GB564986A - Assembly jig for plate welding and other operations - Google Patents

Abstract

564,986. Assembly jigs. GUYMOTORS, Ltd., BULLOCK, W. E., and BADGER, L. A. June 2, 1939, No. 16217. [Classes 83 (iii) and 83 (iv)] Uniting by fusion.-A jig for assembling the parts of a composite metal structure, such as an armoured vehicle body, prior to welding or otherwise connecting together the parts, such as the sides to the ends, consists of a cylindrical framework in which the parts are secured, mounted so as to be capable of rotation and/or of being tilted at either end, so that the joints may be presented in the most accessible position. The framework consists of a number of rings 2 of channel section connected together by webs 3 and bars 22 within which the parts are held in position by pivoted clamps 44 connected by forked rods 46, one of which carries a sleeve 47 screw-threaded on the other and rotated by a hand wheel 48. A compression spring 50 is introduced between the rods to give a resilient pressure. The clamps may alternatively be operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means. The rings are held by an adjustable band 39 in contact with rollers 6 on shafts mounted in bearings 8 on the longitudinal members 4 of a sub-structure, the transverse members 5 of which carry forked brackets 11 resting on pins 12 secured to girders 10 fixed in the sides of a pit 9. The brackets are held on the pins 12 by withdrawable transverse bolts 13. The sub-structure may be tilted in either direction by pneumatic, or mechanical means or by a pair of hydraulic plungers 18 on cylinders pivoted at 15, one or other of the bolts 13 being first removed so as to free the corresponding bracket 11. The framework is rotated by a hand wheel 26 through worm gear 27, chain gear 28, 31 and a pair of cables 21 secured to the bars 22 and oppositely wound on the jig and drum 23. The framework is fixed in angular position by a brake band 32 operated by a hand lever 34 and locked by a pawl mechanism provided with a trigger release. The angular position of the framework may be set by a locating bolt 52 carried by a hand lever 53 engaging one of a number of recessed projections 51 on the frame. To facilitate entry or removal of the work, the rings may be in two parts hinged together or secured together by bolts 42. In operation. the side structures are first clamped in the jig and the end structures &c. tack welded thereto and the jig then rotated or tilted to arrange the joints horizontally.