Patent US3844002A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3844002A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gripper assembly for jacking mechanisms
Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1973-03-16
•
Granted: 1974-10-29
•
Expires: 1993-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic gripping assembly, for use in a jacking mechanism releasably engageable with a cylindrical supporting column, consists of an inflatable toroidal tube of rubber-like material disposable in the bottom of an inwardly facing annular channel of the jacking mechanism, and a toroidal slug assembly of rubberlike material disposable in the channel inwardly of the tube. The slug is constrictable into frictional engagement with a cylindrical column by inflation of the tube. The assembly is made up of a plurality of arcuate segments of greater radial dimension than the wall of the tube. When assembled, with the segments in end-to-end abutting engagement with no gaps therebetween, the assembly has a cylindrical inner surface of a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the rim of the channel.
Inventors
- 👤 C Slemmons
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:16
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/04; E02B17/08; E02B17/0836; E02B17/0845; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/44; Y10T24/44068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A pneumatic gripping assembly for Installation in an inwardly-facing annular channel, generally rectangular in radial section, of a jacking mechanism releasably engageable with a cylindrical column-like supporting member comprising: an inflatable toroidal tube, of rubber or the like, of generally uniform wall thickness adapted to be disposed in the bottom of the channel and to conform generally thereto when deflated; and a toroidal slug assembly, of rubber or the like, comprising a plurality of solid arcuate segments of greater radial dimension than the wall of said tube, adapted to be disposed in the channel inwardly of said tube and to conform generally thereto and to said channel, said assembly having, when assembled with said segments in end-to-end abutting engagement with no gaps therebetween, a cylindrical inner surface of a diameter substantially equal to that of the rim of said channel, said assembly being adapted to be constricted into frictional gripping engagement with a cylindrical column-like supporting member by inflation of said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A pneumatic gripping assembly for Installation in an inwardly-facing annular channel, generally rectangular in radial section, of a jacking mechanism releasably engageable with a cylindrical column-like supporting member comprising: an inflatable toroidal tube, of rubber or the like, of generally uniform wall thickness adapted to be disposed in the bottom of the channel and to conform generally thereto when deflated; and a toroidal slug assembly, of rubber or the like, comprising a plurality of solid arcuate segments of greater radial dimension than the wall of said tube, adapted to be disposed in the channel inwardly of said tube and to conform generally thereto and to said channel, said assembly having, when assembled with said segments in end-to-end abutting engagement with no gaps therebetween, a cylindrical inner surface of a diameter substantially equal to that of the rim of said channel, said assembly being adapted to be constricted into frictional gripping engagement with a cylindrical column-like supporting member by inflation of said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A gripping assembly according to claim 1 including interfitting dovetail-like means between adjacent ends of the segments and extending parallel to the axis of the slug assembly for maintaining circumferential alignment of said segments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A gripping assembly according to claim 1 including a circumferential series of metal reinforcing plates embedded in the slug assembly and disposed generally in radial planes which include the axis of said assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A gripping assembly according to claim 1 including at least two spuds secured to and extending radially outwardly of the outer wall of the tube for admitting and exhausting air thereto and therefrom, said spuds being spaced circumferentially so that one of said spuds will remain operative in the event the inner end of the other is sealed off by an off-center relationship between the channel and the supporting member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
A pneumatic gripping assembly for installation in an inwardly facing annular channel, generally rectangular in radial section, of a jacking mechanism releasably engageable with a cylindrical column-like supporting member comprising: an inflatable toroidal tube, of rubber or the like, of generally uniform wall thickness adapted to be disposed in the bottom of the channel and to conform generally thereto when deflated; and a toroidal slug, of rubber or the like, adapted to be disposed in the channel inwardly of said tube and to conform generally thereto and to the channel, said slug having a cylindrical inner surface and being adapted by inflation of said tube to be constricted into frictional gripping engagement with a cylindrical column-like supporting member; and a circumferential series of metal reinforcing plates embedded in said slug and disposed in radial planes which include the axis of said assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
A pneumatic gripping assembly for installation in an inwardly facing annular channel, generally rectangular in radial section, of a jacking mechanism releasably engageable with a cylindrical column-like supporting member comprising: an inflatable toroidal tube, of rubber or the like, of generally uniform wall thickness adapted to be disposed in the bottom of the channel and to conform generally thereto when deflated; and a toroidal slug, of rubber or the like, adapted to be disposed in the channel inwardly of said tube and to conform generally thereto and to the channel, said slug having a cylindrical inner surface and being adapted by inflation of said tube to be constricted into frictional gripping engagement with a cylindrical column-like supporting member; and a circumferential series of metal reinforcing plates embedded in said slug and disposed in radial planes which include the axis of said assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A gripping assembly according to claim 5 in which the plates are perforated for bonding to the material of the slug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A gripping assembly according to claim 6 in which the plates are provided with flanges on their opposite sides disposed in planes generally normal to the axis of said assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
A pneumatic gripping assembly for installation in an inwardly facing annular channel, generally rectangular in radial section, of a jacking mechanism releasably engageable with a cylindrical column-like supporting member comprising: an inflatable toroidal gripping means, of rubber or the like, adapted to be disposed in the channel and to conform generally thereto, with the inner surface of said means being substantially flush with the rims of said channel when deflated; and at least two spuds secured to and extending radially outwardly of the outer wall of said gripping means for admitting, and exhausting air thereto and therefrom, the inner ends of said spuds being contacted by the inner wall of said gripping means when the latter is deflated and said spuds being spaced circumferentially so that one of said spuds will remain operatIve in the event the inner end of the other is sealed off by the inner wall of said gripping means occasioned by an off-center relationship between the channel and the supporting member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
165 words
A pneumatic gripping assembly for installation in an inwardly facing annular channel, generally rectangular in radial section, of a jacking mechanism releasably engageable with a cylindrical column-like supporting member comprising: an inflatable toroidal gripping means, of rubber or the like, adapted to be disposed in the channel and to conform generally thereto, with the inner surface of said means being substantially flush with the rims of said channel when deflated; and at least two spuds secured to and extending radially outwardly of the outer wall of said gripping means for admitting, and exhausting air thereto and therefrom, the inner ends of said spuds being contacted by the inner wall of said gripping means when the latter is deflated and said spuds being spaced circumferentially so that one of said spuds will remain operatIve in the event the inner end of the other is sealed off by the inner wall of said gripping means occasioned by an off-center relationship between the channel and the supporting member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a jacking mechanism releasably engageable with a cylindrical column-like supporting member and having an inwardly-facing annular channel, the combination of an inflatable toroidal tube, of rubber or the like, of generally uniform wall thickness disposed in the bottom of said channel and conforming generally thereto; a toroidal slug means of rubber or the like, of greater radial dimension than the wall of said tube, disposed in said channel inwardly of said tube and conforming generally thereto and to said channel, said means having a cylindrical inner surface of a diameter substantially equal to that of the rims of said channel, said slug means being constrictable into frictional gripping engagement with a cylindrical column-like supporting member by inflation of said tube; and inter-engageable stop means on said slug means and said channel for preventing movement of said means into said channel beyond the point where said cylindrical inner surface of said assembly is substantially flush with said channel rims.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a jacking mechanism releasably engageable with a cylindrical column-like supporting member and having an inwardly-facing annular channel, the combination of an inflatable toroidal tube, of rubber or the like, of generally uniform wall thickness disposed in the bottom of said channel and conforming generally thereto; a toroidal slug means of rubber or the like, of greater radial dimension than the wall of said tube, disposed in said channel inwardly of said tube and conforming generally thereto and to said channel, said means having a cylindrical inner surface of a diameter substantially equal to that of the rims of said channel, said slug means being constrictable into frictional gripping engagement with a cylindrical column-like supporting member by inflation of said tube; and inter-engageable stop means on said slug means and said channel for preventing movement of said means into said channel beyond the point where said cylindrical inner surface of said assembly is substantially flush with said channel rims.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure defined in claim 9 wherein the slug means comprises a plurality of arcuate segments, and said slug means has the cylindrical inner surface when said segments are assembled in end-to-end abutting relation with no gaps therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2073890A
Cited
US2843349A
Cited
US2934804A
Cited
US2945665A
Cited
BE642875A
Cited
US3253854A
Cited
US3481610A
Cited
US3422505A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |