AU2009200734B2 - Three axis clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

The specification discloses a clamping device (10, 50) having at least a first plate (11, 61) and a second plate (13, 62) connected along a corner (16, 63) 5 such that the first and second plates are disposed at right angles, the clamping device including a strut member (24) with arms (25, 26) connected by a corner region (27), the arms (25, 26) extending from a respective one of said first and second plates (11, 61, 13, 62) at right angles, connection means (28) being provided to enable the arms (25, 26) to be connected to or released from the 10 plates (11, 61, 13, 62), one or more clamping members (38, 39, 40) carried by the strut member (24) with an engagement portion (45) located within a work space (36) located between the strut member (24) and the plates (11, 61, 13, 62) to which it is connected, the engagement portion or portions (45) being selectably movable within said work space to engage a work piece aligned by said plates 15 (11, 61, 13, 62). fijg la 46 46 20 82 48 10 y 19 29 48 32 40x36 4 983 25 30 283 41 42 4- A. - 47 26 I i -3 6 +3 2 2 25 41 4.6 48 4 B - ------ 5 27 351 40 30 26 +1i

Description

1 CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improved apparatus for clamping at least 5 two separate elements in a predefined abutting angular relationship so that the initially separate elements might be secured to one another. Preferably the apparatus will be capable of clamping three separate elements in abutting and mutually angular relationship, for example, elongate elements disposed at mutually spaced 900 angles. 10 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART US patent no. 6860475 discloses a clamping device having a fixed jaw, a movable jaw movable relative to the fixed jaw having angularly disposed engagement surfaces and a threaded shaft cooperable with the movable jaw such that rotation of the shaft causes the movable jaw to move either towards or 15 away from the fixed jaw. This arrangement permits elongate elements or members to be clamped in mutually angular positions, conveniently with their ends abutting one another. When it is desired to position and clamp a third elongate element angularly relative to the join of the first two elements, a further attachment is disclosed that may be connected to the clamping device that 20 includes a clamping part swingable from an inactive position to an operating position intended, in use, to clamp the third element in the desired position relative to the first two elements. The clamping device disclosed in US patent no. 6860475 can obstruct access to the joint area of abutting ends of members when they are to be connected to one another, for example, by welding or similar. 25 Further the attachment for creating a three-dimensional joint can result in the third member not necessarily being aligned correctly or held securely. The objective of the present invention is to provide an improved clamp device of the type generally disclosed in the above discussed US patent specification that will minimise or avoid problems associated with the known 30 clamping device.

2 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a clamping device is provided including a first member having a first engagement surface located in a first plane and a second member having a second engagement surface located in a second 5 plane, said first and said second planes defining an included fixed angle of 900, a first strut member having a first arm, in use, extending laterally from said first plane and a second arm, in use, extending laterally from said second plane, said first and said second arms being connected to define a first work space between said first and said second arms and said first and said second engagement 10 surfaces, at least one clamp member operatively connected to said first strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within said first work space to press, in use, against a first elongate work element aligned by engagement with said first and said second engagement surfaces, a free end of said first arm including first releasable connection means enabling connection of 15 the first arm to second releasable connection means of the first member, and a free end of said second arm including first releasable connection means enabling connection of the second arm to second releasable connection means of the second member. Preferably, the said second releasable connection means of said first 20 member and of said second member are positioned intermediate a lower edge and an upper edge of each of said first member and said second member. Conveniently, the said first and said second arms are configured as a single L shaped element having a corner region intermediate said first and said second arms. Preferably the at least one clamp member is located within said corner 25 region. In addition or alternatively, a said clamp member may be provided operatively connected to each of said first arm and said second arm. In one preferred arrangement, the or each said clamp member may include a threaded shaft threadingly engaged in a threaded bore in the first strut member, the engagement portion of the or each said clamp member being 30 releasably connected to an inner end of said shaft located, in use, within the first work space. Preferably the engagement portion is also independently rotatable on said shaft.

3 Preferably, each said first releasable connection means comprises a head portion separated from the respective said first arm and said second arm by a neck portion of smaller dimension, each of said first member and said second member having a said second releasable connection means including an opening 5 with an enlarged region to allow said head portion to pass there through and a narrower slot region into which the neck portion of the releasable connection means can seat. Conveniently the neck portion is smaller than the head portion and the remainder of the first or second arms but it may in one arrangement be of a similar dimension to the remainder of the first or second arms. 10 Preferably in the clamping device, each said narrower slot region in said first member and said second member extends in the same direction from the enlarged regions of said second releasable connection means. In one preferred embodiment, the first member may be a first plate and the second member may be a second plate, the first and the second plates being 15 joined at a corner region defining a first axis, the clamping device further including a third member in the form of a third plate respectively connected to said first and said second members at opposed corner regions whereby the opposed corner regions define a second axis and a third axis, the first, second and third axes mutually intersecting and being disposed at 900 to one another, each of said first, 20 second and third plates defining an open region where the first, second and third axes intersect. Conveniently each said narrower slot region in said first member and said second member extends parallel to a corner region between said first member and said second member. Conveniently a second strut member may be provided having a first arm extending laterally from said first plate and a second 25 arm extending laterally from said third plate defining a second work space between said first and said second arms of the second strut member and said first and said third plates, said second strut member further having at least one clamp member operatively connected to said second strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within said second work space to press, 30 in use, against a second elongate work element aligned by engagement with said first and said third plates. Preferably the first and the second arms of said second strut member are configured as an L-shaped element having a corner region intermediate the first 4 and the second arms of the second strut member, a free end of each of the first arm and the second arm of the second strut member having a said first releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to the first plate and the second arm to the third plate. Conveniently each of the aforesaid first 5 releasable connection means may comprise a head portion separated by a neck portion of smaller dimension than the head portion from the remainder of the second strut member, each of said first plate and said third plate having a said second releasable connection means including an opening with an enlarged region allowing a said head portion to pass there through and a narrower slot 10 region into which a said neck portion of the releasable connection means of the second strut member can seat. The aforesaid clamping device may further include a third strut member having a first arm extending laterally from said second plate and a second arm extending laterally from said third plate defining a third work space between said 15 first and said second arms of the third strut member and said second plate and said third plate, said third strut member further having at least one clamp member operatively connected to the third strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within the third work space to, in use, press against a third elongate work element aligned by engagement with said second and said third 20 plates. Conveniently the first and the second arms of said third strut member are configured as an L-shaped element having a corner region intermediate the first and the second arms of the third strut member, a free end of each of the first arm and the second arm of the third strut member having a said first releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to the second plate and 25 the second arm to the third plate. Preferably each said first releasable connection means comprises a head portion separated by a neck portion of smaller dimension than the head portion from the remainder of the third strut member, each of said second plate and said third plate having a said second releasable connection means including an opening with an enlarged region allowing a said 30 head portion to pass therethrough and a narrower slot region into which a said neck portion of the releasable connection means of the third strut member can seat.

5 In yet another possible preferred embodiment, the clamping device may be configured as an attachment to an existing style of clamp structure. In this embodiment the first member is a first plate and the second member is a second plate, the first and the second plates being joined at a corner region defining a 5 first axis, each of said first and said second plates including attachment means enabling attachment of the first and the second plates to the separate existing clamp structure. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clamping device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1 a is a detailed view of the region marked A in Figure 1; Figure 2 is a schematic elevation view of one work space region of the 15 clamping device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention with some parts omitted; Figure 4 is an elevation view and end view of a part of a clamping member capable of use in the devices illustrated in preceding drawings; 20 Figure 5 is an end view of one possible engagement member for use with a clamping member shown partially in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a section view along line VI-VI of Figure 5; Figure 7 is an end view of another possible engagement member for use with a clamping member shown partially in Figure 4; and 25 Figure 8 is a section view along line Vill-VIII of Figure 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a clamping structure 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The clamping structure 10 comprises three plates 11, 12 and 13 connected to one another 30 along adjacent corners 14, 15 and 16 whereby the plates 11, 12, 13 on either side of each such corner 14, 15, 16 are arranged at 900 to one another. Each of the corners 14, 15 and 16 define one axis of an x, y, z axis intersecting at a point 17 such that the x, y, z axes are arranged at 900 to one 6 another. Preferably a corner region 18, 19 and 20 of each of the plates 11, 12, 13 are removed to define a large opening 21 enabling relatively free access to this region of the clamping structure 10. The clamping structure 10 further includes three strut members 22, 23, 24, 5 each of which are preferably similarly configured with a first arm 25, a second arm 26 and a corner region 27 joining the two arms 25, 26. The strut member 22, 23 and 24 are generally L-shaped as illustrated and have releasable connection means 28 at the free ends of the arms 25, 26 to enable quick and reliable connection with the plates 11/12, 12/13 and 13/11. A particularly preferred 10 connection means 28 comprises a head portion 29 with a neck portion 30 of smaller dimension separating the head portion 29 from the remainder of the first arm 25 or the second arm 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the head portion 29 is generally of the same size and configuration as the form of the arms 25, 26 however, this is not necessarily an essential requirement. The neck portions 30 15 are conveniently joined by creating grooves 31, 32 extending inwardly from opposed surfaces of the arms 25, 26, however, this is also not necessarily an essential feature. For example, in a possible alternative structure, the head portions 29 might have any perimeter shape including a circular shape and the neck portions 30 might also have a variety of cross-sectional shapes including a 20 circular cross-section. As illustrated in Figures 1, 1 a and 2, each of the plates 11, 12 and 13 have a pair of openings 33 having a larger region 34 allowing the head portions of the releasable connection means 28 to pass there through and a narrower slot 35 opening onto the larger region 34. The narrower slot 35 has a dimension equal to or slightly greater than the operative width of the neck portion 25 30 whereby the neck portions 30 can slide into and be retained, in use, in the narrower slots 35. Conveniently, each of the slots 35 are arranged parallel to one of the axes x, y or z and extend generally towards the intersection point 17 of the x, y, z axes. In Figure 1, the strut member 22 is shown separate from the plates 11, 12 and 13 but where it might be connected to the plates 11, 12, the strut 30 member 23 is shown operatively connected to the plates 12, 13, and the strut member 24 is shown in a position capable of being connected to the plates 13, 11. Once the strut members 22, 23 or 24 are operatively connected to a pair of plates 11/12, 12/13 or 13/11, they define a work space 36 between the first arm 7 25, the second arm 26 and the pair of plates to which they are connected. As represented in the detailed view of Figure Ia, the inlet region leading to each of the slots 35 may have corners 37 with a radius of curvature or chamfered corners to assist with entry of the neck portion 30 into the slots 35. 5 In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2, conveniently supporting feet 48 are secured to or formed on the outer faces of the plates 11, 12 and 13 to provide an even supporting plane for the clamping structure 10 on each of the plates 11, 12 or 13 beyond the extension distance of the head portions 29 on these plates. The feet 48 are represented schematically in broken outline in 10 Figure 1. They may be welded to the plates or formed by a stamping or pressing operation from the material of the plates themselves. In addition to the above described features, each of the strut members 22, 23 or 24 include at least one clamping member 38, 39 or 40. Each clamping member 38, 39, 40 includes a threaded shaft 41 threadingly engaged in a 15 threaded bore 42, 43, 44 passing through either the first arm 25, the corner region 27 or the second arm 26 of each of the strut members 22, 23, 24. Each of the clamping members also includes an engagement portion 45 releasably connected to the inner ends of the shafts 41 to enable selective clamping engagement with a work piece in the work space 36. Releasable connection of the engagement 20 portion 45, as described in greater detail hereafter, permits selection of a suitable configuration of an engagement portion 45 for a particular work piece to be held. If desired, the shafts 41 may also be constructed in two or more sections that are releasably connectable together to provide any desired length of shaft 41. Preferably, gripping means (not shown) might be permanently or releasably 25 connected to the outer ends of the shafts 41 to assist with rotating same towards a clamping position or releasing same from a clamping position. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, work pieces 46 that have a square or rectangular outer periphery can be held by the clamping members 38, 39 or 40 and an elongate work piece 47 having a circular or curved outer periphery might be held by the clamping 30 member 39. Further, with a slightly redesigned engagement portion 45, an elongate angle member might be held by the clamping member 39. The clamping structure 10 thus described enables selectably two or three elongate work pieces to be held by clamping members 38, 39, 40 associated with strut 8 members 22, 23, 24 such that ends of the work pieces meet an abutting relationship at a corner region adjacent the axes intersection point 17. In this location, the joint region is relatively free of obstruction enabling any joining operation to be conveniently carried out such as welding, soldering or the like. 5 Referring now to Figure 3, an alternative preferred embodiment is shown in the form of an attachment 50 adapted for mounting to a known form of rise 51. The known rise 51 includes a stationary jaw 52 defining work engagement surfaces 53, 54 located in planes positioned at 900 to one another. The attachment 50 is a clamping structure adapted to convert the rise 51 into 10 clamping apparatus capable of securing three elongate work elements at 900 to one another. The known rise 51 includes a movable jaw 55 with work engaging surfaces 56, 57 disposed at 900 to one another and which are cooperable with the engagement surfaces 53, 54 on the stationary jaw 52. A threaded shaft 58 is cooperable with a threaded bore 59 on part 60 of the structure of the stationary 15 jaw 52. Rotation of the shaft 58 causes the work engaging surfaces 56, 57 to move towards or away from the cooperating surfaces 53, 54 on the stationary jaw 52. The attachment 50 comprises a pair of plates 61, 62 connected along adjacent edge regions to form a 900 corner 63. Lower edge regions 64, 65 of the 20 plates 61, 62 have a plurality of countersunk attachment holes 66 that enable a fastener 67 (one of which is illustrated) to pass there through and subsequently through attachment holes 68 formed in the surfaces 53, 54 of the stationary jaw 52, the fasteners 67 being secured in place by engagement with a nut 69. Conveniently the lower edge regions 64, 65 of the plates 61, 62 are positioned, in 25 use on the inside of the surfaces 53, 54, that is between the stationary jaw 52 and the movable jaw 55. In addition, each of the plates 61, 62 include an opening 33 configured in the same manner as openings 33 in the plates 13/11 of the clamping device 10 illustrated in Figure 1. In this manner, a strut member such as strut member 24 30 described above in relation to Figures 1/2 can be used with the attachment 50 including the clamping members 38, 39, 40 described above. Desirably, the arms 25, 26 of the strut member 24 extend generally at right angles from the plates 61, 62. The attachment 50 further includes a relatively large opening 70 in its lower 9 corner region to provide good access to the joint formed by work pieces held by the clamping device 50, 51. Reference will now be made to Figures 4 to 8. Figure 4 illustrates the connection zone of a snap together fitting 80 for releasably connecting two parts 5 81 and 82 of a threaded shaft 41 as shown in earlier drawings. The part 81 includes a rotational drive recess 83 capable of being engaged by a drive arm or similar (not shown) to rotate the shaft 41 in use. The part 81 includes an end projection 84 adapted to fit within a recessed zone 85 of the second part 82 in a snap together connection. The recessed zone 10 85 has a rim rib 86 engagable behind a ledge 87 on the end projection 84 to retain the two parts 81, 82 together in an axial direction. To provide sufficient flexibility to enable such a snap together connection, the regions of the second part 82 around the recessed zone 85 are provided with a plurality of radial slots 88. In this case, rotational forces are intended to be transferred from the part 81 15 to the part 82 and axial engaging ribs such as an axial key way or a plurality of axial key ways or a plurality of axial interengaging ribs (not illustrated) may be provided for this purpose. Figures 5/6 and 7/8 show two possible engagement portions 45 capable of being connected via a snap together connection with an end projection 89 on the 20 second part 82 (Figure 4) or a similar part on a one piece shaft 41. The interconnecting region of the engagement portion 45 and the end projection 89 is essentially similar to the construction of the snap together connection of parts 81 and 82 described above with reference to Figure 4 and like features have been given the same reference numbers. The exception is that it is desirable that the 25 engagement portion 45 be rotatable relative to the shaft 41 and in this case therefore, axial engagements to enable co-rotation of the end projection 89 with the engagement portion 45 are omitted. In Figures 5/6, the engagement portion 45 has essentially a flat pressure surface 90 and this type of engagement portion 45 might be used with clamping 30 members 38 and 40 shown in the earlier drawings. In Figures 7/8, the pressure surface 91 is formed with separate pairs of angular surfaces 92, 93 and 94, 95. The outer surfaces 92, 93 form an included angle of 904 and might be used to engage the surfaces of an angle iron, channel or similar when using a clamping 10 member such as 39 shown in earlier drawings. The inner pair of angular surfaces 94, 95 might be used to engage a circular work piece 47 as shown in earlier drawings. Various modifications to the apparatus described above may be made 5 within the scope of the accompanying claims. For example, alternative means of connecting the strut members to the clamp plates 11, 12, 13, 61, 62 might be utilised although it is preferred that quick release connection means be utilised. It is of course also possible for the strut members to be permanently connected to the plates of the clamping structure.

Claims (17)

1. A clamping device including a first member having a first engagement surface located in a first plane and a second member having a second engagement surface located in a second plane, said first and said second planes 5 defining an included fixed angle of 900, a first strut member having a first arm, in use, extending laterally from said first plane and a second arm, in use, extending laterally from said second plane, said first and said second arms being connected to define a first work space between said first and said second arms and said first and said second engagement surfaces, at least one clamp member operatively 10 connected to said first strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within said first work space to press, in use, against a first elongate work element aligned by engagement with said first and said second engagement surfaces, a free end of said first arm including first releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to second releasable connection means of 15 the first member, and a free end of said second arm including first releasable connection means enabling connection of the second arm to second releasable connection means of the second member.

2. A clamping device according to claim 1 wherein said second releasable connection means of said first member and of said second member are 20 positioned intermediate a lower edge and an upper edge of each of said first member and said second member.

3. A clamping device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first and said second arms are configured as a single L-shaped element having a corner region intermediate said first and said second arms. 25

4. A clamping device according to claim 3 wherein said at least one clamp member is located within said corner region.

5. A clamping device according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein a said clamp member is provided operatively connected to each of said first arm and said second arm. 12

6. A clamping device according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the or each said clamp member includes a threaded shaft threadingly engaged in a threaded bore in said first strut member, the engagement portion of the or each said clamp member being releasably connected to an inner end of said shaft 5 located, in use, within said first work space.

7. A clamping device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein each said first releasable connection means comprises a head portion separated from the respective said first arm and said second arm by a neck portion of smaller dimension, each of said first member and said second member having a said 10 second releasable connection means including an opening with an enlarged region to allow said head portion to pass therethrough and a narrower slot region into which the neck portion of the releasable connection means can seat.

8. A clamping device according to claim 6 wherein each said narrower slot region in said first member and said second member extends in the same 15 direction from the enlarged regions of said second releasable connection means.

9. A clamping device according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the first member is a first plate and the second member is a second plate, the first and the second plates being joined at a corner region defining a first axis, the clamping device further including a third member in the form of a third plate respectively connected 20 to said first and said second members at opposed corner regions whereby the opposed corner regions define a second axis and a third axis, the first, second and third axes mutually intersecting and being disposed at 900 to one another, each of said first, second and third plates defining an open region where the first, second and third axes intersect. 25

10. A clamping device according to claim 7 wherein each said narrower slot region in said first member and said second member extends parallel to a corner region between said first member and said second member.

11. A clamping device according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein a second strut member is provided having a first arm extending laterally from said first plate and 13 a second arm extending laterally from said third plate defining a second work space between said first and said second arms of the second strut member and said first and said third plates, said second strut member further having at least one clamp member operatively connected to said second strut member having an 5 engagement portion selectably movable within said second work space to press, in use, against a second elongate work element aligned by engagement with said first and said third plates.

12. A clamping device according to claim 11 wherein the first and the second arms of said second strut member are configured as an L-shaped element having 10 a corner region intermediate the first and the second arms of the second strut member, a free end of each of the first arm and the second arm of the second strut member having a said first releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to the first plate and the second arm to the third plate.

13. A clamping device according to claim 12 wherein each said first releasable 15 connection means comprises a head portion separated by a neck portion of smaller dimension than the head portion from the remainder of the second strut member, each of said first plate and said third plate having a said second releasable connection means including an opening with an enlarged region allowing a said head portion to pass there through and a narrower slot region into 20 which a said neck portion of the releasable connection means of the second strut member can seat.

14. A clamping device according to any one of claims 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 further including a third strut member having a first arm extending laterally from said second plate and a second arm extending laterally from said third plate 25 defining a third work space between said first and said second arms of the third strut member and said second plate and said third plate, said third strut member further having at least one clamp member operatively connected to the third strut member having an engagement portion selectably movable within the third work space to, in use, press against a third elongate work element aligned by 30 engagement with said second and said third plates. 14

15. A clamping device according to claim 14 wherein the first and the second arms of said third strut member are configured as an L-shaped element having a corner region intermediate the first and the second arms of the third strut member, a free end of each of the first arm and the second arm of the third strut 5 member having a said first releasable connection means enabling connection of the first arm to the second plate and the second arm to the third plate.

16. A clamping device according to claim 15 wherein each said first releasable connection means comprises a head portion separated by a neck portion of smaller dimension than the head portion from the remainder of the third strut 10 member, each of said second plate and said third plate having a said second releasable connection means including an opening with an enlarged region allowing a said head portion to pass there through and a narrower slot region into which a said neck portion of the releasable connection means of the third strut member can seat. 15

17. A clamping device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the first member is a first plate and the second member is a second plate, the first and the second plates being joined at a corner region defining a first axis, each of said first and said second plates including attachment means enabling attachment of the first and the second plates to a separate clamp structure. 20 RICHARD MAURICE BOYAR WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARKS ATTORNEYS P35857AU00