Patent Application
20190314966
This application claims priority to co-pending German Patent Application No. EP 18 166 739.5-1201 filed Apr. 11, 2018.
The invention relates to a pivoting pliers jaw in a plate design which is used in manually actuated crimping pliers. By means of the crimping pliers it is possible to induce a pressing or crimping of a workpiece by a manual actuation of hand levers. Here, crimping pliers in particular serve for producing a permanent mechanical connection and an electric contact. This is preferably provided by crimping a plug to a cable or to an electric conductor of any design. Dependent on the profile of the used dies it is possible to execute different crimping processes with the crimping pliers. It might e.g. be a closed crimp where the conductor is inserted into a closed crimping zone of a plug or into a closed sleeve and where the conductor is crimped under a plastic deformation of the crimping zone or sleeve. However, it is also possible that an open crimp is produced where the plug comprises an open crimping zone into which the conductor can be inserted from above. To mention only some examples (which are not intended to limit the invention) by means of the present crimping tool it is possible to crimp
The produced crimp might e.g. be a closed crimp embodied as six-edges crimp or hexagonal crimp, four-edges crimp, B-crimp, trapezoidal crimp, modified trapezoidal crimp, oval crimp, mandrel crimp or two-mandrel crimp. An open crimp might e.g. be embodied as V-crimp or B-crimp, rolled crimp or double-rolled crimp.
Additional to the production of an electric connection between a cable or conductor and a plug it is possible that a mechanical connection is produced by means of a so-called insulation crimp. Here, a closed insulation crimp or open insulation crimp (in particular V-crimp, B-crimp, O-crimp or OV-crimp) can be used. For further information
The publication DE 19 802 287 C1 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,025 A discloses crimping pliers comprising a fixed pliers part. In the fixed pliers part a fixed hand lever is integrally connected to a fixed pliers jaw. Similar to scissors a pivoting pliers jaw is supported for being pivoted by the fixed pliers part. The pivoting pliers jaw comprises a supporting plate as well as two pliers jaw plates. The pliers jaw plates are arranged with an overlap on both sides of the supporting plate. In the region of the overlap the pliers jaw plates are held by two bolts at the supporting plate. The supporting plate protrudes on the side remote from the pliers head out of the overlapping regions. In the protruding end region the supporting plate is connected for being pivoted to a movable hand lever. The movable hand lever is supported for being pivoted via a pressure lever under the establishment of a toggle lever drive at the fixed hand lever. On the side facing towards the pliers head the pliers jaw plates protrude from the overlapping regions. Between the pliers jaw plates an accommodating space of an accommodation for a die insert is formed. The die insert comprises a die plate and two supporting elements. The die plate forms a flange being arranged in the accommodating space of the accommodation and a portion protruding from the pliers jaw plates towards the fixed pliers jaw. The outer front side of the protruding portion of the die plate forms a plurality of dies. In the transitional region between the flange and the protruding portion the die plate comprises bores. The bores have a distance from each other in a supporting plane. The supporting plane has an orientation transverse to the crimping force acting between the dies. Supporting elements embodied as transverse bolts are fixed in the bores or housed therein with an interference fit. The transverse bolts protrude on both sides from the die plate. On the side facing towards the fixed pliers jaw the pliers jaw plates comprise recesses having open edges. The recesses might have the shape of a half cylinder or might have a polygonal, semi-open cross section. When the die insert has been inserted into the accommodation formed by the pliers jaw plates, the transverse supports are accommodated in the recesses having an open edge with an accurate fit and secured against a displacement. In this way a force transfer is provided between the transverse supports and the recesses having open edges both in the direction of the crimping force as well as transverse to the crimping force. In the region of the flange both the pliers jaw plates as well as the die insert might comprise through bores or a threaded bore by which it is possible to mount the die insert at the pliers jaw plates by use of a mounting screw or a bolt. For mounting the pliers jaw plates to the supporting plate the bolts are here arranged on a connecting axis which has an orientation approximately parallel to the longitudinal extension of the movable hand lever. The connecting axis has an orientation with a pointed angle of approximately 20° relative to the supporting plane. In a corresponding way, the main extensional direction of the overlaps of the supporting plate and the pliers jaw plates has an orientation parallel to the hand levers and/or under the aforementioned pointed angle relative to the supporting plane.
The publication DE 20 2006 012 869 U1 discloses crimping pliers comprising a fixed pliers part which integrally forms a fixed hand lever and a fixed pliers jaw. A movable pivoting pliers jaw has a design comprising plates and is linked by a pivot joint for being pivoted to the fixed pliers part. The pivoting pliers jaw comprises a supporting plate and a pliers jaw plate fixed thereto. The pliers jaw plate forms an accommodation for a die insert. By a pivot joint the movable hand lever is linked to the supporting plate. The movable hand lever is additionally linked by a pressure lever to the fixed hand lever. For connecting the supporting plate to the pliers jaw plate two mounting bolts secured by a securing ring are used. The pliers jaw plate has approximately a triangular shape. In the region of one side of the triangle the accommodation for the die insert is formed. A neighboring side of the triangle defines the outer contour of the pivoting pliers jaw in the region of the pliers head. In the region of the third side of the triangle the mounting bolt for mounting the supporting plate to the pliers jaw plate is provided. A connecting axis of the longitudinal axes of the mounting bolts has an orientation parallel to this third side. Here, the first side of the triangle for forming the accommodation for the die insert and the connecting axis form an angle of approximately 120°.
The publication DE 20 2013 102 833 U1 discloses the use of a corresponding pivoting pliers jaw for a crimping tool which is driven by external energy, here electro-hydraulically driven.
The invention bases on the object to propose a pivoting pliers jaw which is in particular improved with respect to
Furthermore, the invention bases on the object to propose crimping pliers being improved in a corresponding way.
The invention proposes a pivoting pliers jaw being manufactured in a construction comprising plates. Plates of the required thicknesses and the required mechanical properties can be supplied at low costs as semi-finished products. By means of cheap known manufacturing processes it is possible to bring the plates into the required dimensions and geometries. The inventive pivoting pliers jaw is used in manually actuated crimping pliers as described in the beginning.
The pivoting pliers jaw comprises a supporting plate and at least one pliers jaw plate. It is possible that the pliers jaw plate directly forms an accommodation for a die insert. However, it is also possible that the pliers jaw plate supports an accommodation of this type. In this case it is also possible that the accommodation is exchangeably held by the pliers jaw plate. The pliers jaw plate defines a supporting plane of the accommodation for supporting a crimping force biasing the die insert. Preferably, the supporting plane has an orientation perpendicular to the crimping force or forms at the most a pointed angle of less than 30°, less than 20° or less than 15° or less than 10° or even less than 5° relative to the plane which has an orientation perpendicular to the crimping force.
The pliers jaw plate is arranged with an overlap on one side of the supporting plate. Preferably, the pliers jaw plate directly contacts the supporting plate in the region of the overlap. In the region of the overlap the pliers jaw plate is held by (exactly) two bolts at the supporting plate. For this purpose the pliers jaw plate and the supporting plate might comprise aligned bores. Bolts can be accommodated in the aligned bores. It is possible that a screwed bolt is used for holding the pliers jaw plate at the supporting plate. However, it is also possible that the pliers jaw plate is held at the supporting plate by a pin-like bolt or cylindrical bolt which is arranged in the bores of the pliers jaw plate and the supporting plate under the establishment of an interference fit or a transitional fit. At one side the bolt might comprise a thickening or a securing ring accommodated in a groove and on the other side the bolt might comprise a securing ring housed in a groove. In this case, the pliers jaw plate and the supporting plate might be trapped or caught between the protrusion or the securing ring and the other securing ring.
The invention proposes that an angle between a connecting axis of the longitudinal axis of the bolt and the supporting plane in a pliers jaw plane is 90°±30° (preferably ±20°, ±15°, ±10° or ±5°). With this design the invention leaves the route followed by the prior art that the connecting axis of the longitudinal axes of the bolts necessarily has to be arranged as parallel as possible to the supporting plane. For the embodiments known from the prior art the skilled person assumed that the pivoting pliers jaw should have a design in the type of a straight lever with respect to the application of the crimping force and the forces of the bolts by which the pliers jaw plates are held at the supporting plate and which have an orientation parallel to the crimping force. Here, the crimping force biases one end of the straight lever whereas the force of another bolt biases approximately the middle of the straight lever. For this known design of the arrangement of the bolts for connecting the pliers jaw plate and the supporting plate known from the prior art the skilled person assumed a good accommodation of the force by the bolts and so a high strength. In a surprising way the considerations on which the present invention base have shown that the force conditions are not (substantially) worse or even improved if the inventive angle of approximately 90° between the connecting axis of the longitudinal axes of the bolts and the supporting plane is chosen.
If it is e.g. assumed that for an embodiment of the invention the points of introduction of the crimping force and the two forces of the bolts (due to the chosen angle between the connecting axis of the longitudinal axes of the bolts and the supporting plane) are arranged at the corners of a square, the maximum of the forces of the bolts being applied upon the bolts due to the crimping force is only the half of the effective force in the case that the crimping force is introduced into an end region of a straight lever which is supported in the middle and in the other end region by the bolts. Accordingly, the inventive design leads to a reduction of the mechanical bias of the involved constructional elements.
On the other hand, the arrangement of the two bolts known from the prior art with an orientation of the connecting axis of the longitudinal axes parallel to the supporting plane respectively the hand levers leads to the result that the pivoting pliers jaw has a comparatively large constructional dimension in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the crimping pliers which in some cases might be reduced by the inventive angle.
Finally, by use of the angle it is also possible to extend the design options and also to extend the options for influencing the optical appearance of the crimping pliers.
The pliers jaw plate has an L-shape. The two legs of the L are here built by a mounting leg and a pliers jaw leg. The mounting leg here preferably serves for mounting the pliers jaw plate to the supporting plate. The pliers jaw leg preferably serves for the formation of the actual pliers jaw plate and for supporting the accommodation for the die insert or for forming the same.
One bolt extends through the transitional region where the mounting leg transits to the pliers jaw leg (so in the corner region of the L). Alternatively or cumulatively it is possible that a bolt extends through the free end region of the mounting leg. This results in a particularly compact design wherein the material of the pliers jaw plate is used in an optimal way.
It is possible that additional to the bores for the two bolts for mounting the pliers jaw plate to the supporting plate (and any other recesses or bores for the die insert) the pivoting pliers jaw comprises an additional recess, a bearing bolt or bearing stud or bearing lug. In the region of the recess, of the bearing bolt, of the bearing lug or of the bearing stud a pivot joint of the pliers jaw is formed. Said in different words, for this embodiment the pivot joint for bearing the pivoting pliers jaw against a fixed pliers part or a fixed pliers jaw is arranged remote from the two bolts for mounting the pliers jaw plate to the supporting plate.
For a particular proposal of the invention the pivot joint coincides with a bolt for mounting the pliers jaw plate to the supporting plate. In this case the bolt which extends through the free end region of the mounting leg of the pliers jaw plate is a pivot bolt of the crimping pliers by which the pivoting pliers jaw is supported for being pivoted at the fixed pliers jaw. Accordingly, it is possible to use the bolt in a multifunctional way: on the one hand the bolt forms the pivot bolt for supporting the pivoting pliers jaw for being pivoted relative to the fixed pliers jaw. On the other hand the bolt is used for mounting the pliers jaw plate to the supporting plate. By these measures a particularly compact embodiment and a reduction of the number of associated constructional element can be achieved.
Another aspect of the invention cares for the arrangement of a die insert at the pivoting pliers jaw. Generally, any accommodation known from the prior art might be used for the die insert at the inventive pivoting pliers jaw. For a particular proposal of the invention the accommodation of the pliers jaw plate comprises two accommodations for supporting elements of a die insert. The accommodations have a convex shape and are arranged (in a projection into the supporting plane) with a distance from each other. By the accommodations and supporting elements of a die insert arranged in the accommodations it is possible to transfer at least a component of a crimping force biasing the die insert which has an orientation vertical to the supporting plane from the die insert to the pliers jaw plate. Additionally, it is possible that a force having an orientation parallel to the supporting plane is supported between the accommodation and the supporting elements. To mention only one example for this embodiment, convex accommodations can be provided by recesses having an open edge whereas the supporting element can be embodied as transverse bolts protruding from a die plate as described in the publication DE 19 802 287 C1. With respect to further details reference is made to the publication DE 19 802 287 C1. The disclosure of the publication DE 19 802 287 C1 is made to the subject of the present disclosure with respect to the mounting and the support of the die insert to or at the pliers jaw plates.
Alternatively or cumulatively it is possible that the accommodation of the pliers jaw plate comprises a bore for a mounting screw. By the mounting screw it is possible to mount the die insert to the pivoting pliers jaw. Nevertheless, for this embodiment the actual accommodation of large crimping forces can be provided by the support of a supporting element of a die insert at a convex accommodation of the pliers jaw plate.
There are a lot of options for dimensioning the pivoting pliers jaw (in particular with respect to the longitudinal extension of the mounting leg). For one proposal the longitudinal extension of the mounting leg of the pliers jaw plate is larger than a half of the transverse extension of the pliers head (in particular larger than the half of the transverse extension of the pliers head in the region of the pivot joint by which the pivoting pliers jaw is supported for being pivoted at the fixed pliers jaw).
It is generally possible that only one pliers jaw plate is held at the supporting plate. For one proposal pliers jaw plates are arranged on both sides of the supporting plate. The two pliers jaw plates might have the same or differing geometries. In this case, the two pliers jaw plates are held by the two bolts at the supporting plates. The bolts are held in the region of (preferably corresponding) overlaps of the two pliers jaw plates with the supporting plate.
By the use of two pliers jaw plates it is possible to use a symmetrical design of the pivoting pliers jaw. Here, the two pliers jaw plates might be arranged symmetrically to a middle plane of the pliers head. The two pliers jaw plates might then together be used for forming or supporting the accommodation for the die insert. For one proposal the thickness of the supporting plate in the region of the overlaps with the pliers jaw plates corresponds (with a transitional fit or a clearance fit) to the thickness of a die insert (in particular in the region of a flange of a die plate). The thickness of the supporting plate also defines an extension of an accommodating space of the accommodation established between the pliers jaw plates. It is possible to insert the flange of the die insert into the accommodating space. It is possible that in the region of the flange the die insert is two-dimensionally guided or supported between the pliers jaw plates. An additional support can be provided by a mounting screw and/or the supporting elements supported in the convex accommodations.
A pivoting pliers jaw might be integrated into any arbitrary crimping pliers having an arbitrary drive mechanism. For a particular proposal the crimping pliers comprise a toggle lever drive. The toggle lever drive is actuated by the hand levers. It is also possible that a part of one of the hand levers forms a toggle lever of the toggle lever drive (cp. e.g. the prior art DE 19 802 287 C1 mentioned in the beginning). In this case, one toggle lever of the toggle lever drive is linked to the supporting plate. For this purpose the supporting plate might comprise a bore which forms a bearing lug for a pivot bolt. However, it is e.g. also possible that the supporting plate forms a bore for a pivot bolt.
Within the frame of the invention there are a lot of options for the choice of the geometry of the pivoting pliers jaw and the supporting plate as well as the at least one pliers jaw plate. For one proposal in a plan view onto the pliers head plane the pivoting pliers jaw (which is formed by the supporting plate and the at least one pliers jaw plate) generally has the shape of a T. A first horizontal leg of the T is formed by the pliers jaw leg of the pliers jaw plate. A second horizontal leg of the T is formed by the supporting plate. In the free end region of the second horizontal leg of the T then the pivot joint is formed where the pivoting pliers jaw is actuated by the toggle lever drive. In the region of the vertical leg of the T the overlap of the supporting plate with the pliers jaw plate (here the mounting leg of the pliers jaw plate) is arranged. In the free end region of the vertical leg of the T preferably the pivot joint is arranged by which the pivoting pliers jaw is supported for being pivoted at the fixed pliers jaw.
For another proposal the supporting plate comprises a mounting leg and a pivoting arm leg. Here, the mounting leg and the pivoting arm leg are arranged in an L-shape. The pivoting arm leg of the supporting plate is arranged approximately parallel to the pliers jaw leg of the at least one pliers jaw plate. Here, approximately parallel means that the pivoting arm leg of the supporting plate and the pliers jaw leg of the at least one pliers jaw plate form an angle relative to each other of less than 30°, less than 20° or less than 10°. In this case a pivot joint is arranged in the free end region of the pivoting arm leg. By this pivot joint the pivoting pliers jaw is supported for being pivoted at the pliers head, a fixed pliers part or one of the hand levers.
Advantageous developments of the invention result from the claims, the description and the drawings. The advantages of features and of combinations of a plurality of features mentioned at the beginning of the description only serve as examples and may be used alternatively or cumulatively without the necessity of embodiments according to the invention having to obtain these advantages. Without changing the scope of protection as defined by the enclosed claims, the following applies with respect to the disclosure of the original application and the patent: further features may be taken from the drawings, in particular from the illustrated designs and the dimensions of a plurality of components with respect to one another as well as from their relative arrangement and their operative connection. The combination of features of different embodiments of the invention or of features of different claims independent of the chosen references of the claims is also possible, and it is motivated herewith. This also relates to features which are illustrated in separate drawings, or which are mentioned when describing them. These features may also be combined with features of different claims. Furthermore, it is possible that further embodiments of the invention do not have the features mentioned in the claims.
The number of the features mentioned in the claims and in the description is to be understood to cover this exact number and a greater number than the mentioned number without having to explicitly use the adverb “at least”. For example, if an element is mentioned, this is to be understood such that there is exactly one element or there are two elements or more elements. Additional features may be added to these features, or these features may be the only features of the respective product.
The reference signs contained in the claims are not limiting the extent of the matter protected by the claims. Their sole function is to make the claims easier to understand.
In the following, the invention is further explained and described with respect to preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings.
The toggle lever drive 4 comprises toggle levers 8, 10. The toggle lever 8 is a pressure lever 9. The toggle lever 10 is formed by the front end region of the movable hand lever 5. The toggle levers 8, 10 are linked for being pivoted to each other by a toggle joint 11. The toggle joint 11 is embodied as a pivot joint 12 comprising a pivot bolt 13. The end region of the toggle lever 8 facing away from the toggle joint 11 is linked by a pivot joint 14 comprising a pivot bolt 15 to the fixed pliers part 2. The toggle lever 10 and so the movable hand lever 5 is linked by a pivot joint 16 comprising a pivot bolt 17 to the movable pliers part 3. The movable pliers part 3 is here embodied as a movable pivoting pliers jaw 18.
The pivoting pliers jaw 18 is supported for being pivoted by the fixed pliers part 2. This is provided by a pivot joint 20 comprising the pivot bolt 19. It is possible to pivot the pivoting pliers jaw 18 towards the fixed pliers jaw 7
In this way a crimping stroke is run through. The fixed pliers jaw 7 and the movable pivoting pliers jaw 18 in the region of a bit of tongues 21 each form recesses 22a, 22b for a die insert which is here not shown.
The pivoting pliers jaw 18 comprises a supporting plate 23. The pivot joint 20 is partially formed by the supporting plate 23. For this purpose it is possible that the supporting plate 23 comprises a through bore for accommodating the pivot bolt 19. On both sides of the supporting plate 23 pliers jaw plates 25a, 25b are arranged having overlaps 24a, 24b. In the region of the overlaps 24a, 24b the supporting plate 23 and the pliers jaw plates 25a, 25b are mounted to each other by a first bolt 27 and a second bolt 28. The bolts 27, 28 extend vertically to the extensional plane of the supporting plate 23 and the pliers jaw plates 25a, 25b as well as to a pliers head plane 62 which corresponds to the drawing plane of
For the shown embodiment the supporting plate 23 has approximately a triangular shape (here with rounded corners). The pivot joint 16 is arranged in the region of the in
In
The accommodation 22 for the die insert formed by the accommodations 33, 34 for the supporting elements defines a supporting plane 36. The supporting plane 36 has an orientation transverse to the crimping force biasing the pivoting pliers jaw 18 or the orientation differs from this transverse orientation by a maximum of 30°, a maximum of 20°, a maximum of 10° or a maximum of 5°. Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the accommodations 33, 34 respectively of the supporting elements of a die insert arranged therein define the supporting plane 36 or these are arranged therein. It is also possible that the front sides of the pliers jaw plates 25a, 25b facing towards the bit of tongues 21 define the supporting plane 36.
For the shown embodiment the pliers jaw plates 25a, 25b (in a simplified consideration) form a straight lever. The crimping force biases an end region of the lever. Approximately in the middle support is provided by the bolt 25. In the other end region the support is provided by the second bolt 28. The pliers jaw plates 25 have an orientation approximately parallel to the supporting plane 36. Furthermore, in the closed position of the hand levers 5, 6 the pliers jaw plates 25 have a longitudinal extension having an orientation approximately parallel to the hand lever 5.
For an embodiment (which with respect to other aspects generally corresponds to the embodiment of
Without this necessarily being the case, for the embodiment of
For a simplified consideration the assumption is made that in
In particular in
For the shown embodiment the supporting plate 23 and the supporting plate parts 40a, 40b are L-shaped in a rough approximation. Here, the supporting plate parts 40a, 40b each comprise a mounting leg 42a, 42b and a pivoting arm leg 43a, 43b. The pivoting arm legs 43a, 43b in this case serve for bridging the distance of the pivot joint 20 from the pliers head. Instead, the mounting leg 42 serves for mounting the pliers jaw plates 25a, 25b. For this purpose in the region of the mounting leg 42a, 42b the overlaps 24a, 24b between the supporting plate parts 40a, 40b and the pliers jaw plates 25a, 25b are formed.
For the crimping pliers 1 of
For the shown embodiment in a plan view onto the pliers head plane the pivoting pliers jaw 18 comprises an approximately Z-shaped geometry. Between the two horizontal legs of the Z the connecting leg has a vertical orientation. Accordingly, the two horizontal legs of the Z have an offset in the longitudinal direction of the crimping pliers 1 without an overlap of the same in longitudinal direction. Here, the lower horizontal leg of the Z is formed by the pliers jaw legs 38 of the pliers jaw plates 25. The connecting leg of the Z is formed both by the mounting leg 37 of the pliers jaw plates 25 as well as by the mounting legs 42 of the supporting plate parts 40. The upper horizontal leg of the Z is formed by the pivoting arm leg 43 of the supporting plate parts 40.
In
For the two embodiments in
In the Figures a pliers head plane denotes a plane wherein the pivoting pliers jaw 18 is pivoted. Here, the pliers head plane 62 corresponds to the drawing planes of
With respect to further details of the embodiment of the crimping pliers 1 of
Within the present specification constructional elements corresponding or being similar with respect to the function and/or the design are partly denoted with the same reference numerals but denoted with an additional distinguishing letter a, b, . . . . Reference is also made to these constructional elements partly without use of the additional letter.
Many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 166 739.5 | Apr 2018 | EP | regional |
