Patent Publication Number: US-2015084258-A1

Title: Tool assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a tool assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Tool assemblies are typically used in a manufacturing process. For example, tool assemblies are used to manufacture a vehicle. Tool assemblies may be used for different purposes. For instance, a tool assembly can be used to hold several panels in a fixed relative position while a welding instrument welds the panels together. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to a tool assembly such as a clamping assembly. It is useful to develop a tool assembly at least partially made of a polymeric material in order minimize its weight. By minimizing the weight, the tool assembly may be lifted without the aid of a machine. In addition, manufacturing the tool assembly with a polymeric material minimizes machining and maintenance costs. 
     In an embodiment, the tool assembly can be used in a manufacturing process and includes a support structure and a clamp arm pivotally coupled to the support structure. The support structure may be a substantially planar support structure such as a blade. The tool assembly further includes a base fixed to the support structure. The clamp arm is configured to move relative to the base between an open position and a closed position. The clamp arm is wholly or partly made of a polymeric material. The polymeric material includes at least one polyamide. The tool assembly can hold a panel between the base and the clamp arm when the clamp arm is in the closed position. 
     In another embodiment, the tool assembly includes a riser made of a metallic material and a support structure coupled to the riser and made of a polymeric material. As used herein, the term “riser” refers to a device capable of supporting and elevating an object from a platform. The tool assembly further includes a base fixed to the support structure and a clamp arm pivotally coupled to the support structure. The clamp arm is made of the polymeric material and is configured to move relative to the support structure between an open position and a closed position. The polymeric material includes polycaprolactam. The tool assembly is configured to hold a panel between the base and the clamp arm when the clamp arm is in the closed position. 
     The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages, of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the invention, as defined in the appended claims, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a tooling assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of the tooling assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the tooling assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the tooling assembly, taken along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components,  FIGS. 1-3  include schematically illustrate a tool assembly  10  configured for use in a manufacturing process. For example, the tool assembly  10  can be used to manufacture components of a vehicle such as a car or a truck. Specifically, the tool assembly  10  can be used to hold at least one panel P ( FIG. 3 ). The panel P can be held to allow another instrument to perform work on the panel P. For instance, the panel P can be held by the tool assembly  10  while a welding instrument welds the panel to another panel or object. Specifically, the panel P can be clamped by the tool assembly  10 . The tool assembly  10  may therefore be referred to as a clamping assembly. 
     The tool assembly  10  includes a riser  12  configured to be placed on a platform such as a floor or a table. As used herein, the term “riser” refers to a device capable of supporting and elevating an object from a platform. In the depicted embodiment, the riser  12  can be attached to a platform (not shown) such as a table or floor. To do so, the riser  12  may define one or more riser holes  14  configured, shaped, and sized to receive a fastener  16  such as a bolt. The fasteners  16  can couple the riser  12  to the platform. 
     The riser  12  includes a first riser section  18  that defines the riser holes  14 . The first riser section  18  is elongated along a first axis A ( FIG. 2 ) and can be directly coupled to a platform. The riser  12  further includes a second riser section  20  coupled to the first riser section  19 . The second riser section  20  is substantially perpendicular to the first riser section  18 . Specifically, the second riser section  20  is elongated along a second axis B ( FIG. 2 ). The second axis B is substantially perpendicular to the firs axis A. The riser  12  may further include a rib  22  for providing structural support to the first and second riser sections  18 ,  20 . The rib  22  is coupled between the first riser section  18  and second riser section  20 . The first riser section  18 , second riser section  20 , and rib  22  collectively form the riser  12 . The riser  12  may alternatively be referred to as a bracket. The riser  12  may be wholly or partially made of a metallic material such as aluminum. It is nevertheless envisioned that the riser  12  may be wholly or partly made of a polymer material. 
     In addition to the riser  12 , the tool assembly  10  includes a support structure  24  coupled to the riser  12 . The support structure may be a substantially planar support structure such as a blade. Accordingly, the support structure  24  may be referred to as a blade. The riser  12  is therefore configured to elevate the support structure  24  from a platform such as a table or floor. The riser  12  is therefore coupled to the support structure  24 . The support structure  24  may alternatively be referred to as a support member and may be wholly or partly made of a polymeric material. This polymeric material may include one or more polyamides, which are commonly known as nylon polymers. Thus, the support structure  24  can be wholly or partly made of at least one polyamide. As non-limiting examples, the support structure  24  may be wholly or partly made of polycaprolactam (commonly known as Nylon 6), a copolymer of a diamine monomer having 6 carbon atoms and a dibasic acid monomer having a 12 carbon atoms (commonly known as Nylon 6, 12), or a combination thereof. The polymeric material of the support structure  24  (or any other component of the tool assembly  10 ) may have tensile strength ranging between about 12,000 and about 13,500 pounds per square inch (psi). The sheer strength of the polymeric material may range between about 10,000 and about 11,000 psi. The polymeric material may have a compressive strength ranging between 15,000 and 18,000 psi. The Rockwell Hardness of the polymeric material may range between about 115 and about 125 R. Further, the polymeric material may have a Shore Hardness ranging between about 78 and 83 D. The melting point of the polymeric material may range between about 410 and about 460 degrees Fahrenheit. The polymeric material may have a specific gravity of about 1.15. As used herein, the term “specific gravity” means the ratio of the density of the polymeric material compared to the density of water. It is useful to make the support structure  24  (or any other component of the tool assembly  10 ) of the polymer material with the properties listed above in order to allow the tool assembly  10  to be properly used as a manufacturing tool while, at the same time, minimizing weight and machining and maintenance costs. Therefore, it is useful to make the support structure  24  (or any other component of the tool assembly  10 ) of a polymeric material having the properties listed above. It is contemplated that the riser  12  may be wholly or partly made of the polymer material with properties listed above in order to minimize weight and costs. It also useful to make the support structure  24  and riser  12  of the polymeric material described above because the different components of the tool assembly  10  can be made in different colors, thereby aiding a user to identify the different parts of the tool assembly  10 . 
     The tool assembly  10  further includes a proximity sensor  26  mechanically coupled to the support structure  24 . The term “proximity sensor” refers to a sensor able to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. The proximity sensor  26  can be used to detect the presence of the panel P ( FIG. 3 ) near the tool assembly  10 . Moreover, the proximity sensor  26  can generate a signal to a controller (not shown) to inform the controller that the panel P is near the tool assembly  12 . The tool assembly  10  may include a coupler  28 , such as a bracket, interconnecting the proximity sensor  26  to the support structure  24 . The tool assembly  10  may include fasteners  16 , such as bolts, coupling the support structure  24  to the coupler  28 . 
     The tool assembly  10  further includes a base  30  coupled to the support structure  24 . Specifically, the base  30  is fixed to the support structure  24 . Thus, the base  30  does not move relative to the support structure  24 . The base  30  may be wholly or partly made of the polymeric material described above. It is therefore envisioned that the base  30  may be wholly or partly made of the same polymeric material as the support structure  24 . The base  30  can receive at least a portion of the panel P as discussed above. Specifically, a portion of the panel P can rest on the base  30 . 
     The tool assembly  10  further includes a locator  32  operatively coupled to the support structure  24  and may be wholly or partly made of a metallic material such as steel or aluminum. As used herein, the term “locator” means a device capable of positioning the panel P at a specific location relative to the base  30 . The locator  32  may be configured as a plate. An angle bracket  34  may couple the locator  32  to the support structure  24 . As used herein, the term “angle bracket” means a bracket that has at least two sections angled relative to each other. A plurality of fasteners  16  may couple the angle bracket  34  to the support structure  24  and the locator  32 . 
     In addition to the locator  32 , the tool assembly  10  includes a clamp arm  36  wholly or partly made of a polymeric material and movably coupled to the support structure  24 . The clamp arm  36  may be wholly or partly made of the same polymeric material as the support structure  24 . As discussed in detail below, the clamp arm  36  may be pivotally coupled to the support structure  24 . 
     The tool assembly  10  further includes a pressure foot  38  coupled to the clamp arm  36 . As used herein, the term “pressure foot” means a device capable of applying pressure to the panel P when the panel P is disposed on the base  30 . At least one fastener  16  may couple the clamp arm  36  to the pressure foot  38 . A spacer  40  ( FIG. 3 ) may be disposed between the pressure foot  38  n and the clamp arm  36  in order to distribute the load of the fasteners  16  connecting the pressure foot  16  to the clamp arm  36 . Because the pressure foot  38  is fixed to the clamp arm  36 , the pressure foot  38  can move in unison with the clamp arm  36 . When the clamp arm  36  is in the closed position, the pressure foot  38  can contact and exert pressure on the base  30 . 
     The clamp arm  36  may be pivotally coupled to the support structure  24 . As such, the clamp arm  36  can move relative to the support structure  24  and base  30  between a first or open position (shown in broken lines in  FIG. 3 ) and a second or closed position (shown in solid lines in  FIG. 3 ). In the first position, the pressure foot  38  is spaced apart from the base  30 , thereby allowing a user to position the panel P between the pressure foot  38  and the base  30 . In the second position, the pressure foot  38  is approximated to the base  30  and, therefore, the panel P is clamped between the pressure foot  38  and the base  30 . Because the clamp arm  36  may be pivotally coupled to the support structure  24 , the clamp arm  36  can pivot relative to the support structure  24  and base  30  between the first and second positions. 
     The tool assembly  10  can be used to clamp the panel P in order to perform work on the panel P. For example, the tool assembly  10  can hold the panel P at a fixed position between the clamp arm  36  and base  30  while a welding instrument welds the panel P to another object. To do so, the panel P may be disposed between the clamp arm  36  and base  30  while the clamp arm  36  is in the first or open position. Then, the clamp arm  36  can be moved relative to the base  30  toward the closed position, thereby clamping the panel P between the clamp arm  36  and base  30 . Accordingly, the tool assembly  10  is configured to hold the panel P between the clamp arm  36  and base  30  when the clamp arm  36  is in the closed position. 
     The tool assembly  10  may further include a locating block set  41  coupled between the support structure  24  and the clamp arm  36 . As used herein, the term “locating block set” means a plurality of blocks that facilitates positioning two or more object at a specific location relative to each other. In the depicted embodiment, the locating block set  41  facilitates positioning the clamp arm  36  at a specific location relative to the support structure  24  when the clamp arm  36  is in the second position. The locating block set  41  includes a first block  44  attached to the support structure  24  and a second block  42  attached to the clamp arm  36 . The first and second blocks  44 ,  42  may have first and complementary surfaces  46 ,  48 , respectively. The first and second complementary surfaces  46 ,  48  are complementary to each other, thereby allowing the first and second blocks  44 ,  42  to fix the position of the clamp arm  36  relative to the support structure  24  when the clamp arm  36  is in the second position. For example, the second complementary surface  48  may define a substantially v-shaped notch configured to receive an inverted v-shaped protrusion defined by the first complementary surface  46 . The v-shaped notch defined by the second complementary surface  48  is configured and sized to be received in the v-shaped notch defined by the second complementary surface  48 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the tool assembly  10  may include a pivot pin  50  pivotally coupling the clamp arm  36  to the support structure  24 . The pivot pin  50  is coupled to two plates  52  disposed on opposite sides of the support structure  24 . Each plate  52  extends from the support structure  24  to the clamp arm  36 . A fastener  16 , such as a screw or a bolt, can couple the plates  52  to the clamp arm  36 . Each plate  52  may be wholly or partly made of a polymeric material. For instance, each plate  52  may be at least partially made of the same polymeric material as the support structure  24 . Although  FIG. 4  shows two plates  52 , it is contemplated that the tool assembly  10  may have more or fewer plates  52 . Accordingly, the pivot pin  50  may be coupled to at least one plate  52 . Hence, at least one plate  52  is coupled to the pivot pin  50  and clamp arm  36 . 
     With reference again to  FIGS. 1-3 , the tool assembly  10  further includes an actuator  54  configured to move the clamp arm  36  between the first and second positions. The actuator  54  is coupled to the clamp arm  36  and can be actuated to move the clamp arm  36  between the first and second positions. The actuator  54  may be a hydraulic cylinder. As used herein, the term “hydraulic cylinder” refers to a mechanical actuator that is used to give a unidirectional force through a unidirectional stroke. In the depicted embodiment, the actuator  54  includes a barrel  56  and a rod  58  movably coupled to the barrel  56 . The actuator  54  can be actuated to move the rod  58  along a single direction relative to the barrel  56 . Because the rod  58  is coupled to the clamp arm  36 , the movement of the rod  58  relative to the barrel  56  causes the clamp arm  36  to move relative to the support structure  24  and the base  30  between the first and second positions. The rod  58  can move relative to the barrel  56  in a first or downward direction indicated by arrow D or a second or upward direction indicated by arrow U. The first direction D is opposite to the second direction U. The actuator  54  can be actuated to move the rod  58  relative to the barrel  56  in the first or downward direction indicated by arrow D. The downward movement of the rod  58  relative to the barrel  56  causes the clamp arm  36  to move toward the open position in the direction indicated by arrow O. Conversely, moving the rod  58  in the second direction U causes the clamp arm  36  to move toward the closed position in the direction indicated by arrow C. 
     The detailed description and the drawings or figures are supportive and descriptive of the invention, but the scope of the invention is defined solely by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed invention have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the invention defined in the appended claims.