Tools – Tool jaw – Jaw-actuating means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2001-11-13
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Tool jaw
Jaw-actuating means
C081S356000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314843
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to pliers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
Pliers having two operating jaws which are parallel in each position of their pivotable handles are known in general. The object of the invention is to provide parallel pliers with improved possibilities for use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Pliers according to the invention contain two parallel operating jaws and two handles which can be pivoted relative to one another and of which one, in order to form a first plier unit, is connected fixedly to a first of the operating jaws and another, in order to form a second plier unit, is connected in an articulated manner to a second of the operating jaws, via a drive device, in order, during pivoting of the handles, for the operating jaws to be moved towards one another or away from one another in an operating direction, it being possible to preset a rest position of the second plier unit relative to the first plier unit in the operating direction.
By virtue of this capacity for presetting the rest position of the second plier unit relative to the first plier unit, the possibilities for using the parallel pliers according to the invention may be extended since there is now greater scope for using them to work on articles of different widths. In order to set the rest position of the second plier unit relative to the first plier unit, all that is required is for the two plier units to be displaced relative to one another, which can take place with the aid of suitable actuating means which are connected to the pliers. In this case, the relative displacement between the two plier units takes place in the operating direction, that is to say in the direction in which the mutually parallel operating jaws are also moved towards one another or away from one another.
According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, the second operating jaw is seated on a carriage which can be displaced with sliding action on a rail connected to the first operating jaw. This ensures, on the one hand, good parallel displacement of the operating jaws with respect to one another and, on the other hand, also good relative displacement between the two plier units in the operating direction.
In a further configuration of the invention, the drive device is also guided along the rail, this achieving a straightforward and functionally reliable plier construction.
It is possible to use, as the drive device, for example at least one toggle lever in order, during pivoting of the handles, to achieve the necessary pressing force in the plier mouth between the operating jaws. Instead of the at least one toggle lever, however, it is also possible to use other drive devices, if appropriate in combination with a toggle lever, for example a pneumatic or an electric drive device.
When using a drive device designed as a toggle lever, it is possible for an articulation pin of the toggle lever to be guided in a longitudinal slit of the rail, on which the first operating jaw is seated, said slit extending in the operating direction. This ensures reliable parallel guidance of the drive device in the operating direction and thus corresponding movement of the second plier unit relative to the first plier unit.
In this case, the articulation pin guided in the longitudinal slit may be that which is located nearest the handle which is connected to the drive device.
Provided in order to displace the plier units relative to one another in the operating direction are actuating means, with the aid of which the toggle-lever articulation pin guided in the longitudinal slit can be displaced. The actuating means comprise a threaded rod which is mounted merely rotatably in the longitudinal slit and extends in the operating direction, and guided on said threaded rod is a bearing block which is provided with a corresponding internal thread, is secured against rotation in the longitudinal slit and serves for forming the articulation pin. For this purpose, there may be journals on opposite sides of the bearing block.
By virtue of the threaded rod being rotated, the bearing block may be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the same and thus in the operating direction, which results in the entire toggle lever, the second operating jaw and the plier handle connected to the drive device being carried along correspondingly, that is to say in the second plier unit being displaced relative to the first plier unit. The actuating means thus have a relatively straightforward construction.
In this case, an articulation pin of the toggle lever which is located nearest the second operating jaw is connected to the carriage, which bears the second operating jaw, which further simplifies the overall construction of the pliers.
According to an additional development of the pliers according to the invention, a central articulation pin of the toggle lever bears an eccentric which is connected fixedly to an actuating lever, engages in a lateral groove with a closed end side, said groove being introduced in the carriage, and can be guided against said end side. A corresponding rotary position of the eccentric as a result of the actuation of the actuating lever can achieve the situation where, upon closure of the handles of the pliers or upon closure of the plier mouth, the toggle lever either is blocked at a position in which the toggle lever is not yet fully straightened out or is blocked at a position at which the toggle lever has passed the straightened-out position. In the first-mentioned case, the plier mouth can open of its own accord again when the handles are relieved of loading, whereas, in the last-mentioned case, the toggle lever has to be actuated directly by hand in order to be guided out of the blocking position. This can take place, for example, by suitable rotation of the actuating lever, which is connected to the eccentric.
According to a further configuration of the invention, those ends of the carriage and rail which are oriented towards the front plier ends in each case may have retaining means for the releasable fastening of further tool parts. Since the carriage and rail are displaced relative to one another when the plier handles are actuated, it is also possible for the tool parts, which are connected to the carriage and rail at their respective free ends, to be displaced relative to one another, and as a result of which it is possible to actuate an additional arrangement which is connected to the pliers. This additional arrangement may be, for example, a riveting device for blind rivets. It is formed, for example, from a cylindrical clamping arrangement which is retained on the rail and is intended for receiving a rivet pin in a clamping manner and from a supporting arrangement which encloses the clamping arrangement in a sleeve-like manner, is fastened at the front end of the carriage and can be moved beyond the free end of the clamping arrangement.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way 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.
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Thiele Helmut
Ulbrich Armin
Wiebe Ulrich
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Shakeri Hadi
Smith James G.
Weidmuller Interface GmbH & Co.
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