Abstract:
A fixture for positioning a drill, vector or the like, has a gimbal mechanism with a tubular bushing extending therethrough. The gimbal mechanism is angularly adjustable and is held by a mounting assembly which is horizontally adjustable along an x-axis and y-axis. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting assembly is supported on a base which carries an x-axis mechanism for adjusting the location of the ball member along an x-axis and a y-axis mechanism for adjusting the location of the ball along a y-axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to adjustable tool guides. More particularly, the present invention relates to adjustable drill guides for use with coordinate measuring machines. 
         [0002]    Modern precision manufacturing systems often use coordinate measuring machines which are capable of accurately locating points in space and storing their relative locations in three axis coordinates. The set of locations provide basis for subsequent computer manipulation for design, manufacturing and other purposes. Such machines have substantially increased the accuracy of modern-day manufacturing systems. During the manufacture of aircraft and other precision manufacture products, it is often necessary to accurately locate and drill holes for bolts, pins, rivets and the like. Coordinate measuring machines can locate points in space, however, accurate drilling requires both accurate location of the center of a hole to be drilled as well as accurate positioning of the trajectory of the drill when boring the hole. Generally speaking, it remains laborious to accurately line up a drill for a hole and there remains a need for an improved fixture or device which can he readily placed in a proximate position and then adjusted to accurately locate a hole, and in particular to accurately locate a “true position hole” using a coordinate measuring machine. 
         [0003]    In accordance with the present invention, an adjustable drill positioner is provided, which can be used in conjunction with the probe of a coordinate measuring machine or CNC machine to accurately position a hole such as a “true position hole” as is often required, in a modern precision manufacturing process. In addition the positioner of the present invention is also subject to other uses to position devices other than drills and is adaptable for manual use without a coordinate measuring machine or a CNC machine. 
         [0004]    Further understanding of the present invention will be had from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A fixture for positioning a drill, vector, laser pointer or the like, comprises a gimbal mechanism which is angularly adjustable and which has a tubular guide bushing extending therethrough. The gimbal mechanism is held by a mounting assembly which is horizontally adjustable along an x-axis and y-axis. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting assembly is supported on a base which carries an x-axis mechanism for adjusting the location of the ball member along an x-axis and a y-axis mechanism for adjusting the location of the ball along a y-axis. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a drill positioner of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the drill positioner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the drill positioner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an end elevational view of the drill positioner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the drill positioner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the drill positioner of  FIG. 1  with the bail in an open condition and illustrating a tilted ball member; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  but showing the ball member in a different tilted position; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIGS. 6 and 7  but showing the ball member in a different tilted position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Now referring to the Figures, a preferred embodiment of a drill positioner of the present invention is shown and indicated generally by the numeral  10 . Generally speaking drill positioner  10  has base  12 , gimbal mechanism  14 , floating mount assembly  16 , “x-axis” adjust mechanism  18 , and “y-axis” adjust mechanism  20 . 
         [0015]    Gimbal mechanism  14  comprises a generally spherical ball member  22  rotatably carried in correspondingly shaped cavity  24  in floating mount assembly  16 . A cylindrical bore  24  extends through gimbal mechanism  14 . Tubular drill bushing  26  fits tightly but removably in bore  24 . Of course, drill bushing  26  is selected to have the desired inner diameter for use with a specific sized drill. Ball member  22  has an upper extension  24  to provide additional support for drill bushing  26  and additional length for increased accuracy when drill positioner  10  is used as set forth in more detail below. 
         [0016]    Floating mount assembly  16  has floating mount  28  and bail  30  which is selectively pivotally secured thereto by pivot pin  32  and bolt  34 . Loosening of bolt  34  from its securement in correspondingly threaded bore in floating mount  28  allows ball member  22  to be readily pivoted into desired angular position for the bore of drill hushing  26 . Removal of bolt  34  from floating mount  28  allows bail  30  to be pivoted away from floating mount  28  and the removal of ball member  22 . 
         [0017]    Floating mount  28  has a pair of parallel smooth rods  36  and  38  fixedly secured thereto and has an upwardly and outwardly extending elbow  40  with a threaded bore  42 . Rods  36  and  38  and threaded bore  42  extend generally in the direction of the “x-axis” and allow adjustment of the “x-axis” position of floating mount assembly  16  with respect to base  12  as. Floating mount  28  also has collar  44  pivotally attached thereto by pin  46  which is press fit into floating mount  28 . Although not shown in the figures, the top of pin  46  can be internally threaded to receive a bolt and washer to hold down collar  44 . Collar  44  has a threaded bore  48  therein which extends along the “y-axis” to allow adjustment of the position of floating mount assembly  16  with respect to the “y-axis.” 
         [0018]    “X-axis” adjust mechanism comprises “x-axis” pivot housing  50  which is secured to base  12  by pin  52  press fit into a hole (not shown) in base  12 . Although not shown in the figures, the top of pin  52  can be internally threaded to receive a bolt and washer to hold down pivot housing  50 . The term “x-axis” refers to the axis parallel to adjust rod  54  and rods  36  and  38 . Pin  52  allows pivotal movement of housing  50  with respect to base  12  although such pivotal movement is restricted by the “y-axis” adjust mechanism. “X-axis” adjust rod  54  extends through bore  56  in pivot housing  50 . “X-axis” adjustment knob  58  is secured to rod  54  which cannot move axially within bore  56  as such axial movements are prevented by shoulder  60  on adjust rod  54  and bushing  62  between knob  58  and housing  50 . The forward end of rod  54  is threaded and extends into bore  42  of floating mount  28 . Hence, rotation of knob  58  moves floating mount assembly  16  along the “x-axis.” Smooth rods  36  and  38  of floating mount assembly  16  are slidably carried, in bores  64  and  66  respectively in pivot housing  50  and support floating mount assembly  16  with respect to base  12  while allowing movement along the “x-axis” with respect thereto. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, movement of the “x-axis” adjustment mechanism and “y-axis” adjustment mechanism involves slight skewing of the direction of the x-axis and y-axis before the adjustment due to the pivotal movement of the respective mechanisms about pins  52  and  46 . 
         [0019]    “Y-axis” adjust mechanism comprises “y-axis pivot housing  68 , “y-axis” adjust rod  70  and “y-axis” adjust knob  72 . The term “y-axis” refers to the axis parallel to rod  70 . Rod  70  has a threaded end extending into threaded bore  48  of collar  44  and a knob  72  which is secured at its opposite end. Rod  70  extends through bore  74  in pivot housing  68  and is manually rotatable therein but not axially moveable, being constrained by shoulder  76  on rod  70  and bushing  78  between knob  72  and pivot housing  68 . 
         [0020]    Further understanding of the present invention will be had from the following description of its operation, its method of use being a part of the present invention. 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention drill positioner  10  is used in conjunction or association with a coordinate measuring machine. Such machines are now well known in the art and are disclosed in several patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,582 Apr. 4, 1995 to Simon Raab for THREE DIMENSIONAL COORDINATE MEASURING APPARATUS and U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,147 Mar. 18, 1997 to Simon Raab for THREE DIMENSIONAL COORDINATE MEASURING APPARATUS. Suitable coordinate measuring machines are commercially available from Faro Technologies Inc. of Lake Mary Fla., US. 
         [0022]    In use, base  12  of drill positioner  10  is positioned and temporarily secured to a substrate to be drilled such that drill bushing  26  is proximate to its desired precise position on the substrate. Base  12  can be temporarily secured to the substrate by clamps, hot glue or two sided tape or any other adhesive which will temporarily secure base  12  in position on the substrate but will allow the removal of base  12  without damage to the substrate&#39;s surface. Location of drill positioner  10  is preferably done by inserting the probe of an associated coordinate measuring apparatus into the center of ball member  22  within drill bushing  26  within and using the probe to locate the center of the bore of bushing  26  on the desired trajectory line to be drilled. Then the probe of a coordinate measuring machine is moved upwardly higher within bushing  26  and used to locate the center of the bore of bushing  26  at a higher point on the desired trajectory line to be drilled. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that ball member  22  will be rotated to properly position the center of the bore of drill bushing  26  to fix the proper trajectory but that such rotation will not move the first point located within the center of ball member  22  which point will remain along the desired trajectory line. Then bolt  34  and pin  32  can be tightened and drill bushing  26  used to guide a drill into the substrate at the precise desired location and along the precise desired trajectory. After its use, drill positioner  10  can then be removed from the substrate. Of course, drill bushing  26  may carry and guide a drill but is also well suited to carry and aim a vector or a laser emitting device such as a laser pointer. 
         [0023]    Base  12  of drill positioner  10  supports gimbal mechanism  14 , “x-axis” adjust mechanism  18 , and “y-axis” adjust mechanism  20 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that to precisely drill or otherwise bore a hole into a substrate the drill must be positioned “horizontally” with respect to an “x” axis and a “y” axis perpendicular thereto and that the trajectory line of the drill must be correctly aligned. These adjustments can be readily made by use of the aforementioned mechanisms. 
         [0024]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above-described preferred embodiment of the present invention is subject to variation and modification. Such variations and modifications are considered to be within the broad scope of the present invention which is intended to be limited only by the following claims.