US 6,663,093 B2Granted

Rotary clamp

AssigneeKosmek Ltd.

InventorsKeitaro Yonezawa, Hideaki Yokota, Yosuke Haruna

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Abstract

A clamp rod (5) is inserted into a housing (3) rotatably around an axis and movably downwards for clamping. The clamp rod (5) has an outer peripheral portion formed with three guide grooves (26) which are arranged peripherally at substantially the same spacing. An engaging ball (29) which is fitted into every guide groove (26) is supported by a lower end wall (3b) of the housing (3). Each of the guide grooves (26) comprises a rotary groove (27) and a straight groove (28) which is in upward continuity with the rotary groove (27). The rotary grooves (27) as well as the straight grooves (28) are arranged in parallel with one another. A partition wall between the adjacent guide grooves (26), (26) has a minimum thickness (T) set to a value smaller than a diameter (D) of the engaging ball (29).

Claims17

Dependent claims

A rotary clamp comprising:

a housing (3) having a first end and a second end in a direction of an axis;
a clamp rod (5) having an outer peripheral portion, the clamp rod (5) being inserted into the housing (3) rotatably around the axis and being moved for clamping in a direction from the first end to the second end;
guide grooves (26) formed in the outer peripheral portion of the clamp rod (5) peripherally in plural number, each of the guide grooves (26) having a width (W) and comprising a rotary groove (27) and a straight groove (28) which are provided in continuity with each other in a direction from the second end to the first end, the rotary grooves (27) as well as the straight grooves (28) being arranged in parallel with one another;
a plurality of engaging members (29) supported by the housing (3) so as to be fitted into the guide grooves (26), respectively;
a partition wall formed between the adjacent guide grooves (26), (26);
and
the partition wall having a minimum thickness (T) set to a value smaller than the width (W) of the guide groove (26).

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/292,680Filed 12 Nov 2002
Priority: JP P 2001-34697713 Nov 2001
Published: US 2003/0090047 A115 May 2003
Granted: 16 Dec 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

F15B 15/063
For mechanically converting rectilinear movement into non- rectilinear movement: actuator having both linear and rotary output, i.e. dual action…
B25B 5/062
With fluid drive: with clamping means pivoting around an axis parallel to the pressing direction
F15B
Systems acting by means of fluids in general
B25B
Tools or bench devices not otherwise provided for, for fastening, connecting, disengaging