Workpiece holder with a multi-piece bladder

• US 7,331,583 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydra-Walk, Inc. (Key Energy Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hydra-Walk, Inc. (Key Energy Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Andre, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter; Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): GATES, ERIC ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US11/020,821
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 279 206- 208, 279 403- 405, 269/22
• US Class Current: 279/4.03
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/305 the gripping means is a deformable sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/402 using fluid-pressure means to actuate the gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/1029 Jaw is expansible chamber; i.e., bladder type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/1216 Jaw is expansible chamber; i.e., bladder type

Abstract

A workpiece holding apparatus comprises a body, a bladder carried by the body, and a sleeve that is carried by the bladder. A fluid chamber is at least partially defined by the body and the bladder for containing a fluid therein. The bladder comprises at least one first polymer-containing section composed of a first polymer-containing material and is adapted to radially deflect the sleeve into engagement with the workpiece. The bladder further comprises at least one second polymer-containing section disposed adjacent to the first polymer-containing section(s) and is composed of a second polymer-containing material that is less flexible than the first polymer-containing material and where at least a portion of the second polymer-containing section(s) are constructed to engage elastomeric seals of the body of the workpiece holding apparatus to thereby seal pressurized fluid within the fluid chamber.

Claims

1. A workpiece holding apparatus comprising:

a body;

a bladder carried by said body, where said bladder and said body at least partially define a fluid chamber therebetween for containing a fluid therein, said bladder comprising;

at least one first polymer-containing section composed of a first polymer-containing material;

at least one second polymer-containing section disposed adjacent an end of said first polymer-containing section and composed of a second polymer-containing material that is less flexible than said first polymer-containing material; and

a sleeve carried by said bladder;

wherein said at least one first polymer-containing section of said bladder is constructed to engage said sleeve upon said fluid in said fluid chamber being pressurized.

2. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body comprises at least one fluid passage having at least one groove formed on each axial end thereof, wherein each of said at least one groove is constructed to receive an elastomeric seal for sealing engagement with said at least one second polymer-containing section to seal said fluid in said fluid chamber.

3. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first polymer-containing material of said at least one first polymer-containing section of said bladder is made of at least one of an elastomeric material and a thermoplastic material.

4. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first polymer-containing material is characterized in terms of flexibility having at least one of a tensile modulus and a flexural modulus that is larger than that of said second polymer-containing material of said at least one second polymer-containing section of said bladder.

5. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first polymer-containing material is characterized in terms of hardness having a hardness range of about 60 to about 80 durometer on the Shore A scale and is composed of a polyurethane material.

6. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second polymer-containing material of said at least one second polymer-containing section of said bladder is characterized in terms of flexibility having at least one of a flexural modulus and a tensile modulus that is less than that of said first polymer-containing material of said at least one first polymer-containing section of said bladder.

7. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second polymer-containing material is further characterized in terms of hardness in a range of between about 80 to about 100 durometer on the Shore D scale and is composed of a polyurethane material.

8. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bladder further comprises a ring carried by said at least one second polymer-containing section of said bladder.

9. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein when said fluid in said fluid chamber is pressurized, the force of said pressurized fluid is transmitting through said bladder to said sleeve to radially inwardly urge said sleeve into engagement with a workpiece to hold said workpiece.

10. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein when said fluid in said fluid chamber is pressurized, the force of said pressurized fluid is transmitted through said bladder to said sleeve to radially outwardly urge said sleeve into engagement with a workpiece to hold said workpiece.

11. A workpiece holding apparatus comprising:

a body;

a multiple piece bladder carried by said body, where said multiple piece bladder and said body at least partially define a fluid chamber therebetween for containing a fluid therein, said bladder comprising;

a first polymer-containing piece composed of a first polymer-containing material; and

second and third polymer-containing pieces each disposed on a respective opposed end of said first polymer piece, said second and third polymer pieces being composed of a material that is less flexible than said at least one first polymer-containing piece; and

a sleeve carried by said multiple piece bladder;

wherein said first polymer-containing piece of said multiple piece bladder is constructed to engage said sleeve upon said fluid in said fluid chamber being pressurized.

12. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first polymer-containing material of said at least one first polymer-containing piece of said bladder is made of at least one of an elastomeric material and a thermoplastic material.

13. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first polymer-containing material is characterized in terms of flexibility having at least one of a tensile modulus and a flexural modulus that is larger than that of said second material of said second polymer-containing piece of said bladder.

14. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first polymer-containing material is characterized in terms of hardness having a hardness range of about 60 to about 80 durometer on the Shore A scale and is composed of a polyurethane material.

15. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 11 wherein said second material of said second and third polymer-containing pieces of said bladder is characterized in terms of flexibility as having at least one of a flexural modulus and a tensile modulus that is less than that of said first polymer-containing material of said first polymer-containing piece of said bladder.

16. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 11 wherein said second material has a hardness in a range of between about 80 to about 100 durometer on the Shore D scale and is composed of a polyurethane material.

17. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 11 wherein said bladder is formed by molding said first polymer-containing piece and said second polymer-containing piece in a mold of a predetermined configuration.

18. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 17 wherein said bladder further comprises a ring carried by one of said second and third polymer-containing pieces of said bladder, said ring having at least one slot formed therein that aligns with at least one slot of said bladder for receiving an interengagement feature.

19. The workpiece holding apparatus of claim 17 wherein said bladder is formed by molding said first polymer-containing piece, said one of said second and third polymer-containing pieces and said ring in a mold of a predetermined configuration.