Patent Application
20180079063
The present disclosure relates to a geometrical instrument for applying an indicia to a surface of a workpiece in order to guide further operations on the workpiece, such as a cutting, grinding or stamping operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,441 discloses a center punch block device. The center punch block device has a main body including a level pivotally mounted thereto within a slot transversely oriented within the block and transversely arranged to an elongate “V” slot formed within a lowermost surface of the body to accept elongate workpieces therewithin to enable alignment of the workpieces within the “V” shaped slot wherein a punch orthogonally oriented relative to the “V” shaped slot produces an indicator mark upon impacting of an upper end of the punch.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
A punch centering block device can include a first block and a second block. The first block can define at least one first reference surface and at least one first notch extending along a centered first axis. The at least one first reference surface can have a first predetermined level of flatness and can thereby be configured to lay flush on a first surface portion of a workpiece. The first axis can be transverse to the at least one first reference surface. The second block can define at least one second reference surface and at least one second notch extending along a centered second axis. The at least one second reference surface can have a second predetermined level of flatness and can thereby be configured to lay flush on a second surface portion of the workpiece. The second axis can be transverse to the at least one second reference surface. The first block and the second block can be configured to selectively abut one another and render the first axis and second axis collinear such that the at least one first notch defines a first radial half of a punch aperture configured to receive a punch during a marking operation and the at least one second notch defines a second radial half of the punch aperture. The punch is slidable against the at least one first notch and the at least one second notch within the punch aperture during the marking operation.
The detailed description set forth below references the following drawings:
FIG. 8A1 is a top view of a first sleeve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8A2 is a front view of the first sleeve;
FIG. 8B1 is a top view of a second sleeve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8B2 is a front view of the second sleeve;
FIG. 8C1 is a top view of a third sleeve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8C2 is a front view of the third sleeve;
Referring now to the various figures, a punch centering block device 10 can include a first block 12 and a second block 14. The exemplary punch centering block device 10 also includes a third block 13 and a fourth block 15. The blocks 12, 13, 14, 15 are pivotally connected to one another, as will be set forth in greater detail below. In the exemplary embodiment, the first block 12 and the fourth block 15 are substantially the same. The first block 12 will be described in greater detail and this description is applicable to the fourth block 15 and description of the fourth block 15 is applicable to the first block 12. Also, in the exemplary embodiment, the second block 14 and the third block 16 are substantially the same. The second block 14 will be described in greater detail and this description is applicable to the third block 13 and description of the third block 13 is applicable to the second block 14. The exemplary blocks 12, 14, 13, 15 are cubic and can be formed from any material. The exemplary blocks 12, 14, 13, 15 can be formed from aluminum.
The first block 12 can define a plurality of first reference surfaces and a plurality of first notches. The plurality of first reference surfaces can include a first work-engaging surface 16 and a first block-engaging surface 18. The exemplary first work-engaging surface 16 and the first block-engaging surface 18 are perpendicular to one another. The first work-engaging surface 16 can have a first predetermined level of flatness and thereby configured to lay flush on a first surface portion of a workpiece 20. The first block-engaging surface 18 can have a third level of flatness and can thereby be configured to lay flush with respect to the second block 14. It is noted that the terms “work-engaging” and “block-engaging” are used for reference only; the surfaces so designated can lay flush with either the workpiece 20 of with another block.
The plurality of first notches can include a vertical notch 22 and a horizontal notch 24. It is noted that the terms “vertical” and “horizontal” are used only to distinguish the notches 22, 24; the notches so designated can be oriented vertically upward/downward or horizontally side-to-side as the device 10 is used. Each notch is centered on an axis. The vertical notch 22 can be centered on an axis 26 and the horizontal notch 24 can be centered on an axis 28. The axis 26 is transverse to the first work-engaging surface 16 and the axis 28 is transverse to first block-engaging surface 18. “Transverse” is any angle greater than zero, up to ninety degrees. The exemplary axis 26 is perpendicular to the first work-engaging surface 16 and the exemplary axis 28 is perpendicular to first block-engaging surface 18. As will be set forth in greater detail below, each of the plurality of first notches 22, 24 can be configured to form one radial half of a punch aperture.
The second block 14 can define a plurality of second reference surfaces and a plurality of second notches. The plurality of second reference surfaces can include a second work-engaging surface 30 and a second block-engaging surface 32. The exemplary second work-engaging surface 30 and the second block-engaging surface 32 are perpendicular to one another. The second work-engaging surface 30 can have the first predetermined level of flatness and thereby configured to lay flush on a second surface portion of a workpiece 20. The first and second surface portions of the workpiece 20 can be in the same plane or in different planes. The second block-engaging surface 32 can have the third level of flatness and can thereby be configured to lay flush with respect to the first block-engaging surface 18 of the first block 12.
The plurality of second notches can include a vertical notch 34 and a horizontal notch 36. It is noted that the terms “vertical” and “horizontal” are used the distinguish directions only; the notches so designated can be oriented vertically upward/downward or horizontally side-to-side as the device 10 is used. Each notch is centered on an axis. The vertical notch 34 can be centered on the axis 26 when the blocks 12, 14 are abutting one another and in contact through the block-engaging surfaces 18, 32. The horizontal notch 36 can be centered on the axis 28 when the blocks 12, 14 are abutting one another and in contact the block-engaging surfaces 18, 32. The axis 26 is transverse to the second work-engaging surface 30 and the axis 28 is transverse to second block-engaging surface 32. “Transverse” is any angle greater than zero, up to ninety degrees. The exemplary axis 26 is perpendicular to the second work-engaging surface 30 and the exemplary axis 28 is perpendicular to second block-engaging surface 32.
The notches 22 and 34 can each define one radial half of a punch aperture. An exemplary punch is referenced at 38 in
The exemplary punch 38 is slidable in the punch aperture during the marking operation. “Slidable” refers to contact between the surfaces defining the punch aperture and the punch 38 during movement of the punch 38. The exemplary notches 22, 34 are semi-cylindrical and therefore define a circular aperture, but could be any shape desired. It is also noted that the notch 22 could mate with the notch 36 if desired and define a punch aperture. Likewise, the notch 24 could mate with the notch 34 if desired, and the notch 24 could mate with the notch 36 if desired.
The punch centering block device 10 also includes linkages connecting adjacent blocks to one another. The linkage between the first and second blocks 12, 14 will be described in greater detail and this description is applicable to the linkages between other pairs of blocks. The exemplary linkage between the blocks 12, 14 includes a first rod 46 extending through the first block 12. The first rod 46 has first and second heads 62, 64 at opposite ends. The exemplary linkage between the blocks 12, 14 also includes a second rod 48 extending through the second block 14 and having third and fourth heads 50, 52 at opposite ends. A cross-section of the second rod 48 is shown in
The exemplary linkage interconnecting the first block 12 and the second block 14 thus permits movement of the first block 12 and the second block 14 relative to one another over a range of closeness, between contact together and a maximum distance apart. At the maximum distance apart, the first block 12 and the second block 14 are rotatable relative to one another. This is demonstrated by comparing
The exemplary punch centering block device 10 can also include a plurality of magnets and steel inserts including at least one magnet and at least one steel insert mounted in the first block 12 and at least one magnet mounted and at least one steel insert in the second block 14. The plurality of magnets can include a magnet 68 positioned at the first work-engaging surface 16 so as to be configured to engage the first block 12 to the workpiece 20. The plurality of magnets can also include a magnet 72 positioned at the second work-engaging surface 30 so as to be configured to engage the second block 14 to the workpiece 20. The plurality of magnets can also include a magnet 74 positioned at the first block-engaging surface 18 and a magnet 80 positioned at the second block-engaging surface 32 so as to be configured to engage the first block 12 to the second block. The plurality of steel inserts can include a steel insert 66 positioned at the first work-engaging surface 16 so as to be configured to engage the magnet 72 if desired. The plurality of steel inserts can also include a steel insert 70 positioned at the second work-engaging surface 30 so as to be configured to engage the magnet 68 is desired. The plurality of steel inserts can also include a steel insert 76 positioned at the first block-engaging surface 18 to engage the magnet 80 if desired, to engage the first block 12 to the second block 14. The plurality of steel inserts can also include a steel insert 78 positioned at the second block-engaging surface 32 to engage the magnet 74 if desired, to engage the first block 12 to the second block 14. As shown in the drawings, the various magnets and steel inserts can be combined in various ways to engage various surfaces together. A magnet and a steel insert can be positioned at each engaging surface.
The punch centering block device 10 can also include a plurality of levels. The plurality of levels can include at least one level mounted in the first block 12 and at least one level mounted in the second block 14. In the exemplary embodiment, as referenced in
The punch centering block device 10 can also include a plurality of sleeves sized to fit into the punch apertures defined by the various blocks. Each of the plurality of sleeves can have a differently sized inner diameter to accommodate punches of different size. FIGS. 8A1 and 8A2 show a first sleeve 86 having a first inner diameter 88. FIGS. 8B1 and 8B2 show a second sleeve 90 having a second inner diameter 92, less than the first inner diameter 88. FIGS. 8C1 and 8C2 show a third sleeve 94 having a third inner diameter 96, less than the second inner diameter 92.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other present disclosures in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.
