US3833210A

US3833210A - Pipe holding attachment for c-clamps and vises

Info

Publication number: US3833210A
Application number: US00304275A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Kotter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-03-22
Filing date: 1972-11-06
Publication date: 1974-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-03

Abstract

Utilization and attachment of two V-type units, oppositely positioned onto a conventional C-clamp, a machinist''s vise, a woodworker''s vise and other clamping devices, enables positive clamping of cross-sectionally curved objects, such as pipe and tubing. Two cross-sectionally curved objects may be positioned and positively held at any angle with respect to each other by use of alternate embodiment of invention. Other embodiments of invention utilizing magnetic forces provide 360* jaw rotation and permit rapid interchange of jaws of various sizes and configurations for use with either vises or C-clamps.

Description

United States Patent [191 Kotter 1 Sept. 3, 1974 PIPE HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR C-CLAMPS AND VISES [76] Inventor: James lvy Kotter, 3120 49th St.,

Metairie, La. 70001 [22] Filed: Nov. 6, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 304,275

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 126,471, March 22,

[52] US. Cl. 269/276, 269/270 [51] Int. Cl B25b 5/16 [58] Field of Search 269/258, 259, 261, 269,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,284,449 5/1942 Rodess 269/283 X 2,666,352 1/1954 Philips 269/276 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 254,039 5/1963 Australia 269/276 932,240 8/1955 Germany 269/282 Primary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant Examiner-E. F. Desmond Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burns, Doane, Sweckcr & Mathis [5 7] ABSTRACT 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures r i 2N9 Me Me PIPE HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR C-CLAMPS AND-VISES This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 126,471 filed Mar. 22, 1971.

This invention relates to a device which provides a means for conventional C-clamps, machinists and woodworkers vises, and other clamping devices to positively hold cross-sectionally curved objects, such as pipe, tubing, shaft, cams, et cetera.

More specifically, it relates to a device which provides a means for easy attachment to conventional C- clamps, machinists and woodworkers vises, wherein the grasping surfaces of the device, by virtue of their respective angularity' and relative position, positively hold curved objects, such as pipe, et cetera.

Still more specifically, the invention provides a means for two cross-sectionally curved objects such as, for example, pipe, tubing, and rod, to be positioned and firmly held at any angle with respect to each other for various shop operations such aswelding, brazing, or gluing. i

The use of the term curved objects in presenting anddescribing this invention is intended to mean, for example, any material having cross-sectionally circular, ellipitical, spherical, or non-uniformly curved configurations, such as pipe, tubing, shafting, dowel, ball, cams, or curved extrusions.

To those skilled in the art of and familiar with automobile, machine, welding, plumbing, pneumatic, hydraulic, woodworking, and furniture shop equipment and practices, it is well known that conventional machinists and woodworkers vises will not positively hold and maintain exact positioning of curved objects when relatively high force is applied to the object, for example as in threading, drilling, filing, screwing, bolting, removing or installing fittings. Thus, it is necessary for all shops to install pipe vises and/or vises equipped with pipe jaws.

Positive holding of curved objects with conventional C-clamps has heretofore been impossible.

It is an object of this invention to provide attachable means for conventional C-clamps, machinists and woodworkers vises and other clamping devices to positively hold curved objects such as pipe, rod, tubing, cylinders, cams, shafts, or dowels.

Another object of this invention is to provide easily attachable, self-supporting means for conventional C- clamps, machinists, and woodworkers vises, wherein sufficient holding surfaces are angularly positioned and opposed, to lock curved objects into a stationary position, when screw mechanism of the C-clamp, machinists and woodworkers vise is tightened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holding means wherein two curved objects such as pipes, tubes, rods, or dowels can be positioned and positively held at any angle relative to each other by means of swivel connection incorporated into an alternate embodiment of the invention for vise-jaw attachment.

Still another object of this invention is to provide greater contact or holding areas than in conventional pipe clamps.

A further object of this. invention is to provide four contact holding surfaces, two on each side of the curved object resulting in balanced holding forces.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a means for greatly reducing marring and distorting 2 curved objects caused by conventional clamping means.

Another object of this invention is to incorporate magnetically attachable jaw units into a vise attachment to provide 360 jaw rotation and a means whereby jaws of various sizes and configurations may be easily and quickly interchanged.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means whereby the same magnetically attachable jaw units may be used either with vise attachments or with C-clamps.

A still further object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity of tools and to greatly minimize labor to change jaws forholding various size pipe, tubing, or hose. Merely by manually removing the jaw unit, another unit of a specific jaw size can be rapidly interchanged.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide interchangable inserts for jaw units permitting the same swivel unit to be used with various jaw sizes and configurations.

The invention utilizes two V -type units with their respective V-type clamping surfaces opposed to each other. By virtue of their respective clamping surface angularity, relative position, and increased contact area, they provide positive balanced clamping means which greatly reduces marring and distortion, commonly caused by many conventional clamping devices. The V-type units have attaching and securing means, such as, a high strength magnet in the base of each unit and set-screws protruding internally from its recessed base.

To convert a C-clamp into a curved-object clamping device, a V-type unit according to this invention (embodiment for a C-clamp) is placed and positioned on the fiat surface of the screw terminal, usually swivelmounted, and the other V-type unit of the invention is placed oppositely onto the fiat matching surface of the C-clamp. Tightening the clamps screw mechanism assures positive holding of curved objects.

To utilize the invention on a machinists vise, a V- type unit according to the present invention (embodiment for a machinists vise) is placed on and attached to each jaw of the vise by securing means, such as, a high strength magnet in the base of each unit or set screws held in and protruding internally from its recessed base. Tightening the vise s screw mechanism assures positive holding of a curved object.

To utilize the invention on a woodworkers vise, a V- type unit according to the invention (embodiment for a woodworkers vise) is placed on and attached to each flat jaw of the vise by securing means, such as, magnetic attraction provided by high strength magnets in the base of each unit. Tightening the vise s screw mechanism assures positive holding of a curved object.

Two curved objects such as pipes, tubes, or rods can be positioned and positively held at any angle relative to each other by means of a swivel mount incorporated into the V-type units. This is an alternate embodiment of the invention mentioned above for attachment onto machinists and woodworkers vise-jaws. This embodiment of the invention can also be attached to a C- clamp. It is most effectively used with a C-clamp however, if the C-clamps swivel terminal is not allowed to pivot.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises a base support unit, composed of a non-ferrous material equipped with permanent magnets for'attachment to a machinists or a woodworkers vise, which houses a cylindrical, non-ferrous, magnetically attachable holding jaw unit. The base support unit is equipped with a ferrous disk at the base of its cylindrical bore. The jaw unit housing a permanent magnet is held to the base support unit by magnetic attraction and is capable of 360 rotation.

Merely by manually rotating the jaw unit of one or two such embodiments attached to vise-jaws, one or two round objects such as pipe, tubing, or flexible hose may be positively held at any angle with respect to each other by tightening the vises screw mechanism.

The jaw unit may be removed from the base support unit merely by manually pulling the components apart and breaking the magnetic attraction. Various size, V- type or facing arc, jaw units may be quickly interchanged without need of tools or excessive labor.

The same magnetically attachable jaw units may be used with C-Clamps for holding round objects, such as pipe, tubing, flexible hose et cetera.

Various sizes of holding jaws can be utilized for specific applications. For example, jaw units can be formed in a range of sizes peculiar to plastic pipe, copper tubing, flexible hydraulic hose, or glass tubing.

Also as another embodiment of the invention the jaw units may incorporate inserts which likewise can range insizes peculiar to various piping and tubing materials.

Although the invention is specifically described herein for use with C-clamps, machinists and woodworkers vises, it is by no means so limited. The invention can be attached to, or be constructed into and become part of any of the clamping devices mentioned and clamping devices other than the already mentioned woodworkers and machinists clamps.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specifications, drawings, and claims set forth herein.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference is now made to the detailed description which follows and to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention showing a swivel type, magnetically held jaw unit and base assembly.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1 showing details of the swivel type magnetically held jaw unit and base assembly.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention showing a swivel type, magnetically held jaw unit with means for inserting and holding interchanable jaw inserts. I

FIG. 4' isan isometric view of a jaw insert for FIG. 3 a facing arc.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, vise-jaw attachment assembly 32 comprises a cylindrically shaped clamping unit 25 and a support base 11.

Support base 11, composed of a non-ferrous material is rectangularly shaped and longitudinally recessed to form slot 12 for ease of attachment to a machinists vise.

Support base 11 is magnetically attached to a vise jaw, not shown. I

Base 11 is also laterally recessed, forming

openings

13 and 14 for housing

permanent magnets

15 and 16. Into

openings

13 and 14,

permanent magnets

15 and 16 are fitted and attached by any convenient expedient such as, press fit, glue, or set screw.

Magnets

15 and 16 are slightly less in height than the depths of

openings

13 and 14 respectively, providing a slight clearance, 17 and 18, between

magnets

15 and 16 and flat surface 19. Therefore, compressive loading is transmitted through flat surface 19 of base 11 and not through

magnets

15 and 16, when the screw mechanism of a vise (not shown), on which the device is mounted, is tightened.

Base 11 is also centrally and circularly recessed from the top surface, formingopenings 20 and 21.

Into circular opening 21 of base 11, a circular disk 22, composed of ferrous material is fitted and attached by any convenient expedient, such as press fit or glue. The thickness of circular disk 22 is greater than the depth of circular opening 21, so that an outer portion 23 of circular disk 22, protrudes above contact surface 24 of base 11.

Circular opening 20 of base 11 accomodates swiveling V-type, cylindrically shaped clamping unit 25. Circular opening 20 is slightly larger in diameter than clamping unit 25, providing a loose sliding fit between clamping unit 25 and base 11.

Clamping unit 25, composed of a non-ferrous material is recessed, forming circular opening 26 and opening 27 which houses permanent magnet 28.

The height of permanent magnet 28 is equal to or slightly less than the depth of opening 27 of clamping unit 25.

Magnet 28 is fitted and attached to clamping unit 25 by any convenient expedient such as press fit glue, or

set screw.

Circular opening 26 of clamping unit 25 is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of protruding circular disk 22 and opening 26 is recessed sufficiently for surface 29 of unit 25 to clear disk 22 when circular contacting surface 30 of clamping unit 25 engages contact surface 24 of base 11.

Clamping unit 25 is magnetically attached to base 1 1 by means of magnetic force of attraction between magnet 28 and disk 22. Clamping unit 25 is manually rotatable 360 within the confines of opening 20 of base 11. Circular wall 31 of opening 20 in base 11 prevents lateral movement of clamping unit 25.

Clamping unit 25 is disengaged from base 11 by manually overcoming the magnetic force of attraction established between magnet 28 of clamping unit 25 and disk 22 of base 11. A slight tug releases clamping unit 25 from base 11.

Each of two curved objects such as pipe, not shown, placed into two swiveling clamping units, such as unit 25 in base 11, attached to each vise-jaw, not shown, may be rotated to any desired angle with respect to themselves in the same plane and positively held in this position by tightening the screw mechanism of the vise.

Upon disengagement of clamping unit 25 from base 11, clamping unit 25 can readily be used with a C- elamp, not shown, as an attachment for holding round objects. Such use is disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 126,471 for complete disclosure, describing embodiments of invention for use with C-clamps.

Although clamping unit 25 was been described above as having a V-type clamping configuration, it is by no means so limited. The clamping means of the invention may conform to the curvature of various curved objects such as the many varieties of pipe and tube sizes. Each clamping unit of the invention may be slightly less than semi-circular, matching the outside diameter of the curved object to hold the object firmly when the screw mechanism of the C-clamp, machinists or the workworkers vise is tightened. This type of clamping configuration is especially useful for holding soft tubular material such as copper, aluminum, or plastic.

Two such vise-jaw attachment assemblies 32 should be utilized, one attached to each vise jaw, when holding two round objects and when clamping relatively soft tubular material, to prevent deformation.

Clamping unit 25 can be formed to receive and hold interchangeable holding jaws, of various sizes.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, clamping unit 25 is transversely slotted, forming elongated,

rectilinear openings

40 and 41. The width of rectilinear opening 41 is greater than the width of rectilinear opening 40 thereby forming a transverse, T-shaped slot 42 through clamping unit 25.

Into T-shaped slot 42 of clamping unit 25 fits insert 44. Insert 44 is formed into a T-Shaped configuration 50 identically matching T-shaped slot 42 of clamping unit 25; but is slightly smaller to provide clearance. T- shaped configurationSO is sufficiently smaller then slot 42 to provide a sliding fit for ease of insertion of. insert 44 into slot 42 of clamping unit 25.

Insert 44 is secured to unit 25 by setscrew 45 which fits into drilled and tapped hole 46 of unit 25. Conical tip 47 of set screw 45 matches and fits into conical recess 48 of insert 44, providing a locking means to avoid escape of insert 44 from unit 25.

Insert 44 is formed with facing arc 49 slightly less than 180 corresponding to a specific size pipe, tubing, or hose.

Although insert 444s shown with a facing arc 49, any holding configuration may be utilized for a given specific application.

I claim:

1. An attachment for the jaws of a ferrous-metal holding device comprising:

a. a non-ferrous support base conforming to the configuration of said jaws, said support base, when attached to a ferrous-metal holding device having one face remote from, and one face adjacent a jaw of said ferrous-metal holding device;

b. magnetic means in the adjacent face for securing the support base to a jaw of a ferrous-metal holding device;

c. afirst cylindrical recess in the remote face of the support base and a second, smaller, centrally located cylindrical recess in said first cylindrical recess;

d. a ferrous-metal disc secured within said second cylindrical recess;

e. a non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped, removable, V-

faced clamping unit rotatably disposed within said first cylindrical recess in the support base; and

f. separate, intergral magnetic means in the nonferrous, V-faced clamping unit for rotatably securing said clamping unit within the first cylindrical recess, thereby permitting 360 planar rotation and self-alignment with respect to a work piece 6 2. An attachment in accordance with claim 1 wherein the V-faced clamping unit comprises two planar surfaces adjacently positioned, forming a V-configuration, said planar surfaces joined at a common vertex, the included angle generated between said planar surfaces being within the range of about to 3. In an assembly for holding a work piece wherein the work piece is held between clamping units mounted on each jaw of a ferrous-metal vise, the improvement comprising:

a. a pair of clamping units each having a contoured holding member, said clamping units being adapted to be mounted in opposing relationship on opposing jaws of a ferrous-metal vise, each of said clamping units comprising:

i. a non-ferrous support base having a first face conforming to the configuration of the jaw of a vise adapted to be adjacent said first face,

ii. magnetic means in said first face for securing each support base to a jaw of a ferrous-metal vise,

iii. a first cylindrical recess in the second face of each support base and a second, smaller, centrally located cylindrical recess in each of said first cylindrical recesses,

iv. a ferrous-metal disc secured in each of said second recesses,

v. a non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped, removable, contoured holding member rotatably disposed within each of said first cylindrical recesses, and

vi.-separate, integral magnetic means in each nonferrous, contoured holding member for rotatably securing said contoured holding members in their respective first cylindrical recesses, thereby permitting 360 planar rotation by each of said holding members and self-alignment with respect to a work piece clamped between said holding members in a plane perpendicular to the plane traversed by the jaws of the vise on which the clamping units are mounted.

4. An assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the contoured holding member comprises a V-faced clamping unit having two planar surfaces adjacently positioned, forming a V-configuration, said planar surfaces joined at a common vertex, the included angle generated between said planar surfaces being within the range of about 60 to 120.

5. An attachment for jaws for a ferrous-metal holding device comprising:

a. a non-ferrous support base conforming to the configuration of said jaws, said support base, when attached to a ferrous-metal holding device having one face remote from and one face adjacent a jaw of said ferrous-metal holding device;

c. a first cylindrical recess in the remote face of the support base and a second, smaller, centrally located cylindrical recess in said first cylindrical recess;

d. a ferrous-metal disc secured within said second cylindrical recess; e. a non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped, removable,

arc-faced clamping unit having an open face generating an arc of less than 180, said clamping unit being rotatably disposed within said first cylindrical recess of the support base; and

f. separate, integral magnetic means in the nonferrous arc-face clamping unit for rotatably securing said clamping unit within the first cylindrical recess, thereby permitting 360 planar rotation and self-alignment with respect to a work piece clamped thereby in a plane perpendicular to the plane traversed by the jaws of the ferrous-metal holding. device.

6. An attachment in accordance with claim wherein the non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped, removable arcface clamping unit comprises:

a. a non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped member rotatably disposed within the first cylindrical recess in the support base;

b. separate, integral magnetic means in said nonferrous member for rotatably securing it in said first cylindrical recess, said member having a transverse slot for receiving an identically matching, interchangeable arc-faced clamping jaw; and

c. means for rigidlysecuring said interchangeable clamping jaw within said slotted cylindrically shaped member. 7. An assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the contoured holding member comprises a non 5 ferrous, cylindrically shaped, arc-faced member having an open face generating an arc of less than 8. An assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the arc-faced holding member comprises:

shaped member.

Claims

1. An attachment for the jaws of a ferrous-metal holding device comprising: a. a non-ferrous support base conforming to the configuration of said jaws, said support base, when attached to a ferrous-metal holding device having one face remote from, and one face adjacent a jaw of said ferrous-metal holding device; b. magnetic means in the adjacent face for securing the support base to a jaw of a ferrous-metal holding device; c. a first cylindrical recess in the remote face of the support base and a second, smaller, centrally located cylindrical recess in said first cylindrical recess; d. a ferrous-metal disc secured within said second cylindrical recess; e. a non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped, removable, V-faced clamping unit rotatably disposed within said first cylindrical recess in the support base; and f. separate, intergral magnetic means in the non-ferrous, Vfaced clamping unit for rotatably securing said clamping unit within the first cylindrical recess, thereby permitting 360* planar rotation and self-alignment with respect to a work piece clamped thereby in a plane perpendicular to the plane traversed by the jaw of the ferrous-metal holding device.

2. An attachment in accordance with claim 1 wherein the V-faced clamping unit comprises two planar surfaces adjacently positioned, forming a V-configuration, said planar surfaces joined at a common vertex, the included angle generated between said planar surfaces being within the range of about 60* to 120*.

3. In an assembly for holding a work piece wherein the work piece is held between clamping units mounted on each jaw of a ferrous-metal vise, the improvement comprising: a. a pair of clamping units each having a contoured holding member, said clamping units being adapted to be mounted in opposing relationship on opposing jaws of a ferrous-metal vise, each of said clamping units comprising: i. a non-ferrous support base having a first face conforming to the configuration of the jaw of a vise adapted to be adjacent said first face, ii. magnetic means in said first face for securing each support base to a jaw of a ferrous-metal vise, iii. a first cylindrical recess in the second face of each support base and a second, smaller, centrally located cylindrical recess in each of said first cylindrical recesses, iv. a ferrous-metal disc secured in each of said second recesses, v. a non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped, removable, contoured holding member rotatably disposed within each of said first cylindrical recesses, and vi. separate, integral magnetic means in each non-ferrous, contoured holding member for rotatably securing said contoured holding members in their respective first cylindrical recesses, thereby permitting 360* planar rotation by each of said holding members and self-alignment with respect to a work piece clamped between said holding members in a plane perpendicular to the plane traversed by the jaws of the vise on which the clamping units are mounted.

4. An assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the contoured holding member comprises a V-faced clamping unit having two planar surfaces adjacently positioned, forming a V-configuration, said planar surfaces joined at a common vertex, the included angle generated between said planar surfaces being within the range of about 60* to 120*.

5. An attachment for jaws for a ferrous-metal holding device comprising: a. a non-ferrous support base conforming to the configuration of said jaws, said support base, when attached to a ferrous-metal holding device having one face remote from and one face adjacent a jaw of saiD ferrous-metal holding device; b. magnetic means in the adjacent face for securing the support base to a jaw of a ferrous-metal holding device; c. a first cylindrical recess in the remote face of the support base and a second, smaller, centrally located cylindrical recess in said first cylindrical recess; d. a ferrous-metal disc secured within said second cylindrical recess; e. a non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped, removable, arc-faced clamping unit having an open face generating an arc of less than 180*, said clamping unit being rotatably disposed within said first cylindrical recess of the support base; and f. separate, integral magnetic means in the non-ferrous arc-face clamping unit for rotatably securing said clamping unit within the first cylindrical recess, thereby permitting 360* planar rotation and self-alignment with respect to a work piece clamped thereby in a plane perpendicular to the plane traversed by the jaws of the ferrous-metal holding device.

6. An attachment in accordance with claim 5 wherein the non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped, removable arc-face clamping unit comprises: a. a non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped member rotatably disposed within the first cylindrical recess in the support base; b. separate, integral magnetic means in said non-ferrous member for rotatably securing it in said first cylindrical recess, said member having a transverse slot for receiving an identically matching, interchangeable arc-faced clamping jaw; and c. means for rigidly securing said interchangeable clamping jaw within said slotted cylindrically shaped member.

7. An assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the contoured holding member comprises a non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped, arc-faced member having an open face generating an arc of less than 180*.

8. An assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the arc-faced holding member comprises: a. a non-ferrous, cylindrically shaped member rotatably disposed within the first cylindrical recess in the support base; b. separate, integral magnetic means in said non-ferrous member for rotatably securing it in said first cylindrical recess, said non-ferrous member having a transverse slot for receiving an identically matching interchangeable contoured face clamping jaw; and c. means for rigidly securing said interchangeable clamping jaw within said slotted, cylindrically shaped member.