Work holders – Plural holders to hold workpieces relative to each other
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-27
2001-08-28
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Work holders
Plural holders to hold workpieces relative to each other
C269S900000, C269S2890MR, C269S309000, C269S047000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279888
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fixturing apparatus and, in particular, to a modular fixturing apparatus used to support an object undergoing manufacturing, inspection, or testing processes or the like. The invention is particularly suitable for supporting or holding a component undergoing quality control inspection by a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and may also be used to support or hold objects undergoing light to moderate manufacturing processing, such as assembling, soldering, laser-jet and water-jet cutting, welding, light-machining, and the like.
A typical modular fixturing apparatus includes a base plate and a series of components which can be mounted to the base plate. The base plate includes a plurality of mounting openings which permit the components to be secured to the base plate in a variety of different locations. These components include, for example, risers, spacers, clamps, including vacuum-based clamps, springs, fasteners, magnets, and the like which may be arranged on and secured to the base plate and interconnected in a variety of ways in order to allow a particular object to be supported and, in some cases, secured to the base plate. Furthermore, in modular fixturing apparatus, these components can be disassembled and reassembled so that the components can be reused in different configurations on the same or another base plate to create different fixture configurations to accommodate a variety of parts, ranging from, for example, a computer part to an airplane part. Once a configuration of the components is assembled for a given part, typically the locations of the components on the base plate and configurations of the components are recorded so that future set ups for that particular part can be quickly assembled.
The configurations of these components, however, are limited by the locations of the mounting openings in base plates. Typical fixturing base plates have fixed mounting openings that are arranged in a rectangular matrix pattern or in a radial pattern. The rectangular pattern includes a plurality of mounting holes arranged in rows and columns. On the other hand, the radial pattern has radiating lines or “spokes” of mounting openings. The rectangular pattern is generally more suitable for use with rectangular objects, whereas the radial pattern of mounting openings is more suitable for use with round or radiating objects and irregular shaped objects, such as a bearing, propeller, turbine, chair bases, blade assemblies, wheels, etc. However, many radiating objects, such as chair base legs, need to be tooled on both sides of the legs. With conventional radiating mounting hole patterns, however, it is difficult to tool between the “spokes” of the radiating pattern. In addition, many objects or parts have compound or complex configurations which could not easily be accommodated by either pattern. As a result, fixturing set ups for these types of objects, on both the rectangular and radial mounting opening patterns, necessitate complex mounting component configurations. With more complex component configurations, the fixturing process becomes more difficult and time consuming, adding to the cost of the fixturing set up.
Consequently, there is a need for a modular fixturing system which is capable of providing exceptional flexibility in the design of object support fixtures. Such system should be capable of supporting or securing objects, even large objects, which have regular, radiating, compound, or complex configurations that is most advantageous to the process for which the object is undergoing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art by providing a modular fixturing system which is capable of supporting objects, even large objects, having a wide variety of shapes or configurations and more particularly for supporting round or radial parts.
According to one form of the invention, a modular fixturing apparatus platform includes a plate, which has a center and a plurality of axes extending radially outward from the center. The plate includes a plurality of mounting openings configured to receive fasteners, with the plurality of mounting openings being arranged in a rectangular array and being aligned along one of the radiating axes. The rectangular array includes at least two rows of the mounting openings.
In one aspect, the mounting openings are arranged in a repeating square pattern within the rectangular array.
In other aspects, the plate comprises a sub-plate. The platform further includes at least one base plate, which includes the rectangular array of mounting openings and is mounted to the sub-plate and aligned along one of the radiating axes. Further, the sub-plate preferably includes a second plurality of mounting openings, with the second plurality of mounting openings being arranged in first and second concentric circular patterns around the center and, optionally, can be arranged as three or more concentric patterns. Each of the openings of the first circular pattern is associated with the respective opening of the second circular pattern and which are aligned along a respective radiating axis to form a pair of radiating mounting openings. The base plate is preferably fastened to one pair of the respective radiating mounting openings. For example, the base plate may include pairs of respective radiating mounting openings at intervals of 90°, 45°, 30°, and 72°.
According to one form of the invention, a fixturing platform includes a sub-plate and at least one base plate which is secured to the sub-plate by fasteners. The sub-plate includes a plurality of radially arranged mounting openings which define a plurality of mounting positions for the base plate. The base plate is removably secured in one of the plurality of mounting positions on the sub-plate and arranged in a radial pattern on the sub-plate. Each base plate includes a plurality of mounting openings arranged in a rectangular array. This allows complicated fixture arrangements to be quickly assembled while offering a variety of base plate configurations in order to accommodate all possible part or object configurations and reducing the weight of the fixturing apparatus.
In a preferred form, the mounting openings on the base plate are arranged in a repeating square pattern within the rectangular array.
In further aspects of the invention, the platform includes a plurality of base plates, with each base plate including a rectangular array of mounting openings.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 724116 (1903-03-01), Maley
patent: 2076207 (1937-04-01), Powell
patent: 4496165 (1985-01-01), Schrekeis et al.
patent: 4794687 (1989-01-01), Peters et al.
patent: 5941700 (1999-08-01), Fuchs
Hail III Joseph J.
Van Dyke Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP
Wilson Lee
LandOfFree
Modular tooling system with radial base platform does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Modular tooling system with radial base platform, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modular tooling system with radial base platform will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2551731