US2910291A

US2910291A - Adjustable mounting fixture

Info

Publication number: US2910291A
Application number: US662873A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis K Courcier; Jr Gilbert Ferguson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-05-31
Filing date: 1957-05-31
Publication date: 1959-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 1976-10-27

Description

United States Patent M 2,910,291 ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FIXTURE Louis K. Courcier, Costa Mesa, and Gilbert Ferguson, Jr.,

. i Irvine, Calif.

v The present invention relates generally to a selectively positionable fixture for supporting a workpiece or the like and is especially adapted for supporting a complicated workpiece in virtually any desired orientation during maintenance, servicing or repair operations.

The device of the present invention in its preferred form hereinafter described and illustrated is particularly well adapted to support a carburetor in any position desired by a mechanic working on it, but it will be understood that the fixture has application to the support of other similar things as well. It is well known that modern automotive carburetors include a number of adjustable elements thereon which must be carefully serviced periodically in order to keep the carburetor in optimum operating condition. Servicing of such adjustments is made more difficult by reason of the compact design and relative inaccessibility of component parts characteristic of carburetors.

proper such as throttle and choke linkages, control means responsive to manifold pressure and the like. The presence of these auxiliary components, frequently projecting outwardly at irregular angles, together with the fact that the various items to be adjusted or otherwise serviced are normally oriented in different and unusual positions, makes the servicing or overhaul of a carburetor a complicated task. It is normally impossible to rest the carburetor upon the flat surface of a work bench or similar supporting plane other than, at most, in a single orientation unsuited to permit complete servicing and adjustment operations.

The device of the present invention solves the problems resulting from the above facts by providing a fixture to which a carburetor may be fastened and including means by which the carburetor so held may be.

placed in any one of a number of different orientations for the convenience of the mechanic during servicing. The device includes selectively positionable jig arms provided with upstanding studs positionable longitudinally of the arms, the studs being thusadapted to -fit the holes normally provided in the base of the carburetor by which it is attached to its engine. The present device is therefore adapted for use with any carburetor having mounting holes in any location and relation with one another and the studs by which the carburetor is held may be readily initially positioned by using the gasket of the carburetor as a template.

The jig arms are supported for pivotal movement about two perpendicular axes relative to support arms, which are themselves slidably positionable along a cross bar. The cross bar in turn is pivotable about a pair of perpendicular axes relative to a support bar or standard which is rigidly mounted in any suitable manner such as by being clamped in the jaws of a vise.

As a result of the structure above briefly summarized, the jig arms and the studs mounted thereon are eflectively pivotable or rotatable about three mutually perpendicular axes, thereby permitting the positioning of a carburetor Moreover, auxiliary components are frequently attached to the carburetor;

Patented Oct. 27, 1959 2 attached to the studs with any to the mechanic.

Conveniently releasable locking means: are provided for retaining the parts in the positions desired.

Accordingly the invention has for itsobjects to disclose a mounting fixture of novel design; to provide in such a device means for positioning the fixture in any rotational position about three mutually perpendicular axes; to provide attachment means in the form of studs readily positionable to fit the mounting holes of a carburetor or the like, however such holes may be located relative to one another; to provide such a structure with locking means for retaining the parts in desired positions; and to disclose such a device which is rugged and durable in construction but relatively inexpensive in manufacture.

The foregoing objects and purposes, together with face or surface presented others, will become clear from a study of the following description of a prefer-red embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view of a preferred form of apparatus embodying the present invention including, fragmentarily shown, the lower portion of a carburetor or similar device supported on the fixture.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the carburetor or other supported member omitted and the mounting studs being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1 except that the jig arms and workpiece mounted thereon have been rotated 90 about a horizontal axis in order to facilitate inspection and repair of the workpiece in a different position from that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 with the cross bar rotated approximately 90 about a vertical axis and the jig arms and studs adjusted to accommodate a work- I piece having irregularly located mounting holes.

Referring now in detail to the drawings there is shown in Fig. l a. vertically oriented support bar or standard indicated generally at 10 which may be rigidly supported by suitable means (not shown) such as permanent attachment to a work bench, clamped in the jaws of a vise or the like. The vertical standard 10 terminates upwardly in an enlarged head indicated generally at 12 having a horizontal bore 14 formed therethrough (see Fig. 3). Atom end of the bore 14 there may be formed a frusto-conical face 16, and a horizontally disposed support shaft indicated generally at 20 includes an end portion 18 journaled in the bore 14. The shaft 20 is provided with a frusto-conically formed enlarged shoulder 22 and the end portion 18 has a threaded bore 24 into which a bolt or the like 26 may be engaged. The head of bolt 26.abuts the end of head 12 through a washer 28, and it will be seen that tightening of the bolt 26 serves to draw shaft 20 leftwardly as seen in Fig. 3 and thus to lock the shaft in anydesired angular relation with head 12 by reason of the frictional contact between the frusto-conical shoulder and face.

Means are provided at the outer end of the shaft 20 for pivotally supporting a mounting fixture and for lock-- ing the fixture in any desired pivotal position relative to bolt indicated generally at 36 serves-,as the pivotal axis;

. round. which the plates 32 and. 3.4 may pivot. or rota e and such means. are. here shown as. including a latch finger indicated generally at 40 extending vertically through a. slo 42. forme the haf nd. pivctable about, Pillot P n 44 rried; by the shaft- The upper portion of the fing r is. ad pte to e received. in. a selected one. of a number of sl s 46'. 4: and t rmed in the plate 32. and i r i i ntly h l i therein by spring. means; such as are. indicated at; 52. It. will be. underst od that additional. slots, spaced; as, desired, maybe provided-i. T e outer portions of the plates; 32 and: 34 a e. rigidly fastened to a ro s ar i dicated generally at 56. by suitable means s 12 as; welds. 57; and 58. The cross. bar is, of polygonal sec.- tion, desirably rectangular as, shown, and. is. preferably hollow to minimize weight.

. A pair of bifurcated arms. are. slidably mounted, upon the cross bar 56 and are indicated generally at 60 and 62'. The inner ends of arms. are fixed to

sleeves

6,4 and 66 having rectangular bores formed therethrough in order to. be longitudinally slidable. but nonarotatabler uponthe rectangular crossbar 56. Suitable means such as; set screws 63 and 7 0. are provided in the sleeves (see-Fig. 6) in order to selectively lock' the arms, in desired} positions. longitudinally of the cross bar 56. Each of the. cross bars is adapted to pivotably support a jig armat its outer end as will be now described.

Ann 60 carries at its outer end a pivot pin 76' (see Fig. 5) extending across the space between the bifurcated portions of the arm, and an angle bracket indicated. generally at 78 is journalcd on the pin 76. Bracket 78 in cludes a lower plate 80 desirably having a semi-circular periphery 82 in which may be formed a number 0t slots 84, 86- and 8%. There is also formed in the plate 510 an opening 90 through which the pivot pin- 7'6 passes. Latch means are provided for locking the bracket 78 in desired pivotal relation with the arm 60 and includea latch finger indicated generally at 90 resiliently biased by' suitablemeans 92 into the position seenin Fig. 2 wherein the upper end. of the latch finger is receivedin a selected slot 84 of plate 80.

Bracket 78 includes anupper plate lying in a plane preferably perpendicular to the plane of'plate 80-, and the upper plate 100 pivotably supports a jig arm indicated generally 'at 102; Specifically; such arm is desirably in the form of a hollowrectangle as seen in; Fig. 5 and intermediate its ends is provided with a pair of

alignedopenings

104 and 106 in its upper and lower'walls through which a bolt 108 extends, the lower portion of the bolt being received in a bore 110 formed in the plate 100. It will be seen that this construction permits rotation of ing 42 form d. in a. flange or other portion 144 of the carburetor. A spacer sleeve 146 of any desired length may be included, and a conventional nut 148 and washer 149 serve to retain the parts in their position seen in Fig. 4.

A similar insert 152 and stud 154 arrangement is provided in the other end of the jig arm 102, with the stud 154 projecting upwardly through the slot 124.

The construction of bifurcated arm 62 and the mechanismmounted thereon are similar'to the preceding. Thus, an angle bracket indicated generally at 164 is similar to angle bracket 78 and latch means indicated generally at 165 are provided similar to latch 90. This bracket 164 is pivotably mounted about pin 162 as an axis carried by arm 62, and includes an upper plate 166 to which jig arm 170 is pivotally connected by the pin or bolt 168. Jig arm 170 is identical to the arm 102 and includes longitudinally slidable.

support studs

172 and 174. corresponding to studs 154i and 130 of the jig arm 102 and slidable in slots I76- and 178 respectively.

The versatility of the present device inpositioning aworkpiece suchas a carburetor in any desired orientation- 4 will be. readily appreciated from the foregoing description supplemented by a comparison of the position of the fixture shown in Figs. 1 and 2 contrasted with the exemplary positions of the fixture shown in Figs. 7 and 8'. Thus, assuming that in Figs. 1 and 2 the shaft 20 and cross bar 56- are disposed horizontally, the carburetor 150 issupported in its typical position as shown. In this positionacccss may be readily had to the bottom or sides of the carburetor by rotation of shaft 20 about its ownaxi's. In- Fig. 7, by rotation of the carburetor and jig arms about the trunnion axes 76 and 162, other faces of the jig arm 102 about the bolt 108 as an axis as indicated bythe arrows at the outer end of arm 102 in Fig. 2.-

Mea-ns are provided in the jig arm 102 for adjustablypositioning upstanding support studs for attachment to a workpiece such as a carburetor'or'the like to be mounted? on the present fixture. jig arm to accomplish this is seen generally in Fig; 2 and in detail in Fig. 4. Desirably the interior of jig arm 102 is in the form of a hollow rectangle or other polygonal shape as seen in Fig. 4 and an insert member is slidable longitudinally within the jig arm. The upper wall of jig arm 102 is provided with a pairof elongated slots 122' and 124 and a stud indicated generally at includes a lower threaded shank 132 extending downwardly through the slot 122 into engagement with a threaded bore 134 formed in the insert 120. Stud 130 includes an enlarged hexagonal portion 136 to facilitatetightening the stud. into insert 120 and thereby position the stud in a desired position longitudinally of the slot 122'. As seen in Fig. 4' the stud 130' includes an upwardly projecting shank threaded at its upper end, and a carburetor or similar workpiece indicated generallyat" 1 50 may'bernounted upon the stud-130through an' open- A preferred construction of the the carburetor are presented to the mechanic, and, again, theentire structure can be rotated about the axis of shaft 20 and locked frictionally insuch rotated position by means of bolt 26 and the frusto-conical members 22 and 16- described in connection with- Fig. 3. Further adjustability of the fixture is illustrated in Fig. 8 where, from the position of Fig. 2, the cross bar 56 is rotated about the axis of bolt 36, the fixture being locked in thenew position by engagement of the latch finger 40 with the slot 46 of plate 32.

Fig. 8 also illustrates the adaptability of the fiXUllIC mounting; studs to fit themounting holes of a carburetor regardless of the relative arrangement of such holes. This adapt-ability follows from the adjust-ability of

thearms

60 and 62 longitudinally of the cross bar 56, the pivot-ability of the jig arms 102 and relative to brackets 78 and. 164, the longitudinal adjustability of the studs 130; 154, 172 and 174 along their respective jig arms and the use of spacer sleeves such as sleeve 146 or selected lengths; The locations ofthe four studs may be quickly selected for a given carburetor by using the conventional gasketof the carburetor as a template, and this is particularly desirable where the mounting holes 05 the carburetor arearranged other than in the form of a rectangle. For example, the jig arms 1-02- and 170 as shown in Fig; 8' are-positioned to form an irregular quadrilateral such'as might be encountered in the case of a carburetor of unusual design.

Accordingly it will be seen that the present fixture provides conveniently lockable or latchable rotatability aboutthree angularly related pivotal axes. In the position of" Figs. 1' and 2 such axes are mutually perpendicular, the axis of shaft 20 lying in the plane of the paper and being typically horizontal, the axis of bolt 36 beingperpendioular thereto. and typically vertical, and the axis of

trunnions

76 and 162 being perpendicular to the axis: of bolt 36 and typically horizontal and preferably perpendicular to the axis of shaft 20. The entire structure is made of rigid materia'l ofi sufficient strength for the purpose, prefer ably steel, and is remarkably light and easily maneuverablein use.

Modifications and changes from the specific forms of the invention hereinabove shown and described will occur to those skilled in the art and such modifications and changes not departing from the spirit of the invention are intended to -be embraced within the scope of the appended claim. 7

We claim:

A mounting fixture comprising a vertically oriented standard having an enlarged upper head provided with a transverse bore therein; a support shaft having one end portion journaled in said bore and including a shoulder frictionally abuttable against said head, a vertically disposed transverse bore adjacent its other end and a vertical slot intermediate the ends and spaced outwardly from said shoulder; means for selectively drawing the shaft shoulder into contact with said head; a cross bar assembly including a polygonal cross bar and a pair of spaced parallel plates fixed to the cross bar and provided with aligned openings, the plates being spaced to receive said other end of the shaft therebetween with the aligned openings registering with the shaft bore, one of said plates having a generally semi-circular periphery provided with a number of arcuately spaced slots formed therein; a pivot member extending through the registering openings and bore; a latching member extending through the shaft slot and pivotally mounted therein and means biasing one end of the member toward said one plate and into locking 6 engagement with a selected plate slot; a pair of parallel support arms non-rotatably but longitudinally movably mounted on the cross bar, the arms projecting outwardly from the cross bar; brackets pivotally mounted upon the distal ends of said arms 'for rotation about an axis parallel to said cross bar; means for selectively looking at least one of said brackets in selected pivotal relation with its support arm; jig arms mounted upon said brackets for pivotal rotation about axes disposed between the support arms and transverse to said cross bar; and upstanding stud members carried by the jig arms and selectively positionable therea-long.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 456,164 Scudder July 21, 1891 1,386,318 Cowan Aug. 2, 1921 1,453,901 Andersen May 1, 1923 1,600,835 Manley Sept. 21, 1926 2,106,525 Henry Jan. 25, 1938 2,188,433 Friese -2- Jan. 30, 1940 2,359,249 Scheer Sept. 26, 1944 2,588,810 Dietrich Mar. 11, 1952 2,669,958 Sweeney Feb. 23, 1954 2,825,477 Ross Mar. 4, 1958