C frame clamping device having non-rotating anvils
A clamping device having a C shaped frame and anvils which cannot rotate while applying a clamping force is disclosed. One anvil is affixed to the C shaped frame while the second anvil is mounted to a drive tube which telescopes within a guide tube fixed to the frame. The conformal shapes of the guide and drive tubes prevent rotation as compressive force is applied to a work piece placed between the two anvils.
1. A clamping device comprising:
a C shaped frame, said C shaped frame terminating in a first end surface and a second end surface, said first end surface being oriented approximately 90 degrees from said second end surface;
a fixed anvil, said fixed anvil attached to said first end surface of said C shaped frame;
a guide tube, said guide tube having a rectangular shape, said guide tube having a first open end, a second open end, an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said guide tube attached to said second end surface of said C shaped frame;
a drive tube, said drive tube having a rectangular shape, said drive tube having a first open end, a second open end, and an outer surface, said outer surface of said drive tube conformal in shape with said inner surface of said guide tube, said drive tube residing within said guide tube, a portion of said drive tube extending through said first open end of said guide tube, said outer surface of said drive tube in contact with said inner surface of said guide tube in at least two opposing locations;
a movable anvil, said movable anvil attached to and enclosing said first open end of said drive tube;
a threaded collar, said threaded collar attached to and enclosing said second open end of said drive tube, said threaded collar having a threaded bore;
a screw device, said screw device having a threaded portion extending through and engaging said threaded bore of said threaded collar;
a retaining collar, said retaining collar attached to and enclosing said second open end of said guide tube, said retaining collar operative to hold a position of said screw device fixed relative to said guide tube while allowing free rotation of said threaded portion of said screw device within said threaded bore of said threaded collar.
2. The clamping device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said guide tube and said drive tube have essentially a square shape.
3. The clamping device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said threaded portion of said screw device has left hand threads, operative to extend said movable anvil toward said fixed anvil with a clockwise rotation of said screw device.
4. The clamping device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said threaded portion of said screw device has right hand threads, operative to extend said movable anvil toward said fixed anvil with a counter clockwise rotation of said screw device.
5. The clamping device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said retaining collar is composed of two essentially identical halves.
6. The clamping device as recited in claim 5 , wherein said retaining collar is welded to said guide tube.
7. The clamping device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said fixed anvil and said guide tube are welded to said C shaped frame.
8. The clamping device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said fixed anvil, said C shaped frame, and said guide tube are machined from a single block of metal.
9. A clamping device comprising:
a C shaped frame, said C shaped frame terminating in a first end surface and a second end surface, said first end surface being oriented approximately 90 degrees from said second end surface;
a fixed anvil, said fixed anvil attached to said first end surface of said C shaped frame;
a guide tube, said guide tube having a hexagonal shape, said guide tube having a first open end, a second open end, an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said guide tube attached to said second end surface of said C shaped frame;
a drive tube, said drive tube having a hexagonal shape, said drive tube having a first open end, a second open end, and an outer surface, said outer surface of said drive tube conformal in shape with said inner surface of said guide tube, said drive tube residing within said guide tube, a portion of said drive tube extending through said first open end of said guide tube, said outer surface of said drive tube in contact with said inner surface of said guide tube in at least two opposing locations;
a movable anvil, said movable anvil attached to and enclosing said first open end of said drive tube;
a threaded collar, said threaded collar attached to and enclosing said second open end of said drive tube, said threaded collar having a threaded bore;
a screw device, said screw device having a threaded portion extending through and engaging said threaded bore of said threaded collar;
a retaining collar, said retaining collar attached to and enclosing said second open end of said guide tube, said retaining collar operative to hold a position of said screw device fixed relative to said guide tube while allowing free rotation of said threaded portion of said screw device within said threaded bore of said threaded collar.
10. The clamping device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said threaded portion of said screw device has left hand threads, operative to extend said movable anvil toward said fixed anvil with a clockwise rotation of said screw device.
11. The clamping device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said threaded portion of said screw device has right hand threads, operative to extend said movable anvil toward said fixed anvil with a counter clockwise rotation of said screw device.
12. The clamping device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said retaining collar is composed of two essentially identical halves.
13. The clamping device as recited in claim 12 , wherein said retaining collar is welded to said guide tube.
14. The clamping device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said fixed anvil and said guide tube are welded to said C shaped frame.
15. The clamping device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said fixed anvil, said C shaped frame, and said guide tube are machined from a single block of metal.