Apparatus and method for providing a clamp on a fluid power cylinder

1. In combination:

a fluid power cylinder and a clamp mounted to said fluid power cylinder, wherein said fluid power cylinder comprises a housing having an outer cylinder profile and an inner annular bore adapted to receive a piston reciprocally movable therein, the outer cylinder profile including an outer geometry adapted to receive the clamp, the cylinder profile outer geometry including at least one substantially v-shaped groove therein, said groove having a load bearing surface; and

wherein said clamp comprises a housing including at least one means for securing the clamp to the cylinder profile whereby the securing means engages the load bearing surface of said groove such that a force applied by said securing means to said load bearing surface is generally parallel to a line tangential to a curve of said cylinder inner bore to avoid distortion of said cylinder inner bore.

2. A combination of a fluid power cylinder and a clamp mounted to said fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 1 , wherein said securing means comprises at least one threaded bore adapted to receive a cooperating threaded locking device having a roughened end surface to engage the load bearing surface of said groove.

3. A combination of a fluid power cylinder and a clamp mounted to said fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 2 , wherein the locking device comprises a threaded screw and an engagement member.

4. A combination of a fluid power cylinder and a clamp mounted to said fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 2 , wherein said roughened end surface includes a knurled surface for engaging the load bearing surface of said groove.

5. A combination of a fluid power cylinder and a clamp mounted to said fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 1 , wherein the clamp substantially surrounds the cylinder housing.

6. A combination of a fluid power cylinder and a clamp mounted to said fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 5 , wherein the clamp includes a trunnion.

7. In combination:

a fluid power cylinder and a clamp mounted to said fluid power cylinder, wherein said fluid power cylinder comprises a housing having an outer cylinder profile and an inner annular bore adapted to receive a piston reciprocally movable therein, the outer cylinder profile including an outer geometry adapted to receive the clamp, the cylinder profile outer geometry including at least one groove therein, said groove having a load bearing surface; and

wherein said clamp comprises a housing including at least one means for securing the clamp to the cylinder profile whereby the securing means engages the load bearing surface of said groove such that a force applied by said securing means to said load bearing surface is generally parallel to a line tangential to a curve of said cylinder inner bore to avoid distortion of said cylinder inner bore and further wherein said securing means of said clamp comprises at least one threaded bore adapted to receive a threaded locking screw having an end surface which engages the load bearing surface of said groove.

8. A combination of a fluid power cylinder and a clamp mounted to said fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 7 wherein said at least one groove comprises any geometry.

9. In combination:

a fluid power cylinder and a clamp mounted to said fluid power cylinder, wherein said fluid power cylinder comprises a housing having an outer cylinder profile and an inner annular bore adapted to receive a piston reciprocally movable therein, the outer cylinder profile including an outer geometry adapted to receive the clamp, the cylinder profile outer geometry including at least one groove therein, said groove having a load bearing surface; and

wherein said clamp comprises a housing including at least one means for securing the clamp to the cylinder profile whereby the securing means engages the load bearing surface of said groove such that a force applied by said securing means to said load bearing surface is generally parallel to a line tangential to a curve of said cylinder inner bore to avoid distortion of said cylinder inner bore and wherein said clamp further comprises at least one channel on outer surface of said clamp in which said securing means is mounted to provide access to the securing means.

10. A combination of a fluid power cylinder and a clamp mounted to said fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 9 , wherein said at least one channel on outer surface of said clamp is substantially v-shaped.

11. A method for clamping a clamp on a cylinder profile of a fluid power cylinder, wherein the cylinder includes a substantially annular internal bore adapted to receive a piston reciprocally movable therein, the cylinder profile including an outer geometry adapted to receive the clamp, the method comprising:

providing at least one substantially v-shaped groove in said cylinder profile outer geometry, said groove including a load bearing surface;

providing a clamp including at least one means for securing the clamp to the cylinder profile whereby the securing means engages the load bearing surface of said groove such that a force applied by said securing means to said load bearing surface is generally parallel to a line tangential to a curve of said annular inner bore to avoid distortion of said cylinder inner bore.

12. A method for clamping a clamp on a cylinder profile of a fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 11 , wherein said securing means comprises at least one threaded bore adapted to receive a cooperating threaded locking device having a roughened end surface to engage the load bearing surface of said groove.

13. A method for clamping a clamp on a cylinder profile of a fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 12 , wherein said roughened end surface includes a knurled surface.

14. A method for clamping a clamp on a cylinder profile of a fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 11 , wherein said clamp further comprises at least one channel on outer surface of said clamp in which said securing means is mounted.

15. A method for clamping a clamp on a cylinder profile of a fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 14 , wherein said at least one channel on outer surface of said clamp is substantially v-shaped.

16. A method for clamping a clamp on a cylinder profile of a fluid power cylinder, wherein the cylinder includes a substantially annular internal bore adapted to receive a piston reciprocally movable therein, the cylinder profile including an outer geometry adapted to receive the clamp, the method comprising:

providing at least one groove in said cylinder profile outer geometry, said groove including a load bearing surface;

providing a clamp including at least one means for securing the clamp to the cylinder profile, wherein said securing means of said clamp comprises at least one threaded bore adapted to receive a threaded locking screw, whereby the locking screw engages the load bearing surface of said groove such that a force applied by said securing means to said load bearing surface is generally parallel to a line tangential to a curve of said annular inner bore to avoid distortion of said cylinder inner bore.

17. A method for clamping a clamp on a cylinder profile of a fluid power cylinder as defined in claim 16 , wherein said at least one groove comprises any geometry.

18. In combination:

a fluid power cylinder including a housing having an external surface and an inner bore adapted to receive a piston reciprocally movable therein, the external surface of said housing including at least one substantially v-shaped groove, the groove having a load bearing surface; and

a clamp comprising a housing including at least one securing means provided therein for securing the clamp to the fluid power cylinder housing external surface, wherein the securing means is adapted to engage the load bearing surface of the at least one groove such that a force applied by said securing means to said load bearing surface is imparted to said cylinder housing in a direction away from said cylinder inner bore to prevent distortion thereof.