US1897548A - Method of clamping and means therefor - Google Patents

Description

1933. s. D. BUTTERWORTH 3 METHOD OF CLAMPING AND MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 28, 1930 AT ORNEY Patented Feb. 14, 1933 iJNITED STATES SAMUEL D. BUTTERWORTH, 013 DETROIT,

PATENT OFFICE MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T JOSEPHINE M. I

BUTTERWORTH, 01f DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AND C. P. G-ABLE, OF GABLE, SOUTH I CAROLINA METHODOF GLAMIING AND MEANS THEREFOR Application filed November 28, 1930. Serial No. 498,704.

' This invention relates to methods and means for clamping composite wooden stock billets for gluing, more particularly for use in gluing the billets used in making the wooden tile blocks as shown in my Patent No. 1,7 36,186, dated November 19,1929. 6

Objects of the invention are to provide methods and means for facilitating the manufacture of the tile blocks in quantity; to insure the even distribution and application of pressure to all of the joints; and to shape the blocks accurately and to hold them firmly until the glue has set and hardened. Further objects are to provide means for holding and clamping the billets so that a single hydraulic ram or other powerful press can be employed; to provide a clamp comprising standardized sections which can be assembled in different ways to hold one or as many blocks as may be desired so that a large number of different kinds of parts are not involved.

Heretofore it has been customary to clamp the blocks between the two opposite sides, or to apply pressure directly across the square at ri ht angles to the faces in two directions. This requirestwo pressure sources ortwo operations, and incurs the liability of distortion from applying more pressure in one direction than in the other.

In this invention the pressure is applied diagonally, or to opposite corners of the square section, the pressure being applied through oppositely disposed right angles, or ninety degree V-shaped holders. In this arrangement only one pressure machine is required, distortions are prevented, and the pressure is distributed in all directions throughout the section.

For illustrating my invention I have shown an exemplary embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an end elevation of the clamping means in position in the press.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the intermediate clamping member.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of either one of the end clamping members Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, taken 0 on a smaller scale.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a billet adapted to be manufactured by means of the aforesaid apparatus.

The stock billets 5 are constructed as described in said patent by assembling strips of different cross sectional configuration to form the desired pattern in the cross-section of the billet. Since the strips are longitudinally disposed in the billet, and the tile formed by cutting sections from the end of the billet, the end grain of the wood is exposed in the surface of the finished tile. After the strips are glued and assembled in the billet, it is necessary to compress and hold the billet under pressure until the glue has set and become thoroughly dried. Since the joints between the parts of the section run at many different angles, it is obviously necessary to compress the section equally from all sides or apply pressure in all'directions.

The clamping means according tothis invention consist of an assemblage of but two difierently shaped members 6 and 7 the X- shaped members 6 being used for the intermediate clamping and the members 7 for clamping at the ends. The X-shaped members 6 may be dispensed with entirely, as will be obvious from the following description, and their place taken by two of the members 7 placed in back to back relationship, but for obvious reasons it is more desirable to employ the members 6 when available. 7

The intermediate clamping member 6 consists of two cross arm portions 8 and 9, crossed at right angles which provide the op positely disposed pairs of clamping surfaces 10 and 11, forming the two oppositely disposed !-s. The outer ends of arms 8 and 9 are connected by bracing portions 12 so that heavy pressure can be transmitted through the members without causing displacement or distortion.

10 and 11. At either side, in the end memher 7, are provided projecting portions 18 having slots 19 for the engagement of the clamping rods 20. Vith clamping members of the two difi'erent shapes 6 and 7, as many billets may be clamped in a vertical stack or tier as desired, and two of the clamping members 7 may be employed to clamp a single billet.

Since the billets are sometimes several feet in length, four sets of clamps are usually employed, one an inch or so back from each end and two spaced evenly between the end sets, as shown in Fig. 4:. The stacks are placed on wheel trucks 21 supported on suitable rails 22 and 23, between which is positioned the ram 24 of a hydraulic press 25. The truck ,is loaded, wheeled over the press, and the rams are projected to lift the truck, with the stack thereon, and compress the stack against the fixed beams 26 constituting the stationary head of the press.

In order to obtain contact over the entire periphery of the block, especially at the corners, the ends of the arms 8, 9, 15 and 16 of the clamping members are notched or cutaway at one side as at 26 so that the ends of the arms will interlock and lap over the ends of the arms of the adjacent clamping member. Thus, when the ram 24 is raised, the square sect-ions are compressed equally from all sides; the pressure is communicated equally to all of the blocks; and the opera tion is quickly and automatically performed. After the billets are compressed, the clamps are locked together by the rods 20, the rods being provided with threaded nuts 28, at one end for drawing and holding the clamps together. The ram 24 may then be lowered and the truck 21 with its load of clamped billets be wheeled away to a suitable storage place until the glue in the billets has had sufficient time to set or dry, after which the nuts 28 may be loosened and the clamps removed.

With this arrangement a single pressure means can be employed, the joints are drawn closely together from all sides, and the billets are firmly clamped. The clamping members are simple in form and can be readily assembled on the billets. Accordingly, it will be seen that, by this invention, the tile blocks, billets or similar articles may be manufactured with a minimum of time and labor, in any quantity, and uniform results obtained.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

clamping surfaces forming a tier of diagonally aligned squares, and means for compressing the stack from the ends thereof to compress all of the squares simultaneously.

2. Clamping means comprising an X- shaped intermediate member having oppositely disposed pairs of angularly related clamping arms, and a V-shaped end member having a single pair of angularly related arms in complementary and cooperative relation with the arms of the intermediate member.

3. Clamping means comprising an X- shaped intermediate member having oppositely disposed pairs of angularly related clamping arms, and a V-shaped end member having a single pair of angularly related arms in complementary and 'cooperativere lationwith the arms of the intermediatememher, the ends of the members being notched to overlap the adjacent end portions of the other members.

4. Clampingmeans comprising a pair of end members and at least one intermediate member co-operable therewith, said end members each comprising a base portion and opposed arms extending a-ngularly therefrom, and said intermediate portion comprising a pair of V-shaped elements secured in opposed relationship, and means for connecting said end members together with said intermediate member between them.

5. The method of forming and adhering composite wood billets which comprises applying an adhesive to contacting surfaces of complementary elongated strips of wood, as sembling the strips into solid billets polygonal in cross section, stacking said billets in tiers with opposite apexes aligned, and applying pressure to the sides of said billets along a line extending through opposite apexes of the billets.

6. Clamping means comprising a stack of clamps having complementary angular clamping surfaces forming a tier of diagonally aligned squares, and tie rods extending between the outer clamps of said stack in a direction parallel to lines medial of said clamping surfaces for clamping the stacks from the ends thereof to compress all of the squares simultaneously.

7 Clamping means comprising a pair of end members and at least oneintermediate member cooperable therewith, said end members each comprising a base portion having a fiat surface and opposed arms extending angularly therefrom, lug members projecting in opposite directions from said arms and disposed in a plane parallel to but inwardly spaced relativeto said flat surface, said in.-

termediate portion comprising. a pair of V- shaped elements secured in opposed relationship, and tie rods engaging said lug members for connecting said end members together with the intermediate member between said tie rod and between said end members.

SAMUEL D. BUTTERWO TH.

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