Self-Centering Vise with Segmented Jaw Nuts for Dual-Direction Clamping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-centering vises with moveable jaws lack a reliable mechanism for providing consistent clamping force in both directions of jaw movement and adequate down pressure on the guideway surface, limiting their versatility and effectiveness in holding workpieces.
Innovation Solution
A self-centering vise design featuring a single actuator screw with opposite hand threads for the jaws, combined with adjustable jaw drive members and tapered surfaces, allows for simultaneous movement and clamping in both directions, ensuring secure engagement and adjustable force application on either external or internal workpiece surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single actuator screw with opposite hand threads is used to move two jaws simultaneously, then the vise achieves self-centering capability and simultaneous jaw movement, but it lacks a reliable mechanism for providing consistent clamping force in both directions and adequate down pressure on the guideway surface
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw nut is segmented into two separate driving mechanisms: a first drive mechanism with a tapered surface for clamping in one direction, and a second drive mechanism with an opposing tapered surface for clamping in the opposite direction. Each mechanism independently provides down pressure on the guideway surface, ensuring reliable clamping force consistency in both directions while maintaining the self-centering capability enabled by the single actuator screw.
2Adaptability or versatility
If moveable jaws are used without fixed jaws for reaction, then the vise achieves self-centering capability, but it lacks adequate down pressure on the jaw support surface to provide adequate holding forces
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered drive surfaces are designed to automatically generate down pressure on the guideway surface as the jaws move toward each other or apart. This preliminary action ensures that adequate holding force is established before the clamping operation begins, eliminating the need for fixed jaws to provide reaction while maintaining reliable self-centering capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional clamping mechanisms are used, then the vise can clamp work pieces on external surfaces, but it cannot reliably clamp internal surfaces of work pieces with self-centering moveable jaws
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw nut is designed with universal multi-functionality by incorporating both a first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism with opposing tapered surfaces. This allows the same jaw nut to reliably clamp work pieces on external surfaces in one direction and on internal surfaces in the opposite direction, eliminating the need for different clamping mechanisms while maintaining clamping reliability through consistent down pressure generation in both directions.
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 solution enables reliable clamping forces in both directions, enhancing the vise's versatility and holding capabilities, allowing for secure clamping of workpieces on both external and internal surfaces with adjustable force application.
Implementation Method 1
The drive surfaces that engage between the jaw nut and the respective moveable jaw are angled to provide a downward force on the jaw
Implementation Method 2
The drive surfaces that engage between the jaw nut and the respective moveable jaw are angled to provide a downward force on the jaw to urge the jaw toward the jaw guideway
Implementation Method 3
A single actuator screw with opposite hand or lead threads for the respective jaws, or other convenient drive, moves jaw nuts
Data Source
AI summary
A vise assembly has a pair of moveable jaws mounted on guideways for movement toward and away from each other. The moveable jaws are driven by a vise screw on the vise body through head members of a pair of jaw nuts. The head members fit into cavities on the underside of the moveable jaws and have projections on first ends that have surfaces engaging mating recessed surfaces formed on one end of the cavities. Adjustable plungers are mounted on the head members and are extendable outwardly from a second end of the head members to engage and drive against surfaces of the cavities in a second direction. The adjustable plungers are adjustable in length so they can be retracted into mounting bores in the head members so the moveable jaws can be mounted on and removed from the head members, and extended so driving surfaces of projections on the head members and of the plungers are both in engagement with surfaces of the cavities.