GB2117283A

GB2117283A - Work-clamping vice

Info

Publication number: GB2117283A
Application number: GB08207913A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth D Kloster
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-03-10
Filing date: 1982-03-18
Publication date: 1983-10-12
Also published as: GB2117283B; CA1188330A; DE3208450A1

Abstract

The vice includes a base member 12 which is secured relative to a fixed support. A clamp includes a pair of jaw members 44, 46 one member 44 of which is fixed to support member 24 which is rotatably mounted in a bore 20 of the base member. The second jaw member 46 is pivotally interconnected to the first jaw member. The vice further includes a threaded handle 78 pivotally mounted on the second jaw member 46 and cooperating with the fixed jaw member for pivoting the jaws relative to one another. A vice of this construction is specially suitable for supporting automotive components such as a MacPherson strut suspension assembly or a rack and pinion steering assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vise Background of the Invention One type of vehicle suspension system which is becoming increasingly popular is the MacPherson strut suspension system. The MacPherson strut is an integral coil spring-shock absorber assembly which provides a lightweight, compact vehicle suspension system. The MacPherson strut suspension system is disclosed in more detail in United States Patent Number 2,624,592 to E. S.

MacPherson.

One of the problems associated with the MacPherson strut assembly is that the shock absorber typically wears out before the associated coil spring. In repairing the shock absorber unit, it is often necessary to remove the entire strut assembly from the vehicle. Once removed, it is desirous for the mechanic to support the assembly in some manner during the repair procedure.

Two companies, Branick Manufacturing of Fargo, North Dakota and Walker Manufacturing of Joneboro, Arkansas have vises which have been specifically designed to support a MacPherson Strut suspension assembly. Both of these vises include a support which is bolted to a work table and clamp assembly secured to the support. The clamp assembly includes a fixed member secured to the support and a pivoted member pivotally connected to the fixed member. The MacPherson strut assembly is placed between these two members and a latch pivotally connected to the fixed member is moved into engagement with the pivoted member to pivot the clamping members toward one another to secure the strut assembly.

One of the problems with the above-described type of MacPherson strut vise is that the pivoted clamping member and the latch are both independently pivoted to a fixed clamping member. This type of construction typically, requires the mechanic to utilize two hands.to operate the vise. Consequently, it is difficult for a mechanic to hold the strut assembly with one hand while operating the vise with the other.

Another problem associated with the abovedescribed vise is that, since one clamping member is fixed relative to the support, the strut assembly can only be supported in a single position.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for securely supporting a workpiece relative to a fixed support. Although the apparatus is specially suitable for supporting a MacPherson strut suspension assembly, it is also suitable for supporting other workpieces such as a rack tube of a rack and pinion steering assembly, for example. The apparatus includes a base member which is secured relative to a fixed support. A clamp means is rotatably mounted with respect to the base member. Means are provided for releasably securing the rotatable clamp means relative to the base member at predetermined intervals to militate against any relative rotative movement therebetween. The clamp means includes a pair of jaw members one member of which, except for the relative rotative movement between the clamp means and the base member, is fixed relative to the base member.The second jaw member is pivotally interconnected to the first jaw member. Both jaw members have a workpiece engaging surface formed thereon with the engaging surfaces arranged in a facing relation to one another.

The apparatus further includes means mounted on the second jaw member and cooperating with the fixed jaw member for pivoting the jaws relative to one another to move the workpiece engaging surfaces toward one another whereby a workpiece positioned between the surfaces will be securely supported.

Such a vise construction provides several advantages over the above-discussed prior art.

First, because the clamp means of the vise is rotatably mounted with respect to the fixed base member, the vise can be used in a variety of applications which require a workpiece to be supported in different positions. Secondly, since the means for pivoting the jaw members is located on the pivoted jaw, the operation of the vise is simplified by permitting a mechanic to operate the vise with one hand while positioning the workpiece with the other.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

The above, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become readily apparent to one skilled inrthe art when reading the following detailed description of the invention when considered in light of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top p,lan)view of a vise embodying the features of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side, elvational view of the vise shown in Figure 1 iliustrating in phantom the position of the clamp means after is has been rotated 900 with respect to the fixed support; Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the vise shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, illustrating in phantom the position of one of the jaw members of the clamp means after it has been-pivoted to release the workpiece; and Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, there is shown a vise generally indicated by reference numeral 10 embodying the features of the present invention.

The vise 10 includes a base member 12 having flange portions 1 4 adapted to receive a plurality of bolts 1 6 for securely mounting the base member to a fixed support 18. The base member 12 has a longitudinally and centrally disposed cylindrical aperture 20 formed therein for receiving a cylindrical end portion 22 of a support member 24.

As shown in Figure 5, the base member 20 includes a pair of apertures 26 and 28 generally perpendicular and centrally located relative to the central aperture 20. A pair of perpendicularly disposed apertures 30 and 32 of the same diameter as the apertures 26 and 28 are formed in the cylindrical portion 22. The apertures 30 and 32 are formed such that, when the support 24 is rotated to align the apertures 30 and 32 with the apertures 26 and 28, respectively, a securing pin 34 can be inserted in the pair of aligned apertures to prevent any relative rotative movement between the support 24 and the base member 12.

Since the aperture 30 is perpendicular to the aperture 32, the support member 24 can be rotated and secured relative to the base member 12 at 909 intervals. It will be appreciated that, in some instances, it may be desirous to secure the support member 24 and base member 12 at intervals other than 900. An annular groove 36 formed in the cylindrical end 22 cooperates with a set screw 38 mounted within an internally threaded aperture 40 in the base member 12 to prevent relative axial movement of the support 24 with respect to the base member 12 when the securing pin 34 is removed.

The vise 10 further includes a clamp means, generally indicated by the numeral 42, comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected jaw members 44 and 46. Each of the jaw members 44 and 46 includes a pair of spaced apart arm plates. The jaw member 44 includes arm plates 48 and 50, while the jaw member 46 includes arm plates 52 and 54. The jaw member 42 is secured to a block end 56 of the support 24 by means of a pair of threaded bolts 58 extending through apertures formed in the plate 48, the block 56, and the plate 50. The lower ends of the bolts 58 have fastening nuts 60 attached thereto. The jaw member 46 is pivotally connected to the jaw member 44 by means of a threaded bolt 62 extending through apertures formed in the plates 50 and 54. A through a cylindrical spacer sleeve 63 and through apertures formed in the plates 50 and 64.A fastening nut 64 is tightened to a point which permits the jaw member 46 to pivot relative to the jaw member 44. A pair of spaced apart bolts 66 are provided along with cylindrical spacer sleeves 68 and retaining nuts 70 to maintain the arm plates 52 and 54 in a spaced apart relationship.

The jaw members 44 and 46 are each provided with workpieces engaging surfaces in facing relation to one another, such as gripping teeth 72 and 74, respectively. Both the upper and lower arm plates of each jaw member can be provided with gripping teeth. The gripping teeth provide an effective means to secure a workpiece such as a cylindrical member 75, shown in phantom in Figure 1 or a MacPherson strut assembly 76, as shown in phantom in Figure 3. The gripping teeth 72 and 74 are specially effective when utilized to support automotive assemblies which are often coated with undercoating, road tar, etc.

The end of the jaw member 46, which is opposite the end where the gripping teeth 74 are formed, is provided with a means generally indicated at 77, for pivoting the jaw member 46 relative to the jaw member 44 to move the gripping teeth towards one another. The pivoting means 77 includes a threaded actuating handle 78 and a cooperating internally threaded cylindrical handle support 80. The handle 78 includes gripping portions 82 which are fixed to the end of an elongate shaft 84 having external threads 86 formed on the one end proximate the gripping portions 82, and having a reduced diameter portion 88 at the opposite end. The extreme outer end of the reduced diameter portion 88 is provided with a rounded end 89. The support 80 has reduced diameter end portions 92 which extend through apertures formed in the plates 52 and 54.A pair of snap rings 94 cooperate with annular grooves formed in the ends 92 to permit the support 80 to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

The support 80 has internal threads 96 formed therein to engage the threads 86 formed on the shaft 84.

The jaw member 44 includes a cylindrical spacer 98 positioned between arm plates 48 and 50. The spacer 98 has reduced diameter end portions 100 which extend through apertures in the plates 48 and 50 and are fixedly attached to each of the plates to prevent rotation of the spacer 98. The spacer 98 has a quarter section cut out 102 formed therein having a recessed portion 104 adapted to receive the rounded end 89 of the thread shaft 84.

In operation, the clamp means 42 is first rotated with the support member 24 relative to the base member 1 2 to the desired working position. The securing pin 34 is then placed in either the aperture 26 or the aperture 28 and through the respective apertures 30 or 32 formed in the support member 24 to secure the clamp means relative to the base member. The user then grasps the gripping portion 82 of the handle 70 with one hand and, while pivoting the rounded end 89 out of engagement with the spacer 98, also pivots the jaw member 46 in a direction to move the gripping teeth 72 and 74 away from one another. This open position is illustrated in phantom in Figure 4. Next, the user grasps the workpiece 75 to be supported with his other hand and positions it between the gripping teeth 72 and 74 of the two jaw members 44 and 46, respectively. While still holding the workpiece with one hand, the user pivots the jaw member 46 to move the gripping teeth toward one another while simultaneously pivoting the handle 78 about the support 80 to move the rounded end 89 into engagement with the recessed portion 104. The handle 78 is then rotated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 84 to screw the shaft into the support 80. As the rounded end 89 engages the recessed portion 104, the jaw member 46 is pivoted relative to the jaw member 44 to cause the gripping teeth 72 and 74 to move toward one another and securely grasp the workpiece.

It will be appreciated that once the workpiece is secured, the user can rotate the workpiece to another position by removing the securing pin 34.

It will also be appreciated that the workpiece can be quickly removed from the clamp means 42 by merely unscrewing the handle 78 a few turns sufficiently to permit the handle to pivot from the quarter section cut out 102. It should be noted that, in addition to supporting a MacPherson strut assembly, that vise 10 can also be effectively used to support a rack tube of a rack and pinion steering assembly (not shown).

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle and mode of operation of the invention have been explained in what is considered to represent its best embodiment. it should, however, be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securely supporting a workpiece relative to a fixed support comprising: a base member; means for securing said base member to the fixed support; clamp means rotatably mounted on said base member including a pair of jaw members pivotally interconnected, each of said jaw members having a workpiece engaging surface thereon with said engaging surfaces in facing relation to one another; means for releasably securing said rotatable clamp means relative to said base member to militate against any relative rotative movement therebetween; and means mounted on said clamp means for effecting pivotal movement of said jaw members relative to one another to move said workpiece engaging surfaces toward and away from one another whereby a workpiece positioned between said surfaces may be securely supported relative to the fixed support.

2. An apparatus for securely supporting a workpiece relative to a fixed support comprising: a base member; means for securing said base member to the fixed support; clamp means including a fixed jaw member secured to said base member and a pivoted jaw member pivotally connected to said fixed jaw, said fixed and pivoted jaws each having a workpiece engaging surface thereon with said engaging surfaces in facing relation to one another; and means mounted on said pivoted jaw and cooperating with said fixed jaw for effecting pivotal movement of said arms relative to one another to move said workpiece engaging surfaces toward and away from one another whereby a workpiece positioned between said surfaces may be securely supported relative to the fixed support.