Patent Publication Number: US-2002008344-A1

Title: Angle vise jaw

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for accurately and rigidly supporting a workpiece in a selected position with respect to an operating tool while the workpiece is undergoing a machining operation, and more particularly, a vise jaw or plate formed with a plurality of apertures arranged in a predetermined pattern with reference to at least one pivot point, where sufficient apertures in the plate are provided for incremental angular adjustment with respect to the at least one pivot point in increments of at most 1° from 0° to 45°.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Workpiece positioning devices are known for supporting a workpiece in a selected position when the workpiece is undergoing a machining operation. Typically, the workpiece positioning device holds a workpiece firmly between relatively movable jaws of a machine tool vise. One workpiece positioning device discloses three parallel rows of spaced apertures which receive pins for supporting a workpiece vertically, horizontally, or in various angular positions. Another workpiece positioning device discloses two arcuate rows of apertures formed between three horizontally spaced rows of apertures. An additional short vertical row and a short horizontal row of apertures are formed in the plate between the arcuate rows. One arcuate row provides angles between 0° to 90° in 10° increments, while the second arcuate row provides angles between 5° to 85° in 10° increments. Three pins are employed in this configuration to engage any of the top and bottom rows of apertures and any selected one of the apertures in the two arcuate rows. The use of an enlarged head on one of the pins can provide angular adjustment in 1° increments of workpiece positioning at any angle between 0° to 90°.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] It would be desirable in the present invention to provide an angle vise jaw with sufficient individual apertures for providing 1° incremental angular adjustment between at least 0° and 45°. It is desirable in the present invention to eliminate the need to use, store, and maintain a set of pins having enlarged heads in order to provide the angular 1° increments previously provided in known workpiece positioning vises. Such enlarged head pins can easily be misplaced, lost, damaged, or otherwise unavailable when needed to adjust a workpiece vise jaw to the desired configuration.  
       [0004] The present invention is an angle vise jaw for use as part of a standard gauge set of gauge blocks, angle blocks, or the like. The invention uses one of a pair of standard vise jaws or plates in which the vise plate is adapted to be fixedly mounted on a machine table or surface. The movable plate is slidable by a hand crank or other automated drive into and out of engagement with a workpiece to hold the workpiece between the two plates or jaws. The vise plate is formed with a plurality of identical apertures arranged in a predetermined pattern with reference to at least one pivot point, and preferably to two different pivot points. A sufficient number of identical apertures are provided for incremental angular adjustment in ½° or 1° increments from 0° to 45°.  
       [0005] One of a set of different link bars, arms, or support members are pivotally mounted on the plate. Each support member has an aperture at one end for receiving a pivot pin for pivotally connecting the support member with respect to an axis extending through the coaxial bores receiving the pivot pin. The arm or support member has at least one surface adjacent an opposite end adapted to be supported on a locating pin which is insertable into one of the apertures in the plate. This configuration enables the arm to be pivoted about the pivot pin to any angle and then supported in the desired angle by the locating pin which supportingly engages the at least one surface on the support member and extends into one of the plurality of identical apertures in the plate. The upper surface of the arm acts as a support for the workpiece. An upper edge of the workpiece to be machined extends above the upper surface of the plate and is disposed at the desired angle.  
       [0006] Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007] The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first part of an angle vise jaw having a plurality of identical apertures formed therein according to the present invention;  
     [0009]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the first part of an angle vise jaw according to the present invention with a first arm pivotally connected to the first part;  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the first part of an angle vise jaw according to the present invention with a second arm pivotally connected to the first part;  
     [0011]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a first part of an angle vise jaw according to the present invention with a third arm pivotally connected to the first part;  
     [0012]FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective view of an example of a vise jaw adapted to receive and engage the angle vise jaw according to the present invention for holding a workpiece in a predetermined angled orientation at a work station; and  
     [0013]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the angle vise jaw according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0014] Referring now to FIG. 1, a first part or plate  10  of an angle vise jaw  12  includes a plurality of identical apertures  14  spaced from one another and at least one pivot aperture  16 . Preferably, two pivot apertures  16 ,  18  are provided. The plurality of identical apertures  14  are arranged along circular arc segments centered with respect to at least one of the pivot apertures  16 ,  18 . Concentric circular arc segments can be provided as required with adjacent apertures between the concentric arc segments offset from one another by at most a 1° incremental angle with respect to the central pivot axis of one of the pivot apertures  16 ,  18 . The adjacent apertures  14  between concentric circular arc segments can be offset by a half degree (½°) incremental angle with respect to a central pivot axis of one of the pivot apertures  16 ,  18 , if finer adjustment is desired. Indicia means  20  can optionally be provided for labeling at least some of the plurality of apertures  14  for identifying the angular position corresponding to the aperture with respect to the central pivot axis of one of the pivot apertures  16 ,  18 . It can be seen clearly in FIG. 1, by way of example and not limitation, the illustrated plurality of apertures  14  correspond to angular adjustments between 0° and 45° in 1° increments.  
     [0015] Referring now to FIG. 2, a pivot pin  22  is engageable within one of the pivot apertures  16 ,  18 . A support member or first arm  24  includes a pivot bore  24  for receiving the pivot pin  22 . The first arm  24  includes at least one surface  28  corresponding to the radial distance from the central axis of rotation of the pivot pin  22  to the corresponding plurality of apertures  14  formed on the circular arc segments so that rotational movement of the first arm  24  about the pivot pin  22  brings the surface  28  in supportable alignment with one of the plurality of identical apertures  14  in incremental angular adjustments about the pivot pin  22 . A locating pin  48  is insertable through the desired aperture  14  to hold the desired angular orientation. Preferably, the incremental angular adjustment is in a range of at most 1° increments, and more preferably, in one-half degree (½°) increments. The first arm  24  can include an L-shape defining an angled corner  30  for supporting a workpiece to be machined at a work station including the angle vise jaw  12 . By way of example and not limitation, the illustrated configuration of FIG. 2 discloses a first arm  24  rotatable in 1° incremental angular adjustments from 0° to 20° inclusive with respect to the central axis of the pivot aperture  16 .  
     [0016] Referring now to FIG. 3, a support member or second arm  32  includes a pivot bore  34  for receiving the pivot pin  22  so that the second arm  32  can be rotated with respect to a central axis of pivot pin  22 . The second arm  32  includes at least one surface  36 , where the at least one surface  36  is supportingly alignable with at least one of the plurality of identical apertures  14  in the plate  10  when the second arm  32  is rotated about the pivot pin  22  to a predetermined angular orientation. A locating pin  48  can be inserted through the desired aperture  14  to hold the desired angular orientation. The at least one surface  36  is spaced from the central axis of the pivot pin  22  by a radial distance corresponding to the plurality of identical apertures  14  lying in the circular arc segments with respect to the pivot aperture  16 . Pivotal movement of the second arm  32  about the central axis of pivot pin  22  results in the at least surface  36  supportingly aligning with at least one of the plurality of identical apertures  14  in the plate  10  in at most 1° incremental angular adjustments, and more preferably, in one-half degree (½°) incremental angular adjustments. The second arm  32  can include an L-shape defining an angled comer  38  for supporting a workpiece at a work station. By way of example and not limitation, the second arm  32  as illustrated in FIG. 3 provides 1° incremental angular adjustment about the pivot pin  22  between 21° and 35° inclusive with respect to the central axis of the pivot aperture  16 .  
     [0017] Referring now to FIG. 4, a support member or third arm  40  includes a pivot bore  42  for mounting the third arm  40  with respect to a central axis of the pivot pin  22  when engaged within the pivot aperture  18  of the plate  10 . The third arm  40  includes at least one surface  44 . The at least one surface  44  is spaced radially from the rotational axis of the third arm  40  by a distance corresponding to the plurality of identical apertures  14  lying along the circular arc segments with respect to the central axis of the pivot aperture  18  of the plate  10 , so that at least one surface  44  supportingly aligns with at least one of the plurality of identical apertures  14  and the plate  10  when the third arm  40  is rotated about the pivot pin  22  to a predetermined angular orientation. Preferably, the at least one surface  44  in the third arm  40  is spaced to define at most a 1° incremental angular adjustment about the pivot pin  22  between supportingly alignment of corresponding identical apertures  14  in the plate  10  as the third arm  40  is rotated with respect to the central axis of the aperture  18 . A locating pin  48  can be inserted through the desired aperture  14  to hold the desired angular orientation. The incremental angular adjustment can be in half degree (½°) increments for corresponding supportable alignment of apertures  14  and at least one surface  44 , if finer adjustment is desired. The third arm  40  can include an L-shape to define an angled corner  46  for supporting a workpiece at a work station at a desired angular orientation for performing work thereon. By way of example and not limitation, the illustrated configuration of FIG. 4 discloses a third arm  40  rotatable in 1° incremental angular adjustments about the pivot pin  22  from 36° and 45° inclusive with respect to the central axis of pivot aperture  18  in the plate  10 .  
     [0018] Referring now to FIG. 5, the angle vise jaw or tool according to the present invention is shown in perspective view with plate  10 , support member  24 , pivot pin  22 , and locating pin  48  for placement in operative position on a machine vise jaw having a pair of relatively shiftable jaws  50 ,  52 . The illustrated machine vise jaw includes a manual handle  54  for moving the jaws  50 ,  52  relative to one another. It should be understood that automated vise jaw movement is considered to be within the scope of the present invention as disclosed herein. The angle vise jaw  12  according to the present invention is adapted to be placed in an operative position between jaws  50 ,  52  so that a workpiece  56  can be supported in a desired angular orientation by the angle vise jaw  12  when held between the jaws  50 ,  52  as best seen in FIG. 6. The pivot pin  22  is operably engageable selectively in pivot aperture  16  or pivot aperture  18  of plate  10 . The locating pin  48  is engageable with any of the plurality of identical apertures  14  in the plate  10  and supportingly engageable with at least one surface  28 ,  36 , or  44  in the first arm  24 , second arm  32 , or third arm  40 , respectively, when the surface is supportingly aligned with the desired aperture  14  in the selected angular orientation of the respective arm with respect to the central axis of the corresponding pivot aperture  16  or  18 .  
     [0019] An angle vise jaw  12  according to the present invention is typically used as part of a standard gauge set of gauge blocks, angle blocks, or the like. The angle plate  10  is operably engageable with respect to one of a pair of standard vise jaws or plates  50 ,  52  adapted to be operably mounted on a machine table or surface. The movable jaw is slidable by operation of a hand crank or other automated drive into and out of engagement with a workpiece  56  to hold the workpiece between the two plates or jaws  50 ,  52 . The angle vise jaw  12  according to the present invention is formed with a plurality of identical apertures  14  arranged in a predetermined pattern with reference to two different pivot points  16 ,  18  to provide incremental angular adjustment in a range between one-half degree (½°) and 1° increments for angles between 0° and 45° inclusive. One of a set of different length support members or arms  24 ,  32 ,  44  are pivotally mounted with respect to the plate  10 . Each support member or arm  24 ,  32 ,  40  has a pivot bore  26 ,  34 ,  42  respectively at one end for receiving pivot pin  22  for pivoting the arm  24 ,  32 ,  40  respectively about an axis extending through one of the pivot apertures  16 ,  18  and the pivot pin  22 . Each arm  24 ,  32 ,  40  has one or more surfaces  28 ,  36 ,  44  respectively at an opposite end from the corresponding pivot bores to be supported by a locating pin  48  which is insertable into one of the apertures  14  in the plate  10  when coaxially aligned therewith. This enables the arm  24 ,  32 ,  40  to be pivoted about the pin  22  to any angle and then supported in the desired angle by the locating pin  48  which extends into one of the apertures  14  in the plate  10 . The upper surface of the arm  24 ,  32 , or  40  acts as a support for the workpiece as best seen in FIG. 6. An upper edge of the workpiece  56  to be machined extends above the upper surface of the plate  10  and is disposed at the desired angle. For purposes of clarity, the plurality of identical apertures  14  in the plate  10  are not illustrated with hidden lines in FIG. 6.