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US 11,231,057 B2Granted
Hole alignment tool with compliance zone feature
AssigneeCentrix, Inc.
InventorTravis D. McClure
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hole alignment tools, methods of making such tools, and methods for aligning holes in a plurality of work pieces are disclosed. The hole alignment tools may exert, when fully engaged with similarly sized, stacked holes, a substantially uniform force against the work piece surfaces that define the holes. The hole alignment tool includes a doweling body having a plurality of radially expandable legs, a housing, and a spreader element. The doweling body legs include a decreasing sectional thickness extending from the distal ends thereof towards the proximal end of the doweling body. Depending upon its state, the radial profile of a doweling body's legs may be converging or parallel for tool insertion and removal, or diverging for alignment purposes.
Claims17
A doweling body for use in an alignment tool, comprising:
- a doweling body cylinder defining a doweling body central bore with a longitudinal axis, and including a proximal end, a distal end, and a body portion positioned axially between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a first part of a two-part anti-rotation component disposed at the proximal end, the first part of the two-part anti-rotation component mating with a second part of the two-part anti-rotation component included in a housing to inhibit rotation of the doweling body and the housing and allow axial translation of the doweling body with regard to the housing;
- a plurality of doweling body legs extending longitudinally from the distal end of the doweling body cylinder and defining a plurality of longitudinal slots between the plurality doweling body legs, each doweling body leg having a transition portion and a compliance zone capable of temporary distortion to allow the plurality of doweling body legs to shift outwardly away from a central axis in an engagement state;
- and
- a spreader element engaged by the doweling body;
- wherein the compliance zones temporarily distort during the engagement state;
- wherein in the engagement state the plurality of doweling body legs have a diverging radial profile;
- wherein the engagement between the doweling body and the spreader element moves the plurality of doweling body legs outward to exert radial forces against surfaces of holes in a plurality of work pieces in the engagement state;
- wherein the doweling body has an extrusion that extends radially outward from an outer surface and axially delimits alignment tool insertion into the plurality of work pieces;
- wherein an axial position of the doweling body in relation to the plurality of work pieces remains unchanged during the engagement state;
- wherein the transition portion is an area of non-uniform wall thickness;
- and
- wherein the transition portion has a decreasing sectional thickness in a direction extending towards the distal end of the doweling body cylinder.
10 more elements
An alignment tool for aligning holes in a plurality of work pieces, the alignment tool comprising:
- a doweling body comprising:
- a doweling body cylinder with a proximal end, a distal end, and a central doweling body bore at least partially threaded;
- and
- a plurality of doweling body legs extending longitudinally from the distal end of the doweling body cylinder and defining a plurality of longitudinal slots between the plurality of doweling body legs, wherein each doweling body leg has a stiff tapered portion and a compliance zone that temporarily distorts during an engagement state, wherein in the engagement state the plurality of doweling body legs have a diverging radial profile;
- and
- a spreader element engaged by the doweling body;
- wherein the engagement between the doweling body and the spreader element moves the plurality of doweling body legs outward to exert radial forces against surfaces of the holes in the plurality of work pieces in the engagement state;
- wherein the doweling body has an extrusion that extends radially outward from an outer surface and axially delimits alignment tool insertion into the plurality of work pieces;
- wherein an axial position of the doweling body in relation to the plurality of work pieces remains unchanged during the engagement state;
- and
- wherein the stiff tapered portion is an area having a decreasing sectional thickness extending towards the distal end of the doweling body cylinder.
8 more elements
A method for aligning holes in a plurality of work pieces, the method comprising:
- inserting a plurality of doweling body legs through the holes in the plurality of work pieces, the plurality of doweling body legs extending longitudinally from a doweling body cylinder and defining a plurality of longitudinal slots between the plurality of doweling body legs, each doweling body leg having a stiff tapered portion and a compliance zone capable of temporary distortion, the doweling body cylinder having a central bore at least partially threaded, wherein the plurality of doweling body legs are included in a doweling body;
- and
- rotating a spreader element at least partially residing within the central bore of the doweling body to place the doweling body in an engagement state, the spreader element having a tapered portion for compressive engagement with the plurality of doweling body legs, the compressive engagement inducing a uniform force to diverge the plurality of doweling body legs against work piece surfaces that define the holes for alignment;
- wherein the compliance zones temporarily distort in the engagement state;
- wherein the doweling body has an extrusion that extends radially outward from an outer surface and axially delimits alignment tool insertion into the plurality of work pieces;
- wherein an axial position of the doweling body in relation to the plurality of work pieces remains unchanged during the engagement state;
- and
- wherein the tapered portion is an area having a decreasing sectional thickness and a decreasing arc length extending towards the doweling body.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.