IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,022,828

Granted Patent B2

US 10,022,828 · App. 14/952,392 · Granted Jul 17, 2018

Zero-point fixture

Inventor: Mai Van Nguyen (Tomball, TX)

B23Q1/0072 B23Q3/103

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,022,828
App. No.: 14/952,392
Granted: Jul 17, 2018
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A zero-point fixture is a means for securing a component in place during machining. The fixture features a base plate that is placed onto a machining surface and a mounting plate to which the component may be attached. The mounting plate and the component are secured to the base plate by operatively engaging a plurality of retention knobs on the mounting plate into a plurality of pressurized clamps on the base plate. A plurality of mounting holes and a plurality of mounting channels allow the component to be mounted in a number of positions and orientations that may be reproduced for subsequent components to be machined. A plurality of risers serves to offset the component from the mounting plate while a plurality of elongated fasteners is inserted into the component to prevent movement of the component during machining.

Claims (92)

1. A zero-point fixture comprises:

a base plate;

a mounting plate;

a plurality of pressurized clamps;

a plurality of retention knobs;

the base plate comprises a clamping surface and a base surface;

the mounting plate comprises a mounting surface, a connecting surface, a plurality of mounting holes, and a plurality of mounting channels;

the plurality of pressurized clamps being distributed about the clamping surface;

each of the plurality of retention knobs being operatively engaged into a corresponding clamp from the plurality of pressurized clamps;

the plurality of mounting holes being distributed about the mounting plate,

the plurality of mounting holes traversing through the mounting plate;

the plurality of mounting channels traversing into the mounting surface;

a plurality of guide tabs; and

the plurality of guide tabs being connected to a lateral face of the base plate.

2. The zero-point fixture as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:

the plurality of pressurized clamps comprises a first pressurized clamp, a second pressurized clamp, a third pressurized clamp, and a fourth pressurized clamp;

the first pressurized clamp and the second pressurized clamp being positioned opposite to the third pressurized clamp and the fourth pressurized clamp on the base plate; and

the first pressurized clamp and the third pressurized clamp being positioned opposite to the second pressurized clamp and the fourth pressurized clamp on the base plate.

3. The zero-point fixture as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retention knobs is concentrically aligned with the plurality of pressurized clamps.

4. The zero-point fixture as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:

the plurality of mounting holes being a plurality of hole groupings.

5. The zero-point fixture as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the plurality of hole groupings is organized into a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

6. The zero-point fixture as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:

a plurality of risers;

a plurality of elongated fasteners;

each of the plurality of risers being removably positioned into one of the plurality of mounting holes; and

each of the plurality of elongated fasteners being concentrically positioned through a corresponding riser from the plurality of risers.

7. The zero-point fixture as claimed in claim 6 further comprises:

a plurality of fastener channels;

each of the plurality of fastener channels traversing axially through a corresponding riser from the plurality of risers; and

each of the plurality of elongated fasteners being concentrically positioned into a corresponding channel from the plurality of fastener channels.

8. The zero-point fixture as claimed in claim 6 further comprises:

a plurality of fastener channels;

each of the plurality of risers comprises a first end, a second end, a first retention lip, and a second retention lip;

each of the plurality of fastener channels traversing axially from the first end to the second end of a corresponding riser from the plurality of risers;

the first retention lip being connected to the first end, concentric with a corresponding channel from the plurality of fastener channels; and

the second retention lip being connected to the second end, concentric with the corresponding channel from the plurality of fastener channels.

9. The zero-point fixture as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:

at least one fluid conduit, wherein the at least one fluid conduit is attached to a compressed air vessel;

the at least one fluid conduit being connected to a lateral face of the base plate; and

the compressed air vessel being in fluid communication with the plurality of pressurized clamps through the at least one fluid conduit.

10. The zero-point fixture as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:

a plurality of stabilizing feet; and

the plurality of stabilizing feet being distributed about the base surface.

11. The zero-point fixture as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:

a plurality of eyelet screws;

each of the plurality of eyelet screws being mounted to the clamping surface, adjacent to a corresponding clamp from the plurality of pressurized clamps; and

the plurality of eyelet screws being offset from the plurality of mounting holes and the plurality of mounting channels.

12. A zero-point fixture comprises:

a base plate;

a mounting plate;

a plurality of pressurized clamps;

a plurality of retention knobs;

a plurality of risers;

a plurality of elongated fasteners;

a plurality of fastener channels;

a plurality of guide tabs;