Intended use and function
Clamping units: Ratio-Clamp® and safety catcher
Intended Use
- The clamping unit serves for clamping rods or holding static loads.
- use Ratio-Clamp® for clamping rods at standstill.
- use the safety catcher for holding static loads.
- For braking, in occasional emergency situations, from motion, in the sense of an emergency stop function.
- Clamping unit exclusively
- use for purely translatory moving rods according to the respective specification.
- use for installation in a machine or partly completed machine according to Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
- use within the specified limits.
- Follow the instructions in the documentation applicable to the product.
It is possible to mount the Ratio-Clamp® on hydraulic cylinders or operate it as a separate component.
Improper Use
- Do not use the clamping unit:
- for regular clamping from motion, acting as a brake.
- for clamping rotating rods or shafts.
- for assuming a stop function, acting as a brake.
Clamping Unit Ratio-Clamp®
The Ratio-Clamp® operates on the principle of frictional contact. In clamping units with springs, the energy stored in the springs is redirected as force and applied for clamping. In clamping units without spring elements, hydraulic energy is redirected as force and applied for clamping.
The Ratio-Clamp® clamping unit is released by applying hydraulic pressure to the releasing port.
Clamping unit safety catcher
The safety catcher operates on the principle of frictional contact. The clamping segments, under spring preload, engage the rod to be clamped and secure the load. If the rod subsequently moves in the direction of the load, the clamping system self-locks, thereby building up the holding load and taking over the load.
The clamping unit safety catcher is released by applying hydraulic or pneumatic pressure to the releasing port, supported by a return stroke of the rod.
As a control system safety measure, the operator must count the clamping load changes, as the safety catcher must be regularly inspected.