Apparatus and methods for suspending a tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9518697-B1
Application number	US-201313920752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 18, 2013
Priority date	Jun 18, 2013
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for suspending a tool from a support arm having a mounting location are disclosed. The tool has a virtual work axis and a center of gravity. The apparatus may include a tool holder and a mounting interface located between the support arm and the tool holder. The mounting interface extends substantially along the virtual work axis. Selectable locations, configured to enable adjustable engagement of the support arm and/or the tool holder with the mounting interface, are part of or otherwise associated with the mounting interface. The center of gravity of the tool may be positioned below the mounting location using the selectable locations such that the tool is supported in a selected attitude or orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for suspending a tool, the apparatus comprising:
a support arm having a single mounting location;

clamps, configured to collectively engage the tool; and
a mounting interface, configured to extend substantially along a work axis of rotation of the tool,
wherein the mounting interface is a rigid planar element that comprises:
a first plurality of selectable locations configured to provide direct pivotal adjustable engagement of the single mounting location of the support arm with the mounting interface, and
a second plurality of selectable locations, spatially fixed relative to the first plurality of selectable locations and configured to provide adjustable engagement of the clamps with the mounting interface,

wherein,
when the clamps are engaged with the mounting interface, but not engaged with the tool, each of the clamps is pivotable relative to the mounting interface, and
when the clamps are engaged with the mounting interface and engaged with the tool, the clamps are not pivotable relative to the mounting interface,
when the work axis of rotation of the tool lies in a virtual vertical plane and in a virtual horizontal plane, and when the support arm pivotally engages the mounting interface, and when the clamps engage the mounting interface and the tool:
at least one surface of the mounting interface is parallel to the virtual vertical plane, and
the virtual horizontal plane does not pass through the mounting interface, and

when the mounting interface pivots relative to the single mounting location of the support arm, the work axis of rotation of the tool always remains in the virtual vertical plane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of selectable locations and the second plurality of selectable locations are configured to provide a center of gravity of the tool to be selectively and adjustably positioned below the single mounting location in substantial vertical alignment therewith when the single mounting location of the support arm directly and pivotably engages the mounting interface and when the clamps engage the tool and the mounting interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting interface is directly and pivotally engaged by the single mounting location of the support arm so that the mounting interface is parallel to or coincident with the virtual vertical plane.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of selectable locations and the second plurality of selectable locations is arranged substantially along the work axis of rotation of the tool.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of selectable locations and the second plurality of selectable locations comprises at least one opening in the mounting interface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one opening is a through opening.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first plurality of selectable locations and the second plurality of selectable locations comprise multiple openings in the mounting interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the openings comprise a first arrangement of openings located proximate the support arm and a second arrangement of openings located below the first arrangement of openings when the mounting interface is suspended from the support arm.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the single mounting location of the support arm is connected to the mounting interface at one of the openings of the first arrangement of openings.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first arrangement of openings comprises a hole.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second arrangement of openings comprises a hole and a slot.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the clamps comprises a band which surrounds the tool about more than half of a periphery of the tool when the at least one of the clamps engages the tool.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the clamps comprises a non-marring tool contact surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the clamps is adapted to engage the tool at at least three discrete locations about a periphery of the tool, wherein each of the at least three discrete locations includes a point in a third virtual plane perpendicular to the virtual vertical plane and the virtual horizontal plane, and one of the at least three discrete locations is separated from another one of the at least three discrete locations by the virtual horizontal plane.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the clamps comprises a fastener configured to secure the tool within the at least one of the clamp and also to secure the tool relative to the mounting interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the clamps comprises two opposed jaws.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the two opposed jaws comprises an arcuate member configured to mate with a circumferential surface of the tool.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the two opposed jaws are separable from one another.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the clamps comprises a fastener configured to secure the tool within the at least one of the clamps and also to pivotally secure the at least one of the clamps relative to the mounting interface.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the clamps and the mounting interface are configured to be joined by the fastener passing through the at least one of the clamps and the mounting interface.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support arm is substantially parallel to the work axis of rotation of the tool.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Weigel Matthew Joseph

Classifications

• B25H1/0007 Primary

  for engines, motor-vehicles or bicycles · CPC title

• B66C1/24

  Single members engaging the loads from one side only · CPC title

• F16M13/027

  Ceiling supports · CPC title

• A47F5/0006

  Hangers for hanging articles on bars, tringles, bracket arms or the like (dress holders, e.g. for clothing, shoes, A47G25/00; packages for hanging B65D; lockable clothing holders E05B69/00) · CPC title

• F16M13/00

  Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)} · CPC title