Rotating mill vise jaws

Abstract

Rotating vise jaws comprising first, second, third, and forth elements used with a milling machine vise to hold objects having either parallel or nonparallel edges. Wherein, said first element consists of a vertical axis tool post adapted to fit either a movable or stationary wall disposed at a milling machine vise. Said vertical axis tool post disposes a cylindrical shaft defining a vertical axis for cooperating with said second element comprising a vertical axis vise jaw having beveled side walls and a correlative through hole for cooperating with said vertical axis. Thus, said vertical axis tool post is attached to a milling machine vise and said vertical axis vise jaw is connected to said vertical axis, thereby providing a self-aligning vise jaw with a reversible clamping face; wherein said vise jaw is rotatable about a vertical axis for holding objects having either parallel or nonparallel edges.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to milling machine vises and particularly the clamping jaws used in combination with these vises. At present, the opposing jaws remain parallel at their clamping faces so that they provide adequate clamping pressure for holding objects having parallel sides. However, the present jaws do not provide adequate clamping pressure for holding objects with beveled or tapered sides, whereas the parallel clamping faces cannot align with the none parallel sides of tapered or beveled objects.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide self-aligning vise jaws for milling machine vises wherein the vise jaws rotate about either a vertical axis or a horizontal axis for holding objects having either parallel edges or objects having non parallel edges. The rotating jaws comprises four elements: a vertical axis tool post, a vertical axis vise jaw, a horizontal axis tool post, and a horizontal axis vise jaw. Said elements are constructed of wear resistant tool steel using conventional machine shop equipment to provide a smooth telescoping fit with minimum side play; wherein the vertical axis vise jaw, horizontal axis tool post, and horizontal axis vise jaw can be connected and disconnected with minimum effort and without using other mechanical tools.

It is another object of this invention to provide self-aligning vise jaws rotatable about either a vertical axis or a horizontal axis; wherein the vise jaws are connectable with the top face up or down, thus the clamping faces are reversible. This is an important feature, whereas fixed stops are often attached to the vise jaws and these stops have to be moved when the work piece is rotated in the milling machine vise. At present the vise jaws are not conveniently reversible without using other mechanical tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the vertical axis tool post and vertical axis jaw used to hold beveled work pieces 001 and 002.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the vertical axis tool post and vertical axis jaw separated from a milling machine vise 3.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the horizontal axis tool post and horizontal axis jaw used to hold beveled work pieces 003 and 004.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the horizontal axis tool post and horizontal axis jaw separated from the vertical axis tool post 1 and a milling machine vise 3.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the vertical axis tool post assembly.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the horizontal axis tool post assembly.

FIG. 9 an isometric view showing the vertical axis jaw.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view showing the horizontal axis jaw.

Reference number 1 is the vertical axis tool post assembly.

Reference number 2 is the vertical axis vise jaw.

Reference number 3 is a milling machine vise and is shown for reference only. The jaw movement mechanism can be either manual or automated and is not shown for clarity to better illustrate a generic milling machine vise.

Reference number 4 are jaw fasteners and shown for reference only.

Reference number 5 is the horizontal axis tool post assembly.

Reference number 6 is the horizontal axis vise jaw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 3, 7, and 9,

The vertical axis tool post comprises a wall 50 having correlative through holes 51 for attaching the vertical axis tool post to a milling machine vise 3 having a wall disposing pre-existing threaded holes 4A for cooperating with fasteners 4 and holes 51. Wall 50 disposes a shaft 70 having a chamfered edge 72 for cooperating with a through hole 130 disposed at vertical axis jaw 2. Vertical axis Jaw 2 disposing beveled side walls 132 for cooperating with shaft 70 and through hole 130 to provide unobstructed clockwise and counter clockwise rotation of vertical axis jaw 2 about axis 70. Wall 50 and shaft 70 have corresponding keyways 52 and 71 for cooperating with a key stock 60 to provide and maintain correct orientation of the wall and shaft. Wall 50, key stock 60, and shaft 70 are joined using counter sunk holes 53, through holes 61, and threaded holes 73 cooperating with fasteners 80. Reference number 133 are opposing shoulders to break sharp corners and reinforce clamping face 134. Reference number 131 are chamfered edges at hole 130 for cooperating with chamfered edge 72 at shaft 70.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 8, and 10,

The horizontal axis tool post comprises a wall 90 having a through hole 91 for connecting the horizontal axis tool post to the vertical axis tool post 1. Wall 90 disposes a shaft 110 having chamfered ends 112 for cooperating with a through hole 140 disposed at horizontal axis jaw 6. Horizontal axis jaw 6 disposing beveled side walls 142 for cooperating with shaft 110 and through hole 140 to provide unobstructed clockwise and counter clockwise rotation of horizontal axis jaw 6 about axis 110. Wall 90 and shaft 110 have corresponding keyways 93 and 111 for cooperating with a key stock 100 to provide and maintain correct orientation of wall 90 and shaft 110. Wall 90, key stock 100, and shaft 110 are joined using counter bored holes 94, through holes 101, and threaded holes 113 cooperating with fasteners 120. Reference number 143 is a shoulder to break a sharp edge and reinforce clamping face 144. Reference number 141 are chamfered edges at hole 140 for cooperating with chamfered edge 112 at shaft 110.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3,

To use the vertical axis vise jaw 2 for holding objects with a tapered edge 001 and 002, the operator attaches the vertical axis tool post 1 to a milling machine vise 3 using threaded fasteners 4 cooperating with existing threaded holes 4A. The operator then slides hole 130 over vertical axis 70, thereby providing a self-aligning vise jaw 2 rotatable about a vertical axis 70. The vertical axis vise jaw 2 is connectable to vertical axis 70 with the top face 135 either up or down, Thus, clamping face 134 is reversible.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6

To use the horizontal axis vise jaw 6 for holding objects with a beveled edge 003 and 004, the operator removes vertical axis jaw 2 then slides hole 91 over vertical axis 70. The operator then slides hole 140 over horizontal axis 110, thereby providing a self-aligning vise jaw 6 rotatable about a horizontal axis 110. The horizontal axis vise jaw 6 is connectable with the top face 145 either up or down, thus clamping face 144 is reversible. The horizontal axis tool post 5 is connectable with the top face 95 either up or down; thus planar ends 96 are reversible.

Claims

1. Rotating mill vise jaws for holding objects having either parallel edges or objects having nonparallel edges; said vise jaws comprising first, second, third, and forth elements used in combination with a milling machine vise having at least one movable wall disposing threaded holes for cooperating with removable fasteners for attaching said first element comprising: a vertical axis tool post consisting of a wall having correlative through holes for cooperating with said removable fasteners to attach said vertical axis tool post to a milling machine vise; said wall having planar front and rear faces, planar top and bottom faces, and two opposing planar end faces; wherein said front face disposes a cylindrical shaft defining a vertical axis having a chamfered end and precise outside diameter for cooperating with said second element comprising:a vertical axis vise jaw having planar top and bottom faces, two opposing beveled faces, two opposing shoulders, and a planar clamping face; said vise jaw having a through hole drilled perpendicular to said top and bottom faces, wherein said through hole disposes chamfered edges and a precise inside diameter for cooperating with said vertical axis defined at said vertical axis tool post.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said planar front face and vertical axis defined at said vertical axis tool post have corresponding keyways cooperating with a key stock for providing correct orientation of said wall and vertical axis.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein said corresponding keyways and key stock dispose correlated holes for cooperating with threaded fasteners to significantly join said wall, key stock, and vertical axis, thereby defining said vertical axis tool post.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein said outside diameter defined at said vertical axis defined at said vertical axis tool post and said inside diameter defined at said vertical axis vise jaw have a smooth telescoping relationship with minimum side play, wherein said vise jaw and vertical axis can be connected and disconnected with minimum effort and without using other mechanical tools.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein said vertical axis vise jaw is connectable to said vertical axis with said top face either up or down; thus said planar clamping face is reversible.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein said vertical axis tool post is attached to said milling machine vise and said vertical axis vise jaw is connected to said vertical axis, thereby providing a self-aligning vise jaw having a reversible clamping face, wherein said vertical axis vise jaw is rotatable about said vertical axis for holding objects having either parallel edges or objects having non parallel edges.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein said vertical axis vise jaw and said third element are interchangeable.

8. The tool of claim 1, wherein said third element comprises a horizontal axis tool post consisting of planar top and bottom faces, planar front and rear faces, and two opposing planar end faces; said horizontal axis tool post having a through hole drilled perpendicular to said top and bottom faces, wherein said through hole disposes chamfered edges and a precise inside diameter for cooperating with said vertical axis having a chamfered end and a precise outside diameter.

9. The tool of claim 8, wherein said front face defined at said horizontal axis tool post disposes a cylindrical shaft defining a horizontal axis having chamfered ends and a precise outside diameter for cooperating with said forth element comprising: A horizontal axis vise jaw having planar top and bottom faces, two opposing beveled faces, two opposing planar end faces, a beveled clamping face, and one shoulder; said vise jaw having a through hole drilled perpendicular to said opposing end faces, wherein said through hole disposes chamfered edges and a precise inside diameter for cooperating with said horizontal axis.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein said front face and horizontal axis defined at said horizontal axis tool post have corresponding keyways cooperating with a key stock for providing correct orientation of said front face and horizontal axis.

11. The tool of claim 10, wherein said keyways, key stock, and horizontal axis have correlative holes for cooperating with threaded fasteners to significantly join said front face, key stock, and horizontal axis, thereby defining said horizontal axis tool post.

12. The tool of claim 8, wherein horizontal axis tool post having top and bottom faces and a through hole having a precise inside diameter for cooperating with said vertical axis to provide a smooth telescoping relationship with minimum side play; whereby said horizontal axis tool post and said vertical axis can be connected and disconnected with minimum effort and without using other mechanical tools.

13. The tool of claim 12, wherein said horizontal axis tool post is connectable to said vertical axis with said top face either up or down; thus said planar end faces defined at said horizontal axis tool post are reversible.

14. The tool of claim 9, wherein said outside diameter defined at said horizontal axis and said inside diameter defined at said horizontal axis vise jaw have a smooth telescoping relationship with minimum side play, wherein said horizontal axis vise jaw and horizontal axis can be connected and disconnected with minimum effort and without using other mechanical tools.

15. The tool of claim 14, wherein said horizontal axis vise jaw is connectable to said horizontal axis with said top face either up or down; thus said beveled clamping face is reversible.

16. The tool of claims 6, 8, and 9, wherein as an alternative, said vertical axis tool post is attached to a milling machine vise, said horizontal axis tool post is connected to said vertical axis, and said horizontal axis vise jaw is connected to said horizontal axis, thereby providing a self-aligning vise jaw having a reversible clamping face, wherein said vise jaw is rotatable about said horizontal axis for holding objects having either parallel edges or objects having non parallel edges.