Abstract:
A clamp that is particularly suitable for automated manufacturing or assembly environments, such as on a transfer press, includes a first and a second clamp which engage each other via a joint. The joint is adapted to allow the first and second clamps to both pivot and rotate with respect to each other. A third clamp fits over the joint and selectively secures the first and second clamps in a desired orientation when the third clamp is tightened. The joint may be a ball and socket joint.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to clamping devices used to secure two parts together in a fixed spatial relationship. 
     In today&#39;s automated manufacturing and assembly environment, it is customary to use tools that have to be connected together in certain spatial relationships. For example, the use of transfer presses in automated manufacturing or assembly environments often requires that certain tools be mounted to the transfer press at specific positions and orientations. The transfer press includes a movable rail to which various tools are attached. These tools can include suction cups, grippers, or other types of tools used to handle and move the parts being assembled or manufactured. In order for the tools to pick up and move the parts being manipulated, it is necessary for them to be arranged in a manner corresponding to the particular shape of the part being manipulated. Thus, it is often necessary to have the tools adjustably clamped to the transfer press rail. The adjustability of the clamping allows the tools to be attached in such a way that they are properly positioned for picking up and manipulating the part undergoing manufacture or assembly. 
     In the past, the clamps used in automated manufacturing and assembly environments have suffered from the disadvantage of having a limited degree of adjustability. For example, some prior art clamps have allowed two parts to be rotatably clamped together, but do not allow the parts to be swiveled with respect to each other. In other prior art clamps, parts can be swiveled with respect to each other, but not rotated. These prior art clamps therefore limit the range of movement of one part with respect to another when they are clamped together. These types of clamps therefore may render it difficult to achieve the necessary configuration of tools, and may further necessitate the use of additional clamps in order to achieve such a configuration. The need for a clamp that provides greater adjustability can therefore be seen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a clamp which has an increased level of adjustability. Specifically, the clamp allows for both the rotation and swiveling of the two parts that are clamped together. 
     In one embodiment, the invention comprises a swivel clamp for securing together a first and second part. The swivel clamp includes a first clamp having an opening for receiving and selectively securing the first part to the first clamp. The swivel clamp further includes a second clamp defining an opening for receiving and selectively securing the second part to the second clamp. A socket is attached to the first clamp, while a ball is attached to the second clamp. The ball is dimensioned to fit partially within the socket such that the ball can rotate within the socket. A third clamp is further positioned around the ball and socket and adapted to be selectively tightened against the first and second clamps such that the socket is prevented from rotating around the ball when the third clamp is tightened. The first and second clamps can thereby be swiveled and rotated with respect to each other. 
     In another embodiment, the invention comprises a swivel clamp having a first clamp that defines a generally cylindrical opening for receiving a first part. The first clamp includes a top and a bottom half which define a gap therebetween. A second clamp is further included which has a generally cylindrical opening for receiving a second part. The second clamp includes a top and bottom half which defines a gap therebetween. A first fastener is provided for selectively narrowing the gap in the first clamp, while a second fastener is provided for selectively narrowing the gap in the second clamp. A joint is disclosed between the first and second clamps and adapted to allow the first and second clamps to both rotate and swivel with respect to each other. A third clamp is disposed around the joint and includes a top and a bottom that are selectively secured together by way of at least one fastener. The third clamp engages the joint and prevents the joint from rotating or swiveling when the top and bottom are tightly secured together by the at least one fastener. 
     The swivel clamp of the present invention thereby provides greater adjustability by being able to both rotate and swivel. This facilitates the installation and setup of tool configurations used in automated manufacturing or assembly environments. These and other benefits, results, and objects of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art, in light of the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swivel clamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the swivel clamp of FIG. 1 illustrated in a rotated configuration; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of a male and female clamp of the swivel clamp of FIG. 1 illustrated in both a straight configuration and a swivel configuration (in phantom); 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the swivel clamp of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the female clamp of the swivel clamp of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the female clamp; 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the female clamp; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the male clamp of the swivel clamp of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view of the male clamp; 
     FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the male clamp; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first half of a third clamp; 
     FIG. 12 is a plan view of the first half of the third clamp; 
     FIG. 13 is a side, elevational view of the first half of the third clamp; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second half of the third clamp; 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view of the second half of the third clamp; 
     FIG. 16 is a side, elevational view of the second half of the third clamp; and 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a swivel clamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals correspond to like elements in the several drawings. A swivel clamp  20  according to a first embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  4  and includes a female clamp  22 , male clamp  24 , and a third clamp  26  disposed between male and female clamps  22  and  24 . Female clamp  22  includes an opening  28  for receiving a first part to which swivel clamp  20  is secured. Male clamp  24  includes a similar opening  30  for receiving a second part to which swivel clamp  20  is secured. The first part is secured in female clamp  22  by way of a fastener  32  which selectively narrows a gap  34  defined between the upper and lower halves of female clamp  22 . The second part is secured in male clamp  24  by way of a fastener  32  which likewise selectively narrows a gap  36  defined between the upper and lower halves of male clamp  24 . As is illustrated in FIG. 2, female clamp  22  and male clamp  24  are rotatable with respect to each other. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 3, female clamp  22  and male clamp  24  are each pivotable with respect to each other. The combination of rotation and pivoting, or swiveling, allows swivel clamp  20  to be adjusted to clamp two different parts together in a wide variety of different orientations. When tightened, third clamp  26  secures clamp  20  in the desired orientation by gripping an exterior surface  48  of female clamp  22  and an exterior surface  68  of male clamp  24 . The frictional contact between third clamp  26  and exterior surfaces  48  and  68  prevents rotation or swiveling of female and male clamps  22  and  24  with respect to each other when clamp  26  is tightened. 
     Female clamp  22  is depicted in FIGS. 5-7 and includes a body  38  having an upper half  40  and lower half  42 . A socket  44  is defined at one end of female clamp  22 . Socket  44  includes an interior, spheroidal surface  46  which receives a ball  64  as will be discussed in more detail herein. Socket  44  further includes an exterior surface  48  that is generally hemispherical shaped. Exterior surface  48  encompasses slightly less than a full hemisphere in order to allow swiveling of female clamp  22  with respect to male clamp  24 , as discussed in more detail herein. Exterior surface  48  and interior surface  46  are connected by an end surface  50  which is angled away from male clamp  24  (FIGS.  6 - 7 ). Socket  44  is generally rigid and thus does not compress—or compresses minimally, if at all—when third clamp  26  is tightened. The tightening of third clamp  26  retains the entire clamp  20  in the desired orientation through the frictional contact of surfaces  48  and  68  with third clamp  26 , rather than through any compression of socket  44  onto ball  64 . Socket  44  thus does not need to be flexible and does not undergo the fatigue associated with flexible sockets that repeatedly undergo deforming contractions. 
     Upper half  40  and lower half  42  together define a generally cylindrical opening  28  into which a first part is inserted for attachment to swivel clamp  20 . Upper half  40  and lower half  42  are integrally joined along one end of female clamp  22 . Specifically, they are integrally joined along an end of female clamp  22  adjacent socket  44 . At the opposite end, upper half  40  and lower half  42  define a gap  34  which can be flexibly narrowed by the use of a fastener  32 . Fastener  32  fits into an aperture  52  defined in upper and lower halves  40  and  42 . The portion of aperture  52  defined in lower half  42  is internally threaded for engagement with threaded fastener  32 . The portion of aperture  52  defined in upper half  40  is smooth and not threaded. By inserting a threaded fastener  32  into aperture  52 , the head of the threaded fastener pushes against upper half  40  when the fastener is rotated into aperture  52 . The continued rotation causes upper half  40  to be pushed downward toward lower half  42 , thereby narrowing gap  34 . The narrowing of gap  34  causes upper half  40  and lower half  42  to tightly grip the first part that is inserted into opening  28  of female clamp  22 . In the current embodiment, the fastening of female clamp  22  to a first part is facilitated by use of a lock washer  54  (see FIG.  4 ). 
     Male clamp  24  is depicted in FIGS. 8-10 and includes a body  56  having an upper half  58  and lower half  60 . Body  56  further includes a generally hemispherical protrusion  62  which extends outwardly and is integrally joined with a ball  64 . Ball  64  is spherically shaped and has a diameter less than that of hemispherical protrusion  62 . The curvature of interior, spherical surface  46  of socket  44  matches the curvature of the exterior surface of ball  64 . Socket  44  is thereby able to both pivot and rotate along the exterior surface of ball  64 . An end surface  66  is defined between ball  64  and an exterior surface  68  of hemispherical protrusion  62 . End surface  66  of male clamp  24  contacts end surface  50  of female clamp  22  when male and female clamps are swiveled with respect to each other. End surfaces  66  and  50  thereby limit the extent of pivoting of female and male clamps  22  and  24  with respect to each other. 
     Upper and lower halves  58  and  60  of male clamp  24  define a generally cylindrical opening  30  into which a second part is inserted and secured. The second part is secured in an opening  30  in the same manner that a first part is secured in opening  28  of female clamp  22 . In particular, a fastener  32  is inserted through an aperture  70  defined in upper and lower halves  58  and  60 . Aperture  70  defined in lower half  60  is internally threaded and threadingly engages the exterior threads defined on fastener  32 . By rotating threaded fastener  32 , the gap  36  between upper and lower halves  58  and  60  can be decreased, thereby clamping the second part in opening  30 . In the current embodiment, a lock washer  54  is also used with male clamp  24 . The lock washer  54  is positioned between the head of fastener  32  and upper half  58  of male clamp  24 . Lock washer  54  helps insure a tight clamping of the second part which is inserted into opening  30 . 
     The relative orientation of female clamp  22  with respect to male clamp  24  is selectively fixed by way of third clamp  26 . Third clamp  26  includes a top  72  and bottom  74  which fit around the ball and socket joint defined between the bodies of female clamp  22  and male clamp  24 . Top  72  is depicted in FIGS. 14-16, while bottom  74  is depicted in FIGS. 11-13. Bottom  74  includes an interior curved surface  76  that matches the curvature of exterior surfaces  68  and  48  of male and female clamps  24  and  22 , respectively. Bottom  74  further includes a first aperture  78 a and second aperture  80   a.  Second aperture  80   a  is defined at an end of bottom  74  opposite first aperture  78   a.  First and second apertures  78   a  and  80   a  are threaded and receive a threaded fastener, such as fastener  32 . Threaded fasteners  32  are used to secure top and bottom  72  and  74  together, along with controlling the tightness to which top and bottom  72  and  74  are secured together. 
     Top  72  of third clamp  26  includes a first aperture  78   b  and a second aperture  80   b.  Apertures  78   b  and  80   b  correspond to apertures  78   a  and  80   a  defined in bottom  74 . First and second apertures  78   b  and  80   b  are not threaded. A recess  82  is defined adjacent first and second apertures  78   b  and  80   b  on the top side of top  72 . Recesses  82  are provided to accommodate the head of the screw  32  used to secure top  72  and bottom  74  together. Top  72  also includes an interior curved surface  84  that has a curvature which matches the curvature of exterior surfaces  68  and  48  of male clamp  24  and female clamp  22 , respectively. By rotating screws  32  in apertures  78  and  80 , top and bottom  72  and  74  are compressed together. This compression causes interior curved surface  84  of top  72  and interior curved surface  76  of bottom  74  to tightly grip the exterior surfaces  68  and  48  of male and female clamps  24  and  22 . The gripping of exterior surfaces  68  and  48  prevents female clamp  22  and male clamp  24  from rotating or swiveling with respect to each other. The orientation of male clamp  24  and female clamp  22  is thus first set to the desired orientation, and then screws  32  are tightened in apertures  78  and  80 , to thereby secure swivel clamp  20  in the desired orientation. 
     An alternative embodiment of a swivel clamp  120  is depicted in FIG. 17 wherein elements corresponding to swivel clamp  20  are depicted with like numbers increased by one hundred. Swivel clamp  120  depicted in FIG. 17 includes male and female clamps which are of a different size. Specifically, the female clamp  122  has a cylindrical opening  128  which is of generally greater diameter than the cylindrical opening  130  of the male clamp  124 . Swivel clamp  120  allows parts of different diameters to be secured together. It will of course be understood that female clamp  122  could be modified to have a smaller cylindrical opening, while male clamp  124  could have a larger cylindrical opening. 
     In the current embodiment, female clamp  22 , male clamp  24 , and third clamp  26  are all made out of heat treated aluminum. Fasteners  32  and lock washers  54  can be made out of any suitable material. Modifications of the materials of female clamp  22 , male clamp  24  and third clamp  26 , can, of course, be made. The embodiments described herein, of course, can also be varied in other respects. For example, the manner by which female and male clamps  22  and  24  are affixed to the parts being clamped together can be varied. Instead of a cylindrical opening into which parts are inserted and clamps  22  and  24  are subsequently tightened, there could be a square or other shaped opening for receiving parts. Alternatively, clamps  22  and  24  could include a rod or the like to which the parts clamp themselves. Or as another alternative, a plate could be attached to clamps  22  and  24  which includes fasteners for securing a part to the plate. Various other means by which the parts can be secured to clamps  22  and  24  could also be used within the scope of the invention. 
     While the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments depicted in the drawings and discussed in the above-specification, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these particular preferred embodiments, but includes any and all such modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.