CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR HYDRAULIC WORK SUPPORT

摘要

A work support and method of clamping a translatable component of a hydraulic work support system. The work support may include a rigid, hollow slotted collet, a sleeve, and the translatable component, such as a plunger or rod. Hydraulic fluid may be pumped into an inlet of the hydraulic work support system to hydraulically actuate the translatable component outward from a first retracted position to a second extended position. The hydraulic fluid may further be pumped to the sleeve at a sufficient pressure that the sleeve presses against the collet. The collet responds thereto by flexing into contact with the translatable component, thus holding the translatable component in the second extended position. The slots in the collet allow for flexure even when using a thicker material with stronger column strength.

主权项

1. A clamping mechanism for a holding device, the clamping mechanism comprising:
a translatable component; a hollow, rigid collet surrounding the translatable component or received in the translatable component such that the translatable component is axially translatable relative to the collet, the collet having one or more sidewalls, a first open end, and a second open end, the collet having a plurality of slots formed through the one or more sidewalls; and a hollow sleeve covering the collet or received within the collet, the sleeve having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the sleeve is configured to be actuated to press against the sidewalls of the collet with sufficient force to flex portions of the collet to grip the translatable component.