Setting tool for blind fasteners

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11738384-B2
Application number	US-202117457592-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2021
Priority date	Jun 5, 2019
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

A setting tool comprising: a first electric motor with a first drive shaft, which is arranged in a first housing portion and is connected to a tool housing portion via a first transmission; a tool shaft connected to a screw tool, and the screw tool is movable between a retracted and an extended position; a feeder with a fastener delivery tube, the delivery tube for delivering blind fasteners in front of the screw tool when in the retracted position; a second electric motor with a second drive shaft is arranged in a second housing portion and is connected to the tool housing portion via a second transmission; and the delivery tube merges with the tool housing portion through a receiver assembly, the receiver assembly comprising an interface channel connecting the delivery tube with the tool housing portion, such that the screw tool can engage with the blind fastener.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A setting tool for a blind fastener including a head and a shank partially defining an axial bore including a female thread, the blind fastener supplied to the setting tool from a blind fastener supply, and the setting tool comprising:
a tool housing;
a screw tool including a male thread that is rotationally and translationally movable within the tool housing along and around a tool axis between a retracted position and an extended position;
a first electric motor axially fixed to the tool housing and including a first drive shaft and operable to drive a first transmission, the first drive shaft defining a first axis parallel to but radially spaced from the tool axis;
a second electric motor with a second drive shaft axially fixed to the tool housing, and operable to drive a second transmission, the second drive shaft defining a second axis parallel to but radially spaced from the tool axis and from the first axis;
a solid roller screw arranged for rotation and axial movement in the tool housing and drivably connected to the first electric motor via the first transmission, and drivably connected to the second electric motor via the second transmission, and the solid roller screw is axially concentric with and in driving connection to the screw tool;
a feeder including a fastener delivery tube, the delivery tube connected at a first end to the blind fastener supply and at a second end to the tool housing for delivering the blind fastener in the tool housing in front of the screw tool when the screw tool is in the retracted position; and
wherein the fastener delivery tube merges with the tool housing through a receiver assembly, the receiver assembly comprising an interface channel connecting directly the delivery tube with the tool housing, such that the screw tool can engage with the blind fastener within the tool housing.

2. The setting tool of claim 1 , wherein the second transmission includes a shaft gear with an anti-rotation sleeve arranged around the solid roller screw, and the shaft gear is connected to the second electric motor through a second housing gear.

3. The setting tool of claim 2 , wherein the solid roller screw comprises a first end connected to the screw tool and a second end opposite the first end, and an anti-rotation hub of the solid roller screw is arranged at the second end.

4. The setting tool of claim 2 , wherein the first transmission includes a first housing gear drivable on the first axis by the first electric motor, and the first housing gear is connected to a tool gear on the tool axis, and the tool gear is fixedly connected to a roller screw nut arranged around the solid roller screw.

5. The setting tool according claim 1 , wherein spinning of the first drive shaft on the first axis drives a linear movement of the solid roller screw along the tool axis between the extended position and the retracted position for clinching the blind fastener.

6. The setting tool according to claim 1 , wherein spinning of the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft at different speeds drives a linear movement and a rotational movement of the solid roller screw along the tool axis, such that the male thread on the screw tool can engage or disengage the female thread of the blind fastener.

7. The setting tool according claim 1 , wherein the fastener delivery tube extends parallel to the tool housing, and the interface channel comprises a first channel portion which is coaxial with the fastener delivery tube and a second channel portion which is aligned with the tool axis, and the interface channel is adapted to deliver the blind fastener within the tool housing.

8. The setting tool according to claim 1 , and further comprising a clamping device including a plurality of jaws radially movable around the tool axis within the tool housing and operable to clamp the blind fastener for engagement with the screw tool.

9. The setting tool according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of jaws comprises two movable jaws radially opposed to each other.

10. The setting tool according to claim 9 , wherein the clamping device further comprises a retaining lever operable for holding the blind fastener axially retained in the clamping device during the clamping by the two movable jaws.

11. The setting tool according to claim 9 , wherein each of the two movable jaws comprises a catching surface comprising a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being angled with regard to the second segment, and the first segment is flat, and the second segment comprises a bulge adapted to create a dissymmetrical profile for orienting the blind fastener within the clamping device.

12. The setting tool according to claim 9 , wherein the screw tool is provided with an anvil sleeve adapted to contact the two movable jaws.

13. A setting tool for a blind fastener including a head and a shank partially defining an axial bore including a female thread, the blind fastener supplied to the setting tool from a blind fastener supply, and the setting tool comprising:
a tool housing;
a screw tool including a male thread is rotationally and translationally movable within the tool housing along and around a tool axis between a retracted position and an extended position;
a first electric motor with a first drive shaft axially fixed to the tool housing, and operable to drive a first transmission, the first drive shaft defining a first axis parallel to but radially spaced from the tool axis;
a second electric motor with a second drive shaft axially fixed to the tool housing, and operable to drive a second transmission, the second drive shaft defining a second axis parallel to but radially spaced from the tool axis and from the first axis; and
a solid roller screw arranged for rotation and axial movement in the tool housing and drivably connected to the first electric motor via the first transmission, and drivably connected to the second electric motor via the second transmission, and the solid roller screw is axially concentric with and in driving connection to the screw tool.

14. The setting tool of claim 13 , wherein the second transmission includes a shaft gear with an anti-rotation sleeve arranged around the solid roller screw, and the shaft gear is connected to the second electric motor through a second housing gear.

15. The setting tool of claim 14 , wherein the solid roller screw comprises a first end connected to the screw tool and a second end opposite the first end, and an anti-rotation hub of the solid roller screw is arranged at the second end.

16. The setting tool of claim 15 , wherein the first transmission includes a first housing gear drivable on the first axis by the first electric motor, and the first housing gear is connected to a tool gear on the tool axis, and the tool gear is fixedly connected to a roller screw nut arranged around the solid roller screw.

17. The setting tool according claim 13 , wherein spinning of the first drive shaft on the first axis drives a linear movement of the solid roller screw along the tool axis between the extended position and the retracted position for clinching the blind fastener.

18. The setting tool according to claim 13 , wherein spinning of the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft at different speeds drives a linear movement and a rotational movement of the solid roller screw along the tool axis, such that the male thread on the screw tool can engage or disengage the female thread of the blind fastener.

19. The setting tool according to claim 13 , and further comprising a

Assignees

• Newfrey Llc

Inventors

• Gianferrara Paul
• Schneider Manuel
• Rodrigo Luis
• Clemen Christof

Classifications

• B21J15/26 Primary

  operated by rotary drive, e.g. by electric motor · CPC title

• B21J15/32

  Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements · CPC title

• B25B21/00 Primary

  Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; (details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; {for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006}); Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose (machines B23P19/06) · CPC title

• B25B27/0014 Primary

  motor-driven · CPC title

• B25B23/04

  for feeding screws or nuts · CPC title