Quick Acting Vise

Abstract

The externally tapered head of a drawbolt and end of a collar when forced towards each other expand a split ring against the wall of a bore in a first workpiece to clamp the workpiece firmly to the split ring and drawbolt. After the first workpiece is clamped firmly, the application of a continued but higher axial force by the force applicator between the drawbolt head and the force applicator causes a spring disposed in series between them to compress and allow axial movement of a second workpiece toward the first workpiece in response to the applied force.

Parent Case Text

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part application of an application Ser. No. 56,242, filed on July 16, 1970, now abandoned, which in turn was a continuation of an application Ser. No. 715,053, filed on Mar. 21, 1968, now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the art fastening in general and, in particular, to a device which effectively locks in the bore of a first workpiece and then forces a second workpiece towards the first workpiece.

There are many types of work clamping devices which function to secure a workpiece for one purpose or another. Examples of workclamping devices include machinist's vises, jeweler's vises, carpenter's vises, drilling vises and milling machine vises. In these types of vises, a workpiece is secured between a pair of jaws. Most often, one jaw is movable with respect to a fixed jaw through a lead screw which is rotated by an operator. When the difference between the dimensions between the jaws to accommodate different sized workpieces is large, a considerable amount of time is spent just changing the spacing between jaws. The lead screw, of course, is also rotated to produce the desired grip on a workpiece and to release a workpiece.

To overcome the problem of time consummation in adjusting the spacing between jaws, it has been proposed to allow one jaw to slide freely to a desired position with respect to the other upon the application of a force directly in the direction of desired jaw positioning and then to secure the movable jaw in place at the desired position. One proposed way of securing the movable jaw in place is to expand a collar or split ring against an internal bore of the movable jaw. The problem heretofore with the sliding jaw approach is that it does not provide a convenient and expedient means of truly clamping a workpiece between the jaws with the force required to hold it in place. To do this, there must be an expeditious way to apply a clamping force to the movable jaw with a mechanical advantage and move the jaw towards the fixed jaw.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device which allows for quick adjustment of the distance between jaws of a vise or the like to accommodate different size workpieces and, after spacing adjustment, to apply a substantial clamping force to the workpiece.

A specific form of the present invention contemplates the use of resilient expansion means, such as a split ring, which is expanded, after the distance between jaw members of a vise has been adjusted, into engaging contact with the bore of one of the jaw members by a drawbolt, thereby locking the drawbolt and the jaw members together. The other unlocked jaw member is urged towards its locked complementary jaw member by the same force applicator that expanded the resilient expansion means but only after expansion of the resilient expansion means. This two step actuation is accomplished by having spring means, such as a Bellville spring, in series force relationship between the force applicator and expansion means with the spring means having a spring rate which is greater than the expansion means. With the spring means thus disposed and having the greater resistance to deformation, it is very simple to provide the required clamp up on a workpiece and still have facile jaw spacing adjustment. It is usually necessary that the force applied to the second jaw member after the first jaw member and drawbolt are locked together be applied after or with the compressive deflection of the spring means. This is readily accomplished by having the spring means in series force relationship between the second jaw member and the expansion means with the force applicator being spaced by the second jaw member from the spring means. A second way of accomplishing the same thing is to have the spring means between the force applicator and the expansion means with a device such as a washer which force couples the force applicator to the second jaw after a predetermined amount of compressive deflection by the spring means.

The preferred expansion means is of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,820 to Kenneth H. Pitzer. As such the expansion means includes one or more split rings having tapered interior chambers on each end. The head of the drawbolt has an external taper which complements the internal taper of bore end of the split ring and a second externally tapered surface on an expansion collar complements the internally tapered surface on the other end of the split ring. Movement of the externally tapered surfaces towards each other and their engagement with the internally tapered surfaces of the split ring cause the split ring to expand radially. Obviously, something must be used to keep the expansion collar and split ring in place against the axial load applied on them by the drawbolt. In the preferred form of the present invention, this is accomplished by a constraint sleeve or collar which is in series force relationship with the expansion collar and the force applicator and disposed between them.

It is preferred, because of simplicity, to use a cam lever as the force applicator. The cam lever acts on the drawbolt to apply tension to it and draw the drawbolt towards the cam. The reaction force to this tensile force is applied by the cam lobe serially to the constraint sleeve, spring means, expansion collar, split ring and head of the drawbolt, and, upon deflection of the spring means to the second jaw member. Alternately, the reaction force to the tensile force applied on the drawbolt can be applied by the cam lobe to the second jaw member and then to the spring means, constraint sleeve, expansion collar, split ring and head of the drawbolt.

Features of the present invention include adjusting means to compensate for lost motion and adjust the clamping force applied by the lobe of the cam to the chain of elements between it and the drawbolt. Another feature includes selectively actuatable means for preventing the cam lever from coming unactuated.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machinist's vise constituting a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale front elevational view of the vise shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partly in half section of the vise in the preceding Figures taken generally in the plane of the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional, plan view of the vise of the preceding Figures taken in the plane of the staggered line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view of the component parts of the invention illustrated in the previous Figures;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a milling machine vise according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the milling machine vise of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the milling machine vise of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are transverse sectional views taken in the planes of the lines 11--11 and 12--12 respectively, of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a jeweler's vise in which still another embodiment of the invention has been incorporated;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged scale, exploded view of the drawbolt means associated with the vise shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing still another application of the principles of the invention to a carpenter's vise;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, exploded view showing the mode of assembly of the cam lever and drawbolt components of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 15; and

FIG. 17 is an end elevational view of the cam lever and drawbolt assemblies of the type shown in exploded form in FIG. 16 as viewed in the axial line of the device from the handle operating end thereof and with the handle moved to drawbolt actuating position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFRRRED EMBODIMETS

In the present invention, linear movement of a drawbolt produces radial expansion of an expansion device to engage the wall of a bore in a fixed jaw member to lock the drawbolt and the fixed jaw member together. This linear movement is limited. Consequently a spring is interposed in series force relationship between the force applicator and the expansion device for compression after expansion of the expansion device to allow the force applicator to act on a second movable jaw member to effect a work clamping action. The principal objective of the device may therefore be summarized as providing a work clamping device in which a first increment of operating motion effects rapid interengagement of workpiece engaging faces with a piece or pieces to be gripped and a continuation of that movement then effects a clamping action on the workpieces.

In most of the embodiments of the present invention the expansion device is identical to those devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,009,747 and 3,192,820.

In general the object of the present invention to accomplish with a single force applicator, such as a cam lever, the initial gripping of a first member through radial expansion and then to clamp that member firmly against a second member by axial movement is accomplished in the embodiments to be described as follows. A nonexpandable collar or sleeve extends through the bore in one of the members to be clamped. The expansion rings of the referenced patents are employed. The drawbolt of the patents extends through the nonexpandable sleeve and cooperates with the expansion rings in the manner described in the patents. A spring is in series with the expansion rings and sleeve and has a high sprng rate such that initial relative axial movement of the bolt and the split rings of the expansion device will effect radial gripping of a bore in the first member and thereafter cause continued axial movement of the second member to an extent sufficient to exert a high clamping force between them or on a workpiece disposed between them. The sleeve serves to restrain the expansion rings. Preferably the second member is in series with the sleeve and the spring which is readily accomplished by having the second member interposed between the spring and the force applicator.

FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate one preferred embodiment of the present invention and are concerned with the application of the principles of the invention to a swivel base machinist's vise.

In this embodiment, the vise comprises a base 20 on which a fixed jaw component or member 21 is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. A vertical shaft 22 provided with a capstan bar 23 are mounted on base 20 and are operable through means contained within the base of the vise and with which the present invention is not concerned, to lock the fixed jaw member at any desired position about the vertical axis of rotation.

The fixed jaw member includes an elongated body portion 24 terminating at one end in a jaw portion proper 25. The jaw portion may be provided with a replaceable hardened steel facing 26.

A guiding slot 27 in jaw member 21, of modified, inverted U-shape in cross section, extends horizontally at right angles to the length of the jaw face defined by jaw portion 25. The guiding slot affords guidance for a correspondingly shaped beam 28 which carries a movable jaw component or member 29.

The movable jaw member includes a jaw portion 30 opposing jaw 25 and which is provided with a replaceable facing 31 complementary to facing 26. As best shown in FIG. 5, slot 27 comprises vertical sides and a horizontal top with outer edges 32 of the top and sides machined to afford accurate guidance for beam 28. The portions of the slot between the bearing edges of the top and sides are relieved as shown at 33.

The interior portion of beam 28 straddles and is spaced from an elongated rib portion 34 formed as an integral portion of the fixed jaw component. This rib defines the inner boundary of slot 27 and has a bore 35 extending longitudinally through it in exact parallel relation to beam guiding surfaces 32. The forward or outer end of movable jaw member 29 extends across the end of beam 28 and terminates in a hub portion 36.

A mounting bore for the movable jaw operating means extends through movable jaw 29 in axial alignment with bore 35. The mounting bore comprises a bore 37 loosely receiving a drawbolt body 38. Bore 37 at its outer end terminates in a threaded counterbore 39 in which an adjusting nut 40 is threadedly engaged. The adjusting nut has a central bore 41 which is axially aligned with bore 37 and which also loosely receives drawbolt body 38. The purpose of and mode of operation of the nut 40 will be later described in detail.

Nut element 40 thus serves as part of the mounting means by which the movable jaw is either freed for movement for quick, rough adjustment with relation to a workpiece to be gripped and thereafter locked, for gripping the workpiece. The forward end of drawbolt 38 is freely mounted in aligned bores 37 and 41. The drawbolt extends rearwardly into bore 35 in the fixed jaw member and terminates in a head 42. The head has a frusto-conical face 43 extending from the outer diameter of the head to the drawbolt body. Loosely mounted on the bolt body is the expansion means for gripping the bore 35. The expansion means comprises one or more split rings 44 having internal frusto-conical end surfaces, one of which engages the face 43, and one or more complementary collar members 45 having their opposite ends provided with outer frusto-conical surfaces which are complementary to the end surfaces of the split rings. The end of the expansion assembly may be terminated in a collar 46 having one frusto-conical surface and an opposite end surface 47 normally to the axis of the collar. Mounted on the body of the drawbolt and having one end thereof engaging surface 47 of collar 46 is a sleeve 48. The opposite end of sleeve 48 engages a spring mounted on the drawbolt body. The spring shown here is a plurality of Belleville spring washers 49 disposed in series force relationship between the end of the sleeve and inner end face of the movable jaw.

The outer peripheral face of the hub 36 is provided with diametrically opposite grooves 50,50 which extend parallel to the axis of the drawbolt and which loosely receive rearwardly extending arm portions 51,51 of a cam abutment plate 52. The cam abutment plate has a central opening 53 through which the forward end of drawbolt body 38 extends and a rear face 54 which engages the outer end face of nut 40. The abutment plate also has a front face 55 which is parallel to its rear face and which is adapted to be engaged by a cam, now to be described.

The outer end of drawbolt 38 threadedly engages a barrel nut 56, the ends of which serve as bearings 57,57 for yoke ends 58,58 of a cam lever 59. Bolt 38 is positioned between the yoke ends with cam faces 60,60 of the cam bearing against outer face 55 of abutment plate 52. The cam faces are so generated that as the cam lever is swung in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, the eccentricity increases with resultant drawing of the drawbolt to the right as viewed in that Figure. If desired, the handle portion of the cam lever may carry a telescoping tubular extension 61 securable in collapsed position by engagement of a bayonet slot 62 with a detent 63 on the upper portion of handle 59. To prevent rotation of the drawbolt and handle, abutment plate 52 is provided with diametrically opposite lugs 64,64 between which the outer side faces of the cam lever are loosely received. A set screw 65 in one end of barrel nut 56 serves to lock the barrel nut on the drawbolt in axially adjusted position.

A brief description of the operation of this embodiment of the invention will now be described to aid in understanding other features of the invention. Let it be assumed that handle 59 is in the released position, that is, probably about horizontal. In this orientation, the movable jaw can be slid back and forth freely in the bearing for the beam in the fixed jaw. The workpiece to be clamped is placed between the jaws and the movable jaw is pushed to effect initial contact with the workpiece.

Preferably at this time, nut 40 will be moved inwardly to the full extent permitted by an operating handle 40', movement being limited by reason of interference of the handle with arm portions 51,51. To accommodate this interference, the threads between the nut 40 and the counterbore may have a very steep pitch and may be double or triple threads.

On pressing downwardly on the lever 59, the cams will first take up any slack or lost motion between the various elements interposed between the drawbolt head and the cam faces. When all play is taken up, the resistance of the Belleville spring being greater than that of split rings 44, these rings will be expanded into tight gripping engagement with bore 35 of the stationary jaw member. Continued downward movement of the lever will cause relative movement of the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw along the drawbolt to effect the tight gripping of the workpiece. If the grip under those conditions is insufficient, nut 40 is moved outward slightly to take up some of the play between the parts on the drawbolt and this will result in still tighter gripping of the workpiece when the cam lever is moved down to its extreme extent of movement.

Means is provided to prevent unintended release of the vise. The means comprise a wedge-like member 66 having one face adjacent to and parallel with the outer face of the cam abutment plate 52. The opposite face of the wedge-like member has a slope at least equal to the rise of the cam surface. Member 66 is carried by a lever arm 67 which has one end pivotally mounted on an upper corner of abutment plate 52. The wedge-like member is positioned to be moved into and out of engagement with one of the cam surfaces and the abutment plate. Since the angle of the wedge is at least equal to the rise of the cam, any movement of the cam towards its released position can only result in increasing the tightness of grip by the vise. With the wedge member engaged, handle 59 will remain in any position to which it has been moved. To release the vise, the wedge is disengaged and handle 59 is moved upwardly (counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3) with the resultant first release of the grip on the workpiece and then release of the movable jaw for free sliding movement away from the fixed jaw.

FIGS. 7-12 show an application of the principles of the invention to a milling machine device. The milling machine device comprises a base 70 provided with side flange portions 71,71 each having a slot 72 for accommodation of holddown bolts. The milling machine vise further has a fixed jaw portion 73 which includes a jaw face 74 disposed in a vertical plane extending transversely of the base adjacent the midlength thereof. The upper face of the base at one end thereof is provided with a boss 75 which at each side thereof is provided with horizontal faces 76,76 and upwardly and outwardly inclined parallel faces 77,77 which combine to form a parallel pair of V-shaped grooves which are slidingly engaged by complementary V-shaped bands 78,78 on the lower ends of side wall portions 79,79 of a shank portion 80 of a movable jaw component 81. The movable jaw component includes a jaw portion 82 provided with a jaw face 83 parallel to and movable toward and away from fixed jaw face 74. The fixed jaw portion is provided with a horizontally extending clearance space 84 in which the movable jaw shank 80 is movable, the space being closed at the end thereof removed from the jaw face 74 by a cross wall portion 85.

The upper ends of the movable jaw shank walls 79, 79 are connected by an integrally formed web 86. The under surface of this web is provided with a longitudinally extending rib 87 through which a bore 88 extends and in which bore expanding ring means 89 of the vise drawbolt 90 is disposed for sliding, engaging and disengaging functions similar to the device already described.

The fixed jaw component cross wall portion 85 is provided with a bore 91. Bore 91 is axially aligned with bore 88 and receives drawbolt component 92 of drawbolt 90. Bore 91 communicates with an axially aligned internally threaded counterbore 91' formed in the outer face of the cross wall 85. The threaded end of a nut component 93 is threadedly engaged with the counterbore threads. The nut is provided with an axial bore 94 of the same size as the bore 91 and through which the body of the drawbolt 92 extends. Externally of the cross wall, nut 93 carries a peripherally toothed ratchet wheel 95 which is surrounded by a ratchet ring element 96, the latter being provided with tooth engaging spring detents operable by an operating button 97 to effect ratcheting engagement with the ratchet wheel. Nut 93 can be rotated in either direction by oscillation of ring 96 through handle 98. There are many standard reversible ratchet devices available, any one of which can be employed for this purpose.

The drawbolt extends outwardly beyond the end of nut component 93 and terminates in a non-circular, reduced diameter end portion 99 which engages and extends beyond a complementary opening in a thrust washer 100 and is secured by any suitable means such as riveting or welding, as indicated at 101. Washer 100 has sliding engagement with the adjacent end surface of the fixed jaw and base component, which at the same time prevents rotation of the washer. In the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved by providing the wall end of the fixed jaw and base component with diametrically opposite slots 102,102 extending parallel to the axial line of the drawbolt means and providing thrust washer 100 with complementary tongues 103,103 which are freely slidable in the slots.

The distal end of drawbolt 92 is threaded and carries a nut 104 which at its inner end may have a frusto-conical surface comparable to the tapered surface of the previously described embodiment. Adjacent to the nut, the drawbolt carries expanding ring means 89, here shown as a series of two split rings 105, a sleeve 106 received on the drawbolt extends between ring means 89 and a Belleville spring 107, the latter being interposed between the end of sleeve 106 and the inner face of the cross wall 85. It will be understood that suitable solid rings having external frusto-conical end surfaces complementary to rings 105 are interposed between each of the rings and that either a separate ring having a single frusto-conical surface and a flat end surface to be engaged by the sleeve or a frusto-conical outer surface on the end of the sleeve engages the end of the ring 105 remote from the nut 104.

The mode of operation is believed to be obvious. Assuming that the drawbolt means is released, a workpiece to be clamped is placed between the vise jaws. Then the movable jaw is slid toward the fixed jaw to cause the piece to be contacted by both jaws. Nut 93 is then rotated by the ratchet means in a direction causing it to move outwardly from the counterbore 92. The first portion of such movement will cause the drawbolt to expand rings 105 into tight engagement with bore 88 by reason of the fact that the resistance of rings 105 to endwise movement of the bolt 92 is less than that offered by the Belleville spring means. When this interengagement with the bore 88 no longer permits relative endwise movement of the drawbolt, continued outward movement of the ratchet operated nut will cause the movable jaw to move toward the fixed jaw to the extent permitted by the interposed workpiece and Belleville spring 107. Reverse operation of the ratchet operated nut by the ratchet will, of course, effect release of the workpiece and of the movable jaw.

Other variations in constructions are also present in this embodiment. At the drawbolt distal end, the bolt head is replaced by a nut and a threaded nut is employed in place of a lever operated eccentric cam. It will be understood that so far as the disclosed embodiments of the invention are concerned, any of these variations may be substituted for those previously shown where desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, there is shown still another embodiment of the invention in which the split rings, the sleeve or collar element, and the Belleville springs are combined in a single component. In these Figures, the invention, as thus modified, is shown as applied to a so-called jeweler's vise. A jeweler's vise is for light work and comprises a frame structure 110 including a clamp 111 by which the vise may be detachably mounted on the edge of a bench B. The frame includes a fixed jaw 112. A movable jaw 113 carries vertically spaced horizontally parallel guide bars 114,114 engagable with complementary guide bores 115,115 in frame 110. Movable jaw clamping and operating means includes a sleeve or tube 116 carried by frame 110 and disposed between and parallel to the guide bars 114 together with movable jaw drawbolt assembly 117 carried by the movable jaw and engaging the interior of tube 116. The drawbolt assembly includes a drawbolt 118 having a T-head 119 on which an operating cam and handle 120 is pivotally mounted in a manner to be described. The body of the drawbolt extends through a bore 121 in the movable jaw, thence through a combined spring means, sleeve and bore gripping tubular member 122, and terminates in a threaded end 123 engaged by a nut 124. Member 122 is formed of resilient metal and is of lesser diameter than the interior of the tube 116. At the end thereof engaging the face of the movable jaw, member 122 is provided with a diametrically opposite pair of helical slots 125,125. These slots extend a sufficient distance axially of the tube to give the tube end the necessary resilience to relative endwise movement of the drawbolt. At its opposite end, tube 122 is internally tapered to conform to the tapered surface 126 on nut 124. The opposite end is further provided with a plurality of circumferentially, equally spaced, longitudinally extending slits 127. Additionally, the outer end surface may be slightly tapered so that as the ends of the tongues 128, formed by the slits 127, are expanded into contact with the tube there will be a surface contact rather than a line contact with the interior of the tube 116.

The operation is believed to be obvious. With the cam lever in released position, that is, substantially in line with the drawbolt, the workpiece is placed between the jaws and the cam lever is swung downwardly with the cam surface 129 thereof engaging a washer 130 on the outer surface of the movable jaw. This operation of the cam lever first causes the nut 124 to expand the tongues 128 into gripping engagement with the tube and then tends to move the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw to effect the desired degree of grip on the interposed workpiece, the spring means formed by the helical slots 125,125 serving to accommodate this movement. Reverse movement of the cam lever will, of course, effect the release of the workpiece and of the movable jaw for manual shifting for initial engagement for a subsequent workpiece to be gripped.

FIG. 15 shows still another application of the principles of the invention involving a caprenter's vise, the vise comprising a fixed jaw 140 having ledges 141,141 by which it may be mounted at the front edge of a bench and having parallel spaced guiding bores 142,142 extending therethrough in which guide rods 143,143 carried by the movable jaw 144 are freely slidable.

Fixed jaw 140 between the guide bores 142,142 is provided with a bore 145 parallel to bores 142,142 and in which bore a tube 146 is fixedly mounted. Movable jaw 144 carries an axially aligned drawbolt assembly 147 having a distal end slidable in tube 146. The distal end includes nut 148 threaded on the drawbolt 149 and an expanding spring ring means 150 engagable with the interior of the tube 146, the spring means being actuated by a sleeve 151 mounted on the drawbolt 149 and having one end engaging spring means 150 and the opposite end engaging a resilient wave washer 152 mounted on the drawbolt and seated in a counterbore 153 in the work engaging face of the movable jaw. At the bottom of counterbore 153, a bore 154 affords passage for the drawbolt externally of the movable jaw. The drawbolt terminates in an integrally formed T-head 155 on which the operating cam lever 156 is pivotally mounted in a manner to be presently described. The cam faces 157,157 of the cam lever engage a washer 158 on the end face of boss 159 on the outer surface of the movable jaw. Bore 154 extends through boss 159.

It is believed to be obvious that with the drawbolt means released, the movable jaw may be moved freely toward and away from the fixed jaw and that when moved into engagement with a workpiece held against the fixed jaw, the operation of the cam lever will first expand split ring means 150 and then proceed to force the movable jaw into increasingly tight engagement with the workpiece with incident compression of the wave washer which has an initial resistance to axial compression greater than that which causes expansion of the spring ring means.

FIG. 17 illustrates a mode of manufacture of the combined drawbolt and handle such as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15. Having reference only to this Figure and without reference to the corresponding elements shown in the other figures above enumerated, drawbolt T-head 160 is engaged by mirror image handle components 161 and 162 shown as being formed of metal stampings and including integral bearing sleeves 163 and 164 for the ends of the T-head, cam faces 165 and 166, offset clearances for passage past the body of the drawbolt, meeting faces 167 and 168 and handle bounding surfaces 169 and 170. As shown in FIG. 17, these halves are assembled on the T-head and are aligned and secured together by any suitable means as, for example, spot welding or riveting at at least two points along the meeting faces. It is to be understood that this form is not intended to be confined to the specific embodiments of the invention with which it is shown but may interchangeably be employed with the barrel nut construction and cam lever means shown in other embodiments.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A quick acting vise comprising:

a. a first fixed jaw member adapted to engage a workpiece;

b. a second movable jaw member adapted to engage a workpiece and cooperate with the first jaw member to clamp a workpiece between them;

c. means for interconnecting the first and second jaw members together for free sliding, straight line movement of the second jaw member towards the first jaw member;

d. a bore in the first jaw member parallel to the line of movement of the second jaw member;

e. a drawbolt carried by the second jaw member for limited movement with respect thereto and extending into the bore of the first jaw member;

f. resilient expansion means responsive to movement of the drawbolt in the bore in the direction of the second jaw member to expand radially and engage the bore to secure the drawbolt and first jaw member together with a predetermined force;

g. selectively actuatable means for drawing the drawbolt in the direction of the second Jaw member to expand the resilient expansion means for the engagement of the bore with the predetermined force, the selectively actuatable drawing means including a cam lever pivotally secured to the drawbolt, the cam lever having an eccentric cam surface;

h. spring means having a spring rate greater than that of the expansion means disposed to be compressed in response to continued actuation of the drawing means after the drawbolt and first jaw member are secured together and allow the drawing means to apply a force which moves the second jaw member towards the first jaw member;

i. an adjusting nut threadably engaged with the second jaw member for limited movement parallel to the line of movement and received by the drawbolt;

j. an operating handle connected to the adjusting nut for manual rotation thereof to adjust the position of the nut with respect to the drawing means; and

k. a cam abutting plate between the cam lever and the adjusting nut for engagement by the cam surface for the application of force by the cam lever to the adjusting nut and through the adjusting nut to the second jaw member, the cam abutting plate being nonrotatably coupled to the econd jaw member for limited movement second to the line of movement with the adjusting nut.

2. The quick acting vise claimed in claim 1 wherein:

a. the draw bolt has a head disposed within the bore, the head having a frusto-conical exterior surface which faces in the direction of the second jaw member;

b. the resilient expansion means includes at least one radially expandable ring for engaging the bore in the first jaw member, the ring having opposed first and second frusto-conical interior surfaces which converge towards each other, the ring being received by the drawbolt with the first interior surface facing the exterior surface of the head for engagement therewith, a first collar received by the drawbolt having an externally tapered surface disposed to engage the second internally tapered surface of the ring, and a second collar received by the drawbolt and extending into the bore to provide means for constraining axial movement of the first collar to permit expansion of the ring by the head of the drawbolt; and

c. the spring means is disposed for compressive bearing between the second collar and the second jaw member.