Adjustable hydraulic die clamp

Abstract

A hydraulically actuated die clamp is capable of adjustably engaging die assemblies having a wide range of thicknesses. The clamp includes a pivotally mounted clamp lever having a first end which is vertically displaced upward by use of a hydraulic piston and a second end vertically displaced downward in response thereto for securely engaging the die assembly. The second end of the lever includes a first plurality of horizontally aligned, vertically arranged notches directed downward. Coupled to the aforementioned second end of the lever by use of a spring retaining mechanism is an adjustable striker bar having a complementary arrangement of a second plurality of notches directed upward for engaging the first plurality of notches in maintaining the striker bar fixedly positioned on the second end of the lever. A die assembly is maintained in a fixed position on a die clamp base, or table, by the hydraulically actuated downward displacement of the striker bar. The first and second pluralities of notches may be disengaged from one another by overcoming the tension of the spring retaining mechanism in displacing the striker bar away from the lever along the length thereof. With the facing, complementary notches disengaged, the striker bar may then be moved vertically and repositioned either upward or downward on the second end of the lever in adjusting for the thickness of the die assembly with different, adjacent, mutually complementary notches in engagement.