Tube clamping assembly

Abstract

A tube clamping assembly comprising a first portion having a base and a clamping device carried on the base, and a second portion having a base and a clamping device carried on the base. The first and second portions are coupled to each other such that the portions may be adjusted relative each other. In another embodiment, the invention is a tube clamping assembly comprising a base, and a first movable clamp arm and a first stationary clamp arm coupled to the base for gripping a cylindrical workpiece therebetween. The tube clamping assembly further comprises a second movable clamp arm and a second stationary clamp arm coupled to the base for gripping a cylindrical workpiece therebetween, wherein at least one of the stationary clamp arms is removably coupled to the base. In another embodiment, the invention is a tube clamping assembly comprising a base, a first clamping device carried on the base, a second clamping device carried on the base, and locking means for limiting the outward axial movement of the first and second pair of clamping devices. In yet another embodiment, the invention is a collet for clamping a cylindrical workpiece, the collet comprising a pair of clamp parts each having a clamp surface adapted to engage opposing sides of the workpiece, each clamp surface being generally shaped as half a polygon in side view having at least six sides.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tube clamping assembly comprising: 
 a first portion having a base and a clamping device carried on said base; and    a second portion having a base and a clamping device carried on said base, said first and said second portions being coupled to each other such that said portions may be adjusted relative each other.    
     
     
         2 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 1    wherein said first portion and said second portion are joined at their respective bases.  
     
     
         3 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 1    wherein said clamping devices are releasable.  
     
     
         4 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 1    wherein said first portion and said second portion are coupled by a fastener passed through said first portion and threadedly received in said second portion.  
     
     
         5 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 1    wherein said first portion and said second portion are adjustable in at least two directions relative each other.  
     
     
         6 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 1    wherein each clamping device includes a pair of clamp arms each having a clamping surface, and wherein at least one of said clamp arms in each clamping device is movable from a gripping position wherein said clamping surfaces may grip a cylindrical workpiece therebetween, to a release position wherein said cylindrical workpiece is not gripped by said clamping surfaces.  
     
     
         7 . The tube clamping device of    claim 6    wherein each clamping device includes a stationary clamp arm and a movable clamp arm, and wherein a workpiece gripped by said clamping device on said first portion is generally radially aligned with a workpiece gripped by said clamping device of said second portion.  
     
     
         8 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 7    wherein each movable clamp arm is pivotably attached to its respective base.  
     
     
         9 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 7    wherein each movable clamp arm is pivotably attached to its respective stationary clamp arm.  
     
     
         10 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 7    wherein each stationary clamp arm is removably coupled to its respective base.  
     
     
         11 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 7    wherein each stationary clamp arm is rigidly attached to its respective base.  
     
     
         12 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 1    wherein said first portion and said second portion are shaped so as to closely engage each other.  
     
     
         13 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 12    wherein one of said portions has a notch, and the other of said portions has a groove shaped to receive said notch.  
     
     
         14 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 1    wherein said assembly is shaped to receive an orbital weld head therein for welding a pair of cylindrical workpieces held in said clamping devices.  
     
     
         15 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 14    further comprising an orbital weld head located to weld said pair of cylindrical workpieces.  
     
     
         16 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 1    wherein said base of said first portion and said base of said second portion each have a cut-out and wherein said cut-outs are aligned so as to closely receive a weld head therein.  
     
     
         17 . A tube clamping assembly comprising: 
 a first portion having a first clamping device shaped to receive a first cylindrical workpiece therein; and    a second portion having a second clamping device shaped to receive a second cylindrical workpiece therein, said first and said second portions being adjustably coupled to each other such that said first and second cylindrical workpieces may be radially aligned.    
     
     
         18 . A tube clamping assembly comprising: 
 a base having a first portion and a second portion;    a first clamping device carried on said first portion; and    a second clamping device carried on said second portion, said first portion and said second portion being coupled to each other such that said portions may be adjusted relative each other to enable adjustment of said first clamping device relative said second clamping device.    
     
     
         19 . A method for making a tube clamping assembly comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a first portion having a base and a clamping device carried on said base;    selecting a second portion having a base and a clamping device carried on said base; and    coupling said first and said second portions to each other such that said first and second portions may be adjusted relative each other.    
     
     
         20 . A method for using a tube clamping assembly comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a tube clamping assembly comprising a first portion having a first clamping device and a second portion having a second clamping device, said first and said second portions being adjustably coupled to each other; and    adjusting said first and second portions such that when a first cylindrical workpiece is held by said first clamping device and when a second cylindrical workpiece is held by said second clamping device, said first and second cylindrical workpieces are radially aligned.    
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 20    wherein said adjusting step includes clamping a cylindrical workpiece in said first clamping device while simultaneously clamping said cylindrical workpiece in said second clamping device.  
     
     
         22 . A tube clamping assembly comprising: 
 a base;    a first movable clamp arm and a first stationary clamp arm coupled to said base for gripping a first cylindrical workpiece therebetween; and    a second movable clamp arm and a second stationary clamp arm coupled to said base for gripping a second cylindrical workpiece therebetween, wherein at least one of said stationary clamp arms is removably coupled to said base.    
     
     
         23 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 22    wherein both said first and second stationary clamp arms are removably attached to said base.  
     
     
         24 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 22    wherein each movable clamp arm is pivotably attached to said base, and wherein said first cylindrical workpiece is generally radially aligned with said second cylindrical workpiece.  
     
     
         25 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 22    wherein each clamp arm has a clamping surface and wherein each of said movable clamp arms is movable from a gripping position wherein the clamping surfaces of said movable clamp arm and the associated stationary clamp arm are located to grip a cylindrical workpiece therebetween, to a release position wherein said cylindrical workpiece is not gripped by said movable clamp arm and said stationary clamp arm.  
     
     
         26 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 22    wherein said base has an opening extending therethrough to receive an orbital weld head.  
     
     
         27 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 22    wherein said at least one removably coupled stationary clamp arm is removably coupled to said base by a threaded fastener.  
     
     
         28 . A tube clamping assembly comprising: 
 a base;    a first set of clamp arms removably coupled to said base for gripping a cylindrical workpiece therebetween; and    a second set of clamp arms removably coupled to said base for gripping a cylindrical workpiece therebetween.    
     
     
         29 . A method for making a tube clamping assembly comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a base;    coupling a first movable clamp arm and a first stationary clamp arm for gripping a first cylindrical workpiece therebetween to said base; and    coupling a second movable clamp arm and a second stationary clamp arm for gripping a second cylindrical workpiece therebetween to said base, wherein at least one of said stationary clamp arms is removably coupled to said base.    
     
     
         30 . The method of    claim 29    wherein clamp arms are arranged such that said first cylindrical workpiece and said second cylindrical workpiece are generally radially aligned when gripped by said clamp arms.  
     
     
         31 . A method for repairing a tube clamping assembly comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a tube clamping assembly comprising a base, a first movable clamp arm and a first stationary clamp arm coupled to said base for gripping a cylindrical workpiece therebetween, the tube clamping assembly further comprising a second movable clamp arm and a second stationary clamp arm coupled to said base for gripping a cylindrical workpiece therebetween, wherein at least one of said stationary clamp arms is removably coupled to said base; and    uncoupling said at least one of said removably coupled stationary clamp arm from said base.    
     
     
         32 . A tube clamping assembly comprising: 
 a base;    a first clamping device carried on said base, said first clamping device being shaped to grip a first cylindrical workpiece therein;    a second clamping device carried on said base, said second clamp device being shaped to grip a second cylindrical device therein; and    locking means for limiting the outward axial movement of said first and second pair of clamping devices.    
     
     
         33 . The tube clamping device of    claim 32    wherein said clamping devices are arranged such that when said first workpiece is gripped by said first clamping device, said first workpiece is generally radially aligned with said second workpiece gripped by said second clamping device.  
     
     
         34 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 33    wherein said locking means includes a bracket shaped to couple said first and second clamping devices together so as to prevent said outward axial movement.  
     
     
         35 . The tube clamping device of    claim 34    wherein said clamping devices are axially spaced, and wherein said bracket extends in an axial direction to couple said first and second clamping devices together.  
     
     
         36 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 32    wherein said first clamping device includes first pair of clamp arms for gripping said first cylindrical workpiece therebetween, and wherein said second clamping device includes a second pair of clamp arms for gripping said second cylindrical workpiece therebetween, and wherein said locking means limits the outward axial movement of said first and second pair of clamp arms when each pair of clamp arms is gripping a cylindrical workpiece.  
     
     
         37 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 36    wherein said locking means includes a bracket located on one of said clamp arms of said first pair, said bracket extending axially inwardly and having a flange portion shaped to closely receive at least one of said clamp arms of said second pair of clamp arms to impede the outward axial movement of the clamp arms.  
     
     
         38 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 37    wherein at least one of said clamp arms of said second pair has a cut-away portion to receive said flange portion.  
     
     
         39 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 38    wherein said first pair of clamp arms includes a first movable clamp arm and a first stationary clamp arm, and wherein said second pair of clamp arms includes a second movable clamp arm and a second stationary clamp arm.  
     
     
         40 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 39    wherein said bracket is located on the distal end said second movable clamp arm, and wherein said flange portion is shaped to closely receive said first movable clamp arm.  
     
     
         41 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 40    wherein locking means limits the inward axial movement of said first and second pair of clamping devices, and wherein said locking means includes a spacer on said first stationary clamp arm, said spacer extending axially inwardly so as to impede the inward axial movement of said stationary clamp arms.  
     
     
         42 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 39    wherein said first movable clamp arm is shaped to axially overlap with said first stationary clamp arm and said second movable clamp arm is shaped to axially overlap with said second movable clamp arm.  
     
     
         43 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 39    wherein said movable clamp arms are located axially outwardly of each respective stationary clamp arm such that said movable clamp arms restrict the outward axial movement of said stationary clamp arms.  
     
     
         44 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 32    wherein said locking means impedes the inward axial movement of said first and second clamping devices.  
     
     
         45 . The tube clamping assembly of    claim 44    wherein locking means includes a spacer on one of said clamp devices, said spacer extending axially inwardly so as to impede the axial movement of said clamp devices toward each other.  
     
     
         46 . A method for making a tube clamping assembly comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a first clamping device for gripping a first cylindrical workpiece therebetween, said first clamping device having a locking means;    selecting a second clamping device for gripping a second cylindrical workpiece therebetween;    mounting said first and said second clamping devices to a base, wherein said locking means limits the outward axial movement of said first and second pair clamping devices when each of clamping device is gripping a cylindrical workpiece.    
     
     
         47 . A collet for clamping a cylindrical workpiece, the collet comprising a pair of clamp parts each having a clamp surface adapted to engage opposing sides of said workpiece, each clamp surface being generally shaped in side view as half a polygon having at least six sides.  
     
     
         48 . The collet of    claim 47    wherein said polygon is a regular polygon.  
     
     
         49 . The collet of    claim 48    wherein said polygon is a hexagon.  
     
     
         50 . The collet of    claim 47    wherein the center of each half polygon is offset from the center of said cylindrical workpiece when said cylindrical workpiece is gripped in said collet.  
     
     
         51 . The collet of    claim 50    wherein the center of each half polygon is offset from the center of said cylindrical workpiece in a lateral direction away from the respective clamp part in which the half polygon is formed.  
     
     
         52 . The collet of    claim 48    wherein each clamp surface is shaped as half a hexagon in front view.  
     
     
         53 . The collet of    claim 47    wherein each clamp surface is removably received in each respective clamp part.  
     
     
         54 . The collet of    claim 47    wherein each clamp surface includes generally curved areas connecting each side of each half polygon.  
     
     
         55 . The collet of    claim 47    wherein said cylindrical workpiece has a tolerance range for its outer diameter, said tolerance range defining a maximum outer diameter and minimum outer diameter for said workpiece, and wherein each side of each half polygon has a length about equal to said maximum outer diameter.  
     
     
         56 . The collet of    claim 49    wherein each clamp surface may flex to allow relatively large workpieces to contact each clamp surface at least three points.  
     
     
         57 . The collet of    claim 56    wherein said flex is provided by slots in said clamp parts.  
     
     
         58 . The collet of    claim 57    wherein said clamp part includes a slot located in the center of one of the sides of one of said half polygons.  
     
     
         59 . A collet for clamping a cylindrical workpiece therein, the collet including a clamping area having a plurality of surfaces each forming an obtuse angle with the adjacent surface.  
     
     
         60 . The collet of    claim 59    wherein said clamping area has at least three surfaces.  
     
     
         61 . The collet of    claim 60    wherein said clamping area is shaped to ensure at least three points of contact with said cylindrical workpiece.  
     
     
         62 . The collet of    claim 61    wherein said collet may flex so as to allow said three points of contact.  
     
     
         63 . A tube clamping assembly comprising: 
 a first clamping device for gripping a first cylindrical workpiece therein;    a second clamping device for gripping a second cylindrical workpiece therein such that said second cylindrical workpiece abuts against said first cylindrical workpiece, wherein each clamping device has a clamp surface generally shaped as half a hexagon in side view.    
     
     
         64 . A method for clamping a cylindrical workpiece comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a pair of clamp parts each having a clamp surface shaped to engage opposing sides of said workpiece, wherein at least one of said clamp surfaces is generally shaped as half a hexagon in side view; and    moving said clamp parts toward said workpiece such that said clamp surfaces grip said workpiece therebetween.