Improvements in Clamping Devices, applicable to Presses, Vices, Wrenches, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1899
Improvements in Clamping Devices, applicable to Presses, Vices,
Wrenches, and the like.
I, WILLARD REED GREEN, of No. 1325. Gilpin Street, in the City of Denver,
Arapahoe County, and State of Colorado, United States of America, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to clamping devices or presses employed to hold various
materials or tools or for other purposes, and the object of the invention is to pro-
vide a simple, cheap, and effective construction and arrangement of parts adapted
to be embodied into various forms and devices and employed for various purposes
and especially where it is desirable to clamp or hold articles or materials.
My invention consists, generally speaking, of two parts one of which is movable
with relation to the other and means whereby when the parts are adjusted into
approximately their desired relations they can be quickly and forcibly adjusted
or moved into position under pressure, the construction and operation being sub-
stantially as hereinafter pointed out.
Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of
the invention is illustrated as applied to several devices:
Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section of a vice-embodying my invention. Fig. 2
is a bottom plan view; Fig. 3 an end view and Fig. 4 a cross section. Figs. 5, 6, 7,
and 8 are detail views showing my invention applied to a wrench; and Figs. 9
and 10 are sectional views showing my invention applied to a copying press.
The invention comprises a stationary part 1, and a movable part 2, which may
be in various forms, depending upon the particular application of the invention.
These parts are constructed so that they may be adjusted freely with relation to
each other and as shown one part as 1 is provided with a hollow extension 3 and
the other part as 2 is provided with an extension 4 adapted to slide in the hollow
extension.
Mounted in fixed relation to one of the parts is a cam or eccentric 5 provided with
a diagonal or convolute thread 6 passing around the surface of the cam at any
desired pitch and of any suitable length or thickness. This cam is connected so as
to be rotated when desired and as shown it may be mounted on a rod 7 and
arranged to slide longitudinally thereon but to rotate therewith, as by means of
a feather 8 or equivalent.
One of the parts, as 2, is provided with some sort of projections or bearings as 9
and a block 10 is provided with similar projections 11 to co-operate therewith.
This block is provided with a groove 12 adapted to receive and co-operate with the
thread 6 of the cam so that when the cam is turned in the proper direction the
projections 11 of the block engage the projections 9 and lock the parts 1 and 2

page_text: together while the thread 6, engaging the groove 12 causes the parts to approach
and press upon the article or material between the parts. When it is desired to
release the parts the cam is turned in the proper direction and the block is allowed
to fall or is positively moved to disengage the projections 9 and 11, when the
relation of the parts 1 and 2 may be freely changed.
With this general description of the more essential features of construction of
the clamping device I will now more particularly describe its construction when
applied to several purposes, and it will be understood that my invention is not
mited to any particular use or purpose but may be adapted by those skilled in
the art to many kinds of presses, vices, wrenches, tongs, holders, tools or similar
structures without departing from the spirit of the invention.
In Figs. 1 to 4 I have shown a bench vice in which the part 1 is a stationary
jaw having a hollow extension 3 secured to a bench B while the part 2 is a
movable jaw having an extension 4 sliding in the extension 3. Mounted in the
movable part is a red 7 having a suitable handle 13 and may have a lug 14 moving
in a slot 15 to limit its rotation.
Mounted on the rod 7 is the cam 5 having a spiral thread 6 and there may be
a feather 8 to cause the cam to rotate with the rod but allow it to slide thereon.
The cam is arranged in a housing 17 connected to the stationary part and above
the cam is a block 10 having a groove 12 engaging the thread 6 and provided with
projections 11 engaging the projections 9 on the part 2, while the block is also
held laterally by the housing 17.
When the cam 5 is turned with its long radius downward the block 10 falls or
may be drawn down so that its projections 11 are disengaged from the projec-
tions 9 and the part 2 can be freely moved with relation to part 1, and then by
turning the rod 7 the cam will raise the block 10, engaging the projections, and
the spiral thread 6 in the groove 11 will force the block and movable part 2 rear-
ward exerting the desired pressure on the article A between the parts.
In Figs. 5 to 8 I have shown a wrench in which 1 is the stationary part having
an extension sliding in the hollow extension of the movable part 2. The rod 7
is mounted in this instance in the stationary part and the cam 5 is held in a
housing 17 in the form of lugs in the hollow extension. The block 10 is provided
with a collar 18 loosely fitting the cam 5 and having a flattened portion 19 on
one side so that when the long radius of the cam bears on the flattened portion
the block 10 and its projections 11 will be positively disengaged from the projec-
tion 9 on the stationary part. The handle 13 on the rod 7 may have a foliling
blade or extension 20 to allow greater power to be applied to turning the rod to
exert pressure on the article clamped between the parts or jaws 1, 2.
In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown a copying press embodying my invention in
which is a stationary part or vertical bed having a hollow extension 3, and 2 is
the movable part or vertical platen having an extension 4, carrying the rod 7
and sliding in the extension 3. The cam 5 is mounted on the rod and held in
housings 17 in the form of lugs in the hollow extension 3 and the block 10 has a
collar 18 with a flattened portion 19 and is provided with projections 11 engaging
the projections 9, on the extension 4.
The press is shown as attached to the side or end of a table or desk C where it
does not interfere with the ordinary use of the desk and the clamp operating
devices are arranged at one end of the bed and platen leaving a free space for the
reception of the copying book or other article to be pressed and which may rest
upon the supports 21 in the form of rods between the bed and platen.
From the above illustrations of some of the applications of my invention its
scope and utility will be appreciated and it will be seen that it is well adapted to
be used in many connections and especially where one part of a device is adapted
to be moved freely with relation to the other part to obtain an initial locking
or holding and then the further and desired pressure can be quickly and effectively
obtained. It is also evident that the various parts may be embodied in various
forms and constructions.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the mature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. In a clamping device, two parts, each provided with an extension the one
adapted to fit the other, and means for adjustably securing them with relation to
each other, substantially as described.
2nd. In a clamping device, two parts, one provided with a hollow extension and
the other with an extension sliding loosely in the first extension and means for
adjustably securing the extensions with relation to each other, substantially as
described.
3rd. In a clamping device, two parts, one provided with a hollow extension and
the other with an extension sliding loosely in the first extension, a rod mounted
in one extension, a cam operated by the rod. and means whereby the extensions
are positively moved with relation to each other on the operation of the rod, sub-
stantially as described.
4th. In a clamping device, two parts, one provided with a hollow extension and
the other with an extension sliding loosely in the first extension, a rod mounted
in one extension, a cam operated by the rod, a block operated by the cam and
having projections engaging projections on one of the extensions, substantially
as described.
5th. In a clamping device, two parts, one provided with a hollow extension and
the other with an extension sliding loosely in the first extension, a rod mounted
in one extension, a cam operated by the rod and having a thread, a block having
a groove engaging the thread and provided with projections engaging projections
on one of the extensions, substantially as described.
6th. In a clamping device, two parts, one provided with a hollow extension
and the other with an extension sliding loosely in the first extension, a rod
mounted in one extension, a cam adapted to turn with the rod and slide freely
thereon, a spiral thread on the cam, a block provided with a collar surrounding
the cam and having a groove engaging the thread thereon and projections on
the block engaging projections on one of the extensions, substantially as described.
7th. In a clamping device, two parts, one provided with a hollow extension and
the other with an extension sliding loosely in the first extension, a rod mounted
in one extension, a cam rotating with and sliding on the rod, a spiral thread on
the cam, a block having a collar surrounding the cam and provided with a flattened
portion, a housing for the cam and projections on the block adapted to engage
projections on one of the extensions, substantially as described.
Sth. In a clamping device, a fixed and a movable part, each provided with an
extension the one adapted to fit the other to permit the parts to be initially
adjusted, and means for finally adjusting the movable part with relation to the
fixed part and securing the desired" pressure, substantially as described.
Data the 20th dure of Doomben 1808
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London, for the Applicant.