Patent US3728958A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3728958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for fabricating wood structures
Assignee: Gang Nail Systems Inc
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Filing: 1968-01-08
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1988-01-08
Abstract
Abstract Hydraulic presses are disclosed which have relatively movable opposed platens for driving nailing plates into opposite sides of abutting wood members to form joints for wood roof trusses and the like. The presses are mounted on carriages supported for movement in substantially horizontal planes on stands or pedestals. During this inward and outward horizontal movement of the press between retracted and forward or operative positions, the presses are held against movement relative to the carriages, but in the forward or operative positions, when the platens are moved vertically toward and away from the opposite sides of the wood members, the presses are floatingly or resiliently supported on the carriages so as to avoid any substantial net upward or downward force being applied to the wood members during pressing of the plates into the wood. In one embodiment this is accomplished by employing a spring arrangement supporting the press, while in another embodiment a pneumatic system is employed for this purpose. Also described are such presses supported on pedestals which are made easily movable by an air lift system to different positions on a locating grid.
Inventors
- 👤 W Moehlenpah
- 👤 D Husman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:53
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27F; B27F7/00; B27F7/15; B27F7/155; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S100/00; Y10S100/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for fabricating trusses and the like at a work station at which nailing plates are to be driven into opposite sides of abutting wood members; said apparatus comprising a stand at said work station, a carriage mounted on said stand for movement between a retracted position away from the work station and a forward position at the work station, a fluid-operated press having first and second opposed platens and fluid power means for moving said platens toward each other, and means for supporting the press on the carriage in such manner that the press is held against movement relative to the carriage during movement of the carriage between its retracted and forward positions and is floatingly held on the carriage during closing movement of the platens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for fabricating trusses and the like at a work station at which nailing plates are to be driven into opposite sides of abutting wood members; said apparatus comprising a stand at said work station, a carriage mounted on said stand for movement between a retracted position away from the work station and a forward position at the work station, a fluid-operated press having first and second opposed platens and fluid power means for moving said platens toward each other, and means for supporting the press on the carriage in such manner that the press is held against movement relative to the carriage during movement of the carriage between its retracted and forward positions and is floatingly held on the carriage during closing movement of the platens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising second fluid power means for moving said carriage between its retracted and forward positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a chamber at the bottom of the stand and means for supplying said chamber with air under pressure to lift the stand slightly and permit easy horizontal movement thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the chamber is dome-shaped and the stand is weighted above the chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises an expansible chamber interconnecting said press and carriage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said expansible chamber is A pneumatic actuator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further comprising means for supplying said actuator with air under sufficient pressure to support said press against movement relative to the carriage during movement of the carriage, and means for reducing the pressure in said actuator to floatingly support said press on the carriage during closing movement of the platens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said actuator comprises a housing carried by the carriage, a flexible diaphragm in the housing, and a rod interconnecting the diaphragm and the press.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises means for firmly retaining said press on said carriage during movement of the carriage and spring means for resiliently supporting said press on said carriage during closing movement of said platens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said retaining means comprises a portion of the carriage directly bearing a portion of the weight of said press.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further comprising first and second opposed coil compression springs adapted to be compressed together by said first and second platens during closing movement thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first and second springs are coaxial and have substantially equal spring rates for effecting substantially simultaneous movement of said platens at equal rates toward each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said resilient supporting means is a third coil compression spring coaxial with said first and second springs, and means for vertically moving relative to said carriage the center line upon which said platens close.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising spring means resisting closing movement of said platens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
A press comprising a fluid cylinder, a first platen carried by said cylinder, a ram working in said cylinder, a second platen opposed to said first platen and carried by said ram, means for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder to move said platens relative to each other, a carriage mounted on a stand for movement between a retracted position and a forward position, and means for supporting said press on said carriage, said means holding said press against movement with respect to said carriage during movement of said carriage between its retracted and forward positions and floatingly with respect to said carriage during movement of said platens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
108 words
A press comprising a fluid cylinder, a first platen carried by said cylinder, a ram working in said cylinder, a second platen opposed to said first platen and carried by said ram, means for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder to move said platens relative to each other, a carriage mounted on a stand for movement between a retracted position and a forward position, and means for supporting said press on said carriage, said means holding said press against movement with respect to said carriage during movement of said carriage between its retracted and forward positions and floatingly with respect to said carriage during movement of said platens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A press as set forth in claim 15 wherein said supporting means comprises a pneumatic actuator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
A press as set forth in claim 15 wherein said supporting means comprises means for firmly retaining said press on said carriage during movement of the carriage and spring means for resiliently supporting said press on said carriage during closing movement of said platens, said retaining means comprising a rigid portion of the carriage directly bearing a portion of the weight of said press, said resilient spring supporting means comprising a coil compression spring.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
113 words
Press apparatus comprising a stand, a press having first and second opposed platens, fluid power means for moving said platens in a generally vertical plane toward each other, said fluid power means comprising a cylinder rigid with said first platen and a ram working in said cylinder and carrying said second platen, means for supporting said press on said stand, said means comprising a pneumatic actuator interconnecting said press and stand, means for supplying said actuator with air under pressure for holding said press against downward movement, and means for reducing the pressure in said actuator to permit downward movement of said first platen in response to upward movement of said second platen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
113 words
Press apparatus comprising a stand, a press having first and second opposed platens, fluid power means for moving said platens in a generally vertical plane toward each other, said fluid power means comprising a cylinder rigid with said first platen and a ram working in said cylinder and carrying said second platen, means for supporting said press on said stand, said means comprising a pneumatic actuator interconnecting said press and stand, means for supplying said actuator with air under pressure for holding said press against downward movement, and means for reducing the pressure in said actuator to permit downward movement of said first platen in response to upward movement of said second platen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein said pressure reducing means comprises a valve actuated by initial upward movement of said second platen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 further comprising a carRiage mounting said press on said stand for horizontal movement of said press between a retracted loading and unloading position and a forward operative position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises a housing carried by said stand and a diaphragm secured to said press.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said housing is carried by said stand by a pair of rods on opposite sides of the press, said rods being secured at their lower ends to said housing and having rocker plates at their upper ends carried by said stand for rocking movement of said press relative to said stand about a generally horizontal axis.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a pair of tubular guides secured to said press and slidably received on said rods.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
103 words
Press apparatus comprising a stand, a press having first and second relatively movable opposed platens, fluid power means for moving said platens toward one another, said fluid power means comprising a cylinder rigid with said first platen and a ram working in said cylinder and carrying said second platen, means for supporting said press on said stand, and resilient means interconnecting said platens, said resilient means comprising first and second opposed coaxial coil springs and means for respectively interconnecting said first and second platens with said first and second springs for compressing said springs toward each other during closing movement of said platens.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
103 words
Press apparatus comprising a stand, a press having first and second relatively movable opposed platens, fluid power means for moving said platens toward one another, said fluid power means comprising a cylinder rigid with said first platen and a ram working in said cylinder and carrying said second platen, means for supporting said press on said stand, and resilient means interconnecting said platens, said resilient means comprising first and second opposed coaxial coil springs and means for respectively interconnecting said first and second platens with said first and second springs for compressing said springs toward each other during closing movement of said platens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein the first and second springs have equal spring rates and diameters.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein said supporting means comprised a third coil spring reacting between said stand and the point of abutment between said first and second springs thereby to floatingly support said press relative to said stand.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein said third spring is coaxial with and of smaller diameter than said first and second springs.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 26, which further includes means for vertically moving relative to said stand the center line upon which the platens close.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 28 further comprising a tube carrying said third spring at its lower end, said tube having a rocker plate at its upper end carried by said stand for rocking movement of said press on said stand about a generally horizontal axis.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein said means for interconnecting said platens with said springs comprises a rod slidably received in said tube, said rod being connected at its upper end to said second platen and at its lower end to said second spring, and a sleeve slidable on said tube, said sleeve having an arm secured to said cylinder and carried by said first spring.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 29 further comprising a carriage mounting said press on said stand for horizontal movement of said press between a retracted loading and unloading position and a forward operative position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for fabricating trusses and the like comprising a plurality of stands, a fluid-operated press carried by each of the stands for driving nailing plates into opposite sides of abutting wood members at the truss joints, each of said presses comprising first and second opposed platens and fluid power means for moving said platens toward each other, and means for facilitating moving and locating at least some of said stands for fabricating various types and sizes of trusses, said latter means each comprising a chamber at the bottom of each of the movable stands and means for supplying said chambers with a relatively large volume of air under relatively low pressure to lift said movable stands for easy horizontal movement thereof, the lower portion of the chamber having an opening substantially the size of the bottom of the stand.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for fabricating trusses and the like comprising a plurality of stands, a fluid-operated press carried by each of the stands for driving nailing plates into opposite sides of abutting wood members at the truss joints, each of said presses comprising first and second opposed platens and fluid power means for moving said platens toward each other, and means for facilitating moving and locating at least some of said stands for fabricating various types and sizes of trusses, said latter means each comprising a chamber at the bottom of each of the movable stands and means for supplying said chambers with a relatively large volume of air under relatively low pressure to lift said movable stands for easy horizontal movement thereof, the lower portion of the chamber having an opening substantially the size of the bottom of the stand.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 further comprising a locating grid on a base on which said stands rest.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 further comprising suction cups in said chambers and means for drawing a vacuum in said suction cups for holding said stands against movement during the pressing operation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said chambers are dome-shaped and said stands are weighted above said chambers.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a roof truss forming machine for assembling and nailing with nail plates timbers into a planar roof truss, the improvement comprising, a stand having support means for supporting the timbers in position where they are to be nailed, a cradle movably supported on the stand and laterally movable toward and away from the timbers supported by the support means of the stand, and a hydraulically operated C-clamp including a piston and a cylinder, a platen secured to the piston and vertically movably guided by the cradle and normally resting by gravity on the cradle below the plane of the timbers supported by the stand, and a C-clamp member secured to the cylinder below the platen and having a pressure plate above the plane of the timbers supported by the stand, the arrangement being such that when the cradle is moved toward the timbers supported by the support means of the stand with the platen and pressure plate of the hydraulically operated C-clamp in vertical alignment with the timbers where they are to be nailed, the application of hydraulic pressure to the cylinder and piston causes the platen to rise and the pressure plate to lower for simultaneously pressing nail plates into opposite sides of the timbers.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a roof truss forming machine for assembling and nailing with nail plates timbers into a planar roof truss, the improvement comprising, a stand having support means for supporting the timbers in position where they are to be nailed, a cradle movably supported on the stand and laterally movable toward and away from the timbers supported by the support means of the stand, and a hydraulically operated C-clamp including a piston and a cylinder, a platen secured to the piston and vertically movably guided by the cradle and normally resting by gravity on the cradle below the plane of the timbers supported by the stand, and a C-clamp member secured to the cylinder below the platen and having a pressure plate above the plane of the timbers supported by the stand, the arrangement being such that when the cradle is moved toward the timbers supported by the support means of the stand with the platen and pressure plate of the hydraulically operated C-clamp in vertical alignment with the timbers where they are to be nailed, the application of hydraulic pressure to the cylinder and piston causes the platen to rise and the pressure plate to lower for simultaneously pressing nail plates into opposite sides of the timbers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |