Pneumatic fastener

[LTOP]

Hello,

I am tryng to design a robust fastener with an exsisting pneumatic system.
Old system:
-flange gets inserted
-pneumatic cylinder is inserted into cutout in flange
(problem here is sometime you have to wiggle flange for the cylinder to get inserted)
-then the cylinder is retracted (but the same issues arise with it getting caught on flange)

New system:
I want it to be tight. I want to get rid of the flange
I don't know how to make this tolerencing better. Maybe a cam of some sort??


Any advice on where to look (companies) or what I could try?

Thanks,

-LTOP

 

[Barry1961]

I think you need to explain what you have in more detail.

Barry1961

 

[LTOP]

Hello,

There is a flange on the inside of a lid. When you lower the lid the flange gets inserted into a cutout where a pneumatic cylinder is inserted to lock the lid down after the flange triggers a switch. When the test has finished (this is a test fixture) the cylinder retracts.

Sometimes you have to wiggle the lid in order for the cylinder make it past the cut-out in the flange (bad fit) and sometimes you have to wiggle it to get the cylinder to retract as well. And when is it locked the lid can wiggle and is not that secure.

I want a system that holds that lid down tight. I am thinking about a clamping system by just modifying the pneumatic cylinder assembly but that might be too complex. I have also tossed around an electric cam that clamps the lid down but that would require a bunch of little add-ons.
I have also considered a push-down ball bearing lock with a pneumatic release but I don't know if that exists.

any advice would be great!

-LTOP

 

[Barry1961]

How much force is robust in newtons or pounds?

Destaco makes various clamps.

http://www.destaco.com/index.asp?item=1032&name=Clamps&site=1&Product_category_id=1

Twist lock?
Swing arm lock?
Reverse the process, lid is fixed?
Lock is built into lid?

Barry1961