Alignment fixture for facilitating electrical or mechanical connection

{
  "publication_number": "US9610663B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Alignment fixture for facilitating electrical or mechanical connection",
  "abstract": "According to exemplary inventive practice, a frame has a geometric vertical axial plane and supports a receptacle, four thumbscrews, and four dial indicators. Each thumbscrew has a dial indicator associated therewith and can be turned to move along its geometric axis, perpendicular to the vertical axial plane. The thumbscrews are paired, with respective axes aligned, on opposite sides of the vertical axial plane. The frame is placed upon a base, the body is secured to the frame using the receptacle to grip a portion of the body, and the dial indicators are calibrated for matching thumbscrew displacement measurements in each opposite thumbscrew pair. The thumbscrews are moved into contact with the base and are adjusted to align the body with the base, as indicated by matching dial indicator readings in each opposite thumbscrew pair. The aligned body is affixed to the base, and the frame (with accompanying components) is removed.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus for positioning a first object upon a second object, the apparatus comprising: a structure characterized by a geometric vertical axial plane and capable of situation upon said second object; four screws supported by said structure, each said screw being characterized by a geometric screw axis and being adjustably displaceable along said geometric screw axis, each said geometric screw axis being perpendicular to said geometric vertical axial plane, said screws being arranged in coaxial pairs on opposite sides of said geometric vertical axial plane; an alignment envelope supported by said structure, said alignment envelope being capable of holding said first object during said displacement of each of said four screws along said geometric screw axis; four displacement measurement devices supported with said structure, each said displacement measurement device being capable of measuring said displacement of a said screw along said geometric screw axis, said measurement of said displacement including measuring said displacement of said screw when said screw contacts said second object.",
    "2. The apparatus for positioning as recited in claim 1, wherein said alignment envelope is capable of protracting and receding from said structure.",
    "3. The apparatus for positioning as recited in claim 1, wherein said displacement measurement devices are calibrated for comparing said measurements of said displacements in each said coaxial pair of said four screws.",
    "4. The apparatus for positioning as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one fastener for fastening said first object to said second object subsequent to performance of the respective said measurements of said displacements of said four screws.",
    "5. The apparatus for positioning as recited in claim 4, wherein said displacement measurement devices are calibrated for facilitating comparison of said measurements of said displacements in each said coaxial pair of said four screws.",
    "6. The apparatus for positioning as recited in claim 5, further comprising a set master for calibrating said displacement measurement devices.",
    "7. An alignment fixture comprising: a frame for being placed upon a base body, said frame characterized by a vertical axial geometric plane and including two longitudinal frame sections that are parallel to said vertical axial geometric plane; an aligner element for capturing an alignee element, said aligner element being attached to said frame and being geometrically bisected by said vertical axial geometric plane; two coaxial pairs of thumbscrews, each said thumbscrew having a thumbscrew tip and being bi-directionally translatable toward and away from said vertical axial geometric plane in an orientation perpendicular to said vertical axial geometric plane, wherein in each said coaxial pair of said thumbscrews a first said coaxial thumbscrew engages a first said frame section and a second said coaxial thumbscrew engages a second said frame section; two pairs of dial indicators, each said pair of dial indicators being associated with a said coaxial pair of said thumbscrews, each said dial connector being capable of measuring an amount of said translation of one of said coaxial pair of thumbscrews while said frame is placed upon said base body, said alignee element is captured by said aligner element, and said thumbscrew tip is touching said base body.",
    "8. The alignment fixture of claim 7, further comprising a set master for calibrating each said pair of dial indicators.",
    "9. The alignment fixture of claim 7, wherein each said pair of dial indicators is calibrated to equate the respective said amounts of said translations of said coaxial pair of thumbscrews with which said pair of dial indicators is associated.",
    "10. The alignment fixture of claim 7, wherein said aligner element is movable relative to said alignment fixture, said movability of said alignment element aligner facilitating said capturing of said alignee element by said aligner element.",
    "11. The alignment fixture of claim 10, wherein said aligner element is slidable to permit said capturing of said alignee element by said aligner element while said frame is stationary.",
    "12. The alignment fixture of claim 10, wherein said aligner element is tubular and is capable of telescoping to permit said capturing of said alignee element by said aligner element while said frame is stationary."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to linear measurement (e.g., of distance, size, or dimensions), more particularly to methods and apparatuses that perform linear measurement for aligning interconnecting mechanical or electromechanical components.\n\nMany electromechanical applications involve use of electrical connectors that provide automatic engagement upon mating of two interfacing components. In the aerospace industry, an electrical connector of this kind is sometimes referred to as an “umbilical connector” or an “automate connector.” Depending on factors such as size, type, purpose, and position of the connector, high or exact positional accuracy of the connector may be required. It may be difficult to achieve highly accurate positioning because the automatic engagement takes place in an enclosed area, thus prohibiting visual confirmation of engagement.\n\nTherefore, there is need for a practical tool that properly aligns a connector with a recipient of the connection. In particular, it is desirable to implement an alignment device of this kind that not only increases accuracy but also reduces assembly time of a system, resulting in greater operational capability of the system.\n\nAccording to exemplary practice the present invention, a method or apparatus is provided for achieving a true and precise position of a connector element with respect to a “connectee” element. The present invention can be embodied as an alignment instrumentality, or as a method that implements the inventive alignment instrumentality.",
  "cpc": [
    "F41F 3/055",
    "B23P 19/04",
    "B23P 19/10",
    "G01B 5/25",
    "H01R 13/629",
    "H01R 43/26"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B23P 19/04",
    "B23P 19/10",
    "G01B 5/25",
    "H01R 13/629",
    "H01R 43/26"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "US Department of Navy"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Nicholas S. Goldberg"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-11-03",
  "publication_date": "2017-04-04",
  "grant_date": "2017-04-04",
  "priority_date": "2014-06-30",
  "application_number": "US-201414531040-A",
  "family_id": "58419487",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
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}