Versatile guide rail clamp

• US 6,685,385 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1997
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Solus Industrial Innovations, LLC (Power Transmission Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Valu Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Ledingham, Stuart J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEV, BRUCE ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/871,300
• Time in Patent Office: 2,430 Days
• Field of Search: 403/3, 403/4, 403/13, 403/14, 403/362, 403/400
• US Class Current: 403/400
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/67 Rigid angle couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0493 forming a crossed-over connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7041 including set screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7062 Clamped members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7129 Laterally spaced rods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7171 Two rods encompassed by single connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7194 Crossed rods

Abstract

A guide rail clamp comprising a first clamp half and a second clamp half, which when fastened together form a slot therethrough adapted to fit a cylindrical support rod or a flat rectangular support bar is disclosed. The two halves of the clamp may be held together by a pair of bolts extending through a pair of threaded sleeved nuts, which securely grip the bolts when the two clamp halves are spaced slightly apart. In a preferred embodiment, two pegs extending from one clamp half into holes located in the second half help align and secure the grip of the clamp and minimize motion of the rail. To securely fasten the support rod or support bar inserted within the slot, a bolt may be used to bias the support bar or rod against the edges of the slot.

Claims

1. In a conveyor system, a clamp for gripping and supporting a product guide rail to be positioned along side a product conveyor, said clamp comprising:

a first clamp section having a slot extending therethrough configured to receive a bar having a rectangular cross-section or a rod having a circular cross-section, said slot having a pair of end portions spaced from each other, each end portion having a straight walled U-shape, with an open end of each U-shaped portion facing the open end of the other end portion, said slot having a pair of spaced, central portions extending between the end portions, said central portions forming concave walls of said slot, the maximum distance between said concave walls being less than the distance between end walls of said end portions and being greater than the distance between sidewalls of said end portions;

a second clamp section;

a pair of spaced fasteners extending through said clamp sections to cause the clamp sections to be drawn toward each other and to grip the conveyor rail; and

a fastener extending through the clamp and through one of said concave walls to engage the bar or rod so as to support the clamp on the bar or rod.

2. A conveyor assembly comprising:

a support to be vertically positioned adjacent a generally horizontal conveyor, said support having either a rectangular cross-section or a circular cross-section;

a clamp assembly to grip said support; and

a rail to be gripped by said clamp and extend along said conveyor to guide products carried on the conveyor;

said clamp assembly comprising;

a first section having a slot extending therethrough configured to receive said bar or said rod, said slot having a pair of end portions spaced from each other, each end portion having a straight walled U-shape with an open end of the U-shape facing an open end of the other end portion, said slot having a pair of spaced central portions extending between the end portions, said central portions forming concave walls of said slot, the maximum distance between said concave surfaces being less than the distance between end walls of said end portions and being greater than the distance between sidewalls of said end portions;

a second clamp section;

said clamp sections being configured to grip a conveyor guide rail;

a pair of spaced fasteners extending through said clamp sections to cause the clamp sections to be drawn toward each other and to grip the conveyor rail; and

a fastener extending through the clamp and through one of said concave walls to engage the bar or rod so as to mount the clamp on the support.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said second clamp section has a slot extending therethrough with substantially the same shape as the slot in the first section, and aligned with the slot in the first section.