Deflection compensating press tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9774159-B2
Application number	US-201514598326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2015
Priority date	Jan 16, 2015
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

Press tools and particularly crimp tools having a C-frame tool head are described which are configured such that upon a typical use load, the C-frame head deflects to a position in which mating components or surfaces are aligned. Also described are C-frame heads that utilize a particular deflection compensating engagement connection between a piston and a ram die holder. In addition, various methods of compensating for deflection are described. The use of such configurations, engagement connections, and methods enables such tools to be formed from lighter weight materials and/or to incorporate weight optimization designs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A C-frame tool head for affixment to a press tool having a ram, piston, or force producing member, the tool head defining a proximal end and an opposite distal end, and upon affixment to the press tool, the tool head defines an extension axis corresponding to movement of the ram, piston, or force producing member, the tool head comprising:
a body portion;
a hook member extending from the body portion, the hook member defining a crimp face directed toward the proximal end of the tool head, the crimp face defining a center axis that bisects the crimp face;
wherein upon the tool head being in an unloaded state, the center axis is spaced from the extension axis, and upon being in a loaded state, the center axis is displaced towards the extension axis;
wherein the center axis defined by the crimp face extends parallel to the extension axis when the tool head is in the unloaded state.

2. The C-frame tool head of claim 1 wherein upon being in a loaded state, the center axis is collinear with the extension axis.

3. The C-frame tool head of claim 1 wherein the body portion defines a rear wall and the hook member further defines an access face, the tool head further comprising:
a movable die holder which is linearly displaceable along the rear wall upon movement of the ram, piston, or force producing member;
a first die received in the crimp face, the first die defining a die face extending between a first end proximate the access face, and a second end proximate the rear wall;
a second die supported by the movable die holder, the second die defining a die face extending between a first end proximate the access face, and a second end proximate the rear wall;
wherein upon the tool head being in the loaded state, the first and second dies are in a state of full die closure.

4. The C-frame tool head of claim 3 wherein upon the tool head being in the unloaded state, an opposite end spacing between ends of the first and second dies exists within a range of from 3 mm to 0.1 mm.

5. The C-frame tool head of claim 3 wherein upon the tool head being in the unloaded state, a bias angle between the first and second dies exists within a range of from 15 degrees to 0.1 degrees.

6. A C-frame tool head and at least two crimping inserts, the tool head defining a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the tool head comprising:
a body portion;
a hook member extending from the body portion, the hook member defining a crimp face directed toward the proximal end of the tool head;
a first crimping insert configured to be received along the crimp face, the first crimping insert defining a first end and a second end;
a second crimping insert defining a first end and a second end, the second crimping insert positionable with the first crimping insert to thereby form a crimping profile;
wherein (i) upon positioning of the first and the second crimping inserts such that one of the first and the second ends of the first crimping insert contacts one of the first and the second ends of the second crimping insert, and the tool head being in an unloaded state, an opposite end spacing is defined between the other ends of the first crimping insert and the second crimping insert; and (ii) upon the tool head being in a loaded state
the opposite end spacing is within a range of from 0.1 mm to 3 mm.

7. A C-frame tool head and at least two crimping inserts, the tool head defining a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the tool head comprising:
a body portion;
a hook member extending from the body portion, the hook member defining a crimp face directed toward the proximal end of the tool head;
a first crimping insert configured to be received along the crimp face, the first crimping insert defining a first end and a second end;
a second crimping insert defining a first end and a second end, the second crimping insert positionable with the first crimping insert to thereby form a crimping profile;
wherein (i) upon positioning of the first and the second crimping inserts such that one of the first and the second ends of the first crimping insert contacts one of the first and the second ends of the second crimping insert, and the tool head being in an unloaded state, an opposite end spacing is defined between the other ends of the first crimping insert and the second crimping insert; and (ii) upon the tool head being in a loaded state, the other ends of the first crimping insert and the second crimping insert contact each other and the opposite end spacing is zero;
wherein upon the tool head and inserts being in state (i), a bias angle between the first and the second crimping inserts exists within a range of from 15 degrees to 0.1 degrees.

8. A press tool comprising:
a frame including a C-frame tool head defining a work region and a first crimp face, the first crimp face defining a center axis that bisects the first crimp face;
a hydraulic cylinder supported by and affixed to the frame;
a piston movably disposed in the cylinder, the piston defining a piston face and an opposite distal end, the distal end extending outward from the hydraulic cylinder, the piston defining an extension axis;
a ram die holder engaged with the distal end of the piston, the ram die holder including a second crimp face, the ram die holder accessible in the work region defined by the tool head;
wherein upon application of a crimping load to the first and second crimp faces by the piston, the tool head is configured to deflect to an extent such that the first and second crimp faces are aligned;
wherein the center axis defined by the first crimp face extends parallel to the extension axis when the tool head is in the unloaded state.

9. The press tool of claim 8 wherein the C-frame tool head includes a hook member defining an access face, the C-frame tool head also defines a rear wall, the ram die holder being linearly displaceable along the rear wall upon movement of the piston, the press tool further comprising:
a first die received in the crimp face, the first die defining a die face extending between a first end proximate the first access face, and a second end proximate the rear wall;
a second die supported by the ram die holder, the second die defining a die face extending between a first end proximate the first access face, and a second end proximate the rear wall.

10. The press tool of claim 9 wherein upon partial die closure, an opposite end spacing exists within a range of from 3 mm to 0.1 mm.

11. The press tool of claim 9 wherein upon partial die closure, a bias angle exists within a range of from 15 degrees to 0.1 degrees.

12. The press tool of claim 8
wherein upon the tool head being in an unloaded state, the center axis is spaced from the extension axis, and upon being in a loaded state, the center axis is collinear with the extension axis.

13. A press tool comprising:
a frame including a C-frame head defining a work region, the C-frame head including a body portion, a hook member extending from the body portion, the hook member defining a crimp face directed toward a proximal end of the head, the crimp face defining a center axis that bisects the crimp face;
a linearly displaceable piston having a distal end, the piston extendable along an extension axis;
a piston tip engaged with the distal end of the piston;
a ram die holder engaged with the piston tip, the ram die holder accessible in the work region defined by the C-frame head;
wherein the ram die holder is movably affixed to the piston tip, the piston tip defines a first arcuate face surface directed toward the ram die holder, and the ram die holder defines a receiving region with a second arc

Assignees

• Ridge Tool Co

Inventors

• Hamm James E
• Kundracik Richard M
• Baracskai Robert M

Classifications

• B21F15/00 Primary

  Connecting wire to wire or other metallic material or objects; Connecting parts by means of wire (tools for both straining and connecting B21F9/02; jacketing or reinforcing B21F17/00; manufacture of wire network B21F27/00; in making bands B21F43/00) · CPC title

• B25B27/146

  Clip clamping hand tools · CPC title

• B25B27/10

  inserting fittings into hoses · CPC title

• H01R43/0427 Primary

  fluid actuated hand crimping tools · CPC title