Clamp with inflatable bladder
US5657972A · kind A · utility
37Cited by
21References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1994 |
| Grant date | Aug 19, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB25B5/065
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A clamp secures a workpiece relative to a work piece support. A clamp arm is connected to an external end of the clamp for movement between workpiece clamping and release positions. An inflatable bladder disposed within a bladder support is releasably attached to the clamp arm between the workpiece and the clamp arm. A proportional regulator controls the inflation of the bladder, so that when the bladder is inflated, the bladder provides uniform distribution of the pressure to be exerted along a greater portion of the workpiece to protect the workpiece surface from undesirable indentations or defects.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.