Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~L2567 lL~
This is a division of copending Canadian Patent
Application Serial ~o. 440,269 filed November 2, 1983.
Brief Summary of the Invention
This invention relates to workpiece locating and clamping
apparatus, and, more particularly, to an improved adjustable jig
incorporating combined magnetic and mechanical means for ad-
justably mounting the jig on a workpiece support whereby the
jig may be utilized to locate and maintain the correct positional
relationship between components of work during assembly and man-
ufacture thereof on a workpiece support. While -the jig embody~
ing the present invention is particularly adapted for use in
the manufacture of prefabricated wooden roof and floor truss
configurations for residential and commercial structures, it
will be understood that the present invention is applicable
to other uses.
~s is well known in the art, in the manufacture oE
prefabricated wooden roof and ~loor truss conficJurations, the
wooden components of the truss configurations, such as the
chords and webs, are initially clamped in the desired position
between a clamp and an associated stop on a relatively large
table or other workpiece support af-ter which connector plates
are embedded in the wooden componen-ts of the truss conEiguration
at the joints of the truss components while the truss components
are held on the support in the clamped condition whereby the
components of the truss configuration are permanently joined
together. Heretofore, the clamps and stops have usually been
mounted on the workpiece support through the agency of bolts
which pass through -the clamps or stops and project through slots
or holes in the support, the bolts being retained by female
-- 1 --
~25G~
threaded mernbers, such as conventional nuts. In such prior
devices, when it is desired to change the set up to accommo-
date a different size or type o. truss, in order to adjust the
clamps or stops relative to the support, it has been necessary
to loosen the bolts, move the clamps or stops to the desired new
position, and then retighten the bolts when the clamps or
stops are in the selected adjusted location. Moreover r after
the bolts have been tightened, it has not been possible to
make small or fine adjustments in the positions of the clamps or
stops relative to the support without again loosening the bolts,
making the small or fine adjustments, and then retightening the
bolts again thereby increasing the time, labor and expense re-
quired to install and adjust the clamps, stops and the like on
the workpiece support.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the
aforementioned as well as other disadvantages in prior devices
of the indicated character, such as prior clamps, stops and the
like and the means for moun-ting the same on a workpiece support,
and to provide an improved adjustable jig particularly adapted
for use in locating and maintaining the correct positional re-
lationship between components of work during the assembly and
manufacture thereof.
The invention of -the parent application provides an
adjustable jig for use in maintaining the correct positional
relationship between components of work during assembly thereof
on a workpiece support, the support being in the form of a flat
plate formed of magnetic material and defining a plurality of
spaced passageways opening upon an exterior surface of the
support, the jig comprising, in combination, a base, permanen-t
~L25~
magnet means carried by the base and magnetically attractable
to the support, the base defining an elongate channel, an
adjustable block mounted for longitudinal movement in the
channel defined by the base, pin means carried by the block
and adapted to be received selectively in the passageways de-
fined by the support to mechanically connect the base to the
support, and means for advancing and retracting the block in
the channel defined by the base.
The invention of this application may be considered
to generally provide an adjustable jig for use with a support
formed of magnetic material and defining a plurality of spaced
passageways opening upon a surface of said support, the
adjustable jig comprising, in combination, a body, a permanent
magnet carried bv the bocly and magnetically at-tractable to -the
support, and pin means carried by the body and adaptecl to be
received selectively in the passageways defined by the support
to mechanically connect tlle body to the support, the jig in-
clucliny a stop member pivotally connected to the body and havlng
a curved abutment surface adapted to engage a workpiece.
The above as well as other objects and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following des-
cription, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawinc~s
Figure 1 is a top plan view lllustrating a plurality of
adjustable jigs embodying the present invention, showing the same
installed on a workpiece support adjacent a conventional roof
truss configuration;
Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of
the structure illustrated in Figure l;
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~2S67~3
Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of one of
the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in
Figure l;
Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the structure
illustrated in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a side elevational view, with
portions in cross section, of the structure illustrated
in Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment
of the invention;
Figure 7 is a side elevational view, with
portions in cross section, of the structure illustrated
in Figure 6;
- 3a -
~251~7~8
Figure 8 is a top plan view Or nnother embodimcnt of the
invention;
Figure 9 is a side elevational view, with portions in cross
section, of the structure illustrated in Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a top plan view of another embodiment . of the
present invention, with portions broken away for clarity of illus-
tration, and itlustrating the clamp mechanism in the locked position;
Figure 11 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure
illustrated in Figure 10, and illustrating the clamp mechanism in lhe
released position;
Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of the clnmp mcchnllism
illustrated in Figure 10, taken on the line 12-12 tllereof;
Figure 13 is a side clevalional view of a portion of the
strllcture illustrntcd in Figure 10;
I;igure 14 is a side clevntiollal vicw of the llnll~=ile end pOI tion
of thc structure illustr.ltcd in I igurc 10;
Figure 15 is n top pl~n vicw of still anotller cml)o(lilnellt of
thc prcscllt invelltiorl;
Figllre 16 is n side clcvntiolllll view of a pOI tion of the
strllctule illustlnte(l in Figllle 13, nlld .sl~owillg, in dottc(l lincs, tllc
.s~o~ in n rnised positioll i
i igllre 17 is nll Clll:ll'g('(l (:I'()SS SCC'tiOllnl viCW of thc dCt('llt
incoll)orated in the emi~o(lilllcllt of tlle invcntioll ilhnstmltcd in P'i~lll`C
15; and
Figure 18 is n side clcvatiolltll view of ~he structllrc illus-
trllted in Figure t5, S}lOWillg tlle snllle in nn n(ljusting p()~silioll.
Dctailed Description
Referring to the drnwings, one embodiment of the invention
is illustrated in Figures 1 through 5 thercof, and is comprised of nn
,~"`.
- ~25679L~
adjustable jig, generally designated 10, incorporating a elamp, generally
designated 12, that may be adjustably mounted on a work- piece
support, generally designated 14. The elamp 12, which will be
deseribed hereinafter in greater detail, is intended to depiet a wicle
variety of eonventional elamps which are eommercirltly available and
wllieh inelude a body 16, and a movable elamp 18 earried by the body
16 and having an abutment surfaee 20 at the free end thereof. A
elamp aetuating member 22 is provided whieh is eonnected to the
movable elamp 18 and whieh enables the movable elnmp 18 and its
associated abutment surfaee 20 to be advaneed into engagement Wit]l a
~qorkpieee, generally designated 24, as will be deseribed hereinnfler in
greater detail. A clamp release means 26 is also provided wilich ;s
operatively connected to the elamp 18, the elamp relense menrls
ennbling disengagement of the clamp 18 from the workpicce wl~cn tllc
work is completed as ~vill also be described hereillartcr in grcntcr
dctnil. The elamp 12, inclu(lillg tlle body 16, is prcfer;ll)ly fo~ e(l of
stccl or othcr suit:lble mntcrinl llrlvillg surricicllt strcngtll to witilst;~
tllc fOI ces exertccl tllcreon . Thc workpicce support 19 is roml)c(l of
Inagllctic rnntclial, SIIC}I (lS stcel, wllicll may be in tllc rOrm Or n ~)latc,
nll(l inclll(les u substnllti;llly ~Int surr;lcc 28 upon wllicll tlle jig 10 is
nlollllted ns will be clcscribcd hcreirl(lrler in grcnter dctail. Tllc
Wol kpiece support 14 nlso derillcs a phll ality of spaccd pnssrlgc-v:lys,
}l as 30, 32 and 34. Tlle lon~itll(lillnl nxcs of tlle pnss;lgc\v;lys
extend in a direction substnlltinlly pcrpcndicular to tlle plnllc of tlle
surfnce 28 nnd the passngctvnys may be spnced at nny dcsil cd distrlll(:c
rel;ltive to cach other. For example, the pnssage~vays m;ly be disposed
in r ows and columns with the longitudinal axes of the passage~vnys
spaeed approximately one ineh apart.
,',;
~2~;E;7~
The adjustable jig 10 also ineludes a plurality of permnnent
mngnets, sueh as 36, 38, 40 and 42, whieh nre mounted in open bottom
recesses 44 and 46 defined by housings 48 and 50, respeetively. The
housings 48 and 50, in turn, are mounted on opposite sides of nnd
fixed to the body 16 of the elamp as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The
housings 48 and 50 are formed of non-magnetic material, such ns
aluminum, and the magnets 36, 38, 40 and 42 are preferably retnined
in the reeesses 44 and 46 defined by the housings 48 and 50 through
the ageney of a suitable potting eompound 52. The permanent mngnets
disposed in eaeh of the housings 48 and 50 mny have a combined
hokling power of several hundred pounds ~leting in a dircction perpen-
clicular to the surface 28 of the workpiece support 14 when the mrlg-
nets are disposed in engngement witll tlle surfaee 28 of the workl>iece
sul~port. It will be understood however thllt the holding power of the
mngllets in a directiorl pnrnllel to tl-e plnlle o the surrnce 28 is m~lCIl
less than the llol(lillg p()lYer of lhe m ngncts in n dil cction pel pcll(li-
culnr to tlle surfllc(? 28
~ s shotvn in Figures 3 ~ 4 nll(l 5, in this cmbodilllcllt Or tlle
invelltion~ a gencrnlly U-shnpcd h:lse 54 is plovi(l(?cl whicll is fixcd to
tllc cnd pOI tion 56 of thc body 16 of the Cllllllp l`ClllOtC rl'Olll thc :Ibllt-
lI-(?llt sul~fllce 2U. Tlll? gellel.~lly U--sl~ )ed base 54 illcluclcs a l)llil~ of
el~ln~nte, latel~llly spnce~; lcg pOl'ti()llS 58 nnd 6û wll;ch extrncl in
sp;lcc?d substnllticllly pnrnllel rclnliolls11ip nnll wllicll nrc joilled nt one
end tllereof by a trrlllsveI se portion 62 w11icll is fi.Y(?d to the n(lj:lcellt
cn(ls of the leg portions 58 nlld G0 by nny suitnble mcIllls. rhe -PI)-
site ends of the legs 58 nlld GU are fixe(l to the end portion 5G of the
bocly of the elamp by a bolt 66 whicll pnsses through the legs 58 mld
60 and through the body 16 of the clamp, the bolt 66 being retnined
by a nut 68.
''` 1 `1 !
? ,r~ .
~2~;67~
The base 54 defines an elongate ehannel 70 whieh is open at
the top and bottom of the base while the ends of the channel 70 are
elosed at one end by the body 16 of the elamp and at the opposite end
by the transverse member 62. An adjustable bloek 72, in the form Or
a parallelepiped, is provided whieh is mounted for longitudinal move-
ment in the ehannel 70 defined by the base 54, the block 72 defining
an internally threaded passageway 79 adapted to reeeive an elongate
externally threaded serew 76 whieh extends longitudinally of the
ehannel. One end portion of the serew 76 bears against the end
portion 56 of ~he body of the elamp while the opposite end portion of
the serew passes freely through a non-thrcn(3ed opening 78 defined by
the transverse portion 62 of the base, the serew being constrailled
against longitudinal movement by a knurled handle 80 ~YhiC}l benrs
ngninst the outer surfaee 82 of the transverse portion ~2 of tlle base.
IVit}l sueh a construction, rotntion of the screw 7G through the nL~cllcy
of tlle hrmtlle 80 in one direction CDUSCS the block 72 to n(]vallcc in tl~c
ch;lllllel townrd the body of the clalllp while rol;llioll of the s( n cw in
the opl)osite direction cnllscs t}le bloclc to r etr;lct in tlle cll;lllll(~l
to-vnrd tlle lrllrlsverse portion G2 of thc bnse.
A ~)in 89 is providcd wllicll is fixed to tile block 72 ~ d
wllich projecls oulwnrdly thel ef} om ns ilhlslrated in I igure 5 ~ l`hc pil~
84 is prefel nbly fornled of stcel or olher suitab}e mnlel inl h:lvillg
sufficient strength to withst.llld the forces e~erted thereon nn(l tlle pill
is adapted to be received selectively in any of the passnge-vays such
llS 30, 32 and 34 defined by the workpieee support 14.
~ lith sueh a eonstrlletion, the pin 84 may be inserted in ally
one of the passageways defined by the workpieee support 14 whereby
the base 54 and the olamp 12 are loeated in the approximate desired
position for use in elamping eomponents of the workpieee. The hnlldle
~25671~
80 may then be manually rotated so as to advanee or retraet the bloek
72 and the pin 84 earried thereby whereby the abutment surfnce 20
may be loeated at the preeise desired position. The above described
eonstruetion also permits the entire jig 1~ ineluding the base 59 and
the elamp 12 to be moved angularly about the longitudinai axis of the
pin 84 to compensate for any iPregulalities that may be presented by .
the various eomponents of the workpieee. The permanent magnets
prevent the elamp 12, ineorporated in the jig 10, from lifting off of
the surfaee 28 of the workpiece support 14 while the pin 84 prevents
longitudinal movement of the elamp in a plane parn~ilel to the planc of
the surfaee 28 of the workpieee support.
Figure 1 illustrates the nlnllner in whic}l clmnps 12 incor-
pornted in jigs embodying the present invention mny be utiliæed to
clamp components, such as chords 86 and webs 88 of n wooden truss,
gcncl.illy ciesigllated 90, between the ClUlllp ~and a stop 112 provideti on
tlle wor]cl)icce support 14. Stops 112 cmbotiying the prcscnt invcntit)rl
will also be C]CSCI ibed l1CI cinrlftcl in gl cnter cictnil, but it will bc
urldclstood thnt otilcr typcs of stops mny be ulilizcci if dcsirecl.
Figure 2 ilhlstrntcs the IllnllllCI' in wlli(:il conncctor plntcs 94
(li'C embccicled in the woocicn compollcrlts of the trllss configul ntion at
tbe joints of the trllss coinponents wllile tlle truss componcllts are bcld
on the worlcpicce support in the clnlnl)ec] coll(iilioll wllcrcby the compoll-
cnts of the truss conrigurntion nre permnllclltly jOint~(i togctller.
If it is ciesired to mnnufactllle a diffclerlt type of trllss
utiliz,ing components with liffcrent dilnellsiorls, the jig 10 mny be cnsily
moved to another position on the ~vorkl)icce support by tiltillg the
permanent magnets and simultaneously lifting the pin from the passage-
way in which the pin has previously been inserted in the workpicce
support so that the magnets are relcnsed from the workpiece support.
i. r ~
~2567~8
The entire jig including the base 54 and the clamp 12 may then be
moved to a new location on the workpiece support after which the pin
84 is inserted in a passagcway at the new desired locntion and the
clamp adjusted to the e~act desired position in the manner previously
described .
Another embodinient of the invention is illustrated in I;igures
1 6 and 7 and is comprised of an adjustable jig generally designated
110 incorporating a stop generally designated 112 that may be
adjustably mounted on the workpiece support lq. The stop 112 illus-
trated in the drawings is intended to dcpict a wicle variety of conven-
tional stops and includes a body 116 having an abutment surracc 120
on one side thereof adapted to engage n workpiece such as the work-
piece 24. The stop 112 is preferably formed of steel or other suitnble
mnterial having sufficient strength to withstand the forces e~certed
thcreon .
The adjustable jig 110 inclllc3es the plurality of pernl;lllent
mng-lcts, such as 36 38 40 nnd 42 which are mounted in Lhc open
boltom rccesscs q4 alld 96 dcfined by t1le 310USillgS 48 nnd 50 rcsl)ec-
tivcly . Thc housings 48 nnd 50 in this cmbodimcnt of thc invcntion
.'ll'C moull~ed on the rcnr sidc of thc sto~ body 116 whic}l is ol)po~site
thc nbutmcllt surfnce 12t) as S}lOWII ill l'igUl'Cs 6 and 7. ~s prcviOI1sly
mcntioned the housings 98 and 50 are formcd of non- m ngnetic n):ltcrinl
such as aluminum and the magncts such as 36 38 40 alld Ll2 nre
preferably retained in the reccsses 44 and 46 defincd by tlle hOllSingS
48 md 50 through the agency of a suitnble potting compoullL} 52. I`he
permallent magnets disposed in ench of the housings 48 and 50 may
have a combined holding power of severa3 hundred pounds acting in a
direction perpendicular to the surface 28 of the workpiece support 14
when the magnets are disposed in engagcment with the`surface 28 of
~ I
~256~
the workpieee support 14. It will be understood however that the
holding power of the magnets in a direetion parallel to the plane of the
surfaee 28 is mueh less than the holding power of the magnets in a
direetion perpendieular to the surfaee 28.
As shown in Figures 6 and 7, in this embodiment of the
invention, a base 154 is provided whieh is fixed to the rear side 156,
of the stop body 116 opposite the abutment surfaee 120. In this
embodiment of the invention, the base 154 ineludes a pair of elongate
laterally spaeed leg portions 158 and lG0 whieh extend in spaeed
substantially pnrallel relationship and whieh are joined nt one end
thereof by a trnnsverse portion 162 whie}l is fixed to the adjneellt ends
of the leg portions 158 and lG0 by any suitnble mcans. The opposite
end portions of the legs 158 and 160 are also fixed to a bearil~g block
165 by any suitable means.
The base 154 defines an elongate channel 170 which is open
nt the top alld bottom of the base while tlle ends of the cl nlll el 170
nl`C closed at one end by the bcnIil g bloclc 165 nnd nt tlle opl)().site
en(i by the tl unsverse nlcn bcr lG2. An n(ljllstnt)le block 172, in thc
rorm of a palnllclepiI)ed, is providc d wllich is lnoul tcd for lo~l~itll(lilull
n )v nllcrlt irl tl e cl nn n el 170 dcrillcd by llle b. se 154, thc L)lock 172
~lcrillil~g ~In illternnlly thl~cn(l(~(l p.~sscl~c-vay 17g n~lnL)tc~l ~o l`CCCiVC ~111
clol gnle ecternnlly thrcn(led screlv 176 which cxtcn(ls longi~u(linnlly of
the channel 170. One end pOrtiOIl of the scu~ew 176 bcnrs ng,lil st the
bCnl`illg bloek 165 wllile the opposite end portioll of the scrcw 176
pnsses frcely throllg}l a noIl-tllrcn(lcd opcniIlg 178 dcfincd by tl e
trallsverse portian 162 of the base, the serew being constrnilled
ngninst longitudinal movement by a knurled handle 180 whiell benrs
agninst the outer surfaee 182 of the transverse portion 162 of the
base. ~1ith sueh a eonstruetion, rotntion of the serew 176 thraug}l the
~ .
agency of the handle 180 in one direction causes the block 172 to
ndvance i~l the channel toward tlle body of the stop while rotation of
the screw in the opposite direction crluses the block to retr~ct in the
channel toward the transverse portion 162 of the base.
A pin 184, similar to the pin 84 previously described, is
provided which is fixed to the block 172 and which projects outwardly,
therefrom. The pin 184 is also preferably formed of steel or other
suitable material having sufficient strength to withstand the forces
exerted thereon and the pin is adapled to be received selectively in
any of the passages, such as 30, 32 nnd 34, defined by the workpiece
support l~E. With such a construction, the pin 184 mny be inserted in
any one of the passage~Yays defincd by the wor]cpiece support 14
whereby the base 154 and the stop 112 are located in the approximnte
desired position for use in holding components of the workpiece. The
hnn(31e 180 may then be mnnunlly rotated so as to n(lvnrlce or rctr;lct
the block 172 and thc pin 184 carried thel eby whereby the nblltll-ellt
SUI fncc 120 mny be located at thc prccise desired position. Thc nbove
dcsclibed constr-lction nlso pcrmits thc cntire jig 110 incllldirlg the
bnsc 154 and the stop 112 to bc movc(l arlglllarly n-)ollt tl~c lonlrilll(lill:ll
~ds of the pin 184 to conll)cnslltc for ally irreglllnrities tllat mny bc
plcsented by the VllI'iOUS comE~oncrlts of the workpiece. Thc pcllll ln-
cnt mngncts prevcnt the stop 112, incolpolated in the jig 110, fll-ln
lirting off of the surface 28 of the workpiece support wllilc the pi11 184
prevcnts longitudinal movemcnt of the stop in a plalle pal nllcl to tlle
plane of the surface 28 of the workpicce support 14.
~ igure 1 illustrates the mallller in whicll stops llZ incor-
porated in jigs embodying the prescnt invention may be utilized to llold
components, such as the chord 86 and the web 8B of the wooden truss
~:25~7~L8
90 between a clamp Zmd Zm associated stop 112 provided on a wor}cpiece
support 14.
If it is desired to m~mufacture n different type of truss
utili~ing components with different dimensions, the entire jig including
the stop 112 may be easily moved to another pOSition on the workpiece
support by tilting the permZment magnets and simultaneously liting the
pin 184 from the passageway in wllich the pin has previously been
inserted in the workpiece support so that the magnets nre released
from the workpiece support. The entire jig including the base 154 and
the stop 112 may then be moved to a new location on the workpiece
support after which the pin 189 may be inserted in a passagcway at
the dcsired new location and the stop adjusted to the exact desil cd
position in the inanner previously described.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in I;igules
8 nnd 9, and is comprised of an n(ljtlstable jig, gencrZIlly dcsi,rlllltcd
210, incolpoIZiting the cl3mp 12, tlult mZly be n(ljllstably moulltcd on -
tllc wol kpicce support 14 . I`ile clnllli) 12 ;nC1lT(lCS tllc bo(ly lG, tlle
novZIblc clnmp 18 cnrlied by t}le body 16 nlld tllC abllllllcnt sllrr:lce 20
(I;SI)OSCd nt the frce end of t}lc n)OVC II)IC cllllllp 18. 'lllc clnml) 12 rilso
ini Iu(lcs tlle nctuatillg mcmbcr 22 vllicll CllZlblCS tllC C]:lllly 18 nll(l its
ris~so(:intcd nbutment surfncc 20 to be advnllced illtO CllgZlgClllCllt tYitll a
~vorkpicce. 'I he clall)p also inc]u(les the clnlllp l'e]('.lSC IllC:lllS 2r, ~vllicll
cnZlblcs diseIlgagement of the clnlnp 18 rrom the wol 1cpiece wllen tlle
work is completed.
This embodiment of tlle invcntion nlso illChl(lCS the phll nlity
of permZment magnets, such as 36, 38, 40 ZTnd 42, whic}l are mounted
in the open bottom recesses 44 and 46 defined by the housings 48 and~
50, rcspectively, in the manner previously dcscribed. The }lousings
~ 56~
48 and 50, iJn turn, are mounted on opposite sides of and fixed to the
body 16 of the elamp as previously deseribed.
As shown in Figures 8 and 9, in this embodiment of the
invention, the bases, sueh as 54 cmd 154, are eliminated, and a pin
284 is provided whieh extends through the rear end portion of the
body 16 of the clamp and outwardly therefrom whereby the pin may be
reeeived selectively in any of the passageways such as 30, 32 and 34
defined by the workpieee support 14. With sueh a eonstruetion, the
pin 284 may be inserted in any one of the passageways defined by the
workpieee support 14 whereby tlle jig 210 may be loeated in the
desired position on the workpieee support for use in elnmping compoll-
ents of the wor!kpieee. It will be appreeiated that sinee this embo(li-
ment of the invention does not inelude means for adjusting the pOSitiOII
of the pin 284 relative to the abutment surfaee 20, eloser spncing of
the pnssageways, sueh as 30, 32 and 34 defined by the wol lcpicce
support 14, may be provided to enal)le pl ccise positiorling of tlle jig Oll
the workpiece support.
If it is desiled to mnrlllf:lctule a dirfelent type Or r~)()f tl'llSs
utili~ing componcllts with dirfcl ent dilllerlsions, the jig 210 m:ly bc
cnsily Inoved to another pOSitiOIl on the worlcpiece sllpllol t by lif~ g
tl-e pin 284 from the pnssagewny in whie}l tlle pin hlls prcvionsly bccrl
in.cierte(l, and tilting the permnnent magnets so thnt the mngllcts n e
rclensed from the workpiece support. The entire jig mny l}lcll be
moved to a new loeation on the workpieee support nfter ~vh;c}l t}~c pill
284 may be inserted in a pnssageway at the new desirecl }ocntion. It
will also be understood that a stop, as distinguis}led from a clnnlp,
may be eonstrueted in the same manner as this embocliment of t}-e
invention utilizing the permur~ent magnets and ~ fixed position pin, as
distinguished from a movable position pin as described hereinabove.
. . .
13
.
, . ,, ,~. ~, .
~.~S~i7~
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrnted in Figures
10 through 14, and is eomprised of an adjustable jig, generally desig-
nnted 310, whieh incorporates a elnmp 312, and whieh may be nd-
justably mounted on the workpieee support 14. The elamp 312 ineludes
a box beam seetion body 316, and a moveable elamp 318 earried.by the
body 316 and having an abutment surfaee 320 at the free end thereof.
A elamp aetuating member 322 is provided whieh is eonneeted to the
moveable elamp 318 through the ageney of an over-eenter loeking and
release meehanism, generally designated 325, whereby the elnmp 318
and its assoeiated abutment surfaee 320 may be inanua31y advanced into
elamping engagement with and releascd from a workpieee. As sllown in
Figures 10, 11 ~nd 12, the elnmp aetualing member 322, W}liC}l is con-
structed in the form of a lever, carries a journal 327 vhich is welded
or otherwise fixed to the lever, the journa~ being mounted for pivot~-3
movement on a pin 329 fixed to the bottom wall of the box bi~aln scc-
tiolled bocly 316. The clnmp nctllating mcmber 322 is a3so pivotnlly
connccted, by a pin 331, to one end portion of n biful cnted arm 333
whi}e the opposite end portion of the arm 333 is pivotally connected to
a rod 335 by a pin 337. Tlle op~josite end pOI'tiOIl of tlle rod 335
CXtClldS into a box bcnln section S~lppOI t melllber 339 formillg pnl t of
the clmllp 312, the curved section 391 of the c}amp, which c3erilles the
SUI fnce 320, being welded or othcl -~ise fixcd to the snl)port n~clnbcr
339. The rod 335 is eonneeted to the snl)l)ort member 339 tlll'Ollgh tlle
agency of a pin 343 whic}l is fixed to the rod 335 anc3 WlliC}I cxtcnds
into a slot 345 defined by the top wnll 347 of the snl)port mcnlber 339
whcrcby limited movement of the rod 335 relative to the support mem-
ber 339 is permitted. A eoil spring 349 is provided one end portion of
which bears against the inner end of the support member 339 while the
oppcsite end portion of the spring bears against a split ring 351 which
. ~ 1"
~L2567~8
.
surrounds the inner end portion of the rod 335 1nd the adjacent
portion of the arm 333. The split ring 351 is eonnected to both the
rod 335 and the arm 333 by the pin 337. The spring 349 enables the
jig to aecommodate dimension~1 toleranees of dimensional lumber.
With the eomponents of the elamp and over-eenter locking
md release mechanism 325 disposed in the positions illustrated in
Figure 10, the forces exerted on the elamp are transmitted through
the pins 343, 337 and 327, the axis of the pin 331 being over-center
or to the right, as v-iewed in Figure 10, of a line extending between
the axes of the pins 337 and 327. A elamp release means 326 is also
provided whieh enables disengagement of the elamp 318 from the
workpieee when the work is completed. The clamp rclense means 326
is comprised of a generally I.-shaped lever 353 having a nange portion
355 and n leg portion 357, the flange portion 355 being adlpted to
bcar against the end 359 of the lever 322 and the side 3G1 of the nrm
333. The leg portion 357 is pivotnlly connected, by a pin 363 to thc
llallge portions 365 and 367 of a gcnernlly U-shnped l)rnclcct. ~cnclmlly
dcsignnted 369, which is weldcd or otller~vise fixed to t}~e side ~ 111 371
of the body 316. A manua~ ncluntillg lcnob 373 is rixe(l to the ontcr
cnd portion of t}le leg 357. With such n constrllction, prcssillg (hc
knoh 373 cnuses the L-shaped lever 353 to pivot nbout tlle nxis of the
pin 363 so that the nnnge portion 355 of the lever bears ngnillst tllc
end 359 of the lever 322 and tl-e side 361 of tl-e nrm 333 111d pllSIlCS
the pin 331 over-centcr and to the left, ns viewed in I;i~ures 10 nnd
11, so as to release the clamp frolll thc ~orlc~icce. The structul e,
manner of operation and results obtained by the clalnp actuating mcm-
ber 22 and the elamp release means 26, previously described, are the
same as the structure, manner of operation and results obtained by
, . .
T
. ' ~
~L2~i6~
the clamp actuating member 322 and $he clamp relense menns 326,
respectively .
The clnmp 312 and the body 316 are preferably formed of
steel or other suitable material having sufficient strength to withstand
the forces exerted thereon. In this embodiment of the invention, the
adjustable jig 310 also includes a plurality of permanent magnets, such
as 336, 338, 340 and 342 which are mounted in housings 348 and 350,
respectively. The housings 348 and 350, in turn, are mounted on
opposite sides of and fixed to the body 316 through the agency of
bolts such as 375 and 377 the shank porti~ns of which extend through
counterbored passageways 379 defined by the llousings. The internal
di~neters of the counterbored passage~vays 379 are slightly larger in
dinmeter than the outside dinmeters of the bolts so that limited move-
ment of the housings and tlle magnets carried thereby is permittcd
relntive to the body 316. For e~calTlple the internal diameters of the
passageways m~ly be 1/16 of an inch grenter in diameter th.ln the
mllxilmlm corrcspollding dilllcllsiorls Or t}le associnted head and shnllk
portions of the nssociFIted bolt. Such a constructioll enables limited
movelnent of the housings antd nsst)t in(cd mngnets rclrllive to tlle body
316 to accommodllte irrc~ulnrilies in the surfnce of the workpicce
support 14. The housirlgs 398 and 350 are preferably forllled of
non-m.lglletic mnterial, SUC}l as alumin-lm, and the mngllcts 336, 338,
39n and 392 are preferably rctnined in the housillgs throllg}l the
agcncy of a suitable potting compound. The permancnt mngncts
disposed in each of the housings 398 and 350 may have a combillcd
holding power of sever~l hundred pounds acting in a direction perpen-
dicular to the surface 28 of the workpiece support 14 when the mag-
nets are disposed in engagelnent with tlle surface 28 of the workpiece
support 1~. It will be understood however thnt the holding power of
16
` ~L2567~L~
the magnets in a direction parallel to the plane of the surface 28 is
much less than the holding power of the magnets in a direction per-
pendicular to the surface 28.
In this embodiment of the invention a generatly U-shnped
base portion 35~ is provided which is formed integrally with the body
316. The generatly U-shaped base portion 354 includes a pair of
elongate laterally spaced leg portions 358 and 360 which extend in
spaced substantially parallel relationship and which are joined at one
end thereof by a transverse portion 362 which is fixed to the adjacent
end portions of the legs 358 and 360 by any suitable means. The
opposite end portion of the legs 358 and 3G0 are formed integrally ~vith
the body 316.
The base portion 354 of the jig 310 defines an elol-gate
chanJlel 370 which is open at the top nnd bottom of the base portion
while tlle ends of tlle cllannel 370 are closed nt ont end by the tr< ns-
vcrse member 362 nnd at the opposiLe end by a block 366. An ndjllst-
able block 372 in t}-e form of a par;lllclcpipt d is provi(led which is
mounted for longitl clinal movclnent in thc challllt l 370 dcfine~l by the
base portion 354 tl-e block 372 dcrining nn inlcrll:llly thlcntlc(3 p.1S-
sagc-vny 379 adnptcd to r cccivc nn clong.lle cxtcrll:llly threadc(l scrcw
376 which extends longiLudinnlly of tlle challnel. One end p ortit)n Or
the screw 376 bears ngairlst the block 366 vhilc the oppositc cnd
portion of the screw pnsses frcely through n norl-tlllca(led opel~ g 378
defined by the transverse portion 31i2 the screw being constrnillcd
against longituclinal movement by a knur ]ed handle 380 which bc~ s
against the outer surfnce 382 of tlle transverse portion 362. lllitll such
a construcbon rotation of the screw 376 through the agency of tlle
handle 380 in one direction causes the block 372 to advance in the
channel toward the clnmp 312 while rotation of tlle screw in the
~2567~
opposite direction cnuses the block to retract in the channel toward
the transverse portion 362.
A pin 389 is provided which is llxed to the block 372 and
which projects outwardly therefrom. The pin 389 is preferably formed
of steel or other suitable material having sufficient strength to with-
stand the forces exerted thereon and the pin 384 is adapted to be
received selectively in any of the passageways such as 30 32 and 34
defined by the workpiece support 14. As shown in Figures 10 and 14
ribs 390 and 392 are fixed to opposite sides of the base 316 nenr the
handle 380 to facilitate manual lifting of the jig 310. With such a
construction the pin 384 mny be inserted in any one of the pnssage-
ways defined by the workpiece support 19 whereby the jig 310 ;nclud-
ing the clamp 312 is located in the approximate desired position for
use in clampirlg components of the workpicce. The h mdle 380 may
therl be mnrlually rotated so as to a(lvallce or retract the block 372 and
the pin 384 carried thereby whercl~y the abutment surface 320 mlly bc
locatcd at the precise dcsircd posilion. The above dcsclibcd con-
strllction nlso permits the entire jig 310 to be moved nngulally ahout
the lorlgitlldinnl n~cis of tlle pin 381 to compcnsate ror any irrcgul;llilics
that rnay be preserlted by the various componcllts of tlle wol l~piccc.
rhe pcrmanent mngnets prevent the clamI) 312 incorporated in tlle jig
310 from lifting off of the surface 28 of the orkpiece support 14 wllile
the pin 384 prcvcnts longitudinal movcmellt of the jig 310 in a plrule
parrlllel to the plane of the surface 28 of the workpiece support.
If it is desired to manufnctllre a different type of trllss
utilizing components with different dimensions the jig 310 may be
easily moved to another position on the workpiece support by tilting
the permanent magnets and simultaneously lifting the pin 384 rom the
passageway in which the pin hns previously been inserted in the
. _ .
18
~567~L8
workpiece support so that the magnets are released from the workpiece
support. The entire jig 310 may then be moved to a new location on
the workpiece support after which the pin 384 is inserted in a pas-
sageway st the new desired locntion ar.d the clamp adjusted to the
exact desired position in the manner previously described. As pre-
viously mentioned, since the housings which carry the magnets are
connected to the body 316 in a manner which permits limited relative
movement between the housings and the body, the magnets can accom-
modate irregularities in the surface of the workpiece support.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures
15 through 18, and is comprised of an ndjustable jig, generrllly dcsig-
nated 410, which may be adjustably rnounted on the workpiece support
14 and which incorporates a stop, generally designated 412. In this
embodiment of the invention, the stop 412 is of generally channel
shrlped configuration, in plnn view, nnd includes a web portion 416
nnd integral f}ange portions 417 and 418, the web portion 416 hrlvirlg a
CUI ved nbutmcnt surface 420 ndnptcd to engage a workpicce. Thc stop
412 is preferably formed of stecl or other suitable matelial hrlvillg
surricicnt strength to witlustnlld the forccs e~certed thcreon. 'I he
ndjllstnble jig 410 nlso includcs n f)lurnlity of permrlllcllt mngllcts, ~snch
ns 436, 938, 440 and 442 wllicll are moullted in housings 448 Qnd 450.
rcspectively. The housings 448 nlld 450, in turll, are mountctl On
oppositc sides of and fixcd to a bnse 454 thI ough the ngcncy of l)olts,
SUC}l as 475 and 477, the shank portit)lls of whic}l extend thlougll
counterbored passageways 479 defilled by the housillgs. 'rhe in~crll.ll
diameters of the counterborcd passagewnys 479 are s}ightly larger in
diameter than the outside diameters of the bolts so that limitcd move-
ment of the housings ~nd magnets carried thereby is permitted rclative
to the base 454. For example, the internal diameters of the
19
; ~ ',.; '
~ ~ 25167~
counterbored passageways mny be 1116 of an inch greater in diameter
than the maximum corresponding dimensions of the assoeiated head and
shank portions of the associated bolt. Such a construction enables
limited movement of the housings and the magnets carried thereby
relative to the base 459 to accommodate irregularities in the surface of
the workpiece support 14. The housings 448 and 450 are preferably
formed of non-magnetic material such as aluminum and the magnets
436 438 440 and 442 are preferably retained in the housings thlough
the agency of a suitable potting compound. The permanent magnets
disposed in eaeh of the housings 448 and 450 may have a combined
holding power oE several hundred pounds acting in a direction perpen-
dicular to the surface 28 of tlle workpieee support 14 when the mag-
nets are disposed in engagement with the surfaee 28 of the ~lorkpicce
support 14 the holding power of the magnets in a direction parallel to
the plane of the surface 28 being less than the holding power of the
mngnets in a direetion perpelldieulnr to the surface 28.
In this embocliinent of the invention the base 45 i inclu(lcs a
pnir of elongate lnternlly spnced Ic g pOI tions 958 ancl 4GO w}licll extclld
in sprlccd pnrnllel relationsllip auld W}liC'il are joined at one end tllcl cof
by a trnnsvcrse portion 462 wllich is fixccl to the n(lj;lccnt eo(ls Of lile
Icg portions 458 and 4GO by nny suitable mearls. The opposite end
pOrtions of tlle legs 958 and lGO are also fixed to a bcaring block ~G5
by any suitable means.
The base 454 defilles an elongnte ehannel 470 whicil is open
at the top and bottom of the base while the ends of the chat nel 470
are closed at one end by tlle bearillg block 465 and that tlle opposite
end by the transverse member 462. An adjustable block 472 in the
form of a parallelpiped, is provided which is mounted for longituclinal
movement in the channel 470 defined by the base 454 the block 472
2D
.
'`. ~ i'' '
` ~ ~256~
defining an internatly threaded passageway 474 adapted to receive an
elongate extern~11y threaded screw 976 which extends longitudinaily of
the chmnel 470. One end portion of the screw 476 bears against the
bearing block 465 while the opposite en'd portion of the screw 476
passes freely through a non-threaded opening 478 defined by the
transverse portion 462 of the base, the screw being constrained
against longitudinal movement by a knurled hmdle 480 which bears
against the outer surface 482 of the transverse portion 462 of the
base. With such a construction, rotation of the screw 476 through the
agency of the handle 480 in one direction causes the block 472 to
advance in the chmnel toward the stop 412 while rotation of t]le screw
in the opposite direction causes the block to retract in the challnel
to-vard the transverse portion 462 of the base.
- A pin 484, similar to the pins previously describcd, is
plovidcd which is fixed to the block 472 alld whicll projccts outwnldly
thcrcflom. The pin 484 is also prcferlbiy formed of stcel or otllcr
suitnblc mQtcrial Illlving sufficicllt stl cngth to witllstantl t1~c rO~ ccs
cxerted thcrcoIl ~alld the pin is ndnl)tcd to be l`CCCiVCd sclcctivrly in
nny of the p~lssngcs, SUC}l as 30, 32 ln(l 34, derillcd by tllc WOI kpiccc
snpport 14. With sucll a construction, tlle pin 484 mny bc inscl tcd in
ally one o~ the pllsslgcways dcrilled by tlle workpicce support 14
wl~cleby the base 454 and tl-e stop 412 nre located in tile npplo~dlllnte
dcsired position for use in holdillg componcnts of Ihe WOI kpiece. 'I'1~e
}landle 480 may then be manu~ily rotated so as to advnllce or r etrnct
the block 472 and the pin 984 cal u ied thereby whel eby tlle ~butmcrlt
surface 420 may he located at the precise desired position.
In this embodiment of the invention, the bnse 454 also
includes integr~i outwardly projecting block portions 459 and 461 which
extend in a direction perpen(iicular to the leg portions 458 and 4G0 and
21
~2s67la
which are integrfllly joined thereto by any suitable means. The nange
portions 917 nnd 418 of the stop 412 are pivotally connectcd to the
block portions 459 flnd 461 through the agency of axially aiigned pivot
pins 481 and 483 fixed to the block portions 459 and 461, respectively.
The radius of curvature of the surface 420 of the stop 912 extends
from the flligned axes of the pivot pins 481 and 483. With such a
construction, pressure exerted agflinst a workpiece remains constant if
the stop 412 is pivoted upwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Figure
16, with the result that a workpiece may be lifted slightly off the
support 14 to enable a connector plate to be inserted thereuncler while
constnnt pressure is exerted on the workpiece by the stop 412.
In this embodiment of the invention, a detent, generally
designated 490, is provided having an externally threaded body por-
tion 492 which threadably engages an internally threaded passngeway
494 defined by tlle web portion 416 of the stop 412. The detent 99U
also includes a ball 496 WhiCil iS disposed in a blind passagew<ly 998
and binsed by n spring 500, the end 502 of the body being crimpcd or
olhcl wise reduced in diamctcr to r ctain the ba}l in the pnssagcwny 498.
With such a construction, the slop 912 mny be pivoted or cociced
to~ d tlle wor}~piece supE~olt 14 about the aligned nxes of the pivot
pins so thnt the bnll 496 of the detcnt engages the lower edgc 504 of
thc bcaring block 465 to hold the stop ili the position ilhlslrlltc(l in
l~igule 18. With the stop 412 in SUCII a posilion, the mngncts nlc llcld
a slig}lt distance fl-vay from the ~vorkpiece support 19 so ~lult thc
entil e jig 410 mny be moved casily reintive to the ~vorlcpiece SUpyOI~t 14
and mnnunlly positioned at the dcsircd locntion on the workpiece sup-
port. The magnets are then pushed ciownwardly to hold the jig in the
selected position. The above described construction aiso permits the
entire jig 410 including the base 4S4 and the stop 412 to be moved
22
~2S~718
angularly above the longitudinal axis of the pin 484 to compensate for
any irregularities that may be presented by the various components of
the workpiece. The permanent magnets prevent the stop 412, incor-
porated in the jig 410, from liEting off of the surface 28 of the
workpiece support while the pin 484 prevents longitudinal movement of
the stop in a plane parallel to the plane of the surface 28 of tlle
workpiece support 14, generally triangularly shaped gusset plates 506
and 508, disposed at the intersections of the block portions 459 and
461 with the leg portions 458 and 460, respectiveiy, being provided to
facilitate manual lifting of the jig 410 and manual manipulation thereof
relative to the support 14.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes
and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invclltion .
23
:. r 3'
3 â
