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US 11,376,699 B2Granted
Expandable locating pin
AssigneeMagna International Inc.
InventorShelby Dean Pelfrey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locating pin for positioning one or more workpieces on a mounting member is provided. The locating pin includes at least one cam being radially moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. The at least one cam engages the workpiece while in the extended position to hold the workpiece in place. The at least one cam is spaced from the workpiece while in the retracted position to allow the workpiece to be positioned on, or removed from the locating pin.
Claims14
A locating pin for positioning at least one workpiece on a mounting member including:
- a pair of cams being radially moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the cams are moveable in opposite directions relative to one another between the extended and retracted positions such that the pair of cams engage the at least one workpiece while in the extended position to hold the at least one workpiece in place, and such that the pair of cams are spaced from the at least one workpiece while in the retracted position to allow the at least one workpiece to be positioned on, or removed from the locating pin;
- a driver extending along an axis and located radially inwardly of the pair of cams and including a wedge portion in axial alignment with the pair of cams, wherein the wedge portion tapers radially inwardly such that axial movement of the driver provides the radial movement of the pair of cams between the extended and retracted positions;
- wherein the wedge portion of the driver defines a pair of first guiding elements, and wherein the pair of cams each present at least one second guiding element in engagement with one of the first guiding elements for guiding the wedge portion as it axially moves relative to the pair of cams;
- a central body presenting an outer wall and defining a channel extending axially, wherein the outer wall defines at least one opening into the channel, wherein the pair of cams are positioned in the at least one opening of the outer wall and are radially moveable relative to the outer wall, and wherein the driver is received by the channel and is axially moveable within the channel;
- and
- a net member that extends about and along the axis and includes a shaft portion generally having a tube shape and an outer flange portion extending radially outwardly from the shaft portion for engaging the mounting member, and wherein the net member defines a hollow extending therethrough, and wherein the central body is received by the hollow;
- wherein a body retainer underlies the outer flange portion of the net member;
- wherein a backing plate underlies the body retainer.
5 more elements
A locating pin for positioning at least one workpiece on a mounting member, the locating pin comprising:
- a central body extending axially between a base region an intermediate region and a head region;
- the intermediate region of the central body defining a pair of openings on circumferentially opposite sides of the central body;
- the head region tapering inwardly to a tip for being received by a hole in the at least one workpiece;
- a channel defined by the central body and extending axially through the base region the intermediate region and the head region and terminating prior to the tip;
- a driver slidingly received by the channel of the central body, the driver extending axially between a bottom flange and a wedge portion;
- and
- a pair of cams each positioned in one of the openings of the central body for being biased outwardly in opposite directions relative to one another into an extended position by the wedge portion during axial movement of the driver such that the pair of cams extend radially outwardly into engagement with the at least one workpiece for securing the locating pin to the at least one workpiece;
- wherein the wedge portion of the driver defines a pair of first guiding elements, and wherein the pair of cams presents each present at least one second guiding element in engagement with one of the first guiding elements for guiding the wedge portion as the wedge portion axially moves relative to the pair of cams.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.