Patent ID: 6170835
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: B23B,Y10T

Abstract:
A workpiece clamping apparatus comprising:a housing having an axial direction,guides extending in the housing in inclined relationship with respect to the axial direction as viewed in radial planes,a plurality of clamping motion elements adapted to be displaced along the guides,clamping jaws carried by the respective clamping motion elements, adapted to clamp a workpiece,a plurality of cylinder chambers in fixed relationship with the housing,a plurality of clamping pistons in respective ones of the cylinder chambers and each operatively associated with a respective clamping motion element, for effecting clamping of a workpiece,a displacement actuation means adapted to provide for movement of the clamping motion elements into a respective released position and a clamping readiness position, andfluid feed duct means for feeding fluid to the cylinder chambers for actuation of the clamping pistons therein, the fluid feed duct means extending in part by way of the displacement actuation means and adapted to permit control fluid to be fed to said cylinder chambers selectively without pressure or with take-up pressure or with clamping pressure.