A clamping system includes a housing, a clamping lever pivotally coupled relative to the housing, a clamping arm pivotally coupled relative to the housing and the clamping lever, and an expandable link coupled to the clamping arm. The clamping lever and the clamping arm are rotatable from an open position to a closed position. A method of mounting a device on a substrate using the clamping system is also provided.

A clamping system includes a housing, a clamping lever pivotally coupled relative to the housing, a clamping arm pivotally coupled relative to the housing and the clamping lever, and an expandable link coupled to the clamping arm. The clamping lever and the clamping arm are rotatable from an open position to a closed position. A method of mounting a device on a substrate using the clamping system is also provided.

An open/shut valve mechanism for detecting that a piston member of a hydraulic pressure cylinder has reached an unclamp position comprises: a valve body reception hole that communicates with a unclamp hydraulic pressure operating chamber, a valve body movably received in the valve body reception hole and having an annular concave engagement portion on its external circumferential portion; a spherical body that is movably installed in a cylinder main body and that can engage with the concave engagement portion; and an engagement portion that is formed on an auxiliary rod and with which the spherical body can engage; and when hydraulic pressure is charged into the unclamp hydraulic pressure operating chamber and the piston member has reached its unclamp position, the valve body receives the hydraulic pressure, a portion of the spherical body engages to the engagement portion and the valve body changes over to the valve closed position; and, when the piston member has shifted from its unclamp position, the spherical body engages with the annular concave engagement portion without engaging to the engagement portion, so that the valve body is held in its open position.

Provided is a highly durable, compact rotary clamp device. In a housing body, a large diameter hole and a medium-diameter hole are continuously formed in this order from a lower side in an axial direction. A cylindrical protruding member which is hermetically inserted in the large diameter hole is screwed into the housing body. A key member is inserted between the medium-diameter hole and a cylindrical retainer inserted in the medium-diameter hole. The retainer is positioned relative to the housing body in a circumferential direction by the key member.

A driving chamber (11) where pressurized fluid is supplied and discharged is arranged above a piston (10) inserted into a housing (1) ascendably and descendably. An ascent-detecting detection valve (32) is oriented laterally in an upper portion of the housing (1). An operating portion (10b) is provided on an upper portion of the piston (10), and an operated portion (79) movable in response to movement of the operating portion (10b) is provided on the detection valve (32). A transmission ball (70) is inserted into a transmission chamber (67) communicatively connected to an upper portion of the driving chamber (11). The transmission ball (70) converts ascent movement of the operating portion (10b) to lateral movement of the operated portion (79). Pressurized air for detection is supplied to an inlet (32a) of the detection valve (32) through a supply passage (B2).

An adaptable assembly line work-piece processor for use at a work station includes, but is not limited to, a work-piece supporter. The adaptable assembly line work-piece processor further includes, but is not limited to, a reconfigurable interface assembly attached to the work-piece supporter. The adaptable assembly line work-piece processor still further includes, but is not limited to, a work-piece manipulator attached to the reconfigurable interface assembly. The work-piece supporter, the reconfigurable interface assembly, and the work-piece manipulator are configured to cooperate to sequentially support and manipulate a plurality of differently configured work-pieces.

Disclosed is a configurable table that uses configurable mounting pieces to mount a work piece on the configurable table at a predetermined location. The configurable table includes a fixed portion of a mounting clamp that can engage a rotatable portion of a mounting clamp on a positioner or other device. The positioner can then rotate the configurable table and work piece to various orientations for performing horizontal welds, using robotic welders, as well as machining and cutting. The configurable table can also be used for initial fabrication, cutting, or working, which eliminates the need for separate fabrication and finish welding tables.

A reconfigurable interface assembly includes, but is not limited to, a first sub-assembly that is adapted for attachment to a work-piece supporter. The first sub-assembly includes a first brake. The reconfigurable interface assembly further includes a second sub-assembly attached to the first sub-assembly. The second sub-assembly is adapted for attachment to a work-piece manipulator. The second sub-assembly includes a second brake. The first sub-assembly is configured to move the second sub-assembly in a first direction with respect to the first sub-assembly and the first brake is configured to inhibit movement of the second sub-assembly in the first direction with respect to the first sub-assembly. The second sub-assembly is configured to move the first sub-assembly in a second direction with respect to the second sub-assembly and the second brake is configured to inhibit movement of the first sub-assembly in the second direction with respect to the first sub-assembly.

Disclosed is a configurable table that uses configurable mounting pieces to mount a work piece on the configurable table at a predetermined location. The configurable table includes a fixed portion of a mounting clamp that can engage a rotatable portion of a mounting clamp on a positioner or other device. The positioner can then rotate the configurable table and work piece to various orientations for performing horizontal welds, using robotic welders, as well as machining and cutting. The configurable table can also be used for initial fabrication, cutting, or working, which eliminates the need for separate fabrication and finish welding tables.

A first piston for high load is inserted into a housing so as to be movable vertically, and a second piston for low load is inserted into a cylindrical hole of the first piston so as to be movable vertically. An output portion projects from the second piston to above the housing. A first spring for high load and a second spring for low load are mounted in a spring chamber defined by both pistons and. Both springs and are mounted so as to urge the first piston and the second piston upward. A switching mechanism disposed in the pressure fluid chamber at a side opposite to the spring chamber, connects the first piston selectively to the housing or the second piston.