Apparatus for remotely handling components

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869147

Szkrybalo, Gregory A ^[1]; Griffin, Donald L ^[2]

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1. Jefferson Boro, PA
2. West Blackfoot, ID

The inventive apparatus for remotely handling bar-like components which define a longitudinal direction includes a gripper mechanism for gripping the component including first and second gripper members longitudinally fixedly spaced from each other and oriented parallel to each other in planes transverse to the longitudinal direction. Each gripper member includes a jaw having at least one V-groove with opposing surfaces intersecting at a base and extending radially relative to the longitudinal direction for receiving the component in an open end between the opposing surfaces. The V-grooves on the jaw plate of the first and second gripper members are aligned in the longitudinal direction to support the component in the first and second gripper members. A jaw is rotatably mounted on and a part of each of the first and second gripper members for selectively assuming a retracted mode in which the open end of the V-groove is unobstructed and active mode in which the jaw spans the open end of the V-groove in the first and second gripper members. The jaw has a locking surface for contacting the component in the active mode to secure the component between the locking surface of the jaw and the opposing surfaces of the V-groove. The locking surface has a plurality of stepped portions, each defining a progressively decreasing radial distance between the base of the V-groove and the stepped portion opposing the base to accommodate varying sizes of components.

• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5284374
• OSTI ID: 869147
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

apparatus
remotely
handling
components
inventive
bar-like
define
longitudinal
direction
gripper
mechanism
gripping
component
including
longitudinally
fixedly
spaced
oriented
parallel
planes
transverse
jaw
v-groove
opposing
surfaces
intersecting
base
extending
radially
relative
receiving
v-grooves
plate
aligned
support
rotatably
mounted
selectively
assuming
retracted
mode
unobstructed
active
spans
locking
surface
contacting
secure
plurality
stepped
portions
defining
progressively
decreasing
radial
distance
portion
accommodate
varying
sizes
active mode
radial distance
rotatably mounted
extending radially
longitudinal direction
opposing surfaces
remotely handling
opposing surface
inventive apparatus
varying size
extending radial
accommodate varying
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