GB2085766A - Mechanical vice - Google Patents

Abstract

A heavy duty vice comprises a head portion 10 with relatively movable jaws 12, 13, and a mounting portion 20 which supports the head portion and includes a clamping device 30 for securely mounting the vice to support structure, versatility being achieved in that the head portion 10 is tiltable about a horizontal transverse axis relative to the mounting portion and a clamp 23 being provided for securing the head portion to the mounting portion in a position to which it is selectively tilted. The head portion is moreover adjustable for height and for turning around a vertical axis by means of the clamping connection 34 of tube 21 with device 30. For greater versatility, the head portion may be tiltably mounted on the forward end of a horizontal tube mounted for forwards/rearwards sliding (and also for turning about its own axis) relative to a modified vertical tube 21. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mechanical vice This invention relates to a vice for gripping workpieces to enable personnel to perform operations on those workpieces.

With known vices, the orientation of the clamping jaws is generally fixed and this can give rise to difficulties if the workpiece does not lend itself (for example because of its shape) to being clamped in an orientation which is ideal for the particular operation to be performed upon it.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a mechanical vice comprising a head portion having a pair of jaws and means for moving the jaws towards and away from each other, and a mounting portion which supports the head portion and includes means for securely mounting the vice to support structure, the head portion being tiltable about a horizontal axis relative to the mounting portion and means being provided for securing the head portion to the mounting portion in a position to which it is selectively tilted.

An embodiment of vice to be described herein is a heavy duty, engineers or handyman's vice usable by maintenance fitters, welders, plumbers, electricians, garage mechanics or farmers or handymen in the home. It has particular use by fettlers in foundries, who are able to clamp their castings in preferred orientations from the point of view of the operations which they wish to carry out on them.

In the embodiment to be described herein, the vice includes means for enabling the height of the head portion to be adjusted relative to the mounting means and securing it at the height to which it is adjusted. Also, it includes means for turning the head portion about a vertical axis relative to the mounting means and securing it in the orientation to which it is thus turned. The vice is accordingly highly versatile.

Said embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an isometric view of a portable vice in accordance with the invention and Figure 2 shows modified parts.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a vice comprising a head portion 10 and a mounting portion 20.

The head portion comprises a cast iron body 11 formed with one jaw 12, a cast iron jaw 13 and a conventional screw 14 passing through the front of the body 11, screw-threadedly engaged in a bore through the jaw 13 and journalled at its rear end to the body 11: an operating bar 15 serves for manual rotation of the screw 14 for moving the jaws linearly towards of away from each other for the purposes of clamping or releasing a workpiece.

The mounting portion 20 comprises a steel tube 21 having a cylindrical stem a cast iron pivot component 22 fitted securely into its upper end. This pivot component has two opposite end surfaces which diverge in the direction away from its stem, and a curved top surface as shown. The component also has two opposed generally flat surfaces and engages between two depending flat side portions of the body 11, one such side being shown at 17. A cast clamping plate 18 is disposed within a complementarily shaped aperture in the side 17 and a threaded clamping bolt extends through the other depending side of the body 11, through the pivot component 22 and the clamping plate 18 and is threadedly engaged in a knurled clamping wheel 23.

The interengaging surfaces of the clamping plate 18 and pivot component 22 are formed with complementary shaped ribs and grooves extending radially with respect to the axis of the clamping bolt, so as to provide detenting to locate the vice head portion in any one of a plurality of positions of tilt relative to the mounting tube 21. Preferably a spring washer (not shown) is provided to urge the clamping plate away from the pivot component 22 when the clamping pressure is released by turning wheel 23, so that the head portion is free to be tilted to a fresh selected position, whereupon the clamping pressure can be re-applied to secure the head portion in that position. Preferably, the edges of the clamping plate and the edges of its aperture in the side 17 are complementarily chamfered to retain the clamping plate within that aperture even if the clamping wheel is excessively loosened.

The mounting tube 20 is provided with a mounting device 30 for mounting the tube securely to fixed structure, such as a workbench. The mounting device comprises a cast iron body having first and second generally flat and parallel limbs 31,32 connected by a vertical web 33. The tube 20 extends through aligned circular openings in both limbs 31, 32 and the opening in the upper limb 31 is defined by a split ring which is provided with a clamping bolt and knurled clamping wheel 34. By turning this wheel 34 to release its clamping pressure, the tube 21 may be raised or lowered or turned through any angle about the vertical axis relative to the mounting device 30, whereupon the clamping pressure may be reappliedto secure the tube 21 in its freshly selected position.

The mounting device 30 further includes a flat cast clamping plate 35 carried at the upper end of a bolt 36 which is threaded through the lower limb 32 and provided with a knurled operating wheel 37. Plate 35 is provided with a projection engaging in a longitudinal groove or slot in the web 33, to maintain its orientation relative to the limbs 31, 32. The vice may accordingly be positioned with the limb 31 above and the plate 35 below a workbench top and the wheel 37 tightened to effect clamping to the workbench. The upper limb 31 is further provided with screwholes 38 to enable the vice to be mounted to the workbench by screws instead of or in addition to the clamping action.If the vice is to be mounted to a horizontal, transverse tube (such as a scaffold tube), a pair of clamping jaws, having concave surfaces complementary to the curvature of that tube, may be disposed between the limb 31 and clamping plate 35.

Each of the wheels 23,34 and 37 is provided with a series of radially extending sockets 39 to receive a tommy bar for use in applying a greater lever force.

The tommy bar may be received, when not in use, in locating formations on the mounting device body.

The vice which has been described is portable, light in weight (20-25 Ibs) and is strong and versatile in use. Preferable the cast components (the vice body, 11, jaw 13, tilting component 22, clamping plate 18, mounting device body 30 and plate 35 and the wheels 23,34 and 37) are cast in SG iron.

Because of its portability, the vice is suitable for carrying on site for heavy duty work, in contrast to other heavy duty vices which are bolted or otherwise permanently mounted on workbenches.

Referring to Figure 2, firstly there is shown an improved mounting device 30, wherein the vertical mounting tube is clamped between a cast iron clamp plate 40 and the front of the vertical web 33 of the mounting device. The clamp plate and the web 33 are formed with semicylindrical recesses 40a, 33a and fit together by means of a hinge arrangement down one side and a clamping bolt arrangement down the other side so as to form a cylindrical passage in which the vertical mounting tube is received and clamped. The hinge arrangement comprises three lateral projections 40b on the clamp plate and three complementary slots 33b formed in a projecting side wall portion of the mounting device.The clamping bolt arrangement comprises lateral projections 40c, 33c e - the clamping plate and mounting device, provide with respective recesses 40d, 33d for receiving a locking bolt 41, the clamping wheel 34 being threadedly engageable on the bolt to apply the clamping pressure when the projections 4or, 338 are disposed between the head of the bolt 41 and the clamping wheel 34 and the wheel is turned for tightening. A particularly effective clamp onto the vertical mounting tube is achieved through the provision of circumferential ribs on the semi-cylindrical recesses 40a, 33a, four equally spaced ribs 33e being shown on the recess 33a and the recess 40a having corresponding ribs aligned with these.

The basic vice will comprise the head portion 10 and mounting tube 20 shown in Figure 1 together preferably with the improved mounting device 30 shown in Figure 2. However, Figure 2 shows accessories for enabling forwards/rearwards sliding movement of the entire head portion and for enabling tilting of the entire head portion about a second horizontal axis, in addition to the tilting about the one horizontal axis discussed in relation to Figure 1.

Thus, Figure 2 shows a vertical mounting tube 20a provided with an apertured head 42 receiving a horizontal tube 43. A further handwheel 44 is secured to one end of a threaded stem which is threadedly engaged through the head 42 to clamp the tube 43 in any selected lengthwise position and indeed in any selected angle about its own axis. The forward end of tube 43 is provided with an up-turned head 45, formed at its top to correspond to the pivot component 22 of Figure 1 and serving to mount the vice head portion 10 in the same manner.Accordingly, with the use of the accessories 20a,43, the vice head portion 10 is capable of vertical movement and turning about a vertical axis by adjustment of the tube 20a in the mounting device 30, is also capable of tilting about a first horizontal axis (generally perpen dicularto its own operating screw 14) by adjustment on the head 45, and moreover is capable of forwards/rearwards sliding movement and tilting about a second horizontal axis (perpendicular to the first) by adjustment of tube 43 in the clamp head 42. The component 22 of Figure 1 and the head 45 of Figure 2 may be arranged so that the vice head portion 10 is capable of adjustment through a full 1800 (for Figure 1) and a full 90" (for Figure 2) about the first horizontal axis.

Figure 2 also shows the pair of clamping jaws 50, 52 for mounting the vice to a horizontal tube such as a scaffold tube. Each of these jaws is a casting comprising a rectangular base (e.g. 50a) having a low and a high wall 50b,50c upstanding from it along its opposite edges, which walls are interconnected by e.g. four equally spaced walls 50d having semicylindrical upper edges. When the jaws are placed together with the high walls 50b, 52b approaching each other, the walls 50d, 52dform a cylindrical passage for receiving the scaffold tube. The jaws in use are placed between the clamping plate 35 and upper limb 31 of the mounting device 30 and projections 50e, 52e on the low walls of the jaws engage in the vertical slot or groove which is formed in the rear face of the web 33 of the mounting device. The arrangement is such that the scaffold tube will be close against the rear face of the web 33 and will then be effectively clamped between the jaws 50,52 when plate 35 is tightened towards limb 31.

Claims (18)

1. A heavy duty mechanical vice, comprising a head portion having a pair of jaws and means for moving the jaws towards and away from each other, and a mounting portion which supports the head portion and includes means for securely mounting the vice to support structure, the head portion being tiltable about a horizontal axis relative to the mounting portion and means being provided for securing the head portion to the mounting portion in a position to which it is selectively tilted.

2. A vice as claimed in claim 1, in which the mounting portion and head portion include cooperating detenting for locating the head portion in any one of a plurality of positions of tilt about said horizontal axis.

3. A vice as claimed in claim 2, in which the mounting portion includes a pivot component inserted between two side portions of the head portion and a clamping plate disposed within a complementarily shaped aperture in one said side portion, the head portion securing means comprising a clamping bolt extending through the other said side portion and through the pivot component and through the clamping plate, and said detenting comprising complementarily shaped ribs and grooves formed, radially of the clamping bolt, on the co-operating surfaces of the clamping plate and pivot component.

4. A vice as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said horizontal axis of tilt is transverse to the direction of relative movement of the vice jaws.

5. A vice as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the means for securely mounting the vice to support structure comprises a body having two gen erallyflat and horizontal limbs connected by a vertical web, and a clamping plate disposed between said limbs and carried at one end of a clamping bolt which is screw threaded through one of said limbs.

6. A vice as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the mounting portion is arranged so that the head portion is vertically adjustable relative to the mounting means.

7. A heavy duty mechanical vice, comprising a head portion having a pair of jaws and means for moving the jaws towards and away from each other, and amounting portion which supports the head portion and includes means for securely mounting the vice to support structure, the mounting portion being arranged so that the head portion is vertically adjustable relative to the mounting means.

8. A vice as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the mounting portion is arranged so that the head portion is adjustable relative to the mounting means by turning about a vertical axis.

9. A vice as claimed in claim 6,7 or 8, in which the mounting portion includes a vertical tube carrying the headportion at its upper end and slidably and/or rotatively received by the mounting means, a clamp being provided for securing the tube to the mounting means in a selected position to which it is slid and/or rotated.

10. A vice as claimed in claim 9 appended to claim 5, in which said clamp comprises a clamp plate for clamping the tube to a front face of said vertical web (said limbs projecting rearwardly from a rear face of said web), which clamp plate and front face are formed with semi-cylindrical recesses provided with circumferential ribs for gripping the tube.

11. A vice as claimed in claim 10, in which the tube clamp plate and web fit together by means of a hinge arrangement down one side of the tube and a clamping bolt arrangement down the other side of the tube.

12. A vice as claimed in claim 11, in which the hinge arrangement comprises lateral projections on the tube clamp plate received within respective slots in a forwardly projecting side wall portion of said web, and the clamping bolt arrangement comprises lateral projections on the tube clamp plate and web which projections are formed to receive a clamping bolt.

13. A vice as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the mounting portion is arranged so that the head portion is slidably adjustable on a forwards/rearwards horizontal axis.

14. A vice as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the mounting portion is arranged so that the head portion is adjustably tiltable about a forwards/rearwards horizontal axis.

15. A vice as claimed in claim 13 or 14, in which the mounting portion includes a horizontal tube carrying the head portion at its forward end, and an apertured head receiving the horizontal tube and provided with a clamp for securing the horizontal tube in the posstioate which itis slid and/or rotated.

16. A vice as claimed in any preceding claim, together with a pair of clamping jaws for mounting the vice to a horizontal support tube, the clamping jaws together providing a cylindrical recess for receiving the support tube and being formed by a plurality of circumferential ribs, the means for securely mounting the vice to support structure being arranged to clamp the clamping jaws together so as to embrace the support tube.

17. A heavy duty vice substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A heavy duty vice substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.