Vektek, Inc.

Aaron Vernon Luthi

Gregory Allen Yotz

Michael Dean Swan

Tyler Wayne Anliker

Nick J Karras

Claude Ashley Huffman

Daniel Lee Goentzel

A work support and method of clamping a translatable component of a hydraulic work support system. The work support may include a rigid, hollow slotted collet, a sleeve, and the translatable component, such as a plunger or rod. Hydraulic fluid may be pumped into an inlet of the hydraulic work support system to hydraulically actuate the translatable component outward from a first retracted position to a second extended position. The hydraulic fluid may further be pumped to the sleeve at a sufficient pressure that the sleeve presses against the collet. The collet responds thereto by flexing into contact with the translatable component, thus holding the translatable component in the second extended position. The slots in the collet allow for flexure even when using a thicker material with stronger column strength.

Clamping mechanism for hydraulic work support

An in-port sequencing valve configured to be utilized with a clamping device of a workpiece clamping system having a fixture plate, a number of fixture datums, and a number of clamping devices. The in-port sequencing valve includes a housing, a pre-load adjuster, a valve spring, and a valve piston. The pre-load adjuster is configured to be set to a selected valve activation setting. The valve spring is compressed an amount corresponding to the valve activation setting. The valve piston is configured to be shifted from a closed position to an open position when a force due to hydraulic fluid pressure overcomes a threshold spring force of the valve spring corresponding to the valve activation setting. The in-port sequencing valve can be set to a selected valve activation setting so that the clamping devices clamp the workpiece in a selected order according to the valve activation setting.

In-port sequence valve

An unclamp delay valve for delaying release of hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic holding device. The unclamp delay valve may have a check valve allowing fluid to flow between an inlet port and an outlet port when held open by a piston translatable within a piston chamber. The check valve blocks fluid from flowing between the outlet port and the inlet port when released due to hydraulic fluid filling the piston chamber and translating the piston away from the check valve. To reopen the check valve, hydraulic pressure is released via the inlet port and slowly drains from a small orifice fluidly coupling the piston chamber and the inlet port, causing the piston to return to again open the check valve. A delay is thus created by the time it takes for the piston chamber to drain, thus opening the check valve to release hydraulic pressure therethrough.

Delay valve for a hydraulic work support

A link clamp for holding a part on a fixture has a housing with a bore with a longitudinal axis; a piston received in the bore and shiftable between retracted and extended positions; a clamping lever pivotally connected to one end of the piston; and a link assembly coupled for shifting the clamping lever between clamped and released positions. The clamping lever is configured to rotate relative to the housing in a single plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore so that the clamping lever may be positioned on any side of the housing without altering the distance between the contact point of the clamping lever and the mounting flange of the housing.

Adjustable link clamp

A work support comprises a plunger, a transmission member, a first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, a clamping mechanism, a plug, and a body. The plunger may be slidably retained within the clamping mechanism, which in turn is firmly held within the transmission member. The transmission member may extend and retract from the body corresponding to a pressure in the first chamber and the second chamber. Extension of the transmission member also extends the plunger such that the plunger may contact and receive a load from a work piece. The third chamber may be located between the outer surface of the clamping mechanism and the inner surface of the transmission member. Increasing pressure in the first chamber while decreasing pressure in the second chamber extends the transmission member and opens the plug which blocks the entry to the third chamber. Pressure in the third chamber closes the gap between the clamping mechanism and the plunger and applies a clamping force to the plunger.

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Madison, KS, United States of America

Aaron Vernon Luthi