Clamping System Using Wedge With Angle Transmission

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clamping device having a mounting element with an axis of rotation X, an actuator, a support that has an opening of axis X in which opening the mounting element and the actuator are positioned. The mounting element includes a slide in which there are positioned a ring and a locking wedge which collaborate with at least one angle transmission. The support has an interior groove arranged in the opening and the ring and the locking wedge collaborate with the interior groove. The mounting element can thus easily be angularly positioned. There are preferably two angle transmissions positioned such that they are diametrically opposed.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. A clamping system comprising: an X-axis mounting element that comprises a slide in which a locking wedge, cooperating with at least one angle transmission is positioned; and a support having an X-axis opening in which the mounting element is placed, wherein the support comprises an internal cavity positioned in the opening and the locking wedge cooperates with the internal cavity.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the opening is a blind hole.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the mounting element is mounted pivotally around the axis X.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the mounting element is blocked in pivoting around the axis X.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein the angle transmission forms an angle between 5 and 45° with respect to the axis X.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein the mounting element comprises an abutment face cooperating with a lower face of the internal cavity.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the abutment face is a clamping cone.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the wedge comprises an inclined upper clamping cone that rests against an inclined upper face of the internal cavity to clamp the ring on the abutment face.

25. The system according to claim 17, wherein the mounting element is a clamping ring.

26. The system according claim 17, wherein the opening is circular.

27. The system according to claim 17, wherein the internal cavity is a circular internal groove.

28. The system according to claim 17, wherein the internal cavity is formed by a plurality of notches.

29. The system according to claim 17 further comprising an elastic element housed in a circular groove and resting on the locking wedge, the elastic element tending to clamp the locking wedge against the angle transmission.

30. The system according to claim 13, wherein the elastic element is a snap ring.

31. A method for clamping a mounting element, that comprises a slide in which is positioned a locking wedge cooperating with an angle transmission, in a support that has an opening in which the mounting element is placed, the method comprising: positioning the mounting element in the opening; positioning the locking wedge facing an internal cavity positioned in the opening; and pressing the angle transmission between the locking wedge and the slide until the locking wedge comes into contact with the internal cavity.

32. The method according to claim 32, further comprising abutting an abutment face, positioned on the mounting element on a lower face of the internal cavity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a section view of the clamping ring and of the piston according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0021] FIG. 2 is a sectional detail of the locking joint in the unlocked position,

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the locking joint of FIG. 2,

[0023] FIG. 4 is a section view of the locking joint in the locked position,

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the locking joint of FIG. 4,

[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment,

[0026] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of FIG. 6,

[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment,

[0028] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of FIG. 8,

[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention,

[0030] FIG. 11 is a section view of the system of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the description hereafter it will be considered that the upward direction corresponds to the upper part of the figures.

[0032] The clamping device comprises a support 1 in which are positioned a mounting element 2 such as a clamping ring and a cylinder 3. The cylinder 3 is intended to impart a movement along an axis X to the ring 2. The axis X is positioned vertically on the figures and for the description that follows.

[0033] The mounting device 2 has a slide 21 with a radial axis, i.e. perpendicular to the axis X. A locking wedge 4 is positioned in the slide 21. The wedge 4 is surrounded by an elastic snap ring 6 which allows it to be returned to the retracted position in the slide 21 and which is housed in a circular groove of the ring, which also extends over the locking wedge 4. The slide 21 communicates with at least one chimney 22 (two here, diametrically opposed) with an axis X′ parallel to the axis X in which is placed an angle transmission 5.

[0034] The locking wedge 4 has a beveled face 40 placed on the inner side of the slide 21. This beveled face 40 cooperates with a beveled face 50 of the transmission 5. The beveled faces 40 and 50 preferably form an angle of 15 to 30° with respect to the axis X.

[0035] The support 1 has a circular X-axis opening 11 which has an inner circular groove 10 intended to receive the wedge 4. This inner groove 10 has a profile with two inclined circular faces: an upper face 13 and a lower face 12. The wedge 4 has an inclined upper clamping cone 41 capable of resting against the upper face 13 of the inner groove 10. The mounting element 2 has a clamping cone 20 intended to rest against the lower face 12 of the inner groove 10.

[0036] We will now describe the method that allows the mounting element 2 to be clamped in the support 1. The mounting element 2 is placed on the piston 3 in the circular opening 11 of the support 1 by a vertical movement along the axis X until the clamping cone 20 comes into contact with the lower face 12 of the inner groove 10. The mounting element 2 is angularly positioned on the support 1; once the desired angular position is obtained the angle transmission 5 is given a downward movement along the axis X′ in order to push the locking wedge 4 toward the bottom of the inner groove 10 until it comes into abutment. This movement is accomplished here by screwing a screw 7 on the chimney 22 of the mounting element 2; while descending, the screw 7 pushes the transmission 5 downward and, through its beveled face 50 it pushes the wedge 4.

[0037] To unlock the mounting element 2, a reverse procedure is followed, but after the transmission 5 has returned upward, the clamping cone 4 is pushed back toward the bottom of the slide 21 by the snap ring 6.

[0038] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment where the opening 11 has a circular portion 110 placed at the bottom of the support, and a square portion 111 at the top. In this case, the mounting element 2 has an upper portion 23 with a square profile and a lower portion 24 with a circular profile. The upper portion 23 has a locking cone 4 at each corner of the square upper portion 23.

[0039] In FIGS. 8 and 9, showing a third embodiment of the invention, the opening 11 has a circular portion 110 at the bottom and a rectangular portion 112 on top. The mounting element 2 has an upper portion 25 with a rectangular profile. The locking cones 4 are distributed over each side of the rectangle, therefore either in the middle of a side if there is only one locking cone 4, or equidistant if they are two in number.

[0040] In a fourth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the inner groove is replaced by notches 10′ in which the locking wedges 4, of a correspondingly adapted shape, are housed. Thus, the orientation of the mounting element 2 is pre-determined by the position of the notches 10′.

[0041] The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described by way of examples. Thus, the beveled faces 40 and 50 can have a different angle, but the sum of their respective angles must be equal to the angle between the sliding axes, the value of the angle allowing more or less movement of the locking wedge 4. The clamping cone can be replaced by a simple shoulder.