Work Holder Member With V-shaped Notch Or Groove Patents (Class 269/902)
  • Patent number: 6171400
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a plurality of semiconductor wafers during heat treatment of the wafers in a furnace comprises a plurality of rails extending essentially vertically between a top and bottom plate. Each rail contains a plurality of teeth arranged such that the space between adjacent teeth can receive a portion of a single semiconductor wafer. Each tooth contains a raised support structure, typically a ledge, located on the top surface of each tooth for supporting the wafer, usually from the edge of the wafer inward to a point located from the center of the wafer a distance equal to between about 25% and about 75% of the wafer's radius. Such an apparatus with its relatively long teeth is especially designed to uniformly support larger wafers, i.e., wafers having a nominal diameter greater than about 200 millimeters, such that their own weight does not cause the wafers to sag and thereby produce crystal dislocations or slip when the wafers are heated to high temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventor: Larry S. Wingo
  • Patent number: 6149358
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a selected number of workpieces at a machining center, each workpiece support having a sleeve within which is reciprocably accommodated a workpiece bearing member cooperable with the sleeve to clamp and unclamp a workpiece in a selected position for machining. The workpiece may be clamped axially or transversely of the sleeve and, when clamped transversely, in a position selectively normal or inclined to the axis of reciprocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventor: James M. Montague
  • Patent number: 6134798
    Abstract: A device for facilitating measuring and cutting conduit. The device includes two end plates sized and configured for receiving conduit while being provided with a surface for resisting rotation of the conduit as it resides upon and is supported by the end plates. A planar ruled member is attached to and supports both of the end plates preferably at a distance so that the device can be supported by the circumference of a standard five gallon bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: E-Ticket Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Scott E. Duncan, Ronald A. Cox
  • Patent number: 6113090
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a primary automotive door panel and door trim panel during a manufacturing process includes at least one rest block. The rest block has a rocker provided with first and second arms extending radially outwardly from a pivot axis at an angle to one another and perpendicular to the pivot axis such that adjacent surfaces of the arms form a radially outwardly opening recess. The rocker is supported for pivotal movement from a loading position in which the recess opens laterally to a work-supporting position in which the recess opens upwardly. The inner surfaces of the arm meet adjacent to the pivot axis to define a notch adapted to support a lower edge portion of the primary door panel when the rocker is in the work-supporting position. One of the arms has a shelf adapted to support the trim panel when the rocker is in the work-supporting position. The other arm carries a roller made of a soft, non-abrasive material such as rubber or plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Anna Hui
  • Patent number: 6099058
    Abstract: A gripping device which can grip small articles of different shapes without the need to work its chucking surfaces or to use blocks and liners in combination, and which can position articles in parallel to or perpendicular to a reference surface with a single gripping device. A fixed yoke, a movable yoke and an anvil-side yoke are connected to two columns so that all the yokes can pivot relative to the columns and the movable yoke can further slide relative to the columns to form a parallel crank mechanism. The fixed yoke is provided with a threaded shaft for moving the movable yoke. V grooves are formed in opposed surfaces of the movable yoke and the anvil-side yoke. A plurality of cuts are formed at the portion where the V-grooves are formed in parallel to the columns. The cuts define plate members having V-grooved gripping portions meshing with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Asai Tekkosho
    Inventors: Akira Asai, Takashi Asai, Yoshiro Asai
  • Patent number: 6065744
    Abstract: A dual jawed adjustable workpiece holder is formed as a highly versatile V-block related device wherein the V-point may be precisely shifted in vernier increments along both X and Y axes in response to lead screw driven translations of one or both adjustable jaws along parallel axes. The pair of mirror image jaws are slidably retained in an interior, U-shaped cavity formed into a rectangular shaped overall workpiece holder. Upon being adjusted to translate a workpiece to a desired location in an XY plane, individual locking screws secure the jaws in position. The thus configured workpiece holder may be used in combination with various grinding machines and clamping means to rapidly and precisely position and retain a workpiece with a high degree of positional repeatability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Joseph W. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 6062554
    Abstract: The instant invention is a dual clamping apparatus consisting of a three sided clampstand component, one left handed screw bolt and one right handed screw bolt, a bi-threaded barrel component held by the screw bolts insertable each through hexagonally shaped holes in the lateral sides of the clampstand, the barrel component having a horizontally inclined through hole centered therein from side to side, half of which is marked by the presence of right handed threading and half of which is marked by the presence of left hand threading for receipt of the screw bolts as well as having a plurality of closed lever holes within its outer surface for receipt of a lever to turn the barrel component through an angle causing movement outward or inward as the case may be of the inserted screw bolts and further with each screw bolt having a closed, threaded hole in the head of each for receipt of an extension screw component fitted with a threaded extension screw nut component with a pair of tapped holes in the base of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Nelson F. Leonard
  • Patent number: 6058592
    Abstract: An apparatus for locating a workpiece on a processing surface includes a first locator arm assembly, a second locator arm assembly, and a pivotal member. The first locator arm assembly includes a first surface disposed for lateral movement and mating engagement with a first portion of the workpiece. The second locator arm assembly includes a second surface disposed for lateral movement parallel to the first surface, the second surface further for mating engagement with a second, opposite side, portion of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Cadwallader, Michael J. Fisher, Thomas Morrison
  • Patent number: 6044573
    Abstract: A measuring device including a gage having a dial, a pointer associated with the dial, and an actuator stem operatively coupled to the pointer; and a coupling mechanism having a connector portion detachably secured to the actuator stem; and a receiver portion defining a recess having first and second longitudinally extending, transversely spaced apart and parallel support surfaces. Also included is a probe pin disposed in the recess, the probe pin being longitudinally aligned with and supported by the first and second support surfaces; and a retainer mechanism exerting on the probe pin a force directed toward the first and second support surfaces. The coupling mechanism permits use of the gage with diametric gage pins selected from commercially available sets of such pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventor: Huston G. Cockrill
  • Patent number: 6019360
    Abstract: A vise for securing plastic pipe while sawing a section of pipe to length is formed by a U-shaped base supported by a plurality of short legs. A V-shaped cradle is pivotally connected by its legs with the legs of the U-shaped member for successively receiving and holding a plurality of pipe of different diameters. The confronting surfaces of the V-shaped legs have a layer of material having a high coefficient of friction bonded thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Michael R. Rice
  • Patent number: 6000688
    Abstract: A production V-block including four or more individually vertically adjustable V-blocks on a single ferromagnetic base for magnetically securing to a machine tool table, all of the V-blocks are ground to identical depths for simultaneous identical operations on several work pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventor: Joseph A. Giangrasso
  • Patent number: 5941515
    Abstract: A universal locating fixture for machining various sizes of engine connecting rods. In one embodiment, the fixture includes locating pads, opposed clamps and a crank bore-engaging equalizing locator on a fixed part of the fixture for locating and clamping the crank end of a connecting rod forging for machining. A single locating pad and opposed clamp and a pin end-engaging V locator are mounted on an axially adjustable slide of the fixture for locating and clamping the pin end of a connecting rod for machining. The clamps may be made to accommodate differing widths of connecting rods and the equalizing locator has two locating points spaced to accommodate various crank bore diameters without adjustment. Adjustment of the fixture to machine connecting rods of different lengths requires only axial adjustment of the slide to position the pin end locating pad, clamp and V locator in proper position for the new length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Frederick Salow
  • Patent number: 5876026
    Abstract: A pair of clamp pliers comprises an upper clip plate, a lower clip plate, a torsion spring disposed between the upper clip plate and the lower clip plate, a pivot pin passing through the torsion spring to fasten the upper clip plate and the lower clip plate together, a first recess hole formed on a front portion of the upper clip plate to receive a first compression spring and an upper mount, and a second recess hole formed on a front portion of the lower clip plate to receive a second compression spring and a lower mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventor: Jenn-Hwang Chen
  • Patent number: 5873566
    Abstract: An apparatus for locating a workpiece on a processing surface includes a first locator arm assembly, a second locator arm assembly, and a pivotal member. The first locator arm assembly includes a first surface disposed for lateral movement and mating engagement with a first portion of the workpiece. The second locator arm assembly includes a second surface disposed for lateral movement parallel to the first surface, the second surface further for mating engagement with a second, opposite side, portion of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Cadwallader, Michael J. Fisher, Thomas Morrison
  • Patent number: 5863035
    Abstract: A clamping device capable of engaging a pipe jack for securing a work piece thereon. This device includes a yoke adopted to slidably engage a V-configured pipe jack and further having a threaded orifice contained therein. Contained within the threaded orifice is a threaded stem. A handle is attached to an upper distal end of the threaded stem. Pivotally attached to a lower distal end of the threaded stem is a head for engaging a work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: Dennis C Howell
  • Patent number: 5788559
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for sharpening twist drill bits, for use with a rotary abrasive wheel. The apparatus has a vertical support plate connectable to a standard adjustable base. A cylindrical ring rotatably mounted in the support plate has a radial dovetailed groove on its front face. A sliding plate, with a mounting flange and hole for a chuck on its angled front face, slides in the dovetailed groove of the ring. An angled bar is mounted on the rear face of the ring, to act as an alignment pointer. Both the ring and the sliding plate each have an angled notch cut out of its front face. The two notches are adjacent to each other, and their two opposite edges are aligned when the sliding plate is centered in the ring. In use, the end of a drill bit is placed into the notches, so that the web of the drill bit can be used as a measurement to offset the position of the sliding plate from center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Paul Lewis Jungnitsch
  • Patent number: 5727779
    Abstract: A new Clamping Stand for holding and clamping a workpiece in a fixed position so that work may be performed on the workpiece. The inventive device includes a vertical support member, a leg assembly extending downward from one end of the vertical support member, a workpiece tray provided at an opposite end of the vertical support member for holding a workpiece, and a clamping member movable relative to the workpiece tray for clamping the workpiece in the workpiece tray. A stirrup, adapted to receive a foot of a user of the stand, extends downward from the clamping member, whereby downward movement of the stirrup causes the clamping member to move downward against a workpiece positioned in the workpiece tray thereby clamping the workpiece in the workpiece tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventor: Robert J. Ramoski
  • Patent number: 5711515
    Abstract: A workpiece support for a vise which is used for clamping a small workpiece on the vise and which can solve the problem that the prior art workpiece support has not versatility in clamping workpieces of various different configurations. In the workpiece support, a magnet is detachably mounted in a support plate and the support plate is fixedly attracted to a jaw plate of the vise through the magnet. Therefore, by forming a step in one side of the support plate along an edge and mounting the magnet in the support plate in a reversible manner, any one surface of the workpiece support can be selected as an attraction surface and the workpiece support can be used in many various forms depending on the workpiece configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nishimura Jig
    Inventor: Akira Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5700185
    Abstract: A new Pin Vise for removably retaining various sizes of pins for grinding to a specified length which allows the user to easily load and unload the pin for increased productivity. The inventive device includes a base member, a support shaft secured to the base member orthogonally, a top member secured to the support shaft opposite of the base member, and a spring loaded pin retaining means slidably secured to the top member which retains the pin against the top member thereby allowing grinding to the specified length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: Dean Halonie
  • Patent number: 5673843
    Abstract: A transportable welding station has a first tower supporting at least one pair of power-driven rollers and a second tower supporting a pair of rollers aligned with those of the first tower. A piece of pipe may be cut or welded as it is supported and rotated by the two sets of rollers, thereby permitting a smooth continuous cut or weld around the entire circumference of pipe. To accommodate different lengths of pipe, a welder can change the distance between the two towers. A version with two pairs of power-driven rollers supported by the first tower allows short lengths of pipe to be welded. Even shorter or irregularly shaped pieces may be welded as they are held by a chuck that is turned by the rollers supported by the first tower. A work table is also provided to allow those whose job is to tack, or tentatively join, pipe sections so that those people may work with a small ancillary welding machine. A fold-up jib crane allows heavy pipe workpieces to be loaded onto the welding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Inventor: Kenneth Clifford Gainey
  • Patent number: 5611877
    Abstract: Jigs usable in a method for manufacturing a joined ceramic structure having a plurality of tubes and perforated plates joined to both the end portions of these tubes which has the steps of inserting the tubes of sintered ceramics into through-holes of the perforated plates of unsintered ceramics having a plurality of the through-holes, thereby integrally joining both the members by the utilization of a difference between firing shrinkage ratios of both the members; the jigs having end portions which are inserted into jig fixation orifices beforehand formed through the perforated plates and which have an outer diameter slightly smaller than a diameter of the orifices, and stems having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the jig fixation orifices, the end portions and the stems being constituted so as to be detachably combined at engagement portions where they are engaged with each other without mutual restriction, the jigs being integrally combined with the joined ceramic structure after the completi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Yoshida, Keiichiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5603474
    Abstract: An adjustable support for holding models in a working position for a hobbyist includes a quadrilateral frame having opposed side walls and opposing end walls which are each adjustable. The end walls and the side walls have overlapping portions having aligned longitudinal slots which can receive a securing pin so that the length, as well as the pitch of the walls, can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: George E. Weber
  • Patent number: 5599007
    Abstract: A clamp which can be held in a vise, and the clamp has a plurality of clamping portions which will allow it to be held in the vise in a plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Paul L. Oliveira
  • Patent number: 5595378
    Abstract: A clamping jaw (10) for a clamping device, adapted to be mounted on a profile member (31) is formed by two separate jaw members (11) and a common rear counter support (12) for said members, which is arranged to transmit clamping forces produced by means of clamping bolts (32) to the two jaw members (11). The jaw members (11) and the counter support (12) have cooperating engagement means (13, 15) for placing and holding the jaw members (11) in predetermined positions in relation to the counter support (12). In order to make it possible to adapt the clamping jaw (10) to profile members of different shape and size, the engagement means (13, 15) are arranged to permit each jaw member (11) to be placed and held in a plurality of different positions in relation to the counter support (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Cue Dee Produkter AB
    Inventors: Lars M. R. Martinsson, Jan-Olof Hemmervall
  • Patent number: 5593040
    Abstract: A pallet holds one or more circuit boards for processing. A pallet opening for receiving the circuit board has grooves at one side to retain an edge of the circuit board and rotary clips at the other side to receive and hold the opposite edge of the board. Each clip is a disk which is mounted for rotation about a central axis and is constrained to two angular positions by a detent. A notch in the disk receives the circuit board when in one position and clamps the board against a seat when in the other position. The notch is deep enough to allow the board to be shifted laterally for alignment with test apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Gary R. Shelton, Kyle R. Street
  • Patent number: 5577717
    Abstract: The jeweler's saw vise is for holding a relatively thin workpiece to permit a jeweler to use a saw to cut the workpiece firmly held by the vise. The vise comprises a pair of elongated upper and lower jaws having a front surface and a rear surface. The upper jaw is superimposed over the lower jaw which has a length longer than the upper jaw. The rear portion of the lower jaw forms a mounting tab for attaching the vise to a support. A biasing spring is interposed between the jaws to resiliently bias the jaws to a closed position. The jaws at the front surface are provided with a V-notch, with the widest part of the notch being located in the front surface to form an entrance to a V-notch provided in the jaws of the vise where the cutting of the material or workpiece occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Donald M. Benson
  • Patent number: 5556151
    Abstract: A fixturing device/scale combination that is permanently located at a place where it is likely to be used and which is attached to the pickup or trailer such that it will be transported to the work site without necessitating any additional thought or planning by the handyman or carpenter. The invention may be attached to the tailgate of a pickup truck or to other various work surfaces, including utility beds, and trailers in order to facilitate measuring lengths and angles for cutting lumber and other materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventors: Daniel D. New, William G. New
  • Patent number: 5556085
    Abstract: Work holder comprising a first adjustable jaw having spaced holding surfaces thereon and a second jaw comprising a pair of arms pivoted in the housing and having holding surfaces on their distal ends, the arms adapted to be drawn together by a threaded adjustment rod having right-hand and left-hand portions. The housing is swivelly positioned on a suitable weighted base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventor: Adelard N. Cyr
  • Patent number: 5554067
    Abstract: The frame holder for prescription glasses (24) of the type featuring two jaws mounted in such manner that they slide in relation to each other so that they can move toward or away from each other, and also featuring a device (22) to center the frame (24) between the jaws (12) so as to hold said frame (24) in a reference plane (P), characterized by the fact that it features a device (30) to support frame (24) approximately in the reference plane (P) before the frame (24) is clamped inside the jaws (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Buchmann Optical Engineering
    Inventors: Michel J. M. Lecerf, Raynald G. M. Longuet
  • Patent number: 5531006
    Abstract: A machine for tapering pipe ends with different diameters including a feeding conveyor, a platform, a gripping mechanism mounted at one side of the feeding conveyor and mounted on the platform, the gripping mechanism including a frame provided with two vertical racks, a horizontal rack between lower ends of the vertical racks, an upper clamp slidably mounted on an upper portion of the two vertical racks, a lower clamp slidably mounted on a lower portion of the two vertical racks, a first hydraulic cylinder installed on a top of the frame and drivingly connected with the upper clamp, a second hydraulic cylinder mounted on one vertical side of the frame and drivingly connected with a lower sliding wedge, an upper sliding wedge arranged on the lower sliding wedge, an axle mounted on a rear side of the frame and connected with an arm, a third hydraulic cylinder mounted on the platform and connected with an end of the arm, another end of the arm being connected with a triggering rod ad a sensor, and a head stock m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: Lee T. Shing
  • Patent number: 5482263
    Abstract: Angle adjustable clamps are described which include a pair of jaws connected to pliers-type handles. At least one of the jaws includes two faces, and the angle between the faces is adjustable. The clamps are useful for gripping and supporting workpieces at a desired angle to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventor: Kurt Kutzleb
  • Patent number: 5472180
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding firewood and dimension lumber during cutting includes an upright member having a generally triangular shaped plate attached near one end thereof, the plate includes a plurality of steps, each of the plurality of steps having a generally V-shaped portion facing downwards that is attached thereto. The V-shaped portions engage the butt end of any diameter of a log of sufficient size that is placed on the holder and prevents the butt end from becoming dislodged. A serrated plate is attached under the triangular shaped plate that is useful for securing the butt end of small logs and of dimension lumber. A first end of a longitudinal member is attached to the upright member under the serrated plate and extends away from the upright member and is generally perpendicular with respect thereto. A generally rectangular plate having a trough at the top is attached at a second end of the longitudinal member and is useful for the cantilevered placement of logs for cutting thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Bertram L. Bent
  • Patent number: 5452885
    Abstract: A vise for clamping workpieces of different sizes, and including two adjustable pieces, one of which gives a large adjustment and the other which gives a finer adjustment. A clamping jaw is included, and the adjustment pieces can be set so that there is desired clearance between the jaw and the workpiece prior to applying hydraulic force in the clamping action. Rotation restrictors apply to each of the rotationally adjustable members, and a spring returns the jaw to the unclamped or opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Beere Tool Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard F. Beere
  • Patent number: 5395101
    Abstract: A clamp for optical fiber couplers manufacturing apparatus comprises a slotted member having a slot into which optical fibers are inserted and having an opening outwardly winder from the slot so that the optical fibers are introduced into the slot, and a pushing member movably disposed adjacent the slot for pushing the optical fibers through the opening into the slot, wherein the slotted member is away from the pushing member when the fibers are not clamped, and the slotted member is fixed at a position where the slotted member clamps the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumiden Opcom, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takimoto, Hiroshi Suganuma, Junichi Yoshikawa, Kazuhiko Arimoto
  • Patent number: 5358228
    Abstract: A vise having a base piece and an invertible V-block supported both laterally and downwardly on the base piece in either inverted position. A movable jaw operates toward and away from the V-block in distances in accord with the inverted position of the V-block, all to accommodate workpieces of different sizes and with only one invertible V-block which is snugly supported in lateral positions on the base piece and which is supported upwardly by shouldering on the base piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Beere Tool Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard F. Beere
  • Patent number: 5350163
    Abstract: A clamping member (11) for a wood clamp (10) is provided and comprises two spaced engaging elements (14, 15), each shaped as right oval cylinders. The engaging elements are rotatably mounted to a support plate (17) and are arranged to slide relative to support plate in respective slots (16) which converge. A workpiece is arranged to be clamped between the engaging elements when it is moved in the direction in which the slots converge as movement of the workpiece causes the engaging elements to slide in the converging slots thus further gripping the workpiece and also rotate until such time as the engaging elements clamp the workpiece and prevent further movement of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventor: Wilfried Lichtenberg
  • Patent number: 5340371
    Abstract: A fiber holding chuck comprising a silica glass rod having a fiber groove or fiber chuck for an optical fiber. The optical fiber lies in the fiber groove, and a clamping mechanism holds the optical fiber in place. The fiber holding chuck positions the optical fiber without damaging the fiber in order to align the fiber with another fiber. The clamping mechanism maintains the position of the aligned fiber. The fiber chuck mounts in a chuck groove of a chuck mounting fixture. The chuck mounting fixture attaches to a fiber positioning mechanism, and the positioning mechanism positions the chuck mounting fixture along with the fiber chuck and the optical fiber to align and splice two optical fibers together while reducing the risk of damage to the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Andrew Corporation
    Inventor: Richard B. Dyott
  • Patent number: 5312096
    Abstract: The present invention includes a welding jig having a first support plate and a second support plate rotatably connected to the first support plate. The second support plate has a template-shaped perimeter including arcuately shaped segments shaped to support pipe fittings of different sizes. By selectively positioning a particular segment and securing locking the particular segment in place, a particular pipe fitting such as a particular 90.degree. pipe elbow can be supported with one end resting on the selected particular segment and the other end resting on the first support plate. By this arrangement, particular pipe fitting can be supported in a predetermined and square position relative to a pipe, thus facilitating welding the particular pipe elbow to the pipe. This allows substantially a one-person welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Thomas E. Jasper
  • Patent number: 5305557
    Abstract: A block having first and second permanent cavities. The first cavity includes a first vertical, continuous V-groove from the rop of the block to a pocket which has a permanent horizontal bottom wall. The second cavity includes a second V-groove that is parallel to the first V-groove, and which is continuous from the top of the block to a second permanent horizontal bottom wall that is at a predetermined height with respect to the bottom wall of the first cavity. Each cavity includes a bar pivotally attached to the block, which includes a flat surface for pressing normally to the bottom of the V-groove, along a vertical line of contact with the vertical cylindrical portion of a tool in the V-groove when the bar is positioned horizontally across the V-groove and is drawn to the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Lee A. Warncke
  • Patent number: 5282302
    Abstract: Sucker rod guide clamping devices which in a first embodiment include a scissor clamping device provided with a pair of pivotally-disposed clamping jaws pivotally attached to corresponding pivoting jaw arms. One of the clamping jaws is provided with a projecting plate for engaging a sucker rod and the oppositely-disposed clamping jaw includes a pair of engaging flanges for receiving and seating a slotted sucker rod guide, wherein the sucker rod guide is installed on the sucker rod by pressure applied to the jaw arms. In a second embodiment a piston clamping device includes a C-shaped frame, in which is mounted a fluid cylinder, with a pair of engaging flanges provided in the frame for receiving a sucker rod guide and a fluid cylinder piston adapted to engage a sucker rod. Operation of the fluid cylinder extends the piston, forces the sucker rod into the sucker rod guide slot and installs the sucker rod guide on the sucker rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Inventors: Jimmy A. Starks, Billy J. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5280891
    Abstract: A plurality of telescoping tube members, each arranged for inter-locking relative to one another, are provided to include a threaded support rod threadedly directed within an uppermost of the tubes to position a pipe during a welding procedure. A modification of the invention includes support head structure arranged for mounting to the tube to accommodate various configurations of pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Rollin L. Estes
  • Patent number: 5243745
    Abstract: The present invention is a fixture primarily for use with a machining center. The fixture has a plurality of face plates mounted on an interior casing and moveable jaws exposed on the face plates. Parts to be machined can be placed between the jaws and gripped by the jaws for easy and quick setup of various machining operations. Assemblies for actuating the jaws are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Proprietary Main, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard T. Varnau
  • Patent number: 5218184
    Abstract: A micro-welder for optical fibers includes a stand having a central support surrounded by two lateral supports or beams. The beams are suitable for moving under drive from a bending movement about respective X-axes. The stand also supports a device for securing optical fibers on the beams and a device for accurately guiding the fibers on the central support. A low accuracy first displacement device is adapted to displace the beams to bring the fibers into end-to-end contact with each other by relative translation movement along their longitudinal Z-axis which is orthogonal to the X-axes. A high accuracy second displacement device is adapted for moving the beams to drive the fibers with accurate relative translation movements along the Z-axis. Two welding electrodes are provided and an optical device which includes a microscope for observing the ends of said optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Alcatel Fibres Optiques
    Inventors: Roland Hakoun, Gerard Godard, Jean-Claude Resbeut
  • Patent number: 5207252
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for holding a workpiece which, according to one aspect of the invention, has a pair of clamping members configured to securely hold a workpiece in which a mortise is to be formed. The clamps are mounted on a frame which has generally parallel longitudinal members that allow the workpiece to be operated on from opposite sides without repositioning the workpiece. The frame and clamping members are particularly configured for receiving and holding workpieces having a rounded cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Timothy J. Risse
  • Patent number: 5193826
    Abstract: A face plate adapter for securing a tubular work piece to a machine tool rotating said work piece about an axis comprising a face plate, an adjustable mounting assembly for mounting the adapter to a machine tool, an elongated nesting member extending outwardly from the face plate for receiving the work piece in a nesting relation therein such that the work piece extends outwardly from the face plate substantially along the rotation axis, and an adjustable clamping device for securing the work piece in the nesting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Maurice A. Smith
  • Patent number: 5172896
    Abstract: A vise having a base portion and an upstanding tower thereon and with a movable jaw slidable on the upstanding tower by means of a control screw. Another screw is utilized to hold the upper jaw against the upstanding tower. A pair of V-blocks can be utilized for optimizing the range of utility with regard to sizes of workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Beere Tool Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard F. Beere
  • Patent number: 5172895
    Abstract: A clamping device includes a first and a second clamping yoke (36, 38), which are mutually adjustable in a plane of movement. The first clamping yoke (36) carries two mounting jaws (82), each having a first angular clamping surface (86), which is arranged at an angle .alpha..sub.1 <180.degree. relative to the other first angular clamping surface and perpendicular to the plane of movement (58), so that the first angular clamping surfaces form a first prismatic workpiece receptable open towards a mounting jaw of the second clamping yoke. Said clamping device also includes a spindle (42), extending parallel to the plane of movement, for adjusting the position of the clamping yokes relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Bessey & Sohn GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Horst Klimach
  • Patent number: 5158487
    Abstract: The present invention is a fixture primarily for use with a machining center. The fixture has a plurality of face plates mounted on an interior casing and moveable jaws exposed on the face plates. Parts to be machined can be placed between the jaws and gripped by the jaws for easy and quick setup of various machining operations. Assemblies for actuating the jaws are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Proprietary Main, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard T. Varnau
  • Patent number: 5149071
    Abstract: A vice has a pair of parallel, work-piece clamping jaw-members, which jaw-members are spaced laterally apart. The first jaw-member is a semi-rigid one, while the second jaw-member is completely slidable as an integral unit, and also allows for the two jaw-elements thereof of which it is comprised to be movable toward and away from each, whereby the second jaw-member may be used separately to hold a workpiece, and may be used in conjunction with the first jaw-member for assisting the first jaw-member in firmly and safely clamping a workpiece in order to provide a more stable holding of the workpiece during the working thereof. The second, floating jaw-member may be adjusted for holding the smaller-diameter portion of a long workpiece, while the fixed jaw-member holds and clamps the larger diameter portion of the same workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Inventor: Paul L. Oliveira
  • Patent number: 5143175
    Abstract: A sawbuck comprising a first pair of members which support one end of a log at a given elevation, with means to support another portion of the log at a lesser elevation, and means to chain down a portion of a log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Inventor: Robert B. Tomko