Clamp apparatus

Details Clamp apparatus Clamp apparatus

2001-11-26

2003-11-18

Wilson, Lee D. (Department: 3723)

Work holders

With fluid means

Cylinder-piston means in series with additional positioning...

C269S228000, C269S024000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06648317

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clamp having an arm for clamping a workpiece. The arm is rotatable at a predetermined angle by a drive mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Clamp cylinders have conventionally been used in order to clamp a component of an automobile or the like to be welded. Such a clamp cylinder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,889, for example.
As shown in
FIGS. 16 and 17
, in the clamp cylinder disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,889, a piston rod
2
is actuated by a cylinder
1
c
to reciprocate between a pair of divided bodies
1
a,
1
b.
A coupling
3
is connected to an end of the piston rod
2
. A pair of links
5
a,
5
b
and a pair of rollers
6
a,
6
b
are rotatably installed to both ends of the coupling
3
respectively by a first shaft
4
. An arm
8
which is rotatable at a predetermined angle is connected between the pair of links
5
a,
5
b
by a second shaft
7
.
In this case, the pair of rollers
6
a,
6
b
are slidable by a plurality of needles
9
a
which are installed to holes. The rollers
6
a,
6
b
are slidable along track grooves
9
b
defined on the bodies
1
a,
1
b.
The piston rod
2
is guided by the rollers
6
a,
6
b
and displaceable together with the rollers
6
a,
6
b.
However, in the above conventional clamp cylinder disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,889, a surface of a workpiece (not shown) may be damaged when clamped by the arm
8
since the rotating arm strikes against the workpiece.
Specifically, when a door with its outer surface coated is clamped by the arm
8
, an end (clamping portion) of the rotating arm
8
may strike by inertial force (rotational force) against the outer surface of the door, thereby causing damages on the coated surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a clamp which makes it possible to reduce inertial force (rotational force) of an arm of the clamp when a workpiece is clamped thereby, for protecting the surface of the workpiece from an impact exerted by the arm.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4458889 (1984-07-01), McPherson et al.
patent: 5676357 (1997-10-01), Horn
patent: 5704600 (1998-01-01), Robinson
patent: 5884903 (1999-03-01), Sawdon
patent: 6435494 (2002-08-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 41 11 430 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 299 20 639 (2000-05-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Clamp apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Clamp apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Clamp apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3177706