US 12,109,655 B2 · Metal fabrication locator device and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure is for a metal fabrication locator device that is a plate, or other object as described herein, that is fastened to the tangent face of a receiving tube. A mating tube may then slide over the metal fabrication locator device such that the perimeter of the metal fabricator locator device biases the inside sidewall of the mating tube to precisely align it on the receiving tube. This eliminates the use of additional weld fixtures for positioning of tube members in a metal fabrication assembly. This also allows an end user to construct and weld a product together on their own with precise assembly. Also disclosed herein are methods of manufacture and assembly of a metal fabrication assembly using a metal fabrication locator device.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A metal fabrication assembly, the metal fabrication assembly comprising:

a locator device;
a mating tube;
and
a receiving tube;
the locator device comprising a plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, and an exterior perimeter corresponding to an interior void of the mating tube, the plate fully inserted into the interior void of the mating tube and biasing an interior sidewall of the mating tube;
the plate further comprising one or more fasteners inserted into one or more fastening apertures extending through the front surface and the back surface of the plate, the one or more fasteners mechanically securing the back surface of the plate to an exterior sidewall of the receiving tube;
wherein a first end of the mating tube mates directly with the exterior sidewall of the receiving tube fully concealing the plate within the mating tube;
and
wherein the exterior sidewall of the receiving tube is an outer perimeter of the receiving tube.

6 more elements

A metal fabrication assembly comprising:

a first locator device;
a mating tube;
and
a first receiving tube;
the first locator device comprising a front surface, a back surface, an exterior perimeter corresponding to an interior void of the mating tube;
one or more fasteners inserted into one or more fastening apertures extending through the front surface and the back surface of the first locator device securing the back surface of the first locator device to an exterior sidewall of the first receiving tube;
wherein the first locator device is fully inserted into the mating tube and the exterior perimeter of the first locator device biases an interior sidewall of the interior void of the mating tube;
wherein a first end of the mating tube mates directly with the exterior sidewall of the first receiving tube fully concealing the first locator device within the mating tube;
and
wherein the exterior sidewall of the first receiving tube is an outer perimeter of the first receiving tube.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Metal fabrication locator device and methods

Life of this patent

Metal fabrication locator device and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20