GB2035862A - Wood- or metal-working vice - Google Patents

Abstract

A vice suitable for forming part of a work bench has a plurality of spaced support members 1 on which one or more sliding jaws 5 and 6 slide between spaced fixed jaws 2 and 3, driven by a lead screw 8, for example. This enables a workpiece to be clamped on one side or the other of the sliding jaw, depending on the size of the workpiece and the operation to be performed on it. The sliding jaws 5 and 6 may pivot on the support members 1 to accommodate workpieces whose sides are not parallel. The vice may define the working surface of a work bench. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wood- or metal-working vice This invention relates to a wood- or metalworking vice and to a work bench of which the vice forms a part.

According to the invention, a wood- or metal-working vice comprises a plurality of spaced support members, spaced first and second fixed jaws mounted transversely across the support members, and a sliding jaw mounted on the support members and movable between the fixed jaws by drive means, whereby a workpiece may be clamped between the sliding jaw and the first or second fixed jaw.

The sliding jaw is preferably mounted so as to be angularly displaceable on the support members, so that workpieces whose edges are not parallel may be clamped by the vice.

Preferably, two sliding jaws are mounted on the support members and movable between the fixed jaws by respective drive means, the sliding jaws being spaced one from the other and moving over mutually parallel paths.

Thus, two workpieces may be clamped separately, or a single workpiece of irregular shape may be held by the two sliding jaws at the same time.

A workpiece may be held by both sliding jaws so as to allow it to be sawn into two pieces, both pieces being securely held after sawing. One jaw may be used to hold one workpiece whilst a second workpiece is adjusted with respect to it and then clamped by the second jaw in the desired position relative to the first workpiece. For example, two workpieces may be held together at an angle, such as at a mitred corner, while glue between the workpieces hardens. The vice may form part of a work bench, and preferably defines the working top of the bench.

The two sliding jaws may be provided with rigid linking means enabling them to be moved together as a single jaw for clamping long workpieces. Preferably, the sliding jaws are equal in length.

The drive means may be a lead screw mounted on the fixed jaws and engaging a threaded member on the sliding jaw. The threaded member may be pivotally linked to its jaw.

The invention provides a vice for a work bench which is not only cheap and simple to manufacture but is also very versatile, permitting a great variety of shapes and sizes of workpiece to be held rigidly with the minimum of pressure, by virtue of the adaptability of the jaws.

Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a work bench comprising a vice according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the bench shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the bench shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are plan, front elevation and side elevation of an alternative sliding jaw; Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are plan, front elevation and side elevation of another form of sliding jaw; Figure 6 illustrates, in use, a part of a bench having a jaw memeber as shown in Fig. 4; Figure 7 is a plan view of part of a bench showing an alternative drive arrangement for the sliding jaw; and Figure 8 is a plan view of the work bench illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, with modifications.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a work bench is shown which is designed to be mounted against a wall. It will be understood, however, that an underframe permitting the bench to be free-standing may be provided instead of that shown.

The work bench has a top comprising eight support members 1, linked together at each end by a fixed jaw 2 or 3. The first or front jaw 2 comprises two elongate strips 2a and 2bfastened to the support members 1 on opposite sides thereof, and the second or rear jaw 3 has two sheets 3a and 3b similarly secured, the upper sheet 3aforming a working surface of the bench.

Two sliding jaws 5 and 6 are formed from strips 5 a and 5 b (or 6 a and 6 b) arranged above and below the support members 1 and joined by spacing blocks 7 whose thickness is slightly greater than that of the support members 1 to enable the vice members 5 and 6 to slide freely along the support members 1, between the fixed jaws 2 and 3.

The support members 1 not only serve to carry the fixed and sliding jaws 2, 3, 5, and 6, but also to provide support for most of the workpieces which will be held by the vice.

The division of each jaw into an upper member above the support members and a lower member below the support members enables larger workpieces to be held by both members, spacing of the points of contact enabling firm and stable clamping with a smaller pressure than would be needed for a single narrow opposed pair of jaws.

Two lead screws 8 are rotatably mounted in mounting plates 9 on the front jaw 2 and in anchorage plates 10 on the lear jaw 3. Each screw 8 passes through a threaded bore in a trunnion 11 in the sliding jaw 5 or 6, the trunnions 11 permitting rotation of the sliding jaws 5 and 6 in a horizontal plane to accommodate workpieces whose sides are not parallel.

The front fixed jaw 2 and each sliding jaw 5 and 6 have additional strips 1 2 secured to the upper surfaces thereof to facilitate the clamp ing of thicker workpieces which are longer than the greatest spacing between the support members 1 and therefore rest on the support members 1 when clamped. The strips are spaced from the said upper surfaces by means of spacing blocks 1 2 a.

The bench has a frame 1 3 supporting the front edge of the top, the frame 13 being connected to the lower strip 2 b of the front jaw 2 by means of two hinges 1 4. The bench top is carried at its rear edge by a bar 1 5 which is mounted on any suitable vertical surface, for example a wall of a building. Two hinges 16, attached to the lower sheet 3b of the rear jaw 3 and to the bar 15, hold the top on the bar 1 5. The hinges 14 and 1 6 permit the bench to be used with the top sloping downwards towards the user, enabling better access to a workpiece for certain jobs. The frame 1 3 is swung inwardly until the lower edge thereof engages the wall, or an auxiliary stop secured to the floor and spaced from the wall.

The bench may also be arranged to fold against a wall when not required, to save space. For this purpose, the hinge pins of the hinges 1 4 may be removable, the frame 1 3 being detached and the top being swung downwardly against the wall, suspended by the hinges 1 6 from the bar 1 5. The bench may be used in different locations, each location having a bar 1 5 mounted ready to receive the bench.

The two centre support members 1 C may be removable to permit very large workpieces to be clamped, the greater part being, for example, beneath the top so that the upper surfaces of the workpieces may be worked on.

Also, extra support members 1 may be inserted to provide closer spacing, if desired, so that a workpiece is supported without reliance on vertical friction in the vice jaws.

In consequence, a lower clamping pressure can be used for operations where a vertical load is put on the workpiece. In addition the positive support of the support members is useful during operations such as nailing requiring a rigid reaction surface.

The sliding jaws 5 and 6 are provided with stops 1 7 spaced from the strips 1 2 so that a straight linking bar may be laid across the jaws 5 and 6 between the stops 1 7 and strips 1 2 to enable the jaws 5 and 6 to be moved together as one. The strips 1 2 may be provided both on the sliding jaws 5 and 6 and on the front jaw 2 with a slot 1 8 for cross-cut sawing of a workpiece.

The rear jaw 3 may be used for mounting tools such as power drills for working on workpieces held between one of the sliding jaws 5 and 6 and the rear fixed jaw 3. At the same time, the other sliding jaw may be used to hold another workpiece, against either the front or the rear fixed jaw, upon which a different operation may be performed.

Blocks may be inserted through the spaces between the strips 1 2 and the upper surface of the front jaw 2 and of one of the sliding jaws 5 and 6, and resting against the spacing blocks 12a, to provide planing stops when planing longitudinally of the bench, or to provide support for shallow workpieces.

The bench is suitably made of wood, but other materials such as pressed steel sheet, may also be used.

Where the jaws are formed from wood and it is desired to use the bench with metal workpieces, auxiliary metal jaws may be attached to a sliding jaw 5 or 6 and to a fixed jaw 2 or 3. Figs. 4 and 5 show alternative forms of auxiliary jaws pivotally installed in a sliding jaw. In Fig. 4 each auxiliary jaw 40 consists of a wedge-shaped member held in between the strips 1 2 and the upper surface of the upper part 6a of the sliding jaw 6 by a pin 41. The auxiliary jaw 50 shown in Fig. 5 is deeper than the sliding jaw 6 and comprises a jaw plate 51 and two brackets 52 held by a pin 53 passing through the sliding jaw 6 and the brackets 52. In each case, the auxiliary jaw 40 or 50 may readily be removed when not required.It will be understood that the auxiliary jaws 40 or 50 may also be formed from or faced with wood or other soft material for use with wooden or other soft material workpieces whose width is substantially less than that of the sliding jaw 6, or whose shape is irregular.

Fig. 6 shows a sliding jaw 6, modified as in Fig. 4, being used to hold a short workpiece 60 against the front fixed jaw 2. The auxiliary jaw 40 in direct contact with the front jaw 2 serves to spread the load transmitted by the sliding jaw 6 as that member pivots about the trunnion 11 as a force is exerted thereon by the screw 8.

Although a lead screw is hereinbefore described, alternative drive means can be used.

Fig. 7 illustrates one such alternative means.

A short screw 70 drives a horizontal sprocket 71. A chain 72 passes around the sprocket 71 and a second sprocket 73 mounted in the rear fixed jaw 3. One point on the chain 72 engages a trunnion 74 attached to the sliding jaw 6. Instead of the sprockets and chain, pulleys and a belt may be used.

Fig. 8 shows a modified form of the work bench described hereinbefore with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. Only those parts which differ are now described in detail. Spacing pieces 80 are pivotally mounted by bolts 81 between upper and lower strips of the sliding jaws 5 and 6, and extend into the space between the sheets 3a and 3b, of the rear fixed jaw 3. The spacing pieces 80 are supported on each side by guides 82 which are fixed to the lower sheet 3 b. The clearance between the spacing pieces 80 and the sheets 3aand 3band guides 82 is small, so as to allow the spacing pieces to move forwards and backwards but to prevent their rotation about a horizontal or vertical axis.

Tightened nuts on the bolts 81, together with spring washers, hold the strips of the sliding jaws 5 or 6 in frictional engagement with the spacing pieces 80, the frictional force being adjustable in magnitude. The pieces 80 can then pivot about the bolts 81 in the horizontal plane only when a given torque is exceeded.

The arrangement serves two purposes: (1) The plates 80 provide additional stability to the sliding jaws to reduce tilting of the jaws when workpieces are clamped only by the upper strips 5a or 6a of the sliding jaws, since sheets 3a and 3b prevent vertical movement of the pieces 80.

(2) Without the provision of pieces 80, the sliding jaws would tend to rotate about their respective trunnions when being moved forwards or backworks due to friction between these jaws and the supports 1. The guides 82 prevent rotation of pieces 80, and since these pieces are frictionally engaged with the sliding jaws, these jaws will not rotate about their trunnions as they are moved backwards or forwards by the lead screws, until forced to rotate when necessary by the presence of a workpiece between these sliding jaws and the fixed jaws.

The support members 83 adjacent to the ends of the slidable jaws have vertical holes 84 drilled at regular intervals, for example 25 mm, along their length.

The sliding jaws have vertical holes 85 in the upper and lower strips thereof, at each end, to enable a pin to be inserted through the jaws at either end, engaging with one of the holes 84 in the relevant support member 83. With an auxiliary jaw mounted at one end of a sliding jaw to hold a small workpiece, the reaction at the other end of that jaw can be taken by the pin. For a given size of workpiece, the hole 84 in the support members 83 is chosen so as to keep the sliding jaw 5 or 6 as near parallel as possible with the fixed jaw 2 whilst clamping the workpiece, thus keeping to a minimum the lateral shift of the sliding jaw which necessarily results from this arrangement.

For holding a small workpiece to enable it to be sawn into two pieces, auxiliary jaws may be mounted at the inner ends of the sliding jaws 5 and 6 with the outer ends of both jaws being held by pins through holes 84 in the outer support members 83.

An alternative type of auxiliary jaw 87 is shown with jaw face 88. This jaw 87 is mounted on one of the sliding jaws with a pivot pin 89 and extends to the rear to rest on the rear fixed jaw 3. Two guides 90 are mounted on the fixed jaw 3 so as to allow the auxiliary jaw 87 to move forwards or backwards, but together with the pivot pin 89 they prevent rotation of this auxiliary jaw.

By using a pin through the other end of the sliding jaw 6 into a hole in an inner support 83, according to the size of workpiece being held, the face 88 of the auxiliary jaw 87 will be maintained essentially parallel to the fixed jaw 2, as is necessary for some operations.

This auxiliary jaw 87 is shown mounted on one of the sliding jaws at one end. It will be understood that this auxiliary jaw can be mounted at a variety of positions along either of the sliding jaws, and may be mounted between the upper and lower strips of the sliding jaws, and run between the upper and lower sheets 3a and 3b of the rear jaw 3.

Claims (14)

1. A wood- or metal working vice, comprising a plurality of spaced support members, spaced first and second fixed jaws mounted transversely across the support members, a sliding jaw mounted on the support members and movable between the fixed jaws by drive means, whereby a workpiece may be clamped between the sliding jaw and the first or second fixed jaw.

2. A vice according to claim 1, wherein the sliding jaw is mounted so as to be angularly displaceable on the support members.

3. A vice according to claim 2, wherein the sliding jaw pivotally mounts at least one auxiliary jaw whose length is a minor part of the length of the sliding jaw.

4. A vice according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the fixed jaws are mutually parallel.

5. A vice according to any preceding claim, wherein two sliding jaws are mounted on the support members and movable between the fixed jaws by respective drive means, the sliding jaws being spaced one from the other and moving over mutually parallel paths.

6. A vice according to claim 5, wherein the sliding jaws are adapted to receive a linking member whereby the two sliding jaws may be rigidly linked together.

7. A vice according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each drive means comprises an elongate screw engaging a threaded trunnion pivotally mounted in the respective sliding jaw.

8. A vice according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper surfaces of the fixed and sliding jaws lie in the same plane and together define the working surface of a work bench.

9. A vice according to any preceding claim, wherein each jaw comprises vertically spaced upper and lower jaw members.

10. A vice according to claim 9, wherein the upper jaw member of each jaw is on or above the support members, and the lower member is beneath the support members.

11. A vice according to any preceding claim, having supporting legs whereby the vice can be free-standing.

12. A vice according to any of claims 1 to 10 having supporting legs adjacent to one side thereof and means securabie to a vertical surface at the other side thereof

13. A vice according to claim 12, wherein the legs and the securable means are hingedly connected to the support members, whereby the vice may be folded against the vertical surface when not in use.

14. A wood- or metal-working vice, sub stantially as described with reference to Figs.

1 to 3 or Fig. 8 or Figs. 1 to 3 or Fig. 8 as modified by any of Figs. 4, 5, 6 or 7, of the drawings.