Abstract: Two station vise for manual or hydraulic operation with a quick-change stationary that can be carvable, hard or reversible. the stationary jaw having two precision through holes is placed on expanding pins, located on the top longitudinal rails of the vise body, that precisely position and tighten the stationary block in place. Two movable jaws connected by a tubular drive form an axially adjustable floating assembly. A manually turned tubular drive has an external threaded screw to move simultaneously the first jaw/nut and an internal thread that moves the second jaw/nut, on the opposite side of the stationary. Hydraulically parts are clamped at the two stations with a piston located in the second jaw/nut and connected axially with the first jaw/nut by the tubular drive. A setup-block located at the front jaw/nut keeps both jaws at proper position for loading and unloading of parts. The setup-block also allows for pre-clamping or retention of the part in the rear station before clamping.

Abstract: A removable quick change jaw plate for a vise has a T-slot that receives a pull rod that extends into a bore formed in the vise. The pull rod is actuated to pull the jaw toward the vise. A wedge clamp, actuated by a threaded element provides a clamping motion to hold the jaw plate on the vise.

Abstract: A wedge lock workholder for holding workpieces on a machine tool table has a wedge block that has a bore positioned at an angle relative to the support for the wedge block. A wedge slide is slidably mounted in the bore. The angle of the bore provides lateral movement of the wedge slide as the wedge slide is moved along the bore in the wedge block. The wedge slide has a chip shield that slides in a slot in the wedge block to protect the bore opening from entry of chips, and which chip shield serves as a guide for positioning the wedge slide properly. The wedge slide carries a workpiece engaging jaw member at an upper portion thereof which exerts a lateral force on a workpiece to clamp the workpiece against a stop or other clamping member.

Abstract: A double vise using a single actuating screw with a self-setting preload arrangement includes a vise base, a center fixed jaw and a pair of movable jaws which are movable toward and away from the center fixed jaw. The movable jaws being actuated with the vise screw. The loads on the vise screw from the jaws being reacted initially by springs that apply a resilient preload against a workpiece in either one of the movable jaws. One jaw is driven with a sleeve rotatably mounted on a cylindrical section of the vise screw and driven through a load release clutch. The springs are mounted on a vise screw support housing that is slidably mounted on the vise base and which provides automatic adjustment of the vise jaws to clamp different size workpieces in the jaws. The sleeve has a threaded section for operating one of the jaws.

Abstract: A reversible jaw plate for a clamping device, such as a machine vise, has two substantially parallel, oppositely facing clamping faces. At least one mounting slot is formed in the jaw plate that opens to one edge of the jaw plate. The mounting slot has a center wide portion and two narrower slot portions opening to the two faces of the jaw plate. A head of a fastener is slid into a wider portion of the slot with the shank of the fastener extending out one of the narrow slot portions, to extend from a first of the two faces of the jaw. The second, opposite face may be used for clamping. The jaw plate can be reversed so that the shank of the fastener extends from the narrower slot in the other of the jaw plate faces, to permit using the first face for clamping. Either one of the jaw plate faces can be used for clamping a workpiece by reversing the jaw plate and having a reversible fastener in the mounting slot or slots to secure the jaw plate to a jaw or mounting member.

Abstract: A wedge workholding clamp has a clamp body that is adapted for mounting onto a table and is used for holding various objects, and specifically for holding piece parts in machining. The clamp body slidably mounts a movable jaw that is actuated with a wedge using a clamping screw. When a single jaw is actuated, the clamp body has one reaction surface that is square with the direction of clamping and parallel to the axis of the screw. The wedge has an end surface that engages and moves along the reaction surface of the clamp body as the wedge is tightened so there are no bending loads on the screw. The wedge also has a wedge surface that engages a surface of the movable jaw and which acts to move the movable jaw from a released position to a position clamping a workpiece.

Abstract: A device for holding a workpiece or part in a desired position. The device has a platen with a stop, a threaded shank actuator and a sliding clamping member. The actuator has a tapered head which engages an inner bearing surface of the sliding clamping member to simultaneously apply clamping forces against a workpiece and securing forces to anchor the sliding clamp member to the platen. A spring element joined to the clamping member retracts the clamping member away from the workpiece.

Abstract: A vise for clamping a workpiece against a stop includes a base and a clamping member. The base contains a cylindrical sliding element having an inclined surface, which engages and aligns with a surface of another cylindrical element that is perpendicular to the first-mentioned element and located in an aperture in the clamping member. Angular engagement of the mating surfaces creates both clamping and holddown forces on the clamping member.

Abstract: A device for holding a workpiece or part in a desired position. The device has a platen with a stop, a threaded shank actuator and a sliding clamping member. The actuator has a tapered head which engages a conical bore of the sliding clamping member simultaneously to apply clamping forces against a workpiece and securing forces to anchor the sliding clamp member to the platen.

Abstract: A two-station, single action device has a body, with a fixed center block forming oppositely facing fixed jaws. At opposite ends of the body, movable jaws are moved toward and away from the fixed center block simultaneously using an actuator drive. The actuator drive has a longitudinal actuator axis and a first member joined to the first movable jaw and a second member joined to the second moveable jaw. A longitudinal power drive joined to the first and second members drives the first and second members in opposite axial directions to move the movable jaws simultaneously toward the fixed jaw. The first member and the second member further rotate about the longitudinal actuator axis in a first rotatable direction to move the movable jaws simultaneously toward the fixed jaw and rotate in a second rotatable direction to move the movable jaws simultaneously away from the fixed jaw.

Abstract: A machine vise that can serve multipurpose uses is constructed utilizing a cast base made so that it can be easily mounted for NC machining, or mounted on a swivel base, and can be used mounted on its sides or on one end. The cast base is made to simplify clamping to a tool table by providing an accessible ledge for clamping along the sides and ends. The ledge also provides a coolant drain trough. A support for the distal end of the vise screw is mounted to simplify manufacturing without losing precision operation. The same vise body can be adapted for use with interchangeable screws for manual operation of a movable jaw from either end of the vise or using a hydraulic actuator for clamping the movable jaw.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modular, multiple actuator assembly for providing a clamping force on a machine tool vise or other clamp which includes a plurality of parallel operating pistons and cylinders providing an additive force to a movable clamp jaw. The modular assembly can be installed easily in existing vises as well as in new vises. The modular actuator has a number of individual piston-cylinder assemblies acting to be additive in force so a high clamping force can be obtained using standard air pressure supplies found in machine tool shops and factories.

Abstract: A two station, single action vise has a body, with a fixed center block forming oppositely facing fixed jaws, and movable jaws at opposite ends of the body that are moved by operation of a vise screw toward one of the respective oppositely facing fixed jaws in the center of the body. The vise screw is spring centered and will yield to apply a preclamp with one of the jaws onto a piece part. The movable jaws are shown operated by a vise screw that has left-hand threads for operating one of the movable jaws and right-hand threads for operating the other movable jaw, so that as the screw is rotated both movable jaws move simultaneously toward the center block forming the fixed jaws. In this way two work pieces can be clamped by the movable jaws against the center fixed jaw. In order to preclamp piece parts under a spring load the screw is moved so it can shift axially slightly under spring load after preclamping one part until both movable jaws are positioned to clamp their respective piece parts tightly.

Abstract: A machine vise that can serve multipurpose uses is constructed utilizing a cast base made so that it can be easily mounted for NC machining, or mounted on a swivel base, and can be used mounted on its sides or on one end. The cast base is made to simplify clamping to a tool table by providing an accessible ledge for clamping along the sides and ends. The ledge also provides a coolant drain trough. A support for the distal end of the vise screw is mounted to simplify manufacturing without losing precision operation. The same vise body can be adapted for use with interchangeable screws for manual operation of a movable jaw from either end of the vise or using a hydraulic actuator for clamping the movable jaw.