The present invention relates generally to tools for installing cable ties and, more particularly, to handheld pneumatic tools that provide tension to the cable ties and cut off excess portions of the ties while under tension.
Flexible cable ties and tools for installing flexible cable ties are well known. Cable ties are used to bundle and secure wires, cables, and tubes, and similar items. As an example, cable ties may be used on an automobile assembly line to secure fluid and electrical lines to a vehicles chassis. Generally, installation tools are designed so that the cable ties will bundle such items in a tight, secure bundle. Typically, flexible cable ties include a head portion and a tail portion extending from the head. The tail is looped around the items to be secured and passed through the head portion. A locking or ratcheting mechanism in the head holds the tail in place and secures the tie around the bundled items. Once a predetermined tension has been reached, the excess portion of the tie is clipped near the head portion.
A variety of tools have been developed to enable workers to install flexible cable ties quickly, efficiently, and uniformly. These tools generally grip the tail portion of the tie after the tie has been looped around a bundle and the tail is passed through the head portion of the tie. The tool uses a pawl or similar device to grip and tension the tie to a predetermined tension, and a blade will sever the excess portion of the tail, thereby providing a tidy bundle of items.
Specifically, various handheld tools have been developed to assist in the installation of cable ties. Commonly, these devices have a pistol or gun-like shape, with a squeezable trigger that allows the tail to be pulled until a predetermined tension is achieved, after which a cutting blade adjacent the nose of the tool cuts off the excess portion of the tie. An example of such a tool may be found in Dyer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,290. The tension at which cutoff occurs may be adjusted by the operator. Such tools may be manually operated, or powered in other ways, such as pneumatically.
There have been improvements in these handheld tools. For instance, Hillegonds, U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2004/0079436, describes a pneumatic cable tie tools for delivering a more uniform tensioning arrangement. Nilsson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,425, also describes a handheld tool that allows the operator to more accurately adjust the tension on the tool. Dyer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,133, describes a lightweight cable tie-tensioning tool that is remotely powered.
However, cable tie tools may still be improved. For instance, it would be advantageous to have a tool that will be easily adaptable and usable in different settings, rather than trying to adapt environment or surroundings of the tool for specific tool arrangements. One assembly line is not necessarily uniform with another assembly line. For example, pneumatic supply hoses may not be located at the same level or place on different assembly lines. Some supply hoses may hang down from a ceiling, while others may come up from the floor or be located at ground level. There exists a need for a tool that would adapt to different arrangements.
Also, there exists a need for a more facile cutting and feeding process of the cable ties into these handheld tools. Proper alignment of a cable tie before severing can expedite the severing process, and a more efficient cutting blade or blades would also improve the overall process. Thus, an improved device is contemplated.
The present invention provides a tool for installing cable ties. The tool has a pistol-shaped housing that includes a grip, a barrel portion, a nosepiece portion, and a trigger located on the housing. A tensioning mechanism responds to the trigger to provide tension for the cable tie, and a cutoff mechanism severs the cable tie when the tie reaches a predetermined tension. The cutoff mechanism comprises two separate blades for severing the cable tie.
The housing of the tool can be arranged with also two separate valve fittings, one located on the bottom of the housing and one located on the top of the housing, so that the tool can receive pneumatic power from supply lines located at different places and different orientations, while still being easily operated by an individual. Along with separate valve fittings, the tool also has an improved hanging device or hook that can be locked in place by use of a spring-loaded pin, which allows unencumbered storage of the tool when not in use.
The nosepiece section, which receives a cable tie into the tool, has a reinforced ledge that helps funnel the cable tie into the tensioning mechanism. The tensioning mechanism has a pawl member that has an oversized flange that further assists in feeding the cable tie into the tool.
These and other advantages of the present invention will be further exemplified with the following drawings and description.
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
A power assisted cable tie-tensioning tool 10 is shown in
Still referring to
The front section 34 of the barrel portion 24 comprises a nosepiece 36, which will be discussed in greater detail with regard to
Still referring to
The trigger lever 68 is also attached to a spring 72, preferably a leaf spring 72. The leaf spring 72 is arranged to contact a tension linkage 74, which is connected to a tension pin 76 that is connected to a U-bracket 78. The tension pin 76 allows the tension linkage and the U-bracket 78 to be pivotally connected to one another. The bottom end of the U-bracket 78 is biased toward the bottom end 42 of the grip portion 22 by a tension spring 80. The tension spring 80 sits between a tension nut 82 and a fixed nut 84, and the tension spring 80 is slidably movable along the arms of the U-bracket 78. The tension control 28 is coupled to a threaded tension rod that threadedly engages the tension nut 82. As the tension control 28 is turned, the tension rod will draw the tension nut 82 closer to the fixed cam 84 or drive the tension nut 82 away from the fixed cam 84, depending on the direction the tension control 28 is turned. Accordingly, tension is applied and adjusted for the U-bracket 78 and onward to the tension linkage 74, which provide tension for a cutoff mechanism 86.
The cutoff mechanism 86 provides movement to sever the cable tie 12 when movement of the trigger 26 activates the tool 10. A blade link 88 is pivotally attached to a centrally located main link 90 by way of a horizontal pivot axis 92. Opposite of where the main link 90 is connected to the blade link 88, the main link 90 is in pivotal contact with the tension linkage 74, thereby providing the necessary tension to the cutoff mechanism 86. The blade link 88 comprises an elongate, rigid lever that extends generally the length of the front section 34 of the barrel portion 24 of the tool 10. The blade link 88 is pivotally mounted to the housing 20 around a substantially horizontal blade link axis 94. The front of the blade link 88 sits within the nosepiece 36, and will be described in more detail with respect to
Still referring to
Referring to
The sharpened edge 122 was not practical in previous cable tool designs because previous nosepiece designs were cast iron or other similar cast metal. Previous designs were cast as a one-piece construction, or had the front section of the nosepiece fitted within the enclosed sides of the nosepiece, which prevented sharpening the edge of the casting. The present nosepiece arrangement allows for the desired sharpening of the front section 106, since it is not cast as a one-piece design, as much of the prior art was cast. Likewise, because front section 106 does not sit within the nosepiece, but is fastened together with screws or other fastening means 125, depicted in
Referring to
The flange 130 also has other advantages over the prior art. Previous designs only used a single upper member and not an upper and lower member. The use of both the top ledge 132 and the flange section 134 allows for the user to more easily feed the cable tie 12 into the nosepiece 36. Furthermore, it is desirable for the main body of a cable tie tool to be manufactured from a plastic material, which would be lighter and easier to manage for the operator. For instance a roof section 135 on the present tool 10 is preferably constructed from a plastic material. Because the roof section 135 and the nosepiece 36 are preferably constructed as separate pieces, most preferably since they are made from different materials, a small gap 137 will be located where the roof section 135 and the nosepiece 36 meet. Over time, as the tensioning mechanism 62 is moved, as described with respect to
Prior art designs also have gaps as in the present invention, and further have another gap where a previously designed flange would be positioned next to the roof section. These gaps also become larger as the cable tie tools were used. However, prior flange designs did not compensate for these gaps. Thus, when a cable tie was fed into these tools, it was possible for the cable tie to bind up or get stuck in these gaps, which would lead to delays in the overall process. The newly designed flange on the present invention minimizes such problems, thereby increasing efficiency and productivity.
The present invention provides an improved cable tie tool for both manufacture and the end user or operator. For instance, the adaptable air cylinder for use as an overhead or bottom air supply tool reduces the different components needed on hand during the assembly process. Because the remaining components of the tool are essentially the same, the manufacturer can produce a cable tool or cable tools quicker and more efficiently since there would be less downtime in ordering and waiting for specific tool components. In addition, fewer parts need to be stocked for service and maintenance of the tool.
Similarly, the present invention is much more user friendly for the end operator. None of the known relevant prior art allowed for or contemplated an overhead air supply for the cable tool. Because the tool will generally hang down from a ceiling, the overhead supply prevents the tool from twisting or hanging haphazardly as with previous tools. Likewise, it is more convenient for the hook and the overhead air supply to work in concert with one another to support and orientate the tool. The ability for the hook to lock in an opened or closed position further assists in proper orientation of the tool.
The improved cutting mechanism and the improved flange located on the nosepiece provide for a quicker and easier process, as well. When working at piecework or assembly line processes, this is significant, since even an improvement in time of a few seconds for each cable tie installation will add up over the course of a normal production shift. Similarly, the improved cutting mechanism will reduce stress on other elements of the tool, such as the gripping mechanism, which leads to less down time to service and replace parts on the tool.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
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20060037661 A1 | Feb 2006 | US |