Patent ID: 6619642
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
A clamp for clamping a workpiece, the clamp comprising:a support body; a workpiece supporting element mounted on the support body: a clamping member mounted on the support body for displacement towards and away from the support body; a workpiece clamping element mounted on the clamping member; securing means adapted to retain the clamping member in a clamping position in which, in use, the workpiece clamping element applies a clamping force to a workpiece clamped between the workpiece clamping element and the workpiece supporting element; connecting means which connects the workpiece clamping element to the clamping member for pivoting displacement relatively to the clamping member about axes lying in a plane extending transversely of the line of action of the clamping force, and for linear movement relatively to the clamping member in a direction substantially transverse to the line of action of the clamping force, whereby the workpiece clamping element is self-aligning with the surface of a clamped workpiece, the connecting means having a ball and socket connection which includes a part-spherical ball element mounted on the clamping member and a socket formed in the workpiece clamping element, the part-spherical ball element engaging the socket; and a retaining pin which engages the workpiece clamping member and which extends with clearance through a bore in the workpiece clamping element for retaining the workpiece clamping element on the workpiece clamping member.