Power operated swing clamp

Claim 2

A power operated swing clamp comprising a mounting base, a rotatable shaft mounted in said base and extending therefrom, a pivot on said shaft having the pivot axis angularly disposed relative to the shaft axis, a clamping arm mounted on said pivot having a work piece engaging end, a fluid powered cylinder in said base, said cylinder including a piston, actuating engaging means between said piston and said clamping arm to clamp a work piece thereby, and actuating connection means between said piston and said shaft whereby fluid actuation of said piston will cause rotation of said shaft and said clamping arm into operative position prior to actuation of said clamping arm.

Claim 3

A power operated swing clamp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said additional connection means includes interengaging cam and follower means between said piston and said shaft.

Claim 4

A power operated swing clamp comprising a mounting base, a rotatable shaft mounted in said base and extending therefrom, a pivot on said shaft having the pivot axis angularly disposed relative to the shaft axis, a clamping arm mounted on said pivot and having a work piece engaging end and an actuating end, a fluid powered cylinder in said base, said cylinder including a piston, and piston rod, said piston rod engageable with said clamping arm actuating end to clamp a work piece thereby, cam means attached to said piston, follower means moveably mounted in said base and engaging said cam, drive means operatively connecting said follower means with said shaft whereby fluid actuation of said piston will cause rotation of said shaft and said clamping arm into operative position prior to engagement of said piston rod with said clamping arm actuating end.

Claim 5

A power operated swing clamp comprising a mounting base, a rotatable shaft mounted in said base and extending therefrom, a pivot on said shaft having the pivot axis angularly disposed relative to the shaft axis, a clamping arm mounted on said pivot and having a work piece engaging end and an actuating end, a fluid powered cylinder in said base, said cylinder including a piston, and piston rod, said piston rod engageable with said clamping arm actuating end to clamp a work piece thereby, cam means attached to said piston, follower means moveably mounted in said base and engaging said cam, drive means operatively connecting said follower means with said shaft whereby fluid actuation of said piston will cause rotation of said shaft and said clamping arm into operative position prior to engagement of said piston rod with said clamping arm actuating end.

Claim 6

The clamp according to claim 3 wherein said drive means include bell crank means pivotaly mounted in said base, a slot in said shaft perpendicular to the axis thereof and a stud mounted on said bell crank means and engaging said slot.

Claim 7

The clamp of claim 4 wherein said bell crank means includes a crank arm and pivot plate both rotatable about the same pivotal mounting, mutually engageable complementary stop means on said crank arm and pivot plate and spring means connecting said crank arm to said pivot plate, said spRing means normally urging said complementary stop means into engagement.

Claim 8

The clamp of claim 3 wherein said follower means is constrained to move transversely to said piston within said fluid cylinder and includes an extension to operatively connect with said drive means outside of said fluid cylinder.

Claim 9

The clamp of claim 6 wherein said drive means includes bell crank means pivotally mounted in said base, a slot in said shaft perpendicular to the axis thereof and a stud mounted on said bell crank means and engaging said slot.

Claim 10

The clamp of claim 7 wherein said bell crank means includes a crank arm and pivot plate both rotatable about the same pivotal mounting, mutually engageable complementary stop means on said crank arm and pivot plate and spring means connecting said crank arm to said pivot plate, said spring means normally urging said complementary stop means into engagement.

Claim 11

The clamp of claim 8 wherein said clamp may be assembled for a right hand or left hand swing by including a cross slot in said shaft, and in the assembly of said clamp rotating said piston 180*, said follower means 180* and reversing said pivot plate top for bottom prior to the attachment of said stud in the assembly thereof.

Claim 12

A power operated swing clamp comprising a mounting base, a rotatable shaft mounted in said base and extending therefrom, a pivot on said shaft extension having the pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis, a clamping arm mounted on said pivot and having a work piece engaging end and an actuating end, a fluid powered cylinder in said base, said cylinder including a piston and piston rod, said piston rod engageable with said clamping arm actuating end to clamp a work piece thereby, a cam attached to said piston comprising a slot having a portion parallel to the piston rod axis and a portion oblique thereto, a guide passage in said base intersecting said cylinder, a follower mount including sealed guides in said passage on either side of said cylinder, a follower on said follower mount engaging said cam slot, a pivot plate and crank arm coaxially rotatably mounted in said base, said pivot plate operatively engaged by said follower mount, said crank arm operatively engaging said shaft, mutually engageable complementary stop means on said pivot plate and crank arm and spring means connecting said pivot plate and crank arm whereby said spring means normally urges said complementary stop means into engagement and the movement of said follower in the oblique portion of said cam slot causes rotation of said shaft.

Claim 13

A power operated swing clamp comprising a mounting base, a rotatable shaft mounted in said base and extending therefrom, a pivot on said shaft extension having the pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis, a clamping arm mounted on said pivot and having a work piece engaging end and an actuating end, a fluid powered cylinder in said base, said cylinder including a piston and piston rod, said piston rod engageable with said clamping arm actuating end to clamp a work piece thereby, a cam attached to said piston comprising a slot having a portion parallel to the piston rod axis and a portion oblique thereto, a guide passage in said base intersecting said cylinder, a follower mount including sealed guides in said passage on either side of said cylinder, a follower on said follower mount engaging said cam slot, a pivot plate and crank arm coaxially rotatably mounted in said base, said pivot plate operatively engaged by said follower mount, said crank arm operatively engaging said shaft, mutually engageable complementary stop means on said pivot plate and crank arm and spring means connecting said pivot plate and crank arm whereby said spring means normally urges said complementary stop means into engagement and the movement of said follower in the oblique portion of said cam slot causes rotation of said shaft.

Claim 14

A power operated work holding device comprising a mounting base, work clamping means mounted on said base, mounting means accommodating prepositioning movement of said clamping means, distinct mounting means accommodating final work clamping movement of said clamping means, a fluid powered cylinder mounted on said base including a piston, actuating connecting means between said piston and said clamping means providing said prepositioning movement during initial travel of said piston, and actuating engaging means between said piston and said clamping means providing said final work clamping movement during final travel of said piston.

Claim 15

A power operated work holding device comprising a mounting base, work clamping means mounted on said base, mounting means accommodating prepositioning movement of said clamping means, distinct mounting means accommodating final work clamping movement of said clamping means, a fluid powered cylinder mounted on said base including a piston, actuating connecting means between said piston and said clamping means providing said prepositioning movement during initial travel of said piston, and actuating engaging means between said piston and said clamping means providing said final work clamping movement during final travel of said piston.