Electro-magnetic clamp for gripping a shaft

Title: Electro-magnetic clamp for gripping a shaft

Related Patent Categories: Brakes, Rod

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060196737, Electro-magnetic clamp for gripping a shaft.

1. A clamp for releasable locking engagement with a shaft, comprising a clamp body having a bore extending therethrough to slidingly receive a shaft to permit the clamp and body to slide along said shaft when released, a pair of opposing shaft grippers coaxial with said bore for selectively gripping said shaft when actuated, each said gripper comprising inner and outer sleeves slideable axially relative to each other, wherein axial displacement releases or engages said shaft, said grippers being in opposing relation to each other wherein gripping and releasing of said shaft is effected by a coordinated displacement of said inner sleeves towards or away from each other; a pair of opposing plungers slideably engaged to said body for displacing said inner sleeves inwardly towards or away from the mid-line of said body, and a pair of opposing arms in effective contact with said plungers and slideably engaged to said body, for effecting coordinated displacement of said plungers, each said arm associated with an actuator for a coordinated diverging or converging of said arms so as to grip or release said grippers to said shaft.

2. A clamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a solenoid having a solenoid body engaged to a first of said arms, and a solenoid plunger operatively engaged to the second of said arms wherein extension of said plunger diverges said arms and contraction of said plunger converges said arms.

3. A clamp as defined in claim 2, further comprising a pivot block pivotally mounted to said solenoid plunger between said first and second arms for absorbing misalignment therebetween.

4. A clamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said grippers are arranged for release of said shaft when said inner sleeves are each displaced in an inboard direction.

5. A clamp as defined in claim 4, wherein said inner sleeves are biased to return to an outboard position when said plungers are retracted.

6. A clamp as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said grippers is retained within said body within a recess open to a corresponding end of said body, each said recess coaxial with said bore.

7. A clamp as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least two guide pins protruding outwardly in opposed directions for engaging said arms slideably to said body.

8. A clamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said grippers each comprise a plurality of openings in said inner sleeves, a plurality of shaft contact members extending partway through said openings for selectively contacting and gripping said shaft when urged partway through said openings, and at least one wedge associated with said outer sleeve for urging said members through said openings when said outer and inner sleeves are displaced relative to each other.

9. A clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said grippers permit rotational but not axial movement of said shaft when engaged.

10. A clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said grippers permit axial but not rotational movement of said shaft when engaged.

11. A clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said grippers permit neither axial nor rotational movement of said shaft when engaged.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

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Industry Class:
Brakes

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