WO1989011352A1 - Quick-action fastener for use e.g. with an automobile body straightener - Google Patents

Quick-action fastener for use e.g. with an automobile body straightener Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1989011352A1
WO1989011352A1 PCT/FI1989/000087 FI8900087W WO8911352A1 WO 1989011352 A1 WO1989011352 A1 WO 1989011352A1 FI 8900087 W FI8900087 W FI 8900087W WO 8911352 A1 WO8911352 A1 WO 8911352A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
quick
tightening means
fastener
locking element
frame
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI1989/000087
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Toivo Mäkelä
Original Assignee
Maekelae Toivo
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Maekelae Toivo filed Critical Maekelae Toivo
Publication of WO1989011352A1 publication Critical patent/WO1989011352A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D1/00—Straightening, restoring form or removing local distortions of sheet metal or specific articles made therefrom; Stretching sheet metal combined with rolling
    • B21D1/14—Straightening frame structures
    • B21D1/145—Clamps therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a quick-action fastener designed to be used e.g. for the fastening of the support ⁇ ing legs of the body clamps of an automobile body straight- ener, said fastener consisting of a frame, reinforcing plates attached to the frame, a locking element pivoted on the frame, and a tightening means for securing the fastener firmly in place.
  • the object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks observed in the aforementiond solutions and to achieve a dependable, reliable and low-cost quick-action fastener that can be fastened and released in a simple and quick manner.
  • the quick-action fastener of the invention is characterized in that its tightening means is an eccentric shaft and that the locking element is provided with a stop face against which, when the quick-action fastener is being locked in place, the eccentric part of the tightening means is pressed as the eccentric shaft is rotated.
  • the advan ⁇ tages are a quick grip/release action and a firm grip.
  • a preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the tightening means has two cylindrical parts placed coaxially at its ends and a third cylindrical part between them, the longitudinal axis of this intermediate cylindri ⁇ cal part being parallel to and at a certain distance from the axis of the cylindrical parts at the ends of the tight ⁇ ening means, and that the cylindrical part at one end of the tightening means is somewhat longer than the cylindri ⁇ cal part at the other end.
  • Another preferred embodiment of the invention is character ⁇ ized in that the frame of the quick-action fastener con ⁇ sists of an upper plate and a back plate placed in a posi ⁇ tion perpendicular to the upper plate, and that the frame is reinforced by two reinforcing plates, each consisting of two parts perpendicular to each other in such manner that the lower edge of the upper part lies parallel to the upper plate and is attached to its upper surface, while the front edge of the rear part is parallel to the back plate and attached to its rear surface.
  • the advantage is a rigid construction that prevents flexural deformation of the frame during tightening.
  • a third preferred embodiment of the invention is character ⁇ ized in that the fastener is provided with a positioning plate attached to the front edge of the upper plate, the positioning plate being of equal width with the upper plate and placed at right angles thereto, and that part of the positioning plate extends below the lower edge of the upper plate while the rest is above it and attached to the upper parts of the reinforcing plates.
  • the advantage is a firm grip of the beam on which the fastener is clamped.
  • a further preferred embodiment of the invention is charac ⁇ terized in that each reinforcing plate is provided with two holes in the lower region of the rear part, one for the tightening means and the other for the pivot axle of the locking element, said holes being so located relative to each other that, when the tightening means is rotated, its eccentric part is pressed against the stop face at the rear edge of the locking element, thereby causing the locking element to turn about its pivot axle so that its front part is pressed tightly against the object on which the quick- action fastener is to be clamped.
  • the advantage is a quick and stable grip, provided that the eccentric shaft and the locking element are correctly positioned relative to each other.
  • Fig . 1 presents a lateral view of the quick-action fastener in the locked position.
  • Fig . 2 presents a lateral view of the same quick-action fastener in the open position.
  • Fig . 3 presents the quick-action fastener in rear view.
  • Fig . 4 presents the quick-action fastener in top view.
  • the frame of the quick-action fastener consists of an upper plate 8 and a back plate 9 attached to the rear edge of the upper plate at right angles thereto.
  • the frame is rigidi- fied by a pair of reinforcing plates 1 placed at a distance from each other and attached to both the upper plate and the back plate. That edge of the reinforcing plates which faces the frame is rectangular and fitted on the frame in such manner that the lower edge of the upper part 10 of the reinforcing plate is attached to the upper surface of the upper plate 8 while the front edge of the rear part 11 of the reinforcing plate is attached to the rear surface of the back plate 9.
  • the front edge of the upper plate 8 is vertically aligned with the front edge of the upper part 10 of the reinforcing plates.
  • a positioning plate 12 placed at right angles to the upper plate 8 in such manner that the lower edge of the position ⁇ ing plate extends below the lower edge of the upper plate 8. Correspondingly, part of the positioning plate is above the level of the upper plate and attached to the reinforc ⁇ ing plates.
  • the rear surface of the positioning plate 12 and the front surface of the back plate 9 constitute paral ⁇ lel vertical planes separated by a distance essentially equal to the external dimension of the square-section frame beam 17 gripped by the quick-action fastener.
  • the position ⁇ ing plate and the upper plate are of equal width and placed with their ends flush at the same vertical planes.
  • the width of the rear part 11 of the reinforcing plate increases towards the lower edge, which is somewhat below the underside of the frame beam 17.
  • Near the lower end of the rear part 11 are two holes, of which the upper one 13, placed farther away from the back plate 9, accomodates the eccentric shaft of the tightening means 3.
  • the lower hole 14, which is closer to the back plate, accommodates the pivot axle 15 of the locking element 2.
  • the eccentric shaft 3 serving as a tightening means is mounted in the holes 13 in such manner that the shorter end 5 of the shaft is in the hole 13 in the first reinforcing plate and the longer end 6 is in the hole 13 in the other reinforcing plate.
  • the length of the shorter cylindrical part 5 is equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the reinforcing plate, so that the eccentric shaft can be locked in place in the lateral direction by means of suitable stop plates attached to the reinforcing plates.
  • the cylindrical parts 5 and 6 at the ends of the eccentric shaft are coaxial. Between the cylindrical parts 5 and 6 is a third cylindrical part 7, whose axis is parallel to, but separated by a certain distance from, the axis of the cylindrical parts 5 and 6 at the ends.
  • the intermediate cylindrical part 7 consti ⁇ tutes an eccentric part which has a smaller diameter than the cylindrical parts at the ends.
  • the relation of the dia ⁇ meters of the cylindrical parts to their eccentricity is such that, as seen from the end of the eccentric shaft, the intermediate cylindrical part 7 is completely within the sectional area of the cylindrical parts 5 and 6 at the ends. This makes it possible to install the shaft after ⁇ wards and to remove it if necessary. Attached to the longer cylindrical end 6 of the eccentric shaft 3 is an operating lever 18, which provides the necessary tightening torque and also makes it easy to release the fastener.
  • the width of the locking element 2 is somewhat less than the distance between the reinforcing plates 1 because the locking element must be able to turn in the space between the reinforcing plates.
  • the locking element comprises a stop block 19, which is attached to the rear part of the locking plate, and a pivot axle 15, about which the locking element swivels in the holes 14 in the reinforcing plates.
  • the stop block 19 has a stop face 4 which is parallel to the wider surface of the locking plate and whose distance from the eccentric shaft 3 is such that, during tightening, the eccentric part 7 is pressed against the stop face 4 and thus causes the locking element 2 to rotate about its pivot axle 15.
  • the front part of the locking element is now turned up against the under ⁇ side of the frame beam 17 and the quick-action fastener is firmly locked in place on the beam 17.
  • the back plate 9 is of such dimensions that, in the locked position, a small clearance is left between the locking element 2 and the back plate 9.
  • the locking element 2 and the eccentric shaft 3 are so placed relative to each other that, during the releasing action, the rear end and stop block 19 of the locking element can turn past the eccentric shaft into the fully open position of the locking element as shown in Fig. 2.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Clamps And Clips (AREA)

Abstract

Quick-action fastener designed to be used e.g. for the fastening of the supporting legs of the body clamps of an automobile body straightener, said fastener consisting of a frame, reinforcing plates (1) attached to the frame, a locking element (2) pivoted on the frame, and a tightening means (3) for securing the fastener firmly in place. The tightening means (3) is an eccentric shaft and the locking element (2) is provided with a stop face (4) against which, when the quick-action fastener is being locked in place, the eccentric part of the tightening means is pressed as the eccentric shaft is rotated.

Description

QUICK-ACTION FASTENER FOR USE E.G. WITH AN AUTOMOBILE BODY STRAIGHTENER
The present invention relates to a quick-action fastener designed to be used e.g. for the fastening of the support¬ ing legs of the body clamps of an automobile body straight- ener, said fastener consisting of a frame, reinforcing plates attached to the frame, a locking element pivoted on the frame, and a tightening means for securing the fastener firmly in place.
The locking action of previously known quick-grip fasteners used with automobile body straightening equipment is based either on screw clamping or precise profile fit of the ele¬ ments. Tightening wedges are also used. The drawbacks of such fasteners include a relatively complex construction and a slow fastening procedure. A fastener whose locking action is based on precise profile fit of the elements has the disadvantage that it does not work with objects having a simple sectional form, because the locking action re¬ quires a sufficient number of stop faces in the region of engagement. A further problem in the case of a certain known solution is that the grip of the device is not firm enough. Though the fastener is locked in place, its grip is so loose that it allows the device to move, which is not always desirable.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks observed in the aforementiond solutions and to achieve a dependable, reliable and low-cost quick-action fastener that can be fastened and released in a simple and quick manner. The quick-action fastener of the invention is characterized in that its tightening means is an eccentric shaft and that the locking element is provided with a stop face against which, when the quick-action fastener is being locked in place, the eccentric part of the tightening means is pressed as the eccentric shaft is rotated. The advan¬ tages are a quick grip/release action and a firm grip.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the tightening means has two cylindrical parts placed coaxially at its ends and a third cylindrical part between them, the longitudinal axis of this intermediate cylindri¬ cal part being parallel to and at a certain distance from the axis of the cylindrical parts at the ends of the tight¬ ening means, and that the cylindrical part at one end of the tightening means is somewhat longer than the cylindri¬ cal part at the other end. The advantages are a simple construction of the tightening means and easy installation of an operating lever at the longer end.
Another preferred embodiment of the invention is character¬ ized in that the frame of the quick-action fastener con¬ sists of an upper plate and a back plate placed in a posi¬ tion perpendicular to the upper plate, and that the frame is reinforced by two reinforcing plates, each consisting of two parts perpendicular to each other in such manner that the lower edge of the upper part lies parallel to the upper plate and is attached to its upper surface, while the front edge of the rear part is parallel to the back plate and attached to its rear surface. The advantage is a rigid construction that prevents flexural deformation of the frame during tightening.
A third preferred embodiment of the invention is character¬ ized in that the fastener is provided with a positioning plate attached to the front edge of the upper plate, the positioning plate being of equal width with the upper plate and placed at right angles thereto, and that part of the positioning plate extends below the lower edge of the upper plate while the rest is above it and attached to the upper parts of the reinforcing plates. The advantage is a firm grip of the beam on which the fastener is clamped. A further preferred embodiment of the invention is charac¬ terized in that each reinforcing plate is provided with two holes in the lower region of the rear part, one for the tightening means and the other for the pivot axle of the locking element, said holes being so located relative to each other that, when the tightening means is rotated, its eccentric part is pressed against the stop face at the rear edge of the locking element, thereby causing the locking element to turn about its pivot axle so that its front part is pressed tightly against the object on which the quick- action fastener is to be clamped. The advantage is a quick and stable grip, provided that the eccentric shaft and the locking element are correctly positioned relative to each other.
The invention is described in the following by the aid of an example with reference to the drawings attached, wherein
Fig . 1 presents a lateral view of the quick-action fastener in the locked position.
Fig . 2 presents a lateral view of the same quick-action fastener in the open position.
Fig . 3 presents the quick-action fastener in rear view.
Fig . 4 presents the quick-action fastener in top view.
The frame of the quick-action fastener consists of an upper plate 8 and a back plate 9 attached to the rear edge of the upper plate at right angles thereto. The frame is rigidi- fied by a pair of reinforcing plates 1 placed at a distance from each other and attached to both the upper plate and the back plate. That edge of the reinforcing plates which faces the frame is rectangular and fitted on the frame in such manner that the lower edge of the upper part 10 of the reinforcing plate is attached to the upper surface of the upper plate 8 while the front edge of the rear part 11 of the reinforcing plate is attached to the rear surface of the back plate 9. The front edge of the upper plate 8 is vertically aligned with the front edge of the upper part 10 of the reinforcing plates. Attached to the front edges is a positioning plate 12 placed at right angles to the upper plate 8 in such manner that the lower edge of the position¬ ing plate extends below the lower edge of the upper plate 8. Correspondingly, part of the positioning plate is above the level of the upper plate and attached to the reinforc¬ ing plates. The rear surface of the positioning plate 12 and the front surface of the back plate 9 constitute paral¬ lel vertical planes separated by a distance essentially equal to the external dimension of the square-section frame beam 17 gripped by the quick-action fastener. The position¬ ing plate and the upper plate are of equal width and placed with their ends flush at the same vertical planes.
The width of the rear part 11 of the reinforcing plate increases towards the lower edge, which is somewhat below the underside of the frame beam 17. Near the lower end of the rear part 11 are two holes, of which the upper one 13, placed farther away from the back plate 9, accomodates the eccentric shaft of the tightening means 3. The lower hole 14, which is closer to the back plate, accommodates the pivot axle 15 of the locking element 2. The eccentric shaft 3 serving as a tightening means is mounted in the holes 13 in such manner that the shorter end 5 of the shaft is in the hole 13 in the first reinforcing plate and the longer end 6 is in the hole 13 in the other reinforcing plate. The length of the shorter cylindrical part 5 is equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the reinforcing plate, so that the eccentric shaft can be locked in place in the lateral direction by means of suitable stop plates attached to the reinforcing plates. The cylindrical parts 5 and 6 at the ends of the eccentric shaft are coaxial. Between the cylindrical parts 5 and 6 is a third cylindrical part 7, whose axis is parallel to, but separated by a certain distance from, the axis of the cylindrical parts 5 and 6 at the ends. Thus, the intermediate cylindrical part 7 consti¬ tutes an eccentric part which has a smaller diameter than the cylindrical parts at the ends. The relation of the dia¬ meters of the cylindrical parts to their eccentricity is such that, as seen from the end of the eccentric shaft, the intermediate cylindrical part 7 is completely within the sectional area of the cylindrical parts 5 and 6 at the ends. This makes it possible to install the shaft after¬ wards and to remove it if necessary. Attached to the longer cylindrical end 6 of the eccentric shaft 3 is an operating lever 18, which provides the necessary tightening torque and also makes it easy to release the fastener.
The width of the locking element 2 is somewhat less than the distance between the reinforcing plates 1 because the locking element must be able to turn in the space between the reinforcing plates. In addition to a locking plate, the locking element comprises a stop block 19, which is attached to the rear part of the locking plate, and a pivot axle 15, about which the locking element swivels in the holes 14 in the reinforcing plates. The stop block 19 has a stop face 4 which is parallel to the wider surface of the locking plate and whose distance from the eccentric shaft 3 is such that, during tightening, the eccentric part 7 is pressed against the stop face 4 and thus causes the locking element 2 to rotate about its pivot axle 15. The front part of the locking element is now turned up against the under¬ side of the frame beam 17 and the quick-action fastener is firmly locked in place on the beam 17. The back plate 9 is of such dimensions that, in the locked position, a small clearance is left between the locking element 2 and the back plate 9. Furthermore, the locking element 2 and the eccentric shaft 3 are so placed relative to each other that, during the releasing action, the rear end and stop block 19 of the locking element can turn past the eccentric shaft into the fully open position of the locking element as shown in Fig. 2. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to the example described above, but that the embodiments of the invention may vary in the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Quick-action fastener designed to be used e.g. for the fastening of the supporting legs of the body clamps of an automobile body straightener, said fastener consisting of a frame, reinforcing plates (1) attached to the frame, a locking element (2) pivoted on the frame, and a tightening means (3) for securing the fastener firmly in place, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it uses an eccentric shaft as a tightening means (3) and that the locking element (2) is provided with a stop face (4) against which, when the quick-action fastener is being locked in place, the eccentric part of the tightening means is pressed as the eccentric shaft is rotated.
2. Quick-action fastener according to claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the tightening means has two cylindrical parts (5, 6) placed coaxially at its ends and a third cylindrical part (7) between them, the longitudinal axis of this intermediate cylindrical part being parallel to and at a certain distance from the axis of the cylindri¬ cal parts at the ends of the tightening means, and that the cylindrical part (6) at one end of the tightening means is somewhat longer than the cylindrical part (5) at the other end.
3. Quick-action fastener according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the frame of the quick- action fastener consists of an upper plate (8) and a back plate (9) placed in a position perpendicular to the upper plate, and that the frame is reinforced by two reinforcing plates, each consisting of two parts perpendicular to each other in such manner that the lower edge of the upper part
(10) lies parallel to the upper plate (8) and is attached to its upper surface, while the front edge of the' rear part
(11) is parallel to the back plate (9) and attached to its rear surface.
4. Quick-action fastener according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the fastener is provided with a positioning plate (12) attached to the front edge of the upper plate (8), the positioning plate being of equal width with the upper plate and placed at right angles thereto, and that part of the positioning plate extends below the lower edge of the upper plate (8) while the rest is above it and attached to the upper parts (10) of the reinforcing plates.
5. Quick-action fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that each reinforcing plate is provided with two holes (13, 14) in the lower region of the rear part (11), one (13) for the tightening means (3) and the other (14) for the pivot axle of the locking element (2), said holes (13, 14) being so located relative to each other that, when the tightening means is rotated, its eccentric part is pressed against the stop face (4) at the rear edge of the locking element (2), thereby causing the locking element to turn about its pivot axle (15) so that its front part is pressed tightly against the object on which the quick-action fastener is to be clamped.
PCT/FI1989/000087 1988-05-19 1989-05-18 Quick-action fastener for use e.g. with an automobile body straightener WO1989011352A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI882364A FI882364A (en) 1988-05-19 1988-05-19 SNAPPFAESTNINGSORGAN FOER ATT ANVAENDA TILL EXEMPEL I RIKTNINGSANORDNING AV BIL.
FI882364 1988-05-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1989011352A1 true WO1989011352A1 (en) 1989-11-30

Family

ID=8526484

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI1989/000087 WO1989011352A1 (en) 1988-05-19 1989-05-18 Quick-action fastener for use e.g. with an automobile body straightener

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3695489A (en)
FI (1) FI882364A (en)
WO (1) WO1989011352A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993015855A1 (en) * 1992-02-18 1993-08-19 Celette S.A. Device for hooking and clamping accessories onto a straightening plate for checking and repairing vehicles
WO1999064179A1 (en) * 1998-06-09 1999-12-16 Car-O-Liner Ab A device for clamping a vehicle to a bench attachment

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4206910A (en) * 1978-06-28 1980-06-10 Biesemeyer William M Table saw fence system
DE3149215A1 (en) * 1981-12-11 1983-06-30 Stierlen-Maquet Ag, 7550 Rastatt Clamp
US4487523A (en) * 1981-12-31 1984-12-11 American Sterilizer Company Accessory clamp for abductor bar
GB2173245A (en) * 1985-04-04 1986-10-08 Wiederaufarbeitung Von Kernbre Installation components which is replaceable by remote control

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4206910A (en) * 1978-06-28 1980-06-10 Biesemeyer William M Table saw fence system
DE3149215A1 (en) * 1981-12-11 1983-06-30 Stierlen-Maquet Ag, 7550 Rastatt Clamp
US4487523A (en) * 1981-12-31 1984-12-11 American Sterilizer Company Accessory clamp for abductor bar
GB2173245A (en) * 1985-04-04 1986-10-08 Wiederaufarbeitung Von Kernbre Installation components which is replaceable by remote control

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993015855A1 (en) * 1992-02-18 1993-08-19 Celette S.A. Device for hooking and clamping accessories onto a straightening plate for checking and repairing vehicles
FR2687335A1 (en) * 1992-02-18 1993-08-20 Celette Sa DEVICE FOR HANGING AND CLAMPING ACCESSORIES ON A MARBLE FOR CHECKING AND REPAIRING VEHICLES.
WO1999064179A1 (en) * 1998-06-09 1999-12-16 Car-O-Liner Ab A device for clamping a vehicle to a bench attachment

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3695489A (en) 1989-12-12
FI882364A0 (en) 1988-05-19
FI882364A (en) 1989-11-20

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