Vektek, Inc.

James V Mascola

Roger L Craft

Frederick A Hausler, Iii

A retract clamp (20) utilizes three clamp arm retraction enhancement mechanisms (26, 28, 63) to increase clamp arm (24) retraction consistency. The first retraction enhancement mechanism (26) is a bifurcated piston having a first piston member (68) and a second piston member (70). If the first piston member (68) becomes tilted and caught, the second piston member (70) continues to move allowing the first piston member (68) to right itself. The second retraction enhancement mechanism (28) comprises a clamp arm guide mechanism having a base (82), a pusher (84), and a plurality of resilient members (110-124) interposed between the base (82) and the pusher (84) to bias the pusher (84) against the clamp arm (24) and align the clamp arm (24) with a clamp arm receiving area (40) defined in a clamp arm holder (22). The third clamp arm retraction enhancement mechanism comprises a lift surface (63) on the clamp arm (24). The lift surface 63 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of the clamp arm (24) for upward retraction of the clamp arm outer end 54 substantially prior to axial retraction of the clamp arm (24).

Retract clamp apparatus

An improved hydraulic work support (10) having a plunger (18) that is shifted between retracted and extended positions by hydraulic fluid is disclosed. The work support includes a base (12); a tubular housing (14) partially received in the base and having a central bore (40); a tubular sleeve (16) received within the central bore; a general cylindrical plunger (18) positioned at least partially within the sleeve, the plunger being movable within the bore along the longitudinal axis; and a piston cylinder assembly (20) positioned within the central bore for selectively shifting the plunger along the longitudinal axis of the bore between a lowered, retracted position and a raised, extended position under the influence of hydraulic fluid. The piston cylinder assembly includes a cylinder (94) positioned within the sleeve and having a piston chamber (96) formed therein; a piston (98) movably received within the piston chamber; and an elongated piston rod (100) having a lower end coupled with the piston and an opposite upper end extending from the cylinder and coupled with the plunger. The piston and piston rod are shifted upward in the piston chamber when fluid is delivered to a first fluid passageway (34) formed in the base to shift the plunger to its raised, extended position. The piston and piston rod are shifted downward in the piston chamber when fluid is delivered to a second fluid passageway (36) formed in the base to return the plunger to its lower, retracted position.

Hydraulic work support

A pressure reducing valve assembly (10) includes an elongated tubular body (12), a pressure reducing valve (16) for reducing the fluid pressure discharged from the valve assembly, a pressure relief valve (18) for permitting fluid to discharge from the valve assembly when the device to which the valve assembly is coupled experiences an over-pressure condition, and a reset valve (20) for resetting the pressure reducing valve when the fluid pressure on the high pressure side of the valve assembly is reduced below a pre-selected reset level. The pressure reducing valve, pressure relief valve, and reset valve are all positioned within the tubular body and coaxially aligned along the longitudinal axis (14) of the body. The reset valve is positioned within the confines of the pressure reducing valve, and the pressure relief valve utilizes the same compression spring (90) as the pressure reducing valve.

Pressure reducing valve

A self-cleaning rotary union apparatus provides a fluid coupling between a pair of relatively rotatable fixture elements, and includes a base and a body that are rotatable relative to one another. The base includes a mounting surface, an interior surface opposing the mounting surface, a fluid passageway extending into the base, and a plurality of bores extending through the base between the mounting surface and the interior surface. The bores are countersunk adjacent the interior surface to permit flange mounting of the base on one of the fixture elements. An elongated rotor protrudes from the interior surface of the base and includes a cylindrical side surface provided with an annular channel and a fluid passageway that communicates with the annular channel and with the passageway in the base. The body also presents mounting and interior surfaces, and includes a fluid passageway extending into the body and communicating with the annular channel of the rotor, and an outer side surface extending between the mounting and interior surfaces. The outer side surface is shaped to expose the bores at the interior surface of the base during relative rotation between the body and base in order to permit flange mounting of the base. By providing such a construction, the passageways in the base and body are maintained in fluid communication with one another by the passageway and channel of the rotor during relative rotation of the base and body.

Rotary union apparatus

A hydraulically-operated swing clamp (16) shiftable between a retracted, clamping position and an extended, releasing position is disclosed. The swing clamp (16) includes a speed control mechanism (26,52,54), which is formed directly on the clamp (16), for selectively and individually varying the speed at which the clamp (16) is shifted between its extended and retracted positions.

Hydraulic swing clamp apparatus having speed control mechanism

An edge clamp apparatus includes an elongated body 14 defining a cylindrical bore within which a piston 86 is received for movement between retracted and extended positions. The body 14 includes a mounting surface 18 and opposed front and rear body portions, and the bore is formed in the rear portion. The front portion includes a support surface 48 that intersects the cylindrical bore of the rear portion and is inclined relative to the mounting surface by an angle of about 10.degree.. A cap 16 is secured to the front portion of the body 14 for closing off the cylindrical bore of the body and limiting movement of the piston 86. The cap 16 includes an inner surface engaging the support surface 46 of the body 14, and a recess formed in the inner surface for receiving a clamp blade 12. The blade is supported on the support surface of the body within the recess of the cap 16 for movement between a retracted, releasing position and an extended engaging position, and includes a rear portion 70 defining a central longitudinal axis and extending into the cylindrical bore for engagement with the piston, and an opposed front portion 76 presenting a clamp head that is offset from the longitudinal axis such that the head is spaced from the support surface 46 of the body 14.

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Emporia, KS, United States of America

James V Mascola