Other

General Dynamics Corporation, Convair Division

General Dynamics Corporation/convair Div.

Cbc Industries, Inc.

Manfred A Morghen

Gary Tsui

A workpiece indexing and clamping system for machining the workpiece. Spherical or narrow cylindrical heads of index pins extend from holes in a base plate into workpiece holes to align and index the workpiece. The pin portions in the base plate holes can be expanded to lock them to the base plate. Each pin has relief flats parallel to the pin axis. Clamps engage workpiece edges with thread-like angled grooves on a cam surface to force workpiece edges against the base plate during machining of the workpiece. A central clamp has a pin extending from the base plate into a workpiece hole. Angled grooves in a cam surface are brought into contact with the hole sides to force the workpiece toward the base plate and hold the central area in place during machining. In another version, a combined index and clamp pin has a head that fits within a workpiece hole and an extension that fits within a base plate hole. Setscrews and tapered threaded holes cooperate to expanding the head and extension into clamping contact with the respective holes.

Workpiece indexing and clamping system

A workpiece indexing and clamping system for machining the workpiece. Spherical or narrow cylindrical heads of index pins extend from holes in a base plate into workpiece holes to align and index the workpiece. The pin portions in the base plate holes can be expanded to lock them to the base plate. Each pin has relief flats parallel to the pin axis. Clamps engage workpiece edges with thread-like angled grooves on a cam surface to force workpiece edges against the base plate during machining of the workpiece. A central clamp has a pin extending from the base plate into a workpiece hole. Angled grooves in a cam surface are brought into contact with the hole sides to force the workpiece toward the base plate and hold the central area in place during machining.

Workpiece clamping system

A multi-position fixture assembly comprising a captive body having a threaded end unitary with an enlarged end. The threaded end is adapted to threadably attach to an object to be lifted. The enlarged end of the captive body includes a swivel cavity and external hex head. The swivel cavity has a generally flat bottom and a generally cylindrical side wall. The hex head is easily engaged by a conventional wrench to torque the fixture to a workpiece. The cylindrical side wall of the swivel cavity includes an internally threaded portion which is opposed from the bottom. A hoist head with a flanged end and an opposed free end is assembled into the swivel cavity of the enlarged end of the captive body by means of an externally threaded retainer ring. The retainer does not bear on the flanged end so the flanged end is retained for free rotation inside the swivel cavity. Thusly retained, it is free to swivel through a 360 degree arc. A lifting loop is mounted to the free end of the hoist head. The enlarged end of the captive body generally includes a radially extending flange which bears against the surface of the workpiece to which the hoist ring is attached.

Captive multi-position fixture

A hoist assembly having a swiveling head with a pivoting shackle. A lift swivel is captured by a housing and is rotatable relative to the housing. A shackle assembly including a hoist ring is fastened to the lift swivel. A lift bolt is threaded into the housing opposite the shackle assembly. The lift bolt includes an axially extending shaft for threading into a corresponding hole in a structure to be lifted. The end of the shaft in the hole is expandable to lock the shaft in the structure hole. A retainer such as a snap ring, or a jam ring and setscrews may be provided to securely lock the lift bolt to the housing. The lift bolt is threaded into the housing by a tool extending through the lift swivel or from the opposite end.

Swiveling hoist assembly

A universal hoist assembly for lifting large, heavy, structures. The assembly basically includes a housing which captures the base of a lift swivel while permitting free rotation of the base. An upright extension of the base extends out of the housing and has a transverse aperture through which a shackle is fastened. This arrangement permits the shackle to pivot and the extension to freely rotate, so that a lift can be conducted with structures of widely varying configurations without danger from sideloads on the lift assembly. Preferably, the base is either disk-shaped and housed in a corresponding recess for rotation in a plane or has a spherical exterior shape in a corresponding recess to permit rotation plus pivoting in any direction. The assembly may be fastened to a structure by a single central threaded bolt fastened to the housing and threaded into the structure or extending through a structure wall to a nut or by several spaced bolts. Two housings may be secured to a structure in a spaced relationship with a single shaft extending through apertures at the housings and a shackle on the shaft intermediate the housings.

Universal hoist assembly

The invention is directed to targets for use where precise alignment and location measurements on an object is required. Several embodiments of the invention are described. The targets have at least a portion of their outer surface curvilinear. The target is supported on a convex supporting surface on a support body. Various configured single targets and multiple targets are described for use on flat as well as curved surfaces. Some of the targets have either non-reflective or reflective target surfaces. The various embodiments of the ball targets are used in conjunction with either optical or laser theodolites or the like to preform the required location measurements.

Optical or laser ball target assemblies for precision location

A removable and replaceable insert locating pin adapted to locate a workpiece in a tooling fixture for machining thereof. The locating pin includes a central body inserted in a precisely located aperture in the tooling fixture and an upper portion that extends into an aperture in the workpiece. Hardened inserts are selectively positioned in apertures formed in the outer periphery of the upper portion and contact the sidewall of the aperture in the workpiece for positioning the workpiece on the sub-plate in a desired direction or directions. Flexibility of the set up of the tooling for machining of workpiece is enhanced.

Insert locating pin for locating a workpiece on a sub-plate for machining

An indexing and locating component to be used with a fixture for precision machining of parts. The component includes a receiver bushing press fitted into a fixture and a locating pin which is adjustable rotationally as well as vertically. A lock nut locks the pin in a predetermined position and permits removal and replacement of the pin with another pin having another configuration. Locating pins of various configurations are shown.

Removable and replaceable indexing and locating tooling component

A removable and replaceable locating pin adapted to locate a workpiece on a tooling fixture for machining thereof. The locating pin includes a locator pin having various illustrated configurations is adapted to cooperate with a workpiece for positioning the workpiece in various directions of restraint. The locating pin is provided with manually actuatable locking means that permits easy adjustment or removal of the specific locator pin as a particular machining operation may require. Flexibility of the set up of the tooling for machining of a workpiece is enhanced.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Manfred A Morghen