Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A T-nut (400) for clamping a work bed in a T-slot (102) of a machine bed (101), wherein the T-nut (400) comprising of:
a head (401) for retaining the T-nut (400) in an underside of the T-slot (102) of the machine bed (101), wherein the head (401) has a plurality of first curved portions (402a, 402b) on sides;
a shank (403) integrated to the head (401), wherein the shank (403) has a double convex shape forming a plurality of second curved portions (404a, 404b); and
a vertical bore (405) provided in the shank (403) configured to receive a fastener (106) to screw the work bed onto a base of the machine bed (101);
wherein the T-Nut (400) is configured to be rotated to lock and unlock the work bed and move to spatial location within the machine bed (101).

2. The T-nut (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the second curved portions (404a, 404b) on the shank (403) is curved in a cross section at an angle of 45° with respect to the centerline of T-slot (102).

3. The T-nut (400) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the head (401) is configured to extrude out of the T-slot (102).

4. The T-nut (400) as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein the first and second curved portions (402a, 402b, 404a, 404b) provided on the head (401) and the shank (403) are configured to provide the rotational degree of freedom to the T-nut (400).

5. The T-nut (400) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second curved portions (402a, 402b, 404a, 404b) run along opposite sides of the head (401) and the shank (403).

6. The T-nut (400) as claimed in claims 1-5, wherein inner periphery of the vertical bore (405) has a threaded surface (406).

Description:A T-NUT FOR CLAMPING WORK BED IN A MACHINE BED T-SLOT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates to a T-nut for attaching a work bed to a machine bed such as a horizontal and vertical milling centers or a grinding machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to the T-nut to overcome the burring problem found in T-slots of the base on which the work bed is attached.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Generally all milling or grinding machines have a base with a T-slot. The T-nuts are inserted into the T-slot, from the underside of the base. The T-nuts have flat head and are retained within an underside of the T-slot, while their shanks are extend upwardly and are thereby exposed.
[0004] The shanks typically, have a vertical throughbore that is internally threaded. This permits a work bed to be fastened onto the machine's base, i.e. by screwing a bolt through the work bed and into the shank's vertical throughbore.
[0005] The work bed is required to mill or grind a part. The work bed holds the piece being machined in place. If the work bed is not bolted properly, the finished piece is not machined properly.
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a machine bed (101) having a T-slot (102) that clamps any job on the top of the machine bed (101) using a standard T-nut (103). The T-nut (103) comprises of a flat head (104) and a shank (105) that extends upwardly from the head (104). FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are an illustrative view of the T-nut (103) inserted into the T-slot (102), from an underside of the machine base. The flat head (104) of the T-nut (103) is retained within an underside of the T-slot (102), while the shank (105) of the T-nut (103) is extend upwardly and is exposed.
[0007] Oftentimes, the T-slots have burrs on their shoulders because of initial tooling. Because the burrs are located under the base of the T-slots, they are often not seen or thought of. Therefore, they are not filed down by the manufacturer.
[0008] If the flat head of the T-nut meets a burr of the T-slot during tightening, the head and shank can be tilted slightly. This can throw the attached work bed slightly off kilter and also affect the quality of the finished machined part. Since many machined products require extremely close tolerances, this skewing cannot be tolerated.
[0009] As per prior art US4957402A, there is presented a nut with furrows or undercut channels portions which extend the entire length of the nut. However, in all machining instances, the machining chips gets accumulated in the T-slot of the machine bed. Therefore, even as these furrows are available to somehow take care of the burrs left during the manufacturing, the T-nut is still to be slided within the machine bed area whenever there is a change of job or rotation of the same job. Sometimes these T-nuts are required to be completely slided out of the machine bed in case of bigger jobs or machine bed cleaning.
[0010] In an exemplary means, different types of turbine blades (job) are machined in available horizontal and vertical milling centres. To clamp these jobs, fixture base is required to be clamped to the machine base using T-nuts which sits is T-slot of the machine bed. This T-nut attaches the working fixture along with the table base. This T-nut gets fixed in the T-Slot of the machine base and the Fixture gets clamped with allen-bolts which gets clamped in the threaded portion of the T-nut. The conventional T-nut needs to be removed from the fixture while clamping and unclamping machine fixture. So, to remove the T-nut one has to remove the T-nut and pull it out throughout the length of the machine base and it takes much effort to clean the metallic chips from the T slot of the machine bed so as to pull out the T-nut.
[0011] This process of is not only time consuming and expensive but it also has a potential of harming the machine bed if hammered out. In comparison with the conventional T-nut, there is no need to remove the special invented T-nut throughout the length of the machine bed.
[0012] It is thus required to provide a solution to this problem so that the T-nut can be easily slided within the machine bed and if required can also be pulled out from the machine bed easily.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is therefore the object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks in prior arts.
[0014] It is a primary object of the present disclosure to provide a T-nut that to be used in any T-slot of a machine bed to clamp job as per requirement.
[0015] It is another object of the present disclosure to save time of setting up a work piece.
[0016] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a T-nut to overcomes the burring problem found in T-slots.
[0017] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a T-nut that is simple to manufacture, yet durable to use.
[0018] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] One or more drawbacks of conventional systems and process are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the apparatus/composition and a method as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be part of the claimed disclosure.
[0020] Solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0021] The present disclosure offers a solution in the form of a T-nut for clamping a work bed in a T-slot of a machine bed, the T-nut includes a head for retaining the T-nut in an underside of the T-slot of the machine bed, wherein the head has a plurality of first curved portions on sides, a shank integrated to the head, wherein the shank has a double convex shape forming a plurality of second curved portions and a vertical bore provided in shank configured to receive a fastener to screw the work bed onto a base of the machine bed, wherein the T-Nut is configured to be rotated to lock and unlock the work bed and move to any spatial location within the machine bed.
[0022] In an aspect of the invention, each of the second curved portion on the shank is curved in a cross section at an angle of 45° with respect to the centerline of T-slot.
[0023] In a further aspect of the invention, the head is configured to extrude out of the T-slot.
[0024] In an aspect of the invention, the the plurality of first and second curved portions provided on the head and the shank are configured to provide the rotational degree of freedom to the T-nut.
[0025] In an aspect of the invention, inner periphery of the vertical bore has a threaded surface.
[0026] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
[0027] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
[0028] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0029] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0030] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:-
[0031] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0032] Fig. 1 illustrates an illustrative view of T-nuts inserted into the T-slots, from the underside of the machine base according to the prior art;
[0033] Fig. 2 illustrates a T-slot and a T-Nut that fits snugly into the T-slot, in accordance with the prior art;
[0034] Fig. 3 illustrates a T-slot and a T-Nut that fits snugly into the T-slot, in accordance with the prior art;
[0035] Fig. 4 illustrates a T-nut in accordance with present invention;
[0036] Fig. 5 illustrates a top view of the T-nut in accordance with present invention;
[0037] Fig. 6 illustrates a comparison between conventional type T-nut as per the prior art and the T-nut according to the present invention.
[0038] A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
[0039] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0041] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
[0042] The present invention is related to a T-nut that is positioned on a T-slot machine bed to clamp a work bed as per requirement while saving time required in setting up the work bed.
[0043] Referring to Fig. 4, it shows the T-nut (400) having a head (401) for retaining the T-nut (400) in an underside of the T-slot (102) of a machine bed (101). The head (401) of the T-nut (400) has first curved portions (402a, 402b) on each of the ends of the T-nut (400). Further, the T-nut (400) has a shank (403) that is integrated to the head (401) and the shank (403) has a double convex shape forming second curved portions (404a, 404b).
[0044] Furthermore, the shank (403) has a threaded vertical bore (405) that is formed to receive a fastener (106) to screw a work bed onto a base of the machine bed (101). The T-nut (400) is configured to be rotated to lock and unlock the work bed and to move to any spatial location within the machine bed (101). Further, the T-nut (400) eliminates the critical job setting time that is required in sliding the T-nut (400) in the T-slot (102) of the machine bed (101).
[0045] The T-nut (400) is formed of the head (401) and the shank (403). The head (401) further has first curved portions (402a, 402b). The bottom side edges are curved on the sides for easy insertion. The shank (403) is integrally formed with the head (401) and rises perpendicularly from it. Further, the shank (403) has the vertical bore (405), to receive a threaded pair like the fastener (106) such as a nut. The vertical bore has a threaded surface (406) on the internal periphery that extends through the entire T-nut (400), from the tip of the shank (403) to the bottom of the T-nut (400).
[0046] Referring to Fig. 5, the shank (403) of the T-nut (400) has a double convex or hysteresis loop shape with second curved portions (404a, 404b). The first curved portions (402a, 402b) are provided on the sides of the head (401) of the T-nut (400). Each convex of the double convexed is arcuate in cross section and is designed to be at an angle of 45° with respect to the centerline of the T-slot (102). The double convex shape of the T-nut (400) helps in rotating the T-nut (400) at the same place for ease of work and setting.
[0047] The double convex shape on the shank (403) has the second curved portions (404a, 404b) in a cross section at an angle of 45° with respect to the center line of the T-slot (102).
[0048] The T-nut (400) is preferably made of alloy steel AISI 1018 which has been carburized and hardened to the required Rockwell limit. Further, the vertical bore (405) on the T-nut (400) is provided as per requirement for clamping of the work bed. The T-Nut (400) is rotated to lock and unlock the work bed and move to any spatial location within the machine bed (101).
[0049] The materials given above are as example without restricting scope of the invention to the same. Thus, other materials readily apparent to a person skilled in the arts are understood to be within purview of the invention.
[0050] Referring Fig. 6, it shows the existing design of the T-nut (100) and T-nut (400) in present invention for clamping of work piece. The existing design of the T-nut (100) contains sharp corner and doesn’t allow the T-nut (100) to rotate at its fixed position whereas the T-nut (400) in the present invention which has first and second curved portions (402a, 402b, 404a, 404b) by the help of which it can be rotated from a locked position (601) to a rotated and unlocked position (602) while being at the same spatial position.
[0051] Similarly, the existing design of the T-nut (100) cannot be inserted from anywhere in the machine bed (101) whereas the T-nut (400) in the present invention is inserted anywhere in the machine bed (101) as required and can be rotated in the same position for locking of the T-nut (400) in the T-slot (102) of the machine bed (101).

WORKING OF INVENTION
[0052] The T-nut (400) is currently being used for holding large size alloy steel casings and other heavy engineering jobs on the machine bed for operations on manufacturing machines such as large size VMC and Lathe machine.

TEST RESULT
[0053] The work beds were rigidly held using the present invention and the machining quality was found upto the mark as per the design requirement. The time taken to rigidly fix the work bed on the machine bed was also reduced significantly as compared to prior art.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0054] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, the total cycle time is reduced, productivity is improved, rework is eliminated and quality is ensured.
[0055] The T-nut is easily slided within the machine bed and if required can also be pulled out from the machine bed easily.
[0056] The problem of burring is solved.
[0057] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0058] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.
[0059] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.
[0060] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.
[0061] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particulars claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogues to “at least one of A, B and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B”.
[0062] The above description does not provide specific details of manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art are capable of choosing suitable manufacturing and design details.
[0063] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0064] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0065] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.