Laser projection hardware positional device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11879734-B2
Application number	US-202217824051-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2022
Priority date	May 25, 2022
Publication date	Jan 23, 2024
Grant date	Jan 23, 2024

Abstract

A system for positioning a tool or a component on a workpiece may include a laser configured to project a laser point on the workpiece. The laser may include a field of view and the laser may project the laser point upon objects within the field of view of the laser. The system for positioning a tool on a workpiece may also include a fixture configured to position the tool on the workpiece. The fixture may include a laser indicator configured to be aligned with the laser point projected on the workpiece. The fixture may also include a first tool receptacle configure to receive the tool and locate the tool on a portion of the workpiece outside the field of view of the laser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for positioning a tool or a component on a workpiece, the system comprising:
a laser configured to project a laser point on the workpiece, the laser comprising a field of view, the laser configured to project the laser point upon objects within the field of view of the laser; and
a fixture configured to position the tool on the workpiece, the fixture comprising:
a laser indicator configured to be aligned with the laser point projected on the workpiece; and
a first tool receptacle configured to receive the tool and locate the tool on a portion of the workpiece outside the field of view.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece is a tube, and the fixture includes a semi-circular profile such that the laser indicator is adjacent a portion of the tube within the field of view the laser, and the first tool receptacle is positioned adjacent the portion of the tube outside the field of view of the laser.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fixture further comprises:
a second tool receptacle configured to receive the tool, wherein the first tool receptacle and the second tool receptacle are positioned in two positions adjacent the portion of the tube outside the field of view of the laser.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fixture further comprises:
a plurality of alternate tool receptacles configured to receive the tool, wherein the first tool receptacle and the plurality of alternate tool receptacles are positioned in a plurality of positions adjacent the portion of the tube outside the field of view of the laser.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece is a plate, and the fixture includes a u-channel profile such that the laser indicator is located adjacent a portion of the plate within the field of view of the laser, and the first tool receptacle is positioned adjacent the portion of the plate outside the field of view of the laser.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the fixture further comprises:
a plurality of alternate tool receptacles configured to receive the tool, wherein the first tool receptacle and the plurality of alternate tool receptacles are positioned in a plurality of positions adjacent the portion of the plate outside the field of view of the laser.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tool is a draw welding tool.

8. A method of using a system to position a tool or a component on a workpiece, the system having a laser configured to project a laser point on the workpiece and a fixture having a laser indicator and a first tool receptacle, the method comprising:
projecting the laser point on the workpiece when the workpiece is located within a field of view of the laser;
positioning the fixture on the workpiece so that the laser indicator is aligned with the laser point projected on the workpiece; and
inserting the tool into the first tool receptacle to position the tool in a position on the workpiece that is outside the field of view of the laser.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the workpiece is a tube and the fixture including one or more alternate tool receptacles, the method further comprising:
inserting the tool into the first tool receptacle or any of the one or more alternate tool receptacles to position the tool in a position on the tube outside the field of view of the laser.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the workpiece is a plate and the fixture includes one or more alternate tool receptacles, the method further comprising:
positioning the fixture on the workpiece so that the laser indicator of the fixture is aligned with the laser point projected on the workpiece; and
inserting the tool into the first tool receptacle or any of the one or more alternate tool receptacles to position the tool in a position on the plate outside the field of view of the laser.

11. The method of claim 8 , the system having a second fixture including one or more tool receptacles, the method further comprising:
operating the tool to attach a first feature on the workpiece;
removing the fixture from the workpiece;
positioning the second fixture on the workpiece so that the laser indicator on the second fixture is aligned with the laser point projected on the workpiece;
inserting the tool into the one or more tool receptacles to position the tool in a position on the workpiece outside the field of view of the laser; and
operating the tool to attach a second feature on the workpiece in a different position than where the first feature is attached to the workpiece.

12. The method of claim 8 , the system having a second fixture including one or more tool receptacles, the method further comprising:
operating the tool to form a first feature on the workpiece;
removing the fixture from the workpiece;
positioning the second fixture on the workpiece so that the laser indicator on the second fixture is aligned with the laser point projected on the workpiece;
inserting the tool into the one or more tool receptacles to position the tool in a position on the workpiece outside the field of view of the laser; and
operating the tool to form a second feature on the workpiece in a different position than where the first feature is attached to the workpiece.

13. The method of claim 8 , the system having a second fixture including one or more tool receptacles, the method further comprising:
operating the tool to form a first feature on the workpiece;
removing the fixture from the workpiece;
positioning the second fixture on the workpiece so that the laser indicator on the second fixture is aligned with the laser point projected on the workpiece;
inserting the tool into the one or more tool receptacles to position the tool in a position on the workpiece outside the field of view of the laser; and
operating the tool to attach a second feature on the workpiece in a different position than where the first feature is attached to the workpiece.

14. A fixture used in a system for positioning a tool or a component on a workpiece, the system having a laser configured to project a laser point on the workpiece positioned within a field of view of the laser, the fixture comprising:
a laser indicator configured to be aligned with the laser point projected on the workpiece; and
a tool receptacle configured to receive the tool and position the tool on a portion of the workpiece outside the field of view of the laser.

15. The fixture of claim 14 , wherein the workpiece is a tube, the fixture further comprising:
a semi-circular profile configured to fit on the tube such that the laser indicator is positioned on a portion of the tube that the laser configured to project the laser point thereon, and the tool receptacle is positioned on the portion of the tube outside the field of view of the laser.

16. The fixture of claim 15 , the fixture further comprising:
a plurality of alternate tool receptacles configured to receive the tool, wherein the tool receptacle and the plurality of alternate tool receptacles are positioned in a plurality of positions on the portion of the tube outside the field of view of the laser.

17. The fixture of claim 14 , wherein the workpiece is a plate, the fixture comprising:
a u-channel profile such that the laser indicator is located on a portion of the plate that the laser configured to project the laser point thereon, and the tool receptacle is positioned on the portion of the plate outside the field of view of the laser.

18. The fixture of claim 17 further comprising:
a second tool receptacle configured to receive the tool, wherein the tool receptacle an

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Brewer Michael Alan
• Huang Josh E
• Noble Michael H
• Egland Keith Maynard

Classifications

• G01C15/004 Primary

  Reference lines, planes or sectors · CPC title

• B23K9/32

  Accessories · CPC title

• B23K37/04

  for holding or positioning work · CPC title

• G01C15/006

  Detectors therefor · CPC title

• B23K9/202 Primary

  by means of portable equipment, e.g. stud-welding gun · CPC title