Norgren Automotive, Inc.

Maxon Corporation

Isi Norgren, Inc.

Other

Wayne D Morroney

Timothy Wheeler

John A Blatt

Brook W Pence

Gregory T Filkovski

Jeffrey J Dellach

James J Acierno

An apparatus for absorbing the mounting and clamping forces of a linkage assembly of a power clamp. An enclosed bilateral housing of a power clamp is provided, wherein a linear actuator is connected to the housing and provides a piston rod extending into the housing. A linkage assembly is connected to the piston rod and disposed within the housing for converting the linear motion of the piston rod into rotary motion of a clamp arm. A high strength plate and beam structure is disposed within the housing and connected to the linkage assembly for absorbing the mounting and clamping forces generated by the linkage assembly. By absorbing the mounting and clamping forces of the linkage assembly, the high strength plate and beam structure allows the housing to be fabricated from a lightweight, inexpensive material.

Structure for isolating mounting and clamping forces of a power clamp

A shut-off valve apparatus has a valve body and a valve member coupled to the valve body. The valve member is movable between a first position blocking material flow through the valve body and a second position permitting material flow through the valve body. A pneumatic actuator receives pressurized air to move the valve member from the first position to the second position. A pneumatic exhaust controller controls the flow of pressurized air into and out of the pneumatic actuator.

Shut-off valve apparatus

A pneumatic exhaust controller for use with a source of pressurized air comprises a manifold having a first portal coupled to the source of pressurized air, a second portal, and an exhaust portal. Two manifold embodiments are disclosed. Two regulator embodiments that operate to close the exhaust portal in response to pressurized air from the air source being communicated through the first portal and that operate to pass pressurized air from the pressurized air source to the second portal are disclosed. The regulators are situated in chambers of respective manifolds. A solenoid valve is coupled to each of the manifolds and is operable to block and unblock pneumatic communication between the respective first portal and the associated second and exhaust portals.

Pneumatic exhaust controller

A linear actuator having an adjustable piston rod for transmitting linear motion to a rotary clamp wherein the adjustable length of the piston rod corresponds to predetermined rotational angles of a clamp arm. The adjustable piston rod provides a first portion connectable to said power clamp, and a second portion connectable to a piston of the linear actuator. The first portion is fabricated from a substantially cylindrical rod having a plurality of substantially cylindrical recesses formed thereon. The second portion provides a block connected to a tubular shaft for telescopically receiving the cylindrical rod. A cam is pivotally connected to the block and provides an aperture formed therein for receiving the cylindrical rod. A torsional spring biases the cam against the cylindrical rod within the cylindrical recesses formed in the rod to prohibit the rod from telescopically moving relative to the tubular shaft.

Linear actuator having an adjustable piston rod

A valve and position control system integrable with a clamp having at least one clamp arm moveable between a clamped position and a released position in response to movement of an actuator between first and second end limits of travel controlled by differential fluid pressure in first and second chambers located on opposite sides of the actuator. The system allows selective setting of at least one of the clamped position and the released position at an actuator position between the first and second end limits of travel of the actuator. The system selectively controls the speed of actuator movement as the actuator moves between the first and second end limits of travel. Preferably, the system also selectively controls the speed of actuator movement as the actuator approaches at least one of the first and second end limits of travel to provide a soft touch clamp action. The system selectively adjusts pressurized fluid within the first and second chambers independent of one another.

Valve and position control system integrable with clamp

A rotary clamp having a telescopic piston rod with predetermined adjustable lengths corresponding to predetermined rotational angles of a clamp arm. The rotary clamp utilizes a linear actuator for transmitting linear motion to the piston rods and a linkage assembly is connected to the piston rod to convert the linear motion of the piston rod into rotary motion of the clamp arm. The telescopic piston rod provides an outer shaft and an inner shaft wherein the outer shaft is connected to a piston in the linear actuator. The outer shaft also provides a bore extending from the free end of the outer shaft for receiving an inner shaft of the piston rod. The inner shaft of the piston rod has a plurality of apertures extending transverse to and spaced along the longitudinal axis of the inner shaft. The apertures of the inner shaft may correspondingly align with an aperture provided in the outer shaft. A pin is inserted through correspondingly aligned apertures of the inner shaft and the outer shaft to provide a predetermined length of the piston rod which in turn corresponds to a predetermined rotational angle of the clamp arm.

Rotary clamp having predetermined adjustable clamping angles

A vacuum cup apparatus having a flexible member with a front side engagable with a workpiece and a back side connectable to a manipulator and communicable with a vacuum source. A passageway is provided between the front side and the back side of the flexible member and is communicable with the vacuum source to provide vacuum to the front side of the flexible member. A recessed pocket formed in the front side of the flexible member provides a lip which defines an opening into the recessed pocket. The lip is engagable with the workpiece for maintaining atmospheric pressure within the recessed pocket when the vacuum cup apparatus is engaged with the workpiece. The establishment of atmospheric pressure within the recessed pocket reduces vacuum provided in the center portion of the front side of the flexible member to reduce or eliminate any tin cupping of the workpiece.

Vacuum cup apparatus

An apparatus selectively supplies a source of pressurized fluid to a load device and selectively exhausts pressurized fluid from the load device. The apparatus includes a first housing for defining a longitudinally extending aperture communicating through first, second, and third passages with spaced first, second and third external surface portions of the first housing. A valve spool is engageable within the first aperture for longitudinal movement between a first position communicating the second passage with the third passage and a second position communicating the first passage with the second passage. The valve spool is normally biased toward the first position. Modular port members are connectable to the first, second and third spaced external surface portions for connecting the first passage to a source of pressurized fluid, the second passage to the load device, and the third passage to an exhaust port. If desired, one or more parameters of operation of the valve spool can be monitored to determine if the valve spool has moved completely from the first position to the second position. Signals can be generated corresponding to the monitored parameters of operation, such as pressure and/or position. If desired, a speed control device is positionable on the second external surface portion interposed between the first housing and the modular port member for the second passage for controlling the speed of actuation of the load device.

Modular 3-way valve with manual override, lockout, and internal sensors

A vacuum control apparatus is positioned remote from the vacuum operated work holding devices themselves, thereby allowing for a remote control system over a plurality of vacuum operated work holding devices. The apparatus also provides the ability to increase the vacuum flow rate available to the vacuum operated work holding devices within the system by increasing the number of vacuum generating venturis engaged in the system. The apparatus includes a venturi manifold and a plurality of venturi nozzles in fluid communication with the manifold. A venturi control valve controls the flow of pressurized air into the manifold and venturi nozzles. The system is fluidly connected to vacuum operated work holding devices by various passages and ports in the manifold. The manifold, venturi valve and venturi nozzles are stackable in two different ways. When the manifolds are stacked in the same orientation with respect to one another, the central vacuum passages communicate with one another to provide the ability to increase vacuum flow rate and thereby to decrease system response time. When the manifolds are stacked in a rotated orientation with respect to one another, the central passages are independent of one another to provide two separate, independently controlled vacuum systems.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Wayne D Morroney