To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. The images in the drawings are simplified for illustrative purposes and are not depicted to scale.
The appended drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, as such, should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention that may admit to other equally effective embodiments. It is contemplated that features or steps of one embodiment may beneficially be incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation.
Referring to the figures,
The honing device 100 generally comprises a roller module 110, an arm 120, and a clamping mechanism 130. The arm 120 is movably secured to the roller module 110, and the clamping mechanism 130 is rotateably coupled to the arm 120. The clamping mechanism 130 is adapted to receive, grip, and release a tool 101, which blade 117 is honed, using the device 100, by a honing stone 160. In operation, the tool 101 (for example, plane iron (as shown), chisel, knife, and the like) is gripped by jaws of the clamping mechanism 130.
Components of the honing device 100 may be fabricated from metals, plastics, and other suitable materials using conventional design considerations known to those skilled in the art of hand tools.
Referring to
The roller 108 is a cylindrical member adapted for rolling upon a substantially flat surface, thus engaging the tool 100 in a plane motion. In one embodiment, the roller 108 includes coaxial axles 107 disposed in axially aligned openings 109 that are formed in the vertical members 106 and provide a clearance fit to the axles 107. In an alternate embodiment (not shown), at least one axle 107 may be substituted with a blind threaded opening formed in a face of the roller 108 and a cylindrical stud secured in such an opening.
The plate 104 may contain a means adapted for moveably guiding the arm 120, such as a transverse recess 118 shown in the depicted embodiment, and the like. In one embodiment, the arm 120 comprises a groove (or, alternatively, an elongated opening) 122 adapted for movably housing the locking bolt 114.
Using the knob 116 and locking bolt 114, the arm 120 may be moveably secured in the transverse recess 118. In the depicted embodiment, using a squared neck 113, the locking bolt 114 is rotateably arrested in the groove 122. In one embodiment, the arm 120 includes a scale 126 (shown in
Referring to
The jaw assembly 132 comprises a lower jaw 140, an upper jaw 144, pressure screws 142, and wing (or, alternatively, castle) nuts 148 helically mating the screws 142. The blade 117 may be secured between the jaws 140 and 144 by tightening the nuts 148. In an alternate embodiment, the pressure screws 142 may be substituted with threaded studs affixed to the lower jaw 140.
In one embodiment, the upper jaw 144 includes a bracket 145 transversely affixed to the upper jaw 144 and a bushing 154 secured to the bracket 145 or to the upper jaw 144 using, for example, a welding, brazing, or soldering process. Alternatively (not shown), conventional hardware may be used to affix the bracket 145 or the bushing 154 to the upper jaw 144.
In the depicted embodiment, the elbow module 134 includes threaded studs 131 and 133, a joint 135, and an alignment nut 137. The studs 131, 133 form rotateable threaded connections with the coupling and alignment nuts 136 and 137 (stud 131) and the bushing 154 (stud 133). Using the coupling nut 136 screwed onto a portion of the stud 131 protruding though a clear opening 143 in the arm 120, the jaw assembly 132 and a fixed limiter 138 are secured to the arm 120.
In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the stud 133 may be a shaft forming a captive rotateable coupling with the bushing 154. Such stud 133 may be terminated at a far end of the bushing 154 using, for example, a check nut or a lock washer.
Longitudinal axes of the studs 131 and 133 are substantially orthogonal to one another and disposed in the same plane. Such studs may be welded, brazed, or soldered to the joint 135 or otherwise permanently coupled (for example, helically coupled) to the joint 135. Alternatively, the elbow module 134 may be fabricated as a single structural member.
The alignment nut 137 is controllably positioned on the stud 131. Location of the alignment nut 137 determines a value of a gap 141 (shown in
A combination of a rotateable connection between the stud 133 and bushing 154 and the gap 141 allows for a swinging (or pivotal) motion of the jaw assembly 132 about a longitudinal axis of the stud 133 (or bushing 154), as illustrated with an arrow 111 (shown in
Optionally, the swinging motion of the jaw assembly 132 may be arrested using a slide 147 movably (shown with an arrow 165) (shown in
In the depicted embodiment, the fixed limiter 138 is immovably secured to the arm 120 and, in operation, allows to pre-set a length 119 (i.e., blade depth distance) (shown in
In a further embodiment, the length 119 may be controlled using a flipping limiter 150. In one embodiment, the flipping limiter 150 comprises a flipper module 156 and cylindrical housings 158 having angled entry ports 155. The flipper module 156 includes a wire spring 151 and a blade stopper 153 permanently (as shown) or movably secured to the wire spring 151.
Using the angled entry ports 155, the flipper module 156 may rotateably be secured in opposing horizontal positions 157 and 159. When the flipper module 156 is in the position 157, the blade 117 may be aligned against the blade stopper 153 to define the extension (i.e., length 119) of the blade and then secured between the jaws 140 and 144.
The honing device 100 may be provided with replaceable fixed limiters 138, flipper modules 156, or blade stoppers 153 that are selectively adapted for pre-setting a particular value of the length 119.
In operation, a user disposes and secures the blade 117 in the jaw assembly 132. The user may adjust the position of the blade using one of the limiters 138 or 150, as discussed above. Then, by adjusting the position of the arm 120 with respect to the roller module 110, the user selects the angle 164 (shown in
Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. Therefore numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/793,375, filed on Apr. 20, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference. This application incorporates by reference commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/392,445.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60793375 | Apr 2006 | US |