US3161166A

US3161166A - Sheet aligning clamp

Info

Publication number: US3161166A
Application number: US258475A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold E Erwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-02-14
Filing date: 1963-02-14
Publication date: 1964-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-15

Description

Dec. 15, 1964 H. E. ERWIN 3,161,166

SHEET ALIGNING CLAMP Filed Feb. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV EN TOR HATERW/N BY WM ATTORNEY 3,l6l,lb6 Patented Dec. 15, 1964 3,1613% SHEET ALIGNLIG CLAMP Harold E. Erwin, 2117 Missouri St, Keohulr, Iowa Filed Feb. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 253,475 1 Claim. (til. ll3-99) This invention relates to an implement of extremely simple construction capable of being readily clamped to adjacently disposed edge portions of two plate members for holding said plate members in alignment and immovable relative to one another while the plate members are secured together by as by tack welding.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an implement for the afore-described purpose which will effectively move two plates into correct alignment with one another and thereafter maintain the plates in proper aligned relationship while being permanently attached to one another, to thereby eliminate the need for welding elements to the plates and which elements can be engaged by tools or implements used to position and hold the plates, while the plates are being secured together, and which elements must thereafter be removed from the plates.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an implement which will effect a material saving in time and labor involved in fabricating tanks and other containers and structures from large preshaped rigid metal sheets or plates.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an implement which may be readily released without being disconnected from the plates to which it is attached for moving the implement to dilferent positions along the adjacent edges of the plates being secured together, as the operation of securing the adjacent plate edges together progresses, to thereby facilitate the fabrication of a tank or other structure.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a plate clamping implement which may be utilized for correctly aligning plates of different thicknesses and with desired complementary sides of the plates disposed flush with one another.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the plate fabricator in an applied position clamped to plates which are disposed one above the other for holding the plates correctly aligned with one another while their adjacent horizontal edges are secured together;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional vi w taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view through the implement taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken su stantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 2 and with one of the parts omitted;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, and showing one end portion of the implement;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of the implement looking from right to left of FIGURES 2 and 5, and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view, similar to FIGURE 1, and showing the implement applied to two horizontally spaced plates and engaging adjacent vertically spaced edges thereof.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the metal plate fabricator or clamping and aligning implement in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally It) and includes a section, designated generally ill, and a section designated generally 12.

The section 11 includes an elongated abutment member 13 of hollow rectangular construction in cross section having flat

opposite sides

14 and 15 which are provided with corresponding transversely extending aligned openings or

slots

16 and 17, respectively.

A lower block 18 and an upper block 19 are secured, as by Welding, as seen at 24 to the outer surface of the side 15. Said

blocks

18 and 19 are elongated and of rectangular shape and extend longitudinally from the abutment member 13. The upper surface 21 of the bottom block 18 is disposed substantially flush with the bottom surface of the slot 17, and the bottom surface 22 of the upper block 19 is disposed substantially flush with the upper edge of the slot or opening 17, as best seen in FIGURE 2. The upper block 19 has a threaded bore 23 which extends from top to bottom therethrough and which is located near the outer end of said block. The upper surface 21 of the lower block 18 has a concave countersink or depression 24 therein which aligns with the bore 23. A setscrew 25 is threaded downwardly through the bore 23. Setscrew 25 and the

blocks

18 and 19 combine to form an anchoring unit of the section 11.

The section 11 also includes a block or square nut 26 Which is secured, preferably by Welding, as seen at 27, on the upper end of the abutment member 13 and which has a threaded bore 28 which extends therethrough in a direction perpendicular to the

sides

14 and 15. A screw 29 extends threadedly through the bore 28 and has a rounded or hemispherical end 39 disposed over the side id and normally setback relative to the outer surface of said side.

The section 12 includes an elongated rigid hollow or tubular body 311 having an end wall 32 at one end thereof which is provided with a central opening 33. The other end of the tubular member 31 is open and is defined by an annular edge 34 which is disposed in a plane normal to the axis of the member 31. The member 31 is provided with an elongated longitudinally extending slot 35 which extends from near the end 34 thereof to beyond a midpoint of said member 31. The member 31 constitutes the abutment member of the section 12.

The section 12 includes a pulling unit, designated generally 36, which includes an elongated bolt or threaded rod 37, constituting a stem, which extends slidably through the end wall opening 33. The bolt 37 has a head 33 at one end thereof which is reciprocably disposed in the hollow abutment member 31 and which is elongated in a direction lengthwise of said bolt or rod. The head 38 has a recess 39 which opens outwardly of the end thereof which is disposed remote from the bolt 37 and which is of a length preferably somewhat greater than one-half the length of the head 38 and of a Width nearly equal to the width of the portion of said head in which the recess is formed, as best seen in FIGURE 3, so that said recess is open only at its outer end. The head 38 has a transversely disposed threaded bore 40 which opens outwardly of a portion of the periphery thereof and into the recess 39 through one side of said recess. The threaded bore 40 is disposed perpendicular to the recess 39 and has a setscrew 4-1 threadedly engaging therein and which projects outwardly through a portion of the slot 35, in which said screw 41 slidably fits. The surface 4?; of the recess 39, located opposite to the surface thereof through which the bore 49 opens into the recess 39, has a countersink or concave depression 43 which aligns with the bore ill. The

screws

25 and 41 have rounded or hemispherical leading

ends

4 and 45, respectively.

5 other, and means carried by said first mentioned abntment member and manually adjustable for displacing one of said plates away from the first mentioned abutment member and toward said second mentioned abutment member for positioning the sides of the plates engaged by the second mentioned abutment member in alignment with one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mendive Jan. 4, Mosley June 22, Rose Oct. 3, McDaniel Aug, 20,