US4828240A — Workpiece securing apparatus for a machine tool

Claim 1

Independent Claim 185 words

Apparatus adapted for securing a workpiece having at least two internal holes to a table of a machine tool, comprising a base plate including means defining an array of perpendicular rows of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes and forming an X-Y grid pattern, a set of first and second locating pins for the holes within the workpiece, a set of first and second block members supporting said locating pins with parallel spaced axes, means for securing said first block member to said base plate, means on said locating pins for precisely positioning the holes within the workpiece relative to the axes of said locating pins, guide means supporting said second block member and said second locating pin for adjustable linear movement relative to said first block member and said first locating pin, said guide means having precision bores align with said precision bores within said base plate, means for securing said guide means to said base plate, and means for securing said second block member to said base plate after being adjusted according to the spacing of the holes within the workpiece.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 185 words

Apparatus adapted for securing a workpiece having at least two internal holes to a table of a machine tool, comprising a base plate including means defining an array of perpendicular rows of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes and forming an X-Y grid pattern, a set of first and second locating pins for the holes within the workpiece, a set of first and second block members supporting said locating pins with parallel spaced axes, means for securing said first block member to said base plate, means on said locating pins for precisely positioning the holes within the workpiece relative to the axes of said locating pins, guide means supporting said second block member and said second locating pin for adjustable linear movement relative to said first block member and said first locating pin, said guide means having precision bores align with said precision bores within said base plate, means for securing said guide means to said base plate, and means for securing said second block member to said base plate after being adjusted according to the spacing of the holes within the workpiece.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first locating pin extends through said first block member and into one of said precision bores within said base plate.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said locating pins has an upper portion with stepped concentric cylindrical surfaces having different diameters.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and including means for securing the workpiece to said locating pins.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 49 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprise a pair of parallel spaced guide blocks confining said second block member therebetween, and each of said guide blocks includes a pair of said precision bores aligned with a pair of said precision bores within said base plate.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said locating pins includes an outwardly projecting circumferential flange, and a set of screws clamping each of said flanges to the corresponding said block member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 61 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second block member is elongated and has precision longitudinal side surfaces, means defining a longitudinally extending slot within said second block member between said side surfaces, and said means for securing said second block member comprise a screw extending through said slot and into one of said threaded holes within said base plate.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 51 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said locating pins has an upper portion with an axially extending threaded hole, and a C-shaped washer mounted on a screw extending into said threaded hole within said one locating pin for securing the workpiece to said one locating pin.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 223 words

Apparatus for securing a workpiece to the table of a machine tool, comprising a base plate including means defining a precision X-Y grid pattern of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes, a body member, a toggle clamp mounted on said body member for releasably gripping the workpiece, said toggle clamp including a bracket secured to said body member, a clamping arm pivotally connected to said bracket, a handle member pivotally connected to said bracket, a link member pivotally connected to both said clamping arm and said handle member, said body member having a bottom surface and defining a cylindrical bore extending upwardly from said surface, a stud member having a cylindrical head portion extending into said bore in closely fitting relation and providing for rotating said body member on said stud member while maintaining axial alignment of said body member and said stud member, said stud member further including a threaded portion projecting downwardly from said head portion for engaging one of said threaded holes within said base plate, means for retaining said head portion of said stud member within said bore of said body member for relative rotation, and means for engaging said head portion of said stud member to rotate said stud member within said bore for tightening said threaded portion into said threaded hole within said base plate.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 223 words

Apparatus for securing a workpiece to the table of a machine tool, comprising a base plate including means defining a precision X-Y grid pattern of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes, a body member, a toggle clamp mounted on said body member for releasably gripping the workpiece, said toggle clamp including a bracket secured to said body member, a clamping arm pivotally connected to said bracket, a handle member pivotally connected to said bracket, a link member pivotally connected to both said clamping arm and said handle member, said body member having a bottom surface and defining a cylindrical bore extending upwardly from said surface, a stud member having a cylindrical head portion extending into said bore in closely fitting relation and providing for rotating said body member on said stud member while maintaining axial alignment of said body member and said stud member, said stud member further including a threaded portion projecting downwardly from said head portion for engaging one of said threaded holes within said base plate, means for retaining said head portion of said stud member within said bore of said body member for relative rotation, and means for engaging said head portion of said stud member to rotate said stud member within said bore for tightening said threaded portion into said threaded hole within said base plate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for engaging said head portion of said stud member comprise means defining a laterally extending hole within said body member for temporarily receiving a locking tool, and means on said head member for receiving said tool and for preventing rotation of said body member relative to said stud member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said means on said head portion comprise a diametrically extending hole within said head portion, and said hole within said head portion is disposed for alignment with said hole within said body member for receiving a pin-like said locking tool.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 202 words

Apparatus for securing a workpiece to a table of a machine tool, comprising a base plate including means defining a precision X-Y grid pattern of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes, a set of separate slot defining plates each including means defining a set of precision bores having parallel axes, each of said slot defining plates having a set of peripheral edge surfaces each defining an undercut recess, said precision bores within each of said slot defining plates being located in precise axial alignment with corresponding said precision bores within said base plate when said slot defining plate is properly positioned on said base plate, a set of precision locating pins extending within the axially aligned said precision bores within said base plate and each of said slot defining plates, means for releasably securing each of said slot defining plates directly to said base plate, and said undercut recess defined by at least one of said edge surfaces of each slot defining plate cooperating with said undercut recess defined by at least one of said edge surfaces of an adjacent said slot defining plate to define an undercut slot when said slot defining plates are secured to said base plate.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 202 words

Apparatus for securing a workpiece to a table of a machine tool, comprising a base plate including means defining a precision X-Y grid pattern of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes, a set of separate slot defining plates each including means defining a set of precision bores having parallel axes, each of said slot defining plates having a set of peripheral edge surfaces each defining an undercut recess, said precision bores within each of said slot defining plates being located in precise axial alignment with corresponding said precision bores within said base plate when said slot defining plate is properly positioned on said base plate, a set of precision locating pins extending within the axially aligned said precision bores within said base plate and each of said slot defining plates, means for releasably securing each of said slot defining plates directly to said base plate, and said undercut recess defined by at least one of said edge surfaces of each slot defining plate cooperating with said undercut recess defined by at least one of said edge surfaces of an adjacent said slot defining plate to define an undercut slot when said slot defining plates are secured to said base plate.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein at least one of said slot defining plates is triangular.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein at least one of said slot defining plates has four square corners.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said one edge surface of each of said slot defining plates forms a precision dimension with each of said precision bores within said slot defining plate.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 196 words

Apparatus adapted for precisely locating and securing a workpiece having at least two internal holes to a table of a machine tool, comprising a base plate including means defining an array of perpendicular rows of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes and forming an X-Y grid pattern, a set of first and second locating pins corresponding to the holes within the workpiece, each of said pins having a precision cylindrical upper portion, a set of blocks mounted on said base plate and supporting said locating pins with parallel spaced axes aligned with the axes of the holes within the workpiece and with said cylindrical upper portions of said pins being precisely concentric with the holes within the workpiece, some of said blocks having a set of precision bores aligned with said precision bores within said base plate, means for securing said blocks to said base plate and providing for moving and adjusting one of said locating pins and the supporting said block laterally on said base plate to accommodate workpiece holes having different spacing, and a set of precision locating pins extending into said aligned precision bores within said blocks and said base plate.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 196 words

Apparatus adapted for precisely locating and securing a workpiece having at least two internal holes to a table of a machine tool, comprising a base plate including means defining an array of perpendicular rows of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes and forming an X-Y grid pattern, a set of first and second locating pins corresponding to the holes within the workpiece, each of said pins having a precision cylindrical upper portion, a set of blocks mounted on said base plate and supporting said locating pins with parallel spaced axes aligned with the axes of the holes within the workpiece and with said cylindrical upper portions of said pins being precisely concentric with the holes within the workpiece, some of said blocks having a set of precision bores aligned with said precision bores within said base plate, means for securing said blocks to said base plate and providing for moving and adjusting one of said locating pins and the supporting said block laterally on said base plate to accommodate workpiece holes having different spacing, and a set of precision locating pins extending into said aligned precision bores within said blocks and said base plate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-05-08	1992-11-07	1993-05-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-05-08	1996-11-07	1997-05-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-05-08	2000-11-07	2001-05-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Workpiece securing apparatus for a machine tool

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