Abstract:
A support device for supporting a longitudinal member, such as a threaded rod, in a desired position with respect to the support device includes a housing adapted to receive the threaded rod, transversely within a housing aperture, and a slide axle, slideably received axially within the housing. The slide axle receives the threaded rod and is slidable within the housing to (1) a first position frictionally engaging the rod and (2) a second position disengaged from the rod so that the rod can be relatively freely moved with respect to the slide axle. The rod supporting device includes a tightening member or lock nut to secure the slide axle in a locked position whereby the rod is tightly held against a housing bearing wall defining a portion of the housing aperture. The housing bearing wall is relatively smooth so that the threaded rod is tightly held in locked position by the lock nut, while minimizing axial movement of the rod with respect to the housing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an adjustable and lockable screw spindle support device wherein a screw spindle or threaded rod is longitudinally movable quickly, without rotating the rod with respect to the support device in one mode; is movable slowly by rotating the rod with respect to the support device in a second mode; and wherein the threaded rod or screw spindle is locked into position with respect to the support device in a third mode so that it is neither quickly nor threadedly movable with respect to the support device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART 
     Various devices have been invented whereby a screw spindle or threaded support rod is held within a support device telescopically so that the threaded rod or screw spindle is adjustable with respect to the support device quickly by disengaging a threaded interconnection between threads of the rod and threads of the rod-receiving support device; or in a second mode where the threads of the rod are engaged by a threaded &#34;locking&#34; device so that the rod is moved with respect to the support device only by turning the rod for threaded longitudinal movement. Examples of such prior art support mechanisms are found in the Wheelock U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,552 and the Nogler U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,421. In either of these prior art support devices, the locking mechanism is achieved by engagement of the threaded rod with a threaded support device housing portion on one side of the threaded rod and by a movable threaded &#34;locking&#34; member for engagement or disengagement of the rod threads on an opposite side o the threaded rod. The two modes of operation, therefore, permit rapid longitudinal movement of the threaded rod with respect to the support device without rod turning with respect to the support device or permit movement of the threaded rod with respect to the support device when in the locked position only by turning the threaded rod. 
     A significant problem inherent in support devices such as those disclosed in the above two identified prior art patents is particularly critical in support devices used in the precise machining of workpieces and in machine tools used for intricate manipulations of workpieces that is, vibration of the machinery sometimes causes slight turning of the threaded rod or screw spindle even when the support device is in the &#34;locked&#34; position. The threaded rod support device of the present invention overcomes this problem in the prior art by providing means for engaging one side of the threaded rod against one or more flat, unthreaded, bearing surfaces to prevent any possible unintended longitudinal movement of the threaded rod or spindle with respect to the support device when the device is in a locked mode. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In brief, the present invention is directed to a support device for supporting a longitudinal member, such as a threaded rod, in a desired position with respect to the support device. The support device includes a housing adapted to receive the threaded rod, transversely within a housing aperture, and a slide axle, slideably received axially within the housing. The slide axle receives the threaded rod and is slidable within the housing to (1) a first position frictionally engaging the rod and (2) a second position disengaged from the rod so that the rod can be relatively freely moved with respect to the slide axle. To achieve the full advantage of the present invention, the rod supporting device includes a tightening member or lock nut to secure the slide axle in a locked position whereby the rod is tightly held against a housing bearing wall defining a portion of the housing aperture. To achieve the fullest advantage of the present invention, the housing bearing wall is relatively smooth so that the threaded rod is tightly held in locked position by the lock nut, while minimizing axial movement of the rod with respect to the housing. 
     In one embodiment, the device of the present invention is a threaded rod supporting device for receiving a threaded rod and supporting the rod in a desired position longitudinally with respect to the support device. In this embodiment, the support device includes a housing having an aperture adapted to receive the threaded rod, wherein the housing aperture has a relatively smooth wall defining one edge of the housing aperture. The smooth wall of the housing aperture is adapted to engage some of the threads on the threaded rod when the device is in a locked position. The device further includes a slide axle movable longitudinally within the housing such that by moving the slide axle in a direction toward the relatively smooth housing aperture bearing wall, the threaded rod is movable into and out of engagement with the housing aperture wall to lock and unlock the threaded rod with respect to the housing. A slide axle engaging knob is operatively connected to the slide axle axially within the housing for engagement and disengagement of the threaded rod with the housing aperture bearing wall. 
     The device of the present invention includes a tubular housing adapted to receive a longitudinal member transversely through the housing and adapted to receive an axially movable slide axle longitudinally within the housing. The slide axle is disposed within the housing for receiving the longitudinal member, and is axially slideable within the housing to a first position frictionally engaging the longitudinal member, and axially slideable within the housing to a second position disengaged from the longitudinal member so that the longitudinal member can be relatively freely moved axially with respect to the slide axle means. A tightening nut or other slide axle engaging means for forcing the slide axle axially to pinch the longitudinal member against the housing when the slide axle is disposed in the first position, minimizes movement of the longitudinal member with respect to said housing. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a rod supporting device for supporting a rod or other elongated longitudinal member in a desired disposition with respect to the support device. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a threaded rod supporting device for receiving and supporting a threaded rod, including a housing containing a slide axle received within the housing and longitudinally movable within the housing. A threaded rod received completely through the housing can be pinched between a housing bearing wall and a slide axle bearing wall to secure the rod with respect to the support device; or the slide axle can be moved axially within the housing to disengage the rod for quick movement of the rod with respect to the support device. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a threaded rod supporting device capable of tightening the rod against a support device housing wall such that in a first mode, the threaded rod can be moved with respect to the support device by turning the threaded rod with respect to the support device; in a second mode, the threaded rod can be manually disengaged from the support device for quick movement of the rod without threaded or turning movement of the rod with respect to the support device; and in a third mode, the rod is locked against the support device so that disengagement of a locking member is necessary before the rod can be manually moved at all with respect to the support device. 
     The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent in accordance with the following drawings, describing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partially broken away perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention used in a transmission tool, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,603; 
     FIG. 2 is a partially elevated, cross-sectional view of the device of the present invention taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a partially broken away cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a partially broken away, enlarged cross-sectional view taken long the line 4--4 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a partially elevated, cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the device in a position so that a threaded stem can move freely within the device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 7 is a partially elevated, cross-sectional view, similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 5 showing the device in a position such that movement of the threaded stem can be accomplished only by threaded movement of the threaded stem with respect to the device; 
     FIG. 8 is a partially broken away, enlarged, cross-sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 4, showing the device in the position of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is an elevated, perspective view of the device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the device of FIG. 7 taken along the line 11--11 of FIG. 10; and 
     FIG. 12 is a partially broken away, perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention used in a different environment bench fold-down clamp for holding a workpiece in a secure position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to the drawing, and initially to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown an adjustable clamp or support device, generally designated 10 for securely grasping, holding or supporting a threaded spindle, rod or pole 12, therein. The threaded spindle, or pole 12, can be adjusted transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the clamp or support device 10 threadedly by rotation with respect to the support device 10, or by a quick adjustment mechanism, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. As best shown in FIG. 10, the clamp or support device 10 generally includes an interior, elongated slide device or slide axle, generally designated 14, generally including an enlarged central slide axle portion 16 having a centrally disposed, generally round aperture 18 defined therein tranverse to a longitudinal axis of the slide axle 14. The generally round aperture 18 is threaded at a bearing wall 20 along one edge of the aperture 18 to widen or enlarge the generally round aperture 18, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, and to provide threads at one longitudinal edge, as best shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, along the entire transverse length of the aperture 18, while leaving the remainder of the aperture 18 unthreaded. The aperture 18, together with the widened threads at the bearing wall 20, is large enough such that the threaded rod or spindle 12 is capable of sliding freely up and down through the aperture 18. The one threaded edge of aperture 18, forming the slide axle bearing wall 20 of the aperture 18 is threaded to receive complementarily formed threads on the threaded spindle or rod 12. The remainder of the aperture 18 in slide axle 14 forms an unthreaded, non-bearing wall 21. The slide axle device generally designated 14 fits freely and slideably within an exterior annular tubular housing, generally designated 22. The housing 22 includes upper and lower apertures 24 and 26 in axial alignment with the aperture 18 within the slide axle 14 when the slide axle is disposed within the annular housing 22 in position to permit rapid movement of the threaded rod 12 with respect to the support device 10, as shown in FIG. 5. 
     The slide axle 14 includes a first threaded axle end portion 28 integrally extending axially from one flat edge or wall 30 of the enlarged central slide axle portion 16 and a second threaded axle end portion 32 integrally extending axially in an opposite direction from an opposite flat edge or wall 34 of the central slide axle portion 16. A coil spring 36 is disposed over the threaded axle end portion 28 so that an inner end 38 of the coil spring is disposed against the flat edge 30 of the enlarged central slide axle portion 16 of slide axle 14 and an opposite spring end 40 is disposed against an inner surface 42 of a slide axle biasing member, or end cap member, generally designated by reference numeral 44. The slide axle biasing member 44 includes an outwardly extending peripheral flange 46 having an inner, annular flat edge or wall portion 48 for contact against an annular end edge or wall 50 of the tubular housing 22 for containing the slide axle 14 within the housing 22. The slide axle biasing member 44 includes an integral, inwardly extending, tubular portion 52 extending inwardly from the flat wall 48 to provide an innermost wall 54. Tubular portion 52 includes an annular recess 55 to receive a set screw 57 to secure the biasing member or end cap 44 to the housing 22. If the flat edge 30 of the enlarged central slide axle portion 16 of the slide axle 14 makes contact against the stop wall 54 of the slide axle biasing member 44, no further axial movement of the slide axle 14 would be possible. However, limited enlargement of the aperture 18 with respect to the threaded rod 12, will prevent contact of flat edge 30 of the enlarged central slide axle portion 16 against the stop wall 54, since the threaded rod 12 will first contact the housing 22 at apertures 24 and 26. Self-locking adjustment nut 56 secures the slide axle biasing member 44 and the coil spring 36 over the threaded axle end portion 28 by locking onto a threaded end portion 58 of the integral, reduced diameter threaded axle end portion 28 extending outwardly from the housing 22. 
     A cap member generally designated 60, capable of easily sliding over threaded axle end portion 32, is connected on the opposite side of the tubular housing 22 to the second threaded axle end portion 32 axially extending from the enlarged central slide axle portion 16 of the slide axle 14, and extending outwardly from the housing 22. The cap member 60 preferably has the same shape as the slide axle biasing member or end cap member 44. End cap member 60 includes an outwardly extending flange portion 62 defining an inner annular, flat edge or wall portion 64 for contact against a second end edge or wall 66 of the tubular housing 22 for containing the slide axle 14 within the housing 22. End cap member 60 also includes an opposite flat end wall 68 for engagement against an inner surface 70 of a tightening knob, generally designated 72, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The end cap member 60 includes an inwardly extending, tubular portion 73, extending inwardly from the flat end wall 68, having an annular groove 75 adapted to receive set screw 77 for securing the end cap member 60 to the housing 22. The tightening knob 72 includes an interior threaded aperture 74 for threaded engagement with a threaded end portion 76 of the second threaded axle end portion 32, as best shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 9. 
     In accordance with this construction, and as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the slide axle 14 is capable of axial movement within the tubular housing 22 in either axial direction--toward the tightening knob 72, or toward the self-locking adjustment nut 56. As shown in FIG. 2, the device has been set in a locked mode, such that the coil spring 36 forces the single threaded edge of the spindle-receiving aperture 18 of slide axle 14 into engagement with the threads on one edge of the rod or spindle 12, while forcing an opposite threaded edge of the rod or spindle 12 against the unthreaded upper and lower apertures 24 and 26 in the tubular housing 22. In accordance with an important feature of the support device of the present invention, this threaded engagement of the slide axle 14 against the threaded rod 12, while forcing the opposite flattened end edges or crests 79 (FIG. 4) of the threaded rod 12 against the unthreaded, axially aligned metal edges 24 and 26 of the tubular housing 22, securely holds the rod 12 in position within the clamp or support device 10. 
     While held in this manner, as shown in FIG. 2, the tightening knob 72 can be in a locked position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, or can be in a releasable position as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. This position of the knob 72, shown in dashed lines is called a releaseable position, as shown in FIG. 2, because if the housing 22 or the end cap 60 or the biasing member 44 is manually grasped and the tightening knob 72 is pushed axially inwardly toward the rod or spindle 12 from the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2, the slide axle 14 will be forced axially toward the end cap 44, against the spring biasing force of the coil spring 36, to disengage the threaded bearing wall 20 of the slide axle housing aperture 18 away from engagement with the threaded rod or spindle 12. This allows the clamp or support device 10 to be freely slid upwardly and downwardly about the rod or spindle 12 without the necessity of having to turn the rod or spindle12 or the support device 10, one with respect to the other. 
     With the tightening knob 72 in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, and with the lock nut 56, as shown in FIG. 2, however, this longitudinal movement of the slide device within the housing is impossible and the adjustable clamp or support device 10 is locked in position with respect to the rod or spindle 12. In this position, the clamp or support device 10 cannot even be turned by hand with respect to the rod or spindle 12 for a change in position of the rod or spindle 12. The tightening knob 72, when tightened firmly against the end edge 68 of the cap device 60, tightly pulls the slide axle 14 into threaded engagement with the rod or spindle 12, as shown in FIG. 2, such that the spindle 12 and the clamp or support device 10 cannot be hand turned one with respect to the other. This feature is not disclosed or suggested in prior art strut or pole supporting devices. 
     In accordance with another mode of the device of the present invention, when the device is in a lock mode as shown in FIG. 2, and the self-locking adjustment nut 56 is tightened further onto the threaded portion 58 of axle 28, as shown in FIG. 7, the slide axle 14 moves longitudinally to the right, as shown in FIG. 7, to loosen the threaded engagement of the threaded bearing wall 20 of the housing aperture 18 of the slide axle 14 with respect to the rod or spindle 12, such that the rod or spindle 12 can be turned with respect to the adjustable clamp or support device 10 for threaded movement of one with respect to the other, as desirable in accordance with the use of the device of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, when the device of the present invention is set in a lock mode, as shown in FIG. 2, the slide axle 14 is moved as far axially left as possible (as shown in FIG. 2) or toward the end cap 60. As best shown in FIG. 6, when the support device 10 of the present invention is in a full release or quick set mode, such that the adjustable clamp or support device 10 can be freely slid upwardly and downwardly with respect to the rod or spindle 12, then the slide axle 14 has been forced axially to the right, or toward the slide device biasing member 44, to dispose the slide axle 14 such that its central round aperture 18 is in axial alignment with the upper and lower apertures 24 and 26 in the housing 22. 
     The apparatus can be used in a wide variety of environments wherein threaded rods or spindles 12 are supported in longitudinal position with respect to the support or clamp device 10 disclosed herein. One such environment for use of this clamp or support device 10 is shown in FIG. 1, where the support device 10 is used as a coupling member for this inventor&#39;s snap-in clutch spring device disclosed in Pat. No. 4,031,603. The adjustable clamp or support device 10 of the present invention is used in place of the coupling member described with reference to reference numeral 46 in Pat. No. 4,031,603, which patent is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Another environment for use of the adjustable clamp or support device 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 12 where the support device 10 is shown used in conjunction with a bench hold-down clamp device, generally designated by reference numeral 80, where the support device of the present invention can be formed as an integral part of a workbench, generally designated by reference number 81. In workbench 81, the rod or spindle 12 is shown to support a workpiece hold-down clamp 82 capable of securing a workpiece 84 tightly to the workbench 81 and capable of quick adjustments upwardly and downwardly with respect to the workbench 81 in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as described. The support device 10 is attached to the workbench 81 through an access opening, not shown. 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.