Portable clamp and method of use

Abstract

The invention provides a portable fixture, which belongs to the technical field of fixture equipment and comprises a fixture body, a sliding groove is formed in the side face of the fixture body, and through holes are formed in the two ends of the fixture body; fixing the clamping jaw; the movable clamping jaw comprises a movable clamping jaw clamping plate, a movable clamping jaw vertical plate and a movable clamping jaw transmission column, the rotating rod penetrates through the through holes in the two ends of the clamp body and the movable clamping jaw transmission column, and a stop part and a shaft shoulder are arranged on the rotating rod; the locking assembly is arranged at the end of the rotating rod in a sleeving mode and matched with the shaft shoulder. A fixed clamping jaw is welded to the bottom of a clamp body, a transmission column of a movable clamping jaw is placed into the clamp body from a sliding groove, and a rotating rod is inserted from a through hole in the upper end, without the fixed clamping jaw, of the clamp body, sequentially penetrates through an upper through hole, a threaded hole of the transmission column of the movable clamping jaw and a lower through hole and finally extends out of the lower end of the clamp body. Therefore, the clamp body is firmly limited between the stop part and the locking assembly, can only rotate around the rotating rod, and cannot move up and down.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of clamping equipment technology, and more particularly to a portable clamp. Background Technology

[0002] In machining, woodworking, assembly, and maintenance, clamps are indispensable tools used to reliably hold and hold workpieces for various operations. Existing clamps come in a wide variety, from large bench vises to small C-clamps and F-clamps, each with its own application scenarios.

[0003] While common bench vises offer tremendous clamping force and good stability, they are also bulky and heavy. They typically need to be fixedly installed on large workbenches and cannot be moved, which greatly limits their application and makes them unsuitable for outdoor work, on-site maintenance, or scenarios where portability is a high priority.

[0004] To address portability issues, handheld clamps such as C-clamps and quick-release clamps have been widely adopted in the market. However, these clamps typically have some inherent drawbacks: First, their clamping force often relies on the operator's arm strength or simple screw pressurization, resulting in limited and difficult-to-control clamping force, which is prone to loosening in environments requiring strong clamping or vibration. Second, their structure is usually relatively simple, lacking effective axial restraint between the clamp body and transmission components, making the overall structure prone to shaking or even disintegration under repeated use or lateral forces, resulting in insufficient stability and reliability. Furthermore, many portable clamps have integrated or simply welded jaws, meaning that if a component is damaged, the entire unit often needs to be replaced, leading to high maintenance costs and uneconomical practices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a portable clamp to overcome the shortcomings of existing clamps. This invention provides a portable clamp, comprising: a clamp body, the clamp body being cylindrical and hollow inside, having a sliding groove on its side and through holes at both ends; a fixed clamping jaw fixedly connected to the bottom of the clamp body; a movable clamping jaw, including a movable clamping jaw plate, a movable clamping jaw upright plate, and a movable clamping jaw transmission column, the movable clamping jaw plate being fixedly connected to the long side of the movable clamping jaw upright plate, the movable clamping jaw transmission column being fixedly connected to the short side of the movable clamping jaw upright plate, and the movable clamping jaw transmission column being housed in the internal cavity of the clamp body and slidable along the sliding groove; a rotating rod passing through the through holes at both ends of the clamp body and the movable clamping jaw transmission column, the rotating rod having a stop portion and a shoulder; and a locking assembly sleeved on the end of the rotating rod and cooperating with the shoulder to restrict the axial movement of the clamp body.

[0006] According to a portable clamp provided by the present invention, the movable gripper drive column is a cylinder with a threaded through hole on one of its circular end faces, and is fixedly connected to the short side of the movable gripper upright plate through the threaded through hole by a fastener.

[0007] According to a portable clamp provided by the present invention, grooves for increasing friction are provided on the clamping surfaces of both the movable jaw clamping plate and the fixed jaw clamping plate.

[0008] According to a portable clamp provided by the present invention, the fixed gripper is composed of a fixed gripper clamping plate and a fixed gripper upright plate. The fixed gripper clamping plate is fixedly connected to the long side of the fixed gripper upright plate, and the short side of the fixed gripper upright plate is fixedly welded to the bottom outer wall of the clamp body.

[0009] According to a portable clamp provided by the present invention, the rotating rod is T-shaped and consists of a horizontal rod and a vertical rod. The vertical rod is provided with threads, the stop is provided on the vertical rod near the horizontal rod, and the shoulder is provided at the end of the vertical rod.

[0010] According to a portable clamp provided by the present invention, the diameter of the stop portion is larger than the diameter of the through hole of the clamp body, which is used to restrict the clamp body from moving towards the side of the horizontal bar that is closer to the rotating rod.

[0011] According to a portable clamp provided by the present invention, the locking assembly includes a circular washer, a locking washer, and a nut. The nut is screwed into the thread of the end of the rotating rod. By tightening the nut, the locking washer and the circular washer are pressed against the end face of the shoulder, thereby restricting the clamp from moving toward the side away from the horizontal bar of the rotating rod.

[0012] According to a portable clamp provided by the present invention, the diameter of the shoulder is larger than the inner diameter of the circular washer, which is used to restrict the movement of the locking assembly toward the end of the rotating rod.

[0013] According to the present invention, a portable clamp includes a worktable, wherein the clamp body or the fixed clamping jaw is detachably or fixedly disposed on the worktable.

[0014] This invention also provides a method of using a portable clamp, comprising the following steps: placing the clamp on a workbench and fixing the fixed jaws; placing the object to be fixed between the fixed jaws and the movable jaws; rotating the horizontal bar of the rotating rod, causing its vertical bar to rotate; due to the threaded engagement between the rotating rod and the transmission column of the movable jaw, and the limiting effect of the sliding groove on the transmission column, the rotational motion is converted into the linear motion of the movable jaw, causing it to move closer to the fixed jaws until it clamps the object to be fixed; through the combined action of the stop and the locking assembly, the clamp body is prevented from axially shifting during the clamping process, maintaining the stability of the clamping force.

[0015] The portable clamp provided by this invention involves welding fixed grippers to the bottom of the clamp body. Then, the drive pin of the movable gripper is inserted into the clamp body through a sliding groove. Next, a rotating rod is inserted into the through hole at the top of the clamp body where the fixed gripper is not located, passing sequentially through the upper through hole, the threaded hole of the drive pin of the movable gripper, and the lower through hole, finally extending out from the bottom of the clamp body. The stop at the upper end of the rotating rod, because its diameter is larger than the through hole, will lock against the upper surface of the clamp body. The lower end of the rotating rod is threaded; a circular washer and a locking washer are sequentially fitted on it, and finally a nut is screwed on and tightened. In this way, the clamp body is firmly confined between the stop and the locking assembly, allowing only rotation around the rotating rod, but not vertical movement. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the portable clamp provided by the present invention; Figure 2 This is a front view of the clamp body structure provided by the present invention; Figure 3 This is a top view of the clamp body structure provided by the present invention; Figure 4 This is a side view of the clamp body structure provided by the present invention; Figure 5 This is a front view of the fixed gripper structure provided by the present invention; Figure 6 This is a top view of the fixed gripper structure provided by the present invention; Figure 7 This is a side view of the fixed gripper structure provided by the present invention; Figure 8 This is a front view of the movable gripper structure provided by the present invention; Figure 9 This is a top view of the movable gripper structure provided by the present invention; Figure 10 This is a side view of the movable gripper structure provided by the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the rotating rod structure provided by the present invention; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the locking assembly provided by the present invention.

[0018] Figure label: 10. The object being clamped; 100. Clamping parts; 110. Sliding groove; 120. Through hole; 200. Fixed gripper; 210. Fixed gripper clamping plate; 220. Fixed gripper upright plate; 300. Movable gripper; 310. Movable gripper clamping plate; 320. Movable gripper upright plate; 330. Movable gripper transmission column; 400. Rotating rod; 410. Stop; 420. Shaft shoulder; 500. Locking assembly; 510. Round washer; 520. Locking washer; 530. Nut; 600. Workbench. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0021] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, perpendicular, horizontal" and "top, bottom" indicate the orientation or positional relationship, which is generally based on Figure 1The orientation and position of the portable clamp shown in its normal placement are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. The directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours of each component itself.

[0022] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0023] This invention provides a portable clamp, see below. Figure 1-10 The system includes a cylindrical hollow clamp body 100 that serves as the main support and movement channel. The clamp body 100 has sliding grooves 110 on its side and through holes 120 at both ends. A fixed clamp 200 is permanently installed at the bottom of the clamp body 100. A movable clamp 300 is composed of a movable clamp plate 310, a movable clamp upright plate 320, and a movable clamp drive column 330, with the drive column extending from the sliding groove 110 into the internal cavity of the clamp body 100. A T-shaped rotating rod 400 passes through the through holes 120 at both ends of the clamp body 100 and the threaded hole on the drive column 330. By providing a stop 410 at one end of the rotating rod 400 and a locking assembly 500 at the other end, the axial position of the clamp body 100 on the rotating rod 400 is constrained, preventing it from moving up and down.

[0024] During assembly, first weld the fixed gripper 200 to the bottom of the fixture body 100. Then, insert the drive column of the movable gripper 300 into the fixture body 100 through the sliding groove 110. Next, insert the rotating rod 400 into the through hole 120 at the end of the fixture body 100 without the fixed gripper 200 (the upper end), passing through the upper through hole 120, the threaded hole of the movable gripper drive column 330, and the lower through hole 120 in sequence, finally extending out from the lower end of the fixture body 100. The stop part 410 at the upper end of the rotating rod 400 (such as a welded washer or a machined boss) will be stuck on the upper end face of the fixture body 100 because its diameter is larger than the through hole 120. The lower end of the rotating rod 400 is threaded, and a circular washer 510 and a locking washer 520 (such as a spring washer) are fitted on it in sequence, and finally the nut 530 is screwed on and tightened. In this way, the clamping body 100 is firmly restricted between the stop part 410 and the locking assembly 500, and can only rotate around the rotating rod 400, but cannot move up and down.

[0025] Compact and highly integrated structure: All major components are integrated into the main body of the clamping body 100, making it small in size and easy to carry. Clear force transmission path: The clamping force is generated through the threaded joint of the rotating rod 400, and finally transmitted to the clamping plate through the transmission column and the upright plate, ensuring a stable and reliable structure. Bidirectional axial limiting: Through the dual design of the stop part 410 and the locking assembly 500, the clamping body 100 is effectively prevented from detaching from the rotating rod 400 or from axially loosening during clamping and handling, ensuring the integrity of the fixture and operational safety.

[0026] In one embodiment, see Figure 8-10 The transmission column is a cylinder with a threaded hole machined on one of its circular end faces, and is detachably connected to the movable gripper plate 320 by fasteners such as screws.

[0027] A pre-drilled hole can be made on the short side of the movable gripper plate 320. After aligning the threaded hole of the drive column with this hole, a screw is inserted through the hole from the outside of the plate and screwed into the threaded hole of the drive column to secure the two tightly. Alternatively, a bolt can be inserted from one side of the drive column and then tightened with a nut 530 on the side of the plate.

[0028] Facilitates manufacturing and maintenance: The movable gripper 300 is machined as three parts, reducing the complexity and machining difficulty of individual parts. If a part is damaged (such as wear on the gripper plate), it can be replaced individually without scrapping the entire movable gripper, reducing maintenance costs. Reliable connection: The threaded connection provides sufficient preload, ensuring that the drive column does not loosen or fall off under load. The smoother contact surface between the cylindrical drive column and the inner cavity of the gripper body 100 helps reduce frictional resistance during movement, making operation easier.

[0029] In one embodiment, grooves (such as mesh, straight lines, or serrated lines) are machined on the surfaces of the movable gripper plate 310 and the fixed gripper plate 210 that contact the object being gripped.

[0030] These grooves that increase friction can be made on the plywood blank by mechanical processing methods such as knurling, milling or wire cutting.

[0031] Significantly increases friction: Grooves "bite" into the surface of an object, preventing it from slipping or rotating under pressure, especially effective when clamping objects with smooth surfaces (such as glass and polished metal). Protects the workpiece: Compared to a completely smooth surface, well-designed grooves (such as fine textures) can provide sufficient friction while reducing pressure damage to the workpiece surface (more stress concentration points, which may actually decrease the unit pressure).

[0032] In one embodiment, see Figure 5-7The fixed gripper 200 consists of a fixed gripper clamping plate 210 and a fixed gripper upright plate 220. The connection method is similar to that of the movable gripper 300 (i.e., the clamping plate is connected to the long side of the upright plate), but the short side of the fixed gripper upright plate 220 is directly welded to the outer wall of the clamp body 100.

[0033] First, the fixed gripper plate 210 and the fixed gripper upright plate 220 are connected into an L-shaped whole by welding or bolting. Then, the bottom of the upright plate of this whole is firmly welded to the outer cylindrical surface of the bottom of the clamp body 100 by continuous welding or spot welding to ensure that it cannot move.

[0034] Extremely high structural rigidity and stability: Welding provides a permanent connection, making the fixed jaws 200 an integral part of the clamping body 100, capable of withstanding large clamping reaction forces and operating torques without loosening. Simplified structure: Compared to complex adjustable designs, welded fixing eliminates additional connectors and adjustment mechanisms, resulting in a simpler structure, lower cost, and higher reliability.

[0035] In one embodiment, see Figure 11 The rotating rod 400 is T-shaped and consists of a horizontal rod (as a handle) and a vertical rod (as a lead screw); the vertical rod has threads; the stop part 410 is located near the handle; the shoulder 420 is located at the end of the threaded rod.

[0036] The rotating rod 400 can be integrally formed, with the smooth rod portion, threaded portion, and shoulder 420 machined from a round steel bar using a lathe, and a crossbar welded to the top as a handle. Alternatively, it can be a separate unit, for example, the handle and the lead screw can be combined together by welding or threading.

[0037] The T-shaped design provides effortless operation: the long handle provides a lever arm, allowing users to generate greater torque with less hand force, making it easier to turn the lead screw. The functional areas are clearly defined: the stop section 410, the threaded section, and the shoulder 420 each perform axial limiting, motion transmission, and locking positioning functions, with a clear design logic and well-defined processing and assembly procedures.

[0038] In one embodiment, the diameter of the stop portion 410 is larger than the diameter of the through hole 120 on the clamp body 100, and its physical function is to restrict the clamp body 100 from moving upward (i.e. towards the handle).

[0039] The stop 410 can be a separately machined step or a washer fitted onto the smooth rod and welded in place. Its outer diameter must be larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 120.

[0040] Provides reliable unidirectional limiting: It defines the upper boundary of the axial movement of the clamp body 100, ensuring that when the handle is turned downwards to release the clamp, the clamp body 100 will not be lifted upwards as the nut 530 loosens, maintaining the stability of the clamp. Serves as an assembly reference: During assembly, the rotating rod 400 is first inserted from this direction, and the stop 410 naturally determines the initial position of the clamp body 100 on the rotating rod 400.

[0041] In one embodiment, see Figure 12 The locking assembly 500 includes a circular washer 510, a locking washer 520, and a nut 530, and its working principle is described as follows: by tightening the nut 530, the locking washer 520 and the circular washer 510 are compressed and pressed against the end face of the shoulder 420, thereby restricting the downward movement of the clamping body 100.

[0042] The function of the round washer 510 (flat washer) is to increase the contact surface and protect the parts. The locking washer 520 usually refers to a spring washer or a toothed anti-loosening washer, which generates elasticity or locking force after the nut 530 is tightened, effectively preventing the nut 530 from loosening on its own due to vibration or other reasons. The nut 530 is a standard part that mates with the threaded end of the rotating rod 400.

[0043] Provides another reliable limiting function: In conjunction with the stop 410, it firmly "locks" the clamp body 100 in the predetermined axial position of the rotating rod 400. Anti-loosening function: Special emphasis is placed on the use of the locking washer 520, a standard and effective method in engineering to prevent loosening of threaded connections, greatly improving the reliability of the clamp under long-term use and vibration environments.

[0044] In one embodiment, the shoulder 420 has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the circular washer 510, which is used to restrict the movement of the entire locking assembly 500 (washer, gasket, nut 530) toward the end of the rod from the inside.

[0045] Shoulder 420 is an annular step machined directly when turning the end of rotating rod 400. Its outer diameter must be designed to be larger than the inner diameter of the selected circular washer 510.

[0046] Providing positive positioning: Shoulder 420 provides a reliable mechanical support for locking assembly 500. When nut 530 is tightened, force is transmitted to the rotating rod 400 body through shoulder 420, rather than solely through thread friction. This makes force transmission more direct and reliable, resulting in higher structural strength. Preventing assembly detachment: Even if nut 530 is extremely loose, the entire locking assembly 500 will not detach from the rod end due to the obstruction of shoulder 420, avoiding the problem of small parts loss and improving the overall integrity of the product.

[0047] In one embodiment, a "workbench" is added as an optional component, and the fixture can be mounted on the workbench in a detachable (e.g., clamped with a pressure plate or bench vise) or fixed (e.g., welded or bolted) manner.

[0048] The clamp body 100 or the fixing jaw 200 can be designed with mounting holes for inserting bolts to fix it to the T-slot of the worktable. Alternatively, the bottom of the clamp can be placed directly on the worktable for use as a portable tool, and temporarily fixed with C-clamps or similar tools when needed.

[0049] Versatility: This fixture is not only a handheld portable tool, but can also be transformed into a miniature vise or a fixed fixture to adapt to more diverse work needs. Improved Stability: When fixed to a workbench, it allows for more forceful operations (such as filing and drilling) without the need for one hand to hold the fixture steady, freeing up the operator's hands and improving machining accuracy and safety.

[0050] The present invention also provides a method of using a portable clamp, comprising the following steps: Place the fixture on the worktable and fix the clamping jaws 200. The object to be fixed is placed between the fixed gripper 200 and the movable gripper 300; Rotate the horizontal bar of the rotating rod 400, which will cause its vertical bar to rotate; Due to the threaded engagement between the rotating rod 400 and the movable gripper transmission column 330, and the limiting effect of the sliding groove 110 on the transmission column, the rotational motion is converted into the linear motion of the movable gripper 300, causing it to move closer to the fixed gripper 200 until it clamps the fixed object. The stop part 410 and the locking assembly 500 work together to prevent the clamping body 100 from moving axially during the clamping process and maintain the stability of the clamping force.

[0051] The operator first secures the clamp (handheld or bench-mounted). Then, the workpiece is placed in. Rotating the handle clockwise causes the rotating rod 400 to rotate accordingly. Because the movable jaw drive column 330 is restricted from rotation by the sliding groove 110, it can only move threadedly with the rotating rod 400, thus being forced to move downwards (towards the fixed jaw 200) in a straight line, pushing the movable jaw 300 to clamp the workpiece. The stop 410 and locking assembly 500 ensure that the clamp body 100 does not move during this process. To release, simply rotate the handle counterclockwise.

[0052] Simple and efficient operation: The entire process requires only one hand to rotate the handle to clamp and release; the action is simple, intuitive, and convenient. Force amplification effect: Utilizing the mechanical advantages of the lead screw mechanism, a large clamping force can be generated with very little manual force. Safe and reliable: The method incorporates anti-loosening and anti-disengagement mechanisms, making the clamping process and working state very stable and reliable.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A portable clamp, characterized in that, include: The clamping body is cylindrical in shape and hollow inside, with a sliding groove on its side and through holes at both ends. A fixed gripper is fixedly connected to the bottom of the gripper body; The movable gripper includes a movable gripper clamping plate, a movable gripper upright plate, and a movable gripper transmission column. The movable gripper clamping plate is fixedly connected to the long side of the movable gripper upright plate, and the movable gripper transmission column is fixedly connected to the short side of the movable gripper upright plate. The movable gripper transmission column is housed in the internal cavity of the gripper body and can slide along the sliding groove. A rotating rod, which passes through through holes at both ends of the clamping body and a movable jaw transmission column, and the rotating rod is provided with a stop and a shoulder; A locking assembly, which is sleeved on the end of the rotating rod and engages with the shoulder, is used to restrict the axial movement of the clamping body.

2. The portable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable gripper drive column is a cylinder with a threaded through hole on one of its circular end faces. It is fixedly connected to the short side of the movable gripper upright plate through the threaded through hole by fasteners.

3. The portable clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that, The clamping surfaces of both the movable and fixed gripper plates are provided with grooves to increase friction.

4. The portable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed gripper consists of a fixed gripper clamping plate and a fixed gripper upright plate. The fixed gripper clamping plate is fixedly connected to the long side of the fixed gripper upright plate, and the short side of the fixed gripper upright plate is fixedly welded to the bottom outer wall of the gripper body.

5. The portable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating rod is T-shaped and consists of a horizontal rod and a vertical rod. The vertical rod is threaded. The stop is located on the vertical rod near the horizontal rod, and the shoulder is located at the end of the vertical rod.

6. The portable clamp according to claim 5, characterized in that, The diameter of the stop portion is larger than the diameter of the through hole of the clamp body, which is used to restrict the clamp body from moving towards the side of the horizontal bar that is closer to the rotating rod.

7. The portable clamp according to claim 5, characterized in that, The locking assembly includes a circular washer, a locking washer, and a nut. The nut is screwed into the thread at the end of the rotating rod. By tightening the nut, the locking washer and the circular washer are pressed against the end face of the shoulder, thereby restricting the clamp from moving away from the horizontal bar of the rotating rod.

8. The portable clamp according to claim 7, characterized in that, The diameter of the shoulder is larger than the inner diameter of the circular washer, which is used to restrict the movement of the locking assembly toward the end of the rotating rod.

9. The portable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The portable clamp includes a workbench, and the clamp body or fixed jaws are detachably or fixedly mounted on the workbench.

10. A method of using a portable clamp, characterized in that, Using the portable clamp of claims 1-9 above, the steps include: Place the fixture on the worktable and fix the clamping jaws; Place the object to be fixed between the fixed gripper and the movable gripper; Rotate the horizontal bar of the rotating rod to cause its vertical bar to rotate; Due to the threaded engagement between the rotating rod and the transmission column of the movable jaw, and the limiting effect of the sliding groove on the transmission column, the rotational motion is converted into the linear motion of the movable jaw, causing it to move closer to the fixed jaw until it clamps the object being fixed. The stop and locking components work together to prevent the clamp from moving axially during clamping and maintain the stability of the clamping force.

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