Patent Application
20220118591
This application claims priority from French Patent Application No. 2010727 filed on Oct. 19, 2020. The French Patent Application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a portable tool configured to ensure the expansion of a wall anchor (or a screw and wall anchor set).
The field of the present invention relates to that of setting of so-called HWA (“Hollow Wall Anchor”) wall anchors, typically metallic, and better known as Molly wall anchors.
For such a wall anchor, the expansion of the wall anchor cannot be achieved by screwing of the screw, but requires a specific tool, namely an expansion-controlled clamp well known in the state of the art.
Thus, the mechanism of the clamp has two portions, movable relative to one another, namely a fixed portion and a slider bearing respectively against a shoulder of the wall anchor and the head of the screw, and enabling the separation of the screw head with respect to the shoulder of the wall anchor upon a movement of the slider, to cause the expansion of the wall anchor.
Conventionally, the clamp comprises a grip, with a fixed branch and a movable branch, which, when driven towards the fixed branch, allows causing the movement of the slider by a given step, and thus separate the head of the screw from the shoulder of the wall anchor.
The stroke necessary for the expansion of the wall anchor is not a fixed value and depends on the model of the wall anchor: with such a clamp, the optimum expansion of the wall anchor could require several presses on the grip to cause several consecutive movements of the slider (by the given step) up to the desired stroke.
Some expansion-controlled clamps comprise a setting system which allows monitoring the stroke, by monitoring the number of presses on the grip and therefore the number of steps.
Nonetheless, according to the observations of the Applicant, this type of clamps has the drawback of requiring a large number of presses on the grip for the set-up of wall anchors, which could lead to musculoskeletal troubles for the operators.
Another drawback of expansion-controlled clamps, even those fitted with the aforementioned setting system, is that it is just a discontinuous setting, corresponding to the step of movement of the slider of the grip upon a press on the grip, which could turn out to be a coarse, merely accurate setting.
According to the observations of the inventors, and in particular for very long wall anchors, the expansion-controlled clamps available on the market have a stroke of the slider that is insufficient to ensure the optimum expansion of the wall anchor, even with several successive presses on the grip.
With such clamps, the expansion of the wall anchor may require a set-up procedure in two steps, namely, a first use of the clamp to separate the head of the screw from the shoulder of the wall anchor thereby proceeding with a first expansion, only partial, of the wall anchor.
The operator disengages the clamp from the wall anchor, to proceed with screwing of the screw, and thus with the approach of the head of the screw to the shoulder of the wall anchor, before engaging the expansion-controlled clamp again to ensure the desired expansion during a second use of the clamp.
Such a procedure, which comprises a screwing with a non-controlled stroke between two uses of the clamp, is not satisfactory, and does not allow guaranteeing the repeatability of the operations.
The present disclosure improves the situation.
A portable tool is provided, configured to ensure the expansion of a wall anchor of a screw and wall anchor set wherein:
According to the present disclosure, the drive mechanism comprises an electric motor comprising a rotor and a stator, as well as a transmission ensuring the movement of the slider along the slide during the rotation of the rotor, as well as a monitoring module comprising a control member, said monitoring module being configured, when the operator presses on said control member, to actuate the motor in order to drive the slider from the first position towards the second position.
The features disclosed in the following paragraphs may, optionally, be implemented. They may be implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other.
According to one embodiment, the control member is an electric button preferably with a normally-open switch, pressing on said control member ensuring the actuation of the electric motor, and the release of the control member the stoppage of the motor.
According to one embodiment, the monitoring member comprises a motor board ensuring the automatic stoppage of the slider in the second position when the slider reaches a determined stroke between said first position and said second position of the slider.
According to one embodiment, the monitoring member comprises a user interface configured to ensure the setting of the value of the determined stroke.
According to one embodiment, the user interface is a rotary setting knob. The setting knob may be secured to the rotary axis of a potentiometer, the monitoring module comprising the motor board connected to the terminals of the potentiometer and associating different values of the determined stroke to different values of the variable resistance at the terminals of the potentiometers.
According to one embodiment, the value of the stroke can be set over a range that extends up to at least 44 mm for the value of the determined stroke.
According to one embodiment, said user interface ensures the setting of the value of the determined stroke according to a setting increment smaller than or equal to 3 mm, preferably smaller than or equal to 2 mm, or smaller than or equal to 1 mm.
According to one embodiment, the transmission between the rotor of the electric motor comprises a screw/nut system, configured to transform the rotational movement of the rotor of the motor into a translational movement of the slider.
According to one embodiment, the bit comprises a barrel terminating at its distal end in the first bearing surface, and connected at its proximal end to a body of the tool embedding the motor, and possibly a reducer as well as the monitoring module, and wherein the tubular barrel comprises a housing forming a slide for the slider, with blockage of the rotation of the slider relative to the barrel about a longitudinal axis of the barrel.
According to one embodiment, the screw of the screw-nut system extends inside the barrel, guided in rotation by a bearing such as a rolling bearing connecting the screw and the inner wall of the barrel, and said nut is mounted movable in translation inside the housing, without any possibility of rotation of the nut relative to the barrel around a longitudinal axis of the barrel.
According to one embodiment, the bit and the body of the tool comprise removable fastening means between the proximal end of the barrel and the body of the tool, comprising for example a retaining ring and wherein the end of the screw at the proximal end of the barrel, on the one hand, and the output of the reducer of the body of the tool, on the other hand, comprise removable complementary portions for coupling by nesting, ensuring a torque transmission.
According to one embodiment, the user interface is located on the rear portion of the body of the tool, diametrically opposite with respect to the bit connected to the front portion of the body of the tool.
According to one embodiment, the tool comprises a grip, and wherein said control member is a trigger configured to be pressed by a finger such as the forefinger of the hand grasping the grip.
According to one embodiment, the energy source of the motor and of the monitoring module is a battery, possibly provided removable with respect to the body of the tool.
According to one embodiment, the monitoring module comprises a selector of the rotation direction of the motor, configured to take on two states, including:
Other features, details and advantages will appear upon reading the detailed description hereinafter, and upon analysing the appended drawings, wherein:
The drawings and the description hereinafter essentially contain elements that are definitely certain. Hence, they could not only serve to better understand the present disclosure, but also contribute to the definition thereof, where appropriate.
The present disclosure relates to a portable tool 1 configured to ensure the expansion of a hollow wall anchor Ch of a screw Vs and wall anchor Ch set, such as a Molly wall anchor.
Such a set is illustrated in
This shoulder Ep is intended to bear on a first face of a wall throughout which the wall anchor is inserted and as illustrated in
The wall anchor also comprises a plurality of branches Br each connecting the nut Ec to the shoulder Ep. The wall anchor expansion is obtained by deformation of the branches, in particular by folding of the branches, while ensuring the approach of the shoulder Ep with the nut Ec which, in turn, is obtained by separating the screw head Tv from the shoulder Ep, and as illustrated as example in
To this end, the tool 1 has an effector 2 comprising:
The tool also comprises a drive mechanism configured to move the slider 24 from an initial first position P1, for which the second bearing surface 25 is juxtaposed to the first bearing surface 21. This initial first position enables the insertion of the screw throughout the first and second indentations 22, 26 then opposite one another and juxtaposed, with contact of the first bearing surface 21 against the shoulder Ep of the hollow wall anchor Ch into which the screw Vs is screwed. The threaded portion of the screw then crosses the juxtaposed first indentation 22 and second indentation 26. The screw head Tv, with a dimension larger than the second indentation 26, is then positioned opposite the second bearing surface 25, and prone to be pulled by the second bearing surface 25 when the slider 24 separates the second bearing surface 25 from the first bearing surface 21. In this position, the second bearing surface 25 is positioned intermediate between the first bearing surface 21 and the screw head Tv.
The drive mechanism is configured to move the slider 24 from said first position P1 up to a second position P2x; P2y for which the second bearing surface 25 then in contact against the screw head is separated from the first bearing surface 21 in contact with the shoulder Ep of the wall anchor, by sliding of the slider 24 along the slide 23. This movement causes the separation of the screw head Tv from the shoulder Ep of the wall anchor, and thus the expansion of the wall anchor Ch by deformation of the branches Br by the approach of the nut Ec and the shoulder Ep.
In
Advantageously, according to the present disclosure, the drive mechanism comprises an electric motor M comprising a rotor 27 and a stator, as well as a transmission ensuring the movement of the slider 24 along the slide 23 during the rotation of the rotor, as well as a monitoring module 30 comprising a control member 28. This monitoring module is configured, when the operator presses on said control member 28, to actuate the motor in order to drive the slider 24 from the first position P1 towards the second position P2x, P2y.
Such a tool ensures the wall anchor expansion in a motor-driven manner, advantageously while reducing the efforts for the user in comparison with a toll with a (manual) clamp mechanism.
According to one embodiment, the control member 28 is an electric button with a normally-open switch, pressing on said control member 28 ensuring the actuation of the electric motor M, and the release of the control member 28 the stoppage of the motor. The control member 28 and the switch may feature an all-or-nothing operation, or alternatively advantageously a progressive operation, with monitoring of the variation of the rotational speed of the motor, in particular according to the stroke of the press on the control member 28.
In general, the tool may comprise a grip 40: said control member 28 may be a trigger configured to be pressed by a finger such as the forefinger of the hand grasping the grip 40.
According to one embodiment, the monitoring module 30 comprises a selector 41 of the rotation direction of the electric motor M, configured to take on at least two states, including:
According to an advantageous embodiment, the monitoring module 30 comprises a motor board CM ensuring the automatic stoppage of the slider 24 in the second position P2x, P2y when the slider reaches a determined stroke between said first position P1 and said second position P2x, P2y of the slider 24, memorised in the memory card.
To this end, the motor board CM may consist of a board with monitoring of the position of the motor, the board ensuring the automatic stoppage of the motor when the slider reaches the second position P2x, P2y and in particular when the operator keeps pressing on the control member 28.
Advantageously, the determined stroke is herein selected according to the characteristics of the hollow wall anchor Ch, and possibly of the support on which the wall anchor is set, in particular the thickness of the wall surface into which the wall anchor is inserted. The determined stroke is determined in order to obtain the deformation of the branches ensuring the optimum holding of the wall anchor.
The determined stroke is selected with a sufficient value to cause the deformation of the branches in order to obtain the suppression of the mounting backlash in the wall surface between the shoulder and the deformed branches, but with no excess otherwise the support will be marked, for example the plasterboard when the determined stroke is exceeded.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the monitoring module 30 comprises a user interface 31 configured to ensure the setting of the value x, y of the determined stroke.
The user interface 31 may consist of a rotary setting knob. This setting knob 31 may be secured to the rotary axis of a potentiometer Pt.
The monitoring module 30 then comprises the motor board CM connected to the terminals of the potentiometer and associating different values x, y of the determined stroke to different values of the variable resistance at the terminals Bn of the potentiometer Pt.
The user interface 31 may be in other forms such as a digital display with one or several button(s) allowing setting of the determined stroke. Such an interface allows setting the value of the determined stroke according to the characteristics of the wall anchor and of the support, and according to different wall anchor dimensions. It becomes possible to ensure an optimum deformation of the branches during the expansion of the wall anchor, in a repeatable and reliable manner, and advantageously irrespective of the wall anchor model.
Advantageously, the setting of the determined stroke is preferably a fine setting: said user interface 31 ensures a setting of the value of the stroke preferably determined according to a setting increment smaller than or equal to 3 mm, preferably smaller than or equal to 2 mm, and possibly smaller than or equal to 1 mm, and even a continuous setting of the value of the determined stroke.
According to one embodiment, the stroke of the slider may be at least equal to 44 mm. According to the observations of the inventors, such a stroke of the slider, from the first position P1 up to the second position P2x, P2y enables setting and expansion of the wall anchors available on the market, even the longest ones. Preferably, said user interface ensures a setting of the value of the determined stroke over a range that extends up to at least 44 mm for the determined stroke of the slider.
According to one embodiment, the transmission between the rotor 27 of the electric motor M comprises a screw 32/nut 33 system, configured to transform the rotational movement of the rotor 27 of the motor M into a translational movement of the slider 24.
According to an embodiment illustrated in the figures, the rotor 27 of the motor M drives the rotation of the screw 32 on itself preferably through a reducer 35, while the nut 33 in cooperation with the screw is movable in translation along the direction of the slide 23. The reducer 35 may consist of an epicyclic gear train, for example a multi-stage one.
Thus, the bit 20 may comprise a barrel 29 terminating at its distal end in the first bearing surface 21, and connected at its proximal end to a body 34 of the tool. The body 34 of the tool embeds the motor M, and possibly said reducer 35 as well as the monitoring module 30. The barrel may have a cylindrical external shape, the first bearing surface 21 forming the base at the distal end of the barrel.
The barrel 29 is tubular with a housing forming a slide 23 for the slider. The tubular housing of the barrel has a non-circular section, for example a rectangular or square section. The section of the slider is complementary with the sliding clearance, ensuring the guidance of the slider in the housing forming a slide, with a blockage of the rotation of the slider 24 relative to the barrel about the longitudinal axis of the barrel.
Notice that the external wall of the barrel 29, cylindrical in particular, has a notch 290, with a dimension larger than the screw head Tv, opening facing the first bearing surface 21, opposite the first indentation 22. When the slider is in the first position P1 for which the second bearing surface 25 and the first bearing surface 21 are juxtaposed, this notch 290 enables the insertion of the screw head within the barrel, until positioning the threaded portion of the screw throughout the first and second indentations 22, 26 of the first and second bearing surfaces 21, 25 then juxtaposed. Once the screw head is inserted into the barrel, the second bearing surface 25 is then positioned intermediate between the first bearing surface 21 and the screw head Tv, along the direction of the barrel.
Notice that the screw 32 of the screw-nut system could extend inside the barrel, guided in rotation relative to the barrel by a bearing such as a rolling bearing 36 connecting the screw 32 and the inner wall of the barrel 29. The nut 33 is mounted movable in translation inside the housing, without any possibility of rotation of the nut relative to the barrel about a longitudinal axis of the barrel. The nut 33 may have one or several pad(s) 330, ensuring a guidance of the nut.
For example, the nut 33 has two pads 330 whose positions are offset along the axis of the barrel. As illustrated according to the sectional view of
According to one embodiment, the bit 20 and the body 34 of the tool comprise removable fastening means between the proximal end of the barrel 29 and the body 34 of the tool.
Moreover, the end of the screw 32 at the proximal end of the barrel, on the one hand, and the output of the reducer 35 of the body of the tool, on the other hand, may respectively comprise complementary portions 37, 38 for coupling by nesting, ensuring a torque transmission. These complementary portions ensure a quick coupling between the output of the reducer 35 and the screw 32 when the proximal end of the barrel is nested into the body of the tool.
The removable fastening means may comprise a retaining ring 340 ensuring the blockage of the barrel 29, nested by its proximal end into the body 34, by bearing of the retaining ring 340 against a portion 291 at the proximal end of the barrel. This ring 340 extends around the barrel and has an inner thread screwed onto the body 34 of the tool, while ensuring the removable coupling of the complementary portions 37 and 38. The removal of the barrel 29 requires the prior removal of the retaining ring 340 by unscrewing, and before enabling the extraction of the barrel 29.
Preferably, the tool 1 is powered by a standalone electrical energy source such as a battery. This energy source powers the motor M and the monitoring module 30. This battery 39 is possibly provided removable with respect to the body 34 of the tool.
The tool will find a particular application in setting of a hollow wall anchor, for example a Molly wall anchor.
The tool has as advantage a reduction of the risk of musculoskeletal troubles for the operators, and allows, at least according to one embodiment:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 10727 | Oct 2020 | FR | national |
