Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6662620
-
Patent Number
6,662,620
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, September 12, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 16, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 072 4524
- 072 4527
- 072 4091
- 072 40909
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A crimping tool is provided including a rotary drive unit and removable extension arm with pivotal jaw arms. The removable extension arm is rotatable about its axis. A locking device is included in the jaw arm assembly such that the jaw arms may be securely positioned in a number of locations to accommodate various working angles. A logic circuit limits the movement of the jaw arms to one complete cycle for each trigger event.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to hand tools, and more particularly to a power tool for crimping steel studs and tracks during construction framing.
BACKGROUND
Steel framing has become increasingly popular for residential and commercial buildings due to the increased strength and termite resistance of steel relative to wood. However, the process of assembling steel framing is time consuming and expensive relative to the material costs. As a result of these increased labor costs, steel framing has been slow to achieve wide-spread acceptance.
Presently steel studs and tracks are assembled either vertically or horizontally with each of the studs screwed to the track. In horizontally constructed walls, the studs and tracks are positioned on the floor relative to one another and screws are placed in one side of each track to secure each stud to the track. The wall is then flipped over and screws are inserted into the other side of each track. In vertically constructed walls, the laborer must work on each side of the wall to screw the studs into the tracks on the top and bottom of the wall. The top is difficult to reach and the bottom requires that the operator bend or kneel on the floor.
Crimping tools have also been utilized to connect the studs to the tracks. However, manual crimping tools require a lot of strength and endurance to operate on large jobs and power crimping tools have proven to be heavy and cumbersome. The inefficiency of prior methods for assembling steel studs to the tracks has contributed greatly to the labor costs for steel frame construction.
Given the aforementioned drawbacks, it is desirable to provide a power crimping tool that alleviates much of the labor costs associated with steel framing
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand-held crimping tool that can be properly aligned while providing the user with a broad range of workable engagement angles.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a rotary drive tool with a releasably attached extension arm that is rotatable about its axis.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a jaw arm assembly that is pivotally attached to the extension arm.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a crimping tool that achieves one complete crimp cycle for every trigger activation.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hand-held crimping tool that has a self-contained power source.
In order to obtain these and other objects, the present invention provides a crimping tool including a rotary drive unit and an extension arm. The extension arm includes a pivotally attached jaw assembly attached thereto. Upon activation of the rotary drive tool, the gear configuration in the extension arm translates a rotary input into actuation of the jaw assembly. The jaw assembly includes a first piercing jaw arm and a second receiving jaw arm for cyclical engagement therewith. A logic circuit limits an activation to one complete crimping cycle of the jaw assembly.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
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 view of the crimping apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown with the extension arm located in the center position.
FIG. 2
is a side view of the extension arm and jaw assembly shown with the barrel rotated 90 degrees from the rotary drive tool.
FIG. 3
is a rear view of the extension arm removed from the tool for purposes of illustrating the conical cam configuration.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view of the jaw assembly taken along line
4
—
4
of FIG.
3
.
FIG. 5
is cross-sectional view of the jaw assembly taken along line
5
—
5
of FIG.
4
.
FIG. 6
is a cross sectional view of the jaw assembly taken along line
6
—
6
of FIG.
4
.
FIG. 7
is a cutaway view of the jaw assembly with half of the housing cutaway for illustrative purposes.
FIG. 8
is a bottom view of the jaw assembly with the housing removed.
FIG. 9
is a cutaway perspective view of the jaw assembly with part of the housing cutaway to illustrate the transmission.
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of the transmission and jaw assembly with the lower jaw removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As is most clearly illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the crimp tool
10
of the present invention generally includes a rotary drive tool
12
and a crimp attachment
14
. The rotary drive tool
12
includes an output shaft (not specifically shown) that is coupled to a rotary shaft
16
(
FIG. 9
) with a connecting device carried in an extension barrel
20
which also houses a transmission
18
(best shown in FIG.
4
). Power source
24
interconnects to drive tool
12
. The barrel
20
is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and a jaw assembly
19
is coupled to the barrel
20
for pivotal movement relative thereto. The transmission
18
transfers the rotary motion of the rotary shaft
16
to articulate the jaws as hereinafter described.
As is most clearly illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the jaw assembly
19
is coupled to pivot relative to the barrel
20
by a pivot shaft
26
to allow the laborer to move the jaw assembly
19
to a proper position prior to crimping. By allowing the barrel
20
to rotate about its longitudinal axis and the jaw assembly
19
to pivot about shaft
26
, the crimp tool
10
permits the laborer to position the jaw assembly
19
to crimp both sides of the stud/track from the same side of the wall.
With reference to
FIGS. 4-10
, the transmission
18
operatively couples the jaw assembly
19
to the rotary shaft
16
such that rotation of the shaft
16
causes pivotable movement of an upper jaw
28
about a pivot pin
30
fixed to a lower jaw
32
. Rivet
81
holds the members that comprise the upper jaw arm
28
together and rivet
82
holds the members of the lower jaw arm
32
together. Accordingly, movement of the upper jaw
28
from its open position to its closed position causes a piercing bit
33
to deform the stud and frame thereby crimping the two members together. The surface of the lower jaw
32
that accommodates the piercing bit
33
may be configured to fold over the resulting burr thereby limiting the distance that the burr protrudes from the stud or track.
Referring now to
FIGS. 4-6
, transmission
18
includes a cam
34
fixed for rotation with rotary shaft
16
, a rocker arm
36
having a first end
44
engaged with cam
34
and a second end
45
fixed to rotate with shaft
26
. A counterweight
87
extends from shaft
16
to encourage smooth operation. The first end
44
includes a bearing
49
which acts as a cam follower to cam
34
. Cam
34
is configured to have an eccentric surface
35
to engage bearing
49
in a common plane while rocker arm
36
rotates. A drive cam
40
is coupled to the shaft
26
by a roller clutch
38
(FIG.
6
). The upper jaw
28
includes a cam follower
42
that engages drive cam
40
to displace the upper jaw
28
between its open and closed positions in response to rotation of the drive cam
40
. As rotary shaft
16
rotates cam
34
, the eccentric surface
35
of the cam
34
oscillates the first end
44
of the rocker arm
36
in pivoting motion about the axis
46
of shaft
26
. More particularly, the riding engagement between the first end
44
of the rocker arm
36
and the rotating cam
34
causes cyclical displacement of the rocker arm
36
at a magnitude of 15 degrees for each full rotation of the cam. The rocker arm
36
is biased toward cam
34
by a spring
58
(
FIG. 9
) to influence contact thereto. Spring
58
is supported on one end by finger
56
extending from rocker arm
36
and on the other end by protruded housing portion
22
(
FIG. 1
) of crimp attachment
14
. The shaft
26
is fixed to, and cycles with, the rocker arm
36
. This incremental rotation is transferred to the drive cam
40
by the one-way roller clutch
38
so as to index the drive cam
40
to rotate in the direction of arrow
48
(clockwise). Specifically, the one way roller clutch
38
couples the drive cam
40
to the shaft
26
such that the drive cam
40
rotates clockwise with the shaft
26
while allowing the shaft
26
to rotate relative to the drive cam
40
when the shaft
26
rotates in the counterclockwise direction.
The drive cam
40
includes an outer cam surface
50
upon which the cam follower
42
rides. The outer cam surface
50
defines a lift angle that radially diverges from axis
46
in the direction of arrow
48
. Thus, rotation of the drive cam
40
radially displaces the cam follower
42
thereby causing the upper jaw
28
to pivot about pin
30
from its open position toward its closed position. The drive cam
40
includes a recess
54
within which the cam follower
42
falls to return the upper jaw
28
to its open position.
In addition to the piercing movement of the upper jaw
28
, the present invention allows for the position of the jaws to be adjustable through rotation of the barrel
20
or articulation of the jaw assembly
19
about shaft
26
.
The crimp tool can optionally include a lock assembly
25
for fixing the position of the jaws prior to the crimping operation. As is best illustrated in
FIG. 6
, the lock assembly
25
includes a locking plate
60
that is movable within the barrel housing
62
from an engaged position to a disengaged position against the bias of a spring
64
. The plate
60
includes locking tabs
66
configured to engage cooperatively configured locking apertures
68
formed in the lower jaw
32
to fix the lower jaw
32
to the barrel housing
62
. To change the angular orientation of the jaw assembly
19
relative to the barrel housing
62
, the laborer can place the locking plate
60
in its disengaged position by axially displacing the shaft
26
toward locking plate
60
thereby moving the tabs
66
from engagement with the lower jaw
32
. The locking plate
60
can include a plurality of peripherally spaced locking apertures
68
to permit the user to fix the lower jaw
32
in a variety of positions relative to the barrel housing
62
.
A logic circuit
51
is included that limits the movement of the jaw assembly
19
to one cycle with each activation of the trigger
21
. One cycle is defined as the movement of the jaw assembly
19
from a fully open position, to a fully closed (crimping) position and back to a fully open position. The logic circuit
51
may be configured such that the position sensor
52
is disposed on the drive cam
40
and the receiver
55
is disposed on the cam follower
42
(FIG.
9
). In an alternative embodiment, the logic circuit
51
includes a position sensor
52
disposed on shaft
16
interconnected to a receiver
55
(not specifically shown). The logic circuit
51
regulates the movement of the shaft
16
to the appropriate number of revolutions (24 for the embodiment disclosed) such that one complete cycle of the jaw assembly
19
is achieved. Once one complete cycle is realized, the logic circuit
51
stops the output of the rotary drive tool
12
thereby causing the jaw assembly to remain in its fully open position able to readily accept the members for the next crimp event. In an alternative configuration, a sensor is mounted to one of the jaw arms and a magnet is disposed on the other jaw arm. (*** Inventors please confirm the accuracy of these descriptions) The movement of the jaw assembly
19
would be limited to the cam rotation realized by the logic circuit
51
accordingly. It is understood however, that the logic circuit configuration described herein may be employed in alternative ways.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A crimping apparatus comprising:a rotary drive tool including a trigger mechanism and an output shaft; a transmission mechanism engaged with said output shaft; a jaw assembly including first and second jaws, wherein said transmission mechanism translates rotary motion of said output shaft into pivoting motion of at least one of said first and second jaws; wherein said transmission mechanism includes a first cam drivingly engaged with said output shaft; and wherein said first cam engages a rocker arm for rotating a second cam to cycle at least one of said first and second jaws between a closed position and an open position.
- 2. The crimping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second cam is rotatably driven by a clutch engaged by said rocker arm.
- 3. The crimping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second jaws includes a cam follower attached thereto for engagement with said second cam.
- 4. The crimping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said jaw assembly includes at least one tab member for adjustably positioning said jaw assembly in a number of secure positions.
- 5. The crimping apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of said first and second jaws includes a piercing end.
- 6. The crimping apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a logic circuit that limits movement of said jaw assembly to one cycle.
- 7. The crimping apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an internal power source.
- 8. A crimping apparatus comprising:a rotary output device; a transmission mechanism attached to said rotary output device; a jaw assembly including a first and second jaw arm, one of said first and second jaw arms being pivotally attached to the other and drivingly engaged with said transmission mechanism such that said jaw arms relatively articulate between an open position and a closed position; wherein said transmission mechanism includes a shaft having a first end selectably attached to said rotary output device and a second end including a first cam attached thereto; and wherein said transmission mechanism includes a second cam variably influencing one of said first and second jaw arms for articulating said one of said first and second jaw arms between a closed and open position.
- 9. The crimping apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said transmission mechanism includes a rocker arm for translating rotational movement from said first cam to said second cam.
- 10. The crimping apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said second cam is rotatably driven by a clutch engaged by said rocker arm.11.The crimping apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said one of said first and second jaws includes a cam follower attached thereto.
- 12. The crimping apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising an internal power source for providing electric power to said rotary output device.
- 13. The crimping apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said rotary output device includes a trigger mechanism.
- 14. The crimping apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a logic circuit which limits jaw arm articulation to one cycle.
- 15. The crimping apparatus according to claim 8 wherein one of said first and second jaw arms includes a piercing end.
- 16. The crimping apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said transmission mechanism and first and second jaw arms are supported by a housing which is rotatable relative to the rotary drive tool.
- 17. A crimping apparatus comprising:a rotary drive tool including a trigger mechanism and an output shaft; a transmission mechanism engaged with said output shaft; and a jaw assembly including first and second jaws, wherein said transmission mechanism translates rotary motion of said output shaft into pivoting motion of at least one of said first and second jaws, wherein said jaw assembly includes at least one tab member for adjustably positioning said jaw assembly in a number of secure positions.
- 18. A crimping apparatus comprising:a rotary drive tool including a trigger mechanism and an output shaft; a transmission mechanism engaged with said output shaft; and a jaw assembly including first and second jaws, wherein said transmission mechanism translates rotary motion of said output shaft into pivoting motion of at least one of said first and second jaws, wherein said transmission mechanism and jaw assembly is supported by a housing which is rotatable relative to the rotary drive tool.
- 19. A crimping apparatus comprising:a rotary output device; a transmission mechanism attached to said rotary output device; and a jaw assembly including a first and second jaw arm, one of said first and second jaw arms being pivotally attached to the other and drivingly engaged with said transmission mechanism such that said jaw arms relatively articulate between an open position and a closed position, wherein said transmission mechanism and first and second jaw arms are supported by a housing which is rotatable relative to the rotary drive tool.
- 20. A crimping apparatus comprising:a rotary drive tool including an output shaft; a transmission mechanism including a clutch, said transmission engaged with said output shaft; and a jaw assembly including first and second jaws, wherein said transmission mechanism translates rotary motion of said output shaft into pivoting motion of at least one of said first and second jaws.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said transmission includes a first cam engaged with said output shaft.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said clutch is engaged with said first cam.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said first cam is eccentric.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said first cam oscillates to engage said clutch at least once per rotation of said output shaft.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said clutch further comprises a second cam engaged with said clutch.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said clutch engages said second cam in one direction.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said second cam pivots to close one of said first and second jaws.
- 28. A crimping apparatus comprising:a rotary drive tool including an output shaft; a jaw assembly including first and second jaws; and a transmission mechanism including a clutch and an eccentric first cam, wherein said transmission mechanism is engaged with said output shaft and said first cam oscillates to engage said clutch at least once per rotation of said output shaft, wherein said transmission mechanism translates rotary motion of said output shaft into pivoting motion of at least one of said first and second jaws.
US Referenced Citations (32)
Foreign Referenced Citations (12)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1503141 |
Dec 1969 |
DE |
2316 769 |
Oct 1974 |
DE |
3719 442 |
Dec 1988 |
DE |
3207 063 |
Jun 1992 |
DE |
4321 249 |
Jan 1995 |
DE |
295 02 032.6 |
May 1995 |
DE |
4402 440 |
Aug 1995 |
DE |
197 09 017 |
Jun 1998 |
DE |
424 190 |
Mar 1994 |
EP |
389 716 |
May 1994 |
EP |
631 850 |
Apr 2000 |
EP |
WO 9631319 |
Oct 1996 |
WO |