Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6532635
-
Patent Number
6,532,635
-
Date Filed
Friday, March 1, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 18, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 072 3914
- 072 3916
- 072 3918
- 029 243523
- 029 243524
- 029 243525
-
International Classifications
-
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.
US Referenced Citations (21)