The present subject matter relates to pressing tools, and more particularly to mechanical pressing tools, such as crimping and clamping tools.
Cross-linked polyethylene tubing, commonly abbreviated as PEX or XLPE, is often used for domestic water piping to replace traditional copper piping. PEX tubing is typically attached to fittings using compression rings. In its nominal (uncompressed) state, a compression ring can be slid over the PEX tubing and fitting, then compressed using a pressing tool to clamp the PEX tubing to the fitting. Manual pressing tools, including clamping tools for use with clamp rings and crimping tools for use with crimp rings, typically including a pair of handles coupled to pressing jaws by a pivoting linkage arrangement.
The present subject matter provides, in one aspect, a pressing tool including a housing, first and second jaws at least partially disposed in the housing, the first and second jaws being pivotal respective to a portion of the housing, a motor supported within the housing, an output shaft driven by the motor, the output shaft including a threaded portion, and a roller carriage including a threaded bore in which the output shaft is received such that rotation of the output shaft advances or retracts the roller carriage to pivot the jaws.
In some embodiments, the first and second jaws include a clamping tip configured to compress a PEX clamp ring.
In some embodiments, the first and second jaws include a crimping die configured to compress a PEX crimp ring.
In some embodiments, the housing includes a generally cylindrical handle portion defining a longitudinal axis. The handle portion is configured to be gripped by a user during operation of the pressing tool, and the output shaft extends coaxial with the longitudinal axis.
In some embodiments, the housing includes a battery support portion adjacent the handle portion, and the pressing tool also includes a battery removably coupled to the battery support portion to provide power to the motor.
In some embodiments, the battery support portion includes a receptacle, and the battery includes a stem insertable into the receptacle along a battery axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.
In some embodiments, the pressing tool also includes a transmission coupled between the motor and the output shaft, and a gear case in which the transmission is at least partially disposed.
In some embodiments, the gear case is disposed within the handle portion of the housing.
In some embodiments, the output shaft is axially fixed relative to the transmission.
In some embodiments, the output shaft includes a flange, and the pressing tool also includes a thrust bearing disposed between the gear case and the flange.
The present subject matter provides, in another aspect, a pressing tool including a housing, first and second jaws extending from the housing, the first and second jaws being pivotal respective to a portion of the housing, a motor supported within the housing, a transmission coupled to the motor, the transmission at least partially disposed within a gear case, and an output shaft coupled to the transmission. The output shaft is supported within the housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis, and the output shaft is axially fixed relative to the gear case. The pressing tool also includes a roller carriage in direct threaded engagement with the output shaft such that rotation of the output shaft advances or retracts the roller carriage to pivot the jaws.
In some embodiments, the first and second jaws include one of a clamping tip or a crimping die.
In some embodiments, one or more magnets are disposed in the roller carriage.
In some embodiments, the pressing tool includes a microcontroller configured to control operation of the motor.
The present subject matter provides, in another aspect, a clamping tool including a housing, and first and second jaws extending from a portion of the housing, the first and second jaws including an arm, a cam surface on an inner side of the arm, and a clamping tip. The jaws are pivotable between a closed position and an open position for compressing a clamp ring. The clamping tool also includes a motor supported within the housing, an output shaft driven by the motor, and a roller carriage supporting first and second rollers. The roller carriage is coupled to the output shaft such that rotation of the output shaft in a first direction advances the roller carriage to move the jaws toward the closed position, and rotation of the output shaft in a second direction retracts the roller carriage, allowing the jaws to move toward the open position. The first and second rollers engage the cam surfaces the respective first and second jaws when in the open position.
In some embodiments, the roller carriage is in direct threaded engagement with the output shaft.
In some embodiments, the housing includes a handle portion defining a longitudinal axis and a battery support portion adjacent the handle portion, and the clamping tool also includes a battery removably coupled to the battery support portion to provide power to the motor.
In some embodiments, the battery support portion includes a receptacle, and the battery includes a stem insertable into the receptacle along a battery axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.
In some embodiments, the clamping tool also includes a transmission coupled between the motor and the output shaft, and a gear case in which the transmission is at least partially disposed.
In some embodiments, the gear case is disposed within the handle portion of the housing.
In some embodiments, the output shaft is axially fixed relative to the transmission.
Other features and aspects of the present subject matter will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the present subject matter are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The present subject matter is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A clamp ring 10, illustrated in
The battery support portion 58 is configured to support a battery 74 that includes a battery housing 78 enclosing an array of battery cells (e.g., lithium-based rechargeable cells, not shown). A stem 82 may extend from the battery housing 78 (e.g., along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 70) and include electrically conductive contacts 86 that are electrically connected to the battery cells. Where provided, the stem 82 is insertable into a receptacle 90 (
Referring to
A printed circuit board or PCB 126 is located within the battery support portion 58 of the housing 54. The PCB 126 may include a suitable controller (e.g., a microcontroller such as a microprocessor), switching electronics (e.g., MOSFETs, IGBTs, or the like), and other components for controlling the operation of the motor 106, controlling the delivery of power from the battery 74 to the motor 106, obtaining signals from sensors (e.g., Hall effect sensors, and/or the like) and/or switches, controlling the motor 106 based on the signals obtained from the sensors and/or switches, and/or the like. A switch 130 for energizing the motor 106 and, in some embodiments, for controlling a rotational direction and/or operating speed of the motor 106, is located on the handle portion 66 of the housing 54. The switch 130 may be configured as a trigger, push-button, rotary dial, and/or the like.
With continued reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the output shaft 114 may extend coaxially with the longitudinal axis 70. The output shaft 114 includes a bearing seat 142, a radially-extending flange 146, and a threaded portion 150. The flange 146 may be positioned between the bearing seat 142 and the threaded portion 150. A roller bearing 154 may be fixed to the bearing seat 142 to rotatably support the output shaft 114 in the housing 54. The drive assembly 102 may further include a thrust bearing 158 disposed axially between the flange 146 and a front wall 162 of the gear case 134. The output shaft 114, thus, may be axially fixed relative to the gear case 134.
The head portion 62 of the housing 54 is configured to support a working assembly 166 that includes a pair of jaws 170. The jaws 170 are pivotable about respective parallel pins 174 between an open position (
The drive assembly 102 may additionally include a roller carriage 190 coupled to the threaded portion 150 of the output shaft 114. More specifically, the roller carriage 190 includes a threaded bore 194 through which the threaded portion 150 of the output shaft 114 extends, such that rotation of the output shaft 114 relative to the roller carriage 190 advances or retracts the roller carriage 190 along the output shaft 114 (and thus, along the longitudinal axis 70). In the illustrated embodiment, the threaded portion 150 of the output shaft 114 and the threaded bore 194 of the roller carriage 190 may each include a trapezoidal or Acme thread configuration. The Acme thread configuration is particularly suitable due to its high strength (e.g., the Acme thread configuration is configured to withstand the large axial loads between the output shaft 114 and roller carriage 190 that occur during operation). The Acme thread configuration is also relatively simpler and less costly to manufacture than other thread forms, such as square threads. In some embodiments, however, other thread forms may be used, such as metric, unified, stub, and/or the like.
The roller carriage 190 may include a main body 198 that rotatably supports two rollers 202, bushings, and/or bearings. Where used, the rollers 202 may be positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 70 in the illustrated embodiment. The rollers 202 are engageable with the cam surfaces 186 on the respective jaws 170 to exert a closing force on the jaws 170 when the clamping tool 50 performs a clamping operation. Because the axially-fixed output shaft 114 (which is directly coupled to the transmission 134) is in direct threaded engagement with the roller carriage 190, the length of the drive assembly 102 can be minimized, improving the usability of the clamping tool 50 in tight spaces.
The drive assembly 102, including the transmission 110 and threaded output shaft 114, advantageously provide a reliable and inexpensive means for converting torque from the motor 106 into an axial pressing force exerted by the roller carriage 190. For example, the drive assembly 102 may be simpler and less costly than hydraulic systems, which require pumps, seals, hydraulic fluid reservoirs, and/or the like.
With reference to
The guide plates 206 also include openings 218 that receive the pivot pins 174 of the jaws 170. In this way, the jaws 170 may pivot respective to the guide plates 206 and/or be pivotally coupled thereto. The guide plates 206 thus act as structural members that interconnect the gear case 134 and the working assembly 166. In addition, the jaws 170 may be sandwiched between tapered end portions 222 of the guide plates 206, which prevents lateral deflection of the jaws 170.
Referring to
In operation of the clamping tool 50, a user may position the clamping tips 178 of the jaws 170 over the tab 26 and/or another portion of a clamp ring 10 (
As the roller carriage 190 advances, the rollers 202 are configured to bear against the cam surfaces 186 on the jaws 170, forcing the jaws 170 toward the closed position (
When the clamping operation is complete, the motor 106 may reverse direction and retract the roller carriage 190. In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping tool 50 is controlled such that the motor 106 automatically reverses direction when the jaws 170 reach the closed position, as indicated by the first position sensor 230. When the motor 106 reverses direction, the first position sensor 230 or a second position sensor (not shown) may detect a position of the roller carriage 190 to indicate when the roller carriage 190 reaches its home position (i.e., a fully-retracted position corresponding with the open position of the jaws 170). In some embodiments, a rotation sensor may additionally or alternatively be provided to determine the position of the roller carriage 190 by counting revolutions of the motor shaft 118 or the output shaft 114. In some embodiments, operation of the clamping tool 50 may be controlled in other ways.
In cases where the jaws 170 are biased open, the cam surfaces 186 of the jaws 170 may remain in contact with the rollers 202. In addition, because clamp fittings 10 require only a relatively small spacing between the clamping tips 178 of the jaws 170 to insert the tab 26 between the jaws 170, the rollers 202 can remain in contact with the jaws 170 when the jaws 170 are in an open position (
The crimping tool 350 includes a housing 354 with a head portion 362 that supports a working assembly 466. The working assembly 466 includes a pair of jaws 470 that are pivotable about respective parallel pins 474 between an open position (
In operation of the crimping tool 350, a user may position the crimping dies 473 of the jaws 470 around a crimp ring 30 (
Various features of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/725,317, filed on Aug. 31, 2018, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62725317 | Aug 2018 | US |