# US 7,073,784 B2 · Modular structure for maintaining a body part > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,073,784 B2 - Document ID: US7073784B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/499,639 - Filed: 2002-12-12 - Published: 2005-08-25 - Granted: 2006-07-11 - Earliest claimed: 2001-12-21 - Assignees: ABB Mc - Inventors: Daniel Demit; Francois Malatier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7073784B2 ## CPC - B23K 37/0435: {Clamps} - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract The invention concerns a structure for maintaining a body part, the structure consisting of assembled frame members, at least one of the frame members being a tubular beam (1) provided on the outside with at least a groove (7) extending longitudinally. The invention also concerns a template for drilling said beam. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A structure for holding a bodywork part, the structure being made up of assembled-together members, wherein at least one of the members is a tubular beam (1) provided on the outside with at least one spline (7) extending longitudinally and including at least one reference flank (9′) arranged to constitute a positioning reference for at least one auxiliary element (2, 3, 4, 5) having a soleplate (22, 36) provided with means (13, 16, 24) for fixing it to the beam, said means including a bearing face (27, 40) for pressing against the reference flank (9′) and presser means (28), bearing on another flank (10′) of the spline (7′) that is opposite from the reference flank (9′), for pressing the bearing face against the reference flank, wherein the bearing face is formed by a side wall (27, 40) of a groove (25, 38) formed in the auxiliary element (2, 3, 4, 5) for receiving the spline, and wherein the presser means comprise at least one wedging device (28) for inserting between the another flank (10′) of the spline (7′) that is opposite from the reference flank (9′) and the facing side wall (26, 39) of the groove (27, 40). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A structure according to claim 1, wherein the beam (1) has a plurality of splines (7) that are angularly distributed regularly around the beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A structure according to claim 2, wherein the beam (1) presents a section that is substantially circular and symmetrical about at least one diametral axis thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A structure according to claim 1, wherein the wedging device (28) comprises a chock (29) and at least one sloping wedge (30) disposed so that the slope (34) of the wedge co-operates with a corresponding ramp (32) of the chock, and wherein the chock and the wedge present two parallel opposite faces (31, 33) for bearing one against the another flank (10′) of the spline (7′) opposite from the reference flank (9′) and the other for bearing against the facing side wall (26, 39) of the groove (25, 38), the wedge being mounted to slide relative to the chock and the wedging device including means for adjusting the position of the wedge relative to the chock. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A structure according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means include at least one screw (24) for engaging in a tapped hole (12) formed in the spline (7) in a radial direction of the beam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A structure according to claim 1, wherein the beam (1) has a plurality of splines (7), and the soleplate (22, 36, 40) of the auxiliary element bears against at least two splines. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A structure according to claim 6, wherein the soleplate (22, 36, 40) extends over an angle of no more than 180°. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A structure according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary element is arranged to connect two beams (1) together at a predetermined angle. ### Claim 9 A drilling template (100) for a beam (1) provided on the outside with at least one spline (7) extending longitudinally and including at least one reference flank (9′) arranged to constitute a positioning reference for at least one auxiliary element (2, 3, 4, 5) having a soleplate (22, 36) provided with means (13, 16, 24) for fixing it to the beam, said means including a bearing face (27, 40) for pressing against the reference flank (9′) and presser means (28) bearing on another flank (10′) of the spline (7′) that is opposite from the reference flank (9′) for pressing the bearing face against the reference flank, the template comprising a body (101) provided with means (100, 104) for releasably fixing it on the beam, and with at least one drilling bushing (103) arranged to extend over a spline (7) of the beam (1) when the template is in position on the beam, and wherein said means include a groove (105) which is formed in the body and which possesses a first side wall (107) forming a bearing face for pressing against a reference flank (9) of the spline (7), presser means for pressing the bearing face against the reference flank, the presser means comprising a wedging device received between a second flank (10) of the spline and a facing second side wall (106) of the groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A template according to claim 9, wherein the wedging device comprises a chock (29) and at least one sloped wedge (30) disposed so that the slope (34) of the wedge co-operates with a corresponding ramp (32) of the chock, and so that the chock and the wedge present two parallel opposite faces (31, 33) for bearing one against the second flank (10) of the spline (7) and the other against the second side wall (106) of the groove (105), the wedge being mounted to slide relative to the chock, and the wedging member including means for adjusting the position of the wedge relative to the chock. ### Claim 11 A structure for holding a bodywork part, the structure being made up of assembled-together members, wherein at least one of the members is a tubular beam (1) provided on the outside with at least one spline (7) extending longitudinally and including at least a first flank (9′) arranged to constitute a positioning reference flank (9′) for at least one auxiliary element (2, 3, 4, 5) having a soleplate (22, 36) provided with means (13, 16, 24) for fixing it to the beam, said means including a bearing face (27, 40) for pressing against the reference flank (9′) and presser means (28) for pressing the bearing face against the reference flank (9′), wherein the bearing face is formed by a side wall (27, 40) of a groove (25, 38) formed in the auxiliary element (2, 3, 4, 5) for receiving the spline, and wherein the presser means comprise at least one wedging device (28) for inserting between a second flank (10′) of the spline (7′) that is opposite from the reference flank (9′) and the facing side wall (26, 39) of the groove (27, 40). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A structure according to claim 11, wherein the beam (1) has a plurality of splines (7) that are angularly distributed regularly around the beam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A structure according to claim 11, wherein the beam (1) presents a section that is substantially circular and symmetrical about at least one diametral axis thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A structure according to claim 11, wherein the wedging device (28) comprises a chock (29) and at least one sloping wedge (30) disposed so that the slope (34) of the wedge co-operates with a corresponding ramp (32) of the chock, and wherein the chock and the wedge present two parallel opposite faces (31, 33) for bearing one against the second flank (10′) of the spline (7′) opposite from the reference flank (9′) and the other for bearing against the facing side wall (26, 39) of the groove (25, 38), the wedge being mounted to slide relative to the chock and the wedging device including means for adjusting the position of the wedge relative to the chock. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A structure according to claim 11, wherein the fixing means include at least one screw (24) for engaging in a tapped hole (12) formed in the spline (7) in a radial direction of the beam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A structure according to claim 15, wherein the soleplate (22, 36, 40) extends over an angle of no more than 180°. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) A structure according to claim 11, wherein the beam (1) has a plurality of splines (7), and the soleplate (22, 36, 40) of the auxiliary element bears against at least two splines. ### Claim 18 A structure for holding a bodywork part, the structure being made up of assembled together members, wherein at least one of the members is a tubular beam (1) provided on the outside with at least one spline (7) extending longitudinally and including at least a first flank (9′) arranged to constitute a positioning reference flank (9′) for at least one auxiliary element (2, 3, 4, 5) having a soleplate (22, 36) provided with means (13, 16, 24) for fixing it to the beam, said means including a bearing face (27, 40) for pressing against the reference flank (9′) and presser means (28) for pressing the bearing face against the reference flank (9′), wherein the auxiliary element is arranged to connect two beams (1) together at a predetermined angle.