Sled for fixturing engine blocks
AssigneeRottler Manufacturing Inc.
InventorsDonald B. Rottler, David Engnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved sled for fixturing engine blocks includes an inclined mounting surface which can be supported at alternate inclinations for fixturing engine blocks having various V-angles. A preferred embodiment utilizes a two-way frame which is removably mounted on the sled for supporting various V-blocks with the main bearing cap in place. Air float means are also preferably provided for lifting the sled above a supporting surface to facilitate maneuvering the sled. One preferred embodiment includes a novel means of aligning and securing an engine block on the sleds which includes a sling for rotatably engaging and lifting a block.
Claims14
An apparatus for fixturing an engine block having inclined cylinders, such as a V-block or a Y-block, such that the cylinders are properly aligned with respect to a boring machine or the like, which comprises:
- a rigid sled having an upper mounting surface for supporting the bottom of the engine block;
- means for aligning the block on the mounting surface;
- means for securing the block to the mounting surface such that the block will remain stationary with respect to the mounting surface after alignment;
- and
- a bottom support surface on the sled beneath the mounting surface to support the sled, the bottom surface including:
- a first support surface inclined with respect to the mounting surface for orienting the mounting surface at a first angle with respect to the first support surface;
- and
- a second support surface inclined with respect to the mounting surface for alternately orienting the mounting surface at a second angle with respect to the second support surface, said second angle being greater than the first angle.
An apparatus for fixturing an engine block having inclined cylinders, such as a V-block or a Y-block, such that the cylinders are properly aligned with respect to a boring machine or the like, which comprises:
- a sled providing a mounting surface for supporting the bottom of the engine block;
- aligning means for aligning the block on the mounting surface;
- securing means for securing the block to the mounting surface such that the block will remain stationary with respect to the mounting surface after alignment;
- and
- a bottom surface on the sled depending from the mounting surface to support the mounting surface, the bottom surface including:
- a first support surface inclined with respect to the mounting surface for supporting the mounting surface at a first angle with respect to the first support surface;
- and
- a second support surface inclined with respect to the mounting surface for alternately supporting the mounting surface at a second angle with respect to the second support surface;
- and
- a sled for supporting a V-block with the main bearing cap in place, the elevating frame including two sets of opposed side members interconnected to form a rectangular frame, the first set of opposed side members being spaced apart a first distance and having a top surface including a cutaway portion to allow an alignment rod to pass therethrough, the second set of opposed side members being spaced apart a second distance and having a bottom surface including a cutaway portion for allowing an alignment rod to pass therethrough, the elevating frame additionally including means for releasably securing either the top or the bottom of the frame to the mounting surface of the sled, thereby providing means for elevating a block at two separate spacings along the block.
An apparatus for fixturing an engine block having inclined cylinders, such as a V-block or a Y-block, such that the cylinders are properly aligned with respect to a boring machine or the like, which comprises:
- a sled having an upper mounting surface for supporting the bottom of an engine block, said sled also having a first bottom support surface inclined with respect to the mounting surface for supporting the sled and orienting the mounting surface at a first angle with respect to the first support surface and a second bottom support surface inclined with respect to the mounting surface for alternately supporting the mounting surface at a second angle with respect to the second support surface, said second angle being different than the first angle;
- a pair of alignment brackets on the sled which project outwardly from the mounting surface, the alignment brackets being spaced apart, each alignment bracket including a slot extending inwardly from the outer portion of the bracket toward the mounting surface;
- and
- an alignment rod having a central portion sized to fit within the main bearing housing of an engine block and having two cutaway portions spaced apart corresponding to the spacing of the alignment brackets, the cutaway portion sized to fit with the slots for securing the block in place.
An elevating frame for removable mounting on the mounting surface of a fixturing sled to support a V-block with the main bearing cap in place, the elevating frame comprising:
- two sets of opposed side members interconnected to form a rectangular frame, the first set of opposed side members being spaced apart a first distance and having a top surface including a cutaway portion to allow an alignment rod to pass therethrough, the second set of opposed side members being spaced apart a second distance and having a bottom surface including a cutaway portion for allowing an alignment rod to pass therethrough, the elevating frame additionally including means for releasably securing either the top or the bottom of the frame to the mounting surface of the sled, thereby providing means for elevating a block at two separate spacings along the block.
A sling for rotatably engaging an engine block, which comprises:
- an elongated channel member;
- a pair of sling arms depending from the channel member, the sling arms including a main body portion;
- means for adjusting the position of the sling arms at a plurality of spaced-apart locations along the longitudinal axis of the channel member;
- and
- a cam each projecting from each sling arm toward the other sling arm from a location spaced apart from the channel member, each sling arm being connected to the channel at a location offset from the main body portion of the sling arms above the cam ear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.