Patent Application
20220388124
The present disclosure relates in general to machine tools, and more particularly, to an apparatus and device for converting a single-station vise to a double-station vise.
Double-station vises allow machinists to double their productivity by milling two workpieces at a time. However, a good quality double-station vise is very costly, and thus out of reach for many shops. The present disclosure addresses this and other issues by providing an apparatus and method for converting a less costly single-station vise into a double-station vise.
An apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a pair of end converter jaws, a central converter jaw, and two pairs of shafts configured to extend along opposite sides of the single-station vise. Each of the shafts in the first pair is mounted for sliding movement relative to the first end converter jaw and fixed with respect to the second end converter jaw; each of the shafts in the second pair is fixed relative to the first end converter jaw and mounted for sliding movement relative to the second converter jaw; and all of the shafts are mounted for sliding movement relative to the central converter jaw.
In one aspect of the disclosure, the first end converter jaw is configured to be detachably secured to the stationary jaw of the single-station vise and the second end converter jaw is fixed to the movable jaw of the single-station vise. In one example, the first and second end converter jaws are each configured to receive two sets of fasteners: one set of fasteners for securing the converter jaw to the corresponding jaw of the single-station vise, and another set of fasteners for securing a jaw plate to the converter jaw. In addition, the central converter jaw is configured to receive fasteners for securing jaw plates to both of its sides.
In another aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus includes a stop assembly configured to limit longitudinal translation of the first end converter jaw and the central converter jaw. In one example, the stop assembly includes two pairs of stops: a first pair of stops located between the first end converter jaw and the central converter jaw, and a second pair of stops located between the central converter jaw and the second end converter jaw. Each of the stops includes a body portion mounted for sliding motion along one of the shafts, and a fastener extending through the body portion and movable from a disengaged position allowing sliding motion of the shaft to an engaged position preventing sliding motion of the shaft. A pair of springs is located between the second pair of stops and the central converter jaw.
In still another aspect of the disclosure, each of the converter jaws includes a first set of bores configured to receive the first pair of shafts, and a second set of bores to receive the second pair of shafts. Each shaft includes a first end extending through one of the bores in the first jaw, a second end extending through one of the bores in the second jaw, a first transversely-extending notch formed in the first end, a second transversely extending notch formed in the second end, and a groove extending longitudinally between the first and second notches.
In a method according to the present disclosure, the apparatus described above is placed between the movable and stationary jaws of a single-station vise, the first end converter jaw is fixed to the stationary jaw of the single-station vise, and the second end converter jaw is fixed to the movable jaw of the single-station vise.
In another aspect of the disclosure, the method includes securing jaw plates to the center-facing side of the first and second end converter jaws and to both sides of the central converter jaw; placing a first workpiece between the first end converter jaw and the central converter jaw; placing a second workpiece between the second end converter jaw and the central converter jaw; and moving the movable jaw of the single-station vise toward the stationary jaw of the single-station vise until the workpieces are tightly clamped between the jaw plates.
In still another aspect of the disclosure, the method further includes machining the jaw plates as needed to accept a workpiece having an irregular profile.
In yet another aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus includes a stop assembly as described above, and the method includes tensioning the springs of the stop assembly by sliding the second set of stops toward the central converter jaw; tightening the fasteners extending through the body portions of the second set of stops to prevent further movement of the second set of stops; sliding the first set of stops toward the central converter jaw; and tightening the fasteners extending through the body portions of the first set of stops to prevent further movement of the first set of stops.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
The first end converter jaw 18 is detachably secured to the stationary jaw 12 of the single-station vise 16, and the second end converter jaw 20 is detachably secured to the movable jaw 14 of the single station vise. A first jaw plate 28 is detachably secured to a surface of the first end converter jaw 18 facing away from the stationary jaw 12, and a second jaw plate 30 is detachably secured to a surface of the second end converter jaw 20 facing away from the movable jaw 14. A third jaw plate 32 is detachably secured to a surface of the central converter jaw 22 facing the stationary jaw 12, and a fourth jaw plate 34 is detachably secured to a surface of the central converter jaw 22 facing the movable jaw 14. When the jaws 12, 14 of the single-station-vise 16 are retracted as shown, a first space is created between the first and third jaw plates 28, 32, allowing for insertion of a first workpiece, and a second space is created between the second and fourth jaw plates 30, 34, allowing for the insertion of a second workpiece. If the workpieces to be milled have long, parallel sides, jaw plates 28, 30, 32, and 34 may be made from hardened steel. If the workpieces have irregular shapes, the jaw plates 28, 30, 32, and 34 may be made from mild steel or even softer materials such as aluminum, so that they may easily be cut to match the profile of the workpieces.
The apparatus 10 also includes a stop assembly configured to limit longitudinal translation of the first end converter jaw 18 and the central converter jaw 22. The stop assembly comprises a first pair of stops 48a, 48b located between the central converter jaw 22 and the first end converter jaw 18, and a second pair of stops 50a, 50b located between the central converter jaw 22 and the second end converter jaw 20. Each of the stops 48a,b 50a,b is mounted for sliding movement along one of the second pair of shafts 26a,b until locked in place by a set screw 49, 51 (seen in
First end converter jaw 18, which is identical in structure to second end converter jaw 20, is show in greater detail in
Each side of the end converter jaw defines a pair of vertically aligned openings: a first or upper opening 66 dimensioned to receive one of the shafts in the first pair of shafts in a sliding fit, and a lower opening 68 dimensioned to receive one of the shafts of the second pair of shafts in a sliding fit. Each side edge 58, 60 defines two bores 70, 72 dimensioned to receive a fastener such as a set screw for securing one of the shafts to the end converter jaw. In the case of the first end converter jaw 18, the fastener would be inserted through the lower bores 72 to prevent sliding movement of the second pair of shafts while allowing the first pair of shafts to slide freely through the upper openings 66. In the case of the second converter jaw, the fastener would be inserted through the upper bores 70 to secure the first pair of shafts while allowing the second pair of shafts to slide freely through the lower openings 68.
The central converter jaw 22, shown in
Shaft 24a, which is identical to shafts 24b, 26a, and 26b, is shown in
An elongated groove 94 extends longitudinally between the two notches 90, 92. The purpose of the groove 94 is to receive the distal end of a set screw or other fastener extending though a threaded bore 96 on a side of stop 50a (or one of its identical counterparts 50b, 52a or 52b), as shown in
A method of converting a single-station vise to a double station vise according to the present disclosure begins with the single-station vise 16 in an open position as shown in
Once the jaw plates 28, 30, 32, and 34 are in place, the movable jaw 14 of the single-station vise 16 is moved toward the fixed jaw 12 until the opposed sets of jaw plates 28, 32 and 30, 34 come into contact with one another, as shown in
While the vise is still in a closed position, the first stop 48a is slid along second shaft 26a towards the central converter jaw 22, causing tension in the spring 52a, as shown in
Next, the second stop 50a is slid along second shaft 26a towards the central converter jaw 22 and locked into a place with fastener such as a set screw, leaving a gap G2 of approximately ⅛″ between the second stop 50a and the central converter jaw 22, as shown in
After the stops have been set, movable jaw 14 may be moved back away from stationary jaw 12, creating enough space for workpieces or parallels 100, 101 to be inserted between the jaw plates 28, 32, 30, 34, as shown in
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
