Fixture for selectably holding dissimilar workpieces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527204-B2
Application number	US-201414229303-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2014
Priority date	Sep 14, 2010
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A fixture for selectably supporting a number of dissimilar workpieces. The fixture includes a frame with one or more rotatable 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 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, comprising:
a framework;
at least one workpiece tooling assembly rotatably coupled to the framework, the at least one workpiece tooling assembly having a plurality of separate tooling mounting faces that are each selectably rotatable to a workpiece support position; and
workpiece support tooling in the form of multiple independent workpiece support elements mounted to and extending from at least two of the plurality of separate tooling mounting faces;
wherein the workpiece support elements of the workpiece support tooling mounted to a first one of the tooling mounting faces are adapted to cooperatively support a single first workpiece, and the workpiece support elements of the workpiece support tooling mounted to a second one of the tooling mounting faces are adapted to cooperatvely support a single second workpiece that is different than the first workpiece.

2. The fixture of claim 1 , wherein each workpiece tooling assembly includes a hollow tube surrounding and rotatably mounted to a portion of a support shaft that is attached to the framework.

3. The fixture of claim 2 , further comprising a locking assembly that releasably locks each workpiece tooling assembly in a support position associated with a given face thereof.

4. The fixture of claim 3 , wherein the locking assembly comprises:
a hollow mounting tube;
a lock pin;
a lock pin engaging element affixed to an interior of the mounting tube;
a spring residing at least partially within a travel limit tube;
a spring retainer; and
a retaining element;
wherein, the lock pin is retained in a shaft around which the hollow mounting tube of the workpiece tooling assembly rotates; and
wherein the spring, travel limit tube, and spring retainer are held inside the hollow mounting tube by engagement of the retaining element with the shaft, such that the spring exerts an inwardly-directed biasing force on the mounting tube to maintain the workpiece tooling assembly in a selected locked position by forced engagement of the lock pin engaging element and the lock pin.

5. The fixture of claim 4 , wherein the lock pin engaging element includes a plurality of slots that are positioned to engage the lock pin when a selected tooling mounting face of the workpiece tooling assembly is properly positioned to support a corresponding workpiece.

6. The fixture of claim 4 , wherein the locking assembly is unlockable by applying an outwardly-directed force to the workpiece tooling assembly that is sufficient in magnitude to overcome the biasing force of the spring and to disengage the lock pin engaging element from the lock pin.

7. The fixture of claim 2 , further comprising bushings or bearings installed over the shaft and received within the mounting tube near opposite ends thereof so as to facilitate rotation of the mounting tube and the workpiece tooling assembly about the shaft.

8. The fixture of claim 1 , wherein each tooling mounting face of the at least one workpiece tooling assembly is provided with a tooling mounting plate adapted to receive and retain support tooling for a workpiece.

9. The fixture of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece support tooling mounted to each tooling mounting face of the at least one workpiece tooling assembly is designed to support a different workpiece.

10. The fixture of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece support tooling mounted to each tooling mounting face of the at least one workpiece tooling assembly is adapted to support a front or rear vehicle bumper fascia.

11. A fixture for selectably supporting dissimilar workpieces, comprising:
a framework having at least one defined support section;
at least one workpiece tooling assembly associated with each support section and rotatably coupled to the framework thereof, the at least one workpiece tooling assembly having a plurality of separate tooling mounting faces that are each selectably rotatable to a workpiece support position;
workpiece support tooling in the form of multiple independent workpiece support elements mounted to and extending from each tooling mounting face of the 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 tooling mounting face thereof;
wherein the workpiece support elements of the workpiece support tooling mounted to a given tooling mounting face are adapted to cooperatively support a single workpiece, and the workpiece support tooling mounted to each of the tooling mounting faces is adapted to support a different workpiece.

12. The fixture of claim 11 , wherein each workpiece tooling assembly includes a hollow mounting tube surrounding and rotatably mounted to a portion of a support shaft that is attached to the framework.

13. The fixture of claim 12 , wherein the locking assembly comprises:
the hollow mounting tube;
a lock pin;
a lock pin engaging element affixed to an interior of the mounting tube;
a spring residing at least partially within a travel limit tube;
a spring retainer; and
a retaining element;
wherein, the lock pin is retained in a shaft around which the hollow mounting tube of the workpiece tooling assembly rotates; and
wherein the spring, travel limit tube, and spring retainer are held inside the hollow mounting tube by engagement of the retaining element with the shaft, such that the spring exerts an inwardly-directed biasing force on the mounting tube to maintain the workpiece tooling assembly in a selected locked position by forced engagement of the lock pin engaging element and the lock pin.

14. The fixture of claim 13 , wherein the lock pin engaging element includes a plurality of slots that are positioned to engage the lock pin when a selected tooling mounting face of the workpiece tooling assembly is properly positioned to support a corresponding workpiece.

15. The fixture of claim 13 , wherein the locking assembly is unlockable by applying an outwardly-directed force to the workpiece tooling assembly that is sufficient in magnitude to overcome the biasing force of the spring and to disengage the lock pin engaging element from the lock pin.

16. The fixture of claim 12 , further comprising bushings or bearings installed over the shaft and received within the mounting tube near opposite ends thereof so as to facilitate rotation of the mounting tube and the workpiece tooling assembly about the shaft.

17. The fixture of claim 11 , wherein each tooling mounting face of the at least one workpiece tooling assembly is provided with a tooling mounting plate adapted to receive and retain support tooling for a workpiece.

18. The fixture of claim 11 , wherein the workpiece support tooling mounted to each tooling mounting face of the at least one workpiece tooling assembly is adapted to support a front or rear vehicle bumper fascia.

19. A fixture for selectably supporting dissimilar workpieces in the form of different vehicle bumper fascias, comprising:
a framework;
at least one workpiece tooling assembly rotatably coupled to the framework, the at least one workpiece tooling assembly having three separate tooling mounting faces that are each selectably rotatable to and lockable in a workpiece support position;
a tooling mounting plate affixed to each of the three tooling mounting faces;
workpiece support tooling in the form of multiple independent workpiece support elements mounted to and extending from each of the tooling mounting plates;
wherein the workpiece support

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cahill James Patrick
• Peck William
• Spiewacki Matthew T

Classifications

• B25H1/0007

  for engines, motor-vehicles or bicycles · CPC title

• B25B11/00

  Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders (for holding or positioning work for welding, soldering, or cutting by applying heat locally B23K37/04; specially adapted to machine tools B23Q3/00) · CPC title

• B25B11/02 Primary

  Assembly jigs · CPC title

• Y10T29/53961

  with work-holder for assembly · CPC title

• B25H1/10 Primary

  with provision for adjusting holders for tool or work · CPC title