Mechanism for positioning workpieces

A mechanism for positioning at least a first and a second workpiece such that said workpieces are in abutment, said mechanism comprising:

• a support struture which is attachable to said first workpiece and firmly abuts said first workpiece, said support structure including a first portion which extends over said second workpiece when said mechanism is employed, said first portion being comprised of a first pair of spaced side plates,
• a cam rotatably attached to said first pair of side plates,
• a slidable member which is designed to engage said second workpiece and is slidably received by and between said first pair of side plates, said slidable member including a bottom load bearing member having a top and a bottom surface and a second pair of spaced side plates,
• said second side plates extending upward from said load bearing member, said bottom surface of said load bearing member defining the bottom surface of said sliding member,
• said cam abutting the top surface of said load bearing member,
• said cam being located between said second pair of side plates, wherein the rotation of said cam slides said slidable member relative to said support structure,
• wherein the vertical movement of the slidable member is guided by said first pair of side plates and wherein the lateral movement of said slidable member is limited by said first pair of side plates,
• wherein said cam and said slidable member are designed and arranged such that when said cam rotates in a predetermined direction, the distance between the axis of rotation of the cam and the bottom surface of the load bearing member which engages the second workpiece increases and said second workpiece is pushed by said load bearing member in the direction the load bearing member is moving a distance equal to the aforesaid increase in distance.

A jack mechanism for positioning a first large metal member in abutment with a second large metal member for the purpose of connecting the two metal members, said jack mechanism comprising:

• a support structure which is attachable to said first metal member and firmly abuts said first metal member, said support structure including a first portion which extends over said second metal member when said mechanism is employed, said first portion being comprised of a first pair of spaced side plates,
• a cam rotatably attached to said first pair of side plates,
• a slidable member which is designed to engage said second metal member and is slidably received by and between said first pair of side plates, said slidable member including a bottom load bearing member having a top and a bottom surface and a second pair of spaced side plates,
• said second side plates extending upward from said load bearing member, said bottom surface of said load bearing member defining the bottom surface of said sliding member,
• said cam abutting the top surface of said load bearing member,
• said cam being located between said second pair of side plates, wherein the rotation of said cam slides said slidable member relative to said support structure,
• wherein the vertical movement of the slidable member is guided by said first pair of said plates and wherein the lateral movement of said slidable member is limited by said first pair of side plates,
• wherein said cam and said slidable member are designed and arranged such that when said cam rotates in a predetermined direction, the distance between the axis of rotation of the cam and the bottom surface of the load bearing member which engages the second metal member increases and said second metal member is pushed by said load bearing member in the direction the load bearing member is moving a distance equal to the aforesaid increase in distance.