camming slot having a first segment elongated in substantially the second direction and a second segment angularly offset from the second direction, the first camming slot being located on one of the clamping member and the body;
- and
- a first camming pin assembly ridable along the first camming slot and being affixed to the other one of the clamping member and the body;
- wherein the first camming slot and the first camming pin assembly are operable to rotate the clamping member relative to the body.
6 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a first piston head operably advancing in a first linear direction;
- a clamp body;
- a driving member coupled to the first piston head, the driving member being movable in the first direction in concert with the first piston head, the driving member being movable at least partially inside the body;
- a second piston head coupled to the driving member, the driving member being mounted between the piston heads;
- a clamping member movably coupled to the driving member, the clamping member being at least partially movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction when moving from a retracted position to a clamping position;
- and
- a workpiece-locating pin externally projecting from the body.
4 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a piston head operably advancing in a first linear direction;
- a clamp body;
- a driving member coupled to the piston head, the driving member being movable in the first direction in concert with the piston head, the driving member being movable at least partially inside the body;
- multiple detents located on a camming surface of the driving member;
- a clamping member movably coupled to the driving member, the clamping member being at least partially movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction when moving from a retracted position to a clamping position;
- and
- a workpiece-locating pin externally projecting from the body.
4 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a workpiece-clamping member;
- a camming member having an elongated camming surface coupled to the clamping member;
- a first piston head coupled to a first end of the camming member;
- and
- a second piston head coupled to an opposite second end of the camming member;
- wherein fluid pressure applied against the first piston head causes the camming member to move in a first direction and fluid pressure operably applied against the second piston head causes the camming member to move in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction, and the clamping member operably moves in response to movement of the camming member.
3 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a body having a first internal bore and a substantially perpendicular second internal bore;
- a clamping member at least partially located in the first bore and having a workpiece-clamping surface;
- a first camming mechanism coupling the clamping member to the body, the first camming mechanism including an elongated camming surface;
- a fluid powered piston operably movable in an advancing direction coaxial with an axis of the second bore;
- and
- a second camming mechanism coupling the clamping member to the piston, the second camming mechanism including an elongated camming surface;
- the first and second camming mechanisms being operable to rotate and linearly move the clamping member relative to the body;
- and
- the first mechanism being located substantially between the second mechanism and the clamping surface.
6 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a body;
- a clamping member having a clamping surface movable from a workpiece-clamping position to a retracted position in a first direction, the clamping member having a coupling end located inside the body;
- a driving member at least partially located in the body;
- a fluid powered piston head coupled to the driving member, the piston head and driving member being movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
- a camming mechanism coupling the clamping member to the driving member such that movement of the piston head and driving member causes the clamping surface to move between the clamping and retracted positions, the camming mechanism including an elongated camming surface oriented within about 45 degrees of the second direction;
- and
- at least one detent located on the camming surface to deter the clamping surface from moving from the clamping position if fluid pressure against the piston head is less than a desired amount.
4 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a workpiece-clamping arm movable between a clamping position and a retracted position;
- a driving member movable between an advanced position and a retracted position;
- a camming mechanism coupling the clamping member to the driving member, the camming mechanism including a continuously enclosed internal slot having an elongated camming surface;
- and
- a set of detents located on the camming surface to assist in maintaining a desired position of the clamping member.
2 more elements
A pin clamp comprising:
- a body having an internal bore;
- a workpiece-locating pin externally extending from the body, the locating pin being substantially hollow and substantially coaxial with the bore, at least four workpiece-contacting surfaces located on an external side surface of the locating pin in an equidistant manner, at least one opening located in the external side surface of the locating pin;
- and
- a workpiece-engaging clamping member having a section located inside the bore of the body and having a clamping surface retractable inside the locating pin, the clamping surface being extendable outside of the locating pin through the opening in the locating pin when the clamping member is moved from a retracted position to a workpiece-clamping position.
1 more element
A clamp comprising:
- a hollow clamp body;
- a workpiece-engaging clamping member coupled to the body;
- a piston cylinder;
- a fluid-powered piston operably driving the clamping member, the piston being movable inside the piston cylinder;
- and
- a fastener attaching the piston cylinder to the body when the piston cylinder is in a fully installed position relative to the body;
- the piston cylinder being rotatable relative to the body when in the fully installed position with the fastener fully engaged.
4 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a clamp body;
- a workpiece-engaging clamping member;
- a piston cylinder;
- a fluid-powered piston operably moving the clamping member, the piston being movable inside the piston cylinder;
- and
- a fastener attaching the piston cylinder to the body when the piston cylinder is substantially in a fully installed position relative to the body;
- the piston cylinder being rotatable relative to the body when substantially in the fully installed position and with the fastener at least partially engaged.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.