Joints and connections – Selectively assembled – e.g. – convertible – etc. – Selective orientation
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-07
2004-01-27
Cottingham, John R. (Department: 3679)
Joints and connections
Selectively assembled, e.g., convertible, etc.
Selective orientation
C403S409100, C403S374100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06682250
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for adjustably positioning a part relative another part.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mechanical assemblies often include parts or subassemblies that are positioned relative to one another, and, in certain situations, it is desirable for these parts or subassemblies to be adjustably positioned relative to one another. In other words, it may be desirable for a position of a part to be adjustable relative to a feature of another part. For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 1
, a rail
100
may be attached to a base
102
via supports
104
,
106
,
108
. The rail
100
, as illustrated in
FIG. 1
, is not straight, i.e., the rail
100
is not parallel to a straight reference line
110
. Accordingly, as a carriage
112
travels along the length of the rail
100
, a distance from a top surface
114
of the carriage
112
to the reference line
110
varies, as illustrated by distances D
1A
, D
1B
and D
1C
. Further, an angle between the top surface
114
of the carriage
112
and the reference line
110
varies, as illustrated by angles a
1A
and a
1B
.
Typically, the situation illustrated in
FIG. 1
is not acceptable, as it is usually desirable for the distance between the top surface
114
of the carriage
112
and the reference line
110
to be constant, within a predetermined tolerance, as the carriage
112
travels along the rail
100
. Further, it is generally desirable for the angle between the top surface
114
of the carriage
112
and the reference line
110
to be constant, within a predetermined tolerance, as the carriage
112
travels along the rail
100
.
The ease of adjusting the rail
100
so that it is substantially parallel to the reference line
110
in the plane of
FIG. 1
is generally related to the means used to attach the rail
100
to the base
102
.
FIG. 1
illustrates two ways of attaching the rail
100
to the base
102
. Supports
104
,
106
are one-piece supports that include a flange
116
. The supports
104
,
106
may be attached to the base
102
via a fastener
118
through the flange
116
and into the base
102
. Support
108
includes an upper portion
120
that may be attached to the rail
100
and a lower portion
122
that may be attached to the base
102
via a fastener
124
through a flange
126
. The upper portion
120
may be attached to the lower portion
122
, for example, by a fastener
128
and pins
130
.
FIG. 2
illustrates a conventional method of adjusting the supports
102
,
104
,
106
to straighten the rail
100
. A shim
200
may be placed between the flange
116
and a top surface
202
of the base
102
to straighten the rail
100
near the support
104
. The thickness of the shim
200
raises the support
104
so that the distance D
2C
from the reference line
110
to the top surface
114
of the carriage
112
when the carriage
112
is above the support
104
is substantially equivalent to the distance D
2B
from the reference line
110
to the top surface
114
of the carriage
112
when the carriage
112
is above the support
106
. To adjust the support
108
, the fastener
128
and the pins
130
may be removed from the support
108
and the upper portion
120
of the support
108
may be moved downwardly relative to the lower portion
122
of the support
108
to straighten the rail
100
near the support
108
so that the distance D
2A
from the reference line
110
to the top surface
114
of the carriage
112
when the carriage
112
is above the support
108
is substantially equivalent to the distance D
2B
from the reference line
110
to the top surface
114
of the carriage
112
when the carriage
112
is above the support
106
. New holes (not shown) for the fastener
128
and the pins
130
may then be match-drilled into the upper portion
120
of the support
108
and the lower portion
122
of the support
108
. The upper portion
120
of the support
108
and the lower portion
122
of the support
108
are then fastened together by the fastener
128
and the pins
130
.
Over time, it is common for the rail
100
to again become misaligned with the reference line
110
due to forces imparted on the rail
100
; supports
104
,
106
,
108
; and the base
102
. Thus, it is also common for adjustments to be made periodically to the rail
100
to realign the rail
100
with the reference line
110
. In the example illustrated in
FIG. 2
, a new shim
200
may be required that has a different thickness. Depending upon the positioning accuracy required, the shim
200
may have a very precise thickness tolerance, requiring the shim
200
to be machined using costly, time consuming processes. Further, as new holes are generally required for the fastener
128
and pins
130
each time the support
108
is adjusted, structural integrity of the support
108
may be compromised. It is also common for a series of adjustments to be made to the rail
100
during an adjustment procedure before the straightness of the rail
100
is deemed to be within tolerance. Each time an adjustment is made, a new shim
200
may be required and new holes for the fastener
128
and the pins
130
may be required, further amplifying the difficulties discussed above.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing, the effects of one or more of the problems set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a position-adjustable fastening apparatus capable of maintaining a position of a first member with respect to a second member is presented. The first member defines a bore therein and the second member defines a bore therein. The position-adjustable fastener includes a cam receiver defining a grooved bore therein and including a plurality of bearing surfaces, wherein the plurality of bearing surfaces are unequally spaced from a center of the bore of the cam receiver, and the cam receiver is disposed in the bore of the first member such that at least two of the plurality of bearing surfaces are proximate the wall of the bore through the first member.
The position-adjustable fastener further includes a cam defining a bore therethrough and including a grooved outer surface, wherein the bore through the cam is eccentrically spaced from the grooved outer surface, and the cam is disposed in the opening of the cam receiver such that the grooved outer surface meshes with the grooved bore of the cam receiver. The position-adjustable fastener further includes a fastener, wherein the fastener is disposed in the bore through the cam, and the fastener engages the bore through the second member.
In another aspect of the present invention, a position-adjustable fastening apparatus capable of maintaining a position of a first object with respect to a second object, is presented including a first member defining a bore therein, wherein the first member is joined to the first object and a second member defining a bore therein, wherein the second member is joined to the second object. The position-adjustable fastening apparatus further includes a cam receiver defining a grooved bore therein and including a plurality of bearing surfaces, wherein the plurality of bearing surfaces are unequally spaced from a center of the bore of the cam receiver, and the cam receiver is disposed in the bore of the first member such that at least two of the plurality of bearing surfaces are proximate the wall of the bore through the first member.
The position-adjustable fastening apparatus further includes a cam defining a bore therethrough and including a grooved outer surface, wherein the bore through the cam is eccentrically spaced from the grooved outer surface, and the cam is disposed in the opening of the cam receiver such that the grooved outer surface meshes with the grooved bore of the cam receiver. The position-adjustable fastening apparatus also includes a fastener, wherein the fastener is disposed in the bore through the cam, and the fastener engages the bore through the second member.
In a furth
Cottingham John R.
Flandro Ryan M.
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Williams Morgan & Amerson
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