Patent Application
20150231749
The present disclosure relates to apparatus useful in manufacturing and locating components, and more particularly to locating pins.
A variety of equipment is useful in locating and manufacturing components. Such components often need to be located in a particular position and orientation for further manufacturing or assembly processes. Previous machines utilize a spring operated pivoting clamp with a ramp surface to generally pinch a workpiece such as a knuckle to the machine until a fixture clamp grips the knuckle in a secure position to support machining operations. Although effective, the spring pivoting clamp may permit some knuckle slippage before the knuckle is securely clamped into position.
A locator pin according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure includes an elongated body that extends from a base along an axis, the elongated body deflectable off the axis relative to the base.
A milling machine, according to another disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure includes a locator pin with an elongated body that extends from a base along an axis, the elongated body deflectable off the axis relative to the base, the elongated body receivable through an aperture in a workpiece; and a mechanical clamp operable to clamp the workpiece.
A method of preparing a workpiece to be machined according to another disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure includes positioning the workpiece such that the locator pin is received by an aperture defined in said workpiece, wherein the locator pin comprises a base and an elongated body deflectable off a longitudinal axis; and clamping a portion of the workpiece.
The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.
Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
With reference to
The pallet 30 generally includes a locator pin 34 and a mechanical clamp 36. It should be appreciated that the pallet 30 may have more, less, or different components than those schematically illustrated. The locator pin 34 extends from the pallet 30 to facilitate, with gravity assist, that the knuckle 12 is properly positioned for receipt of the mechanical clamp 36.
The locater pin 34 provides flexibility to accommodate, then correct, potential misalignment of knuckle 12 when loaded into the pallet 30 until clamping by the mechanical clamp 36 is complete. The locator pin 34 is aligned along a horizontal axis C (
With reference to
The resilient member 46 may be manufactured of, for example, a ninety (90) durometer rubber cylinder bonded or molded between the elongated body 42 and the threaded attachment 48 (
In one disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the elongated body 42 includes a cup 50 and a generally cylindrical portion 52 with a frustro-conical distal end 54. The resilient member 46 is molded within the cup 50 such that the elongated body 42 is deflectable off axis C relative to the threaded attachment 48. The cup 50 may include apertures 51 to further facilitate securing of the resilient member 46 therein such that the cup 50 or other housing that facilitates the formation of leverage between the base 40 and the elongated body 42 by the resilient member 46. That is, the cup 50 provides an additional reaction surface that reacts upon the outer radial surface of the resilient member 46 to bias the elongated body 42 toward the axis C. It should be appreciated that various alternative attachments may also benefit herefrom.
The cylindrical portion 52 is of a diameter to closely fit within the mount aperture 22 and the frustro-conical distal end 54 facilitates entrance therein. As the knuckle 12 is loaded onto the pallet 30 and the frustro-conical distal end 54 enters into the mount aperture 22, the elongated body 42 may readily deflect off axis C to accommodate and correct misalignment of the knuckle 12 with respect to the pallet 30. That is, the cylindrical portion 52 provides a flexible guide to receive the knuckle 12 such that the knuckle 12 is properly positioned.
With reference to
The locator pin 34 thereby facilitates manufacture and eliminates the use of a relatively complicated pivoting clamp to improve indexing of the knuckle 12 so as to properly position and support the vertical placement of the knuckle 12 prior to the mechanical clamp 36 securing the knuckle 12 for machining operations.
It should be understood that relative positional terms such as “forward,” “aft,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” and the like are with reference to the normal operational attitude of the vehicle and should not be considered otherwise limiting.
Although the different non-limiting embodiments have specific illustrated components, the embodiments of this invention are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments.
It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom.
Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present disclosure.
The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason the appended claims should be studied to determine true scope and content.
