Clamp mechanism with trailing arm control

Claim 2

In a clamp mechanism having a pair of opposed clamp members mounted on a frame for movement in the same direction on the frame to one or the other side thereof thus to side shift a load, one member leading and one member trailing on such side shifting, first bidirectional fluid-powered motor means connected to one clamp member for moving it under power to one or the other side of the frame, said one clamp member moving as a trailing member with movement to one side of the frame and said one clamp member and connected first motor means being mechanically limited with respect to the movement afforded to said one side of the frame, a first sensing means for said one clamp sensing independently of the position of the other clamp member a predetermined position of said one clamp member relative to said frame, said predetermined position being proximate where movement of said one clamp member is mechanically limited, second bidirectional fluid-powered motor means connected to the other clamp member for moving it under power to one or the other side of the frame, said other clamp member moving as a trailing member with movement to the other side of the frame and said other clamp member and connected second motor means being mechanically limited with respect to the movement afforded to said other side of the frame, a second sensing means for said other clamp member sensing indepeNdently of the position of the one clamp member a predetermined position of said other clamp member relative to the frame, said predetermined position being proximate where movement of said other clamp member is mechanically limited, and valve means actuated by said first and second sensing means checking movement of the clamp members in response to either sensing means sensing that its associated clamp member is in its said predetermined position.

Claim 3

In clamp mechanism having a pair of opposed clamp members mounted on a frame for movement in the same direction on the frame, to one or the other side thereof, thus to side shift a load, one member leading and one member trailing on said side shifting, a fluid-powered ram for each clamp member mounted on said frame and connected to the clamp member whereby the clamp member is moved under power on actuation of the ram, each ram including a cylinder and an internal piston, a source of fluid under pressure, hydraulic circuit means connecting said source and said rams for the supply and exhaust of fluid thereto and therefrom, said circuit means including a first hydraulic system where the rams are connected in parallel with said source and fluid under pressure is directed to the rams to move the clamp members apart and move them together to effect the release and clamping of a load, said hydraulic circuit further including a second hydraulic system wherein the rams are connected in series with fluid exhausting from one ram dumping into the other for the purpose of moving the clamp members to side shift a load, said second system including a first valve on the feed side of both rams actuated to produce side shifting to one side of the frame, a second valve on the feed side of the rams with the rams actuated to produce side shifting to the other side of the frame, each of said valves being actuatable to stop the supply of pressure fluid to the rams thus to stop side shifting, each of said valves including a housing mounted on said frame and having an actuator associated with the valve for actuating the valve, a part fixed to one clamp member to be movable solely with movement of said one clamp member which moves against the actuator for one valve said one clamp member moving as a trailing member on side shifting whereby the supply of pressure fluid to the rams is stopped, and a part fixed to the other clamp member to be movable solely with movement of the other clamp member which moves against the actuator of the other valve with said other clamp member moving as a trailing member on side shifting whereby the other valve is actuated to stop the supply of pressure fluid to the rams.

Claim 4

In clamp mechanism having a pair of opposed clamp members mounted on a frame for movement in the same direction on the frame, to one or the other side thereof, thus to side shift a load, one member leading and one member trailing on said side shifting, a fluid-powered ram for each clamp member mounted on said frame and connected to the clamp member whereby the clamp member is moved under power on actuation of the ram, each ram including a cylinder and an internal piston, a source of fluid under pressure, hydraulic circuit means connecting said source and said rams for the supply and exhaust of fluid thereto and therefrom, said circuit means including a first hydraulic system where the rams are connected in parallel with said source and fluid under pressure is directed to the rams to move the clamp members apart and move them together to effect the release and clamping of a load, said hydraulic circuit further including a second hydraulic system wherein the rams are connected in series with fluid exhausting from one ram dumping into the other for the purpose of moving the clamp members to side shift a load, said second system including a first valve on the feed side of both rams actuated to produce side shifting to one side of the frame, a second valve on the feed side of the rams with the rams actuated to produce side shifting to the other side of the frame, each of said valves being actuatable to stop the supply of pressure fluid to the rams thus to stop side shifting, each of said valves including a housing mounted on said frame and having an actuator associated with the valve for actuating the valve, a part fixed to one clamp member to be movable solely with movement of said one clamp member which moves against the actuator for one valve said one clamp member moving as a trailing member on side shifting whereby the supply of pressure fluid to the rams is stopped, and a part fixed to the other clamp member to be movable solely with movement of the other clamp member which moves against the actuator of the other valve with said other clamp member moving as a trailing member on side shifting whereby the other valve is actuated to stop the supply of pressure fluid to the rams.

Claim 5

The clamp mechanism of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes housing structure fixedly secured to said frame, and the sensing means for each clamp member comprises an actuator for said valve means movably mounted in said housing structure and a cooperating part fixed to the clamp member to be movable only with movement of the clamp member in a path which brings said part into engagement with said actuator.

Claim 6

In clamp mechanism having a frame and a pair of opposed clamp members movably mounted on the frame, each for movement toward one or the other side of the frame, and a bidirectional fluid-powered motor for each clamp member connected to the clamp member for moving it under power, one clamp member trailing the other on movement in unison of the clamp members to a common side of the frame, sensing means for sensing, independently of the position of the leading clamp member and on movement of the clamp members to said common side of the frame, a predetermined position of the trailing clamp member relative to the frame, the trailing clamp member and its connected motor being mechanically limited with respect to the movement afforded to said common side of the frame, said predetermined position for said trailing clamp member being proximate where movement of said trailing clamp member is mechanically limited, a source of fluid under pressure, and a hydraulic circuit connecting said source and said motor including valve means actuated by said sensing means to stop movement of both clamp members in response to said sensing means sensing said predetermined position of said trailing clamp member.

Claim 7

In clamp mechanism having a frame and a pair of opposed clamp members movably mounted on the frame, each for movement toward one or the other side of the frame, and a bidirectional fluid-powered motor for each clamp member connected to the clamp member for moving it under power, one clamp member trailing the other on movement in unison of the clamp members to a common side of the frame, sensing means for sensing, independently of the position of the leading clamp member and on movement of the clamp members to said common side of the frame, a predetermined position of the trailing clamp member relative to the frame, the trailing clamp member and its connected motor being mechanically limited with respect to the movement afforded to said common side of the frame, said predetermined position for said trailing clamp member being proximate where movement of said trailing clamp member is mechanically limited, a source of fluid under pressure, and a hydraulic circuit connecting said source and said motor including valve means actuated by said sensing means to stop movement of both clamp members in response to said sensing means sensing said predetermined position of said trailing clamp member.