US20180161947A1 - Machining Fixture with Quick Release Lever - Google Patents
Machining Fixture with Quick Release Lever Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20180161947A1 US20180161947A1 US15/377,623 US201615377623A US2018161947A1 US 20180161947 A1 US20180161947 A1 US 20180161947A1 US 201615377623 A US201615377623 A US 201615377623A US 2018161947 A1 US2018161947 A1 US 2018161947A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fixture
- workpiece
- quick release
- release lever
- lever
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q7/00—Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting
- B23Q7/006—Ejectors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/02—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine for mounting on a work-table, tool-slide, or analogous part
- B23Q3/06—Work-clamping means
- B23Q3/061—Work-clamping means adapted for holding a plurality of workpieces
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/02—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine for mounting on a work-table, tool-slide, or analogous part
- B23Q3/06—Work-clamping means
- B23Q3/062—Work-clamping means adapted for holding workpieces having a special form or being made from a special material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
- B25B11/00—Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
- B25B5/00—Clamps
- B25B5/003—Combinations of clamps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
- B25B5/00—Clamps
- B25B5/006—Supporting devices for clamps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
- B25B5/00—Clamps
- B25B5/04—Clamps with pivoted jaws
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
- B25B5/00—Clamps
- B25B5/14—Clamps for work of special profile
- B25B5/147—Clamps for work of special profile for pipes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
- B23P6/00—Restoring or reconditioning objects
- B23P6/02—Pistons or cylinders
Definitions
- the present disclosure generally relates to a fixture for holding a workpiece during a machining operation and, more particularly, relates to a fixture having a quick release lever mounted thereon for removing a workpiece from the fixture.
- Remanufacturing is a rapidly growing industry and philosophy. Remanufacturing means salvaging or removing used manufactured components, e.g., engine parts, and processing the components in a manufacturing environment where they are efficiently and completely repaired and prepared for further life. The remanufactured components may then be returned to customers for additional service or used in rebuilt engines, for example. Remanufacturing extends the life of products, which results in cost savings, economy of resources and environmental benefits, as well as creating new revenue sources for manufactures, machinists and mechanics. Of course, to retain their value, remanufactured components must be returned to a commercially and technically acceptable state. The quality of remanufactured products is typically as good as, and in some cases better than, the original new product.
- Remanufactured parts may include, for example, pistons, bearings, valve bridges, valve components, brake drums, cylinders, cylinder heads, pump components, crankshafts, etc.
- parts to be repaired may undergo multiple machining operations including, milling, grinding, drilling, shaping and/or heat treatment.
- the part being repaired in the remanufacturing process is commonly referred to as a workpiece.
- Many machining operations are directed to removing material from a workpiece in a controlled manner; and many parts used in modern machine systems need to have a relatively exact size, configuration, alignment of features or factors such as surface finish to function properly in a service environment.
- CNC computer numerical control
- Such “high precision” machining generally refers to techniques for cutting, grinding and other forms of workpiece modification where tolerances can be relatively tightly controlled.
- a fixture may be required to immobilize the workpiece and secure it for the high precision application of a machining tool.
- Fixtures for positioning and maintaining workpieces relative to a metal working tool are well known in the manufacturing industry (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,482 discloses a fixture for pistons).
- Such fixtures are designed to hold a particular workpiece so that suitable machining of the workpiece may be accomplished.
- a workpiece may be mounted at one or more locations on a fixture and immobilized on the fixture using a clamping member or similar means. Because workpieces may vary in size and shape, a different fixture is normally required for each different workpiece, and custom building of fixtures for particular workpieces is common. In many cases, the fixture is used to immobilize the workpiece while the cutting tool moves horizontally or vertically relative to the workpiece.
- Such pummeling of the piston obviously presents the undesired potential of damaging the surface and/or structure of the remanufactured workpiece, thereby rendering the entire remanufacturing process moot.
- the shape of the piston may change so much after banging it loose from the fixture that it no longer has the desired dimensions.
- the fixture itself may also be struck in the process of removing the workpiece and therefore inadvertently damaged.
- the use of a hammer or other tool by a machinist in the remanufacturing environment may present safety risk to all personnel present in the work environment. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a solution for efficiently removing workpieces from fixtures, thereby preserving the integrity of both the workpiece and the fixture, as well as the security of the workplace.
- a fixture for supporting a workpiece during a machining operation may include a seat configured to receive the workpiece.
- the fixture may include a quick release lever mounted to the fixture and configured to displace the workpiece from the seat.
- a quick release lever for mounting to a fixture for use in a machining operation.
- the quick release lever may include a handle disposed at a first end of the lever, the handle configured for manual engagement.
- the disclosed quick release lever may further include a contact surface disposed at a second end of the lever, the contact surface configured to contact and displace a workpiece mounted on the fixture.
- the quick release lever may include a point of attachment disposed between the handle and the contact surface, the point of attachment configured to receive a fastener for pivotally mounting the lever to the fixture.
- a method of removing a workpiece from a fixture for use in a machining operation may include the steps of providing a fixture, and providing a workpiece received by the fixture.
- the method may include the step of providing a quick release lever mounted to the fixture, the quick release lever having a handle configured for manual engagement and contact surface configured for contacting the workpiece.
- the method may include the step of actuating the quick release lever to displace the workpiece from the fixture.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary fixture on which workpieces may be mounted for a machining operation, the fixture including two exemplary quick release levers.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fixture of FIG. 1 illustrating an exemplary workpiece mounted thereon as well as the displacement of another exemplary workpiece from the fixture by one of the quick release levers.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the quick release levers of FIGS. 1 and 2 mounted to a portion of the fixture.
- FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a method for removing a workpiece from a fixture according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
- the present disclosure is directed to a fixture for supporting a workpiece during a machining operation, the fixture having a quick release lever mounted thereon. While the disclosed embodiments of fixtures and quick release levers are described in a remanufacturing setting, this disclosure is equally applicable in any work environment where fixtures for supporting workpieces are employed. In addition, while the fixture described and depicted in this disclosure is supporting a piston, this disclosure may be applicable to fixtures for any workpieces, including bearings, valve bridges, valve components, cylinders, pump components, etc. Any fixture, including custom made fixtures, may be adapted with the quick release lever of this disclosure. Likewise, any fixture base may be adapted with a seat to receive any particular workpiece, the seat adapted to work in cooperation with the disclosed quick release lever.
- the disclosed fixture may be mounted to a stationary base, and a machining device may move horizontally or vertically or otherwise relative to the workpiece mounted on the fixture.
- teachings of this disclosure may also be applied where a lathe is employed.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a fixture 10 for supporting two workpieces during a machining operation.
- the machining operation may involve cutting, grinding and/or other forms of workpiece modification.
- the fixture is intended to support two pistons 20 , 22 for a machining operation.
- the two pistons 20 , 22 may be machined at the same time, or the pistons may be machined independent of one another at alternate times.
- the machining device may work to repair the piston 20 in the first position 26 while an already repaired piston 22 in the second position 28 is removed and replaced with an unrepaired piston. Thereafter, the machining device may shift to the unrepaired piston in the second position 28 to work thereon while the repaired piston 20 in the first position 26 is removed and replaced by an unrepaired piston. In this manner, the machining device may alternate between the two positions 26 , 28 repairing pistons while a machinist exchanges repaired pistons for unrepaired pistons.
- the disclosed fixture 10 may include a fixture base 30 on which two vertically extending pin bore locators 32 , 34 are positioned.
- the fixture 10 may further include a vertically extending support plate 38 on which first and second seats 40 , 42 are disposed.
- the seats 40 , 42 may be integral with the support plate 38 or may be mounted to the support plate 38 by any number of manners known in the art.
- Each of the seats 40 , 42 may include, opposite the support plate 38 , relatively thin seat plates 44 , 46 , which help to further secure and immobilize the workpieces received in the seats 40 , 42 .
- These seat plates 44 , 46 may be secured to the seats 40 , 42 by bolts or by any other commonly known fastening manner. As illustrated in FIG.
- the workpieces received in the seats 40 , 42 of the fixture 10 are pistons 20 , 22 .
- the pistons 20 , 22 may include a crown or head (not shown), a piston skirt 52 and pin bores 54 in opposite sides of the piston skirt 52 .
- the pistons 20 , 22 may also include ring grooves 58 . It is this portion of the pistons 20 , 22 having the ring grooves 58 that is received in the seats 40 , 42 of the fixture 10 .
- the seat plates 44 , 46 When the seat plates 44 , 46 are included, the seat plates 44 , 46 may fit directly into one of the ring grooves 58 of the pistons 20 , 22 . In this manner, the pistons 20 , 22 may be further secured in the seats 40 , 42 .
- the seats 40 , 42 are specifically designed to receive pistons having the exact shape of the illustrated pistons 20 , 22 .
- the seats 40 , 42 may be interchangeable with other seats for accommodating pistons of different dimensions or elements.
- seats for receiving other parts, e.g., valves or cylinders, for machining may instead be mounted on the fixture 10 .
- the fixture 10 is adaptable for different pistons, as well as wholly different workpieces.
- the seats 40 , 42 depicted in this disclosure are generally symmetrical and can therefore be used in either the first position 26 or the second position 28 , and can also potentially be flipped such that the opposite face of the seat is mounted to the support plate 38 .
- seat plates 44 , 46 also being generally symmetrical, may be alternated between first and second positions 26 , 28 , and/or flipped.
- the pistons 20 , 22 may also be received onto and centered by the vertically extending pin bore locators 32 , 34 .
- the pin bore locators 32 , 34 extend through the pin bores 54 of the piston skirt 52 .
- the pistons 20 , 22 are certain to be well centered in seats 40 , 42 , as required for the high precision machining operations to be performed thereon.
- the fixture 10 may also include clamping members received at positions 60 , 62 . Such clamping members may lock down onto the pistons 20 , 22 further securing and immobilizing the pistons 20 , 22 for the machining operation.
- the pin bore locators 32 , 34 may be downwardly displaced and therefore removed from the piston skirt 52 and the piston bores 54 in advance of the machining operation. After the machining operation has taken place, the pin bore locators 32 , 34 may be raised and again inserted into the piston skirt 52 and piston bores 54 before dismounting the piston 20 , 22 from the fixture 10 .
- FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a quick release lever 70 configured to displace the workpiece from the fixture 10 .
- the quick release lever 70 may be mounted to one or both seats 40 , 42 of the fixture 10 .
- FIG. 1 which depicts the fixture 10 without workpieces, includes two quick release levers 70 mounted to the seats 40 , 42 in the first and second positions 26 , 28 . Both quick release levers 70 of FIG. 1 are in a non-actuated position.
- FIG. 2 which depicts the fixture 10 with pistons 20 , 22 , includes the same two quick release levers 70 mounted to the seats 40 , 42 in the first and second positions 26 , 28 .
- FIG. 1 which depicts the fixture 10 without workpieces, includes two quick release levers 70 mounted to the seats 40 , 42 in the first and second positions 26 , 28 .
- FIG. 2 which depicts the fixture 10 with pistons 20 , 22 , includes the same two quick release levers 70 mounted to the seats 40 , 42 in the first and second positions 26 , 28
- FIG. 3 illustrates the seat 42 independent of the fixture 10 , the seat 42 having the quick release lever 70 mounted thereon. While the lever 70 is illustrated as mounted to the seats 40 , 42 , it should be appreciated that the lever 70 may be mounted elsewhere on the fixture 10 so long as it is capable of functioning to displace a workpiece from the fixture 10 .
- a point of attachment 72 of the lever 70 may receive a fastener 74 used to pivotally mount the lever 70 to the seats 40 , 42 .
- the fastener 74 may be a bolt with a bushing, or one of many other fasteners known in the industry for pivotally joining parts.
- the lever 70 includes at a first end a handle 76 configured for manual engagement.
- the handle 76 may be integral with the lever 70 or may be attached by any means known in the art. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the handle 76 may extend outwardly from the fixture in either an actuated or a non-actuated position, the actuated position resulting from the manual movement of the handle 76 downward by a machinist or other personnel.
- the lever 70 may include a device 78 that allows the handle 76 to be folded in a downward direction relative to the remainder of the lever 70 when the fixture 10 is not being used.
- the device 78 may be a bolt that when loosened allows the handle 76 to be pivoted down.
- the device 78 may be a track (not shown) at the first end of the lever 70 on which the handle 76 may slide and thereafter fold in a downwardly direction.
- One of many devices known in the industry may be employed for folding the handle 76 down, thereby reducing the size of the fixture 10 . Among other advantages, reducing the size of the fixture 10 may be beneficial for storage purposes.
- An opposite, second end of the lever 70 includes a contact surface 80 extending in an upward direction and configured to contact and displace a workpiece mounted on the fixture 10 .
- the contact surface 80 may be the top surface of an ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) polyethylene pin 82 mounted to the lever 70 by any manner known in the industry.
- the pin 82 may receive a bolt or any other known fastener for attaching the pin 82 to the lever 70 .
- the second end of the lever 70 may be coated with a contact surface material rather than having an independent element mounted thereto.
- the coated second end of the lever may have an upwardly extending design configured to reach and engage the workpiece when the lever 70 is in an actuated position.
- the design of the second end of the lever 70 having the contact surface 80 may be altered depending on the particular fixture and the particular workpiece at hand.
- the contact surface 80 or pin 82 may be another material known in the art, such as, but not limited to, other thermoplastics, phenolics, nylon, acetal, polypropylene, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), etc.
- the contact surface 80 should be durable, shock resistant, rigid and non-abrasive so as not to damage the surface of the workpiece when contacting and displacing the workpiece.
- the quick release lever 70 may also include a device 86 to automatically return the lever 70 to the non-actuated position. Specifically, after manually pivoting the handle 76 downward in order to raise the contact surface 80 and displace a workpiece from the seat 42 , the device 86 automatically shifts the handle 76 upward to its non-actuated, resting position. This non-actuated position is depicted in FIG. 1 (both positions 26 , 28 ) and in the first position 26 of FIG. 2 . With reference to FIG. 3 , the device 86 for automatically returning the lever 70 to its non-actuated position may include a spring 88 disposed between the lever 70 and the seat 42 . To facilitate the attachment of the spring 88 , a bracket 90 may also be used.
- the bracket 90 may be fastened by any manner known in the art to the seat 42 while also receiving the spring 88 .
- the spring 88 is disposed between the seat 42 and the lever 70 without having to be directly attached to the seat 42 .
- the bracket 90 may be positioned at other attachment points 94 on the seat 42 depending on the size of the bracket 90 , the size of the spring 88 , the particular workpiece received in the seat 42 or other parameters of the fixture 10 .
- the spring 88 may be stretched or expanded to allow actuation of the lever 70 to contact and displace the workpiece; however, the spring 88 automatically returns to its resting position after the expansion force is released, thereby also returning the lever 70 to its non-actuated position. In this manner, the lever 70 and the handle 76 are generally maintained in a raised, non-actuated position leaving the contact surface 80 lowered and the seat 42 physically unencumbered and available to receive a workpiece.
- the disclosed quick release lever 70 may be reversible and therefore may be pivotally mounted at either the first position 26 or the second position 28 of the fixture 10 .
- both of the seats 40 , 42 being generally symmetrical, may receive opposite sides of the same lever 70 .
- the lever 70 may be flipped and the fastener 74 may be employed to pivotally mount the lever 70 at the point of attachment 72 onto the seat at the opposite position. Therefore, this quick release lever 70 design is not only versatile with regard to the numerous fixtures and workpieces it may cooperate with, but it is interchangeable on opposite sides the disclosed fixture 10 as well.
- This symmetrical design of the seats 40 , 42 as well as the reversible nature of the lever 70 may help to avoid risks of dysfunction from incorrect installation/orientation of the elements of the fixture 10 .
- FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a method 100 of removing a workpiece from a fixture 10 for use in a machining operation.
- the method 100 for removing a workpiece may include: a first step 110 of providing a fixture 10 ; and a second step 120 of providing a workpiece received by the fixture 10 .
- the fixture 10 may include seats 40 , 42 for receiving the workpiece.
- the fixture 10 and the seats 40 , 42 may be specifically designed to receive the pistons 20 , 22 of certain dimensions and elements though the fixture 10 may be adaptable to other workpieces.
- the method 100 for removing a workpiece may include: the step 130 of providing a quick release lever 70 pivotally mounted to the fixture 10 , the quick release lever having a handle 76 configured for manual engagement and a contact surface 80 configured for contacting the workpiece.
- the handle 76 and the contact surface 80 may be disposed at opposite ends of the lever 70 , and the lever 70 may be mounted to the fixture 10 at a point of attachment 72 between the handle 76 and the contact surface 80 .
- the quick release lever 70 may also include a spring 88 that functions to automatically maintain the lever 70 in a non-actuated position.
- the method 100 for removing a workpiece may include: the step 140 of actuating the quick release lever 70 to displace the workpiece from the fixture 10 .
- this step 140 requires the manual downward shifting of the lever 70 by a machinist or other personnel, which in turn raises the contact surface 80 of the lever 70 to contact and displace the workpiece from the fixture 10 .
- the method may include the step 150 of performing a machining operation on the workpiece. It is during this machining operation that the workpiece may become stuck on the fixture 10 , thereby requiring the actuation of the quick release lever 70 . Alternatively, the workpiece may become stuck due to bad placement on the seat 40 , 42 before the machining operation ever takes place.
- step 140 of actuating the quick release lever 70 will typically occur after the step 150 of performing the machining operation, the step 150 is not critical to this method 100 and it is foreseeable that the step 140 of actuating the quick release lever 70 may, in some circumstances, take place absent the performance of any machining operation on the workpiece.
- the disclosed fixture 10 and the quick release lever 70 may have applicability in manufacturing or remanufacturing environments where machining operations are taking place.
- Fixtures having the disclosed quick release lever 70 may be designed to receive any number of workpieces for machining, including bearings, valve bridges, valve components, cylinders, pump components, etc. It is common in the industry for fixtures to be custom designed for individual workpieces. While the presently disclosed fixture 10 includes a custom design seat 40 , 42 for receiving a piston 20 , 22 , an alternatively designed seat may be mounted to the fixture 10 for receiving any other workpiece for machining. Further, the disclosed quick release lever 70 may work in combination with any such seat, designed to receive pistons or otherwise, to contact and displace the workpiece from the fixture 10 .
- the disclosed fixture 10 having a quick release lever 70 mounted thereon, and method 100 enable a machinist or other personnel to remove workpieces from a fixture after a machining operation has taken place without damaging the newly machined workpiece.
- a workpiece such as a piston 20 , 22
- a machining operation may be performed on the piston 20 , 22 , thereby transforming an old, used piston into a remanufactured piston having a quality equal to or better than that of a new piston.
- the disclosed fixture 10 includes seats 40 , 42 for receiving pistons 20 , 22 .
- the seats 40 , 42 may include seat plates 44 , 46 , which help to further secure and immobilize the pistons 20 , 22 for the machining operation.
- the ring grooves 58 of the pistons 20 , 22 are received in the seats 40 , 42 .
- This fit may include the seat plates 44 , 46 being received into one of the ring grooves 58 , thereby securing the piston in a precise location as required for the machining operation.
- the pin bores 54 of the pistons 20 , 22 are received onto the pin bore locators 32 , 34 of the fixture 10 .
- the pin bore locators 32 , 34 traverse the pin bores 54 and the piston skirt 52 , as seen in the first position 26 of FIG. 2 , thereby further aiding in the correct positioning of the pistons 20 , 22 .
- clamps may also be employed at positions 60 , 62 to further lock the pistons 20 , 22 in place for the machining operation.
- the pistons 20 , 22 may become stuck or otherwise immovable from the fixture 10 after the machining operation has concluded.
- removal of such workpieces from fixtures may have required the machinist to strike the workpiece with a hammer or other device to dislodge the workpiece from the fixture.
- This method presents risks to the machinist's safety, to the fixture and to the workpiece that receives such blows.
- a precise shape, dimensions and finish of the workpiece are required for the workpiece to be considered commercially and technically acceptable.
- the presently disclosed fixture 10 for piston remanufacturing includes the quick release levers 70 for easily and safely removing the pistons 20 , 22 from the fixture 10 without damaging the same.
- a machinist need only grasp and shift the handle 76 of lever 70 downward to in turn contact and displace the piston 20 , 22 from the seat 40 , 42 .
- the downward movement of the handle 76 causes the lever 70 to pivot at its point of attachment 72 , resulting in a corresponding upward movement of the contact surface 80 .
- the contact surface 80 applies a displacing force against an underside of the piston 22 thereby lifting the piston 22 off of the seat 42 , as illustrated in the second position 28 of FIG. 2 .
- the contact surface 80 may be the upper surface of a pin 82 mounted to the lever 70 , which may be of any thermoplastic know for use in the industry that is durable, rigid and non-abrasive so as not to damage the surface of the workpiece when contacting and displacing the workpiece. While a fixture for piston machining is specifically described and illustrated in this disclosure, a fixture for any workpiece may be adapted with the disclosed quick release lever 70 . Further, while the lever 70 of the present disclosure applies the displacing force to an underside of the workpiece, it should be appreciated that the lever 70 may be mounted in any configuration that allows one to apply a force through the lever 70 to displace a workpiece, depending on how exactly the workpiece is received onto the fixture at hand.
- the lever 70 is automatically returned to its non-actuated or resting position. Specifically, the spring 88 disposed between the seat 40 , 42 and the lever 70 , having expanded when the lever 70 is actuated, then returns the lever 70 back to the non-actuated position once the machinist releases the lever 70 . In this manner, the piston 20 , 22 may be removed and fixture 10 is available to receive an additional piston for machining.
- the presently improved method of removing a workpiece from a fixture allows a machinist to quickly remove and replace a workpiece for a machining operation.
- workpieces may become stuck or otherwise immovable from a fixture by the machinist alone due to the machining operation performed on the workpiece, or due to inaccurate placement of the workpiece on the fixture.
- the disclosed fixture and method reduce the risk of damaging a stuck workpiece by avoiding the application of unnecessary force to the workpiece by a hammer or other tool with the intention of dislodging the workpiece from the fixture. Therefore, not only does the disclosed method increase the efficiency of the machining operation as a whole, but this method also maintains the integrity and quality of the workpiece and the fixture.
- the disclosed method and fixture having a quick release lever mounted thereon, eliminate any potential safety risks posed by a machinist using a hammer to dislodge workpieces in the remanufacturing environment.
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Abstract
A fixture for supporting a workpiece during a machining operation is disclosed. The fixture may include a seat configured to receive the workpiece. The fixture may further include a quick release lever mounted to the fixture and configured to displace the workpiece from the seat.
Description
- The present disclosure generally relates to a fixture for holding a workpiece during a machining operation and, more particularly, relates to a fixture having a quick release lever mounted thereon for removing a workpiece from the fixture.
- Remanufacturing is a rapidly growing industry and philosophy. Remanufacturing means salvaging or removing used manufactured components, e.g., engine parts, and processing the components in a manufacturing environment where they are efficiently and completely repaired and prepared for further life. The remanufactured components may then be returned to customers for additional service or used in rebuilt engines, for example. Remanufacturing extends the life of products, which results in cost savings, economy of resources and environmental benefits, as well as creating new revenue sources for manufactures, machinists and mechanics. Of course, to retain their value, remanufactured components must be returned to a commercially and technically acceptable state. The quality of remanufactured products is typically as good as, and in some cases better than, the original new product.
- The automotive industry remanufactures a large variety and volume of engine components. Remanufactured parts may include, for example, pistons, bearings, valve bridges, valve components, brake drums, cylinders, cylinder heads, pump components, crankshafts, etc. During the remanufacture process, parts to be repaired may undergo multiple machining operations including, milling, grinding, drilling, shaping and/or heat treatment. The part being repaired in the remanufacturing process is commonly referred to as a workpiece. Many machining operations are directed to removing material from a workpiece in a controlled manner; and many parts used in modern machine systems need to have a relatively exact size, configuration, alignment of features or factors such as surface finish to function properly in a service environment. Much of modern-day machining is carried out by automated computer numerical control (CNC), in which computers are used to control the movement and operation of the mills, lathes, and other cutting machines. Such “high precision” machining generally refers to techniques for cutting, grinding and other forms of workpiece modification where tolerances can be relatively tightly controlled.
- In order to repair the workpiece through a machining process, a fixture may be required to immobilize the workpiece and secure it for the high precision application of a machining tool. Fixtures for positioning and maintaining workpieces relative to a metal working tool are well known in the manufacturing industry (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,482 discloses a fixture for pistons). Such fixtures are designed to hold a particular workpiece so that suitable machining of the workpiece may be accomplished. For example, a workpiece may be mounted at one or more locations on a fixture and immobilized on the fixture using a clamping member or similar means. Because workpieces may vary in size and shape, a different fixture is normally required for each different workpiece, and custom building of fixtures for particular workpieces is common. In many cases, the fixture is used to immobilize the workpiece while the cutting tool moves horizontally or vertically relative to the workpiece.
- In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the use of high precision machining techniques in the growing field of remanufacturing. Improvements in the remanufacturing processes are regularly taking place; however, certain challenges remain. As described above, precise sizing and finish are required for remanufactured parts to not only be accepted in the market, but also to function properly. The physical demands placed on remanufactured parts are readily apparent. If the remanufacturing process damages a component further, or differently, the remanufacturing process is rendered futile. For example, in a machining operation, a workpiece is mounted to a fixture for milling, grinding or any other machining process. If removal of the workpiece from the fixture damages the surface or structure of the repaired workpiece, the remanufacturing of that component is likely in vain.
- This potential drawback has been observed in the remanufacturing of pistons, for example. Specifically, a piston mounted on a fixture for a machining operation may unintentionally become stuck to the fixture during the machining operation, rendering the piston immovable by the machinist after the machining operation has concluded. This may be the result of the physical demands and pressures exerted on workpieces during machining operations. This difficulty has, in the past, required a machinist or other personnel to manually knock the piston loose from the fixture using a sledge or dead blow hammer, for example. Such pummeling of the piston obviously presents the undesired potential of damaging the surface and/or structure of the remanufactured workpiece, thereby rendering the entire remanufacturing process moot. Specifically, the shape of the piston may change so much after banging it loose from the fixture that it no longer has the desired dimensions. In addition, the fixture itself may also be struck in the process of removing the workpiece and therefore inadvertently damaged. Finally, the use of a hammer or other tool by a machinist in the remanufacturing environment may present safety risk to all personnel present in the work environment. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a solution for efficiently removing workpieces from fixtures, thereby preserving the integrity of both the workpiece and the fixture, as well as the security of the workplace.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fixture for supporting a workpiece during a machining operation is disclosed. The disclosed fixture may include a seat configured to receive the workpiece. In addition, the fixture may include a quick release lever mounted to the fixture and configured to displace the workpiece from the seat.
- In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a quick release lever for mounting to a fixture for use in a machining operation is disclosed. The quick release lever may include a handle disposed at a first end of the lever, the handle configured for manual engagement. The disclosed quick release lever may further include a contact surface disposed at a second end of the lever, the contact surface configured to contact and displace a workpiece mounted on the fixture. In addition, the quick release lever may include a point of attachment disposed between the handle and the contact surface, the point of attachment configured to receive a fastener for pivotally mounting the lever to the fixture.
- In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of removing a workpiece from a fixture for use in a machining operation is disclosed. The disclosed method may include the steps of providing a fixture, and providing a workpiece received by the fixture. In addition, the method may include the step of providing a quick release lever mounted to the fixture, the quick release lever having a handle configured for manual engagement and contact surface configured for contacting the workpiece. Finally, the method may include the step of actuating the quick release lever to displace the workpiece from the fixture.
- These and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary fixture on which workpieces may be mounted for a machining operation, the fixture including two exemplary quick release levers. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fixture ofFIG. 1 illustrating an exemplary workpiece mounted thereon as well as the displacement of another exemplary workpiece from the fixture by one of the quick release levers. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the quick release levers ofFIGS. 1 and 2 mounted to a portion of the fixture. -
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a method for removing a workpiece from a fixture according to the teachings of the present disclosure. - While the following detailed description will be given with respect to certain illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated diagrammatically and in partial views. In addition, in certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosed subject matter or which render other details too difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should therefore be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed and illustrated herein, but rather to a fair reading of the entire disclosure and claims, as well as any equivalents thereto.
- The present disclosure is directed to a fixture for supporting a workpiece during a machining operation, the fixture having a quick release lever mounted thereon. While the disclosed embodiments of fixtures and quick release levers are described in a remanufacturing setting, this disclosure is equally applicable in any work environment where fixtures for supporting workpieces are employed. In addition, while the fixture described and depicted in this disclosure is supporting a piston, this disclosure may be applicable to fixtures for any workpieces, including bearings, valve bridges, valve components, cylinders, pump components, etc. Any fixture, including custom made fixtures, may be adapted with the quick release lever of this disclosure. Likewise, any fixture base may be adapted with a seat to receive any particular workpiece, the seat adapted to work in cooperation with the disclosed quick release lever. Although not shown in the Figures, it should be appreciated that the disclosed fixture may be mounted to a stationary base, and a machining device may move horizontally or vertically or otherwise relative to the workpiece mounted on the fixture. Likewise, the teachings of this disclosure may also be applied where a lathe is employed.
-
FIG. 1 illustrates afixture 10 for supporting two workpieces during a machining operation. The machining operation may involve cutting, grinding and/or other forms of workpiece modification. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 2 , the fixture is intended to support twopistons pistons piston 20 in thefirst position 26 while an already repairedpiston 22 in thesecond position 28 is removed and replaced with an unrepaired piston. Thereafter, the machining device may shift to the unrepaired piston in thesecond position 28 to work thereon while the repairedpiston 20 in thefirst position 26 is removed and replaced by an unrepaired piston. In this manner, the machining device may alternate between the twopositions - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the disclosedfixture 10 may include afixture base 30 on which two vertically extendingpin bore locators fixture 10 may further include a vertically extendingsupport plate 38 on which first andsecond seats seats support plate 38 or may be mounted to thesupport plate 38 by any number of manners known in the art. Each of theseats support plate 38, relativelythin seat plates seats seat plates seats FIG. 2 , the workpieces received in theseats fixture 10 arepistons pistons piston skirt 52 and pin bores 54 in opposite sides of thepiston skirt 52. Thepistons ring grooves 58. It is this portion of thepistons ring grooves 58 that is received in theseats fixture 10. When theseat plates seat plates ring grooves 58 of thepistons pistons seats - The
seats pistons seats fixture 10. In this manner, thefixture 10 is adaptable for different pistons, as well as wholly different workpieces. In addition, theseats first position 26 or thesecond position 28, and can also potentially be flipped such that the opposite face of the seat is mounted to thesupport plate 38. Likewise,seat plates second positions - When positioning in the
seats pistons pin bore locators pistons seats pin bore locators piston skirt 52. In this manner, thepistons seats fixture 10 may also include clamping members received atpositions pistons pistons pistons seats pin bore locators piston skirt 52 and the piston bores 54 in advance of the machining operation. After the machining operation has taken place, thepin bore locators piston skirt 52 and piston bores 54 before dismounting thepiston fixture 10. -
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate aquick release lever 70 configured to displace the workpiece from thefixture 10. Thequick release lever 70 may be mounted to one or bothseats fixture 10.FIG. 1 , which depicts thefixture 10 without workpieces, includes two quick release levers 70 mounted to theseats second positions FIG. 1 are in a non-actuated position. Alternatively,FIG. 2 , which depicts thefixture 10 withpistons seats second positions FIG. 2 , thequick release lever 70 in thefirst position 26 is in a non-actuated position while thequick release lever 70 in thesecond position 28 is in an actuated position. Accordingly, thequick release lever 70 of thesecond position 28 is illustrated as displacing thepiston 22 from theseat 42. Finally,FIG. 3 illustrates theseat 42 independent of thefixture 10, theseat 42 having thequick release lever 70 mounted thereon. While thelever 70 is illustrated as mounted to theseats lever 70 may be mounted elsewhere on thefixture 10 so long as it is capable of functioning to displace a workpiece from thefixture 10. - Turning to the features of the
quick release lever 70, a point ofattachment 72 of thelever 70 may receive afastener 74 used to pivotally mount thelever 70 to theseats fastener 74 may be a bolt with a bushing, or one of many other fasteners known in the industry for pivotally joining parts. Thelever 70 includes at a first end ahandle 76 configured for manual engagement. Thehandle 76 may be integral with thelever 70 or may be attached by any means known in the art. As seen inFIGS. 1 and 2 , thehandle 76 may extend outwardly from the fixture in either an actuated or a non-actuated position, the actuated position resulting from the manual movement of thehandle 76 downward by a machinist or other personnel. While not depicted as such in the Figures, thelever 70 may include adevice 78 that allows thehandle 76 to be folded in a downward direction relative to the remainder of thelever 70 when thefixture 10 is not being used. For example, thedevice 78 may be a bolt that when loosened allows thehandle 76 to be pivoted down. Alternatively, thedevice 78 may be a track (not shown) at the first end of thelever 70 on which thehandle 76 may slide and thereafter fold in a downwardly direction. One of many devices known in the industry may be employed for folding thehandle 76 down, thereby reducing the size of thefixture 10. Among other advantages, reducing the size of thefixture 10 may be beneficial for storage purposes. - An opposite, second end of the
lever 70 includes acontact surface 80 extending in an upward direction and configured to contact and displace a workpiece mounted on thefixture 10. As opposed to the remainder of thelever 70, which may be fabricated from any tooling steel, for example, thecontact surface 80 may be the top surface of an ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW)polyethylene pin 82 mounted to thelever 70 by any manner known in the industry. For example, thepin 82 may receive a bolt or any other known fastener for attaching thepin 82 to thelever 70. Alternatively, the second end of thelever 70 may be coated with a contact surface material rather than having an independent element mounted thereto. In such a case, the coated second end of the lever may have an upwardly extending design configured to reach and engage the workpiece when thelever 70 is in an actuated position. The design of the second end of thelever 70 having thecontact surface 80 may be altered depending on the particular fixture and the particular workpiece at hand. Further, thecontact surface 80 orpin 82 may be another material known in the art, such as, but not limited to, other thermoplastics, phenolics, nylon, acetal, polypropylene, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), etc. In all cases, thecontact surface 80 should be durable, shock resistant, rigid and non-abrasive so as not to damage the surface of the workpiece when contacting and displacing the workpiece. - As best seen in
FIG. 3 , thequick release lever 70 may also include adevice 86 to automatically return thelever 70 to the non-actuated position. Specifically, after manually pivoting thehandle 76 downward in order to raise thecontact surface 80 and displace a workpiece from theseat 42, thedevice 86 automatically shifts thehandle 76 upward to its non-actuated, resting position. This non-actuated position is depicted inFIG. 1 (bothpositions 26, 28) and in thefirst position 26 ofFIG. 2 . With reference toFIG. 3 , thedevice 86 for automatically returning thelever 70 to its non-actuated position may include aspring 88 disposed between thelever 70 and theseat 42. To facilitate the attachment of thespring 88, abracket 90 may also be used. Specifically, thebracket 90 may be fastened by any manner known in the art to theseat 42 while also receiving thespring 88. In this manner, thespring 88 is disposed between theseat 42 and thelever 70 without having to be directly attached to theseat 42. Thebracket 90 may be positioned at other attachment points 94 on theseat 42 depending on the size of thebracket 90, the size of thespring 88, the particular workpiece received in theseat 42 or other parameters of thefixture 10. In all cases, thespring 88 may be stretched or expanded to allow actuation of thelever 70 to contact and displace the workpiece; however, thespring 88 automatically returns to its resting position after the expansion force is released, thereby also returning thelever 70 to its non-actuated position. In this manner, thelever 70 and thehandle 76 are generally maintained in a raised, non-actuated position leaving thecontact surface 80 lowered and theseat 42 physically unencumbered and available to receive a workpiece. - The disclosed
quick release lever 70 may be reversible and therefore may be pivotally mounted at either thefirst position 26 or thesecond position 28 of thefixture 10. Specifically, both of theseats same lever 70. For example, thelever 70 may be flipped and thefastener 74 may be employed to pivotally mount thelever 70 at the point ofattachment 72 onto the seat at the opposite position. Therefore, thisquick release lever 70 design is not only versatile with regard to the numerous fixtures and workpieces it may cooperate with, but it is interchangeable on opposite sides the disclosedfixture 10 as well. This symmetrical design of theseats lever 70, may help to avoid risks of dysfunction from incorrect installation/orientation of the elements of thefixture 10. -
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating amethod 100 of removing a workpiece from afixture 10 for use in a machining operation. With reference to the drawings generally, themethod 100 for removing a workpiece may include: afirst step 110 of providing afixture 10; and asecond step 120 of providing a workpiece received by thefixture 10. As described above, thefixture 10 may includeseats fixture 10 and theseats pistons fixture 10 may be adaptable to other workpieces. Thereafter, themethod 100 for removing a workpiece may include: thestep 130 of providing aquick release lever 70 pivotally mounted to thefixture 10, the quick release lever having ahandle 76 configured for manual engagement and acontact surface 80 configured for contacting the workpiece. Thehandle 76 and thecontact surface 80 may be disposed at opposite ends of thelever 70, and thelever 70 may be mounted to thefixture 10 at a point ofattachment 72 between thehandle 76 and thecontact surface 80. Thequick release lever 70 may also include aspring 88 that functions to automatically maintain thelever 70 in a non-actuated position. Finally, themethod 100 for removing a workpiece may include: thestep 140 of actuating thequick release lever 70 to displace the workpiece from thefixture 10. As described above, thisstep 140 requires the manual downward shifting of thelever 70 by a machinist or other personnel, which in turn raises thecontact surface 80 of thelever 70 to contact and displace the workpiece from thefixture 10. Before thestep 140 of actuating thequick release lever 70, the method may include thestep 150 of performing a machining operation on the workpiece. It is during this machining operation that the workpiece may become stuck on thefixture 10, thereby requiring the actuation of thequick release lever 70. Alternatively, the workpiece may become stuck due to bad placement on theseat step 140 of actuating thequick release lever 70 will typically occur after thestep 150 of performing the machining operation, thestep 150 is not critical to thismethod 100 and it is foreseeable that thestep 140 of actuating thequick release lever 70 may, in some circumstances, take place absent the performance of any machining operation on the workpiece. - While the above detailed description and drawings are made with reference to a specific fixture for supporting a workpiece during a machining operation and a method for removing a workpiece from such a fixture, it is important to note that the teachings of this disclosure can be employed on other fixtures in manufacturing or remanufacturing environments or in any other applications where fixtures may be employed.
- The disclosed
fixture 10 and thequick release lever 70 may have applicability in manufacturing or remanufacturing environments where machining operations are taking place. Fixtures having the disclosedquick release lever 70 may be designed to receive any number of workpieces for machining, including bearings, valve bridges, valve components, cylinders, pump components, etc. It is common in the industry for fixtures to be custom designed for individual workpieces. While the presently disclosedfixture 10 includes acustom design seat piston fixture 10 for receiving any other workpiece for machining. Further, the disclosedquick release lever 70 may work in combination with any such seat, designed to receive pistons or otherwise, to contact and displace the workpiece from thefixture 10. - The disclosed
fixture 10, having aquick release lever 70 mounted thereon, andmethod 100 enable a machinist or other personnel to remove workpieces from a fixture after a machining operation has taken place without damaging the newly machined workpiece. Referring to the drawings generally, a workpiece such as apiston fixture 10 so that a machining operation may be performed on thepiston fixture 10 includesseats pistons seats seat plates pistons ring grooves 58 of thepistons seats seat plates ring grooves 58, thereby securing the piston in a precise location as required for the machining operation. In addition, when placing thepistons fixture 10, the pin bores 54 of thepistons pin bore locators fixture 10. Specifically, thepin bore locators piston skirt 52, as seen in thefirst position 26 ofFIG. 2 , thereby further aiding in the correct positioning of thepistons positions pistons - Because the machining operation, which may include cutting, grinding and other forms of workpiece modification, applies significant physical demands on the
pistons pistons fixture 10 after the machining operation has concluded. Previously, removal of such workpieces from fixtures may have required the machinist to strike the workpiece with a hammer or other device to dislodge the workpiece from the fixture. This method presents risks to the machinist's safety, to the fixture and to the workpiece that receives such blows. Among other things, a precise shape, dimensions and finish of the workpiece are required for the workpiece to be considered commercially and technically acceptable. In order to avoid potential damage to the workpiece, the presently disclosedfixture 10 for piston remanufacturing includes the quick release levers 70 for easily and safely removing thepistons fixture 10 without damaging the same. In operation, a machinist need only grasp and shift thehandle 76 oflever 70 downward to in turn contact and displace thepiston seat handle 76 causes thelever 70 to pivot at its point ofattachment 72, resulting in a corresponding upward movement of thecontact surface 80. Thecontact surface 80 applies a displacing force against an underside of thepiston 22 thereby lifting thepiston 22 off of theseat 42, as illustrated in thesecond position 28 ofFIG. 2 . - As described above, the
contact surface 80 may be the upper surface of apin 82 mounted to thelever 70, which may be of any thermoplastic know for use in the industry that is durable, rigid and non-abrasive so as not to damage the surface of the workpiece when contacting and displacing the workpiece. While a fixture for piston machining is specifically described and illustrated in this disclosure, a fixture for any workpiece may be adapted with the disclosedquick release lever 70. Further, while thelever 70 of the present disclosure applies the displacing force to an underside of the workpiece, it should be appreciated that thelever 70 may be mounted in any configuration that allows one to apply a force through thelever 70 to displace a workpiece, depending on how exactly the workpiece is received onto the fixture at hand. Once thequick release lever 70 has been shifted downward, or actuated to remove thepiston fixture 10, thelever 70 is automatically returned to its non-actuated or resting position. Specifically, thespring 88 disposed between theseat lever 70, having expanded when thelever 70 is actuated, then returns thelever 70 back to the non-actuated position once the machinist releases thelever 70. In this manner, thepiston fixture 10 is available to receive an additional piston for machining. - The presently improved method of removing a workpiece from a fixture allows a machinist to quickly remove and replace a workpiece for a machining operation. As explained above, workpieces may become stuck or otherwise immovable from a fixture by the machinist alone due to the machining operation performed on the workpiece, or due to inaccurate placement of the workpiece on the fixture. The disclosed fixture and method reduce the risk of damaging a stuck workpiece by avoiding the application of unnecessary force to the workpiece by a hammer or other tool with the intention of dislodging the workpiece from the fixture. Therefore, not only does the disclosed method increase the efficiency of the machining operation as a whole, but this method also maintains the integrity and quality of the workpiece and the fixture. Furthermore, the disclosed method and fixture, having a quick release lever mounted thereon, eliminate any potential safety risks posed by a machinist using a hammer to dislodge workpieces in the remanufacturing environment.
- All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. Also, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the fixture and/or quick release lever of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.
Claims (20)
1. A fixture for supporting a workpiece during a machining operation, comprising:
a seat configured to receive the workpiece; and
a quick release lever mounted to the fixture and configured to displace the workpiece from the seat.
2. The fixture of claim 1 , wherein the quick release lever is pivotally mounted to the fixture.
3. The fixture of claim 2 , further comprising a spring disposed between the quick release lever and the fixture, the spring configured to maintain the quick release lever in a non-actuated position.
4. The fixture of claim 1 , wherein the quick release lever comprises a handle disposed at a first end of the quick release lever, the handle configured for manual engagement, and a contact surface disposed at a second end of the quick release lever, the contact surface configured for contacting the workpiece.
5. The fixture of claim 4 , wherein the contact surface comprises a UHMW polyethylene.
6. The fixture of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece is a piston.
7. The fixture of claim 6 , wherein the seat receives a ring groove portion of the piston.
8. The fixture of claim 1 , wherein the seat is interchangeable depending on the workpiece received.
9. A quick release lever for mounting to a fixture for use in a machining operation, comprising:
a handle disposed at a first end of the lever, the handle configured for manual engagement;
a contact surface disposed at a second end of the lever, the contact surface configured to contact and displace a workpiece mounted on the fixture; and
a point of attachment disposed between the handle and the contact surface, the point of attachment configured to receive a fastener for pivotally mounting the lever to the fixture.
10. The quick release lever of claim 9 , further comprising a spring configured to attach to the fixture and to maintain the quick release lever in a non-actuated position.
11. The quick release lever of claim 10 , further comprising a bracket attached to the spring, the bracket configured to attach to the fixture.
12. The quick release lever of claim 9 , wherein the contact surface comprises a UHMW polyethylene.
13. The quick release lever of claim 9 , wherein the fastener is a bolt with a bushing.
14. The quick release lever of claim 9 , wherein the handle is configured to fold relative to the lever when not in use.
15. A method of removing a workpiece from a fixture for use in a machining operation, comprising the steps of:
providing a fixture;
providing a workpiece received by the fixture;
providing a quick release lever mounted to the fixture, the quick release lever having a handle configured for manual engagement and contact surface configured for contacting the workpiece; and
actuating the quick release lever to displace the workpiece from the fixture.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of performing a machining operation on the workpiece prior to the actuating step.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein actuating the quick release lever places the contact surface against the workpiece and applies a displacing force on the workpiece.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the quick release lever is automatically returned to a non-actuated position after actuating.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein actuating the quick release lever comprises manually shifting the handle in a downward direction.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein displacing the workpiece from the fixture comprises lifting the workpiece from the fixture.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/377,623 US20180161947A1 (en) | 2016-12-13 | 2016-12-13 | Machining Fixture with Quick Release Lever |
US16/682,026 US11198202B2 (en) | 2016-12-13 | 2019-11-13 | Machining fixture with quick release lever |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/377,623 US20180161947A1 (en) | 2016-12-13 | 2016-12-13 | Machining Fixture with Quick Release Lever |
Related Child Applications (1)
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US16/682,026 Division US11198202B2 (en) | 2016-12-13 | 2019-11-13 | Machining fixture with quick release lever |
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US20180161947A1 true US20180161947A1 (en) | 2018-06-14 |
Family
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Family Applications (2)
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US15/377,623 Abandoned US20180161947A1 (en) | 2016-12-13 | 2016-12-13 | Machining Fixture with Quick Release Lever |
US16/682,026 Active 2037-07-18 US11198202B2 (en) | 2016-12-13 | 2019-11-13 | Machining fixture with quick release lever |
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US16/682,026 Active 2037-07-18 US11198202B2 (en) | 2016-12-13 | 2019-11-13 | Machining fixture with quick release lever |
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CN111571267A (en) * | 2020-05-19 | 2020-08-25 | 天津津荣天宇精密机械股份有限公司 | Pneumatic clamp |
Citations (7)
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US2954595A (en) * | 1955-07-25 | 1960-10-04 | United Shoe Machinery Corp | Machines for operating on blanks of ceramic ware |
US3920234A (en) * | 1974-03-01 | 1975-11-18 | Leland F Blatt | Vertical lift toggle clamp |
US6290219B1 (en) * | 2000-09-22 | 2001-09-18 | Scott Barbosa | C-clamp plier with support extension arm |
US20030015560A1 (en) * | 2000-12-04 | 2003-01-23 | Grover Ralph Ernest | Clamping apparatus |
US8025275B2 (en) * | 2008-10-07 | 2011-09-27 | Harry Wong | Single hand operated ratchet clamp |
US20150121794A1 (en) * | 2013-11-01 | 2015-05-07 | Timothy Koetje | Architectural Panel Assembly And Tools |
US20160072245A1 (en) * | 2014-09-10 | 2016-03-10 | Pds Electronics, Inc. | Apparatus for use in the crimping of end fittings onto a cable |
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US1292735A (en) | 1918-02-27 | 1919-01-28 | Richard P Elliott | Fixture used in the manufacture of piston-rings. |
US3403482A (en) | 1966-02-25 | 1968-10-01 | Trw Inc | Adapter apparatus for resizing pistons |
US5234295A (en) | 1992-06-12 | 1993-08-10 | Sunnen Products Company | Adjustable support fixture |
US5970829A (en) | 1998-10-30 | 1999-10-26 | Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. | Apparatus and method for machining a hollow generally cylindrical workpiece |
CN201544464U (en) * | 2009-09-16 | 2010-08-11 | 曾贵贤 | Rapid locking pliers |
-
2016
- 2016-12-13 US US15/377,623 patent/US20180161947A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2019
- 2019-11-13 US US16/682,026 patent/US11198202B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US2954595A (en) * | 1955-07-25 | 1960-10-04 | United Shoe Machinery Corp | Machines for operating on blanks of ceramic ware |
US3920234A (en) * | 1974-03-01 | 1975-11-18 | Leland F Blatt | Vertical lift toggle clamp |
US6290219B1 (en) * | 2000-09-22 | 2001-09-18 | Scott Barbosa | C-clamp plier with support extension arm |
US20030015560A1 (en) * | 2000-12-04 | 2003-01-23 | Grover Ralph Ernest | Clamping apparatus |
US8025275B2 (en) * | 2008-10-07 | 2011-09-27 | Harry Wong | Single hand operated ratchet clamp |
US20150121794A1 (en) * | 2013-11-01 | 2015-05-07 | Timothy Koetje | Architectural Panel Assembly And Tools |
US20160072245A1 (en) * | 2014-09-10 | 2016-03-10 | Pds Electronics, Inc. | Apparatus for use in the crimping of end fittings onto a cable |
Also Published As
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US11198202B2 (en) | 2021-12-14 |
US20200078892A1 (en) | 2020-03-12 |
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