Patent Publication Number: US-2015076757-A1

Title: System for securing two components

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a system for detachably securing a first component to a surface of a second component. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Two components may be secured to each other for carrying out various joining operations, such as adhesive bonding, welding, brazing, and the like. For example, two components that are joined by an adhesive have to be secured to each other for a predetermined time to enable the adhesive to harden and form the adhesive bond. Typically, the components are secured to each other by tape. However, application and removal of the tape be time consuming Further, tape may not be suitable for various types of components. 
     For reference, U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,754 (the &#39;754 patent) discloses a clamp for holding work pieces in assembled relationship for welding and the like. The clamp includes a pair of discrete posts and a transverse member, as fabricated preferably of bar stock. Each of the pair of posts pivotally mounts a magnet at the lower end thereof and cooperative interengagement expedients are provided on the posts and transverse member to permit of interengagement in preselected relationship. A threaded hold-down member is adapted for mounted disposition upon the transverse member in predetermined relationship thereto. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for detachably securing a first component to a metallic surface of a second component is provided. The system includes a magnetic device, a bracket member coupled to the magnetic device and a clamping device. The magnetic device is configured to selectively generate a magnetic force for securing the magnetic device to the metallic surface of the second component. The bracket member includes a first portion coupled to the magnetic device, and a second portion offset with respect to the first portion. The clamping device includes a support member, a sleeve member, a rod member, a spindle member and a latch. The support member is coupled to the second portion of the bracket member. The sleeve member is coupled to the support member. A rod member is slidably received within the sleeve member. The spindle member is coupled to the rod member and includes a tip. Further, the rod member and the spindle member together define a longitudinal axis. The latch is movably coupled to the support member and the rod member. The latch is configured for selectively moving the rod member and the spindle member along the longitudinal axis relative to the sleeve member so that the tip of the spindle member is moved into contacting engagement with the first component for securing the first component to the metallic surface of the second component. 
     Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary assembly having a first component secured to a second component; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a system for securing the first component to the second component, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the system of  FIG. 2  in a clamped configuration; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  with the system in an unclamped configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exemplary assembly  100  having a first component  102  secured to a second component  104 . In an example, the second component  104  may be a part of an operator cab of a machine. The machine may be, for example, an excavator, a dozer, a grader, a mining truck, and the like. The second component  104  includes a metallic surface  106  on which the first component  102  is disposed. The metallic surface  106  may be made of a paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material. The first component  102  may be made of a metal or metallic alloy, a plastic, a composite, and the like. The first component  102  includes a base portion  108  and two bosses  110  extending from the base portion  108 . The bosses  110  may be threaded for attachment to one or more accessories or aftermarket products. The first component and second components  102 ,  104 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , are purely exemplary in nature, and alternative designs may be contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the first component  102  may include any number of bosses  110  as per requirements. 
     The base portion  108  may be attached to the metallic surface  106  of the second component  104  via an adhesive. However, the first component  102  and the second component  104  may have to be secured to one other under pressure for a predetermined duration to enable the adhesive to harden and form the adhesive bond. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a system  200  detachably secures the first component  102  to the second component  104 . It may also be contemplated that the system  200  may secure the first component  102  to the second component  104  for any other process, for example, welding, brazing, soldering, or any other joining process known in the art. The system  200  is described hereinafter in detail. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate perspective views of the system  200 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Reference may also be made to  FIG. 1  to describe one or more components of the system  200 . The system  200  includes a magnetic device  202 , a bracket member  204  coupled to the magnetic device  202 , and a clamping device  206  coupled to the bracket member  204 . The magnetic device  202  includes a housing  212 , a handle  214  extending from the housing  212  and one or more magnets (not shown) provided within the housing  212 . In an embodiment, the magnets may be permanent magnets made of a ferromagnetic material or a rare earth material. In an alternative embodiment the magnets may be electromagnets. The magnetic device  202  is configured to selectively generate a magnetic force for securing the magnetic device  202  to the metallic surface  106  of the second component  104 . The handle  214  may be rotatable about a rotation axis A-A′ between an inactive position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and an active position (shown in  FIG. 3 ). In the inactive position of the handle  214 , the magnetic device  202  may not generate an external magnetic field and may be movable with respect to the metallic surface  106 . In the active position, the magnetic device  202  may generate an external magnetic field so that the magnetic device  202  may be secured to the metallic surface  106 . Hence, the magnetic device  202  may detachably secure the system  200  to the metallic surface  106 . In an embodiment, the rotation of the handle  214  may move the one or more magnets within the housing  212  such that an external magnetic field may be selectively generated. In an example, the magnetic device  202  may be a “Magswitch Magsquare” manufactured by Magswitch®. 
     Further, the bracket member  204  includes a first portion  216 , a second portion  218  and a third portion  220 . Multiple fasteners  217  couple the first portion  216  of the bracket member  204  to the magnetic device  202 . The first portion  216  of the bracket member  204  and the housing  212  of the magnetic device  202  define corresponding apertures for receiving the fasteners  217 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fasteners  217  may be bolts. However, in various alternative embodiments, the first portion  216  and the magnetic device  202  may be coupled by screws, welding, adhesives etc. The second portion  218  extends from the first portion  216 . Further, the second portion  218  is at an offset with respect to the first portion  216 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the second portion  218  may be offset from the rotation axis A-A′ by a distance ‘D’. Further, the second portion  218  may be substantially perpendicular with respect to the first portion  216 . The third portion  220  is coupled to the first portion  216  and the second portion  218 . The third portion  220  may extend on an upper surface of the housing  212  of the magnetic device  202  such that a relative movement between the bracket member  204  and the magnetic device  202  may be minimized. 
     Further, the clamping device  206  is coupled to the bracket member  204 . The clamping device  206  includes a support member  208 , a sleeve member  228 , a rod member  232 , a spindle member  210  and a latch  226 . The support member  208  is coupled to the second portion  218  of the bracket member  204  via fasteners  227 . The support member  208  and the second portion  218  define corresponding apertures for receiving the fasteners  227 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fasteners  227  are nut and bolt assemblies. However, in various alternative embodiments, the second portion  218  may be coupled to the support member  208  via screws, welding, adhesives, and the like. Moreover, the support member  208  includes a first extension  222  and a second extension  224 . A first pin joint  230  pivotally couples the latch  226  to the first extension  222 . The sleeve member  228  is coupled to the second extension  224 . The sleeve member  228  may be a hollow cylinder. Further, the rod member  232  is slidably received within the sleeve member  228 . The second extension  224  also defines an aperture for receiving the rod member  232  therethrough. One or more bushings may be disposed within the aperture of the second extension  224  and the sleeve member  228  to facilitate a sliding motion of the rod member  232 . Moreover, a second pin joint  236  pivotally couples one end of the rod member  232  to a link  240 . A third pin joint  242  pivotally coupled the link  240  to the latch  226 . Hence, the latch  226  is movably coupled to the support member  208 . Further, the latch  226  is movably coupled to the rod member  232  via the link  240 . 
     The spindle member  210  is coupled to the rod member  232 . The spindle member  210  also extends from an end of the rod member  232  distal to the second pin joint  236 . The rod member  232  and the spindle member  210  together define a longitudinal axis B-B′. The spindle member  210  is a threaded member with a tip  233  disposed at one end thereof. A length of the spindle member  210  extending from the rod member  232  may be adjusted by loosening a pair of lock nuts or jam nuts  234 . 
     The latch  226  may be configured to selectively move the rod member  232  and the spindle member  210  along the longitudinal axis B-B′ with respect to the sleeve member  228 . Specifically, the latch  226  may be moved in order to switch the clamping device  206  between an unclamped configuration (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and a clamped configuration (shown in  FIG. 3 ). In  FIG. 2 , the latch  226  may be disposed at an upper pivotal limit with respect to the support member  208 . In  FIG. 3 , the latch  226  may be moved to a lower pivotal limit with respect to the support member  208 . The latch  226  also includes a gripping portion  244  to facilitate manual gripping of the latch  226 . The latch  226  moves the link  240  which in turn moves the rod member  232  and the spindle member  210  along the longitudinal axis B-B′ with respect to the sleeve member  228 . The tip  233  of the spindle member  210  may therefore also move along the longitudinal axis B-B′. With reference to  FIG. 1 , the tip  233  may be moved into contacting engagement with the first component  102  for securing the first component  102  to the metallic surface  106  of the second component  104 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present disclosure relates to the system  200  for removably securing two components for carrying out a joining process between the two components. The joining process may include adhesive bonding, welding, brazing, soldering, and the like. An exemplary operation of the system  200  will be described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4   
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first component  102  is coupled to the metallic surface  106  of the second component  104  via an adhesive. The system  200  may secure the first component  102  to the metallic surface  106  for a predetermined time to enable the adhesive to harden and form the adhesive bond. The first component  102  may be used for attachment of one or more accessories or aftermarket products. However, the system  200  may also used to secure two components during any manufacturing process. 
     In order to secure the first component  102  to the metallic surface  106  via the system  200 , a user may first place the magnetic device  202  on the metallic surface  106  adjacent to the first component  102  such that the spindle member  210  is disposed above the first component  102 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Initially, the handle  214  of the magnetic device  202  may be in the inactive position. Further, the clamping device  206  may be in the unclamped configuration. The user may rotate the handle  214  of the magnetic device  202  from the inactive position to the active position so that the magnetic device  202  is secured to the metallic surface  106  by a magnetic force. The user may then move the latch  226  from the upper pivotal limit to the lower pivotal limit so that the tip  233  of the spindle member  210  is moved into contacting engagement with the first component  102 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Hence, the clamping device  206  may press the first component  102  against the metallic surface  106  with a clamping force in order to facilitate the formation of adhesive bond. 
     After a predetermined time, the user may move the latch  226  to the upper pivotal limit such that the clamping device  206  is in the unclamped configuration. The user may then rotate the handle  214  from the active position to the inactive position. The magnetic device  202  may be then lifted from the metallic surface  106 . Though two systems  200  are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , it may be contemplated that any number of systems  200  may be used as per requirements. 
     The magnetic device  202  may enable fast attachment and removal of the system  200  from the metallic surface  106 . Further, an amount of clamping force on the first component  102  may be adjusted by changing a length of the spindle member  210  extending from the rod member  232 . The spindle member  210  may also be adjusted for various dimensions of the first component  102 . The bracket member  204  may further provide a compact arrangement for the system  200 . Adjustability of the spindle member  210  and the compact arrangement may enable the system  200  to be used in various applications. Multiple such systems  200  may also be simultaneously used as per clamping requirements. 
     Moreover, an orientation of the second portion  218  of the bracket member  204  with respect to the first portion  216  may minimize the distance ‘D’ between the second portion  218  and the rotation axis A-A′. Hence, a distance between the longitudinal axis B-B′ and the rotation axis A-A′ may be minimized, thereby reducing a moment due to a clamping force exerted by the clamping device  206 . Reduction in moment may retain the system  200  in a stationary position with greater stability. 
     While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.