Abstract: A vise has a stationary jaw, a movable jaw, an outer hollow high-speed spindle threaded in the fixed jaw and formed with a radially open entrainment recess, and an inner low-speed spindle threaded in the outer spindle. A hand crank is rotationally fixed on an inner spindle and an entrainment pin is displaceable transversely in the inner spindle between an entrainment position engaged in the recess and rotationally coupling the inner spindle to an outer spindle and a freeing position clear of the recess and permitting relative rotation of the spindles. A switching piece on the inner spindle can operate a bolt to press the operating bolt into the camming surface in a low-speed position of the switching piece and thereby pull the entrainment pin out of the recess to decouple the spindles and in a high-speed position frees the operating bolt from the camming surface and couples the spindles to each other.

Abstract: A fixturing apparatus for locating, orienting and holding a workpiece during a milling operation, having a workpiece specific mounting provided with means for accurately and reproducibly positioning the workpiece within the fixture. The workpiece specific mounting has a workpiece specific pattern of clamping, vibration dampening and supporting devices to hold the workpiece during the milling operation. Accurate, reproducible location and orientation of successive workpieces of the same geometry on the apparatus for the same milling operations is achieved quickly and positively and vibration and workpiece distortion are minimized during the milling operations.

Abstract: A vise has a stationary jaw, a movable jaw displaceable longitudinally toward and away from the stationary jaw, an outer hollow high-speed spindle threaded in a nut on the fixed jaw and formed with a radially open entrainment recess, and an inner low-speed spindle threaded in the outer spindle. A piston-and-cylinder unit on the movable jaw has primary and secondary pistons respectively engaged by the outer and inner spindles. A hand crank is rotationally fixed on the inner spindle and an entrainment pin is displaceable transversely in the inner spindle between an entrainment position engaged in the recess and rotationally coupling the inner and outer spindles to each other and a freeing position clear of the recess and permitting relative rotation of the inner and outer spindles. This entrainment pin is formed with a longitudinally directed camming surface.

Abstract: A powered work clamping device including a housing with an upper and lower chamber and an intermediate chamber communicating with the upper and lower chambers, an upper and lower piston respectively residing in the upper and lower chambers, and wherein the lower piston has a section with reduced diameter slidably and rotatably operating in the intermediate chamber, an index rod projects from the lower piston into an index bore in the upper piston and a piston rod connected thereto. The piston rod projects from the housing and is secured to a work-engaging head. The head is rotatable and independently extendable depending upon operation of the upper and lower pistons and means for rotating the lower piston and actuated upon operation of a check valve served by one of two independently actuated two-stage directional control valves.

Abstract: A power operated clamp includes a cylinder having a reciprocal piston rod. A hollow clamp body having side plates is aligned with and connected to the cylinder. A clamp arm is pivotally mounted upon the body and in one position is adapted to retainingly engage a workpiece relative to a workpiece support. A linkage is pivotally connected to the clamp arm; the improvement which comprises a series of vertically spaced pairs of longitudinally spaced transverse mount holes extending through the side plates. The mounting of the body includes an upright riser extending between the side plates and has a series of longitudinal similarly spaced apertures corresponding to some of the side plate apertures. Pivot bolts extend through some of the mount holes and riser, whereby the body may be mounted selectively in one of a plurality of longitudinal locations above or below the riser. A rod end is guidably mounted within the body and axially connected to the piston rod.

Abstract: A powered work clamping device includes a housing having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and a piston in the lower chamber connected to an index rod which projects into the upper chamber. The index rod is axially movable but not rotatably movable, and is biased to an upper position. A plunger extends from the housing and has a work engaging member at one end with a piston at its other end disposed within the upper chamber. The plunger is mounted on the index rod for axial and rotative movement, and is biased to a retracted clamped position. To unclamp a workpiece, hydraulic fluid is directed to a valve assembly within the device which sequentially delivers fluid first to the upper chamber to extend the plunger and then to the lower chamber to axially move the index rod and its piston to swing the plunger.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated die clamp is capable of adjustably engaging die assemblies having a wide range of thicknesses. The clamp includes a pivotally mounted clamp lever having a first end which is vertically displaced upward by use of a hydraulic piston and a second end vertically displaced downward in response thereto for securely engaging the die assembly. The second end of the lever includes a first plurality of horizontally aligned, vertically arranged notches directed downward. Coupled to the aforementioned second end of the lever by use of a spring retaining mechanism is an adjustable striker bar having a complementary arrangement of a second plurality of notches directed upward for engaging the first plurality of notches in maintaining the striker bar fixedly positioned on the second end of the lever. A die assembly is maintained in a fixed position on a die clamp base, or table, by the hydraulically actuated downward displacement of the striker bar.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuatable swing clamp, particularly for the clamping of objects on the table of a machine tool, includes a housing with a piston arranged therein, the latter having a piston rod extending in sealed manner out of the housing. The piston rod carries a clamping arm which in addition to a pure axial clamping motion, performs a swinging motion, effected by a guide device. The guide device includes a normally non-rotatable control bolt arranged on the housing extending into the piston, and at least one cam groove developed in a guide surface between the control bolt and the piston. The cam groove has a helical groove section for the swinging and simultaneous lifting motion, and an axial section for the pure axially directed clamping motion of the clamping arm. A guide member, preferably a ball, arranged on the piston or control bolt, extends into the cam groove.

Abstract: A rotatable lever and an initially transversely disposed adjustable linkage echanism for attachment in predetermined relation to at least one movable work-performing arm and operable such that upon rotation of the lever and linkage mechanism responsive to pivotal rotary movement of the lever portion thru a designated travel arc of at least approximately 90.degree., the movable arm moves much more rapidly during the first approximate one-half to three-quarters of its designated travel arc, and thereafter continues to move progressively slower in a firm positive manner thru the remainder of the travel arc, while moving from its transverse relationship to a generally parallel or linearly aligned relationship. This simplified mechanism is non-servo in character and relatively low cost compared to servo devices embodying continuous sensing and feedback circuitry. Among various uses are easy association with various known industrial type robot devices embodying programmed control of articulated mechanical arms.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuatable swing clamp, having a piston arranged within a housing, the piston rod of which extends in sealed manner out of the housing and carries a clamping arm, and which, in addition to an axial clamping movement, carries out a turning movement corresponding to a guide device, the turning movement effecting a swinging of the clamping arm, the guide device comprising a control bolt extending into the piston and being arranged normally non-rotatably on the housing, and at least two pairs of control curves, formed in a guide surface between the control bolt and the piston, and a guide member arranged on the piston or control bolt extending into the control curve. The guide member comprises at least two diametrically opposite and axially staggered guiding members.

Abstract: Resilient positioning apparatus for sustaining repeated shock loads from heavy work pieces, with ability to reposition work pieces accurately and quickly with negligible loss of accuracy after long service. Apparatus has telescoping assembly having two portions which can be accurately positioned relative to each other and a gas cylinder which has a partition cooperating with one of the portions. The partition defines a chamber with the portions of the telescoping assembly, and the chamber is exposed to pressurized gas which forces the partition, and with it the telescoping assembly against a datum. When the telescoping apparatus is subjected to shock load from a work piece, it is momentarily shifted off the datum, thus cushioning the telescoping assembly, and is then quickly returned due to force from the gas cylinder. The invention is simple and eliminates complex valving associated with shock absorbing hydraulic circuits and is not subjected to buckling under compression loads.

Abstract: A hydraulic clamp comprising an assembly of concentrically-arranged parts wherein axial movement of a first part effects rotation of a second part and axial movement of a third part effects a corresponding axial movement of the second part and wherein the first part controls supply of pressure fluid to the third part so that rotation is first imparted to the second part and thereafter axial movement is imparted thereto and wherein a clamp arm is fixed to said second part.

Abstract: To grip the tail end of a workpiece such as a stack of fabric layers to be stitched in a sewing machine, a pneumatically actuatable clamp on a carriage reciprocably guided along a rail has an air inlet in the form of a first nipple with a lateral entrance aperture confronting a discharge opening of a stationary air-supply line when the clamp is in a retracted loading position remote from the sewing machine. Air admitted in that position to a pressure cylinder via a branch of the supply line forces the inlet duct of the clamp against a sealing ring surrounding the discharge opening to conduct the main air flow via a check valve and a control valve to an operating jack for closing the clamp, the jack including a single-acting spring-loaded piston.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatus for clamping work pieces in which the clamping element is locked in a given position by a novel mechanism comprising at least one dog on a piston connected to the element and one or more recesses defined within a cylinder in which the piston is otherwise movable. In preferred embodiments, the recesses are formed in a base portion which extends into the cylinder and defines the lower limit of axial travel and the clamping position of the piston. A dog is also formed on the upper end of the piston which is engageable with a recess in a cover for the cylinder through which a connecting rod extends. The piston is rotatable within the limits defined by the recess in the cover when the lower dog is withdrawn from the recess in the base, but not otherwise. Hydraulic means are provided to move the piston axially and rotationally between clamping and releasing positions.

Abstract: A vice particularly suitable for mounting on a machine tool bed is described. The vice comprises a fixed jaw with a base and two guides thereon, a mobile jaw, a mobile carriage with guide gibs on the two guides, a motion transmission for prepositioning the mobile jaw, and a force transmission assembly for tightening the jaws. The mobile jaw is rigid with the carriage and a prepositionable support of the force transmission assembly may be halted at any point of its stroke and is slidably mounted by shoe means between the guides. Moreover the force transmission assembly of which the support forms part is in pushing engagement with the front wall of the carriage which carries the jaw.

Abstract: A clamp with angular and axial movements which are effected in sequence preferably by means of a single power actuator. The clamping member is mounted within a non-rotatable piston to which it is connected by a pin or ball and inclined cam slot connection whereby axial movement of the piston produces rotary movement of the connecting member which is restrained against axial movement until the rotary movement is completed. Further axial movement of the piston then produces axial movement of the clamping member.