Vise

• US 4,925,168 A
• Filed: 09/30/1988
• Issued: 05/15/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: System 3R USA, Inc. (Georg Fischer AG)
• Original Assignee: System 3R USA, Inc. (Georg Fischer AG)
• Inventors: Ramsbro, Borje K. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN, JUDY J
• Application Number:
  US07/252,038
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 269/240, 269/244, 269/245, 269/250-253, 269/257, 269/134, 269/136, 269/242, 269/247, 269/256
• US Class Current: 269/136
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2473 with pull-down action on the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2484 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2489 Slideways

Abstract

A vise for clamping a workpiece in an adjusted position during operation on the workpiece by a tool, particularly the cutting wire of an electric wire cut discharge machine. For maintaining accuracy of the clamped workpiece and still occupying a minimum of space by the vise within the working range of the machine tool the vise is provided with a first fixed jaw and a second jaw movable along ways forming a reference surface. Wedging abutment surfaces and abutting surfaces are formed on the bed of the vise and on the second jaw, respectively, which engage during clamping the workpiece for preventing bending of the ways which allows a low profile construction of the vise.

Claims

1. Vice for clamping a workpiece with very high accuracy relative to a predetermined reference, comprising:

a bed having a reference surface upon which the workpiece may be adjusted and clamped,

a first fixed jaw formed from said bed and projecting above said reference surface,

a second jaw movable upon said reference surface towards and away from said first jaw when operating a drive means coupled to said second jaw and extending within a longitudinal channel, said channel being formed within said bed and being open to the reference surface through a longitudinal slot, wherein the first jaw, the second jaw and the bed, at least in the vicinity of said jaws, have a low outer profile,

at least two abutment surfaces provided on said bed,

at least two abutting surfaces provided on said second jaw, said abutment surfaces and said abutting surfaces extending parallel to said channel and being inclined with respect to said reference surface and during clamping a workpiece, cooperating to prevent walls of the bed which surround said channel and said slot from bending,

wherein the bed is formed from a base plate formed with at least one incut having a major portion which extends parallel to the reference surface,

wherein the incut follows a stepped line thereby forming a nose for stopping broadening of the incut transversely to the reference surface wherein narrowing of the incuts is adjustably limited by a screw element.

2. A vise for securing a workpiece in an electrical discharge machine, the vise comprising:

a base plate formed from a unitary piece of material having a thickness substantially less than its length or width, said base plate defining a reference surface lying lengthwise in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the length and width of the base plate, means for gripping a movable jaw within said base plate, said means including a lengthwise channel defined by said base plate being open to said reference surface through a lengthwise slot wherein the channel and slot define a pair of lengthwise abutment surfaces inclined with respect to the plane of the reference surface and facing the interior of the channels;

a fixed jaw unitary with said base plate having a jaw body projecting above said reference surface;

said movable jaw being movable along said reference surface having a jaw body projecting above said reference surface and a jaw guide disposed within said channel, said jaw guide defining a pair of lengthwise inclined abutting surfaces parallel with said abutment surfaces of said base plate and in sliding engagement therewith, wherein during clamping of a workpiece, said abutment and abutting surfaces cooperate to draw a portion of said base plate adjacent said slot towards a portionof said movable jaw;

drive means connected with said jaw guide for moving said movable jaw along said reference surface;

leveling means for leveling concavities in the reference surface, that may be formed during a clamping operation, to a substantially planar condition, said leveling means including a pair of incuts through the thickness of the base plate, a portion of said incuts extending substantially parallel to said reference surface, said incuts extending from opposite side edges of the base plate toward a central region of the base plate to partially divide the base plate into an upper portion and a lower portion; and

separating means located on both sides of said central region and extending between said upper portion and said lower portion for selectively separating said upper portion with respect to said lower portion about said central region of said base plate on each side of said central region.

3. The vise as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said fixed and movable jaws include a clamping plate substantially perpendicular to said reference surface and connected with said jaw body through a pair of substantially parallel bridges extending from said jaw body to said clamping plate in a direction toward said reference surface.