Metal fusion bonding – Process – With supplementary mechanical joining
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-06-05
Ryan, Patrick (Department: 1725)
Metal fusion bonding
Process
With supplementary mechanical joining
C228S170000, C172S762000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241144
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to the positioning of two pieces of material in a preestablished position and more specifically to the use of a tab and a slot having a precise configuration for maintaining the two pieces in the preestablished position.
BACKGROUND ART
It is common in many different manufacturing processes to require that pieces of an assembly be located in a precise orientation, either temporarily or permanently. One widely-used method to accomplish this positioning is a tab and a slot type joint. In this type of assembly joint, the slot is formed in one of the pieces and the tab is formed in the other of the pieces to be mated. Normally, the tab and the slot combination is designed to achieve a noncontacting fit ensuring ease of assembly. Each of the slot and the tab is sized so that the tab will slide easily into the slot. In such applications, a rectangular cross-sectional configuration is used for each of the tab and the slot. The tab and slot method is normally, but not necessarily, used to connect pieces in a perpendicular orientation.
There are two main methods used to connect the pieces using the tab and slot joint. A first widely used method is to simply insert the tab into the slot. This method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,207 issued on Mar. 2, 1993 to Peck et al. This method acts to provide a guide for the relative positioning of the pieces. After the initial positioning is established, a fastening method, usually welding, is used to fixedly attach the pieces. For example, the area approximate the tab and the slot are welded, forming a fixed joint. This method has the disadvantage of the pieces being loosely connected prior to being welded. Thus, the positioning of the tab relative to the slot, and vice versa, is imprecise and provides a great variation in the desired preestablished position. The joint resulting from this fastening method gives a loose fit between the tab and the slot prior to welding.
A second commonly used method comprises an elongated tab having a narrowed neck portion located near the intersection of the tab and the piece to be connected which contains the slot. After the tab is inserted into the slot, the elongated portion is rotated about the narrowed neck portion. Thus, the twisted tab cannot pull back through the slot to disassemble the pieces. The pieces are then permanently joined as in the previous method such as by welding. Once the two pieces are more permanently joined, the tab is commonly broken off by severing or tearing at the narrowed neck portion. This second method may be more precise than the previous one, however, the labor needed to twist the tabs and then sever or tear the remainder of the tab is timeconsuming. The scrap produced when forming the elongated tabs and the severed or torn tab is wasteful, as well.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for positioning a first piece relative to a second piece in a predefined position is provided. This apparatus has a tab and a slot. The tab projects from one of the first piece and the second piece and defines a preestablished configuration having a plurality of surfaces. The slot is positioned in the other one of the first piece and the second piece and defines a preestablished configuration having a plurality of surfaces. At least one of the plurality of surfaces of the tab and of the slot is defined by a generally arcuate configuration. At least one of the plurality of surfaces of the tab is in a frictional contacting relationship with at least one of the plurality of surfaces of the slot.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for positioning a first piece relative to a second piece in a predetermined position is provided. The method comprises the following steps. The steps include forming a tab, the tab projecting from one of the first piece and the second piece and defining a preestablished configuration having a plurality of surfaces; and forming a slot, the slot being positioned in the other one of the first plate and the second plate and defining a preestablished configuration having a plurality of surfaces. At least one of the surfaces of the tab and of the slot is defined by a generally arcuate configuration. In another step, the tab is inserted into the slot. This results in the step of contacting at least one of the plurality of surfaces of the tab with at least one of the plurality of surfaces of the slot in a frictional relationship.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1484579 (1924-02-01), Still
patent: 4986430 (1991-01-01), Dutt
patent: 5190207 (1993-03-01), Peck et al.
patent: 5249818 (1993-10-01), Patterson
patent: 5489230 (1996-02-01), Gavula, Jr.
patent: 5586593 (1996-12-01), Schwartz
patent: 5647557 (1997-07-01), Faulkner
patent: 5812623 (1998-09-01), Holden et al.
patent: 5881821 (1999-03-01), Noonan et al.
patent: 5895306 (1998-09-01), Cunningham
patent: 5926366 (1999-07-01), Collins et al.
Cain Larry G.
Caterpillar Inc.
Meyers Liza J.
Pittman Zidia T.
Ryan Patrick
LandOfFree
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