Patent Application
20180043421
The present disclosure relates to an indexing self-aligning hardware tool for joining components together.
In manufacturing or repair processes, it is sometimes useful to join to components together or parts. Several joining methods have been developed to join components. For example, two components may be welded. Joining tools have also been developed to aid in joining components together.
Large and heavy C-shaped tools are sometimes used to join large components. Manipulating these large and heavy C-shaped tools can be challenging. For this reason, it is desirable to develop a versatile and light-weight tool that can be used with large components and eliminate the need for these large and heavy C-shaped tools. To this end, the present disclosure describes an indexing self-aligning hardware tool for joining components. The indexing self-aligning hardware tool includes a first tool section including a die carrier, one or more dies coupled to the die carrier, and a first locator coupled to the die carrier. The indexing self-aligning hardware tool also includes a second tool section having a support body, one or more blankholders coupled to the support body, one or more punches movably disposed inside the blankholders, and a second locator coupled to the support body. The first locator and the second locator are configured to mate with a product feature locator of a component to align the first tool section relative to the second tool section. The present disclosure also relates to a locating assembly including the indexing self-aligning hardware tool.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers correspond to like or similar components throughout the several figures,
With reference to
With continued reference to
The support body 114 can move relative to the die carrier 108 and may be an actuation device that, upon actuation, drives the punch 120 in a direction indicated by arrows P toward the first tool section 104. As a consequence, the punch 120 is configured to drive the fastener 124 in the direction indicated by arrows P toward the components 10. As a non-limiting example, the fastener 124 may be a self-piercing rivet to avoid the need to predrill a hole in the components 10. The second tool section 106 includes a second locator 154 coupled to the support body 114. The second locator 154 can help locate the first tool section 104 relative to the second tool section 106. In the depicted embodiment, the second locator 154 includes a locating body 156 directly coupled to the support body 114. The second locator 154 defines a locating recess 158 formed in the locating body 156. The locating recess 158 and the locating protrusion 152 have substantially mating shapes (i.e., mirror shapes) in order to help align the first tool section 104 with the second tool section 106.
With reference to
The product feature locator 18 is configured, shaped, and sized to mate with the first locator 150 and the second locator 154 to align the first tool section 104 with the second tool section 106. To this end, the product feature locator 18 is not flat or planar. As a non-limiting example, the product feature locator 18 has a lateral polygonal shape configured, shaped, and sized to mate with the locating protrusion 152 and the locating recess 158. Specifically, the product feature locator 18 has a first locator surface 20 and a second locator surface 22 opposite the first locator surface 20. The first locator surface 20 is configured, shaped, and sized to directly contact and mate with the locating protrusion 152 to help index the first tool section 104 and the second tool section 106 with respect to the first component 12 and the second component 14. The second locator surface 22 is configured, shaped, and sized to directly contact and mate with the second locator 154 mates with the product feature locator 18. At this point, the product feature locator 18 is disposed in the locating recess 158 to help index the first tool section 104 and the second tool section 106 with respect to the first component 12 and the second component 14. Specifically, the second locator surface 22 is configured, shape, and sized to be received and mate with the locating recess 158. It is envisioned that the product feature locator 18 may be configured as pocket formations, holes, slots, welded brackets, clinch hardware, among others. Regardless of the configuration, the product feature locator 18 allows the size of the second tool section 106 to be minimized. Further, the product feature locator 18 allows the same second tool section 106 to be used for different components 10.
With reference to
The indexing self-aligning hardware tool 102 can be used in a manufacturing or repair process. The manufacturing or repair process entails indexing (i.e., locating) the first tool section 104 relative to the first component 12 and the second component 14. To do so, the first tool section 104 is moved along the longitudinal axis X until the first locator 150 is substantially aligned with the product feature locator 18 of the first component 12. At this point, the first locator 150 may be mated with the product feature locator 18 by, for example, placing the product feature locator 18 on the locating protrusion 152. At this point, the first locator surface 20 of the product feature locator 18 may be in direct contact with the locating protrusion 152. The second component 14 is also disposed on and in direct contact with the first component 12. Then, the second tool section 106 is moved toward the first component 12 and the second component 14 until the product feature locator 18 is disposed in the locating recess 158. At this point, the second locator surface 22 of product feature locator 18 may be in direct contact with the second locator 154, and the punch assemblies 116 are aligned with the dies 110 along alignment axes A. The alignment axes A may be parallel to each other to speed up the process. Once the first tool section 104 and the second tool section 106 are properly aligned with each other and the product feature locator 18, the first component 12 and the second component 14 are clamped together between the dies 110 and the blankholders 118. The fasteners 124 are then driven through the first component 12 and the second component 14 and into the die recesses 113 of the dies 110 to join the first component 12 and the second component 14 together. During this process, the fastener 124 pierces the first component 12 and the second component 14 and shape of the die recess 113 causes the fastener 124 to flare within the second component 14 to form a mechanical interlock. To produce a relatively strong mechanical interlock, the punch assemblies 116 should be aligned with the dies 110 along the respective axes A. For this reason, it is desirable to incorporate the product locator 18 in the first component 10, the first locator 150 in the first tool section 104, and the second locator 154 in the second tool section 106.
While the best modes for carrying out the teachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the teachings within the scope of the appended claims. The indexing self-aligning hardware tool 102 and locating assembly 100 illustratively disclosed herein may be suitably practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Furthermore, the embodiments shown in the drawings or the characteristics of various embodiments mentioned in the present description are not necessarily to be understood as embodiments independent of each other. Rather, it is possible that each of the characteristics described in one of the examples of an embodiment can be combined with one or a plurality of other desired characteristics from other embodiments, resulting in other embodiments not described in words or by reference to the drawings.
