Aligning fixture for box welding

An aligning fixture for box welding that is used to internally support a work-piece has a mounting plate and a plurality of supporting legs. Each of the plurality of supporting legs is removably attached to the mounting plate by a plate connector in order to provide adjustability for welding work-pieces of various sizes. A support structure, being a first leg and a second leg, is pivotally connected to the plate connector and a hinge. The hinge supports a roller mount, a roller, and a pad assembly. The roller mount is vertically positioned, wherein the roller is connected to the roller mount opposite the hinge. The roller allows the supporting leg to slide across the bottom surface within the work-piece. The pad assembly is pivotally attached to the hinge and rests flush against the inner wall of the work-piece when the aligning fixture is deployed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a backup welding fixture. More specifically, the present invention is an aligning fixture for box welding that is used to securely hold a work-piece during welding. Furthermore, the present invention can be used in both manual and robotic applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The general process of welding consists of joining metals by way of applying heat, with the use of pressure or with the use of intermediate or filler metals having a high melting point. Welding is a very meticulous method due to the materials that the welding process undergoes. Safety and effectiveness are very important factors to consider while welding units. During the welding process, users must be ensured that their resources are secure, yet also have the ability to be multi-faceted.

The present invention can substantially improve the welding process. The present invention is an aligning fixture that is used to securely hold a work-piece during welding. The present invention is versatile in that it can be used in either manual or robotic applications. The present invention comprises a mounting plate with four removable supporting legs that provide for quick adjustments for various sized work-pieces through the use of multiple locator mounting holes. The present invention differentiates from existing inventions because the present invention can quickly be secured in place, and just as quickly, be released. This feature allows the present invention to be in used in production manufacturing where speed during set-up is required. Once the adjustments to the fixture have been determined, use on the next part is not only fast, but very precise which helps to ensure the squareness of the design.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an alignment fixture for box welding that is used to securely support a work-piece during welding. The present invention comprises a mounting plate10and a plurality of supporting legs12. Each of the plurality of supporting legs12is attached to the mounting plate10, wherein each of the plurality of supporting legs12can be pivoted. The application of pressure to the side of the mounting plate10opposite the plurality of supporting legs12forces the plurality of supporting legs12to radially expand about the perimeter of the mounting plate10, while simultaneously collapsing the plurality of supporting legs12towards the mounting plate10.

In reference toFIG. 1-4, the mounting plate10is a flat piece of material to which each of the plurality of supporting legs12is attached. The mounting plate10comprises a plurality of locator mounting holes through which each of the plurality of supporting legs12is attached to the mounting plate10. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, nuts and bolts are used to secure the plurality of supporting legs12to the mounting plate10, wherein a single bolt traverses through each of the plurality of supporting legs12and through the mounting plate10. However, it is possible for the plurality of supporting legs12to be attached to the mounting plate10in any other way.

The mobility of the plurality of supporting legs12about the mounting plate10allows the present invention to be adapted for use with work-pieces of many various sizes. For larger work-pieces the plurality of supporting legs12can be positioned closer to the outer edge of the mounting plate10. Conversely, for smaller work-pieces the plurality of supporting legs12can be positioned closer to the center of the mounting plate10. The positioning of the plurality of supporting legs12can also be adjusted in order to accommodate work-pieces of various shapes such as squares, rectangles, etc.

The mounting plate10may further comprise a robotics mount11, wherein the mounting plate10can be attached to a robotic arm or similar device, such as those found in a manufacturing line. The robotics mount11is positioned on the mounting plate10opposite the plurality of supporting legs12, such that the robotic arm can apply pressure to the mounting plate10in order to deploy the plurality of supporting legs12. Once the positioning of each of the plurality of supporting legs12has been properly configured, the robotic arm can be used to quickly and efficiently transfer the present invention from one work-piece to another.

In reference toFIG. 6andFIG. 11, each of the plurality of supporting legs12comprises a support structure30, a plate connector20, a hinge40, a roller mount50, a roller51, a pad assembly60, a tension spring70, and a cam acting lock mechanism80. The plate connector20for each of the plurality of supporting legs12provides the means by which the plurality of supporting legs12is attached to the mounting plate10. As such, the plate connector20is adjacently attached to the mounting plate10, while the support structure30is pivotally connected to the plate connector20opposite the mounting plate10. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plate connector20is an L-shaped brace, wherein a single bolt traverses through the plate connector20and through the mounting plate10in order to attach the plate connector20to the mounting plate10.

In reference toFIG. 8-9, the hinge40is positioned opposite the plate connector20along the support structure30, wherein the support structure30is pivotally connected to the hinge40. The hinge40supports both the roller mount50and the pad assembly60, wherein the roller mount50is fixed in place, while the pad assembly60is pivotally connected to the hinge40. The roller mount50is adjacently connected to the hinge40opposite the support structure30, wherein the hinge40is positioned in between the support structure30and the roller mount50. The roller mount50is a vertically positioned member and extends away from the hinge40in the direction opposite the mounting plate10and the roller51is pivotally connected to the roller mount50opposite the hinge40. In this way, the roller51is positioned opposite the mounting plate10about the present invention, wherein the roller51comes in contact with the ground. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the roller51is a ball bearing, however, it is possible for any other similar type of mechanism to be used.

In reference toFIG. 6andFIG. 11, the hinge40comprises a hinge plate41and a barrel42, wherein the barrel42is adjacently connected to the hinge plate41and positioned along the hinge plate41. The support structure30is pivotally connected to the hinge plate41and the roller mount50is adjacently connected to the hinge plate41opposite the support structure30, wherein the hinge plate41is positioned in between the support structure30and the roller mount50. The pad assembly60is pivotally connected to the barrel42, wherein the pad assembly60may be pressed flush against the inner surface of a work-piece.

In reference toFIG. 8-9, the support structure30comprises a first leg31and a second leg32, wherein the first leg31is positioned adjacent to the second leg32. More specifically, the first leg31and the second leg32are positioned parallel to each other. Both the first leg31and the second leg32are pivotally connected to the plate connector20, wherein pressure applied to the mounting plate10opposite the plurality of supporting legs12causes the first leg31and the second leg32to pivot about the plate connector20. Additionally, the first leg31and the second leg32are pivotally connected to the hinge40. In this way, the support structure30forms a parallel motion linkage, wherein the support structure30is able to collapse towards the mounting plate10and the roller mount50remains aligned in the same vertical position as the hinge40is directed away from the outer edge of the mounting plate10.

As the support structure30expands outwards from the mounting plate10, the pad assembly60comes in contact with a wall of the work-piece. The pad assembly60being pivotally attached to the hinge40allows the pad assembly60to rest flush against the wall no matter what angle the support structure30is relative to the wall. More specifically, the pad assembly60is pivotally connected to the barrel42of the hinge40. The pad assembly60provides a flat panel for positioning against the wall of the work-piece and comprises a plate61, a first flange62, and a second flange63. The plate61is adjacently attached to first flange62and the second flange63the first flange62and the second flange63being positioned opposite each other along the plate61. The first flange62and the second flange63extend from the surface of the plate61opposite the wall of the work-piece and are both pivotally attached to the hinge40. More specifically, the first flange62and the second flange63are pivotally attached to the barrel42of the hinge40.

The plate61can be removed from the first flange62and the second flange63, such that the plate61can be replaced with a differently sized or shaped plate to accommodate for various work-pieces. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plate61is constructed from copper, however, it is possible for any other suitable material to be used to construct the plate61. The plate61can also be modified in order to provide liquid cooling or inert gas purging for the weld area.

In reference toFIG. 10, the tension spring70is adjacently connected to the pad assembly60and the hinge40. More specifically, the tension spring70is adjacently connected to the first flange62and adjacently connected to the hinge plate41. The tension spring70provides a force to press the pad assembly60flush against the wall of the work-piece. In this way, the tension spring70ensures that the pad assembly60remains in the same flush position throughout the entire welding process for which the present invention is used in order to ensure the wall of the work-piece is properly supported. The tension spring70also prevents the pad assembly60from freely pivoting about the hinge40, such that the pad assembly60remains in the proper position when the present invention is removed from one work-piece and inserted into another work-piece to ensure that the pad assembly60rests flush against the wall of each work-piece.

In reference toFIG. 9, the cam acting lock mechanism80is adjacently connected to the support structure30(i.e. either the first leg31or the second leg32) and is positioned adjacent to the roller mount50. The cam acting lock mechanism80is connected to the support structure30such that as the support structure30pivots about the hinge40, the cam acting lock mechanism80rotates as well. As the cam acting lock mechanism80rotates it engages a section of either the hinge40or the roller mount50, wherein the support structure30is prohibited from rotating any further. This ensures that the support structure30is locked in place in order to provide the proper internal support required for the work-piece when using an external clamping system.

When downward pressure is applied to the top of the mounting plate10, each of the plurality of supporting legs12expands outwards. As each of the plurality of supporting legs12expands outwards, the cam acting lock mechanism80for each of the plurality of supporting legs12is engaged, securely locking present invention in place to provide the proper internal support for the work-piece. The cam acting lock mechanism80allows for the quick placement and release of the present invention, wherein each of the plurality of supporting legs12is accurately and securely deployed. Thus, the present invention is ideal for use in production manufacturing where speed during set-up is required. Upon the completion of a weld for a work-piece, the cam acting lock mechanism80of each of the plurality of supporting legs12can quickly be disengaged by applying upwards pressure on the bottom of the mounting plate10or the plurality of supporting legs12.

In reference toFIG. 11, in one embodiment of the present invention, the cam acting lock mechanism80comprises a shaft81, a base82, and a cam83. The shaft81is adjacently connected to the support structure30(i.e. either the first leg31or the second leg32) and allows for the rotational motion of the cam acting lock mechanism80. The base82is adjacently attached to the shaft81opposite the support structure30, while the cam83is adjacently connected to the base82. The cam83is the component of the cam acting lock mechanism80that selectively engages either the portion of the hinge40or the roller mount50in order to prohibit the support structure30from rotating any further. The base82is removably attached to the shaft81, such that the base82can be detached and reattached at a different angle in relation to the shaft81in order to adjust the degree of rotation of the support structure30about the hinge40.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of supporting legs12is specifically four supporting legs and the mounting plate10is square shaped. In this way, the present invention can be ideally configured to be used in box welding square and rectangular structures, wherein each of the four supporting legs is positioned against the inner surface of one wall of the work-piece. However, it is also possible for the plurality of supporting legs12to be any other number of legs in order to support different shaped work-pieces. Additionally, the mounting plate10may be configured in any shape as appropriate in order to be used with different shaped work-pieces.