One-Handed Quick Action Locking Vise with Over-Center Knee Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drill or machining vises require significant force to achieve jaw closure, leading to instability and potential movement during operation, making it difficult to use them one-handed, especially when handling larger or heavier workpieces.
Innovation Solution
A vise design featuring a handle-connected movable jaw system with a gear rack link and over-center knee lock configuration, allowing for one-handed operation and adjustment of clamping force without imparting force directly on the workpiece, using a small handle movement to achieve full clamping or loosening, and incorporating slide-in jaws for accommodating various sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional cam and screw tightening systems are used, then jaw closure force is achieved, but significant force is required causing vise instability and movement
Solution Approach 1:
The vise employs a dynamic knee lock mechanism that transitions from an unlocked state (where the jaw can move freely) to a locked state (where the jaw is firmly clamped). This dynamic system allows the vise to adapt its mechanical properties during operation, providing stability only when needed during the clamping action, rather than requiring continuous high force input.
Solution Approach 2:
The knee lock acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user's input force and the workpiece. Instead of directly transmitting significant force from the user to the jaw, the knee lock mediates this force transmission, amplifying a small input motion into a large clamping force while isolating the vise body from the destabilizing effects of direct force application.
2Force
If significant force is applied to achieve jaw closure, then clamping force is sufficient, but the vise tips or moves even with two-handed stabilization
Solution Approach 1:
The knee lock mechanism provides a dynamic transition from unlocked to locked state, allowing the vise to be easily repositioned when unlocked while providing stable clamping when locked. This eliminates the need for continuous two-handed stabilization during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the conventional cam and screw tightening system with a knee lock mechanism that uses a different mechanical principle - a quick-acting latch system that provides mechanical advantage through geometry rather than through continuous threading or cam action, reducing the force and complexity of operation.
3Ease of operation
If conventional tightening systems are used, then jaw closure is achieved, but one-handed operation is difficult especially with larger or heavier workpieces
Solution Approach 1:
The knee lock mechanism serves as an intermediary that translates a small, easy-to-applied input force from one hand into a large clamping force on the workpiece. This mechanical mediation makes one-handed operation feasible even with larger or heavier workpieces that require significant clamping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The knee lock system replaces the complex multi-stage cam and screw tightening mechanism with a simpler, quicker-acting system that requires minimal input force and motion, enabling easy one-handed operation while maintaining effective clamping capability.
4Productivity
If quick action clamping is implemented, then operation speed increases, but mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knee lock mechanism replaces the complex cam and screw system with a simpler latch-based mechanism that achieves quick action through geometric locking rather than through multiple mechanical stages, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining or improving clamping speed.
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
Enables stable, one-handed operation with reduced effort, providing quick clamping and high clamping force while preventing slippage or vibration, allowing for secure handling of workpieces of different sizes and shapes without requiring two hands.
Implementation Method 1
A vise design featuring a handle-connected movable jaw system with a gear rack link
Implementation Method 2
over-center knee lock configuration, allowing for one-handed operation and adjustment of clamping force
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure includes a vise having a base with a first a channel and at least one rail extending along the base in a longitudinal direction. The base also includes a gear rack fixed within the channel and extending in the longitudinal direction. The vise also includes a first jaw fixed to and extending substantially perpendicular from the base, a second jaw secured to the base and engaged with the at least one rail, and a gear rack link having a body and at least one gear tooth extending from a bottom surface of the body, with the gear tooth configured to engage with the gear rack. The vise also has a handle connected to the second jaw and the gear rack link such that the positions, relative to the base, of the second jaw and the gear rack link are adjustable by manipulating the handle.