GB2190618A

GB2190618A - Workbench and vice assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2190618A
Application number: GB08706911A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Leonard Robinson
Original assignee: Hills Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Hills Ltd
Priority date: 1986-03-24
Filing date: 1987-03-24
Publication date: 1987-11-25
Also published as: GB8706911D0

Abstract

A workbench and vice assembly comprising a frame 11, a first clamp bracket 12 urged for movement towards a second clamp bracket 13 by springs 32, the clamping brackets being effective for clamping a workpiece therebetween, a foot pedal carried on a lever 29 which is pivoted to the frame, and a link between the foot pedal and the first clamp bracket, arranged so that depression of the foot pedal moves the first clamp bracket away from the second clamp bracket to release a workpiece clamped therebetween. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Work bench and vice assembly This invention relates to a workbench and vice assembly which is suitable for holding workpieces which require manual operations, or power operations to be performed on them.

The most commonly used workbench assembly with a vice comprises a vice which is clamped two a workbench, and screwthreaded means which are used to clamp a workpiece in the vice. Quite often however it is necessary to frequently change the position ofthe workpiece, or replace one workpiece with another, and there are inherent difficulties with screw threaded vices. The vices are slow to use, they requiretheuseofa hand of an operatorwhen frequently both hands are required for holding a workpiece in position, ortwo workpieces together, and the screw thread frequently is subjectto corrosion orwearsuch that its effectiveness is lost even though it may be harderto rotate.

With the object of providing a quick action clamping arrangement which can be utilised as a vice, and a workbench which embodies such a vice, in this invention a workbench and vice assembly comprises a frame having a pair of spaced parallel side members, a first clamp bracket near one end of the frame, guide means on theframeguiding thefirst clamp bracketfor movement towards or away from a second clamp bracket, springs urging the first clamp bracket towards the second clamp bracket, and being effectiveforclamping of a workpiece between those brackets, said second clamp bracket being carried on the side members, adjustment means co-operable between the second clamp bracket and the side members to releasably securethe second clamp bracket to the side members adjustably for position with respect to the first clamp bracket, foot pedal pivot means carried by said frame near said end, a foot pedal depending from said pivot means, and a link between the foot pedal and the first clamp bracket, arranged so that depression of the foot pedal moves the first clamp bracket away from the second clamp bracket.

If the distance between the foot pedal and its pivot point is much greaterthan the distance between the pivot point and the pivotal connection between the foot pedal arm and the clamping frame, a considerable mechanical advantage can be achieved for little cost and therefore an effective clamping can be achieved even though the depression pressure against the foot pedal and the resilient return force of the spring may be quite low.

An embodimentofthe invention is described hereunder in some detail with reference to and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view which illustrates the workbench and vice assembly, Figure2 is a plan view of the assembly, Figure 3 is a partly sectioned elevation, and Figure 4 is an end elevation of Figure 3 In this embodiment, a workbench and vice assembly 10comprises a frame 11, a first clamp bracket 12 at one end of the fixed frame 11, an adjustable clamp bracket 13, the clamp brackets 12 and 13 carrying respective clamping blocks 15. The clamp brackets 12 and their blocks 15, comprisethe vice jaws.Clamping bracket 13 is provided with a lifting finger 17 by which locating tabs 18 can be lifted from the apertures 19 in guide strips 20 which are welded to the upper surfaces of parallel tubular side members 21 of fixed frame 11. Alternatively, the side members 21 can comprise channels, the upper flanges of which perform the function of guide strips.

As seen best in Figure 4, the guide strips 20 guide the clamping frame 13 for fore and aft movement when the tabs 18 are lifted in order to provide an initial adjustment of distance between the clamping blocks 15.

The fixed frame 11 is itself supported by legs 23 which depend from sockets 24.

Clamping bracket 12 is slidable overthe guide strips 20, and has depending legs 26 which support transverse pins 27 joined by links 28 to the upper end of the foot pedal 29, itself pivoted to the fixed frame 11 bya pivot pin 30. Thetubularside members 21 contain tension springs 32 connected each at one end to a respective pin 27 and at the other to a retaining pin 34.

In use, the foot pedal 29 is actuated, tensioning the springs 32, and the very considerable mechanical advantage causes the opening movement of the front clamping bracket 12 to be relatively small notwithstanding that there is a considerable movement at the end ofthe foot pedal 29. In most instances however only a small degree of movement is required to remove a workpiece from between the clamping blocks 15, but iffurther movement is required than can be achieved by actuation ofthe foot pedal 29, this can be accommodated by simply lifting and movingthe rearclamp bracket 13along the guide strips 20.

1. A workbench and vice assembly comprising a frame having a pairofspaced parallel side members, a first clamp bracket near one end of the frame, guide means on the frame guiding the first clamp bracketformovementtowards orawayfrom a second clamp bracket, springs urging the first clamp bracket towards the second clamp bracket, and being effective for clamping of a workpiece between those brackets, said second clamp bracket being carried on the side members, adjustment means co-operable between the second clamp bracket and the side members to releasably secure the second clamp bracket to the side members adjustablyfor position with respectto the first clamp bracket, foot pedal pivot means carried by said frame near said end, a foot pedal depending from said pivot means, and a link between the foot pedal and the first clamp bracket, arranged so that depression ofthe foot pedal moves the pivot clamp bracket away from the second clamp bracket.

2. Aworkbench and vice assembly according to claim 1 wherein said parallel side members are of tubular cross-section and said guide means comprise respective guide strips on the upper

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Work bench and vice assembly This invention relates to a workbench and vice assembly which is suitable for holding workpieces which require manual operations, or power operations to be performed on them. The most commonly used workbench assembly with a vice comprises a vice which is clamped two a workbench, and screwthreaded means which are used to clamp a workpiece in the vice. Quite often however it is necessary to frequently change the position ofthe workpiece, or replace one workpiece with another, and there are inherent difficulties with screw threaded vices. The vices are slow to use, they requiretheuseofa hand of an operatorwhen frequently both hands are required for holding a workpiece in position, ortwo workpieces together, and the screw thread frequently is subjectto corrosion orwearsuch that its effectiveness is lost even though it may be harderto rotate. With the object of providing a quick action clamping arrangement which can be utilised as a vice, and a workbench which embodies such a vice, in this invention a workbench and vice assembly comprises a frame having a pair of spaced parallel side members, a first clamp bracket near one end of the frame, guide means on theframeguiding thefirst clamp bracketfor movement towards or away from a second clamp bracket, springs urging the first clamp bracket towards the second clamp bracket, and being effectiveforclamping of a workpiece between those brackets, said second clamp bracket being carried on the side members, adjustment means co-operable between the second clamp bracket and the side members to releasably securethe second clamp bracket to the side members adjustably for position with respect to the first clamp bracket, foot pedal pivot means carried by said frame near said end, a foot pedal depending from said pivot means, and a link between the foot pedal and the first clamp bracket, arranged so that depression of the foot pedal moves the first clamp bracket away from the second clamp bracket. If the distance between the foot pedal and its pivot point is much greaterthan the distance between the pivot point and the pivotal connection between the foot pedal arm and the clamping frame, a considerable mechanical advantage can be achieved for little cost and therefore an effective clamping can be achieved even though the depression pressure against the foot pedal and the resilient return force of the spring may be quite low. An embodimentofthe invention is described hereunder in some detail with reference to and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view which illustrates the workbench and vice assembly, Figure2 is a plan view of the assembly, Figure 3 is a partly sectioned elevation, and Figure 4 is an end elevation of Figure 3 In this embodiment, a workbench and vice assembly 10comprises a frame 11, a first clamp bracket 12 at one end of the fixed frame 11, an adjustable clamp bracket 13, the clamp brackets 12 and 13 carrying respective clamping blocks 15. The clamp brackets 12 and their blocks 15, comprisethe vice jaws.Clamping bracket 13 is provided with a lifting finger 17 by which locating tabs 18 can be lifted from the apertures 19 in guide strips 20 which are welded to the upper surfaces of parallel tubular side members 21 of fixed frame 11. Alternatively, the side members 21 can comprise channels, the upper flanges of which perform the function of guide strips. As seen best in Figure 4, the guide strips 20 guide the clamping frame 13 for fore and aft movement when the tabs 18 are lifted in order to provide an initial adjustment of distance between the clamping blocks 15. The fixed frame 11 is itself supported by legs 23 which depend from sockets 24. Clamping bracket 12 is slidable overthe guide strips 20, and has depending legs 26 which support transverse pins 27 joined by links 28 to the upper end of the foot pedal 29, itself pivoted to the fixed frame 11 bya pivot pin 30. Thetubularside members 21 contain tension springs 32 connected each at one end to a respective pin 27 and at the other to a retaining pin 34. In use, the foot pedal 29 is actuated, tensioning the springs 32, and the very considerable mechanical advantage causes the opening movement of the front clamping bracket 12 to be relatively small notwithstanding that there is a considerable movement at the end ofthe foot pedal 29. In most instances however only a small degree of movement is required to remove a workpiece from between the clamping blocks 15, but iffurther movement is required than can be achieved by actuation ofthe foot pedal 29, this can be accommodated by simply lifting and movingthe rearclamp bracket 13along the guide strips 20. CLAIMS

2. Aworkbench and vice assembly according to claim 1 wherein said parallel side members are of tubular cross-section and said guide means comprise respective guide strips on the upper surfaces of said side members.

3. A workbench and vice assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2wherein said springs aretension springs coupling respective said side members and said first clamp bracket.

4. A workbench and vice assembly according to claim 2 wherein the second clamp bracket engages and is guided by said guide strips.

5. Aworkbench and vice assembly according to claim 4wherein each of said guide strips contains a plurality of apertures, and said second clamp bracket comprises a pivoted lifting fingerhaving a pairof tabs selectively insertable in said apertures.

6. Aworkbench and vice assembly according to any preceding claim wherein each said clamp bracket comprises a respective clamping block.

7. Aworkbench and vice assembly according to any preceding claim wherein each end of each said side member comprises a respective downwardly facing socket, and further comprising legs the upper ends of which are engaged and retained by walls of said sockets.

8. Aworkbench and vice assemblysubstantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.