Retractable, air pressure actuated hold-down clamp
First Claim
1. An air pressure actuated hold-down clamp for securing a first member and a second member comprising,an inflatable air actuator having a fixed end and a movable end, said fixed end mounted to said first member, said actuator being expanded from a normal attitude by internal pressurization and contracted from the normal attitude by sub- atmospheric internal pressure,a clamping surface provided by said second member,a clamp arm mounted to a movable end of said actuator, said clamp arm being moved against said clamping surface when said actuator is pressurized thereby to clamp said second member relative to said first member, anda stop asymmetrically mounted to said movable end of said actuator for movement therewith, contraction of said actuator under sub-atmospheric pressure moving said stop into engagement with a fixed surface, the asymmetric mounting of said stop thereupon tilting said actuator and swinging said clamp arm away from said clamping surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a clamp for securing the cover of a screening machine. The clamp is air pressure operated, both to apply clamping force and to retract or swing the clamp out of the way when it is open. Super-atmospheric pressure is applied for clamping; subatmospheric pressure is applied to swing the clamp away. Multiple clamps may be simultaneously operated by pressure or vacuum from a common manifold.
23 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An air pressure actuated hold-down clamp for securing a first member and a second member comprising,
an inflatable air actuator having a fixed end and a movable end, said fixed end mounted to said first member, said actuator being expanded from a normal attitude by internal pressurization and contracted from the normal attitude by sub- atmospheric internal pressure, a clamping surface provided by said second member, a clamp arm mounted to a movable end of said actuator, said clamp arm being moved against said clamping surface when said actuator is pressurized thereby to clamp said second member relative to said first member, and a stop asymmetrically mounted to said movable end of said actuator for movement therewith, contraction of said actuator under sub-atmospheric pressure moving said stop into engagement with a fixed surface, the asymmetric mounting of said stop thereupon tilting said actuator and swinging said clamp arm away from said clamping surface.
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11. A screening machine having a screen box mounting a screen, a removable top cover on said box, and a series of clamps for clamping said cover on said
each said clamp comprising an inflatable air actuator having a fixed end and a movable end, said fixed end mounted to one of said cover and said box, said actuator being expanded from a normal attitude by internal pressurization and contracted from normal attitude by subatmospheric internal pressure, a clamping surface provided by the other of said cover and said box, a clamp arm mounted to said movable end of said actuator, said clamp arm being urged against said clamping surface by pressurizing said actuator, a stop asymmetrically mounted to said movable end of said actuator for movement therewith, contraction of said actuator under sub-atmospheric pressure moving said stop into engagement with a fixed surface, the asymmetric mounting of said stop thereupon tilting said actuator and swinging said clamp arm away from said clamping surface, the actuators of said clamps being connected to common supply means for selectively supplying pressure air or sub-atmospheric pressure to them, whereby all said clamps are operated simultaneously by said supply means.
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12. A screening machine having a screen box mounting a screen, a removable top cover on said box, and a series of spaced clamps mounted for clamping said cover and said box together,
each said clamp comprising an inflatable air actuator having a fixed end and a movable end, said fixed end mounted to one of said cover and said box, said actuator being expanded by internal pressurization, a clamping surface provided by the other of said cover and said box, a clamp arm mounted to said movable end of said actuator, said clamp arm being urged against said clamping surface by pressurizing said actuator, the actuators of said clamps being connected to common pressure supply means, whereby all said clamps are operated simultaneously by said supply means.
Specification