Positioning fixture for a rotary mold

Abstract

A positioning fixture for a rotary mold provides both rotation and lifting for a mold installed therein. The present fixture is adapted particularly for relatively large molds, as used in the forming of hulls and other large structures for relatively large boats and the like. The positioning fixture basically comprises a frame with an upright at each end, with the mold structure extending between the two uprights. A drive motor is provided to rotate the mold between the two uprights, as desired. In addition to the drive motor, a lift strut or cylinder installed at one end of the device and communicating with the opposite end by a tension member (belt, chain, etc.) lifts both of the mold rotating pins or mechanisms simultaneously. A safety latch or catch is installed at each end of the device, to preclude accidental dropping or falling of the mold when lifted. The rotating motor and lift strut are preferably hydraulic units, which may receive hydraulic pressure and flow from a pump which is in turn powered by a conventional shop air supply. Other power systems (electrical, electrical/hydraulic, etc.) may be used in environments where electrical arcing or discharge is not a concern. The present positioning fixture greatly reduces the need for manual labor and additional equipment (fork lifts, cranes, etc.) in handling such large, heavy, and bulky molds, and enables the mold to be positioned by a single individual for convenient placement for working, inversion for clean storage, etc. as necessary.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.