US2620704A

US2620704A - Locating key

Info

Publication number: US2620704A
Application number: US182572A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald T Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-08-31
Filing date: 1950-08-31
Publication date: 1952-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1969-12-09

Description

DGC. 9, 1952 T, E N 2,620,704

LOCATING KEY Filed Aug. 31, 1950 Gerald 7? Evan ATTDRN EYS Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCATING KEY Gerald T. Evans, Brazil, Ind.

Application August 31, 1950, Serial No. 182,572

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a locating key, and more particularly to a locating key for use in mounting a jig, tool or other fixture on a table or plate having a slot therein.

This invention is an improvement over my Patent No. 2,372,716, dated April 3, 1945, for a Locating Key.

The object of the invention is to provide a locating key which willpermit a jig, tool or other fixture to be mounted on a table having a 7 slot or groove therein, the key being of such formation that by turning it to adjusted position it may accommodate itself to tables having slots of different widths.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locating key having a body formed as a single block and shaped for selective engagement with a flat-bottomed bored hole in a fixture and the slot of a table, the body having a bore formed longitudinally therethrough for receiving a securing screw, the key of this invention fitting four sizes of slots, whereas the key shown in my Patent No. 2,372,716 fits only three different sizes of key slots.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locating key which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals have been used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the locating key of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the key of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the locating key of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the locating key, and taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the key applied to a fixture and engaged with a table;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the key in a reverse or upside-down position from the position shown in Figure 5 for placement in a different size of slot.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a tool, jig or other fixture, and the locating key of the present invention is adapted to hold the tool or fixture I in operative engagement with a machine table 2, Figure 5. The fixture 1 is provided with a hole 3 which is for a purpose to be later described; The table 2 is provided with a slot 4 which is T-shaped in crosssection. The fixture l is further provided with a threaded socket 5, Figure 5, and the threaded socket 5 is arranged midway with respect to the hole 3.

The locating key of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 6, and consists of a body fabricated of a single piece of suitable material, such as metal. The key 6 is shaped to define a first end portion 1 and a second end portion 8. Each of these end portions is of rectangular shape to provide four side faces for each end portion. It will be thus seen that each end portion 1 and 8 has sets of opposed, parallel side faces, and the side faces are adapted to snugly seat in the slot 4.

The key 6 is further provided with an annular shoulder 9 which is of the same diameter as the hole 3 in the fixture I, so that the shoulder 9 will snugly seat in the hole 3 in all positions of adjustment to which the key may be turned.

, Referring to Figure l of the drawings, it will be seen that the end portion 7 of the body 6 is provided with four flat faces, and two of the faces are indicated by the numerals l0 and H. The fiat faces I0 and II are arranged parallel to each other. The other two fiat faces are indicated by the numerals l2 and M, and these faces l2 and I4 are arranged at right angles with respect to the faces [0 and l I. It will be seen from Figure 1 that the opposed side faces I2 and 14 are offset inwardly a greater distance than the opposed side faces l0 and l I. In other words, the distance between the faces l0 and H is greater than the distance between the faces i2 and M.

Similarly, in Figure 2 there is shown a View of the opposite end of the body 6. Thus, the end portion 8 includes a pair of spaced, parallel, fiat side faces l5 and it which are arranged parallel to each other, and the nd portion 8 further includes a pair of spaced, parallel, flat side faces I! and Ill. The distance between the fiat faces [5 and I6 is greater than the distance between the fiat faces I! and I8. Likewise, the distanc between opposed faces on the end portion 8 of Figure 2 is different from the distance between the opposed fiat faces on the end portion 8 shown in Figure 1.

Since the key of the present invention is to be firmly but adjustably connected with the fixture I, there has been provided a screw l9 which passes through a bore 20 formed longitudinally through the body of the key axially thereof. This bore 20 has one end portion diametrically enlarged to form a socket 2| into which the head 22 of the screw I9 fits when the end portion 8 is seated in the slot 4. Thus, the screw can be tightened to hold the key firmly in place. The other end portion of the bore 2c is enlarged diametrically, as at 23, to form a socket for receiving the head 22 of the screw I9 when the key is reversed to the position shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 6, the key of the present invention is shown reversed or upside-down with respect'to the position'it is shown in in Figure 5. Thus, in Figure 6, the end portion 7 is seated in the slot 4' which is of a different diameter or width than the slot 4, and the slot d is formed in the table 2. Also it will be seen in Figure 6 that now the end portion 8 projects'into the hole 3 in the fixture i. v

From the foregoing it is apparent that a loeating key has been provided which is an improvement over the locating key shown in my Patent 2,372,716. The locating key of the present invention can be used to fit four different sizes of T-slots in tables 2, whereas the patented device will only fit three different sizes. Thus, since the distance between the opposed fiat faces on each end portion of the body is different, the body can be turned to two different positions to fit four different sizes'of slots in tables. In other Words, with the end portion 8, the user can either arrange the opposed side faces it and ii in engagement with the side walls of the slot in the table, or the'user can arrange the opposed side faces l2 and M in engagement with the side walls of the slot. Likewise, by turning the body upside-down, theuser will be able to either arrange the side faces I? and [8 in engagement with the side walls of the slot or he can arrange the side faces [5 and IS in engagement with the sid walls of the slot. Thus, the key will fit four different sizes of slots. Whenever the key of the present invention is to be adjusted or turned upside-down, the screw IE3 is loosened until the body 6 can be turned to its adjusted position, presenting a pair of selected side faces for seating in the slot in the table. Since either end portion l or 8 may be seated in a slot in the table, there is provided a pair of sockets BI and 23, and therefore, the head 22 of screw :9 will be received in one of these sockets. The key can also be turned upside-down by loosening the screw [9, so that either end portion 1 or 3 may be seated in a slot in th table.

The opposed side faces [2 and M are offset inwardly a greater distance than the opposed side faces [0 and Ii, Figure 1, and it will be seen that the distance between the side faces 12 and M along the line B is shorter or less than the distance between the side faces Ill and I! along the line A. Likewise, in Figure 2, it will be seen that the distance between the side faces I! and [8 along the line D is less than the dis- 7 4 present invention to various positions, the key may be snugly engaged in different sizes of slots.

A portion of the body of the key of the present invention is cylindrical in shape so that it can be readily mounted in a fiat-bottomed bored hole in a fixture. This is advantageous because the key can be placed in the fixture much more rapidly, accurately and easily than a hexagonally-shaped locating key. Thecylindrical portion of the keyof thepresent invention bears on the cylindrical surface of the fiat-bottomed bored hole in which it is mounted. It will be seen from the drawings that the corners of each end portion 1 and 8 are rounded, so as to provide better bearing surfaces. The depth of the flat-bottomed bored hole is slightly greater or deeper than the length of the key taken from one edge of the annular shoulder 9 to the furthest end of the key. The four curved corners on each end portion of the key are maintained at their greatest area by determining the best two T-slot sizes, as for example, the distances along lines A, B, C or D.

Usually two keys are required per fixture, and the two key-mounting holes are bored on the same center line. Thus, when aligning the two keys, after determining the T-slot size to be used, it is only necessary to use a straight edge or to set'the fixture on the table, and permit the end portions of the keys to enter the T-slots, and then the screws are attached.

To adjust keys for different sizes of Teslots, the attaching screw is loosened and the keys are turned to the required size and aligned, or if necessary, the key can. be reversed or turned upside-down.

I claim:

A locating key comprising a body having a pair of end portions for fitting into a hole of a fixture and for fitting into a slot of a table, there being a bore formed through the body axially thereof and having enlarged end portions forming sockets, a screw passing through the bore and having a head seated in one of the sockets, the body being adjustable about the screw, the end portions'of the body having opposed side faces for engagement with the side walls of the slot in the table to hold the key in adjusted position, each end portion having sets of opposed fiat side faces spaced from the axis of the body different. distances to adapt the key for snug fit within table slots of different widths.

T. EVANS.

REFERENCES CITED,

The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Evans Apr. 3, 1945