GB2245202A

GB2245202A - A vice

Info

Publication number: GB2245202A
Application number: GB9113198A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mituo Izumi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-06-19
Filing date: 1991-06-19
Publication date: 1992-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-19
Also published as: FR2664841B1; JPH0624707B2; GB2245202B; JPH0453683A; DE4120002A1; HK110595A; FR2664841A1; DE4120002C2; GB9113198D0

Abstract

A pair of end blocks 3, 4 are disposed at both ends of a bar-shaped and block-shaped base 1 in such a manner that a distance between them can be adjusted, and a wedge 5 installed between the blocks 3, 4 is devised to be fastened to the base side. The wedge 5 is provided with clamping block(s) 7 so than workpiece(s) (W) can be clamped between the end blocks 3,4 and the clamping block(s) 7 by fastening the wedge 5. One or both end blocks 3, 4, the wedge 5 and the clamping block(s) 7 have respective connecting members 13 to 17 of inverted T cross-section in a corresponding longitudinal channel in the base 1. The end block(s) have transverse serrations 50, 51 to locate them on the base end(s). Spring return of the clamping block(s) 7 is by bodies 18 in the channel with longitudinal springs 27 acting on the block connectors 17. <IMAGE>

Description

- 1 Vice This invention relates to a vice for clamping a workpiece which

is to be subjected to machining work, and especially to a vice which can firmly clamp a workpiece by utilizing a wedge and its tightening screw.

A vice of this type specified in the invention is described in Japanese Utility Model Publication 48384/1988 and U.S. Patent No. 4,643,411. The vice described in them is so constructed that a pair of blocks are installed at both ends of a bar-shaped and block-shaped base, and a wedge disposed between the blocks is tightened by a screw to the base side. A separate block (clamping block) is fitted to the wedge so that a"workpiece can be firmly clamped between the clamping block and the end block by tightening the screw as explained above. Between the above- mentioned pair end blocks, one end block has such a structure that its vertical position can be adjusted along the base and this adjustment enables clamping of workpieces having various lengths.

t 2 - An object of this invention is to improve the abovementioned vice and to provide a vice having a structure which enables adjustment of a pcsition of the end block easily and precisely.

A surface of a workpiece to be clamped by the vice is not always provided with a sufficiently high flatness and the surface may be inclined relatively to a desired clamping direction, so that another object of this invention is to provide a structure which can securely clamp the workpiece regardless of such surface conditions of it.

In structures of prior arts, a reaction force exerted from the clamping block to the wedge vanishes and the wedge falls onto the base when the workpiece is removed from the vice, so that it is necessary to pull up the wedge and return the clamping block to the wedge side. Therefore, further another object of this invention is to provide a structure which can correct such a trouble.

The vice of this invention has such a structure that a guide surface extending in a longitudinal direction is formed on a bar-shaped and blockshaped base, a pair of end blocks are disposed across a workpiece installation space facing on the guide surface, fastening means are - 3 provided which fasten the both end blocks to the base in such a way that a distance between the both blocks can be adjusted, a wedge and a tightening mechanism which tightens the wedge to the guide surface side are installed between the both end blocks in such a. way that they can move freely in the longitudinal direction, the above-mentioned workpiece installation space is formed between at least one end block and the wedge, the clamping blocks are disposed between the wedge and respective workpiece installation spaces in such a way as freely movable in the longitudinal direction, workpiece contacting faces are formed on surfaces of block which face each other space, and inclining faces neighboring block, which tightening force given by into a force toward the be exerted onto the clamping block.

According to the present invention, in the vice having the foregoing structure; a serrated part including a number of serrations lined up in the longitudinal direction is formed on a supporting surface, serrations meshing with the serrated part are formed on an end block carrying out longitudinal position adjustment of the foregoing end contacting with the workpiece the end block and the clamping across the workpiece installation are f ormed on the wedge and the press each other to convert a the above tightening mechanism workpiece installation space to 4 - blocks and marks for indicating relative longitudinal positions of the both are made on the base and the end block on which the serrations are formed.

According to the present invention, in the vice having the foregoing structure; a hardness of the above-mentioned workpiece contacting surface is set smaller than that of the inclining surface to such an extent that the surface can be machined.

According to the present invention, in the vice having the foregoing structure; a groove extending in the longitudinal direction and opening to the supporting surface is made on the base, a part of the clamping block is formed so as to engage in the groove, a spring seat piece is secured to the groove in such a way that its longitudinal position can be adjusted, and a spring urging the clamping block to the wedge side is supported by the spring seat piece The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially fragmental side view of a vice described in an embodiment of this invention; - Fig. 2 is a partially fragmental plan view of the vice of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view viewed in a direction of III - III of Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is the partially fragmental side view of the - 5 vice described in an embodiment of this invention. Fig. 2 is the partially fragmental plan view of the vice of Fig. 1. In more details, an upper half of Fig. 2 is a plan view and its lower half is a sectional view taken on a line II-IIof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is the view viewed in the direction of Ill - Ill of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is the enlarged partial view of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a vice is equipped with a barshaped and blockshaped base 1 extending in a longitudinal direction (left and right of Fig. 1). A guide surface 2 is formed on the base 1 by a surface extending in the longitudinal direction and a lateral direction (left and right of Fig. 3). The guide surface 2 is shown in its horizontal position in the figure, however, the vice is often fitted to various machine tools and its entire body is frequently moved and turned in practical applications. Accordingly, the guide surface 2 is not always placed in the horizontal position, however, description will be given below for easy understanding on the assumption that the guide surface 2 is formed by a horizontal upper face of the base 1.

A pair of end blocks 3 and 4 are disposed at upper sides of both ends oil ±he base 1, and a wedge 5 is installed at an upper side of longitudinal central part of the base 1.

Two approximately cubic workpieces W are installed on the shown vice between the end blocks 3 & 4 and the wedge 5, respectively. Clamping blocks 7 are disposed between the workpieces W and the wedge 5. and contacting plates 9 are installed on workpiece W side faces of the end blocks 3 & 4 as described later.

A guide groove 10 having an uniform sectional shape is provided on the base 1 over its entire length. As seen f rom Fig. 3, the guide groove 10 opens to the guide surf ace 2, has a sectional shape of roughly inverse T, and its bottom side portion has a width larger than that of its opened side portion. As shown by Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, connecting members 13, 14 & 15, a connecting part 17 and a pair of spring seat pieces 18 are installed on the base 1. These members and parts have a roughly same sectional shape as that of the guide groove 10 and contact or nearly contact with the entire internal surface of the guide groove 10 except for its bottom surface in such a way as freely slidable.

The connecting members 13 & 14 are for the purpose of fixing the end blocks 3 & 4 to the base 1 and have approximately similar lengths (longitudinal dimensions) to the end blocks 3 & 4, and its one end projecting part 20 protrudes upward a little from the guide surface 2. Grooves 21 into which the projecting parts 20 fit with only a vertical clearance left between them, are f ormed on lower faces of the end block 4 and the end block 3 (Fig. 1). Further, as seen from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the end blocks 3 & 4 and the corresponding connecting members 13 & 14 are provided with screw passing holes and threaded holes spaced each other in the vertical direction, and they are fastened each other by hexagon socket head cap screws 24 put into these holes from upper side. The end blocks 3 & 4 are secured to the base 1 by this structure.

When the screws 24 of the block 4_ is loosened temporarily, a longitudinal position of the block 4 can be adjusted while sliding the connecting member 14 in the guide groove 10. Needless to say, the other end block 3 can be adjusted its longitudinal position in the same way, but the end block 3 is ordinarily fastened to a fixed position. Incidentally, in an application wherein the positional adjustment of the block 3 is not required entirely, the block 3 may be formed integrally with the base 1.

The foregoing connecting member 15 is one which enables the wedge 5 to produce a tightening force and is provided with a longitudinally extending threaded hole, and a screw passing hole concentric with the threaded hole is provided in the wedge 5. A hexagon socket head cap screw 24 is put in the hole from upper side. Under a state where 'the 8 - screw 25 is tightened as shown by the f igure, the wedge 5 is separated from the guide surface 2 and is separated naturally from the connecting member 15 too.

The foregoing connecting part 17 is formed integrally with a body (protruding upward from the guide surface 2) of the clamping block 7, and this part holds the entire clamping block 7 to the base 1 in a manner as movable only in the longitudinal direction.

The foregoing spring seat piece 18 is a plate-like member having a short longitudinal length, which is fastened by a set screw 26 at a position adjacent to a face opposite to the connecting member 15 of the connecting part 17. As seen from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a threaded hole passing vertically at its central portion is made on each spring seat piece 18, and the set screw 26 is put in a lower part of the threaded hole. The set screw 26 is tightened to such a state as pressing on a bottom face of the guide groove 10, so that the spring seat piece 18 is secured to the base 1.

A spring 27 extending in the longitudinal direction is installed on an upper part of the spring seat piece 18.

-he spring The spring 27 fits partially into a hole made on 1. seat piece 18, its one end is seated on a bottom of the hole and its other end presses on the end face of the connecting part 17.

1 The foregoing contacting plates 9 are secured to respective workpiece W side f aces of the end blocks 3 & 4 by longitudinal screws 30. As seen from Fig. 2, the contacting plate 9 is provided with a proj ection 31 protruding to the corresponding block 3 or 4 side at its widthwise central part, and each projection 31 fits in close contact with a groove formed on the end block 3 or 4.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a contacting surface 35 of the contacting plate 9 contacting with the workpiece W is formed into a partial cylindrical surface a longitudinal central portion of which most protrudes to the workpiece W side in the illustrated embodiment. By forming the contacting surface 35 into such a shape, the contacting surface 35 can contact locally with the workpiece W and firmly clamp it, even when a surface 36 of the workpiece W contacting with the contacting surface 35 are inclined relatively to a perpendicular direction ( direction normal to the longitudinal direction of vice).

In the illustrated embodiment, a contacting surface 37 contacting with the workpiece W of the clamping block 7 is formed by a plane which is roughly perpendicular to -the longitudinal direction of vice, and a surface 38 of the workpiece W contacting with the contacting surface 37 is roughly parallel with the contacting surface 37. However, - 10 a projection 39 is provided on a part of the workpiece surface 38, and a concave part 40 into which the projection 39 fits is formed on the contacting surface 37. By thus forming such the concave portion 40, a wide range of the workpiece can be clamped securely and firmly by the contacting surface 37 even in case of the workpiece W including the projection 39.

The above-mentioned concave portion 40 is machined according to existence, size and shape of the projection 39. Namely, several clamping blocks 7 equipped with no concave portion 40 are prepared in advance at a working site or other site where the shown equipment is to be used. And, at time when a workpiece W having the projection 39 is mounted on the vice, the concave portion 40 including a size and shape corresponding to the projection 39 is machined out of the clamping block 7, and this clamping block 7 is attached to the vice as illustrated by the figure.

In order to enable such a machining, a part forming at least the contacting surface 37 of the clamping-block 7 is not subjected to hardening treatments such as quenching etc. That is, parts clamping metal workpieces are generally subjected to the hardening treatment to its entire body. Differing from such conventional general technique, however, the illustrated structure is not subjected to the hardening treatment at a part of at least the contacting surface 37 other than the inclining surface 42 (which will be described later) pressing on the wedge 5.

A contacting surface which is flat and has a low hardness (easy to machine) may be used for the contacting surface 35 of the contacting plate 9. Further, a hardness of the partially cylindrical contacting surface 35 of the illustrated contacting plate 9 may be set comparatively low. Naturally, it is possible to prepare several contacting plates 9 having different specifications of the contacting surface 35 in advance, and to exchange the contacting plate 9 according to the workpiece W to be clamped. Further, it is possible to form a partially cylindrical contacting surface such as the contacting surface 35 on the clamping block 7. When the workpiece surfaces 36 & 38 are rough and hard such as a case where the workpiece W is made of cast iron before finishing machining, it can be expected in any shape that small convex portions of workpiece surface cut into the contacting surface 35 or the contacting surface 37 so as to increase a workpiece clamping force, by setting the hardness of the contacting surface 35 or 37 to a comparatively low value as described above.

of course, in case when the surfaces 36 & 38 of the workpiece W are flat surface finished to high precisions, 12 - it is desired to finish the contacting surface 35 or contacting surface 37 to a surface having large hardness and high flatness.

The above-mentioned inclining surface 42 of the clamping block 7 comes in close contact with the inclining surface 43 of the wedge 5. The inclining surfaces 42 & 43 so incline that they approach the screw 25 as they get to the guide surface 2 side. Accordingly, when the screw 25 is tightened, the tightening force is exerted from the wedge 5 to the clamping block 7 as the vertical f orce of vice, and the workpiece W can be clamped between the clamping block 7 and the contacting plate 9 by the vertical f orce in the same way as the conventional case.

The screw 25 is turned counter-clockwise when the machining of workpiece exerted f rom the wedge 5 released to bring about be removed. Since the block 7 from the opposite W is removed, the wedge 5 surface 2 with its own weight.

is completed, the clamping force to the clamping block 7 is thereby a state where the workpiece W can member for supporting the clamping side disappears when the workpiece is apt to fall down onto the guide When the workpiece W is to be installed again after the wedge 5 falls down, it is required to pull up the wedge 5 and return the clamping block 7 to its original position. However, since the inclining surface 42 comes in close contact with the inclining surface 43, the wedge 5 is hard to pull up. In order to prevent the wedge 5, from falling down, the above-mentioned spring seat piece 18 is provided.

The spring seat piece 18 is fastened to the base 1 by the set screw 26 and the clamping block 7 is urged to the connecting member 15 side by the spring 27 as described above, so that the both clamping blocks 7 are always pressed to the wedge 5 side. Consequently, even when the workpiece W is removed, there is no chance for the clamping block 7 to move the side of the contacti %_ ng plate 9 so that the block maintains a space for installing a new workpiece W in relation to the contacting plate 9.

Two comparatively short workpieces W are installed in the illustrated structure, but it is possible to install only one long workpiece in place of them. For this purpose, the inclining surface 45 having the same inclining angle as the inclining surface 42 is provided on an end face opposite to the contacting plate 9 of the end block 4. In case where a long workpiece is to be installed; the clamping block 7 positioned at right side in Fig. 1 is removed from the base 1 and the end block 4 is mounted on the base 1 in a position reversed left/right from the illustrated 7osition, and then the inclining surface 43 positioned at 1 14 - the right side in Fig. 1 of wedge 5 is made press on the inclining surface 45. Thereby, a long workpiece installation space can be formed between the contacting plate 9 attached to the end block 3 and the remaining clamping block 7, so that the workpiece can be installed at this space and the tightening force can be exerted on the clamping block 7 through the wedge 5 by utilizing the inclining surface 45.

In either case of installing one workpiece or two workpieces, when a length of workpiece is changed, it is necessary to adjust a position of the end block 4 correspondingly to the length in the longitudinal direction. When another shorter workpiece (second workpiece) is machined after machining the illustrated workpiece (first workpiece), the end block 4 is to be moved from the present position (original position) to the left side in Fig. 1 correspondingly to the length of workpiece. Then, when the first workpiece is to be machined again after completion of the machining of the second workpiece (or further another workpiece), it is required to return the end block 4 to its original position. In order to carry out such positional adjustment and resetting easily and correctly, the following ingenuity is exerted in the illustrated structure.

As shown in Fig. 4, a serrated part 50 is provided on the guide groove 10 of the guide surface 2, and serrated Z parts 51 meshing with the serrated part 50 are provided also on bottom faces of the end block 3 and end block 4 (Fig. 1). Serrated teeth of them extend in a lateral direction (vice width direction) and line up each other in the longitudinal direction. Bottoms of serrated parts 50 are rounded and tips of them are formed flat because the clamping block 7 etc. of Fig. 1 is mounted on it.

has the similar shape. According to this structure, The serrated part 51 the end block 4 can be moved correctly by every pitch of the serrated part 50. Only a part of scale is illustrated by the figure in order for easy confirmation of position, however, a scale 52 is provided on one side or both sides of the reference line 53 forming a counterpart to base 1. A the scale 52 is provided on one side or both sides of the end block 4.

The scale 52 may be provided over the entire base 1, or may be provided in a range necessary length of the for practical scaling.

In the illustrated structure, the serrated part 51 meshing with the serrated part 50 is provided also on a lower face of the end block 3, and the reference line- 53 forming a counterpart to the scale 52 is provided. The end block 3 is ordinarily fastened to a fixed position regardless of the length of workpiece W. According to this structure, however, in certain circumstances, the position of the end block 3 can be adjusted easily and correctly in the longitudinal direction in the same way as the end block 4. Further, even when the end block 3 is always kept at a fixed position, its positioning accuracy can be improved by forming the serrated part 51.

According to the present invention, as described above, the serrated parts 50 & 51 and the marks consist of the scale 52 and the reference line 53 are provided on the base I and the end block 4, so that the positional adjustment can be carried out easily and correctly.

Moreover, according to the present invention, the hardnesses of the contacting surfaces 35 & 37 between the vice and the workpiece are set comparatively low, so that it becomes possible to clamp the workpiece W correctly and firmly without being affected by precision and roughness of the surface of workpiece W.

Furthermore, the clamping block 7 connected to the wedge 5 is urged to the wedge 5 side by the spring seat piece 18, so that the wedge 5 can be prevented from falling down when the workpiece W is removed, and attaching and detaching operation of the workpiece W can thereby be simplified.

1 - 17

Claims

1. A vice in which a guide surface extending in a longitudinal direction is formed on a bar-shaped and block shaped base, a pair of end blocks are disposed on the guide surface facing across a workpiece installation space fastening means are provided which fasten both end blocks to the base in such a way that a distance between the both blocks can be adjusted, a wedge and a tightening mechanism which tightens the wedge to the guide surface are installed between the both end blocks in such a way that they can move freely in the longitudinal direction, said workpiece installation space being formed between at least one end block and the wedge, clamping blocks are disposed between the wedge and respective workpiece installation spaces in such a way as to be freely movable in the longitudinal direction, workpiece contacting parts are formed on surfaces of the end block and the clamping block which face each other across the workpiece installation space, inclining faces are formed on the wedge and the neighboring end block, which press each other to convert a tightening force given by the above tightening mechanism into a force toward the workpiece installation space to be exerted onto the clamping block.

2. A vice as claimed in Claim 1 which further includes a serrated part having a number of serrations extending in the longitudinal direction and which is formed on a supporting surface, serrations meshing with the serrated part are formed on an end block carrying out longitudinal position adjustment of said end blocks, and marks for indicating relative longitudinal positions of the both are made on the base and the end block on which the serrations are formed.

3. A vice as claimed in Claim 1 in which the workpiece contacting parts' hardness is set smaller than that of the inclining surface to such an extent that the parts can be machined.

4. A vice as claimed in Claim 1 which further includes a groove formed on the base extending in the longitudinal direction and opening to a supporting surface, a part of the clamping block is formed so as to engage in the groove, a spring seat piece is secured to the groove in such a way that its longitudinal positon can be adjusted, and a spring urging the clamping block to the wedge side is supported by the spring seat piece.

5. A vice substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at 7-he Patent Office, Concept House. Cardiff Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 I RE. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch, Unit

6. Nine Mile Point, Cwmfelinfach, Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques Iltd. St Mary Cray. Kent.

1 1 j i