Steering column manual stamping fixture
First Claim
1. An assembly for making an alignment mark on a steering column, comprising:
- a check fixture including an outer ring, a central hub, and a series of arms extending between said outer ring and the hub, wherein said fixture is adapted to be rotatably secured to said steering column; and
,a steering column stamping fixture, said stamping fixture including a body member and a marking punch, said body member being received over said check fixture and said marking punch extending through said hub and being driven into engagement with the steering column so as to place an alignment mark on said steering column.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A manual steering column stamping fixture includes a body member and a linear bearing assembly. The linear bearing assembly is secured to the body member, and includes a marking punch that is driven into engagement with a steering column so as to place an alignment mark on the steering column. Once a center or neutral position of the steering column is located using a checking fixture, the stamping fixture is mounted over the checking fixture using cooperating slots provided by the body member and arms provided by the checking fixture, and such that the marking punch is disposed within the checking fixture and adjacent the steering column. Thereafter, the marking punch is manually moved away from the steering column and against spring bias such that, upon subsequent release of the bearing assembly, the marking punch is driven into the steering column to mark the steering column.
22 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An assembly for making an alignment mark on a steering column, comprising:
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a check fixture including an outer ring, a central hub, and a series of arms extending between said outer ring and the hub, wherein said fixture is adapted to be rotatably secured to said steering column; and
,a steering column stamping fixture, said stamping fixture including a body member and a marking punch, said body member being received over said check fixture and said marking punch extending through said hub and being driven into engagement with the steering column so as to place an alignment mark on said steering column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A manual stamping fixture for making an alignment mark on a steering column, comprising:
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a cup-shaped body member having a cylindrical sidewall and an end wall, wherein said cylindrical sidewall has a circular rim at an end of the sidewall opposite the end wall, and wherein slots are formed in the cylindrical sidewall and extend from the circular rim toward the end wall; a linear bearing assembly that is secured to said body member, said bearing assembly including a stationary body and a sliding member, said stationary body being immovably fixed to said body member end wall and said sliding member being slidably secured to said stationary body; a handle secured to a first end of said sliding member; a marking punch secured to a second end of said sliding member; and
,at least one spring to urge said marking punch away from said body member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for making an alignment mark on a steering column, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a checking fixture on a steering column; manipulating said checking fixture and steering column to insure that a reference mark on said checking fixture is disposed at a neutral position of said steering column; mounting a stamping fixture on said checking fixture, said marking device including a base, a sliding member, and a biasing spring, said base being removably positioned over said fixture at a predefined orientation, said sliding member extending from said base and having a first end and a second end, said first end including a handle that may be grasped by a user, said second end including a marking punch and facing said steering column, said biasing spring urging said marking punch away from said base and toward said steering column; holding said base against said checking fixture; pulling said handle away from the base so as to move said marking punch away from said steering column and against the bias of said biasing spring; and releasing said handle to permit said marking punch to be driven into said steering column by said biasing spring, so as to place an alignment mark on said steering column.
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Specification