The invention pertains generally to automotive check fixtures and more specifically to an improved clamping mechanism for an automotive check fixture.
The automotive industry is a highly technical field. Cars are constructed from many parts which are required to be a specific size and shape. Many internal components are made of metal or plastic. These internal components, such as a dashboard, door, or seat, are normally constructed with location pins and mounting clips that permit two opposing pieces to fit together. These internal components must be a specific size and shape to be connected together. During the manufacturing process a part will be clamped in place on a fixture so that a technician can check the quality of the automotive component. A technician checks the shape of the automotive component and can test the component for thickness, tolerance, or any other desired attribute. The fixture on which the automotive component is placed is commonly referred to a checking fixture.
Clamps on current check fixtures are limited in use. Current clamps must be placed in an exact position and location. Through repeated use clamps may become askew or misaligned. This presents a problem as components then may not fit properly on the checking fixture. Additionally, components may be damaged if a clamp engages the component incorrectly. If a clamp becomes ineffective it is often difficult to fix the problem without dismantling the entire checking fixture or removing the entire clamp. What is needed is a clamp for a checking fixture that can be easily manipulated or fixed in the event of an issue. The current invention permits a user to customize the position of the clamps within the clamping mechanism so that if a clamp becomes misaligned it is easy to correct the problem without replacing the clamp or dismantling the clamping fixture. The invention is an improvement over current clamps which do not permit a user to customize the position or alignment of the clamping fingers.
In addition, current clamps may naturally apply too much pressure to a component when securing it to the checking fixture. Clamps are normally manufactured without any special shape or structure to account for utilization on a specific automotive component. Therefore, a mechanism is needed to prevent clamps from naturally exerting too much pressure on an automotive component. The invention is an improvement over current clamps as the invention utilizes a dowel in the clamping mechanism to prevent the fingers from clamping with too much pressure.
The invention is directed toward an improved clamp for an automotive checking fixture. The clamp comprises a body, a cap, a plunger pin, a pivot stop dowel, a plurality of fingers, a plurality of engagement jaws, an alignment strap, a plurality of pivot dowel pins, a plurality of alignment pins, a plurality of springs, and a plurality of set screws. The invention may further comprise two fingers, two engagement jaws, two pivot dowel pins, two alignment pins, two set screws, and two springs. Furthermore the body may further comprise an internal compartment, a plurality of mounting holes, a plurality of set screw holes, and a plurality of locating holes. The mounting holes permit the body to be mounted to a checking fixture. The set screw holes receive the set screws. The locating holes permit the cap to be aligned to the body and also locates the body to the fixture. In one embodiment the body further comprises four mounting holes, two set screw holes, and two locating holes. Furthermore, the engagement jaws may have a plurality of holes for attaching the engagement jaws to the fingers. Additionally, the engagement jaws may have a shaped edge to create an opening.
In another embodiment of the invention each of the fingers further comprise an upper extension, a pivot dowel pin hole, an alignment pin hole, a plunger pin gap, a set screw receiver, and a spring receiver. The upper extension protrudes past the body. The engagement jaws are removably secured to the upper extensions. The pivot dowel pin hole houses a pivot dowel pin. The finger may pivot about the pivot dowel pin. The alignment pin hole houses an alignment pin. The plunger pin gap receives the tip of the plunger pin. The plunger pin pushes the bottom of the fingers away from each other, causing the fingers to pivot about the pivot dowel pins, placing the fingers into correct alignment. The purpose of the set screw is to align the fingers in conjunction with the alignment strap that keeps the fingers parallel. The set screw may protrude from the set screw channel into the set screw receiver. The spring receiver houses the spring.
In another embodiment of the clamp the alignment pins may extend through the alignment pin holes of the fingers and protrude into the alignment strap. The pivot dowel pins extend through the pivot dowel pin holes of the fingers. Additionally, the pivot stop dowel is secured to the body and extends through the inner compartment of the body between the fingers.
In another embodiment of the invention the plunger pin is inserted into the body the plunger pin engages the fingers at the plunger pin gaps. The plunger pin pushes the lower ends of the fingers apart and compresses the springs into the spring receivers. The lower ends of the fingers are pushed apart, the fingers pivot about the pivot dowel pins and the upper ends of the fingers move together. The upper ends of the fingers move together until the fingers engage the pivot stop dowel. The engagement jaws engage a clip on an automotive component when the upper ends of the fingers move together.
The components of invention may be made out of any material. Preferably, the components are constructed out of metal such as aluminum, steel, or hard steel. In one embodiment, the body and cap are constructed out of aluminum, the plunger pin, the fingers, the engagement jaws, and the alignment strap are constructed out of steel, and the pivot stop dowel is constructed out of hard steel. The clamp may be any size when constructed together. In one embodiment of the invention the body is substantially 7.62 cm high by 4.5 cm wide by 3.5 cm deep, the cap is substantially 7.62 cm high by 4.5 cm wide by 0.9 cm deep, each of the fingers is substantially 5.08 cm tall by 0.79 cm wide by 2.5 cm deep, each of the engagement jaws is substantially 2.5 cm high by 1.27 cm wide by 0.3 cm deep, the alignment strap is substantially 0.8 cm high by 2.5 cm wide by 0.318 cm deep, and the plunger pin is substantially 9.0 cm in length.
The plunger pin may be operated in any physical manner, including manually or through the use of an air cylinder or by pulling a cable. If operated manually the clamp further comprises a knob attached to the plunger pin. Alternatively, the clamp may further comprise a cam clamp. The cam is attached to the plunger pin. The rotation of the cam causes the plunger pin to extend into and out of the inner compartment of the body. Alternatively, the clamp further comprises a wire cable and a lever. The wire cable is within a wire cable housing. The wire cable has two ends. One end of the wire cable is attached to the plunger pin and the other end of the wire cable is attached to the lever. The movement of the lever causes the wire cable to move longitudinally through the wire cable housing. The longitudinal movement of the wire cable causes the plunger pin to extend into and out of the inner compartment of the body. Alternatively, the clamp may further comprise a piston and an electronic control unit. The piston is connected to the plunger pin. The electronic control unit controls the operation of the piston.
In one embodiment of the invention the invention comprises a body, a cap, a plunger pin, a pivot stop dowel, a plurality of fingers, a plurality of engagement jaws, an alignment strap, a plurality of pivot dowel pins, a plurality of alignment pins, a plurality of springs, and a plurality of set screws. In this embodiment each of the fingers comprise an upper extension, a pivot dowel pin hole, an alignment pin hole, a plunger pin gap, a set screw receiver, and a spring receiver. The upper extension protrudes past the body. The engagement jaws are removably secured to the upper extensions. The pivot dowel pin hole houses a pivot dowel pin. The finger may pivot about the pivot dowel pin. The alignment pin hole houses an alignment pin. The plunger pin gap receives the tip of the plunger pin. A person may screw the set screw until the set screw protrudes from the set screw hole into the set screw receiver. The spring receiver houses the spring.
The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced with or without any combination of these specific details, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and the claims.
The following description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
Referring generally to
The plunger pin 500 is inserted through the lower section of the body 200. The plunger pin 500 has a knob 510 located on the distal end of the plunger pin 500. The tip of plunger pin 500 is inserted between the fingers 300. The knob 510 on the plunger pin 500 permits a user to push the plunger pin 500 further into the inner compartment of the body 200 or pull the plunger pin 500 out from the inner compartment of the body 200. As the plunger pin 500 is pushed further into the inner compartment of the body 200, the plunger pin 500 is positioned between the two fingers 300.
Referring to
As the plunger pin 500 is withdrawn from the inner compartment of the body 200, the springs 330 push on the lower ends of the fingers 300. The lower ends of the fingers 300 are pushed closer together. The fingers 300 pivot about the pivot dowel pins 317 such that the upper ends of the fingers 300 move apart. As the upper ends of the fingers 300 move apart the engagement jaws 400 move apart and release the clip of the automotive component.
The clamping mechanism 100 may be utilized in any manner or embodiment sufficient to engage and hold a clip of an automotive component. In another embodiment the plunger pin 500 may be driven by a hydraulic or pneumatic system. In this embodiment the user would engage a lever to assert a hydraulic or pneumatic force through a tube which would cause the plunger pin 500 to insert into the body 200. The user would then disengage the lever to release the hydraulic or pneumatic force. The plunger pin 500 would then be withdrawn from the body 200. Such a system may further utilize an electric controller, permitting the user to engage or disengage the hydraulic or pneumatic system with the simple push of a button.
The knob 510 on the plunger pin may also be replaced with a mechanical wire cable system. The wire is cable is housed within a wire cable housing. One end of the wire cable is connected to a lever and the other end of the wire cable is connected to the plunger pin 500. As a user moves the lever back and forth, the wire cable slides within the wire cable housing to move the plunger pin 500 into and out of the inner compartment of the body 200. In another embodiment the plunger pin 500 is attached to a cam attached to the outside of the body 200. As the cam is turned the plunger pin 500 is inserted further into the inner compartment of the body 200. As the cam is then returned to the original position the plunger pin 500 is withdrawn from the inner compartment of the body 200.