Abstract:
A clamp and method of use may be configured to detect whether a clamp is properly secured to an object, and whether that proper securement is maintained. One embodiment of a clamp may include a first portion and a second portion. The relative positions of the first and second portions may be selectively adjusted using a positioner. A sensor assembly may be secured between said first and second portions to determine if the first portion engages the work piece with the proper force. Multiple clamps may be used on a single work piece, and those clamps may be in communication with a common controller to alert the user when any clamp experiences a force other than the force the user desires.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/731,954 filed on Dec. 31, 2012, which application claimed priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 61/582,119 filed on Dec. 30, 2011, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for clamping, and more specifically, for an apparatus and method that verifies an object is properly secured by a clamping apparatus. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosed and described in the patent application. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       AUTHORIZATION PURSUANT TO 37 C.F.R. §1.171 (d) 
       [0005]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material that is subject to copyright and trademark protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limited of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the claim as disclosed herein. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the clamp as disclosed herein. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  is a cutaway side view of the embodiment of the clamp shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is an end view of the embodiment of the clamp shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a cutaway end view of the embodiment of the clamp shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   DETAILED DESCRIPTION - ELEMENT LISTING 
                 
               
            
             
                 
                     
                   Description 
                   Element No. 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                 
                     
                   Clamp 
                   10 
                 
                 
                     
                   First portion 
                   20 
                 
                 
                     
                   Distal end 
                   21 
                 
                 
                     
                   Interface surface 
                   21a 
                 
                 
                     
                   Aperture 
                   22 
                 
                 
                     
                   Positioner 
                   24 
                 
                 
                     
                   Positioner anchor 
                   24a 
                 
                 
                     
                   Positioner adjuster 
                   24b 
                 
                 
                     
                   Pin receptacle 
                   26 
                 
                 
                     
                   Second portion 
                   30 
                 
                 
                     
                   Anchor receiver 
                   32 
                 
                 
                     
                   Sensor chamber 
                   34 
                 
                 
                     
                   Pin housing 
                   36 
                 
                 
                     
                   Mounting aperture 
                   37 
                 
                 
                     
                   Interface chamber 
                   38 
                 
                 
                     
                   Sensor assembly 
                   40 
                 
                 
                     
                   Biasing member 
                   42 
                 
                 
                     
                   Spacer 
                   44 
                 
                 
                     
                   Pin 
                   46 
                 
                 
                     
                   Sensor 
                   47 
                 
                 
                     
                   Coupling 
                   48 
                 
                 
                     
                   First inlet 
                   48a 
                 
                 
                     
                   Angled inlet 
                   48b 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Before the various embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology used herein with reference to device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like “front”, “back”, “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, and the like) are only used to simplify description of the present invention, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used herein and in the appended claims for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. 
       1. Illustrative Embodiment 
       [0013]    One embodiment of a clamp  10  is shown in perspective in  FIG. 1 , and from the side in  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2B  provides a side cutaway view of the illustrative embodiment along the length thereof. The illustrative embodiment of the clamp  10  generally includes a first portion  20  and a second portion  30  that are selectively positionable with respect to one another. The first and second portions  20 ,  30  may be coupled via a positioner  24  as shown herein. In other embodiments of the clamp  10 , other structures and/or methods may be used to allow for the first portion  20  to be selectively secured in a position relative to the second portion  30  without limitation. A distal end  21  of the first portion  20  may extend beyond the corresponding end of the second portion  30 . However, in other embodiments of the clamp  10  the first and second portions  20 ,  30  are approximately equal in length. 
         [0014]    In the illustrative embodiment the positioner  24  includes a positioner adjuster  24   b  at a first end thereof and a positioner anchor  24   a  at a second end thereof. A portion of the positioner  24  adjacent the positioner adjuster  24   b  may pass through an aperture  22  formed in the first portion  20 , as best shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2B . The aperture  22  may be configured as a slot to allow for various adjustments in the relative position of the first and second portions  20 ,  30 . The positioner anchor  24   a  may be placed within an anchor receiver  32  formed in the second portion  30 , also best shown in  FIG. 2B . In this embodiment, the positioner  24  is generally configured as a bolt and nut, wherein the bolt is securely engaged with the second portion  30  and the nut serves as the positioner adjuster  24   b  , whereby a user may adjust the distance between the first and second portions  20 ,  30 . However, in other embodiments not pictured herein the positioner  24  may use different structures and/or methods to allow a user to adjust the distance between the first and second portions  20 ,  30 . 
         [0015]    Referring now generally to  FIGS. 2B and 3B , a sensor assembly  40  may also be placed between the first and second portions  20 ,  30 . In the illustrative embodiment the sensor assembly  40  is positioned opposite the distal end  21  of the first portion  20 , but may be positioned elsewhere without limitation. In the illustrative embodiment of the clamp  10 , the sensor assembly  40  generally includes a biasing member  42 , a pin  46 , and a sensor  47 . The pin  46  may be affixed at one end thereof to the first portion  20  and extend downward through a spacer  44  and a biasing member  42  into a pin housing  36  affixed to the second portion  30 . In other embodiments of the clamp  10 , the pin housing  36  may be formed integrally within the second portion  30 . The pin  46  may be secured to the first portion  20  so that the position of the pin  46  is fixed with respect to the first portion  20 . The biasing member  42  may be positioned between the first and second portions  20 ,  30  concentrically with the pin  46  and spacer  44 , which may be positioned between the biasing member  42  and first portion  20 .The end of the pin  46  opposite the first portion  20  may extend into an interface chamber  38  formed in the second portion  30 . 
         [0016]    The second portion  30  may be formed with one or more mounting apertures  37  therein. A mounting aperture  37  may be used to secure the second portion  30  and/or the clamp  10  to a structure and/or work surface, thereby providing a reference position for the clamp  10  and the first portion  20 . In other embodiments, the second portion  30  may be secured to a structure and/or work surface via welding. Accordingly, the scope of the clamp  10  is not limited by the method and/or structure used to secure the clamp  10  and/or second portion  30  to a structure and/or work surface, and any suitable structure and/or method may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the clamp  10 . 
         [0017]    A first end of a sensor  47  may be positioned within a sensor chamber  34  formed in the second portion  30  such that the position of the sensor  47  with respect to the second portion  30  is fixed. A second end of the sensor  47  may extend toward the interface chamber  38  adjacent the pin  46 . It is contemplated that the sensor  47  in the illustrative embodiment of the sensory assembly  40  will be configured as a proximity sensor. Accordingly, the sensor  47  may be used to determine the distance between the first and second portions  20 ,  30 . However, in other embodiments of the clamp  10 , the sensor  47  may be configured differently, such as a photo eye, or any other structure and/or method that functions to determine the distance between two objects as described in detail below. 
         [0018]    A coupling  48  may be positioned adjacent the sensor  47 . In the illustrative embodiment, the coupling is positioned opposite the interface surface  21 a toward the bottom of the second portion  30 . The coupling  48  may have a first inlet  48 a and/or angled inlet  48 b to provide a conduit to the sensor  47 . For example, the coupling  48  may be used to provide electrical energy to the sensor  47 . In other embodiments, the sensor  47  may be wireless, in which case a coupling  48  may not be necessary. 
         [0019]    The biasing member  42  may be configured to bias the first portion  20  away from the second portion  30  with a predetermined force for a predetermined clearance between the first and second portions  20 ,  30 . Alternatively, in embodiments of the clamp  10  in which a second portion  30  is not required (described in detail below), the biasing member  42  may be configured to bias the first portion  20  away from the work piece and/or work surface. Decreasing the distance between the first and second portions  20 ,  30  (via the positioner adjuster  24   b  in the illustrative embodiment) brings the pin closer to the sensor  47 . A certain amount of force will be required to overcome the force of the biasing member  42  in order to bring the pin  46  in sufficient proximity to the sensor  47  such that the sensor  47  detects the presence of the pin  46 . In this manner, the biasing member  42 , pin  46 , and sensor  47  may be configured so that the sensor  47  detects the pin  46  when the clamp  10  has achieved a predetermined clamping force against a work piece (not shown) positioned between the interface surface  21 a and work surface (not shown, but for most embodiments generally located under the interface surface  21 a adjacent the second portion  30 ). 
         [0020]    Other types of sensor assemblies  40  may be used without limitation, and the optimal sensor assembly  40  and/or components thereof will vary from one application of the clamp  10  to the next. For example, in an embodiment not pictured herein, the sensor assembly  40  may include a strain gauge, and in another embodiment it may include some type of MEMS component. Accordingly, any sensor assembly  40  that alerts a user when a specific clamping force has been achieved, and/or that functions to detect the distance between two objects may be used with the clamp  10  without limitation. Additionally, the optimal forces, pressures, orientations, and/or dimensions of the various components of the clamp  10  will vary from one application of the clamp  10  to the next, and are therefore in no way limiting to the scope thereof. For example, in another embodiment of the clamp  10  not pictured herein, the sensor assembly  40  is positioned adjacent the interface surface  21 a such that it may directly detect the relative positions and/or forces of the first portion  20  and work piece. In such an embodiment a second portion  30  may not be needed, and it is contemplated that the positioner  24  may be engaged directly with the work surface. 
         [0021]    Illustrative Method of Use 
         [0022]    Having described a preferred embodiment of the clamp  10  for certain applications, one method of using the clamp  10  will now be described. Generally, the clamp  10  may verify that a user secured a work piece with proper force, and that the proper force is maintained. 
         [0023]    In the illustrative embodiment, a work piece may be positioned on a work surface, and the second portion  30  of the clamp  10  may be secured to that work surface. Once the user is satisfied with the position of the work piece, the user may secure the position of the work piece using the clamp  10 . The user may decrease the distance between the first portion  20  and the second portion  30  (and consequently the distance between the first portion  20  and the work piece and work surface) via the positioner adjuster  24   b  . In the illustrative embodiment of the clamp  10  this would be accomplished by tightening a nut (positioner adjuster  24   b  ) engaged with a bolt (positioner  24 ). 
         [0024]    As the distance between the first and second portions  20 ,  30  is decreased, the biasing member  42  is progressively compressed. Eventually the distance will be decreased to the point that the sensor  47  will detect the pin  46 . For a given work piece dimension, the biasing member  42 , sensor  47 , and pin  46  may be configured so that when the sensor  47  detects the pin  46 , the first portion  20  is placing a predetermined force on the work piece. This allows the user to verify that the clamp  10  properly secures the work piece. In a similar fashion, the sensor assembly  40  may also be configured to alert the user if the clamp  10  does not maintain the predetermined force on the work piece, i.e., if the clamp  10  becomes loose or dislodged. 
         [0025]    A plurality of clamps  10  may be used on a single work piece, and each clamp  10  may be in communication with a controller (not shown), which controller may be in communication with a machine (e.g., CNC mill, lathe, etc.). The controller may be configured so that if any clamp  10  fails to achieve and/or maintain the proper clamping force, the machine reverts to a fail mode in which no work is performed on the work piece, and in which the work piece cannot be moved or repositioned. The user may be alerted to this situation and inspect and/or adjust each clamp  10  until the proper clamping force is achieved on each clamp  10 . It is contemplated that the controller may also be configured to identify the specific clamp  10  that has failed to achieve or maintain the proper clamping force. 
         [0026]    Various other electrical components that may be required to facilitate the operation of the clamp  10 , such as capacitors, resistors, etc. are not shown herein for purposes of clarity, and are in no way limiting to the scope of the clamp  10 . 
         [0027]    The clamp  10  and various components thereof may be constructed of any suitable material for the specific application of the clamp  10 . It is contemplated that a metallic material and/or metallic alloy for use with the first and second portions  20 ,  30  may be especially suitable for many applications. However, the scope of the clamp  10  is not so limited. 
         [0028]    Having described the preferred embodiments, other features of the clamp  10  and method of use will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as will numerous modifications and alterations in the embodiments as illustrated herein, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the clamp  10  and/or method of use as disclosed herein. It should be noted that the clamp  10  and method of use are not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but are intended to apply to all similar apparatuses and methods for verifying that a specific force has been achieved and/or maintained. Modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the clamp  10  and/or method of use.