The present invention relates to a tool for forming a dimple on the edge of a sheet metal panel, thereby forming a projection for a subsequent projection welding operation.
It is well known in the manufacture as well as the repair of sheet metal articles to attach sheet metal panels together via a projection weld. In projection welding, a dimple is formed on one metal sheet and then a second sheet is abutted against the dimple of the first sheet. Electrodes are applied to the metal panels adjacent the location of the dimple and electric current is conducted between the panels to form an electric resistance weld.
The presence of the projection serves to concentrate the point of contact between the two metal panels so that an effective weld is formed.
In the manufacturing environment, the dimple is readily formed on the one metal sheet by including a dimple-forming feature in the metal stamping dies that are used to form the sheet.
The present invention relates to a handheld tool for readily forming dimples on the edge of a sheet metal panel and is particularly useful in vehicle body repair facilities, and in the broader construction and repair industries, where a series of dimples need to be formed on the edge of a metal panel in readiness for making a projection electric resistance weld between a pair of panels.
A tool forms a dimple on the edge of a sheet metal sheet to facilitate projection welding of the sheet to an adjacent metal sheet. The tool includes a reversible drill motor having a housing and adjustable rotating chuck, a mounting bracket for clamping onto the housing of the drill motor and a base attached to the mounting bracket. A frame is attached to the base and has spaced apart arms. A first dimple forming die is mounted on one of the arms and a second dimple forming die is slidably mounted on the other of the arms and has a threaded aperture therein. A driveshaft has a threaded end engaged in the threaded aperture of the second dimple forming die and a drive end captured in the adjustable chuck of the drill motor so that rotation of the driveshaft in one direction advances the second dimple forming die toward the first dimple forming die to form a dimple in a sheet edge interposed between the dies. Reversing the direction of rotation of the driveshaft in the other direction will withdraw the second dimple forming die away from the first dimple forming die.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of certain embodiments is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Referring to
With regard to the following description,
As seen in
A tool base 26 is attached to the mounting bracket 14 by screws 28 and 30. The tool base 26 is generally rectangular in shape but has a central slot 36 defining spaced-apart legs 38 and 40. A U-shaped frame 44 includes a lower end that is captured within the slot 36 of the tool base 26 between the spaced-apart legs 38 and 40. A bolt 48 extends through an aperture 50 in the leg 38 and a threaded aperture 52 in the leg 40 so that tightening of the bolt 48 will clamp the U-shaped frame 44 to the tool base 26.
The U-shaped frame 44 has a left arm 58 and a right arm 60 spaced apart from one another by a slot 62. The left arm 58 has a bore 68 that is aligned with a bore 70 provided in the right arm 60. The left arm 58 has a female dimple die 72 mounted within the bore 68. The dimple die 72 has threads 74 by which the dimple die 72 can be threaded into corresponding threads 78 provided within the bore 68. The dimple die 72 has a die face 82 with a die cavity 84.
A male dimple die or punch 88 is movably mounted within the bore 70 of right arm 60 by a cylindrical die housing 90. The die housing 90 has a cylindrical outer surface 92 that fits within the bore 70 of the right arm 60. The die housing 90 has a central rectangular bore 94 that will receive the male dimple die 88. The male dimple die 88 has a transverse elongated slot 98 that aligns with apertures 100 and 102 provided in the die housing 90. The right arm 60 of the U-shaped frame 44 has apertures 106 and 108. The male dimple die 88 is inserted into the die housing 90 and the die housing 90 is in turn inserted into the bore 70 of the right arm 60. A retaining pin or bolt 112 is installed through the aligned apertures 106 and 108 of the right hand arm 60, and through the aligned apertures 100 and 102 of the die housing 90 and through the elongated slot 98 of the male dimple die 88. Accordingly, the dimple die 88 is slidably retained within the right arm 60 and permitted to advance and withdraw relative to the fixed female dimple die 72, as defined by the length of the elongated slot 98. Dimple die 88 has an elongated projection 110 at the leading edge thereof.
A retaining block 114 is attached to the right arm 60 by screws 116, 118, 120, and 122. The retaining block 114 has a bore 128 that aligns with the bore 70 of the right arm 60 and the mounting aperture 16 of the mounting bracket 14.
A driveshaft 134 has a threaded end 136 that is engaged within a threaded bore 140 of the male dimple die 88. The driveshaft 134 also has a hex-shaped end 142 that is gripped within an adjustable chuck assembly 148 of the electric drill 12.
An adjustable edge guide block 150 is captured within the slot 62 between the arms 58 and 60 of the U-shaped frame 44. As best seen in
Referring now to
Referring to
Reversing the drill 12 will withdraw the movable dimple die 88 rightwardly so that the sheet metal panel 180 can be removed from the tool. Or alternatively, the tool can be moved away from the sheet metal panel 180.
In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a dimple for projection welding can be readily formed on the edge of a sheet metal panel, and in particular, the tool hereof is particularly suited for use in a body repair shop in the automotive industry.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations thereof are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2431935 | Huck | Dec 1947 | A |
3469434 | Davis | Sep 1969 | A |
4158955 | Bustin | Jun 1979 | A |
4286372 | Batcheller | Sep 1981 | A |
6220074 | Montminy et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
7013699 | Sperko | Mar 2006 | B1 |
7131310 | Easterbrook et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |