US2459080A

US2459080A - Mechanic's work-holding table furnished with adjustable work-supporting arms

Info

Publication number: US2459080A
Application number: US14746A
Authority: US
Inventors: Killius William
Original assignee: Blackhawk Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Blackhawk Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1948-03-13
Filing date: 1948-03-13
Publication date: 1949-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1966-01-11

Description

Jan. 11, 1949. w. KILLIUS 2,459,030

MECHANICS WORK HOLDING TABLE FURNISHED WITH ADJUSTABLE WORK-SUPPORTING ARMS Filed March 15. 1948 VV/LA 04M /f/; .1, m5,

IN VEN TOR.

Patented Jan. 11, 1949 MECHANICS WORK-HOLDINGVTABLE FUR NISHED WITH ADJUSTABLE Won -SUP- PORTING ARMS I I William; Killius,flAltadena,q Calif 'assignor to I Blackhawk Mfg. (10., Milwaukee, Wis.

Application March 13, 194s,=seri a1 No. 14,746

. .4 Claims. (01. 29428 This invention relates to a mechanicswork holding table provided with adjustable work-supporting arms. I

In its broader aspect this invention'relates to diverse work supporting means comprising a plurality of upstanding legs grouped about an open space and rigidly secured to each other, and universally adjustable means carried by .the upper end portions of said legs and positionable to'engage the supportedwork so as toeither permit free swinging of the work pieces or'to firmly hold them either Within said. open space or outside thereof in any desired position.

An important object of the invention is to provide, in conjunction with upstanding table legs, work-carrying arms mounted upon theupper end portions of said legs, said arms being adjustable either to point inwardly toward each-other or 'to point outwardly from the space between the table legs at any angle, so that this double-direction adjustment of said arms greatly increases the range of adjustment, whereby, plate-like. and other irregular objects varying greatly in size may be effectively supported by said arms. Said arms besides being Vertically and horizontally movable, are also adjustable throughout a complete circle, and hence may be disposed transversely of the work table, the latter adjustment being sufficient to vastly increase-theworking zone or area defined by the-four legsof the table. Another important object is t provide, a mechaniciswork table wherein the supported work is more universally accessible, so that the workman may approach it from all sides and from above and below, as well, to perform desired operations and to makenecessary repairs.

Still another object is to provide for swinging work to a greater variety of angular positions than has-heretofore been possible,. this, object being attained through the use Of pivoted angle iron work-supportingelements, which can be applied andheld to the work in agreater variety ofpositions. I -i i A further object is to provide a simpleibut sturdy work holding assemblage comprisingia plurality of Work engaging elements of an u ar formation swingably suspended from longitudinally and rotatably adjustable approximately horizontal arms which are supported upon posts or legs of a common unitary frame, the elements being cooperable with clamps for attaching them against thetop, bottom or any side portion: of diversely shaped workpieces soasto firmly hold thelatterin various positions, f r

'. fn'other object is to; provide, in combination with a plurality of upstanding legs, a work-carrying arm mounted upon each leg which is adjustable independently of the arms of the other legs, so that the supportedobject may be tilted in a greater variety of ways, thus positioning it to a a greater advantage for performing work upon it.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a-plurality of chain-supported vise clamps carried by the aforesaid arms, so as to render said clamps always conveniently accessible to the workman; y

Yet another object is to provide a work table that will support a greater variety of objects to be worked upon; in relation to their weight, size and shape. In. this respect, parts to be Worked upon having curved outer edges may be supported and clamp-held equally as well as those having straight edges.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafterappear.

Referring to the accompanyin drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention as nowbeing manufactured,

Fig. 1 isa perspective View of the table; showing it in use for removing a large dent from a panel of a door.. In this'view all but one of the vise. clamps are shown unapplied to illustratemore clearly possible modes of applying the angular supporting bracket or element to the work. Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, part sectional and part elevational view of the upper end portion of one of the legs illustrating the universally adjustable work supporting mechanism carried thereby. In this view a fragmentary portion of awork piece is shown clamped to the angular bracket of the supporting mechanism, and there are dotted line indications in the view illustrating adjusted positions ofthe bracket.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View on the plane indicated by: the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. n v

Fig'. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view looking at the bottom of the structure showing another adjustment of a door-supporting element.

Fig. 5 is a. fragmentary view-showing the application of, one of the Supporting brackets to a flange of a door, the vise clamp being omitted;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation showing how the vise clamp grips, against one of the supporting elements, a work part being operated upon;

Referringin detail to'the drawing, the work holding tablet comprises a polygon'al, preferably rectangular frame 9 having .at each of itscorner portions an upstanding. angleir'onleg' H! which is positioned with the medial portion of the inner side fitted against and bolted to the adjacent corner portion of said frame, braces H being provided to stabilize each corner portion of the structure and to maintain the angle iron legs in their upright positions.

Adjacent to the'top of each angle iron leg, as shown in Fig. 2, there is welded or otherwise firm- 1y secured to the inner face of the legs angle, a sleeve 12, the top of which. desirably projects slightly above the top of the leg; Downwardly into each sleeve l2 rotatably and verticallyadjustably extends a tubular rod l5 carrying at its upper end an elongated horizontally extending collar l6 which is welded or otherwise secured to the upper end of said rod l5. This rod'm'ay be held against turning by meansof a manually operable lock screw 1 l which is tapped through the angular leg and sleeve in a contacting relation-to the rod [5. Said rod [5 is held in vertically adiusted position by a collar 18 which rests on top of said sleeve 42 and is furnished with a set screw 19 which is tapped through said collar ('8 into an abutting relation to said rod 15.

The aforesaid horizontally extending collar l6 has longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted within it, a Work-supporting arm 22 which carries at its work-supporting end a right angularly shaped element or bracket plate 23.. Said rod 22 is maintained against sliding and rotating by means of a winged screw lBa the inner end of which abuts against said rod. Said bracket plate or element 23 has paired ears 24 welded to or otherwise firmly associated with the outer face of one of its limbs, said ears being apertured to receive a pivot bolt 25. Said angular plate 23 is shown provided over its inner face, with a cushion 23a desirably made of belting fabric or other relatively pliable padding. Said bracket plate is swingably adjustable about the pivot bolt" 25 through an angle of 180 degrees. Y

The tubular rod 22 is shown having a flattened end portion 22a which fits with a working fit between the aforesaid paired lugs 24. Each of these flattened rod portions 22a affords a convenient anchorage for one end of a chain 23, there being attached to the opposite end'of said chain a manually operable vise clamp 29. Various clamps maybe chained to the work-supporting arms but for certain uses I prefer to use the vise clamp described in Patent No. 2,289,005, which maintains the work firmly within its gripped position.

The structure which has thus far been described afiords means for adjustably supporting a great variety of diversely shaped articles upon which work is to be performed, Fig. 1 of the drawing showing a battered door 40 supported by the apparatus in a position to have a bulged portion M smoothed out. 'In this view only one of the vise clamps are shown applied, the others being omitted to show more clearly structure that would otherwise be obscured, but the elements 23 are shown in coaction with both the top and bottom of the door flange.

Considering further the operational steps relating to the device, in Fig. 1 three plate elements 23 areshown as overlying the doors flange and one is shown underlying it. When the elements 23 overlie the flanges of the door clamps 29 are necessary, but clamps are not necessary at all times, as for example when the elements 23 are positioned underlying the flange as in Fig. 1, or as underlying the door proper, as shown in Fig. 4. When the'door is maintained vertically as shown in Fig. 5, a clamp is also necessary, and it is noteworthy that when the door or work is suspended from only two alined rods 22, the work piece may be swung freely about a horizontal axis above and Within the frame 9 to any angular position.

When the dent 4| in the door 4!! has been removed and when the window end of the door is supported as shown at the nearer left in Fig. 1 or as in Fig. 4, all that is necessary, when the door is to be swung vertically, is to loosen the wing nuts Ilia in the horizontally extending collars l6 and raise the window end of the door to the position desired and re-apply the wing nuts. In the latter position the door is accessible for painting, re-upholstering or performing whatever work on it is desired.

Also, with the elements 23 supporting th flange as shown in Fig. 1, there is no supporting part in the way to repair damage to such flange.

Consider a fender, for example, to be repaired. The fact that it has both straight and curved edges makes the present table a desirable one to use, for the arms 22 may be projected radially inwardly of the four legs HI and the elements 23 may be angularly adjusted to cause either flange thereof to grip a curved part as efliciently as a straight edge of the fender. Furthermore, a fender. supported between the two near or two far arms as seen in Fig. 1 may be rotated about the axis of two alined arms which support it in a manner similar to that already described in relation to the door 48. Figs. 2, 3 and 6 illustrate the way a fender part -12 or similar constructed part can be held in the vise clamp. Any other type of automotive part or fabricated part may be supported and handled equally as well as those already described.

The use of structural metal in the construction of the frame and legs or corner posts, and the use of tubular stock rods 15 and arms-22, facilitates manufacture of the table assemblages; and the formation of the table with a rectangular open frame secured to the medial portions of the legs or posts 10 well below their upper extremities, enables the work pieces to be swung freely and without obstruction either vertically or horizontally within or outside of the frame bounds. The pivotal mounting of the angle elements 23 and the bodily adjustability thereof relative to each other and in any desired direction, moreover facilitates attachment and cooperation with respect to work of any shape or size, and thus provldes an extremely flexible work holding conibination. The interchangeably similar formation of the parts associated with each corner of the table also reduces to a minimum the cost of manufacturing the improved units, and therebyprovides a relatively inexpensive but durable assemblage adapted to cooperate most effectively with various types of work.

' It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the subject matter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a mechanics work holding table, a frame having a plurality of remotely spaced corners, a rotatably and vertically adjustable upright post supported by said frame at each of said corners, an elongated rotatably and horizontally adjustable horizontal arm mounted upon the upper end of each of said posts above said frame, and an angular work holding element swingably attached to an end of each of said arms, each of said elements having a pair of work engaging flanges one of which is pivotally attached to the adjacent arm end to permit swinging adjustment of the other flange across or eccentrically about the arm axis for engagement of said other flange with the work either at any angle relative to said axis or from above or below.

2. In a mechanics Work holding table, a frame having at least three remotely spaced corners, a rotatably and vertically adjustable upright post supported by said frame at each of said corners, an elongated rotatably and horizontally adjustable horizontal arm mounted upon the upper end of each of said posts above said frame, an angular work holding element swingably attached to an end of each of said arms, each of said ele- 'ments having a pair of integral work engaging flanges one of which is pivotally attached to the adjacent arm end to permit swinging adjustment of the other flange across or eccentrically about the arm axis for engagement of said other flange with the work either at any angle relative to said axis or from above or below, and a work clamp flexibly suspended from each work holding element end of each arm and being universally disposable for cooperation with either element flange and with the work coacting therewith.

3. In a mechanics Work holding table, a frame having four corners defining an intervening rectangular working zone, an upright cylindrical post rotatably and vertically adjustably supported at each corner of said frame, an elongated horizontal cylindrical arm rotatably and longitudinally adjustably mounted upon the upper end of each of said posts and having an end swingable within and across said working zone, an angular work holding element swingably attached to said end of each arm, each of said elements having a pair of integral work engaging flanges disposed perpendicular to each other and one of which is pivotally attached to the adjacent arm end to permit swinging adjustment of the other flange across or eccentrically about the arm axis for engagement of said other flange with the work eitherat any angle relative to said axis or from above or below, and a work clamp flexibly suspended from the adjacent arm end and being universally disposable for cooperation with either element flange and with the work coacting therewith.

4. In a mechanics work holding table, a frame having a plurality of remotely spaced corners, a rotatably and vertically adjustable upright post supported by said frame at each of said corners, an elongated rotatably and horizontally adjustable horizontal arrn mounted upon the upper end of each of said posts above said frame, and an angular work holding element swingably attached to an end of each of said arms, each of said elements having a pair of work engaging flanges and being pivotally attached to the adjacent arm end to permit swinging adjustment of at least one flange across or eccentricall around the arm axis for engagement with the work either at any angle relative to said axis or from above or below.

WILLIAM KILLIUS.

REFERENCES CITED lhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS