WO2013024498A1

WO2013024498A1 - Precision vice

Info

Publication number: WO2013024498A1
Application number: PCT/IT2012/000213
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Pellacini
Original assignee: Stamplast Pr S.A.S. Di Pellacini Roberto E C.
Priority date: 2011-08-12
Filing date: 2012-07-11
Publication date: 2013-02-21
Also published as: ITPR20110074A1

Abstract

A precision vice having two assemblies, each supporting a fixed and a movable jaw, wherein: a fixed assembly comprises a base with a longitudinally extending central body having means therein for actuating a movable assembly, comprising two laterally sliding bars, with respect to the central fixed body, and moved by a bracket, centrally coupled to the actuation means. Both movable and fixed assemblies being coplanar on support surfaces of blocks 4 and 5 acting as clamping jaws.

Description

TITLE: PRECISION VICE

D E S C R I P T I O N

APPLICATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention finds application in the field of precision vices.

STATE OF THE ART

A vice is a mechanical tool, typically screw- operated, used for clamping and holding a workpiece, usually for adjusting, threading, sawing, welding, assembling other components, also gluing. Most common models made are of cast iron or steel, but wooden models exist. The clamping force is obtained through a hand operated screw, acting on a sliding handgrip. The screw actuates a movable jaw which presses the workpiece against a symmetrical fixed jaw.

It is very important, especially in precision mechanics, to be able to achieve effective clamping of the workpiece without the vice jaws causing undesired displacements during said clamping step.

In fact, it is repeatedly observed that the movable jaw, simultaneously with gripping on the piece, causes the piece to raise due to the compression action and clearances between the vice coupling components.

Another not less important feature is related to the vice external overall dimensions which, to facilitate use thereof, must be as compact as possible. DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Object of the present invention is to avoid the above mentioned shortcomings, providing a novel type of precision vice.

Specifically, the present precision vice comprises two side bars, movable with respect to a central fixed base and arranged to drag the movable jaw which will rest on said fixed jaw, secured on said central base.

Advantages :

1) During clamping of the piece, upward movement of the piece is avoided

2) Reduced external size, in virtue of accommodating the actuating means in the central body.

Said objects and advantages are all achieved by the precision vice according to the present invention, which is characterized by what provided in the appended claims below .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

This and other features will become more apparent from the following description of a number of embodiments illustrated, merely as simplifying and non- limiting example in the figures of the attached drawings .

Figure 1: shows a perspective assembly view of the precision vice according to the present invention.

Figure 2: shows the central fixed assembly of the vice in figurel.

Figure 3: shows the movable side assembly of the vice in figure 1.

Figure 4: shows a longitudinal median sectional view of the present vice.

Figure 5: shows an exploded view

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Particularly referring to figures 1 and 5, a precision vice according to the present invention is indicated as a whole at 1.

It comprises a fixed base 2 coupled to a carriage or slide 3, and both supporting integral fixed and movable jaws 4 and 5.

A nut screw 6 drives advancing or retreating of slide 3.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show in detail the components and their respective couplings.

Specifically, base 2, having a quadrangular shape, centrally comprises a block 2B which extends upwards and defines lateral sliding tracks 2A.

Block 2B comprises a longitudinal hole, within which actuating means are housed, which, in this representation, are a nut screw 6 engaging an end of a screw 7 (both axially accommodated in the hole, body- centered and completely air and water-tight) ;

An opposing ring nut 8 is housed in a corresponding seat and holds nut screw 6 in position; from said nut screw 6 an extension which protrudes outwardly to allow coupling with corresponding control keys (not shown) to rotate, along axis AA, the nut screw which, in turn, will induce advancing or retreating of the screw along said axis AA.

Central block 2B has an upper flat surface 2C which is disposed on a plane parallel to that defined by track 2A on which carriage 3 slides.

Again, said surface 2C is also coplanar with a pair of upper side surfaces 9A of a pair of parallel side bars 9, which form part of clamping slide or carriage 3; in fact, carriage 3, unlike in the prior art, is movable and sliding through bars 9 sliding on the respective side track 2A.

Substantially, said flat surface 2C has a width equal to the distance between parallel bars 9 (it fills the gap between the same) , so as to keep them effectively parallel.

As a whole, carriage 3 (or clamping slide) is therefore formed by:

Two parallel side bars 9, abutting against respective lateral surfaces of central block, and moving along tracks 2A.

A trailing bracket, indicated in figure 3 by reference 3, integral with each end of bars 9 and disposed transversally with respect to the same, that is to say, with respect to sliding movement of carriage 3.

Said bracket 3 is centrally coupled to the other free end of screw 6, that is, the one opposed to coupling with nut screw, as illustrated in figure 4:

Bracket and screw are secured by common clamping means .

Again, the above mentioned bars 9 comprise two longitudinal guides 9B which extend inwardly and, once slide 3 is coupled to base 2, engage a corresponding cavity 2D formed in the central body. With respect to the above illustrated preferred embodiment configuration, the described coupling can be reversed, guide on the central body and recesses on side bars, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Both the above assemblies, base 2 and carriage 3, each carry blocks 4 and 5 which, assembled through fastening screws 11, 12, act as clamping jaws.

Block 4 is integral with central block 2B.

Block 5 is integral with both side bars . 9 is integrally positioned with respect to surfaces 9A. On the other hand, once assembled, block 5 will rest both on the side bars and on central body, due to the surfaces being coplanar, as explained above: this measure will create an obstacle for movable block, avoiding small movements.

It is to be noticed that both lateral bars 9 comprise a plurality of upper equidistant housings 9C, which allow for multiple positioning of jaw 5, integral with centering elements 13. Conversely, jaw 4 defines and maintains alignment with respect to central block 2C through a key 14, disposed in an associated seat, indicated by reference 2E in figure 5.

In conclusion, the precision vice according to the invention is characterized by having two groups, each supporting a fixed and a movable jaw, wherein:

a fixed assembly consists of a base with a longitudinally extending central body, having means therein for actuating

a movable assembly, comprising two laterally sliding bars, with respect to the central fixed body, and actuated through a common bracket, centrally, attached to the actuating means.

Both movable and fixed assemblies being coplanar on support surfaces of blocks 4 and 5 acting as clamping j aws . In the illustrated example, the vice comprises actuating means such as screw 6 and nut screw 7; but, moreover without departing from the scope of the invention, the actuating system could as well have another conformation, for example a hydraulic piston directly housed within block 2B and arranged so as to actuate the bracket along axis AA, allowing to have central block accommodating (air and water-tight) linear actuating mechanisms, in addition to allowing for reduction of external dimensions.

Finally, a further alternative embodiment, aiming to complement the illustrated embodiment, is described: between bracket and screw, outside block 2B, additional actuating means (such as a small piston or linear actuator) can be introduced/inserted, so as to induce an additional rapid and linear translation of movable part 3, allowing for quick release of the piece.

Claims

1. A precision vice (1) of the type comprising two mutually coupled groups (2, 3) , respectively fixed and movable, characterized in that:

said fixed group (2) comprises at least one base from which a longitudinal body (2B) is upwardly and centrally extended, and two lateral tracks (2A) ; said block (2B) bearing a flat surface (2C) on its upper part, on a plane parallel to that defined by the track (2A) ; said surface (2C) supports at least one block (4), said movable group (3) comprises at least two parallel bars (9) in contact against the lateral surfaces of the central block (2B) , integrally joined to a bracket (10) so as to be able to slide on the corresponding tracks (2A) of the group (2) ; one block (5) integral to both bars (9) is supported by the upper surfaces (9A) ,

and characterized in that said movable group (3) and fixed group (2) :

are controllable in mutual sliding via axial actuation (AA) means (6, 7) housed in the central body (2B) and connected to said bracket (10) ;

- are coplanar through their support surfaces (9A, 2C) of the blocks (4) and (5) acting as clamping jaws; once assembled, the block (5) abuts against both the lateral bars and the central body.

2. A vice, according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuation means (6, 7) are a nut screw (6) engaging one end of a screw (7); an opposing ring nut (8) housed in a corresponding seat for maintaining the nut screw (6) in position, adapted to be rotated, along the longitudinal axis (AA) of the vice, so as to induce the advancing or retreating of the screw (6).

3. A vice, according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuation means are at least one hydraulic piston housed directly inside the block (2B) and arranged in a manner so as to drive the bracket (10) along the axis (AA) .

4. A vice, according to claim 1, characterized in that said flat surface (2C) is arranged on a plane parallel to that defined by the track (2A) on which the movable group (3) slides.

5. A vice (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that said flat surface (2C) has width equal to the distance between the lateral bars (9), so as to maintain the parallelism between the same.

6. A vice (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that the bars (9) comprise two longitudinal guides (9B) that are inwardly extended and, once the slide (3) is coupled with the base (2), are engaged in a corresponding cavity (2D) obtained on the central body (2B) .

7. A vice (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that both the bars (9) comprise on their upper part a plurality of equidistant housings (9C) , which allow the multiple positioning of the jaw (5), executed also by means of intermediate centering elements (13); the jaw (4) maintains and defines the alignment with respect to the central block (2c) by means of a key (14), placed in a relative seat (2E) .

8. A vice (1), according to claim 2, characterized in that between the aforesaid actuation means (6, 7) and the bracket (10), further hydraulic actuation means are comprised, such as a small piston or linear actuator; said additional means being positioned outside the block in a manner so as to command a further linear movement of the movable part (3) , for the quick release of the piece.