Vertically-oriented fixture for selectably holding dissimilar workpieces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9469016-B2
Application number	US-201213563653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2012
Priority date	Sep 14, 2010
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A fixture for selectably supporting a number of dissimilar workpieces in a substantially vertical orientation. The fixture includes a frame with one or more rotatable and vertically-oriented workpiece tooling assemblies. Each workpiece tooling assembly has multiple faces to which is mounted workpiece support tooling. The workpiece support tooling may be designed to support dissimilar workpieces, such that a single fixture may support any of a given number of workpieces by simply rotating the workpiece tooling assembly or assemblies until the corresponding support tooling is properly positioned. A locking assembly, such as a cam-locking assembly, may be provided to releasably secure each workpiece tooling assembly in the various support orientations that coincide with each of its faces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fixture for selectably supporting dissimilar workpieces in a substantially vertical orientation, comprising:
a framework attached to a vertical support member;
at least one vertically extending support shaft affixed to said framework;
at least one workpiece tooling assembly rotatably coupled to said framework by said at least one vertically extending shaft, said at least one workpiece tooling assembly having two or more separate faces that are each selectably rotatable to a workpiece support position;
workpiece support tooling mounted to at least two of said two or more separate workpiece tooling assembly faces; and a cam-locking assembly that releasably locks each workpiece tooling assembly in a support position associated with a given face thereof,
wherein each workpiece tooling assembly includes a hollow tube surrounding and rotatably mounted to a portion of said support shaft that is attached to said framework.

2. The fixture of claim 1 , wherein said cam-locking assembly comprises a hollow mounting tube that surrounds a shaft having a rotating portion that is rotatable about a fixed portion, the cam-locking assembly further including engageable cam elements on each of the rotating and fixed shaft portions and a spring for biasing the cam elements toward an engaged position.

3. The fixture of claim 2 , wherein said cam-locking assembly is unlockable by applying a rotational force to said workpiece tooling assembly, said force sufficient in magnitude to overcome the biasing force of said spring and to disengage said cam elements.

4. A fixture for selectably supporting dissimilar workpieces in a substantially vertical orientation, comprising:
a framework attached to a vertical support member and having at least one defined support section;
at least one vertically extending shaft affixed to said framework;
at least one workpiece tooling assembly associated with each support section and rotatably coupled to said framework thereof by said at least one vertically extending shaft, said at least one workpiece tooling assembly having two or more separate faces that are each selectably rotatable to a workpiece support position;
workpiece support tooling mounted to each face of said at least one workpiece tooling assembly; and
a locking assembly that releasably locks each workpiece tooling assembly in a support position associated with a given face thereof,
wherein each workpiece tooling assembly includes a hollow tube surrounding and rotatably mounted to a portion of said support shaft that is attached to said framework, and wherein said locking assembly is a cam-locking assembly that includes said hollow mounting tube and wherein said support shaft has a rotating portion that is rotatable about a fixed portion, the cam-locking assembly further including engageable cam elements on each of the rotating and fixed shaft portions and a spring for biasing the cam elements toward an engaged position.

5. The fixture of claim 4 , wherein said cam-locking assembly is unlockable by applying a rotational force to said workpiece tooling assembly, said force sufficient in magnitude to overcome the biasing force of said spring and to disengage said cam elements.

6. A fixture for selectably supporting a plurality of dissimilar workpieces in a substantially vertical orientation, comprising:
a framework attached to a vertical support member and having a plurality of separate support sections defined by a vertical plane(s) passing through said vertical support member, each support section having a pair of vertically spaced support arms;
a vertically extending support shaft affixed to each support arm;
a cooperating pair of rotatable workpiece tooling assemblies associated with each support section, individual workpiece tooling assemblies of each workpiece tooling assembly pair located on similarly sided support arms of said framework and including a hollow mounting tube portion that is rotatably coupled to said support shaft affixed thereto;
at least two separate support tooling mounting faces on each workpiece tooling assembly, each face being selectably placeable in a workpiece support position by rotation of the associated workpiece tooling assembly;
workpiece support tooling mounted to a tooling mounting plate located on each face of said workpiece tooling assemblies, workpiece support tooling mounted to similar faces of said pairs of rotatable workpiece tooling assemblies being designed to cooperatively and simultaneously support a single workpiece; and
a cam-locking assembly that releasably locks each workpiece tooling assembly in a support position associated with a given face thereof.

7. The fixture of claim 6 , wherein said cam-locking assembly includes said hollow mounting tube, and wherein said support shaft has a rotating portion that is rotatable about a fixed portion, the cam-locking assembly further including engageable cam elements on each of the rotating and fixed shaft portions and a spring for biasing the cam elements toward an engaged position.

8. The fixture of claim 7 , wherein said cam-locking assembly is unlockable by applying a rotational force to said workpiece tooling assembly, said force sufficient in magnitude to overcome the biasing force of said spring and to disengage said cam elements.

9. The fixture of claim 6 , wherein said workpiece support tooling is designed to support different bumper fascias.

10. The fixture of claim 6 , wherein said workpiece support tooling is designed to support different vehicle instrument panel foundations.

Assignees

• Cahill James Patrick
• Peck William
• Spiewacki Matthew
• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cahill James Patrick
• Peck William
• Spiewacki Matthew

Classifications

• B25H1/0007

  for engines, motor-vehicles or bicycles · CPC title

• B25B11/02 Primary

  Assembly jigs · CPC title