Installation tool for pull type fasteners

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6532635
  • Patent Number
    6,532,635
  • Date Filed
    Friday, March 1, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 18, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A manually applied installation tool, for setting fasteners by applying a relative axial pulling force thereto and including a first hydraulic piston in a first hydraulic cylinder for reciprocation in response to a preselected high hydraulic pressure for applying the relative axial pulling force, a second hydraulic piston in a second hydraulic cylinder for reciprocation between compressive and non-compressive directions for providing hydraulic fluid at the high hydraulic pressure to the first hydraulic cylinder for application of the axial pulling force by the first hydraulic piston, a fluid reservoir having a supply of hydraulic fluid for compression by the second hydraulic piston and flow to the first hydraulic cylinder through an access valve, a high pressure relief valve connected to the second hydraulic cylinder and actuable to relieve the fluid pressure at a preselected high magnitude with flow of hydraulic fluid back to the fluid reservoir. The installation tool including a refill valve operable for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from the fluid reservoir into the second hydraulic cylinder upon reciprocating movement of the second hydraulic piston in a non-compressive direction and with the pressure relief valve, refill valve and access valve being substantially axially in line with the second hydraulic piston along its axis of reciprocation.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to tools for installing pull type fasteners and more particularly to such tools which are pneumatically-hydraulically or manually-hydraulically actuated.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The installation tools of the present invention are designed for use in setting multi-piece fasteners. The specific embodiments shown and described herein were designed for the installation of multi-piece pull type fasteners including two piece blind fasteners such as that described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,325 issued Sep. 5, 1989 to W. Smith for “Two Piece Blind Fastener with Lock Spindle” and blind fasteners with more than two pieces such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,009 issued Jun. 20, 2000 to D. Hazelman for “Blind Fastener With High Strength Blind Head . . . ”. The tools can also be adapted to install swage type fasteners such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,852 issued Feb. 25, 1992 to R. Dixon for “High Strength Fastener And Method”.




Two piece fasteners of the type noted are set by hydraulic pressure which is used to create a relative axial pulling force applied by a nose assembly section between a pin and a sleeve or collar. With such fasteners installation is completed when a pintail portion of the pin is finally severed at a breakneck groove by the pulling force from the tool. Such fasteners can be installed by pneumatically-hyraulically actuated tools. In this case the hydraulic pressure is created by pneumatic pressure actuation. An example of such a tool is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,435, issued Apr. 8, 1986 to Port et al. Such tools can also be manually-hydraulically actuated. Examples of such tools are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,077, issued Feb. 3, 1981 to Gregory, U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,801, issued Apr. 28, 1981 to Gregory, U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,471 issued Dec. 25, 1984 to Gregory and U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,048 issued Apr. 5, 1988 to Gregory. There the hydraulic pressure is created by manual actuation. Such fasteners can be installed by pneumatically-hydraulically actuated tools. In this case the hydraulic pressure is created by pneumatic pressure actuation. An example of such a tool is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,435, issued Apr. 8, 1986 to Port et al. In addition pull type fasteners without a frangible pintail can be installed with the tools of the present invention.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In the installation of such pull type fasteners, it is desirable to have an installation tool which is compact and of a lightweight construction.




In the present invention, a construction is utilized which facilitates manufacture of both pneumatic-hydraulic and manual-hydraulic versions with both being of a compact lightweight construction. In this regard, a unique hydraulic pump section for providing the hydraulic pressure to the nose assembly section is provided and includes a series of valves which are in axial alignment and has a piston structure providing a coaxial fluid passage. As will be seen this hydraulic pump section with axially aligned valves having coaxial fluid passages facilitates manufacture and assembly of both the pneumatic and manually actuated tools while providing compact, lightweight structures. In this regard the hydraulic pump and the valves are substantially axially aligned together.




The pneumatic-hydraulic tool of the present invention utilizes a typically, relatively low, pneumatic pressure to provide the reciprocating action of the pneumatic drive mechanism for developing the necessary hydraulic working pressure to the nose assembly section for the pull force for installing the fastener. In this regard a unique exhaust actuating structure is utilized to cause the motoring of the pneumatic drive mechanism to provide the desired reciprocation of the hydraulic pump mechanism. At the same time, the pneumatic drive mechanism can be axially aligned with the hydraulic pump and associated valves.




In addition the housing for the pneumatic-hydraulic tool is of a two piece structure with substantially identical mirror image halves which facilitates the manufacture, assembly and maintenance of the tool.




Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and unique construction for use with pneumatic-hydraulic and manual-hydraulic fastener installation tools resulting in compact and lightweight constructions.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hydraulic pump section including axially in-line valves with coaxial fluid passages adaptable for use with pneumatic-hydraulic and manual-hydraulic tools for providing constructions which facilitate manufacture and provide tools of compact, lightweight structures.




It is still another object of the present invention to provide a tool with a new and improved hydraulic pump section including axially in-line valves which are substantially in axial alignment with the hydraulic pump mechanism.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic-hydraulic tool having a new improved hydraulic pump section including axially in-line valves with coaxial fluid passages which is substantially in axial alignment with the hydraulic pump mechanism and also substantially in axial alignment with the pneumatic drive piston for actuating the hydraulic pump section.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic-pneumatic tool having a housing of a two piece structure with substantially identical mirror image halves.




It is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pneumatic-hydraulic fastener installation tool.




It is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved manual-hydraulic fastener installation tool.




Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.




Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:





FIG. 1

is a side elevational, sectional view of a pneumatic-hydraulic installation tool embodying features of the present invention and including a hydraulic pump section including in-line valves and shown in a condition with the tool in an idle, non-actuated but pneumatically pressurized state;





FIG. 1



a


is a view similar to

FIG. 1

depicting the installation tool at one stage in its actuated state with pneumatic pressure applied; however, for purposes of simplicity a fastener to be installed is not shown;





FIG. 2

is a front elevational view of the installation tool of

FIG. 1

taken in the direction of the Arrows


2





2


in FIG.


1


and with a portion of the two piece housing broken away to depict an interconnection;





FIG. 3

is a bottom elevational view of the installation tool of

FIG. 1

taken in the direction of the Arrows


3





3


in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is an elevational, sectional view to enlarged scale of a portion of the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly of the tool of

FIG. 1

including a pneumatic piston structure as interconnected with a hydraulic piston structure;





FIG. 5

is an elevational, sectional view to enlarged scale of the hydraulic piston housing assembly of the hydraulic pump section of the tool of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is a fragmentary view to enlarged scale of the hydraulic piston structure with the axially in-line valve construction and taken generally in the area of the Circle


6


in

FIG. 1

depicting the piston structure and valve construction with the tool in the idle state with the flow of hydraulic fluid in moving for the return or idle state shown in lines with arrows indicating the direction of flow of the fluid for return;





FIG. 7

is a fragmentary view to enlarged scale similar to that of

FIG. 6

but taken generally in the area of the Circle


7


in

FIG. 1



a


depicting the piston structure and valve construction with the tool in the actuated, pressurized state during the pressure stroke of the piston structure with the flow of hydraulic fluid during actuation shown in lines with arrows indicating the direction of flow of the fluid during pressurization and with the direction of movement of the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly shown with a vertical line Ya with an arrow;





FIG. 7



a


is a fragmentary view similar to

FIG. 7

depicting the piston structure and valve construction with the tool in the actuated state during the return, non-pressurized stroke of the piston structure with the flow of hydraulic fluid shown in lines with arrows indicating the direction of fluid flow and with the direction of movement of the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly shown with a vertical line Yb with an arrow;





FIG. 7



b


is a fragmentary view similar to

FIG. 7

depicting the piston structure and valve construction with the tool in the actuated state with a high pressure relief valve actuated to prevent blockage of hydraulic fluid flow and with the direction of movement of the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly shown with a vertical line Ya with an arrow of the direction;





FIG. 8

is a sectional view of the two piece housing structure of the installation tool of

FIGS. 1-7

taken generally in the direction of the Arrows


8





8


in

FIGS. 1 and 2

and primarily depicting the interconnection between the housing halves;





FIG. 9

is a side elevational, sectional view of a manual-hydraulic installation tool embodying features of the present invention and including a hydraulic pump section with in-line valves and with the tool in a condition for the beginning stage of its energized or pull state;





FIG. 10

is an end elevational and partially sectional view of the installation tool of

FIG. 9

depicting the tool at its non-energized state at the end of its energization and in a condition for fluid pressure release and return to idle and with the gripping cover on the main housing removed;





FIG. 11

is an elevational, sectional view to enlarged scale of the hydraulic piston structure of the tool of

FIG. 9

;





FIG. 12

is an elevational, sectional view to enlarged scale of the hydraulic piston housing assembly of the hydraulic pump section of the tool of

FIG. 9

;





FIG. 13

is a fragmentary view to enlarged scale depicting the hydraulic piston structure and the axially in-line valve construction taken generally in the area of the Circle


13


in

FIG. 9

depicting the valve construction with the tool in the actuated state with the flow of hydraulic fluid during actuation shown in lines with arrows indicating the direction of flow of the fluid during actuation with the direction of movement of the hydraulic piston structure shown with a vertical line Ya with an arrow of the direction;





FIG. 13



a


is a fragmentary view similar to

FIG. 13

depicting the piston structure and valve construction with the tool in the actuated state during the return, non-pressurized stroke with the flow of hydraulic fluid shown in lines with arrows indicating the direction of fluid flow and with the direction of movement of the hydraulic piston structure shown with a vertical line Yb with an arrow;





FIG. 13



b


is a fragmentary view similar to

FIG. 13

depicting the piston structure and valve construction with the tool in the actuated state with a pressure relief valve actuated to prevent blockage of hydraulic fluid flow and with the direction of movement of the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly shown with a vertical line Ya with an arrow;





FIG. 14

is a fragmentary view to enlarged scale similar to that of

FIG. 13

but taken generally in the area of the Circle


14


in

FIG. 10

depicting the valve construction with the tool in the non-energized state for return to idle with the flow of hydraulic fluid in moving for the return to idle shown in lines with arrows indicating the direction of flow of the fluid for return;





FIG. 15

is a side elevational view of the tool of

FIG. 9

with gripping, cover elements removed from the handle and main housing and depicting in dotted lines the various operative conditions of the pivot handle;





FIG. 16

is a generally pictorial, sectional view of a resilient handle cover for assembly to the pivot handle body generally as shown in

FIG. 15

;





FIG. 17

is an elevational view of the resilient handle cover taken generally in the direction of the arrows


17





17


in

FIG. 16

;





FIG. 18

is a generally pictorial, sectional view of a resilient housing cover for assembly to the front and side sections of the main housing generally as shown in

FIG. 15

; and





FIG. 19

is a sectional view of the housing cover of

FIG. 18

taken generally along the lines


19





19


in FIG.


18


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application or uses.




Looking now to

FIG. 1

a pneumatic-hydraulic fastener installation tool


10


is shown and includes a pneumatic, air pump section


12


, a hydraulic pump section


14


and a hydraulically actuated nose assembly section


16


. In operation the hydraulic pump section


14


is operatively connected with the air pump section


12


such that actuation of the air pump section


12


, at a relatively low pneumatic pressure, will in turn cause actuation of the hydraulic pump section


14


to provide a relatively high hydraulic pressure to the nose assembly section


16


. Typical magnitudes of pressure are 90 psi pneumatic pressure to develop a hydraulic working pressure of 11,000 psi.




The nose assembly section


16


can be of a conventional construction or other pull type form for providing a relative axial pulling force to install pull type fasteners, as noted, in response to the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pump section


14


. The nose assembly section


16


includes a pull piston assembly


20


and an anvil assembly


22


. The piston assembly


20


has a hydraulic cylinder housing


24


which has a cylinder cavity of a stepped construction including an enlarged diameter section


40


and a reduced diameter section


42


.




In this regard the piston assembly


20


includes a pull piston


28


mounted in the cylinder cavity for reciprocating motion along a longitudinal X axis. The X axis is slightly inclined relative to a transverse Y axis of the pneumatic-hydraulic tool


10


. Pull piston


28


has an enlarged hydraulic piston head


32


and a forwardly extending reduced diameter piston rod


34


.




The piston rod


34


is connected to the piston head


32


by the threaded engagement of the inner end portion of the piston rod


34


with a threaded bore in the piston head


32


. The piston head


32


is slidably supported in the enlarged diameter section


40


of the cylinder cavity.




The piston rod


34


extends through the reduced diameter section


42


of the cylinder cavity. As will be seen, the reduced diameter section


42


of the cylinder cavity is adapted to initially receive hydraulic fluid under a relatively high pressure to effectuate a pull stroke of the piston


28


.




The piston rod


34


also extends axially through a front radial wall at the front end of reduced diameter section


42


and substantially beyond the reduced diameter section


42


into an outer anvil housing


26


. In this regard, the reduced diameter section


42


with the front radial wall and a portion of the enlarged diameter section


40


define a hydraulic pressure cylinder cavity


46


. The operative volume of cylinder cavity


46


will vary depending upon the position of the piston head


32


in the enlarged diameter section


40


from idle to fully actuated during the pull stroke of the piston


28


.




The outer anvil housing


26


is threadably secured to a threaded bore at the outer end of the cylinder housing


24


thereby securing the anvil assembly


22


to the pull piston assembly


20


. The anvil assembly


22


includes an inner collet assembly


48


. The collet assembly


48


in turn is threadably secured to the outer end of the piston rod


34


. Thus as pull piston


28


reciprocates along the X axis it will similarly reciprocate the collet assembly


48


within the outer anvil housing


26


. The collet assembly


48


includes a plurality of gripping jaws


54


supported in an enlarged diameter boss


56


at the outer end of a collet housing


58


. The jaws


54


are adapted to grip the pin of the fastener to be set. The anvil assembly


22


also includes an anvil member


60


having an inner portion


62


threadably secured to a bore at the outer end of the anvil housing


26


with an enlarged flange


68


engaged with the outer end of the anvil housing


26


. The flange


68


is also adapted to engage the head of a fastener sleeve or the end of a collar. In the case of the sleeve head, the flange


68


is adapted to engage a protruding or flush type head and thus is of a limited axial width.




The collet assembly


48


is normally biased to its forwardmost position when deactuated by a return coil spring


74


which is engaged between the enlarged diameter boss


56


of the collet housing


58


and the front wall of the cylinder housing


24


. The jaws


54


have a generally frusto-conically shaped outer surface adapted to be matingly slidably supported in a frusto-conically shaped bore through the boss


56


. The jaws


54


can be of a construction generally as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,648 to Gregory supra. In this regard three circumferentially equally spaced jaws


54


can be used as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,728 issued Sep. 7, 1982 to Smith. Thus the jaws


54


are formed with a plurality of gripping teeth, of a conventional structure as noted, on their arcuate inner surfaces defining a generally axially straight central jaw opening. The jaws


54


are provided with radially inwardly tapered surfaces at their outer ends adapted to engage a mating, radially outwardly tapered section at the inner end of the inner portion


62


of the anvil member


60


. At the same time the jaws


54


have similar radially inwardly tapered surfaces at their ends adapted to engage the outer end of a reduced diameter jaw biasing rod


91


. The bias rod


91


is slidably supported within a central bore extending inwardly from the outer end of the piston rod


34


. A coil spring


95


in the central bore engages the bias rod


91


biasing it axially outwardly with the bias rod


91


resiliently engaged with the tapered surfaces of jaws


54


. Thus with the nose assembly section


16


deactuated to the position shown in

FIG. 1

, the resilient engagement of the bias rod


91


with the tapered surfaces of jaws


54


will urge the inwardly tapered surfaces at the inner ends of jaws


54


into engagement with the tapered section at the inner portion


62


of anvil member


60


and will thereby bias the jaws


54


radially outwardly to their open position. In this open position the end of the fastener pin with pull grooves can be readily moved through the opening defined by the jaws


54


. In addition, the bias rod


91


has a central bore in line with the jaw opening in order to receive the extra length of the pintail that may extend through the jaw opening.




Now when the nose assembly section


16


is energized by hydraulic fluid pressure in cylinder cavity


46


the pull piston


28


will be moved axially rearwardly moving the collet assembly


48


rearwardly. As this occurs the jaws


54


will be moved radially inwardly from the mating engagement of the radially outer frusto-conical surfaces and against the bias of the bias rod


91


with the jaw teeth engaging the pull grooves of the fastener pin to exert a relative axial force between the fastener pin and the collar or sleeve by engagement therewith of the flange


68


of the anvil member


60


. In the drawings, the pin and engagement with the jaws


54


, which are well known in the art, have been omitted for purposes of simplicity and brevity. In this regard, it should be noted that the jaw teeth could be constructed to be relatively sharp to bite into a pintail portion having a relatively smooth surface without pull grooves.




The action applied between the collet assembly


48


and anvil member


60


results in a relative axial force applied to the fastener to set the fastener and whereby after it is set the pull portion of the pin is severed. As noted fasteners without a frangible pintail, pull portion can also be installed.




When this occurs the installation tool


10


is deactuated whereby the nose assembly section


16


will be returned to the condition shown in FIG.


1


. Now the jaws


54


will be biased by the return spring


74


to their opened position releasing the severed pintail or a non-severable pintail such that it can be freely ejected from the nose assembly section


16


.




In this condition the radially outer, forward end of the hydraulic piston head


32


will engage a radially inwardly extending stop surface at the inner or rearward end of the cylinder cavity


46


when the pull piston


28


is in its forwardmost or return position as biased by the return spring


74


and as shown in FIG.


1


.




As noted, in order to drive different fasteners with a relative axial force, a nose assembly section different from nose assembly section


16


may be required and can be readily used with the tool


10


.




The cylinder housing


24


of nose assembly section


16


has a base section


78


which is adapted to be seated upon a transversely extending upper platform portion


82


of an elongated main housing


84


whereby the nose assembly section


16


can be connected to the main housing


84


in a manner to be described. The main housing


84


has a relatively large diameter or cross-sectioned pneumatic cylinder portion


86


and relatively narrow cross sectioned neck or handle portion


88


which terminates at its upper end in the enlarged platform portion


82


.




The neck


88


is tubular and has a generally oblong section with the major diameter or length as shown in FIG.


1


and with the minor diameter or width as shown in

FIG. 2. A

central, through bore


90


terminates at its upper end with an annular reduced diameter flange


92


and at its lower end in an enlarged cavity


94


in the large diameter pneumatic cylinder portion


86


. The base section


78


of cylinder housing


24


of the nose assembly section


16


has a downwardly extending, axially offset annular ring portion


97


adapted to be matingly received within the annular flange


92


of the main housing


84


.




The main housing


84


is of a two piece structure comprised of housing halves


84




a


and


84




b


which are of generally identical mirror image constructions (See FIGS.


2


and


8


). The housing half


84




a


is shown in

FIGS. 1 and 1A

. The housing halves


84




a


and


84




b


are connected together by self-tapping bolts


99


having a head portion and a threaded shank portion extending into a plurality of bores


101


and


103


, respectively. See FIG.


8


. The bores


101


in housing half


84




a


are through bores which extend transversely to the Y axis of the main housing


84


and have an outer enlarged counterbore portion at its outer end connected to an inner enlarged bore portion at its inner end with a reduced diameter portion


101




a


being intermediate of the outer and inner enlarged bore portions. At the same time the bores


103


in housing half


84




b


also extend transversely to the Y axis and are in alignment with the bores


101


. The bores


103


, however, are closed at their outer ends, and have cylindrical bosses


117


extending inwardly from their inner ends. The bosses


117


are adapted to matingly fit within the inner enlarged bore portions in housing half


84




a


to facilitate alignment of the bores


101


and


103


and of the housing halves


84




a


and


84




b


and also to strengthen the connection of the housing halves


84




a


and


84




b


. As can be seen in

FIG. 8

, the bores


101


while generally of the same construction may differ somewhat depending upon the location in the housing half


84




a


. The same is true of bores


103


in housing half


84




b.






At the same time the housing half


84




a


has reduced thickness ribs


111


extending outwardly generally around the periphery of its end surface. The housing half


84




b


, in turn, has mating grooves


115


located in its end surface and extending generally co-extensively with the ribs


111


of housing half


84




a


. See FIG.


2


. In assembling the housing halves


84




a


and


84




b


, the peripheral ribs


111


are matingly located in the peripheral grooves


115


with the bosses


117


in housing half


84




a


located in the outer enlarged bore portions of bores


101


Now, the housing halves


84




a


and


84




b


are removably locked together by the self-tapping bolts


99


. The enlarged heads of the bolts


99


are located in the outer counterbore portions at the outer end of the through bores


101


with the threaded shank portions extending through the reduced diameter portions


101




a


with clearance. The threaded shank portions of the bolts


99


then move into engagement with the bores


103


in housing half


84




b


. The bores


103


are of a reduced diameter less than that of the shank portions of the bolts


99


. The threaded shank portions of the self-tapping bolts


99


are then threaded into the bores


103


. The self-tapping is facilitated by the fact that the main housing


84


, as will be noted, is made of a plastic material. This then securely joins the housing halves


84




a


and


84




b


together. The bolts


99


, of course, can be readily removed for separation of the housing halves


84




a


and


84




b


for maintenance, repair, etc. of the tool


10


. When assembled an end cap


110


is clamped in place at the lower, open end of the large diameter cylinder portion


86


of the main housing


84


.




A one piece pneumatic cylinder structure


96


is fixedly supported within the cavity


94


at the large diameter cylinder portion


86


of the main housing


84


. The cylinder structure


96


has a pneumatic cylinder cavity


100


which is open at its upper end and has an annular pocket


102


at its opposite or lower end which has a reduced diameter exhaust port or bore


105


which serves a purpose to be described. The annular pocket


102


can communicate the pneumatic cylinder cavity


100


to the atmosphere through the reduced diameter exhaust bore


105


in a manner to be described. The cylinder structure


96


is axially supported on radially inwardly, circumferentially extending ledges such as ledges


107


and is also held in a radially and axially fixed position by other elements including additional generally circumferentially, radially extending ribs such as ribs


109


.




A pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


includes a pneumatic piston structure


104




a


operatively connected to a hydraulic piston structure


104




b


. The details of the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


and the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


and hydraulic piston structure


104




b


may be most clearly seen in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. Thus many of the numeral references are shown only in

FIGS. 4 and 5

.




The pneumatic piston structure


104




a


has an enlarged pneumatic piston head


106


at its lower end which is reciprocably supported within the cylinder cavity


100


. The pneumatic piston head


106


has a reduced diameter end portion


108


extending upwardly therefrom. An annular seal in piston head


106


provides a pneumatic seal between the piston head


106


and the confronting wall surface of the cavity


100


. In this regard it can be seen from the drawings that numerous seals are shown. However, since such seals are of constructions well known in the art the specific designation and description of same have been essentially omitted for purposes of brevity and simplicity.




The cylinder structure


96


has an integral annular, tubular inlet connector section


114


extending transversely from the cavity


100


with the tubular section


114


in fluid communication with the cavity


100


via a reduced diameter air inlet bore


116


. The tubular section


114


has an internally threaded portion for threadable connection with a pneumatic coupling


120


having a pivotal structure which in turn is adapted to be pivotally connected to a conventional pneumatic line (not shown) from a supply of pneumatic pressure generally indicated by the numeral


122


. The coupling


120


and air pressure supply


122


are of conventional structures and hence the details thereof, which do not constitute a part of the present invention, have been omitted for purposes of simplicity and brevity.




A generally annular separator plate


124


is substantially fixedly located within the pneumatic cylinder cavity


100


at its lower end. The plate


124


is supported upon an annular shoulder in the cavity


100


at a proximate but spaced relationship relative to the annular pocket


102


and thereby separates an upper portion of the cavity


100


from the pocket


102


for a purpose to be described. The separator plate


124


has a central exhaust through bore


130


which has a straight exhaust bore portion connected at its upper end with a radially outwardly tapered sealing bore portion


132


. The central through bore


130


is generally co-axial with the reduced diameter exhaust bore


105


of the annular pocket


102


. The separator plate


124


has an annular seal in its radially outer surface which provides a seal with the confronting surface of the cavity


100


. A ball check exhaust valve assembly


136


is actuable to provide a pneumatic exhaust to the atmosphere at the bore


105


and includes a ball seal


138


which is engageable with an upper tapered portion connected to the reduced diameter exhaust bore


105


. The ball seal


138


is biased into sealing engagement with the tapered seat portion by pneumatic pressure in the cavity


100


and also by bias from a coil spring


140


which serves an additional purpose to be described. In this regard the end cap


110


has a pair of exhaust bores


137


which open to the atmosphere whereby the air can flow outwardly from the cylinder cavity


100


when the ball seal


138


is unseated. See FIG.


3


. In addition a porous filter


139


is located in the end cap


110


over the exhaust bores


137


to control the outward exhaust of air to avoid a directed pressure force and also to muffle the sound of the exhaust. See

FIGS. 1 and 1



a.






As shown in

FIG. 1

, the pneumatic-hydraulic installation tool


10


is in the idle, non-actuated state, however, with pneumatic pressure applied. A coil spring


142


is in engagement with the vertically upper side of the piston head


106


and a fixed surface


141


in the through bore


90


of the neck


88


of the main housing


84


to resiliently bias the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


, and thus the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


, vertically downwardly. However, as can be seen, the pneumatic pressure source


122


continuously applies pressure to the cavity


100


via the coupling


120


and the inlet bore


116


. The magnitude of pressure and the area of the piston head


106


are such that in the idle condition with the exhaust bore


105


closed the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


, and thus the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


, will be moved to its vertically uppermost position against the bias of the coil spring


142


. In this position the piston end portion


108


of the pneumatic piston head


106


will be moved into stopping engagement with the lower end


143


of an elongated, vertically extending hydraulic piston housing


144


which is a part of a hydraulic piston housing assembly


145


to be described. See

FIGS. 1

,


4


and


5


.




The pneumatic piston structure


104




a


includes an air popit valve assembly


146


connected to the piston head


106


and which is actuable to block the exhaust of pneumatic pressure from the cavity


100


by selective engagement with the tapered sealing bore portion


132


. As can be best seen in

FIG. 4

, the popit valve assembly


146


is supported at the lower end of the pneumatic piston head


106


. The air popit valve assembly


146


includes a cylindrical housing


148


which has a connecting portion


152


threadably secured to a threaded portion of an axial bore


154


through the pneumatic piston head


106


. A popit member


156


is threadably connected to the outer end of a support sleeve


158


. The support sleeve


158


has a reduced diameter portion


159


terminating in an enlarged end flange


160


by which it is slidably supported within the cylindrical housing


148


. The reduced diameter portion


159


extends out through a reduced diameter opening at the lower end of the popit valve housing


148


. In this condition the popit member


156


is located outside of the cylindrical housing


148


and has enlarged popit head


162


at its lower end. The popit head


162


has a generally hemispherically shaped outer surface which is adapted to matingly engage the tapered sealing bore portion


132


to effectively close the exhaust path through bore


130


to thereby block the exhaust of air through the exhaust bore


105


. A coil spring


164


is resiliently connected to the support sleeve


158


at a reduced diameter neck portion below the flange


160


for movement with the support sleeve


158


and for engagement with the vertically lower end of the housing


148


when the popit member


156


has been raised with the popit head


162


out of engagement with the tapered sealing bore portion


132


. In this regard, the length of the coil spring


164


is selected to maintain the popit head


162


at a desired distance beyond the lower end of the housing


148


when not engaged with the tapered bore portion


132


. This distance is selected to set the desired time and travel of the pneumatic, hydraulic piston assembly


104


over which the popit head


162


will travel for engagement with the tapered bore portion


132


whereby the exhaust of air from and hence reduction of pressure in the pneumatic cylinder cavity


100


will be blocked. The cyclic alternation between the air pressure in the cavity


100


when blocked from exhaust and when open to exhaust provides the desired oscillation of pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


to thereby pump hydraulic fluid into the cylinder cavity


46


to actuate the pull piston


28


to set a fastener in the manner described.




The pneumatic-hydraulic tool


10


has a trigger assembly which includes a manually actuable trigger member


166


which is slidably secured to the vertically upper portion of the neck


88


of the main housing


84


. At the same time a valve actuating rod


168


has a downwardly extending elongated arm portion


170


, which is slidably supported for reciprocation within the main housing


84


, and extends downwardly from the trigger member


166


substantially to the end cap


110


. The upper end of the arm portion


170


terminates in an outwardly extending, upwardly angulated tab


171


which is located proximate to a central, transverse actuating rib


173


in the trigger member


166


. An actuating arm portion


172


extends transversely from the lower end of the elongated arm portion


170


and terminates in an upwardly extending finger portion


174


which is located in close proximity to the ball seal


138


.




As noted the valve actuating rod


168


is substantially totally located within the main housing


84


. An upper section of the arm portion


170


is slidably supported against a transversely extending inner wall section


169


in the main housing


84


.




Now to actuate the tool


10


, the operator simply grips the tool


10


at the neck or handle portion


88


and pulls the trigger member


166


inwardly. This moves the rib


173


into engagement with the angulated tab


171


causing the valve actuating rod


168


and finger portion


174


to move upwardly. Now the finger portion


174


moves the ball seal


138


upwardly against the bias of the spring


140


to unseat it from the exhaust bore


105


whereby the pneumatic pressure in the cavity


100


is exhausted. See

FIG. 1



a


. As this occurs the bias on the spring


142


is now sufficient to move the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


downwardly to move the popit head


162


into sealing engagement with the tapered sealing bore portion


132


. This movement of the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


may continue until the flange


160


of the popit support sleeve


158


is moved upwardly into engagement with a damper plate


175


. The damper plate


175


can be made of a generally resilient plastic material to minimize any impact loads upon engagement with the flange


160


. A typical plastic material can be a nylon with a fiber glass filler. With the exhaust bore


105


closed, the magnitude of air pressure in the pneumatic cylinder cavity


100


rises to a magnitude at which the bias of spring


142


is again overcome whereby the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


is now moved vertically upwardly in a power stroke. However, the popit head


162


remains seated until the flange


160


is engaged by a reduced diameter shoulder


179


located within the housing


148


. This assists in providing a preselected distance for upward movement of the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


before the popit head


162


is unseated and the cavity


100


is open to exhaust through the valve assembly


136


. Now the popit head


162


will be unseated and the cycle will then be reversed. However during the cycle, the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


on the vertical upward power stroke does not reach its uppermost idle stop position in which the end portion


108


of the pneumatic piston head


106


engages the lower end


143


of the hydraulic piston housing


144


in response to pneumatic pressure.




In this regard the restriction created by the reduced diameter inlet bore


116


is selected to control the rate of rise of pneumatic pressure in cylinder cavity


100


to thereby slow the speed of the upward stroke of the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


during the pressurization of the hydraulic fluid to avoid shock loads and the like.




At the same time, the restriction of the inlet bore


116


facilitates the speed of exhaustion of air pressure from the cavity


100


whereby the downward movement of the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


, and the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


, by the spring


142


is generally not impeded by full air flow from the pressure source


122


into the cavity


100


. In this regard, the popit head


162


is seated against the tapered sealing bore portion


132


of exhaust through bore


130


before the pneumatic hydraulic piston assembly


104


has reached the end of its downward stroke. At the same time the restriction of inlet bore


116


also assists the return spring


142


in limiting the rate of upward return movement of the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


and reduces shock load and noise. This spaces the piston end portion


108


approximately a preselected distance Pn (see

FIG. 1



a


) from the lower end


143


which serves an operational function to be described while at the same time avoiding vibrational impact loads and excessive wear. Thus the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


will reciprocate over a total distance Ph, (see

FIG. 1



a


). The air pressure in the cavity


100


also acts on the popit head


162


to maintain it seated against tapered sealing bore portion


132


until engagement of the flange


160


with the shoulder


179


. This then provides a lost motion type structure during initial movement of the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


in the upward stroke. As will be seen it is these series of reciprocations of the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


over the distance Ph which results in the pumping of hydraulic fluid under pressure into the cylinder cavity


46


during the power strokes to cause the pulling action of the pull piston


28


.




It should be noted, however, that if the tool


10


were not connected to the pneumatic pressure source


122


, the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


would be in the position as shown in

FIG. 1

a regardless of whether the trigger member


166


was actuated or not.




The pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


has the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


connected to the pneumatic piston head


106


. The hydraulic piston structure


104




b


has an elongated hydraulic piston


177


which has a cylindrical housing section


178


which is connected to the pneumatic piston head


106


by a flange


180


at its lower end portion


181


. See FIG.


4


. The flange


180


is located in the bore


154


in engagement with a reduced diameter stepped portion at the upper end of the bore


154


. The housing section


178


is sealed at its lower end by a plug


184


threadably secured therein. The damper plate


175


is located in the bore


154


in engagement with the plugged lower end of the housing section


178


. The hydraulic piston structure


104




b


and damper plate


175


are secured in the bore


154


by the threaded connection of the popit valve housing


148


therein.




It can be seen, as noted, that the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


includes the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


and the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


. Here some of the elements of the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


which are secured to the pneumatic piston head


106


operate as a common piston rod for the pneumatic piston head


106


of the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


and for the hydraulic piston


177


of the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


. Thus the designation pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


is appropriately applied to this interconnected structure.




Looking now to

FIG. 4

, the housing section


178


has a reduced diameter upper portion


183


which terminates at its upper end in a head portion


186


which has a cavity


187


in its outer end in which an elongated piston valve rod


188


is secured. The piston valve rod


188


has a central vertical bore


190


which is communicated with a radial cross bore


192


at its upper end. The rod bore


190


at its lower end is in communication with an axial bore


194


at the end of the cavity


187


which can communicate with the inside of the cylindrical housing section


178


. A high pressure relief valve


195


, which serves a purpose to be described, includes a valve head


196


which is resiliently supported by a coil spring


198


and has a tapered valve boss at its upper end biased into sealing engagement with an enlarged tapered valve seat at the lower outer end of the axial bore


194


. The valve head


196


is in clearance with the confronting internal surface of the housing section


178


to provide a fluid passage for a purpose to be seen. A support pin


197


is supported on the plug


184


and extends axially through the coil spring


198


to a point spaced from the bottom of the relief valve head


196


. The support pin


197


limits the downward movement of the valve head


196


in response to fluid pressure for pressure relief to be described.




The hydraulic piston structure


104




b


is operatively connected to the piston housing assembly


145


, the details of which can be best seen in FIG.


5


. Looking now to

FIGS. 1

,


1




a


and


5


, the piston housing assembly


145


is in a fixed position in the neck or handle portion


88


of the main housing


84


, and includes the elongated piston housing


144


. The housing


144


has an annular slot


202


at its lower end


143


adapted to be supported on an annular ledge


206


in the main housing


84


by which the housing assembly


145


is held in the fixed position at the inside of the main housing


84


.




An elongated, elastic, cylindrical bladder


204


extends vertically around a portion of the outer surface of the housing


144


and is held in sealed relationship in transversely spaced grooves in the outer surface by resilient rings


210


,


212


at the opposite ends. The bladder


204


defines a fluid reservoir cavity


214


with the confronting surface of the housing


144


with the reservoir cavity


214


having a preselected volume for holding the necessary amount of hydraulic fluid to be pressurized for actuating the pull piston assembly


20


.




The housing assembly


145


has a connector member


216


which has a bottom portion


218


threadably connected to a threaded bore portion


220


at the upper end of the housing


144


with a flange


222


on the connector member


216


adapted to be seated on the upper end of the housing


144


. The connection between the bottom portion


218


and the bore portion


220


is hydraulically sealed by an annular seal.




The housing


144


has a reserve pressure cavity


226


at its lower end and a main pressure cavity


228


at its upper end which are in fluid communication with each other by way of a reduced diameter bore


230


having an enlarged tapered valve seat at the lower side of the main pressure cavity


228


. The reserve pressure cavity


226


is in communication with the reservoir cavity


214


by an upper cross bore or port


231


and a lower cross bore or port


233


extending radially through the housing


144


. The upper cross bore


231


is located generally midway along the reservoir cavity


214


and near the top of the reserve pressure cavity


226


while the lower cross bore


233


is located proximate to the lower end of the reservoir cavity


214


and near the bottom of the reserve pressure cavity


226


.




A fluid return valve assembly


234


is located in the main pressure cavity


228


and includes an upper cylindrical casing


235


with a tubular valve head


238


connected to its lower reduced diameter end portion. An annular hydraulic seal


243


seals the bore


230


with the piston valve rod


188


which is reciprocably mounted therein as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


1




a


,


6


and


7


. The return valve head


238


terminates at its lower end in a tapered nose portion


244


adapted to matingly, sealing engage the tapered valve seat of bore


230


. However, the upper cylinder casing


235


and the straight portion of the valve head


238


are in clearance relationship with the confronting surface of the main pressure cavity


228


to define a fluid passage for a purpose to be described. The return valve assembly


234


is biased downwardly by a coil spring


236


to maintain resilient, closed engagement of the nose portion


244


against the tapered valve seat. The opposite ends of the coil spring


236


are located in confronting counterbores in the bottom portion


218


of connector member


216


and upper portion of the casing


235


, respectively.




The counterbore in bottom portion


218


is at the lower end of a reduced diameter bore portion


242


of a bore extending through the connector member


216


and which includes the counterbore. The reduced diameter bore portion


242


is connected to a similarly sized upper bore portion


245


by a reduced diameter valve seat bore


246


which has a tapered upper valve seat. An access ball valve


250


is located in the upper bore portion


245


and is resiliently urged into sealing engagement with the tapered valve seat of bore


246


by a coil spring


252


. The upper end of spring


252


is in engagement with a cylindrical end plug


254


which is press fitted into the upper end of the upper bore portion


245


. As can be seen in

FIGS. 1 and 1



a


the piston housing assembly


145


is adapted to be connected to the hydraulic cylinder housing


24


of the pull piston assembly


20


by a threaded connection between a reduced diameter end portion


256


of the connector member


216


and a through bore


258


in the cylinder housing


24


in communication with the cylinder cavity


46


. An annular seal hydraulically seals the connection. As will be seen in this way hydraulic fluid under pressure can be communicated to the cylinder cavity


46


from the piston housing assembly


145


.




The hydraulic piston structure


104




b


also includes a ball check refill valve


260


. The ball check refill valve


260


includes a sleeve


262


which is located within a counterbore in the lower end of the valve head


196


. A coil spring


264


has an upper end located in a bore portion in a through bore


268


in the valve head


196


and biases a ball seal


270


into sealing engagement with a tapered valve seat at the lower end of an enlarged bore portion in the sleeve


262


. A radial cross bore


271


is located below the ball seal


270


to provide a fluid path to the through bore


268


in the event the valve head


196


is seated upon the support pin


197


blocking the bottom of the through bore


268


.




As noted,

FIGS. 1 and 6

show the pneumatic-hydraulic tool


10


in its idle or deactuated condition. Here the trigger member


166


has not been actuated and the ball check exhaust valve assembly


136


is in its closed position, i.e. exhaust bore


105


closed by the ball seal


138


. At the same time, the pneumatic cylinder cavity


100


is pressurized by air pressure from the pneumatic pressure source


122


. The pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


is thereby moved to its vertically uppermost position against the bias of the coil spring


142


with the pneumatic piston end portion


108


in engagement with lower end


143


of the piston housing


144


. In this condition, the upper end of the piston valve rod


188


will be in engagement with the ball valve


250


to maintain it off the associated valve seat while the return valve head


238


is unseated by engagement with an enlarged shoulder


272


at the lower end of the piston valve rod


188


. In this way, the cylinder cavity


46


in the hydraulic cylinder housing


24


is open and in fluid communication with.the reservoir cavity


214


. In this condition the return spring


74


will maintain the pull piston


28


in its returned or deactuated condition.




To actuate the tool


10


, the operator simply pulls the trigger member


166


inwardly. As can be seen in

FIG. 1



a


, this then moves the associated actuating rod


168


upwardly whereby the finger portion


174


unseats the ball seal


138


. Now the pressurized air in the pneumatic cylinder cavity


100


is exhausted through the open exhaust bore


105


causing the pressure in the cavity


100


to drop. As this occurs, the bias of the spring


140


becomes sufficient to move the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


with the pneumatic piston head


106


vertically downwardly. The piston head


106


moves downwardly a preselected distance bringing the popit head


162


of the popit member


156


into engagement with the tapered sealing bore portion


132


. This movement will continue until the popit member


156


is brought to its end position with the flange


160


in engagement with the damper plate


175


. It can be seen from

FIG. 1

that after movement of the piston head


106


downwardly a short distance the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


is moved downwardly and the piston valve rod


188


is moved out of engagement with the ball valve


250


. Now the ball valve


250


is urged into engagement with the valve seat by the spring


252


to close the cylinder cavity


46


. It can be seen from

FIG. 1



a


that in its lowermost position, the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


has moved the piston valve rod


188


a preselected distance from engagement with the ball valve


250


. As will be seen that preselected distance is essentially determined by the stroke Ph of the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


for compression of hydraulic fluid.




As noted,

FIG. 6

shows the tool


10


in its deactuated or return condition with fluid in the cylinder cavity


46


of the nose assembly section


16


being returned to the reservoir cavity


214


while

FIG. 7

shows the tool


10


during the pressure stroke with fluid under pressure being moved into the cylinder cavity


46


to energize the pull piston


28


. In both

FIGS. 6 and 7

the flow of fluid is shown in lines with arrows indicating the direction of flow of the fluid. Looking now to

FIG. 7

, the valve construction is shown in its state for transmitting pressurized hydraulic fluid to the cylinder cavity


46


in the nose assembly section


16


. As the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


moves upwardly during reciprocation in response to the pneumatic pressure in the cavity


100


, the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


is moved upwardly in the direction Ya moving the piston valve rod


188


further into the main pressure cavity


228


. As this occurs the available volume in the main pressure cavity


228


in the housing


144


is reduced resulting in the fluid therein being pressurized. The pressurized fluid in the main pressure cavity


228


moves the ball valve


250


upwardly against the spring


252


away from the valve seat whereby pressurized fluid will flow through the upper bore portion


245


and into the cylinder cavity


46


. This then applies hydraulic pressure to the piston head


32


to initiate its rearward movement to apply the pull stroke on the hydraulic piston rod


34


. At the same time the upward movement of the housing section


178


of the piston structure


104




b


reduces the volume in the reserve cavity


226


moving hydraulic fluid through the cross bores


231


and


233


into the reservoir cavity


214


to increase the pressure therein with the elastic bladder


204


resiliently expanding to accept the additional fluid.




The condition of the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


, the housing assembly


145


and the valve construction during the return stroke of the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


caused by the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


during its reciprocation is shown in

FIG. 7



a


. The direction of flow of hydraulic fluid with the tool


10


actuated on the return stroke is shown by lines with arrows. Now as the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


is moved downwardly in the direction Yb, the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


is moved downwardly. At the same time the downward movement of valve rod


188


will result in the volume of the main pressure cavity


228


increasing whereby the pressure therein will decrease to initiate the creation of a relative vacuum. The ball valve


250


will be returned to the valve seat by the spring


252


to close access to the cylinder cavity


46


to maintain the fluid and pressure level in the cylinder cavity


46


. At the same time the pressure in the reserve cavity


226


and the reservoir cavity


214


while decreasing will be maintained substantially higher and will cause the ball seal


270


of the refill valve


260


to be unseated. Now hydraulic fluid from the reservoir cavity


214


will flow into the reserve cavity


226


and through the clearance between the valve head


196


and the confronting surface of the housing section


178


, through the cross bore


271


into the through bore


268


and into the central rod bore


190


of the piston valve rod


188


and out through the cross bore


192


into the main pressure cavity


228


. This then refills the main pressure cavity


228


with hydraulic fluid for pressurization into the cylinder cavity


46


upon the next upward pressure stroke of the pneumatic piston structure


104




a


during reciprocation. This cycle continues while the installation tool


10


is actuated until the installation of the fastener is completed. Upon deactuation of the installation tool


10


, it will be returned to its idle condition as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 6

and as previously described.




At the end of the power or pressure stroke, as the pneumatic pressure drops in the pneumatic cylinder cavity


100


the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


will be moved downwardly by the spring


142


to a position at which the exhaust through bore


130


is again closed and after which time the cycle repeats itself. The reduction in pneumatic pressure is facilitated by the reduced diameter inlet bore


116


which acts to restrict the flow of air from the pneumatic pressure source


122


back into the pneumatic cylinder cavity


100


at a preselected rate. It should be noted, however, that since the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


on the pressure stroke does not reach its full uppermost position as in idle, the piston valve rod


188


will not engage the access ball valve


250


whereby the hydraulic pressure in the cylinder cavity


46


will be maintained during the reciprocating cycle of the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


. Thus the hydraulic piston head


32


will continue to be moved rearwardly moving the piston rod


34


to close the jaws


54


onto the fastener pin and exert the noted relative axial pulling force to set the fastener. Once the fastener is set the operator returns the tool


10


to its deactuated idle condition by releasing the trigger member


166


whereby the ball seal


138


is again seated to close the exhaust port or bore


105


.




Looking now to

FIG. 7



b


, as noted, the hydraulic piston structure


104




b


includes a high pressure relief valve


195


. In the event the piston head


32


of the pull piston


28


of the.nose assembly section


16


is blocked from movement and the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


is still actuated to move in the direction Ya to compress the hydraulic fluid in the main pressure cavity


228


, the relief valve


195


is operable in response to the increase in hydraulic pressure to a preselected magnitude above the normal operating pressure in the main cavity


228


to move the valve head


196


away from the tapered valve seat against the bias of the spring


198


. With the relief valve


195


open hydraulic fluid is released from the main cavity


228


, through the cross bore


192


and into the central bore


190


, through axial bore


194


and then through a radial cross bore


259


in the housing section


178


just below the head portion


186


and into the reserve cavity


226


and then into the reservoir cavity


214


to thereby relieve the pressure. This magnitude of pressure and fluid flow from the main cavity


228


is transmitted to the valve head


196


through the central bore


190


in the piston valve rod


188


. This inhibits excessive pressure build up and/or stoppage of the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


. The direction of flow of hydraulic fluid in pressure relief is shown in

FIG. 7



b


by lines with arrows. Now when the operator releases the trigger member


166


, the tool


10


can be brought back into its deactuated condition as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 6

.




In this condition, the pneumatic-hydraulic piston assembly


104


will be returned to its uppermost position with the pneumatic piston end portion


108


in engagement with the lower end


143


of the housing


144


. This results in the piston valve rod


188


being returned to its uppermost position to engage and unseat the access ball valve


250


. At the same time the shoulder


272


on the piston valve rod


188


will have engaged the valve head


238


to unseat it. Now the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder cavity


46


will be returned to the reservoir cavity


214


by the force of the return spring


74


moving the pull piston


28


to its forward, returned position. The fluid will flow back through the upper bore portion


245


through the bore


246


, into the reduced diameter bore portion


242


, around the piston valve rod


188


and casing


235


, then past the return valve head


238


which is unseated then around the clearance between the bore


230


and the confronting surface of the piston valve rod


188


and through cross bores or ports


231


and into the reservoir cavity


214


. This can best be seen in

FIG. 6

with the direction of flow of hydraulic fluid being shown by lines with arrows. The upper surface of the head portion


186


is tapered to facilitate the clearance for return flow.




As can be seen, the hydraulic valving construction of the hydraulic pump section


14


as described above is essentially in axial alignment. Thus the pressure relief valve


195


, the return valve


234


, the access ball valve


250


and the refill valve


260


are all in axial alignment. In addition, the hydraulic valves are also in axial alignment with the pneumatic valving including the exhaust valve assembly


136


and the popit valve assembly


146


with the exhaust bore


130


. This facilitates manufacture, maintenance and/or repair of the hydraulic pump section


14


and also facilitates the tool


10


being of a compact and relatively lightweight structure.




In this regard, the two piece structure of the main housing


84


facilitates its manufacture from a lightweight plastic material and also to facilitate formation of an ergonomic contour for gripping by the operator. Likewise the pneumatic cylinder structure


96


can also be made of a lightweight plastic material. Such plastic materials include materials sold under the trade names DELRIN and CELCON.




Another form of the present invention is a manual-hydraulic tool structure which also has an in-line valve structure having numerous ones of the noted advantages of the pneumatic-hydraulic tool


10


. Thus looking now to

FIGS. 9-19

a manual-hydraulic tool


300


is shown having an in-line valve structure similar to that of the pneumatic-hydraulic tool


10


. Thus in the description of the manual-hydraulic tool


300


it will be seen that there are numerous components and functional features similar to those of the pneumatic-hydraulic tool


10


.




Looking now to

FIGS. 9 and 10

the manual-hydraulic fastener installation tool


300


is shown and includes a manual pump section


600


, a hydraulic pump section


314


and a hydraulically actuated nose assembly section


316


. The hydraulic pump section


314


is operatively connected with the manual pump section


600


such that manual actuation of the manual pump section


600


by the operator will in turn cause actuation of the hydraulic pump section


314


to provide fluid at a relatively high hydraulic pressure to the nose assembly section


316


. A typical hydraulic pressure attained was around 11,000 psi.

FIG. 9

shows the tool


300


in a condition for initiation of pressurized actuation, however, with the nose assembly section


316


in the condition to receive the pin of a fastener to be installed.




The nose assembly section


316


can be of a generally conventional construction for providing a relative axial pulling force to install pull type fasteners, as noted, in response to the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pump section


314


. In this regard the nose assembly section


316


is substantially identical with the nose assembly section


16


except for the anvil member


360


which is somewhat different than the anvil member


60


. Thus for purposes of brevity and simplicity all of the details of the elements of the nose assembly section


316


which are similar to those of the nose assembly section


16


have not been repeated here and such details are incorporated herein by reference. Thus the nose assembly section


316


includes a pull piston assembly


320


and an anvil assembly


322


. The piston assembly


320


has a hydraulic cylinder housing


324


which has a cylinder cavity of a stepped construction including an enlarged diameter section


340


and a reduced diameter section


342


.




The piston assembly


320


includes a pull piston


328


mounted in the cylinder cavity for reciprocating motion along a longitudinal axis X. Pull piston


328


has an enlarged hydraulic piston head


332


threadably connected to a reduced diameter piston rod


334


. The piston head


332


is slidably supported in the enlarged diameter section


340


of the cylinder cavity.




The piston rod


334


extends through the reduced diameter section


342


of the cylinder cavity which is adapted to initially receive hydraulic fluid under pressure to effectuate a pull stroke of the piston


328


. The piston rod


334


also extends axially through a front radial wall and into the anvil housing


326


. In this regard, the reduced diameter section


342


and a portion of the enlarged diameter section


340


define a hydraulic pressure cylinder cavity


346


.




The anvil assembly


322


includes an inner collet assembly


348


. The outer anvil housing


326


is threadably secured at the outer end of the cylinder housing


324


thereby securing the anvil assembly


322


to the piston assembly


320


. The collet assembly


348


is threadably secured to the outer end of the piston rod


334


. Thus as pull piston


328


reciprocates along the X axis it will similarly reciprocate the collet assembly


348


. The collet assembly


348


includes a plurality of gripping jaws


354


supported in an enlarged diameter boss


356


at the outer end of a collet housing


358


. The jaws


354


are adapted to grip the pin of the fastener to be set. The anvil assembly


322


also includes an anvil member


360


having an inner portion


362


threadably secured to a bore at the outer end of the anvil housing


326


with an enlarged flange


368


adapted to engage the outer end of the anvil housing


326


. The anvil member


360


, unlike the anvil member


60


, has a reduced diameter anvil nose portion


370


extending outwardly from the flange


368


of the anvil member


360


. The nose portion


370


is adapted to engage the head of a fastener sleeve which head can be of a flush head construction. In addition the threaded inner portion


362


is shorter than the threaded inner portion


62


of anvil member


60


. This permits the jaws


354


to extend partially into the bore at the outer end of the anvil housing


326


. As noted these are essentially the only differences between the nose assembly sections


16


and


316


.




The collet assembly


348


is normally biased to its forwardmost position when deactuated by a return coil spring


374


. The jaws


354


have a generally frusto-conically shaped radially outer surface adapted to be matingly slidably supported in a frusto-conically shaped bore through the boss


356


. The jaws


354


are formed with a plurality of gripping teeth on their radially inner surfaces. The jaws


354


are provided with radially inwardly tapered surfaces at their axially outer ends adapted to engage a mating, radially outwardly tapered section at the inner end of the inner portion


362


of the anvil member


360


. The jaws


354


also have similar radially inwardly tapered surfaces at their axially inner ends adapted to engage the outer end of a reduced diameter jaw biasing rod


391


. The bias rod


391


is slidably supported within a central bore in the piston rod


334


and a coil spring


395


engages the bias rod


391


biasing it axially outwardly to resiliently engage the confronting tapered surfaces of jaws


354


. Thus with the nose assembly section


316


shown in a position prior to actuation as illustrated in

FIG. 9

, the engagement of the bias rod


391


with the tapered surfaces of jaws


354


will urge the inwardly tapered surfaces at the inner ends of jaws


354


into engagement with the tapered section at inner portion


362


of anvil member


360


and will thereby bias the jaws


354


radially outwardly to their open position. In this open position the end of the fastener pin with pull grooves can be readily moved through the jaws


354


.




Now when the nose assembly section


316


is energized by hydraulic fluid pressure in cylinder cavity


346


the pull piston


328


will be moved axially rearwardly moving the collet assembly


348


rearwardly. As this occurs the jaws


354


will be moved radially inwardly from the engagement of the frusto-conical surfaces and against the bias of the bias rod


391


with the jaw teeth engaging the confronting surface of the fastener pin to exert a relative axial force between the fastener pin and the collar or sleeve by engagement therewith of the nose portion


370


of the anvil member


360


. In the drawings, the pin and engagement with the jaws


354


have been omitted for purposes of simplicity and brevity.




The action applied between the collet assembly


348


and anvil member


360


results in a relative axial force applied to the fastener to set the fastener and whereby after it is set the frangible pull portion of the pin is severed under increased load. However, as noted, pull type fasteners without frangible pull portions or pull portions without pull grooves can also be installed with the tool


300


. When this occurs the installation tool


300


is deactuated, in a manner to be described, whereby the nose assembly section


316


will return to the condition shown in FIG.


9


. Now the jaws


354


will be biased by the return spring


374


to their opened position (as shown in

FIG. 9

) releasing the severed pintail or a nonseverable pintail such that it can be freely ejected from the nose assembly section


316


.




The cylinder housing


324


has a base section


378


which is adapted to be seated upon an upper transversely extending platform portion


601


of a generally vertically extending, elongated housing assembly


602


whereby the nose assembly section


316


can be connected to the housing assembly


602


. The housing assembly


602


is configured with a relatively circular cross-section formed as a handle to facilitate manual gripping by the operator.




The housing assembly


602


has a main housing


602




a


of a one piece cylindrical construction and which houses and/or supports the operative elements. The main housing


602




a


is made of a relatively rigid lightweight metallic material such as aluminum and terminates at its upper end in a platform support section


603




a


which is a part of the platform portion


601


. However, in order to facilitate ergonomic gripping for manual action the housing assembly


602


includes an elastomeric housing cover


602




b


made of a material such as Nylon


6


. See

FIGS. 9

,


18


and


19


. The housing cover


602




b


extends for around 270° over the front and side portions of the main housing


602




a


and can be simply elastically snapped in place. The housing cover


602




b


terminates at its upper, end in a forwardly extending portion


603




b


, which is adapted to engage the nose assembly section


316


. At the same time, an arcuate rib


604


is provided at the bottom of the housing cover


602




b


upon which the operator's hand can be supported while gripping during actuation. The housing cover


602




b


is not shown in FIG.


10


.




As shown in

FIG. 10

, the manual-hydraulic installation tool


300


is in a state at the end of an energization cycle and in a condition for release of fluid pressure and return of hydraulic fluid to the idle condition.

FIGS. 9 and 14

, however, depict the manual-hydraulic installation tool


300


in a condition for the initiation of energization to be described.




Now to actuate the tool


300


, the operator simply grips the lower portion of the housing assembly


602


with one hand and pivotably reciprocates a handle


606


with the other hand rearwardly and forwardly about axially in line, spaced pivot pins


608


. Alternatively, the operator can simply grip both the pivot handle


606


and the housing assembly


602


with one hand and actuate the tool


300


by repetitively squeezing the handle


606


and the housing assembly


602


together and releasing them apart until the fastener is installed.




Looking now to FIGS.


9


and


15


-


17


, the pivot handle


606


has a main handle body


606




a


and a handle cover


606




b


. The handle body


606




a


is of a generally elongated, rectangular contour and has a pair of spaced arm portions


612


at its upper end and is made of a relatively rigid, metallic material such as steel. The arm portions


612


are pivotally supported on the main housing


602




a


at opposite sides of the rearward end of the upper platform support section


603




a


on the pivot pins


608


.




The handle cover


606




b


is adapted to generally fit over the rear and side outer surfaces of the handle body


606




a


and in addition has a pair of arm-like portions


605


adapted to generally overengage the arm portions


612


. The handle cover


606




b


is also made of an elastomeric material such as Nylon


6


similar to that of the housing cover


602




b


to facilitate ergonomic gripping. The handle cover


606




b


also terminates at its lower end in a vertically arcuate rib


607


to provide support for the operator's hand while gripping. As can be seen in

FIG. 9

, the handle cover


606




b


while resiliently overengaging the handle body


606




a


is further secured to the handle body


606




a


by a self-tapping screw


609


.




The hydraulic pump section


314


includes a hydraulic piston structure


404


which is operatively connected to the pivot handle


606


. The hydraulic pump section


314


has a piston housing assembly


445


which is fixed within the housing assembly


602


. See

FIG. 11

for details of the hydraulic piston structure


404


and

FIG. 12

for details of the piston housing assembly


445


. The hydraulic piston structure


404


has a housing section


478


which is connected to an end cap


610


which is slidably supported at the bottom end of the main housing


602




a


. A pair of actuating links


614


are connected at their upper ends to the outer ends of the arm portions


612


of the handle body


606




a


with pivot connections


615


located forwardly from the pivot pins


608


. The links


614


extend downwardly in slots


616


in the outer surface of the main housing


602




a


and terminate in radially inwardly extending and upwardly curved fingers


618


which are located in slots


620


in the end cap


610


. See

FIGS. 10 and 15

. At the same time the housing cover


602




b


has slots


621


on its internal side surfaces extending in line with slots


616


to receive and cover the portions of the links


614


in the area of the main housing


602




a


to be gripped by the operator. See

FIGS. 18 and 19

. The hydraulic piston structure


404


is biased downwardly by a coil spring


622


. The spring


622


is engaged between the end cap


610


and an elongated hydraulic piston housing


444


of the piston housing assembly


445


. In this regard, the bias of spring


622


acts on the links


614


to also bias the handle


606


to its outward, deactuated position as shown in FIG.


9


. Thus as the handle


606


is pivoted forwardly by the operator towards the housing assembly


602


against the bias of the spring


622


the links


614


will pull the end cap


610


and hence the housing section


478


and hydraulic piston structure


404


upwardly to compress hydraulic fluid in a manner to be described. The return stroke, of course, is assisted by the bias of the spring


622


to move the handle


606


outwardly in preparation for cyclic repetition of the pressure stroke until installation of the fastener is completed.




The upper ends of the links


614


extend out of the slots


616


and


621


and onto an open, flat area


623


on the main housing


602




a


as it is connected to the pivot connections


615


. See

FIGS. 10 and 15

. Since the links


614


are made of a relatively flexible metallic wire of a generally circular cross-section, this open area


623


facilitates a limited bending or flexing of the upper portion of the links


614


to accommodate the arcuate movement applied at the pivot connections


615


during pivoting of the handle


606


.




The housing section


478


of the piston structure


404


has a reduced diameter upper support portion


483


which has a cavity


487


in its outer end in which an elongated piston valve rod


488


is secured. The piston valve rod


488


has a central vertical bore


490


which is communicated with a radial cross bore


492


at its upper end. The rod bore


490


at its lower end is in communication with an axial bore


494


at the end of the cavity


487


which can communicate with the inside of the housing section


478


. A relief and refill valve assembly


493


is located in the cavity


487


and includes a ball valve


495


biased by a coil spring


496


into sealing engagement with an upper tapered portion of bore


494


. The housing section


478


in turn has a radial cross bore


499


for communicating fluid for pressure relief in a manner to be described.




The piston structure


404


is operatively connected to the piston housing assembly


445


, the details of which can be best seen in FIG.


12


. Looking now to

FIGS. 9

,


10


and


12


, the piston housing assembly


445


is in a fixed position in the main housing


602




a


, and includes the elongated, cylindrical piston housing


444


.




An elongated, elastic, cylindrical bladder


504


extends transversely along the Y axis around a portion of the outer surface of the housing


444


and is held in sealed relationship in transversely spaced grooves in the outer surface by resilient rings


510


,


512


at the opposite ends. The bladder


504


defines a fluid reservoir cavity


514


with the confronting surface of the housing


444


with the reservoir cavity


514


having a preselected volume for holding the necessary amount of hydraulic fluid to be pressurized for actuating the pull piston assembly


320


in the nose assembly section


316


.




The housing assembly


445


has a connector member


516


which has a bottom portion


518


threadably connected to a threaded bore portion


520


at the upper end of the housing


444


with a flange


522


on the connector member


516


adapted to engage the upper end of the housing


444


. The connection between the bottom portion


518


and the bore portion


520


is hydraulically sealed by an annular seal


524


.




The housing


444


has a hydraulic reserve cavity


526


at its lower end and a main pressure cavity


528


at its upper end which are in communication by way of a reduced diameter bore


530


having a tapered valve seat at the lower side of the main pressure cavity


528


. The reserve cavity


526


is in communication with the reservoir cavity


514


by an upper cross bore or port


531


and a lower cross bore or port


533


extending radially through the housing


444


. The upper cross bore


531


is located generally midway along the reservoir cavity


514


and just below a fluid return valve assembly


534


while the lower cross bore


533


is located proximate to the lower end of the reservoir cavity


514


.




The return valve assembly


534


is located in the main pressure cavity


528


in clearance relationship with the confronting wall. The valve assembly


534


includes an upper cylindrical casing


535


with a tubular valve head


538


connected to its lower reduced diameter end portion. An annular hydraulic seal


543


seals the bore


530


with the piston valve rod


488


which is reciprocably mounted therein as shown in

FIGS. 9

,


10


,


13


and


14


. The return valve head


538


terminates at its lower end in a tapered nose portion


544


adapted to matingly, sealing engage the tapered valve seat of bore


530


. The return valve head


538


is biased downwardly by a coil spring


536


to maintain resilient engagement of the nose portion


544


against the tapered valve seat.




A bore


542


extends through the connector member


516


and has a reduced diameter portion


546


at its lower end. A tapered upper valve seat is defined by the connection between the bore


542


and the reduced diameter portion


546


. An access ball valve


550


is located in the lower end of bore


542


and is resiliently urged into sealing engagement with the tapered valve seat by a coil spring


552


which has its upper end in engagement with a cylindrical end plug


554


which is press fitted into the upper end of bore


542


. As can be seen in

FIGS. 9 and 10

the piston housing assembly


445


is adapted to be connected to the hydraulic cylinder housing


324


of the pull piston assembly


320


of the nose assembly section


316


by a threaded connection between a reduced diameter end portion


556


of the connector member


516


and a through bore


558


in the cylinder housing


324


in communication with the cylinder cavity


346


. An annular seal hydraulically seals the connection. As will be seen in this way hydraulic fluid under pressure can be communicated to the cylinder cavity


346


from the piston housing assembly


445


.




When the operator moves the handle


606


to its forwardmost position adjacent the housing assembly


602


, the tool


300


can be brought back into its deactuated, idle condition as shown in FIG.


10


. Here the piston valve rod


488


will engage the access ball valve


550


to unseat it whereby fluid in the cavity


346


in the nose assembly section


16


can be returned to the reservoir cavity


514


.




As with the pneumatic-hydraulic tool


10


, the manual-hydraulic tool


300


can also be used to install fasteners without a frangible pintail. Here, after the fastener has been installed, in order to release the pintail from the jaws


354


, the operator simply moves the handle


606


to its forwardmost position as in

FIG. 10

, whereby the piston valve rod


488


will engage the access ball valve


550


to release fluid from the fluid cavity


346


back to the reservoir cavity


514


. In the event that movement of the piston head


332


is blocked the operator simply actuates the pressure release lever


624


, as noted above, to release the hydraulic fluid and to relieve the pressure in the main pressure cavity


528


if necessary under conditions as noted. Now the handle


606


can be brought to the forwardmost position shown in

FIG. 10

to release the hydraulic fluid and relieve the pressure in the cylinder cavity


346


in the cylinder housing


324


whereby the pull piston


328


will return to its idle position by the return spring


374


and the jaws


354


will be returned to open whereby the pintail can be released.




As noted,

FIG. 10

shows the manual-hydraulic tool


300


in its deactuated condition. Here the handle


606


is in engagement with the main housing


602




a


and in this condition, the upper end of the piston valve rod


488


will be in engagement with the access ball valve


550


to maintain it off the valve seat whereby the cylinder cavity


346


in the hydraulic cylinder housing


324


will be open and in fluid communication with the reservoir cavity


514


. In this condition the return spring


374


will place the pull piston


328


in its returned or deactuated condition. The flow of hydraulic fluid in return to the reservoir cavity


514


is shown in

FIG. 14

by lines with arrows showing the direction of flow.




To actuate the tool


300


, the operator simply pivotally reciprocates the handle


606


by pulling it outwardly and pushing it inwardly. It can be seen from

FIG. 9

that the piston structure


404


is moved and the piston valve rod


488


is moved out of engagement with the ball valve


550


. Now the access ball valve


550


is urged into engagement with the valve seat by the spring


552


to close the cylinder cavity


346


. It can be seen from

FIG. 9

that in its lowermost position, the piston structure


404


has moved the piston valve rod


488


a preselected distance MM from engagement with the ball valve


550


. As will be seen that preselected distance is essentially determined by the maximum stroke of the handle


606


for compression of hydraulic fluid.





FIG. 15

shows the maximum stroke of the handle


606


from its rearwardmost position Ma to a position Mb spaced from the housing assembly


602


a distance Mab at which the piston valve rod


488


is proximate to but not in engagement with the access ball valve


550


. The rearwardmost position Ma of the handle


606


is also shown in FIG.


9


. However, for purposes of clarity,

FIG. 15

shows the tool


300


without the housing cover


602




b


and the handle cover


606




b


. Now to deactuate the tool


300


, the operator moves the handle


606


to its forwardmost position Mc at which the piston valve rod


488


engages the ball valve


550


. See

FIGS. 10 and 14

. The handle


606


is provided with a resilient stop block


632


located at its lower end and adapted to engage the main housing


602




a


of the housing assembly


602


when in its forwardmost position Mc. The stop block


632


is provided to avoid shock loads and possible damage to the housing assembly


602


. Since the stop block


632


will engage the main housing


602




a


the noted positions Ma, Mb and Mc and travel Mab have been shown relative to the stop block


632


.




Looking now to

FIG. 13

, the valve construction is shown in its state for transmitting pressurized hydraulic fluid to the cylinder cavity


346


in the nose assembly section


316


. The piston structure


404


is moved upwardly in the direction Ya by movement of the pivot handle


606


forwardly in the pressure stroke. As this occurs the available volume in the main pressure cavity


528


in the housing


444


is reduced resulting in the fluid therein being pressurized. The pressurized fluid in the main pressure cavity


528


flows through the reduced diameter bore portion


546


and moves the access ball valve


550


upwardly against the spring


552


away from the valve seat whereby pressurized fluid will flow through the bore


542


and into the cylinder cavity


346


. This then applies pressure to the hydraulic piston head


332


to initiate its rearward movement to apply the pull stroke on the hydraulic piston rod


334


. At the same time the upward movement of the housing section


478


of the piston structure


404


reduces the volume in the reserve cavity


526


moving hydraulic fluid through the cross bores


531


and


533


into the reservoir cavity


514


to increase the pressure therein with the elastic bladder


504


resiliently expanding to accept the additional fluid. The direction of flow of hydraulic fluid with the tool


300


actuated in the pressure stroke is shown in

FIG. 13

by lines with arrows.




The condition of the hydraulic piston structure


404


and the housing assembly


445


during the return stroke of the pneumatic piston structure


404


during its reciprocation is shown in

FIG. 13



a


. Now as the hydraulic piston structure


404


is moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow Yb the piston valve rod


488


is moved downwardly from its position proximate to but spaced from the ball valve


550


. The downward movement of valve rod


488


will result in the volume of the main pressure cavity


528


increasing whereby the pressure therein will decrease to initiate the creation of a relative vacuum. At the same time the pressure in the reserve cavity


526


and the reservoir cavity


514


while decreasing will be maintained substantially higher and will cause the ball valve


495


to be unseated. Now hydraulic fluid from the reservoir cavity


514


will flow into the reserve cavity


526


and through the clearance between the reduced diameter upper support portion


483


of the piston housing section


478


and the confronting surface of the reserve cavity


526


, through the cross bore


499


, past the ball valve


495


, and into the central rod bore


490


of the piston valve rod


488


and out through the cross bore


492


into the main pressure cavity


528


. This then refills the main pressure cavity


528


with hydraulic fluid for pressurization into the cylinder cavity


346


upon the next upward pressure stroke of the hydraulic piston structure


404


during reciprocation. This cycle continues while the installation tool


10


is actuated until the installation of the fastener is completed. Upon deactuation of the installation tool


10


, it will be returned to its idle condition as shown in

FIGS. 10 and 14

and as previously described.

FIG. 13



a


shows the condition of the valve construction with the tool


10


actuated on the return stroke in the direction Yb as described and with the flow of fluid shown by lines with arrows.




It should be noted, however, that since the hydraulic piston structure


404


on the pressure stroke does not reach its full uppermost position as in idle, the piston valve rod


488


will not engage the access ball valve


550


whereby the hydraulic pressure in the cylinder cavity


346


will be maintained during the reciprocating cycle of the handle


606


. Thus the hydraulic piston head


332


of pull piston


328


will continue to be moved rearwardly moving the piston rod


334


to close the jaws


354


onto the fastener pin and exert the noted relative pulling force to set the fastener. Once the fastener is set the operator returns the tool


300


to its condition for deactuation by moving the handle


606


to its forwardmost position Mc as shown in FIG.


15


.




In this condition, the piston valve rod


488


will be returned to its uppermost position to engage and unseat the access ball valve


550


as shown in

FIGS. 10 and 14

. At the same time return the valve head


538


will be unseated by engagement with the upper end of the reduced diameter upper portion


483


of the piston housing section


478


. Now the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder cavity


346


will be returned to the reservoir cavity


514


by the force of the return spring


374


moving the pull piston


328


to its forward, returned position. The fluid will flow back through the bore


542


through the reduced diameter bore portion


546


, into the main pressure cavity


528


, past the return valve head


538


which is unseated by the valve rod


488


and around the clearance between the casing


535


and return valve head


538


with the confronting surface of the main pressure cavity


528


and through cross bores or ports


531


and


533


into the reservoir cavity


514


.




As can be seen in

FIG. 9

when the tool


300


is in the condition at the initiation of the power stroke or near the end of the return stroke, both of the cross bores


531


and


533


are in communication with the reservoir cavity


514


. This facilitates the flow of fluid from the reservoir cavity


514


into the reserve cavity


526


. However, during the pressure stroke with the relief and refill valve assembly


493


closed, after the piston housing section


478


has moved partially upwardly, it will be in a generally blocking position relative to the lower cross bore


533


. This facilitates the movement of the pressurized fluid into the cylinder cavity


346


.




In the event the piston head


332


of the pull piston


328


of the nose assembly section


316


is blocked from further movement and the handle


606


is still being actuated to compress the hydraulic fluid in the main pressure cavity


528


the relief and refill valve assembly


493


can be opened in response to manual actuation of a pressure release lever


624


to unseat the ball valve


495


to release hydraulic fluid into the reservoir cavity


514


to thereby relieve the pressure.




The release lever


624


is pivotally connected via a pivot pin


626


at the bottom of the end cap


610


. A relief valve rod


628


is slidably supported in the lower end of the piston housing section


478


and is biased downwardly by a coil spring


630


to a position spaced from the ball relief and refill valve assembly


495


. Now in order to move the handle


606


to its fully returned position adjacent the housing assembly


602


it may be necessary to relieve the pressure in the main pressure cavity


528


. This can be done by the operator simply pivoting the release lever


624


downwardly to move its engaged portion upwardly which will move the valve rod


628


upwardly to unseat the ball relief valve


495


whereby fluid pressure will be relieved and the handle


606


can be moved to its forwardmost position adjacent the housing assembly


602


with the piston valve rod


488


moved in the direction Ya to unseat the access ball valve


550


. In this condition the fluid in the cavity


346


can be returned to the reservoir cavity


514


. The valve rod


628


is shown actuated in

FIG. 13



b


by the release lever


624


being pivoted downwardly and with the flow of hydraulic fluid back to the reservoir cavity


514


shown by lines with arrows.

FIG. 10

also shows the condition of the tool with the handle


606


in its forwardmost position and with the piston valve rod


488


in its uppermost position whereby access ball valve


550


will be unseated and the pull piston


328


returned to its deactuated state returning fluid from the fluid cavity


346


to the reservoir cavity


514


. When this is done, the operator simply pivots the release lever


624


upwardly to move its engaged portion downwardly whereby the valve rod


628


will be biased by coil spring


630


downwardly out of engagement with the ball relief and refill valve


495


and the tool


300


is then in condition as shown in

FIG. 10

to install another fastener. As noted, when not in operation, the force of the spring


622


on the links


614


will bias pivot handle


606


to the position shown in

FIG. 9

for actuation. With the tool


300


back in the condition of

FIG. 9

it is prepared for installation of another fastener.




As can be seen, the valving construction of the hydraulic pump section


314


as described above is essentially in axial alignment. Thus the relief and refill ball valve


495


, the return valve assembly


534


and the access ball valve


550


are all in axial alignment. This facilitates manufacture, maintenance and/or repair of the hydraulic pump section


314


and also facilitates the tool


300


being of a compact and relatively lightweight structure.




In this regard, the compact housing assembly


602


facilitates its manufacture from a lightweight metallic material such as cast aluminum.




The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A manually applied installation tool, for setting fasteners by applying a relative axial pulling force to the fasteners comprising:first hydraulic means including a first hydraulic piston mounted in a first hydraulic cylinder in a first housing for reciprocation in response to a preselected high hydraulic pressure whereby the relative axial force can be applied to a fastener, second hydraulic means including a second hydraulic piston mounted in a second hydraulic cylinder in a second housing for reciprocation between compressive and non-compressive directions for providing hydraulic fluid at said preselected high hydraulic pressure to said first hydraulic cylinder for application to said first hydraulic piston upon movement in said compressive direction, a fluid reservoir having a supply of hydraulic fluid and connected to said second hydraulic cylinder for providing fluid thereto upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction for transmittal under pressure by said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction to said first hydraulic cylinder for actuating said first hydraulic piston for applying the relative axial pulling force, pneumatic means including a pneumatic cylinder in said second housing and a pneumatic piston, said pneumatic cylinder having a pneumatic cylinder cavity with said pneumatic piston including a piston head supported in said pneumatic cylinder cavity for reciprocation in response to a preselected magnitude of pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said pneumatic piston including a piston rod portion extending from said pneumatic piston head and secured to said second hydraulic piston for providing reciprocating actuation of said second hydraulic piston, connecting means for connecting a source of pneumatic pressure to said pneumatic cylinder cavity, pneumatic valve means including a first valve means located in said pneumatic cylinder and selectively actuable to an open condition for connection to the atmosphere for relieving pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity and actuable to a closed condition for closing the connection to the atmosphere for blocking the release of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said first valve means providing primary communication between said pneumatic cylinder cavity and the atmosphere and being in said closed condition when said installation tool is in an idle deactuated condition, resilient means connected to said pneumatic piston for urging said pneumatic piston in a direction for moving said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction for not pressurizing the hydraulic fluid in said second cylinder, said pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity with said first valve means in said closed condition being sufficient to move said pneumatic piston in said compressive direction against the force of said resilient means, said pneumatic valve means including a second valve means located in said pneumatic cylinder cavity in the flow path of pneumatic air flow from said pneumatic cylinder cavity to said first valve means, said second valve means including a valve actuator secured to said pneumatic piston, said second valve means having a first closed condition with said valve actuator in a first position for blocking flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity and a second open condition with said valve actuator in a second position for permitting flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said second valve means providing a communication from said pneumatic cylinder cavity to said first valve means through said flow path whereby both said first and second valve means must be in their open conditions for pressure to be relieved to the atmosphere from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said second valve means normally being in said open condition when said installation tool is in an idle deactuated condition, actuating means manually actuable by the operator for actuating said first valve means to said open condition for relieving pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said resilient means then being actuable to move said pneumatic piston with said second valve means towards said closed condition to block flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity to the atmosphere such movement moving said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction, when said second valve means is moved into said closed condition the magnitude of pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity increases overcoming said resilient means whereby said pneumatic piston and hence said second hydraulic piston are moved in said compressive direction to compress hydraulic fluid in said second hydraulic cylinder for flow into said first hydraulic cylinder for actuating said first hydraulic piston, said pneumatic piston being moved against said resilient means until said second valve means is moved back into said open condition to relieve pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity whereby said resilient means moves said pneumatic piston in an opposite direction with said second hydraulic piston moving in said non-compressive direction, the movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction causes more hydraulic fluid to flow into said second hydraulic cylinder from said fluid reservoir, the reciprocation of said pneumatic piston and said second hydraulic piston continuing until the fastener is set by the movement and force of said first hydraulic piston and the operator releases said actuating means whereby said first valve means is moved to said closed condition and said installation tool is returned to its idle condition, said installation tool in its idle condition having said first valve means in its closed condition with said pneumatic piston and thus said second hydraulic piston being moved to fixed uppermost positions by the pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder, access valve means operatively connected to said first and second hydraulic cylinders and being normally biased closed but being actuable to open in response to fluid pressure resulting from movement of said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction and being actuable by engagement with said second hydraulic piston when in its fixed uppermost position whereby hydraulic fluid in said first hydraulic cylinder will be returned to said fluid reservoir through said second hydraulic cylinder as said first hydraulic piston is moved to its idle condition, said first valve means and said second valve means being operatively connected such that during actuation of said installation tool by the manually actuated means said pneumatic piston and hence second hydraulic piston will be reciprocated between the open and closed conditions of said second valve means while moving a distance less than to their fixed uppermost positions.
  • 2. The installation tool of claim 1 further comprising a separator plate located in said pneumatic cylinder cavity between said pneumatic piston and said first valve means,said second valve means including a valve opening in said separator plate with said valve actuator being operative with said valve opening for placing said valve opening in an open or closed condition in response to reciprocation of said pneumatic piston, whereby said second valve means blocks the flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity when in the closed condition and permits the flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cavity when in the open condition.
  • 3. The installation tool of claim 1 further comprising a separator plate located in said pneumatic cylinder cavity between said pneumatic piston and said first valve means,said second valve means including a valve opening in said separator plate With said valve actuator being operative with said valve opening for placing said valve opening in an open or closed condition in response to reciprocation of said pneumatic piston, whereby said second valve means blocks the flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity when in the closed condition and permits the flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cavity when in the open condition, said second valve means including lost motion means connecting said valve actuator to said pneumatic piston whereby said valve actuator engages said valve opening to close said second valve means before said pneumatic piston reaches the end of its down stroke and remains engaged with said valve opening until said pneumatic piston has reached a preselected position during its upward stroke.
  • 4. The installation tool of claim 1 further comprising a high pressure relief valve connected to said second hydraulic cylinder and being selectively operable in response to a preselected magnitude of high fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder to open and to relieve the fluid pressure with flow of hydraulic fluid back to said fluid reservoir.
  • 5. The installation tool of claim 1 further comprising a high pressure relief valve connected to said second hydraulic cylinder and being selectively operable in response to a preselected magnitude of high fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder to open and to relieve the fluid pressure with flow of hydraulic fluid back to said fluid reservoir,refill valve means operable for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said fluid reservoir into said second hydraulic cylinder upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction, said pressure relief valve means, said refill valve means and said access valve means being substantially axially in line with said second hydraulic piston along the axis of reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston.
  • 6. The installation tool of claim 1 with said connecting means including an air flow opening to said pneumatic cylinder cavity for flow of air from said source of pneumatic pressure to said pneumatic cylinder cavity,said air flow opening providing a preselected restriction to flow of air to said pneumatic cylinder cavity whereby the rate of pressure rise in said pneumatic cylinder is regulated to control the speed of movement of said pneumatic piston in the compressive direction to a rate whereby shock loads are substantially avoided and to avoid excessive resistance to the movement of said pneumatic piston in the non-compressive direction as urged by said resilient means.
  • 7. The installation tool of claim 1 further comprising a separator plate located in said pneumatic cylinder cavity between said pneumatic piston and said first valve means,said second valve means including a valve opening in said separator plate with said valve actuator being operative with said valve opening for placing said valve opening in an open or closed condition in response to reciprocation of said pneumatic piston, whereby said second valve means blocks the flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity when in the closed condition and permits the flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cavity when in the open condition, said second valve means including lost motion means connecting said valve actuator to said pneumatic piston whereby said valve actuator engages said valve opening to close said second valve means before said pneumatic piston reaches the end of its down stroke and remains engaged with said valve opening until said pneumatic piston has reached a preselected position during its upward stroke, a high pressure relief valve connected to said second hydraulic cylinder and being selectively operable in response to a preselected magnitude of high fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder to open and to relieve the fluid pressure with flow of hydraulic fluid back to said fluid reservoir, refill valve means operable for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said fluid reservoir into said second hydraulic cylinder upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction, said pressure relief valve means, said refill valve means, said access valve means, said pneumatic valve actuator and said valve opening being substantially axially in line with said second hydraulic piston along the axis of reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston.
  • 8. A manually applied installation tool, for setting fasteners by applying a relative axial pulling force to the fasteners comprising:first hydraulic means including a first hydraulic piston mounted in a first hydraulic cylinder in a first housing for reciprocation in response to a preselected high hydraulic pressure whereby the relative axial force can be applied to a fastener, said first housing and first hydraulic cylinder having a first axis with said first hydraulic piston reciprocating along said first axis, second hydraulic means including a second hydraulic piston mounted in a second hydraulic cylinder in a second housing for reciprocation between compressive and non-compressive directions for providing hydraulic fluid at said preselected high hydraulic pressure to said first hydraulic cylinder for application to said first hydraulic piston upon movement in said compressive direction, said second housing and said second hydraulic cylinder having a second axis generally transverse to said first axis with said second hydraulic piston reciprocating along said second axis, said compressive direction being along said second axis towards said first hydraulic cylinder and said non-compressive direction being along said second axis away from said first hydraulic cylinder, a fluid reservoir having a supply of hydraulic fluid and connected to said second hydraulic cylinder for providing fluid thereto upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction for transmittal under pressure by said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction to said first hydraulic cylinder for actuating said first hydraulic piston for applying the relative axial pulling force, pneumatic means including a pneumatic cylinder in said second housing and a pneumatic piston, said pneumatic cylinder and said pneumatic piston extends along said second axis, said pneumatic cylinder having a pneumatic cylinder cavity with said pneumatic piston including a piston head supported in said pneumatic cylinder cavity for reciprocation along said second axis in response to a preselected magnitude of pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said pneumatic piston including a piston rod portion extending from said pneumatic piston head and secured to said second hydraulic piston for providing reciprocating actuation of said second hydraulic piston along said second axis, connecting means for connecting a source of pneumatic pressure to said pneumatic cylinder cavity, pneumatic valve means including a first valve means located in said pneumatic cylinder and selectively actuable to an open condition for connection to the atmosphere for relieving pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity and actuable to a closed condition for closing the connection to the atmosphere for blocking the release of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said first valve means providing primary communication between said pneumatic cylinder cavity and the atmosphere and being in said closed condition when said installation tool is in an idle deactuated condition, resilient means connected to said pneumatic piston for urging said pneumatic piston in a direction along said second axis for moving said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction for not pressurizing the hydraulic fluid in said second cylinder, said pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity with said first valve means in said closed condition being sufficient to move said pneumatic piston in said compressive direction against the force of said resilient means, said pneumatic valve means including a second valve means located in said pneumatic cylinder cavity in the flow path of pneumatic air flow from said pneumatic cylinder cavity to said first valve means, said second valve means including a valve actuator secured to said pneumatic piston, said second valve means having a first closed condition with said valve actuator in a first position for blocking flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity and a second open condition with said valve actuator in a second position for permitting flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said second valve means providing a communication from said pneumatic cylinder cavity to said first valve means through said flow path whereby both said first and second valve means must be in their open conditions for pressure to be relieved to the atmosphere from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said second valve means normally being in said open condition when said installation tool is in an idle deactuated condition, actuating means manually actuable by the operator for actuating said first valve means to said open condition for relieving pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said resilient means then being actuable to move said pneumatic piston with said second valve means towards said closed condition to block flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity to the atmosphere such movement moving said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction, when said second valve means is moved into said closed condition the magnitude of pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity increases overcoming said resilient means whereby said pneumatic piston and hence said second hydraulic piston are moved in said compressive direction to compress hydraulic fluid in said second hydraulic cylinder for flow into said first hydraulic cylinder for actuating said first hydraulic piston, said pneumatic piston being moved against said resilient means until said second valve means is moved back into said open condition to relieve pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity whereby said resilient means moves said pneumatic piston in an opposite direction with said second hydraulic piston moving in said non-compressive direction, the movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction causes more hydraulic fluid to flow into said second hydraulic cylinder from said fluid reservoir, the reciprocation of said pneumatic piston and said second hydraulic piston continuing until the fastener is set by the movement and force of said first hydraulic piston and the operator releases said actuating means whereby said first valve means is moved to said closed condition and said installation tool is returned to its idle condition, said installation tool in its idle condition having said first valve means in its closed condition with said pneumatic piston and thus said second hydraulic piston being moved to fixed uppermost positions by the pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder, access valve means operatively connected to said first and second hydraulic cylinders and being normally biased closed but being actuable to open in response to fluid pressure resulting from movement of said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction and being actuable by engagement with said second hydraulic piston when in its fixed uppermost position whereby hydraulic fluid in said first hydraulic cylinder will be returned to said fluid reservoir through said second hydraulic cylinder as said first hydraulic piston is moved to its idle condition, said first valve means and said second valve means being operatively connected such that during actuation of said installation tool by the manually actuated means said pneumatic piston and hence second hydraulic piston will be reciprocated between their open and closed conditions while moving a distance less than to their fixed uppermost positions, a separator plate located in said pneumatic cylinder cavity between said pneumatic piston and said first valve means, said second valve means including a valve opening in said separator plate with said valve actuator being operative with said valve opening for placing said valve opening in an open or closed condition in response to reciprocation of said pneumatic piston, whereby said second valve means blocks the flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity when in the closed condition and permits the flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cavity when in the open condition, a high pressure relief valve connected to said second hydraulic cylinder and being selectively operable in response to a preselected magnitude of high fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder to open and to relieve the fluid pressure with flow of hydraulic fluid back to said fluid reservoir.
  • 9. The installation tool of claim 8 including refill valve means operable for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said fluid reservoir into said second hydraulic cylinder upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction,said pressure relief valve means, said refill valve means and said access valve means being substantially axially in line with said second hydraulic piston along the axis of reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston.
  • 10. The installation tool of claim 8 including refill valve means operable for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said fluid reservoir into said second hydraulic cylinder upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction,said pressure relief valve means, said refill valve means, said access valve means, said pneumatic valve actuator and said valve opening being substantially axially in line with said second hydraulic piston along the axis of reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston.
  • 11. The installation tool of claim 8 with said connecting means including an air flow opening to said pneumatic cylinder cavity for flow of air from said source of pneumatic pressure to said pneumatic cylinder cavity,said air flow opening providing a preselected restriction to flow of air to said pneumatic cylinder cavity whereby the rate of pressure rise in said pneumatic cylinder is regulated to control the speed of movement of said pneumatic piston in the compressive direction to a rate whereby shock loads are substantially avoided and to avoid excessive resistance to the movement of said pneumatic piston in the non-compressive direction as urged by said resilient means.
  • 12. A manually applied installation tool, for setting fasteners by applying a relative axial pulling force to the fasteners comprising:first hydraulic means including a first hydraulic piston mounted in a first hydraulic cylinder in a first housing for reciprocation in response to a preselected high pressure whereby the relative axial force can be applied to a fastener, second hydraulic means including a second hydraulic piston mounted in a second hydraulic cylinder in a second housing for reciprocation between compressive and non-compressive directions for providing hydraulic fluid at said preselected high hydraulic pressure to said first cylinder for application to said first hydraulic piston upon movement in said compressive direction, a fluid reservoir having a supply of hydraulic fluid and connected to said second hydraulic cylinder for providing fluid thereto upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction for transmittal under pressure by said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction to said first hydraulic cylinder for actuating said first hydraulic piston for applying the relative axial pulling force, resilient means connected to said second hydraulic piston for urging said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction, mechanical means connected to said second hydraulic piston and being manually actuable for reciprocating said second hydraulic piston in said second hydraulic cylinder for movement in said compressive direction for pressurizing fluid in said second hydraulic cylinder for flow into said first hydraulic cylinder under pressure and for movement in an opposite non-compressive direction to receive more fluid from said fluid reservoir into said second fluid cylinder to replenish the amount of fluid moved into said first hydraulic cylinder in preparation for movement again in said compressive direction, said mechanical means including a handle structure pivotally connected to said second housing for pivotal movement manually by the operator and connected to said second hydraulic piston by a link structure whereby pivotal movement of said handle structure actuates said link structure to reciprocate said second hydraulic piston linearly within said second hydraulic cylinder between said compressive and non-compressive directions, said handle structure and hence said link structure having first and second end positions and in operation being reciprocated in said compressive and non-compressive directions between said end positions for a distance short of said second position, the reciprocation by the operator of said link structure by said handle structure and reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston continuing until the fastener is set, access valve means operatively connected to said first and second hydraulic cylinders and being normally biased closed but being actuable to open in response to fluid pressure resulting from movement of said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction and being actuable by said second hydraulic piston when moved to an end position by actuation of said handle structure and said link structure by the operator to their second positions whereby hydraulic fluid in said first hydraulic cylinder will be returned to said fluid reservoir through said second hydraulic cylinder whereby said installation tool is returned to its idle condition.
  • 13. The installation tool of claim 12 including a pressure relief mechanism having a pressure relief valve being selectively manually actuable by the operator for relieving fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder with flow of hydraulic fluid back to said third reservoir whereby said installation tool can be returned to its idle condition.
  • 14. The installation tool of claim 12 including a pressure relief mechanism having a pressure relief valve being selectively manually actuable by the operator for relieving fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder with flow of hydraulic fluid back to said third reservoir whereby said installation tool can be returned to its idle condition,refill valve means operable in response to a reduction in pressure for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said fluid reservoir into said second hydraulic cylinder upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction, said pressure relief valve, said refill valve means and said access valve means being substantially axially in line with said second hydraulic piston along the axis of reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston.
  • 15. The installation tool of claim 12 including a pressure relief mechanism having a pressure relief valve being selectively manually actuable by the operator for relieving fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder with flow of hydraulic fluid back to said third reservoir whereby said installation tool can be returned to its idle condition,refill valve means operable in response to a reduction in pressure for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said fluid reservoir into said second hydraulic cylinder upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction, said refill valve means including said pressure relief valve.
  • 16. The installation tool of claim 12 including a pressure relief mechanism having a pressure relief valve being selectively manually actuable by the operator for relieving fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder with flow of hydraulic fluid back to said third reservoir whereby said installation tool can be returned to its idle condition,refill valve means operable in response to a reduction in pressure for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said fluid reservoir into said second hydraulic cylinder upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction, said relief valve of said refill valve means including said relief valve operable in response to the reduction in pressure, said relief valve of said pressure relief valve means and of said refill valve means being substantially axially in line with said access valve means and with said second hydraulic piston along the axis of reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston.
  • 17. A manually applied installation tool, for setting fasteners by applying a relative axial pulling force to the fasteners comprising:first hydraulic means including a first hydraulic piston mounted in a first hydraulic cylinder in a first housing for reciprocation in response to a preselected high hydraulic pressure whereby the relative axial force can be applied to a fastener, second hydraulic means including a second hydraulic piston mounted in a second hydraulic cylinder in a second housing for reciprocation between compressive and non-compressive directions for providing hydraulic fluid at said preselected high hydraulic pressure to said first hydraulic cylinder for application to said first hydraulic piston upon movement in said compressive direction, a fluid reservoir in said second housing and having a supply of hydraulic fluid and connected to said second hydraulic cylinder for providing fluid thereto upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction for transmittal under pressure by said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction to said first hydraulic cylinder for actuating said first hydraulic piston for applying the relative axial pulling force, said fluid reservoir comprising a resilient bladder circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of said second hydraulic cylinder for defining a reservoir cavity therewith and ports communicating said reservoir cavity with said second hydraulic cylinder, reciprocating force means connected to said second hydraulic piston and selectively actuable by the operator for providing reciprocating actuation of said second hydraulic piston between said compressive and non-compressive directions, said second hydraulic piston when moved during reciprocation in said compressive direction compresses hydraulic fluid in said second hydraulic cylinder for flow into said first hydraulic cylinder for actuating said first hydraulic piston during reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston and movement in said non-compressive direction more hydraulic fluid flows into said second hydraulic cylinder from said reservoir cavity through said ports, the reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston being continued until the fastener is set by the movement and force of said first hydraulic piston after which the operator ceases pressurized actuation, with said installation tool in its idle condition said second hydraulic piston can be moved to an uppermost position, access valve means operatively connected to said first and second hydraulic cylinders and being normally biased closed but being actuable to open in response to fluid pressure resulting from movement of said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction and being actuable by engagement with said second hydraulic piston when in its fixed uppermost position whereby hydraulic fluid in said first hydraulic cylinder will be returned to said reservoir cavity through said ports in said second hydraulic cylinder whereby said installation tool is returned to its idle condition.
  • 18. The installation tool of claim 17 including pressure relief means being operable for relieving fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder with flow of hydraulic fluid back to said fluid reservoir.
  • 19. The installation tool of claim 17 including pressure relief valve means operable for relieving fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder,refill valve means operable for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said fluid reservoir into said second hydraulic cylinder upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction, said pressure relief valve means, said refill valve means and said access valve means being substantially axially in line with said second hydraulic piston along the axis of reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston.
  • 20. A manually applied installation tool, for setting fasteners by applying a relative axial pulling force to the fasteners comprising:first hydraulic means including a first hydraulic piston mounted in a first hydraulic cylinder in a first housing for reciprocation in response to a preselected high hydraulic pressure whereby the relative axial force can be applied to a fastener, second hydraulic means including a second hydraulic piston mounted in a second hydraulic cylinder in a second housing for reciprocation between compressive and non-compressive directions for providing hydraulic fluid at said preselected high hydraulic pressure to said first hydraulic cylinder for application to said first hydraulic piston upon movement in said compressive direction, a fluid reservoir having a supply of hydraulic fluid and connected to said second hydraulic cylinder for providing fluid thereto upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction for transmittal under pressure by said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction to said first hydraulic cylinder for actuating said first hydraulic piston for applying the relative axial pulling force, pneumatic means including a pneumatic cylinder in said second housing and a pneumatic piston, said pneumatic cylinder having a pneumatic cylinder cavity with said pneumatic piston including a piston head supported in said pneumatic cylinder cavity for reciprocation in response to a preselected magnitude of pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said pneumatic piston including a piston rod portion extending from said pneumatic piston head and secured to said second hydraulic piston for providing reciprocating actuation of said second hydraulic piston, connecting means for connecting a source of pneumatic pressure to said pneumatic cylinder cavity, pneumatic valve means including a first valve means located in said pneumatic cylinder and selectively actuable to an open condition for connection to the atmosphere for relieving pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity and actuable to a closed condition for closing the connection to the atmosphere for blocking the release of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said first valve means providing primary communication between said pneumatic cylinder cavity and the atmosphere and being in said closed condition when said installation tool is in an idle deactuated condition, resilient means connected to said pneumatic piston for urging said pneumatic piston in a direction for moving said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction for not pressurizing the hydraulic fluid in said second cylinder, said pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity with said first valve means in said closed condition being sufficient to move said pneumatic piston in said compressive direction against the force of said resilient means, said pneumatic valve means including a second valve means located in said pneumatic cylinder cavity in the flow path of pneumatic air flow from said pneumatic cylinder cavity to said first valve means, said second valve means including a valve actuator secured to said pneumatic piston, said second valve means having a first closed condition with said valve actuator in a first position for blocking flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity and a second open condition with said valve actuator in a second position for permitting flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said second valve means providing a communication from said pneumatic cylinder cavity to said first valve means through said flow path whereby both said first and second valve means must be in their open conditions for pressure to be relieved to the atmosphere from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said second valve means normally being in said open condition when said installation tool is in an idle deactuated condition, actuating means manually actuable by the operator for actuating said first valve means to said open condition for relieving pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity, said resilient means then being actuable to move said pneumatic piston with said second valve means towards said closed condition to block flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity to the atmosphere such movement moving said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction, when said second valve means is moved into said closed condition the magnitude of pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity increases overcoming said resilient means whereby said pneumatic piston and hence said second hydraulic piston are moved in said compressive direction to compress hydraulic fluid in said second hydraulic cylinder for flow into said first hydraulic cylinder for actuating said first hydraulic piston, said pneumatic piston being moved against said resilient means until said second valve means is moved back into said open condition to relieve pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder cavity whereby said resilient means moves said pneumatic piston in an opposite direction with said second hydraulic piston moving in said non-compressive direction, the movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction causes more hydraulic fluid to flow into said second hydraulic cylinder from said fluid reservoir, the reciprocation of said pneumatic piston and said second hydraulic piston continuing until the fastener is set by the movement and force of said first hydraulic piston and the operator releases said actuating means whereby said first valve means is moved to said closed condition and said installation tool is returned to its idle condition, said installation tool in its idle condition having said first valve means in its closed condition with said pneumatic piston and thus said second hydraulic piston being moved to fixed uppermost positions by the pneumatic pressure in said pneumatic cylinder, a separator plate located in said pneumatic cylinder cavity between said pneumatic piston and said first valve means, said second valve means including a valve opening in said separator plate with said valve actuator being operative with said valve opening for placing said valve opening in an open or closed condition in response to reciprocation of said pneumatic piston, whereby said second valve means blocks the flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cylinder cavity when in the closed condition and permits the flow of pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic cavity when in the open condition, said second valve means including lost motion means connecting said valve actuator to said pneumatic piston whereby said valve actuator engages said valve opening to close said second valve means before said pneumatic piston reaches the end of its down stroke and remains engaged with said valve opening until said pneumatic piston has reached a preselected position during its upward stroke.
  • 21. The installation tool of claim 20 including access valve means operatively connected to said first and second hydraulic cylinders and being normally biased closed but being actuable to open in response to fluid pressure resulting from movement of said second hydraulic piston in said compressive direction and being actuable by engagement with said second hydraulic piston when in its fixed uppermost position whereby hydraulic fluid in said first hydraulic cylinder will be returned to said fluid reservoir through said second hydraulic cylinder as said first hydraulic piston is moved to its idle condition,said first valve means and said second valve means being operatively connected such that during actuation of said installation tool by the manually actuated means said pneumatic piston and hence second hydraulic piston will be reciprocated between the open and closed conditions of said second valve means while moving a distance less than to their fixed uppermost positions, a high pressure relief valve connected to said second hydraulic cylinder and being selectively operable in response to a preselected magnitude of high fluid pressure in said second hydraulic cylinder to open and to relieve the fluid pressure with flow of hydraulic fluid back to said fluid reservoir, refill valve means operable for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said fluid reservoir into said second hydraulic cylinder upon movement of said second hydraulic piston in said non-compressive direction, said pressure relief valve means, said refill valve means, said access valve means, said pneumatic valve actuator and said valve opening being substantially axially in line with said second hydraulic piston along the axis of reciprocation of said second hydraulic piston.
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