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United States Patent |
5,127,639 |
Tucker , et al. |
July 7, 1992 |
United States Patent |
5,127,639 |
Tucker , et al. |
July 7, 1992 |
Adjustable vise
Abstract
A vise for holding a workpiece, comprising a pair of generally opposed jaws having substantially planar faces, a clamping screw having at least one external thread centered around a longitudinal axis rotatably attached at one end to one of the jaws and passing through the other jaw, a clamping screw nut having at least one internal thread occupying an arc of no more than approximately 180.degree. and having a substantially planar forward face for bearing against a substantially planar and parallel rear face of the other jaw when the clamping screw is rotated to draw the jaws together and both the forward and rear faces are oblique to the axis of the clamping screw, a rod attached to a handle that, when depressed, moves the rod so that its movement moves the nut substantially transverse to the axis of the clamping screw, a foot pedal attached to an actuator that, when the foot petal is depressed, moves the clamping nut substantially transverse to the axis of the clamping screw, at least one guide rod rigidly attached at one end to one of the jaws, and an elastic cord attached between the other end of the guide rod and the other jaw.
Inventors: |
Tucker; Edwin C. (Ottawa, CA); Lee; Leonard G. (Ottawa, CA); McLean; Francis A. (Oxford Station, CA); Frank; Timothy C. (Ottawa, CA); Sevack; Lloyd (Nepean, CA); Lacoste; Gary W. (Nepean, CA) |
Assignee: |
Lee Valley Tools Ltd. (Ottawa, CA) |
Appl. No.: |
663421 |
Filed: |
March 1, 1991 |
Current U.S. Class: |
269/139; 269/183 |
Intern'l Class: |
B25B 001/02 |
Field of Search: |
269/181,182,183,139,9,71,77,78 |
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Jun., 1900 |
Olson |
269/139. |
|
Oct., 1943 |
Gordon |
267/183. |
|
Aug., 1989 |
Hickman |
269/139. |
Other References
|
Primary Examiner: Watson; Robert C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kilpatrick & Cody
Claims
We claim:
1. An adjustable vise for mounting on an edge of a workbench having a top
surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
(a) a pair of generally opposed jaws having substantially planar faces;
(b) a means for forcing the jaws toward each other and for maintaining their
relative position in order to clamp a workpiece therebetween;
(c) a means for simultaneously rotating both jaws about an axis normal to the
face of at least one of the jaws and locking the jaws in any angular position
about that axis;
(d) a means for tilting both jaws through an arc of at least 90.degree. and for
locking the jaws in any position along that arc;
(e) a means for pivoting one of the jaws relative to the other so that the
planar faces may be positioned alternatively in parallel or nonparallel
orientations;
(f) a means for selectively locking the pivotable jaw in any of the parallel or
nonparallel orientations to which it may be pivoted; and
(g) a means for releasing the jaws forcing and maintaining means so that the
position of the jaws relative to each other may be rapidly changed in order to
open or close the jaws.
2. The vise of claim 1 wherein
a) the jaws forcing and maintaining means comprises:
i) a clamping screw having at least one external thread centered around a
longitudinal axis;
ii) a clamping screw nut having at least one internal thread occupying an arc of
on no more than approximately 180.degree.; and
b) the releasing means comprises a means for displacing the nut relative to the
clamping screw so that the nut thread disengages from the screw thread.
3. The vise of claim 2 wherein the clamping nut has a forward face that bears
against a rear face of one of the jaws when the forcing and maintaining means is
operated and both the forward and rear faces are substantially planar,
substantially parallel and oblique to the axis of the clamping screw.
4. The vise of claim 2 wherein the displacing means comprises a rod attached to
a handle that, when depressed, moves the rod so that its movement moves the nut
substantially transverse to the axis of the clamping screw.
5. The vise of claim 2 wherein the displacing means comprises a foot petal
attached to an actuator that, when the foot petal is depressed, moves the nut
substantially transverse to the axis of the clamping screw.
6. The vise of claim 1 further comprising a means for automatically separating
the jaws when the releasing means is actuated.
7. An adjustable vise for mounting on an edge of a workbench having a top
surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
(a) a pair of generally opposed jaws having substantially planar faces;
(b) a means for forcing the jaws toward each other end for maintaining their
relative position in order to clamp a workpiece therebetween;
(c) a means for simultaneously rotating both jaws about an axis normal to the
face of at least one of the jaws and locking the jaws in any angular position
about that axis;
(d) a means for tilting both jaws through an arc of at least 90.degree. and for
locking the jaws in any position along that arc;
(e) a means for pivoting and locking one of the jaws relative to the other so
that the planar faces may be positioned alternatively in parallel or nonparallel
orientations;
(f) a means for releasing the jaws forcing and maintaining means so that the
position of the jaws relative to each other may be rapidly changed in order to
open or close the jaws;
(g) a means for automatically separating the jaws when the releasing means is
actuated; and
(h) at least one guide rod rigidly attached at one end to one of the jaws and
wherein the releasing means comprises an elastic cord attached between the other
end of the guide rod and the other jaw.
8. A vise for holding a workpiece, comprising:
a) a pair of generally opposed jaws having substantially 3 planar faces;
b) a means for forcing the jaws toward each other and for maintaining their
relative position in order to clamp a workpiece therebetween comprising
i) a clamping screw rotatably attached at one end to one of the jaws and passing
through the other jaw to engage a clamping nut having at least one internal
thread occupying an arc of no more than approximately 180.degree..
ii) the clamping nut further having a substantially planar forward face for
bearing against a substantially planar and parallel rear face of the other jaw
when the clamping screw is rotated to draw the jaws together and both the
forward and rear faces are oblique to the axis of the clamping screw.
9. A device having an axis, comprising:
a) a first member;
b) a second member
i) having a bearing surface oriented oblique to the axis and
ii) movable relative to the first member along the axis by means of rotation of
c) a screw that bears at one end of the screw against the first member and
engages
d) a nut having
i) at least one internal thread occupying an arc of no more than approximately
180.degree. so that the thread may be disengaged from the screw by movement of
the nut transverse to the axis and
ii) a substantially planar face for bearing against the bearing surface of the
second member when the clamping screw is rotated so that the nut will not move
transverse to the axis and disengage from the screw when the screw is rotated
and the nut face bears against the bearing surface.
10. A vise for holding a workpiece, comprising:
(a) a pair of generally opposed jaws having substantially planar faces;
(b) a means for forcing the jaws toward each other and for maintaining their
relative position in order to clamp a workpiece therebetween comprising
(i) a clamping screw rotatably attached at one end to one of the jaws and
passing through the other jaw to engage a clamping nut having at least one
internal thread occupying an arc of no more than approximately 180.degree.;
(ii) the clamping nut further having a substantially planar forward face for
bearing against a substantially planar and parallel rear face of the other jaw
when the clamping screw is rotated to draw the jaws together and both the
forward and rear faces are oblique to the axis of the clamping screw;
(c) a rod attached to a handle that, when depressed, moves the rod so that its
movement moves the nut substantially transverse to the axis of the clamping
screw;
(d) a foot petal attached to an actuator that, when the foot petal is depressed,
moves the nut substantially transverse to the axis of the clamping screw;
(e) at least one guide rod rigidly attached to one end to one of the jaws; and
(f) an elastic cord attached between the other end of the guide rod and the
other jaw.
11. An adjustable vise for mounting on an edge of a workbench having a top
surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
(a) a pair of generally opposed jaws having substantially planar faces;
(b) a means for forcing the jaws toward each other and for maintaining their
relative position in order to clamp a workpiece therebetween;
(c) a means for simultaneously rotating both jaws about an axis normal to the
face of at least one of the jaws and locking the jaws in any angular position
about the axis;
(d) a means for tilting both jaws through an arc of at least 90.degree. and for
locking the jaws in any position along that arc comprising:
(i) a hinge plate having eyes mounted on the edge of the workbench;
(ii) a stanchion having a hole mounted on the bottom surface of the workbench;
(iii) a bracket having a hold and a slot;
(iv) a yoke having arms and feet suspended from the workbench edge by a hinge
pin journaled through the hinge plate eyes and holes in the yoke arms;
(v) a first bolt that journals through the bracket hole and holes in the yoke
feet and receives a nut; and
(vi) a second bolt that journals through the stanchion hole and the bracket slot
and receives a nut so that the slot slides along the second bolt;
(e) a means for pivoting and locking one of the jaws relative to the other so
that the planar faces may be positioned alternatively in parallel or nonparallel
orientations; and
(f) a means for releasing the jaws forcing and maintaining means so that the
position of the jaws relative to each other may be rapidly changed in order to
open or close the jaws.
12. The vise of claim 11 wherein the means for rotating and locking the jaws
comprises:
a) a bore in the yoke;
a) a cylindrical projection on one of the jaws that is received and retained in
the yoke bore; and
b) a means for tightening the bore around the projection.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to woodworking vises, particularly of the type
traditionally used by patternmakers. The need for devices to hold workpieces is
as old as human beings' manufacture of objects and therefore dates from the
stone age. Metal workers and woodworkers have used vises for this purpose and a
staggering variety of such devices have been developed. Most of those currently
in use have two jaws that are drawn together by a threaded rod. One of the more
sophisticated vises, widely used in the patternmaking trade, was formerly made
by the Emmert Manufacturing Company and is commonly known as the "Emmert" vise.
The Emmert vise was first patented in the late 1800s and has two jaws that can
be rotated about the clamping screw. The Emmert vise also is hinged to the
workbench, permitting the vise to be tilted up, and the front jaw can be
positioned at an angle relative to the back jaw by use of a cam mechanism.
Emmert vises, because of their weight (56 to 86 pounds), require a heavy, thick,
workbench top and accordingly are difficult to mount on most workbenches. In
addition, the camactuated angle adjustment allows the front jaw to be pivoted in
only one direction and will not permit free pivoting or automatic adjustment for
irregularly shaped workpieces. The clamping screw of Emmert vises is contained
within a hollow beam, which adds weight, complexity and cost and limits the
working depth (throat) of the vise jaws. Furthermore, Emmert vises do not
contain any quick release or hands-free release mechanism and use square bench
dogs that do not automatically rotate and line up with the workpiece.
Other vises, such as those made in Great Britain by Record, are not adjustable
as are Emmert vises. However, Record vises use a half nut for engaging the
clamping screw to provide a quick release feature. Record vises are also lighter
and easier to install than Emmert vises.
The quick release mechanism of Record vises utilizes a leaf spring attached to
the half nut. Rotating a lever on the bottom of the vise front jaw acts through
the leaf spring to pull the half nut out of engagement with the clamping screw,
thereby permitting the front jaw to be pushed toward or pulled away from the
rear jaw without rotating the vise screw. However, the quick release lever must
be operated by hand and does not pull the jaws of the vise open to clear the
workpiece. Because Record vises use a half clamping nut with threads that engage
only 180.degree. of the clamping screw diameter, the leaf spring must push the
half nut tight against the clamping screw in order for the threads in the
clamping nut to engage the clamping screw and the clamping screw and half nut
use a non-standard thread cut with a square, or even slightly undercut, extra
wide thrust face. Such a thread avoids creating forces that tend to separate the
half nut from the clamping screw when the vise is tighten on a workpiece;
however, such a thread has a sharp edge and is not suitable for use within a
precision fit hole because the sharp edge would gouge the interior surface of
the hole. To overcome this problem, the clamping screw of Record vises is not
journaled through the rear jaw in a precision fit hole. Rather, the clamping
screw passes through a hole in the rear jaw that is substantially larger in
diameter than the clamping screw. Movement of the clamping screw within the rear
jaw hole is minimized by use of an extra rigid clamping screw, guide rods that
slide within more precision fitted holes in the rear jaw, and a rigid connector
between the clamping screw and the guide rods at the free end. While this system
works well, it adds complexity, weight and cost to the resulting vise. Record
vises also use square bench dogs which have the same limitations as the bench
dogs used on Emmert vises.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention improves prior vises by providing an adjustable vise that
is light, easy to mount on a variety of workbenches, simple to manufacture and
operate and contains a quick release feature that can be operated either by hand
or by foot and that variably springs the jaws of the vise open to release the
workpiece. It includes a front jaw and a rear jaw connected by a clamping screw
and two guide bars spaced on either side, parallel to and slightly above the
clamping screw. The front jaw can be either fixed or allowed to freely pivot
from side to side about its vertical centerline.
The rear jaw is fixed in a position normal to the clamping screw and has a
cylindrical extension on its rear face. A split yoke having a bore of
substantially the same diameter as the rear jaw extension receives the rear jaw
extension in its bore. A clamping nut with a sloping face, an elongated opening,
threads formed only on the bottom of the nut and a spring is retained within the
extension so that its sloping face mates with a similar face cut on the rear
face of the rear jaw within the extension and the spring rests within a recess
in the interior of the extension. The clamping nut is retained within the
extension and the extension is retained within the yoke by a retaining plate
attached to the rear of the extension to bear against the rear of the yoke. The
clamping screw is rotated by a sliding T-handle on its front end and passes
through a pivot block, the front jaw, a precision fit, smooth hole in the rear
jaw, the clamping nut and penetrates the retaining plate. The half threads on
the clamping nut are held in contact with the clamping screw by the spring and
the sloping faces on the clamping nut and the rear jaw. As the jaws are
tightened about a workpiece, the sloping face of the clamping nut engages with
the sloping thrust face on the rear jaw extension thereby introducing a force
vector acting on the nut perpendicular to the screw and resisting nut movement
that would disengage the nut from the clamping screw. Once the clamping force on
the nut is relieved, the clamping nut may be quickly disengaged from the
clamping screw by depressing a T-shaped handle having a rod journaled through
the rear jaw, one end of which attaches to a plate that rests on the top of the
clamping nut and the other end of which attaches to a press plate or handle.
When the press plate or handle is pushed down, the elongated hole in the
clamping nut allows the clamping nut threads to disengage down and away from the
threads in the clamping screw, thereby disengaging the clamping nut half
threads. In addition, the clamping nut has a lug threaded into its rear face. A
lever connected by a chain or cord to a foot pedal is suspended from the bottom
of the workbench above the lug when the vise is in its normal, non-rotated and
upright position. Depressing the foot pedal pulls the lever down, thereby
pushing down the lug and causing the clamping nut half threads to disengage from
the clamping screw.
An elastic cord is looped through the guide rods and screw eyes on the retaining
plate so that the cord is always in tension. This tension in the cord causes the
front jaw to pull away from the rear jaw as soon as the clamping nut is
disengaged from the clamping screw. The tension in the cord is adjustable to
allow the jaws to open in varying amounts.
The vise is mounted on a workbench by a hinge plate, which is easily attached to
the edge of a workbench. A hinge pin passes through the hinge plate and two arms
protruding from the upper side of the yoke to attach the vise to the hinge
plate. Because the hinge pin is easily removed, any number of hinge plates may
be mounted to different workbenches to enable the vise to be easily relocated.
The hinge plate and the holes in the yoke arms allow the vise to be pivoted
relative to the top of the workbench so that the interior faces of the jaws are
normal to the workbench top, pivoted 90.degree. to be parallel to the workbench
top, or at any position in between. Pivoting of the vise is controlled by a
sliding bracket arm attached on one end to the yoke tightening feet, which are
on the underside of the yoke opposite to the yoke arms, and on the other end to
a stanchion mounted to the underside of the workbench. One end of the bracket
arm is fixed to but freely pivots about the yoke and has a long slot that
receives and slides along the stanchion bolt. Once the vise is pivoted into the
proper position, the stanchion bolt is tightened, preventing further movement of
the bracket arm and the yoke.
The vise can be rotated 360.degree. about the centerline of the clamping screw
by loosening the yoke tightening bolt, thereby allowing the yoke tightening feet
to spread and the rear jaw extension to rotate within the yoke. Once the vise is
rotated to a desired position, the yoke tightening bolt is retightened, clamping
the yoke about the rear jaw extension and preventing further rotation.
Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to provide a vise that is
adjustable to grip securely objects of various shapes.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a vise that can be
easily and quickly mounted on different workbenches.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vise having jaws
that can be pivoted about the edge of a workbench.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vise having jaws that
can be rotated to any position about the clamping screw.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a vise having jaws that
can be positioned horizontally so as to act as a press.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a vise that has
both a hand and a foot operated quick release feature.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a vise that will
variably spring open to release the workpiece.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vise that is
relatively light and inexpensive to manufacture.
These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent by reference to the drawings and the detailed description and claims
which follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the front of the vise of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view from the rear of the vise shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is side elevation cross-section view of the vise of FIG. 1 taken through
the vertical plane in which the axis of the clamping screw lies but showing the
entire clamping screw in perspective.
FIG. 4 is a random cross-section of the vise taken normal to FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross section of the rear jaw of vise shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the clamping nut of the vise in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a cross section of the clamping nut of FIG. 6 taken along line 7--7.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross section of the rear jaw of a second embodiment of
the vise of the present invention and similar to FIG. 5.
FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the clamping nut of the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 8 and similar to FIG. 6.
FIG. 10 is a cross section of the clamping nut of FIG. 9 taken along line
10--10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Vise 10 includes a front jaw 12 which moves toward or away from rear jaw 14 in
order to clamp workpieces therebetween. Front jaw 12 pivots on a pivot block 30
which rides on guide rods 22 and is forced toward rear jaw 14 by clamping screw
20, which is operated by T-handle 64 and passes through pivot block 30, front
jaw 12, rear jaw 14, clamping nut 28 and retainer plate 108 and is described in
more detail below.
Front jaw 12 and rear jaw 14 also contain identical carver's chop jaws 15.
Carver's chop jaws 15 have a smaller surface area than front jaw 12 and rear jaw
14, thereby allowing higher surface pressures to be applied to the workpiece.
Carver's chop jaws 15 are of sufficient length so that when vise 10 is rotated
180.degree., carver's chop jaws 15 project above top surface 216 of workbench
174. Interior face 11 of front jaw 12, interior face 13 of rear jaw 14 and
interior faces 19 of carver's chop jaws 15 may all contain liner 17 to prevent
marring or denting of the workpiece. Liner 17 may be made of any suitable
material such as rubber, cork, rubber/cork composition or leather. Front jaw 12
and rear jaw 14 may be made of any suitable material such as steel, cast
aluminum or cast iron but cast stainless steel or cast zinc-aluminum alloy
(ZA-12) is preferred. ZA-12 zinc-aluminum alloy is stronger, lighter and less
brittle than cast iron and also heavier, stronger and less brittle than
aluminum. The low melting temperature of ZA-12 zinc-aluminum alloy permits the
use of permanent molds machined from graphite. ZA-12 zinc-aluminum alloy is
available, for example, from Cominco Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
As can be seen in FIG. 3, two hinge pins 34 pass through hole 36 in front jaw 12
and hole 38 on pivot member 30 and are held in place in pivot member 30 by
setscrews 35 in order to mount front jaw 12 on pivot member 30. Two hinge pins
34 are required because clamping screw 20 also penetrates pivot member 30
through hole 56, which intersects and is normal to holes 36 and 38, thereby
preventing either hinge pin 34 from penetrating the entire length of either hole
36 or 38. Pivot member 30 rests on washer 51 and a generally triangular opening
40 in front jaw 12 allows front jaw 12 to rotate on hinge pins 34. Pivot member
30 is of construction similar to front jaw 12 and rear jaw 14 and hinge pins 34
are preferably made of brass or steel.
Rotation of front jaw 12 relative to pivot member 30 is limited (for example, to
a 20.degree. arc) by screws 42, which pass through washers 43, holes 44 spaced
on either side of and parallel to hole 36 in front jaw 12, and slots 46 in ears
48 of pivot member 30 and nuts 50. Tightening screws 42 within nuts 50 causes
the upper surface 52 of ears 48 to frictionally engage the upper interior
surface 54 of opening 40 in front jaw 12, thus fixing front jaw 12 relative to
pivot member 30 and, therefore, relative to rear jaw 14. Screws 42, washers 43
and nuts 50 are preferably made of steel or brass.
Smooth portion 58 of clamping screw 20 is of smaller diameter than clamping
screw threads 112, and is just long enough to journal through washer 55, hole 56
in pivot member 30, washer 57 and be frictionally received in hole 60 in handle
bracket 32 so that washer 57 is sandwiched between rear face 162 of handle
bracket 32 and front face 164 of pivot member 30 and washer 55 is sandwiched
between clamping screw threads 112 and rear face 166 of pivot member 30.
Clamping screw 20 is prevented from rotating within hole 60 by split pin 72.
Handle bracket 32 also contains hole 62 which is adjacent and normal to hole 60
to receive handle 64. Handle 64 slides within hole 62 and is retained within
hole 62 by stops 66 which are retained on handle 64 by screws 70. Guide rods 22
are screwed into holes 74 in pivot member 30 which are spaced equally on either
side and slightly above hole 56. Guide rods 22 have a square shoulder (not
shown) which seats against the rear face 166 of pivot member 30 and thereby
helps to maintain guide rods 22 normal to pivot member 30. Guide rods 22 and
clamping screw 20 are preferably made of rolled or turned steel or hardened
steel. Handle 64 may be made of steel or any suitable hardwood such as hickory
or oak. Handle bracket 62 is of construction similar to front jaw 12 and rear
jaw 14.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, rear jaw 14 is fixed in relation to front
jaw 12 and pivot block 30 by clamping screw 20, which slideably journals through
hole 75 in rear jaw 14, and guide rods 22, which also slideably penetrate rear
jaw 14 through parallel guide rod holes 76 extending through protrusions 160 and
which are equally spaced apart from and slightly above hole 75. Guide rods 22
must be closely fitted to guide rod holes 76 to minimize skewing of guide rods
22. Placing guide rods 22 slightly above clamping screw 20 prevents the
workpiece (not shown) from contacting and being damaged by clamping screw 20.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, rear face 78 of rear jaw 14 has an integrally formed,
cylindrical extension 80 coaxial with clamping screw hole 75 and surrounding
guide rod holes 76. Extension 80 has an exterior diameter 170 substantially the
same as the diameter of bore 156 of yoke 16 and is of sufficient depth to permit
the edge 168 of extension 80 to extend slightly beyond rear edge 172 of yoke 16
when extension 80 is inserted into bore 156 of yoke 16.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, top surface 82 of rear jaw 14 contains rabbet
84 having a centrally located, perpendicular hole 86 that communicates with the
interior 88 of extension 80. Rabbet 84 receives handle 90 to which a downwardly
projecting rod 92 is fixed by setscrew 91. Rod 92 is prevented from escaping
hole 86 by plate 94 which threads onto the end of rod 92 opposite handle 90.
Interior 88 of extension 80 also receives clamping nut 28 having an elongated
hole 96, half threads 98 on the bottom of hole 96, protrusion 100 on the bottom
exterior of clamping nut 28, threaded hole 102 on the rear face 104 of clamping
nut 28 and a sloping front face 106. Clamping nut 28 is retained within interior
88 of extension 80 by retaining plate 108, which is of slightly larger diameter
than exterior diameter 170 of extension 80, contains cutouts 158 that nest
between guide rod protrusions 160 on extension 80, has a tab 126 that is
received in recess 124 on the inside surface 122 of extension 80, is screwed to
edge 168 of extension 80 so as to overlap edge 168 and prevent extension 80 from
sliding within or out of bore 156 of yoke 16 and is of similar construction as
rear jaw 14 and yoke 16. Clamping screw 20 penetrates hole 75 in rear jaw 14,
hole 96 in clamping nut 28 and hole 110 in retaining plate 108 and is retained
by washer 77 and bolt 79. Half threads 98 are pushed into contact with threads
112 of clamping screw 20 by spring 114, which frictionally fits on protrusion
100 of clamping nut 28 and is held in place on the inside surface 122 of
extension 80 by recess 124 and tab 126 on retaining plate 108. Clamping screw
threads 112 may be of any suitable design or pitch including, for instance,
"Acme" class 2G with five threads per inch. Yoke 16 may be of construction
similar to front jaw 12 and rear jaw 14. Clamping nut 28 may also be of similar
construction or may be made of rolled or turned steel or hardened steel.
As clamping nut 28 is pushed upward by spring 114, sloping front face 106
contacts pressure face 116 on rear face 78 of rear jaw 14 in interior 88 of
extension 80, and the top 118 of clamping nut 28 contacts plate 94, which is
made of any suitable material such as steel. Pressure face 116 and sloping face
106 may be of any suitable angle but it is preferred that the angle 120 of
pressure face 116 and front face 106 be less than the pressure angle of threads
112 and half threads 98, for instance, 5.degree.. Such an angle 120 keeps the
half threads 98 in contact with clamping screw threads 112 at all times without
increasing the amount of force needed to tighten or loosen clamping screw 20
within clamping nut 28.
Yoke 16 is fixed relative to workbench top 174 by hinge assembly 176 comprised
of hinge bracket 26 and hinge pin 180 that passes through holes 182 in arms 185
integrally formed with and appended from yoke 16. Bracket 26 contains weight
supporting lip 184 that fits within rabbet 186 on edge 188 of workbench top 174
and is attached to edge 188 by screws (not shown) inserted through holes 190 in
bracket 26. Lip 184 and rabbet 186 provide for better weight support of vise 10
and stronger attachment of vise 10 to workbench top 174. Bracket 26 also
contains hinge pin eyes 192 sized and spaced so that arms 185 fit within pin
eyes 192 and holes 182 in arms 185 align with holes 196 in pin eyes 192 allowing
hinge pin 180 to be inserted through pin eye holes 196 and holes 182, thereby
capturing arms 185 on hinge pin 180. Hinge pin 180 is prevent from escaping pin
eyes 192 by setscrews 198. Hinge bracket 26 may be of construction similar to
front jaw 12 and rear jaw 14.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, yoke 16 is locked in various positions pivoting
about hinge pin 180 by stanchion assembly 200, comprised of T-shaped stanchion
18, guide bracket 24, clamp bolt 202, clamp handle 204, and bolt 130. Yoke 16
attaches to bracket 24 by bolt 130 having a smooth portion 132 and a threaded
portion 134. Bolt 130 threads through washer 136, hole 138 in the end 140 of
guide bracket 24, spacer 142 and holes 144 in yoke feet 146 where yoke handle
148 having threaded hole 150 is received on threaded portion 134. Yoke handle
148 may be of any suitable material such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum,
zinc-aluminum alloy or plastic. Bolt 130 is prevented from turning inside holes
144 by setscrew 145.
Stanchion 18 is attached to bracket 24 by bolt 202 which is inserted through
slot 206 in bracket 24, one hole 208 in stanchion 18 and receives stanchion
handle 204. Stanchion 18 is mounted on the underside 210 of workbench top 174 by
lag screws 230 so that the front 212 of slot 206 contacts bolt 202 when the top
edges 214 and 82 of front jaw 12 and rear jaw 14, respectively, are level with
the top surface 216 of workbench top 174 and interior jaws faces 11, 13 and 19
are normal to workbench top 174. Alternatively, stanchion 18 is mounted so that
rear 218 of slot 206 contacts bolt 202 when interior jaw faces 11, 13 and 19 are
in a horizontal position parallel with workbench top 174. Stop bolt 220 is also
tightened within slot 206 by nut 222 on one side or the other of bolt 202,
depending upon the position of stanchion 18, so that yoke 16 does not pivot on
hinge pin 180 more than 90.degree.. Washers 224 on stop bolt 220 prevent slot
ends 212 or 218 or bolt 202 from contacting and damaging nut 222. Tightening
stanchion handle 204 on bolt 202 prevent slot 206 from sliding on bolt 202,
thereby preventing pivoting of yoke 16 on 15 hinge pin 180. Stanchion handle
204, bolt 202, stop bolt 220, nut 222 and washers 224 may be fabricated of any
suitable material such as steel, stainless steel or brass and stanchion 18 may
be of construction similar to front jaw 12 and rear jaw 14.
Depending on the thickness of workbench top 174, it may be necessary to ease
lower edge 228 of workbench top 174 so that apex 232 of yoke 16 and retainer 108
do not contact edge 188 of workbench top 174.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, extension 80 of rear jaw 14, is received in
bore 156 of yoke 16 and retained there by retaining plate 108. Extension 80 is
prevented from rotating within bore 156 by tightening yoke handle 148 on bolt
130, which tightens yoke 16 around the exterior 154 of extension 80 and prevents
rotation of extension 80. Loosening yoke handle 148 allows bore 156 to expand to
its original diameter and permits extension 80 to rotate within bore 156.
Because extension 80 is integrally formed in the rear face 78 of rear jaw 14,
extension 80 does not move independently of rear jaw 14 but rather, the entire
assembly, including rear jaw 14, handle 90, rod 92, plate 94, clamping nut 28,
spring recess 124, spring 114, protrusions 160, retaining plate 108, and guide
rods 22 all rotate about the 10 longitudinal axis of clamping screw 20. Front
jaw 12, being fixed to pivot member 30 which is itself fixed to guide rods 22,
also rotates about clamping screw 20 when rear jaw 14 is rotated.
When front jaw 12 and rear jaw 14 are rotated 90.degree. within yoke 16, guide
rods 22 are in substantially vertical, rather than horizontal, orientation with
respect to clamping screw 20, with one guide rod 22 suspended substantially
above clamping screw 22. Depending on the thickness of workbench top 174, it may
be necessary to cut a shallow trough (not shown) in the underside 210 of
workbench top 174 to allow guide rods 22 to rotate freely about clamping screw
20.
In using vise 10, handle 64 is manipulated to rotate clamping screw 20. As
clamping screw 20 rotates within clamping nut 28, threads 112 engage half
threads 98, thereby either drawing clamping screw 20 deeper within clamping nut
28 or backing clamping screw 20 out of clamping nut 28. As clamping screw 22 is
drawn into clamping nut 28, rear face 162 of handle bracket 32 contacts front
face 164 of pivot member 30, which is connected to front jaw 12 by pins 34 and
screws 42, to push front jaw 12 closer to rear jaw 14. As clamping screw 20 is
backed out of clamping nut 28, clamping nut 28 contacts retainer plate 108 and
clamping screw threads 112 contact washer 55 which contacts rear face 166 of
pivot member 30 to push pivot member 30, and consequently front jaw 12, away
from rear jaw 14. To help maintain contact between clamping screw threads 112
and clamping nut 28 half threads 98 when clamping screw 20 is backed out of
clamping nut 28, retainer plate 108 may have a sloping face (not shown) similar
to pressure face 116 that mates with a sloping face (not shown) on the rear of
clamping nut 28 similar to face 106.
Vise 10 also contains a hand-operated quick release assembly 234 comprised of
handle 90, rod 92 and plate 94. As can be seen in FIG. 4, in its normal
position, half threads 98 are maintained in contacted with clamping screw
threads 112 by spring 114. In this position, the top 118 of clamping nut 28
contacts plate 94. Half threads 98 can be disengaged from clamping screw threads
112 by pushing down on handle 90, which causes rod 92 and plate 94 to push
clamping nut 28 down against the force of spring 114. Because hole 96 is
elongated, rod 92 and plate 94 can push clamping nut 28 down a sufficient
distance so that half threads 98 disengage from clamping screw threads 112. Once
clamping nut 28 is disengaged with clamping screw threads 112, clamping screw 20
can freely slide within clamping nut 28. Throat 244 of vise can then be adjusted
by either pulling or pushing on handle 64, pivot block 30 or front jaw 12.
Additionally, an adjustable elastic cord 236 looped through holes 238 in the
ends 242 of guide rods 22 and through screw eyes 240 screwed into retainer plate
108 can be used to cause front jaw 12 to spring open. As can be seen in FIG. 3,
as front jaw 12 moves closer to rear jaw 14, thereby decreasing the size of
throat 244, guide rod ends 242 slide further away from holes 76 in rear jaw 14
and, consequently, further away from retainer plate 108, which is fixed to rear
jaw 14. Therefore, closing throat 244 stretches cord 236. Once clamping screw 20
is allowed to move freely by disengagement of clamping nut 28, the tension in
cord 236 causes ends 242 of guide rods 22 to move toward retainer plate 108,
thereby forcing front jaw 12 away from rear jaw 14 and opening throat 244 of
vise 10. Looping cord 236 several times allows more even tension in cord 236
throughout the range of movement of front jaw 12. Because the tension in cord
236 is adjustable (for instance, by varying the number of loops or shortening
cord 236), the movement of jaw 12 relative to jaw 14 may be adjusted by varying
the tension in cord 236.
Alternatively, half threads 98 of clamping nut 28 may disengaged by foot release
assembly 246, comprising foot pedal 248, chain 250, lever 252, screw eye 268,
pin 274, hole 276, lug 254 and spring 256. Chain 250, lever 252, screw eye 268,
pin 274, lug 254 and spring 256 may all be made of any suitable material such as
steel, stainless steel or brass. Pedal 248 is attached on one end to plate 258
by hinge 260 and to chain 250 having a screw eye 264 on the other end. Chain 250
is attached to lever 252 by S-hook 262, which is inserted in hole 266 in lever
252, and is sized to raise pedal 248 relative to plate 258 when lever 252 is in
its normal position. Hole 276 is sufficiently large to allow spring 256 to be
received therein and is located on the underside 210 or workbench top 274
substantially plumb with clamping screw 20. Screw eye 268 is threaded into the
underside 210 of workbench top 174 opposite hole 276 and further from the
centerline of clamping screw 20. Lever 252 is attached on one end to screw eye
268 by bolt 270, which is journaled through screw eye 268 and retained within
screw eye 268 by nut 272, and to spring 256, which is retained within hole 276
by pin 274, and attached on the other end to spring 256, which is prevented from
moving off lever 252 by notch 278.
In use, spring 256 pulls up lever 252 so that lever 252 is clear of lug 254,
which is threaded into hole 102 on clamping nut 28. Depressing pedal 248 pulls
on chain 250, thereby pressing lever 252 into contact with lug 254. As pedal 248
continues to be pressed down, lever 252 presses down on lug 254, which travels
within slot 280 in retaining plate 108, thereby causing clamping nut 28 to
compress spring 114 and disengaging half threads 98 from clamping screw threads
112 in the same way as previously described above. It should be noted, however,
that foot release assembly 256 will only so act to disengage clamping nut 28
when front jaw 12 and rear jaw 14 are in their normal, non-rotated and upright
position. This is because as yoke 16 pivots about hinge pin 180, lug 254 pivots
away from lever 252 so that movement of lever 252 will no longer press against
lug 254 and disengage clamping nut 28. Likewise, rotating front jaw 12 and rear
jaw 14 within bore 156 causes lug 254 to rotate away from lever 252.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, top surface 214 of front jaw 12 and top
surface 82 of rear jaw 14 also contain holes 282 to receive bench dogs 284.
Bench dogs 284 are round and contain flat surfaces 286 and side springs 287. In
use, bench dogs 284 rotate within hole 282 to allow flat portions 286 to
automatically rotate and line up with the workpiece. Side springs 287 prevent
bench dogs 284 from falling back into holes 282 once bench dogs 284 have been
raised. Additional holes 288 for bench dogs 284 can be drilled in workbench top
174 to allow vise 10 to hold workpieces larger than those that can be retained
within throat 244.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and
10, face 106 of clamping nut 28 is not a continuous plane. Instead, face 106
lies in two planes, 103 and 105, that intersect along line 107 at a right angle
to the axis of clamping screw 28 and at angle 120 from vertical. Pressure face
116 on rear face 78 of rear jaw 14 presents mating surfaces 115 and 117 that
nest with planes 103 and 105, respectively. Use of opposing planes 103 and 105
holds clamping nut 28 centered about hole 75 and helps prevents excessive
movement of clamping nut 28 within interior 88 of extension 80. This description
is given for purposes of illustration and explanation. It will be apparent to
those skilled in the relevant art that modifications and changes may be made to
the invention as described above without departing from its scope and spirit.
The materials described herein are illustrative only. Those skilled in the art
will recognize that other suitable materials, whether known now or in the
future, can be substituted for the materials described herein.