Auto-locking safety t-nut

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025035148-A1
Application number	US-202318359135-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 26, 2023
Priority date	Jul 26, 2023
Publication date	Jan 30, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present application provides a machining system for a workpiece. The machining system includes a rotary tooling plate with a T-slot and a T-nut positioned in the T-slot. The T-nut has a horizontal base with a wedge such that the wedge includes a locked position locking the T-nut in place within the T-slot and a released position allowing the T-nut to maneuver within the T-slot.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A machining system for a workpiece, comprising:
a rotary tooling plate; the rotary tooling plate comprising a T-slot; and a T-nut positioned in the T-slot; the T-nut comprising a horizontal base with a wedge; wherein the wedge comprises a locked position locking the T-nut in place within the T-slot and a released position allowing the T-nut to maneuver within the T-slot.

2 . The machining system of claim 1 , wherein the locked position comprises a first width of the horizontal base and the wedge and the released position comprises a second width of the horizontal base and the wedge.

3 . The machining system of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal base comprises a cut-out therein and wherein the wedge is position within the cut-out.

4 . The machining system of claim 3 , wherein the wedge comprises a slanted wedge face and wherein the cut-out comprises a slanted cut-out face.

5 . The machining system of claim 1 , wherein the wedge comprises a central aperture therethrough.

6 . The machining system of claim 5 , wherein the wedge comprises a bolt extending through the central aperture.

7 . The machining system of claim 6 , wherein the bolt is secured in the horizontal base.

8 . The machining system of claim 6 , wherein the wedge comprises a spring surrounding the bolt.

9 . The machining system of claim 8 , wherein the spring biases the wedge into the locked position.

10 . The machining system of claim 1 , wherein the T-nut comprises a vertical extension extending from the horizontal base.

11 . The machining system of claim 10 , wherein the T-slot comprises a vertical channel and a horizontal channel.

12 . The machining system of claim 11 , wherein the horizontal base of the T-nut is sized to accommodate the horizontal channel of the T-slot.

13 . The machining system of claim 11 , wherein the vertical extension of the T-nut is sized to accommodate the vertical channel of the T-slot.

14 . The machining system of claim 10 , wherein the vertical extension comprises a mounting aperture therein.

15 . A method of maneuvering a T-nut within a T-slot of a rotary tooling plate, comprising:
attaching a wedge to a horizontal base of the T-nut by a bolt loaded with a spring; pushing the wedge away from the horizontal base by contracting the spring; maneuvering the T-nut within the T-slot; and forcing the spring to maneuver the wedge adjacent to the horizontal base so as to lock the T-nut in place.

16 . A machining system for a workpiece, comprising:
a rotary tooling plate; the rotary tooling plate comprising a T-slot; and a T-nut positioned in the T-slot; the T-nut comprising a horizontal base with a wedge; wherein the wedge comprises a spring loaded bolt extending therethrough; and wherein the horizontal base and the wedge comprise a locked position with a first width and a released position with a second width.

17 . The machining system of claim 16 , wherein the spring loaded bolt is secured in the horizontal base.

18 . The machining system of claim 16 , wherein the horizontal base comprises a cut-out therein and wherein the wedge is position within the cut-out.

19 . The machining system of claim 18 , wherein the wedge comprises a slanted wedge face and wherein the cut-out comprises a slanted cut-out face.

20 . The machining system of claim 16 , wherein the T-nut comprises a vertical extension extending from the horizontal base.

Assignees

• Ge Infrastructure Technology Llc

Inventors

• Petroskie Robert M

Classifications

• B23Q2703/10

  Devices for clamping workpieces of a particular form or made from a particular material · CPC title

• B23Q2703/08

  Devices for clamping a plurality of workpieces · CPC title

• B23Q2703/12

  Accessories for attaching · CPC title

• B23Q3/10

  Auxiliary devices, e.g. bolsters, extension members {(devices for holding usually unilaterally-held tools at a second side, devices supporting a workpiece against cutting forces B23Q1/76)} · CPC title

• B23Q3/061

  adapted for holding a plurality of workpieces · CPC title