Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Patent
1992-08-06
1994-02-01
Echols, P. W.
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
29464, B23Q 318
Patent
active
052823059
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a tool for setting the position of a latch member on a surface. The invention is useful wherever a closure member, such as a door provided with a latch, has to be assembled so that the latch and its striker plate meet up together correctly. The invention is particularly useful for the mass production of articles which include closure members.
In this specification, the term "closure member" includes doors and gates, vehicle boot lids,, tailgates and bonnets and any other closure for an opening which has a latch by which it is held shut. The term "latch" includes any type of latching mechanism for such closures, and will comprise two latch members, one on the closure member and one on a frame surrounding the closure opening. The invention can be used to set the position of either latch member. Normally the term "latch body" will designate the latch member on the closure member, and the term "striker plate" will designate, the latch member fixed on the frame. The term "striker plate" however includes any fixed part of any sort of latching member used for holding a closure member shut, whatever the construction of the fixed part.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
In the mass production of items such as motor vehicles, manufacturing tolerances exist and in the final assembly of, for example, car doors, the sum of all the relevant tolerances can lead to small inaccuracies in the positioning of the door latch for satisfactory door operation. It is important that the striker plate, which is fitted on the fixed part of the vehicle body is in the correct position relative to the latch, which is fitted to the door edge.
It is customary to provide some degree of adjustability of either the latch or the striker plate so that the two can be correctly set relative to one another during final assembly. It is known to use a jig which fits between the edge of the door and the door pillar and which will set the position of the latch members correctly relative to one another. Such jigs however are awkward to use and are relatively delicate. If they are not handled carefully, they can easily themselves go out of alignment and become worse than useless.
It is normal practice for all the striker plates on a mass production line to be set at a mean position which has been determined as being in the centre of the range of tolerances. During vehicle inspection it is found that this is satisfactory for the majority of vehicles, but that a few vehicles still require to have the striker plates manually adjusted to achieve the correct closing effort. This is labor intensive and requires skilled operatives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a tool for setting the position of a latch member on a surface, the tool comprising a body having a cut-out area adapted to closely surround the latch member, a vacuum chamber below the body bounded, in use, by the underface of the body, by the surface and by a peripheral seal on the body, and means for evacuating the chamber, the tool being adapted to fit on a surface surrounding the latch member without obstructing the closing action of the engagaing latch members.
It is preferred to use the tool to set the position of the striker plate.
By evacuating the vacuum chamber, the tool body can be firmly clamped to the surface in any desired position. Because the tool can f it on the surf ace even when the latch is engaged, it is possible to set the position of the striker plate whilst the latch is engaged.
The tool body preferably comprises a flat rigid plate, the thickness of which is similar, that is, substantially equal to the thickness of a base of the striker plate.
The evacuation means may comprise a vacuum pump connected by means of a flexible tube to the tool body, and the tube preferably enters the tool body in a direction parallel to the plane of the body. This helps to prevent the tool body from obstructing closing action of the latch. The vacuum pump may be driven by compressed air. Compressed air
REFERENCES:
patent: 2946246 (1960-07-01), Allan
patent: 3794314 (1974-02-01), Coburn et al.
patent: 4744135 (1988-05-01), Roels
Nutt Kenneth G.
Pinckney Ronald
Bryant David P.
Echols P. W.
Ford Motor Company
May Roger L.
Stock Daniel M.
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