US1274451A - Clamping mechanism for welders. - Google Patents

Description

A. W. RICHARDS.

CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR WELDERS. APPLICATION FILED MA'Y18. mu.

1 374,45 1 Patented Aug. 6, 191&

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

A. W. RICHARDS.

CLAMPINB MECHANISM FOR WELDERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. I917.

1,274,455 1 Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

2 SHEEYSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARCHEB W. RICHARDS. OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE FIBESTONE STEEL PRODUCTS COMPANIKOF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF o'mo.

CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR WELDERS.

. Specification of Letters ?atent.

Patented Aug-.6, 1918.

Application filedMay 18, 1917. Serial No. 189,439.

ful Improvements in Clamping Mechanism for ll'elders. as shown in the accompanying specification.

This invention is directed to an attachment for use on electric welders. or similar apparatus. designed to replace the heavy manually-operable clamps at present in use on'this type of machine. and to quickly and accurately clamp ends of metal in abutment for the operation known as butt-welding. It is particularly designed for butt-welding the ends of rims. fellv bands or the like parts for the manufacture of demountable automobile rims although it is not intended to be confined to this class of work.

In the drawings accompanyingthis application is shown one form of -the device embodying m invention. in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an "elec- I tric welder with the clamping mechanism mounted thereon, the clamping mechanism bein shown in section. with clamps withdrawn and a portion of the rim mounted on the welder. i

Fig. 2 is a similar view of my attaclnnent showing the mechanism in extended or clamping position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the clamping attachment the left hand half beingshown in section with the clamping shoe removed. The welder is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1 and is of an v well known type, the platen being designated by the numeral 2. The clamping mechanism is carried in the platen and Comprises two similar mechanisms placed in juxtaposition. one righthand and one left'hand, the construction being the same except for a reversal of parts. Ruth mechanism comprises a bracket or housing 4. which is secured to the platen 2 bv a forwardly extending arm 5 on the end of which is secured a rest 6 for the work, here shown as a rim base 7.

Onthe upper rear corner of each housing is secured a cylinder 8 in which is mounted for reciprocation a piston 9. This cylinder is intended to be connected with a source of fluid pressure, air or water by means of pipes 10 arranged to afl'ord 1nlet or outlet means for operation of the piston as will be readily understood. A link 11 is connected to the piston J at one end. the other end being pivotally ccnnected to the knee of a toggle formed by levers l2 and 13. p

The lever 12 is pivoted on a transverse rod 14 mounted in the upper end of the casing 4. and the lever 13 is pivota ll v connected to a web 15 formed on the upper side of the movable clamping arm 16. The housing 4 is open to permit the reci|n-ocation ot' the clamping arm and its outer side wall supports. by 'means of bolts 17. a guide rail in formed with an enlarged head 1 rearward extension 20 is formed in the arm 16 which is provided with a longitudinal slot- 21. roller 2:! mounted on a shaft 23 is received in this slot and supports the rear end of the arm. The outer face of each arm 16 is provided with a longitudinal groove or track 24 in which is received the head 19 of the guide r ail plates 2.1 and :26 being secured to the arnr serving to hold it on the rail. The upper plate 2?: is cut back in its. rear portion as at 2'[ to cnablc'the clamping arm to drop on the work as will appear in the description of the operation of theapparatus. To the front inner face of eaclrclamping arm is fastened a shoe :23 the under side of which has a hardened face 29 adapted to come directly over the work rest (3. and provided with recesses 31 to receive ribs or other irregularities on the rim. Adjusting screws 30 are carried in the clamping arms and bears against the upper surface of the shoes.

A rini section. or other part. being ready for welding the ends are placed in abutmenton the work rests ti and the valves opened admitting; fluid pressure on the rear of the pistons S. The clamping arms 11: are then moved forward horizontally until recessed portion 23? of the plates 25 registers with the rails 19. At the same time the roller 22 reaches the end of the slot 21. Continued movement of the piston straightens out the toggle 12-13 and the arm 16 rocks on the roller, bringing the clamping 'shoe down firmlv on the ends of the work. 'When the a welding is completed the piston is withdrawn the clamping arm rising up from the work in a straight line until the rail 19 strikes the lower plate 26. whereupon the arm will be withdrawn to its original position. 4

In placing the rim or other material in position to be clamped and welded it is often necessary for the operator'to hold the ends together until they are clamped as they may be sprung out of line. Were an ordinary swinging clamp used for this work, it would be very dangerous as the workmans hand could be caught before he had a chance to withdraw it. With the arrangement here shown the lateral motion ofthe clamping arm, passing as it does but a slight distance over the upper surface of the rim, will serve ush the hand of the operator oil the rim ore the clamp descends. It is obvious that various changes and modifications ma be made in the construction of the clamping mechanism, without departing fromlthe spirit of the invention, it being essential that the clamp .be moved horizontally over to a point above its clamping position and then downwardly on to the work. This may be done by a system of levers other than that shown or by the use of separate cylinders to perform the two movements, 7 a

Whatlclaim is:

to be 1, In combination with an electric welder,

a clamping arm adapted to hold thework,

and means to move said clamping am .111

one directionover. thework, and in another direct-ion to clamping position.

2 In combination with an electric welder, to hold the work anthmeansto move said clamping arm laterally, to a position over the work, and vertically to clamping pos'tion. a

3.,- In combination with an electric welder, a, clamping arm, a support; for said arm adapted to. guide it for horizontal movement;

to clamping position and release it for clamping.

4. In combination with an electric welder, a clamping arm means to guide said arm horizontal y to clamping position and to release it for vertical movement for clamping, and lever mechanism to move it horizontally and vertically.

5. In combination with an electric welder, a clamping arm, means to guide said arm horizontally to clamping position and to release it for vertical movement for clamping, a toggle joint connected to said arm and adapted to move it horizontally and vertically.

6. A clamping mechanism for an electric welder comprising'a bracket on said welder, a clamping arm, a rail on said bracket to support the clamping arm for horizontal movement,the body oi the arm being provided with a slot, a shaft in said bracket passing through said slot, and adapted to form a pivotal support for the arm in its vertical movement.

7. A clamping mechanism for an electric welder, comprising a bracket on said welder, a clamping arm capable of both horizontal and vertical movement, a rail on said bracket to support the clamping arm for horizontal movement,-a shaft passing through the arm and adapted to form'a pivot forithe vefiical movement of the arm, 'a toggle lever con nected to said bracket and said arm, and a fluid actuated mechanism for operating said toggle to move the clamping am both horizontally and vertically.

ARCHER w. RICHARDS.

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