US1941840A - Tool clamp - Google Patents

Description

W. A. KELSEY- Jan. 2, 1934.

'TOOL CLAMP Filed Nov. 3, 1930 Patented Jan. 2, 1934 niNiTeesrArEs PATEN'ITl oFricE TOOL CLAMP William A. Kelsey, Minneapolis, Minn. f ApplicationNovember 3, 1930.` `Serial No. 492,935

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a means for holding a grinding tool, though it may be adapted for use with other tools and the particular purpose of the invention is to provide a means for use with a dental tool whereby the user can easily and quickly clamp a grinding means suchV as a paper emery disk or a'rsolid 'emery or carborundum wheel and as readily release the disk or wheel when the work is completed or it is desired to substitute another diskror wheel.

In dental tools as usually made, the clamp device for holding the paper emery disk or a suitable grinding wheel is composed of several parts or pieces which often become separated and mislaid requiring considerable time of the dentistor other operator to assemble the parts and clamp the tool preparatory for use. Difficulty is also experienced where the clamp is made in several separable pieces, by theV working loose of one or more ofthe elements of the clamp while the tool is in use, causing delay for the tightening or re'adjustment of the partsi' The primary object of my invention therefore is to provide a, clamp device for general use, but particularly adapted for dental purposes and one in which the operating elements are inseparable and ready for immediate use to clamp the operating tool'and further, this self-contained tool clamp is made in such a way that there is no possibility of the clamping elements working loose and requiring tightening or adjusting when the device is in use.v j Y A further object is to provide a dental clamp of such construction that the operator can manipulate the clamping elements with fthe lingers of the hand holding the toolj it being unnecesf sary to use both hands as usuallyisthe case in;

clamps of this kind.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed-out in the claims.

In the accompanying Vdrawing forming part Y of this Vspecification Figure 1 is `a view of the tool, considerably enlarged, having a paper emery disk mounted in 'the jaws;

Figure 2 is a detail view, considerably enlarged,

* showing the jawsin .theirrelease position to jaws in their release position;

allow the insertior'i'or4 removal of the disk; f

Figure V3 isa detail view also considerably enlarged, Vtaken onv a section line at right angles substantially to theV section line of Figure 2;

V Figure 4 is atop v iew of the tool showing the Figure 5 is a detail `viewrof the middle 'portion of a paper emery diskshowing theV openings therein to receive thel jaws; Y Y

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 3, showing the' position assumed by therjaws pre- 60l paratory to clamping the disk; j v Figure 'lois also'a similar view showing the jaws in their clamping position; Figure 8 is a top View showing the relative position of the jaws in clamping the disk;

Figure 9 is 4an enlarged detail YView showing the clamp adapted for use with a solid emery or carborunduni wheel, the jaws being in theirV open position; A 1

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the jawsY in 70'" their .closed or locking position; and n Figure 11 is a plan View of the emery or car-g Y borundum wheel.

In the drawing, 2 represents the shank of a dental tool with the clamping means thereon considerably enlarged for clearness of illustratiom The end of this shank is provided with stationary jaws 3. There may be any suitable` numberof these jaws fashionedin any preferred manner, 8o but for convenience in gripping and holdinga comparatively thin paper emery disk such as is frequently'used in dental work,.I prefer'to pro# vide the jaw with a central member 'andv four lugs. forming the `jaws Bradiating therefrom. The 7 paper disk indicatedby numeral 4, has a central opening 5 and slots 6 extending therefrom infopposite directions and adapted to register with the.V fixed jaws 3 so that when the diskiis placed over these jaws, they willy enter the slots and vpermit Y the disk to be seated on the end of the tool shank.' 7 represents a movable jawhaving a series of lugsv 8 projecting upwardly therefrom around its peripheral vupper end and adaptedY to register with` Ythe jaws 3 when it is Adesired to put the disk on the 95 tool or rernove'it` therefrom, and also having a rotary movement to a position out of alignment withl the jaws 3 when it is desired to clamp lthe disk on the tool shank. The'movable jaw 'Ilias a hollow shank 9 provided with longitudinal slots 100 10 which merge into transverse slots 11 adapted to receive the ends of a pin l12 that is rigidly mounted in the shank 13 of the stationary jaw. V These slots and the pin 12'forrn a bayonet joint allowing a limited rotary movement of the mov-l Y l ablejaw on the stationary one and also a limited longitudinal movement. The shank 9 isexteriorly threaded as at 14 and a sleeve 15 isrinteriorly.K

'threaded to engage thethreadsll andthe outer end of the sleeve 15 receives a hub 16` Lformed on 110 or out of register therewith, depending upon the position of the pin in the transverse slot. At such time the sleeve will be in the position shown ly tapered surface of the hub 16. When, however, the movable jaw becomes locked against rotary.- movement, having reached the limit f'itsistroke on the pin, continued rotation of the sleeve, bearing on the stop secured to the shaft will force the movable jaw outwardly7 so that its lugs will' clamp the tool between them and the lugs of thevl iixed jaw; A .collarlfl is secured on'the'fshank 2`of. the tolby suitable Vmeans. and'forms' 'a seat for the inner end of the sleeve 15. and with 'this 'sleeve' in ceritgt with the fixed collar and in thi-eases en gagenent with the movable jaw, it'is obv usfthat when the user of, the tool rotates Vth'eslejve 15; th' movable jaw will bef projected Vor retracted, assuming of course that the longitudinal slotslO n osition' to 'receivethe ends gf thepin 12, `egree of movement" longitudinally o 4the nivable vjaw will 'of courseV depend upon the length ottlji slot-:iOandthis length is determined when the ftoolism'ade so that the movable 'jawwill have suicient travel to clamp the diskoij-fother instriii'n'ent"al-itythatV may lbe positioned '.-for 'clamping between 'the fixed-and movable jaws. `When it--`is desired to release the toolfthesleeve 15 will beprotated in the opposite direction-from' that in whichlit is tur-ned to unive the jaw toits clamping positionV and `when the movable -jawh'asf been retaetedsuificiently to-allw the pin12 to enter thai-transverse slots 11, the -user may thenv rotatev the "sleevefslightly-until the .vxed and movable jaws'are in alignment with one another andthen the'disk mayfbe easily removed/from the tool. This locking or releasing movement. of-the sleeve may.; be eil'ectedby-v the user with one hand, it beingmerelynecessary to graspthe .sleeve and rotate itin one `direction to elect the locking of the disk bytheclamping operationnf. the jaws orv the re-j leasingxbfi .the .disk by'looseningthe grip of;l the iawsthereon.

. In Eignre 9,1;have shown. theinvention. adapted fer. with allemal-#yor carborundum; wheel-1.8

with@ bones20 and beveled.` lues. .2.1 Spacedf apartareund the opening. of the bore. 'ane'prieting inte; the Seme. These. lues .are Substantially Wedge. Shaped., having4 conversing :faces 22- The shankeaf. thetool has iawsa 'atthe outer .end

providedgwith beveledaces 3. These jawsare adaptedto slide. through the openings 2 .3between the.A lugs on the emery or carborundum wheelto allow the. insertion of the tool into, the jaws of the-shank and a movable jaw 72! has lugs, 8% between which and` the beveled faces 3y ofthea jaws' 3aV and the lugsA 2 1 of the emerfyorl carboiiundurn wheell are grippe'dland, held. The movable jaw has a` hub 16a of greater areal-than the hubl described'with reference; to the; pre.- viousfgures, and the. split endoi the sleevel 15EL hasQa greater Ybearing rsurface on this liub and i thre`is`-sufcient friction llietween the hub and 75- the' sleeve coupled with the' friction' of the coa. cemparatitely thick nnb 19.- providedv operating threads to cause a rotary movement of the sleeve when the pin of the bayonet joint Vdescribed with reference to the previous figures is in position to allow such limited rotary movement. This rotary adjustment of the movable jaw will have the eiect of either placing its jaw members in alignment with those of the fixed jaw, or out of alignment therewith, depending upon whether the operator wishes to adjust the toglior its release or locking position. The elements of this modication in the structure of the tool' holder and the parts thereof being substantially the same as described with reference to the in Figure 6, with its outer end grasping the slight- Veai'lier figures in the case, I prefer to use the same reference numerals with addition of the exponent a. In this last described form of the helder; the jaw members when in alignment, allow-the'insertion ofi. the tool, having the correspondingly shaped central opening into the holderfand when the tool has been properly plated, the. movable jaw 1S .first retateld Slightly, asnrevioiisly:described, temere. the jaw bers @it et register, and when this. dene furf ther @beraden of thesleevewepera e Wit-tithe fixed Sten the.. shanlrwill cause lensitvdinal met .cf .the movable jaws-to .securely @lame 5.9911111 .elate-` .f 1 t i The @eretici-10i. the device Sherm Eisiires Sand. 1,9. is substantially the: .Same-.asfdeseribed with referente t@l the prevcils delires; inserirle cipall dferencebeine ,in the. ferm Qi .the yiawsjw adaptfthem. .ferl a tcol .having- ,emparatrely think hub necessary. `for en. emersi .0r Qarbgrun: dum .Wheel- .lilhere theme21. .is usedwith the cernparatively 'thin paper ,dish hei/mean einem 1ro tane, the .hub .0r central. nortien's. adapted-t9 yield Slightly, underpressure oi the. jaws there@ so.. that, the; dskmay. be. firmly clemped,.-and with .23. 15.0.01: .0f thswnature. it is .not necessaryA to haven. heavyhubor centrat portion. as. thestran 115 themen is; imonsiderable as camperen with. that of the thicker or heavier .emerv or .carbarnndum wheel, Hence .the modification that AI. have shown. in.r Figures. 9. and. 1.0, while embodying the samepizinciple. as, theclamp. offtheearler iigimes; 120 serves.. to.. adapt the. device. for use with". the. thickenheavier tool. The. sleeveas'shonznzzin Figures.,Eiland` l0 engages the collanle andiithe threads ..of. the. movable. ja'w, and as. the sleeve.` is rotated," the., jawlis moved longitudinallyr te its.125 lockingor release: position, depending. uponzthe position of the pin 12a in the slots of the movable jaw. nlboth of these. forms or adaptations-of theinvention, the shaftmaybe held: by theoperator in` one 4hand and with the` fingers. of,y that 130 same.` hand the sleeve may be vrotatedte change its posit/'ienV and-move the' locking jawv toits clamping or releasing position, als-d'esiledaY The other hand off the merator is'V thus freeV tomanipulate the tool-itself; either toV put-it on the lshapft or remove itv therefroml Obviouslywhenithefrotating sleeve has been adjusted and= theteol clamped,V there -w'ill-r be 'no l opportunity fori-thev jaws becoming inadvertently-f separated to rlease theftool untiltheslevehas again been rotated .suilicientlyV so' Ithat' the pin of f the bayonet joint is in alignmentwith thelongitud-inalportionotheslotin'fthemovable jaw I It will be understood'jthjat this j'device is capable 145 0f vario'l'ls' medeetions'suehias Changes-'inthe Shane pqstdlanslnumber. @the hiss. @Om risinthejxed andinovableiaws and'yheliee f htq. be confined'to thedetails ofcxonstrncmit W1.. tion Vherein shown'jand jdescribed.

claim as my invention: 1. A tool of the class described, comprising a shank, a fixed jaw on the end thereof, a movable jaw adapted to slide on said shank and provided with a bayonet joint connection with said shank whereby said movable jaw may be rotated a limited distance to register with said fixed jaw and allow the insertion of a tool between said jaws or its removal therefrom, and a longitudinal movement of said movable jaw when out of register with said fixed jaw to clamp the tool between them and means` having a threaded connectionV with said movable jaw for adjusting it longitudinally through said bayonet joint connection.

2. A device'of the class described, comprising a shank having a fixed jaw thereon adapted to enter a central opening provided in a disk-like tool, a movable jaw, a sleeve encircling said movable jaw and having a threaded connection and frictional contact therewith, a stop on said shank against which said sleeve normally abuts and said movable jaw and said shank having means whereby said movable jaw has a limited rotary movement through its frictional engagement with said sleeve to adjust said jaw into or out of alignment with said fixed jaw and a longitudinal movement through said threaded connection and the engagement of said sleeve with said stop to clamp a tool between said movable and fixed jaws when out or" alignment.

3. A tool clamp composed of inseparable parts consisting of a shank and a fixed jaw thereon composed of a plurality of radial lugs, a movable jaw on said shank having radial lugs adapted to be moved into or out of register with the lugs of said xed jaw, a sleeve having frictional engagement with said movable jaw for imparting a rotary movement thereto when said sleeve is rotated and also having a threaded connection with said sleeve, a collar permanently holding said jaws and sleeve in their relative operative position and abutting said sleeve to impart through said threaded connection a longitudinal movement to said movable jaw when said sleeve is rotated to clamp the tool between the lugs of said jaws.

4. A dental tool holder comprising a shank having iixed jaws radiating therefrom, a fixed stop on said shank, a movable jaw disposed between said xed jaw and said stop and also'having radial members adapted to register with the members of said xed jaw to receive the tool to be clamped or move out of register with the members Vof the fixed jaw preparatory to clampingu the tool, a sleeve having a threaded engagement with said movable jaw andabutting said xed stop and means whereby said sleeve may be `rotated to adjust said movable jaw in a releasing position or where it may be moved lengthwiseY by the continued rotation of said sleeve'to clamp the tool between said lixed and movable jaws.

V5. A device of the class described comprising a shank having a fixed jaw thereon, a movable jaw on said shank having a hub and a rotary and longitudinal movement, a stop on' saidlshank, a sleeve abutting said stop and having a portion encircling said hub and in frictional engagement therewith whereby rotation of saidvsleeve will through said frictional engagement impart a rotary movement toV said movable jaw and adjust it into and out of register with said `xed jaw, said movable jaw and said sleeve having means for moving said movable jaw longitudinally on said shank to its clamping position.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a shank having a xed jaw thereon adaptedV to enter a central opening provided in a disk-like tool, a movable jaw having a hub thereon and externally threaded, a sleeve encircling said movable jaw and having an end portion in frictional engagement with said hub and internally threaded to engage the threads of said movable jaw,

a stop on said shank against which said sleevel tween said movable and fixed jaws when they are out of alignment.

7. A mandrel comprising a shank having a fixed jaw thereon composed of a plurality of radial lugs, a movable jaw on said shank having radial lugs adapted to be moved into or out of register with the lugs of said fixed jaw, and means on its initial rotary movement for adjusting said movablerjaw out of register with said fixed jaw, and subsequently during continued rotation of said means adjusting said movable jaw lengthwise of said shank to clamp a tool between said xed and movable jaws. Y Y

8. A mandrel comprising a shank having a fixed jaw thereon, a stop on said shank, a movable jaw disposed between said fixed jaw and said stop and adapted to register with said xed jaw to receive a tool, or move out of register with said iixed jaw preparatory to lengthwise movement on said shank toclamp a tool, a sleeve abutting said stop and means on the initial movement of said sleeve to adjust said movablejaw out of reg- Y f ister with said xed jaw, and by subsequent mov'efixed and movable jaws.

` WILLIAM A. KELSEY.

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