Patent ID: 6978988

Claim:
A hydraulically actuated arbor assembly for securing a work piece during a machining operation, wherein the work piece includes an external lower surface and a spaced and opposed external upper surface, wherein an area defining an internal bore is formed in the work piece so as to define an internal surface, the arbor assembly comprising: a base; a hydraulic cylinder block secured to an underside of the base; a support pad secured to an upper surface of the base; wherein the work piece is positioned on an upper surface of the support pad; and an arbor extending through the cylinder block, base, and support pad, the arbor being hydraulically actuated to extend through the internal bore, wherein the arbor includes a first movable portion and a second movable portion, wherein the first movable portion has a length less than a length of the second movable portion, wherein the first and second movable portions have end portions, wherein the end portion of the first movable portion is operable to be disposed directly beneath a lower surface of the end portion of the second movable portion, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the arbor is operable to extend above the external upper surface of the work piece and wherein the end portions of the first and second movable portions are operable to angularly extend away from one another and grip the external upper surface of the work piece.