A clamping unit, in particular for use in a machining center, or a turning or milling center, wherein the clamping unit comprises an external housing (12), preferably having a cylindrical basic design, an internal housing (15) accommodated in the external housing (12), and an internal cylinder (11) that is retained in the internal housing (15) such that it can be displaced in a vertical adjustment direction A when in the operating state, which is designed for transferring a pressure or tensile force for clamping purposes, wherein the internal housing (15) is supported in the external housing (12) by means of springs (13, 14), and is supported with respect to the external housing (12) such that it can be displaced in the adjustment direction A, and thus forms a spring force storage unit (21), and wherein an electric motor (16) is disposed inside the clamping unit, integrated therein, preferably encompassed by the external housing (12), furthermore, preferably accommodated inside the internal housing (15), in order to apply a force in the adjustment direction A to the internal cylinder (11) via drive means (17-20) disposed therein.

The present invention makes a rotary movement smooth, the rotary movement allowing direct detection of the movement of an output member of a rotary clamp. In a clamp, an output member is accommodated in a cylinder hole. A first valve chamber, to which compressed air is supplied, is provided between a lower wall of a housing and the output member. A second valve chamber is a hollowed out portion of the output member so as to be provided open toward the first valve chamber. A valve rod is inserted into the second valve chamber from the lower wall. A valve rod passage that allows the second valve chamber to communicate with outside air is provided in the valve rod, and a seal section is provided in a peripheral gap where the valve rod and the second valve chamber move relatively to one another. The gap is formed so that, as the valve rod and the second valve chamber are in relative movement, there is a region which is sealed by the seal section against movement of the compressed air through the gap between the valve rod and the second seal chamber and the there is a region which is open from the seal.

The present invention makes a rotary movement smooth, the rotary movement allowing direct detection of the movement of an output member of a rotary clamp. In a clamp, an output member is accommodated in a cylinder hole. A first valve chamber, to which compressed air is supplied, is provided between a lower wall of a housing and the output member. A second valve chamber is a hollowed out portion of the output member so as to be provided open toward the first valve chamber. A valve rod is inserted into the second valve chamber from the lower wall. A valve rod passage that allows the second valve chamber to communicate with outside air is provided in the valve rod, and a seal section is provided in a peripheral gap where the valve rod and the second valve chamber move relatively to one another. The gap is formed so that, as the valve rod and the second valve chamber are in relative movement, there is a region which is sealed by the seal section against movement of the compressed air through the gap between the valve rod and the second seal chamber and the there is a region which is open from the seal.

A damping apparatus includes a damping unit 30 composed of a plurality of damping plates 36 having plasticity, a holding member 31 holding at least one ends of the damping plates 36 in a manner to allow deflection of the damping plates 36 with the damping plates 36 laminated together, and a contact member 33 provided at a position spaced from a holding position of the holding member 31, and attached to an outermost one of the damping plates 36, or extending through and held by the damping plates 36 in such a manner that it can be brought into contact with the outermost one of the damping plates 36 and can be moved in an extending direction thereof. The damping unit 30 is supported by a support mechanism 2 in such a manner that the contact member 33 can be brought into contact with an object W.

A fixture for stiffening a thin-walled component comprises linking elements which support respective biasing parts and pressure parts. The biasing parts are arranged to urge the pressure parts to press on a thin-walled component, and the linking elements are rigidly connected to one another to resist a reaction force exerted on the pressure parts by the thin-walled component.

A fixture for stiffening a thin-walled component comprises linking elements which support respective biasing parts and pressure parts. The biasing parts are arranged to urge the pressure parts to press on a thin-walled component, and the linking elements are rigidly connected to one another to resist a reaction force exerted on the pressure parts by the thin-walled component.

A precision locating fastening device for securing a part. The device includes a drive screw, a base member, and a stop member. The drive screw has a gripping surface. The base member houses the drive screw and has a precision locating surface. The part is retained and located adjacent the precision locating surface relative to a fixture plate. The drive screw has one or more keyed ends. The stop member is replaceable to maintain precision and accuracy while locating and retaining the part. The device is incorporated in a system where a first keyed end of a first fastening device, a second key of the first fastening device, or the keyed end of a drive screw of a second fastening device is adjusted from either the first side of the fixture plate, the second side of fixture plate, or both to retain and locate the part on the fixture plate.

A sealing strip holder for manipulating and transporting a sealing strip preform in an at least partially automated production process, the sealing strip preform preferably having limp properties. To make the manufacturing process faster and less expensive the sealing strip holder comprises at least one clamping jaw which interlockingly and/or frictionally engages at least one surface portion of the sealing strip preform.

A device for machining turbine parts includes a fixed base and an oppositely disposed adjustable base; first and second clamping plates, each of the clamping plates being with opposing sides of each of the fixed base and the adjustable base; a plurality of adjustable pins extending from the adjustable base in the direction of the fixed base; a plurality of work support pins extending from the fixed base in the direction of the adjustable base, each of the plurality of work support pins being in vertical alignment with a corresponding one of the plurality of adjustable pins; each of said plurality of adjustable pins and work support pins being structured and disposed for applying equivalent pressure at each surface point of the turbine part; a hydraulic system for actuating the clamping plates for securing the turbine part during the machining process.

A workpiece holding fixture is provided herein. The workpiece holding fixture includes a baseplate including an engagement surface. A first static riser including a position control member is configured to removably couple a workpiece to the first static riser. A second static riser includes a rotation control member and is configured to removably couple the workpiece to the second static riser. A dynamic riser is configured to abut the workpiece, the dynamic riser being movable by a spindle.