Adjustable Drill Bushing Assembly for Resettable Hole Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drill templates with fixed hole patterns limit flexibility and require new templates for changes in hole patterns, leading to increased production costs and reduced adaptability in metalworking.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable bushing assembly with rotatable outer and inner eccentric elements and a swiveling drill bushing, along with a system of fasteners and locking components, allows for the adjustment and fixation of drill hole patterns on a tooling plate, enabling modification of hole positions without rebuilding the template.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed hole patterns are used on drill templates, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but adaptability deteriorates requiring new templates for pattern changes
Solution Approach 1:
The drill bushing is made adjustable through a dynamic positioning mechanism involving outer and inner eccentric elements that can rotate relative to each other. The outer eccentric element rotates within the tooling plate's first aperture, while the inner eccentric element rotates within the outer eccentric element's second aperture. This allows the drill bushing to be repositioned to different hole locations on the template without requiring a new template, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining manufacturing precision through the guided eccentric rotation mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed drill templates are used, then production costs are reduced through standardization, but flexibility deteriorates when hole pattern changes are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The drill template is segmented into a stationary tooling plate and a movable adjustable bushing assembly. The bushing assembly can be independently adjusted and repositioned along the eccentric rotation paths, allowing different hole patterns to be created with the same template. This segmentation enables flexibility in hole pattern selection while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized template production with built-in adjustment mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable bushing mechanisms are added to drill templates, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable bushing mechanism employs a nested structure where the inner eccentric element is positioned within the outer eccentric element, and both are contained within the tooling plate's aperture. The drill bushing is nested within the inner eccentric element. This nested arrangement allows multiple adjustment functions to be integrated into a compact mechanism, improving adaptability while minimizing the increase in device complexity through space-efficient design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable bushing assembly enhances the flexibility of drill templates by allowing for the adjustment and resetting of drill hole patterns, reducing production costs and increasing adaptability without the need for new templates.
Implementation Method 1
an outer eccentric element arranged rotatably inside the first aperture and defining a second aperture disposed along a second axis. The second axis is parallel to and is spaced apart from the first axis
Implementation Method 2
an inner eccentric element arranged rotatably inside the second aperture and defining a third aperture disposed along a third axis. The third axis is parallel to and is spaced apart from each of the first and second axes
Implementation Method 3
The drill bushing is configured to swivel relative to the inner eccentric element to orient the fourth aperture relative to the first and second sides of the tooling plate. The third aperture may include a socket portion. The drill bushing may include a drill bushing body having a spherical portion configured to seat against and swivel within the socket portion
Data Source
AI summary
A drill template includes a tooling plate defining a first aperture extending through the plate along a first axis. The template also includes an adjustable bushing assembly having an outer eccentric element arranged rotatably inside the first aperture and defining a second aperture disposed along a second axis. The template additionally includes an inner eccentric element arranged rotatably inside the second aperture and defining a third aperture disposed along a third axis. The first, second, and third axes are spaced apart from each other. The template also includes a drill bushing arranged inside the third aperture and defining a fourth aperture disposed along a fourth axis. The bushing is configured to swivel relative to the inner eccentric element to orient the fourth aperture relative to the tooling plate. The template further includes a system of fasteners for setting the bushing position relative to the plate for guiding a drill bit.