Motors: expansible chamber type – With motive fluid valve – For double-acting motor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-12
2003-05-06
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3723)
Motors: expansible chamber type
With motive fluid valve
For double-acting motor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06557452
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to industrial clamps having at least one pivotal arm.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a typical valve and cylinder system
8
which is common in the art of industrial clamps. In particular, there is a hollow cylinder
10
having a first end
14
and a second end
16
. Within the cylinder
10
, there is a piston (not shown) which is movable between a first end position and a second end position. The piston is connected to a rod
12
that protrudes through the second end
16
. The rod
12
is typically connected to a linkage assembly (not shown) to which a shaft (not shown) is rotatably connected. A clamp arm (not shown) is then typically fixedly mounted on the shaft.
At or near both the first end
14
and the second end
16
of the cylinder
10
are two proximity switches
18
. These two proximity switches
18
serve to provide an indirect indication of the rotational position of the clamp arm by detecting whether the piston (or rod
12
) is at the first end position (retracted position) or the second end position (extended position). Typically, the cylinder
10
, in combination with the proximity switches
18
, requires one or more electrical power and/or control cables
19
.
The rod
12
and the piston (not shown) together define a full bore area (not shown) and an annulus area (not shown) on opposite sides of the piston within the cylinder
10
. From the full bore and annulus two areas within the cylinder
10
, a first air line
20
and a second air line
22
are routed to an air valve system
24
which is located remote from the cylinder
10
.
The air valve system
24
typically has one or more exhaust ports in which one or more silencers
26
are fitted. In addition, the air valve system
24
typically has a main pneumatic air supply line
28
and an electrical power and/or control cable
30
.
The typical valve and cylinder system
8
, as described above, has certain drawbacks. First, for example, the remote location of the air valve system
24
from the cylinder
10
can create undesired difficulties if local control of the cylinder
10
and the associated clamp arm is desired. Second, the remote location of the air valve system
24
from the cylinder
10
also, in many instances, unnecessarily dictates the combined need for a multiplicity of electrical power and/or control cables and air lines at the two separate locations. The unnecessary multiplicity of electrical power and/or control cables can be especially troublesome in a manufacturing environment wherein many clamps are used simultaneously. Third, the remote location of the air valve system
24
from the cylinder
10
also unnecessarily creates additional problems for the combined servicing and repair of the cylinder
10
and the air valve system
24
at the two separate locations. Fourth, the remote location of the air valve system
24
from the cylinder
10
uses only approximately 20% of the compressed air in the system
8
.
Thus, there is a present need in the art for eliminating the drawbacks and problems associated with the cylinder and the air valve system being at locations which are remote from each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a clamp having at least one clamp arm moveable between a clamped position and a released position in response to movement of an actuator between first and second end limits of travel, the present invention provides means for selectively setting at least one of the clamped position and the released position at an actuator position between the first and second end limits of travel of the actuator.
In a clamp having at least one clamp arm moveable between a clamped position and a released position in response to movement of an actuator between first and second end limits of travel, the present invention provides means for selectively controlling a speed of actuator movement as the actuator moves between the first and second end limits of travel. Preferably, the present invention further provides means for selectively controlling the speed of actuator movement as the actuator approaches at least one of the first and second end limits of travel to provide a soft touch clamp action.
In a clamp having at least one clamp arm moveable between a clamped position and a released position in response to movement of an actuator controlled by differential fluid pressure in first and second chambers located on opposite sides of the actuator, the present invention provides means for selectively adjusting pressurized fluid within the first and second chambers independent of one another.
In a clamp network system having a plurality of clamps actuated in response to pressurized fluid, the present invention provides each of the plurality of clamps with a separate valve and position control system.
The present invention also provides a valve and position control system which is integrable with an industrial clamp. The valve and position control system, according to the present invention, is integrable with a clamp which has a main housing, a hollow cylinder having a first end and a second end mounted within the main housing, and a piston movable between a first end position and a second end position within the hollow cylinder. The clamp further includes a rod connected to the piston and protruding from the second end of the hollow cylinder, defining a full bore area and an annulus area on opposite sides of the piston within the hollow cylinder. In addition, the clamp includes a linkage assembly coupled to the rod and mounted within the main housing, a shaft rotatably connected to the linkage assembly, a clamp arm fixedly mounted on the shaft outside of the main housing, means for sensing the position of the clamp arm, and means for sensing the air pressure within the hollow cylinder. The valve and position control system, according to the basic embodiment of the present invention, is intended to be integrable with this type of clamp.
In a basic embodiment of the present invention, the integrable valve and position control system includes a complementary housing which is integrable with the main housing of the clamp. This complementary housing has an air supply port, an exhaust port, and an electronic interface port. In addition, the integrable valve and position control system includes a first direction control valve having three ports and two positions. This first direction control valve is capable of selectively and pneumatically connecting the full bore area of the hollow cylinder to one of either the air supply port or the exhaust port. The first direction control valve is mounted within the complementary housing. In addition to the first direction control valve, the integrable valve and position control system also includes a second direction control valve having three ports and two positions. This second direction control valve is capable of selectively and pneumatically connecting the annulus area of the hollow cylinder to one of either the air supply port or the exhaust port. The second direction control valve is mounted within the complementary housing.
According to the basic embodiment of the present invention, the integrable valve and position control system also includes first means for pneumatically piloting the first direction control valve. This first pneumatic piloting means is mounted within the complementary housing. In addition to the first pneumatic piloting means, the integrable valve and position control system also includes second means for pneumatically piloting the second direction control valve. This second pneumatic piloting means is also mounted within the complementary housing.
Further according to the basic embodiment of the present invention, the integrable valve and position control system also includes an electronic control circuit mounted within the complementary housing. This electronic control circuit is electrically connected to the first pneumatic piloting means, the second pneumatic piloting means, and the electronic interface port. In addition, this electronic control circuit
Morroney Wayne D.
Wheeler Timothy E.
Lazo Thomas E.
Look Edward K.
Norgren Automotive, Inc.
Young & Basile P.C.
LandOfFree
Valve and position control system integrable with clamp does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Valve and position control system integrable with clamp, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Valve and position control system integrable with clamp will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3070055