Work holders – Holder inserted within work aperture
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-18
2001-07-24
Morgan, Eileen P. (Department: 3723)
Work holders
Holder inserted within work aperture
C269S2890MR, C269S292000, C269S297000, C269S310000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264186
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to tooling fixture restraining devices, and more particularly to a top load threaded bolt assembly for securing a workpiece to a tooling fixture for manufacturing operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous industries and applications use tooling fixtures to restrain a workpiece for manufacturing operations. Typical uses of tooling fixtures include securing and clamping raw stock to a machine for manufacturing operations, such as machining, milling, welding and other such manufacturing operations. In many cases the same tooling fixture is used throughout the various manufacturing operations. Tooling fixtures are also used on finished parts that are being assembled into subassemblies and final assemblies. Workpiece refers to the various parts that tooling fixtures restrain.
Existing methods to restrain a workpiece generally include clamping, bolting, or other forms of securing the workpiece to the operating surface of the tooling fixture. One such method uses bolts in which the threaded portion extends above the operating surface of the tooling fixture. These bolts reside in a cavity formed in the underside of the tooling fixture, and include a conical spring to bias the bolt in an extended position. A plug, accessible only from the underside of the tooling fixture, secures the bolt and spring in the cavity.
The workpiece to be secured typically includes threaded holes that align with the bolts extending from the tooling fixture. To secure the workpiece, a drive device engages a drive socket in the threaded portion of the bolt and rotates the bolt. The spring provides a biasing force to help the bolt engage the threaded hole in the workpiece. The drive device tightens the bolt, thereby securing the workpiece to the tooling fixture.
Existing bolt assemblies suffer from numerous disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that replacement of a damaged bolt requires removal of the tooling fixture/workpiece assembly from the machine or assembly tool to access the plug that secured the bolt in the cavity. This causes an interruption in the fabrication process, which may increase the time and cost to produce the finished product. In addition, replacement of damaged bolts may disturb the indexed orientation of the workpiece on the machine. In many cases, the workpiece will be scrapped due to the disruption. A further disadvantage with prior bolt assemblies is that unused bolts extend above the operating surface of the tooling fixture, thereby interfering with access to the workpiece and causing a safety hazard.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a need has arisen for an improved bolt assembly. The present invention provides a top load bolt assembly that addresses short-comings of prior bolt assemblies.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an improved top load bolt assembly is provided.
A tooling fixture incorporating a top load bolt assembly for restraining a workpiece may include a base having an operating surface. At least one bolt cavity is disposed within the base. A bolt passage is disposed between the base operating surface and each bolt cavity. A bolt having a first threaded portion is movably disposed within the bolt cavity and the bolt passage to allow the first threaded portion to extend above the operating surface of the base and threadably restrain the workpiece. An access system is provided to install or replace the bolt from the base operating surface, thereby removing the need to remove the workpiece and tooling fixture from a machine.
Technical advantages of the present invention include providing a bolt assembly removable from the operating surface of the tooling fixture, thereby obviating the need to remove the workpiece and the tooling fixture from the machine. A damaged bolt can now be easily and quickly replaced without a substantial work stoppage and without the increased possibility of scrapping the workpiece. This is especially true with the tooling fixtures which include several hundred bolt assemblies which are heavy.
An additional technical advantage of the present invention is that the operator is no longer required to physically beat the plug out of the tooling fixture, thereby reducing the possibility of injury to both the operator and the expensive tooling fixture.
Another technical advantage of the present invention is that the bolt can be secured in a non-extended position to increase the access to the workpiece and to reduce the possibility of damage. In addition, with the removal of numerous bolts extended from the tooling fixture, the safety hazards of machine operators is reduced.
Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6022009 (2000-02-01), Hill
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Morgan Eileen P.
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc.
Wilson Lee
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