GB1376105A - Quick release clamping mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

1376105 Clamping mechanism RABONE CHESTERMAN Ltd 19 Jan 1972 [22 Oct 1970] 50254/70 Heading B3B A quick release clamping mechanism, e.g. a woodworking vice, comprises two clamping elements 10, 12 mounted on a shaft 14 for slidable movement relative to one another and detent means for releasably locking the shaft axially relative to one of the clamping elements. The detent means includes a wedge-shaped member 46 acting on the shaft, the shaft being disengageable from the member by limited rotational movement. In the particular embodiment of Fig. 2 the member 46 and the shaft along one surface portion have co-operating serrations 52, rotation of the shaft bringing a smooth surface portion of the shaft into contact with the wedgeshaped member. Means associated with the shaft, such as a clamping nut 32 imparts relative movement between the damping elements 10, 12 and may incorporate a clutch device 60 whereby unscrewing of the nut effects automatically the limited rotation of the shaft (which is limited by, for example a stop 62 on the shaft movable in a slot 64 in one of the clamping elements 10, 12). The clutch may comprise, as shown in Fig. 2, a spring 66 acting on a washer 68 held on the screwed end of the shaft by a pin 70, or a spring clip (72, Fig. 9, not shown) held between bossed washers (78, 80, Fig. 8, not shown) fast on the end of the shaft, or the clamping nut may be replaced by a nut affording a certain resistance to rotation on the screwed end of the shaft. Alternatively, the shaft need not be rotated by the nut but by other means such as the pin 62 which, if extended through the wall of the associated clamping element may be operated manually. The wedge-shaped member 46 is spring- loaded and held in bore 48 by means of a pin 56 engaging a slot (58, Fig. 5, not shown) in the member. One or more such members may be used and engage corresponding serrated portion of the shaft 14. One or more plain shafts 16 may be employed and are fixed to the movable element 10 and slide in the fixed element 12.