Zehnpfennig, David M.; Driggs, Matthew G.; Chandler, Danny R.;

Reconfigurable clamp

A reconfigurable clamping and supporting apparatus. The inventive apparatus (20) includes first and second arrays (32, 34) of elements (30) and a mechanism for activating same (60, 62, 64-49). The first array (32) comprises at least two rows of elements (30) extending along a first axis and at least two columns of elements extending along a second axis substantially transverse to the first axis. The second array (34) comprises at least two rows of elements (30) extending along the first axis and at least two columns of elements extending along the second axis. Each of the elements (30) is adapted to reciprocate from a first position to a second position along a third axis substantially transverse to the first and second axes. The first position is a home position and the second position is a retaining position. The second array (34) is mounted in opposing face-to-face relation relative to the first array (32) to retain an object therebetween when at least one element of each array is disposed at the second position.

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What is claimed is:

1. A reconfigurable clamping and supporting apparatus comprising:

a first array of elements, said first array comprising at least two rows of elements extending along a first axis and at least two columns of elements extending along a second axis substantially transverse to said first axis, each of said elements being adapted to reciprocate from a first position to a second position along a third axis substantially transverse to said first and second axes, said first position being a home position and said second position being a retaining position;

a second array of elements, said second array comprising at least two rows of elements extending along said first axis and at least two columns of elements extending along said second axis, each of said elements being adapted to reciprocate from a first position to a second position along said third axis, each of said elements being adapted to reciprocate from a first position to a second position, said first position being a home position and said second position being a retaining position, said second array being mounted in opposing face-to-face relation relative to said first array to retain an object therebetween when at least one element of each array is disposed at said second position;

means for actuating said elements from said first position to said second position to engage said object and;

locking means, for retaining said elements in said second position said locking means including fulcrum means for applying pressure to said elements along an axis transverse to said third axis.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said elements are elongate rods.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said rods are adapted to engage in independent translational motion.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said elements are arcuate rods.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said arcuate rods are adapted to engage in independent arcuate motion.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said arcuate rods are adapted to engage in independent rotational motion.

7. The invention of claim 3 wherein said elements are nodes.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said nodes are adapted to engage in independent translational motion.

9. The invention of claim 7 wherein said nodes are adapted to engage in independent rotational motion.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said elements from said first position to said position to engage said object includes means for applying pneumatic pressure to said elements.

11. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said elements from said first position to said position to engage said object includes means for providing hydraulic pressure to said elements.

12. The invention of claim 1 wherein said fulcrum means includes a pneumatic piston adapted for translational motion between a first home position and a second actuated position, a fulcrum attached to said piston on one end and to a pivot point at a point near a second end thereof, and a beam mounted to transfer mechanical pressure from said second end of said fulcrum to said elements when said position is in said second position.

13. A reconfigurable clamping and supporting apparatus comprising:

a first array of elongate rods adapted for independent translational motion, said array comprising at least two rows of elongate rods extending along a first axis and at least two columns of elongate rods extending along a second axis substantially transverse to said first axis, each of said elongate rods being adapted to reciprocate from a first position to a second position along a third axis substantially transverse to said first and second axes, said first position being a home position and said second position being retaining position;

a second array of elongate rods adapted for independent translational motion, said second array comprising at least two rows of elongate rods extending along said first axis and at least two columns of elongate rods extending along said second axis, each of said elongate rods being adapted to reciprocate from a first position to a second position, said first position being a home position and said second position being a retaining position, said first array being mounted in opposing face-to-face relation relative to said second array to retain an object therebetween when at least one elongate rod of each array is disposed at said second position;

means for actuating said elongate rods from said first position to said second position to engage said object, said means for actuating said elements from said first position to said position to engage said object includes means for applying pneumatic pressure to said elements; and

locking means for retaining said elements in said second position, said locking means including fulcrum means for applying pressure to said elements along an axis transverse to said third axis.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said fulcrum means includes a pneumatic piston adapted for translational motion between a first home position and a second actuated position, a fulcrum attached to said piston on one end and to an adjustable pivot point at a point near a second end thereof, and a beam mounted to transfer mechanical pressure from said second end of said fulcrum to said elements when said piston is in said second position.