EP0464528B1 - Riveting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A setting device (1) for a self-tapping rivet (50) has, in a two- part housing, fittings which can grasp a tap shank (51) firmly against rotation and tension. In a first working position, the tapping procedure for the self-tapping rivet (50) is carried out and, in a second working position, the self-tapping rivet (50) is set and the closing head formed. During this process, the clamping jaws (8) move axially until the tap shank (51) tears off from the tapping head. The operations involved in tapping and riveting are carried out in different directions of rotation of a shaft (32). Tapping takes place in a first end position of the shaft (32) and the fixing of the tap shank (51) in the setting device (1) and the setting of the self- tapping rivet (50) take place in a second end position of the shaft (32). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention is based on a setting device for a self-drilling rivet with a housing and housing internals, which grip around a drill shaft in a manner that is resistant to rotation and tensile strength and that can be set in rotation by means of a drive.

Such devices have become known from EP 0 213 101.

In the known device, the entire device rotates and the torque for the rotary movement of the drill is transmitted during the drilling process via form-fitting wings. A separate working position for clamping the drill shank is not provided. Furthermore, the drive device is used so that the device cannot rotate during the riveting process. The fact that a longer axial section rotates between the self-drilling rivet and the drive device during the drilling process can result in safety-related risks.

The invention has for its object to provide a device that is particularly easy and safe to use.

This object is achieved in that the drill shaft can be clamped into the setting device in a second end position of the shaft by means of a rotational movement opposite the drilling process by means of a rotational movement opposite the drilling process, and a riveting process can be ended in this rotational movement and that the housing internals can be rotated and displaced Have clamping jaws, which are arranged in the setting device, covered by a guide sleeve arranged in a stationary manner.

The setting device according to the invention thus has the essential advantage that the drive, which is also used for drilling the opening for the rivet, can be used for clamping the drill shaft and for setting the rivet. Only the direction of rotation of the drive has to be changed. This is already provided many times in commercially available hand drills, and so it is a particular advantage if the free shaft end of the setting device according to the invention can be simply inserted into the chuck of such a hand drill without any special precautions.

The setting device can be driven in two working positions, in one, a first working position, the drilling process can be carried out and in a second working position, with the shaft extended, the drill shaft of the self-drilling rivet is pulled and separated from the drilling head. Both during the drilling process and when setting the rivet, the drill shaft is held firmly by the clamping jaws.

If the direction of rotation is changed again in the second working position, the clamping jaws are moved as far as the stop against the guide sleeve. The jaws open and the broken drill shaft is ejected. If the direction of rotation of the drive is then changed again and an undeformed self-drilling rivet with the drill shaft is inserted into the setting device, the drill shaft is clamped with the clamping jaws by briefly actuating the drive.

This shows that self-drilling rivets can be handled quickly and easily with the setting device according to the invention.

If the shaft is moved to the first working position when the self-drilling rivet is clamped in, the setting device can be used to drill.

The fact that the housing internals have rotatable and displaceable clamping jaws, which are arranged covered by a guide sleeve arranged in a stationary manner in the setting device for this purpose, has the advantage that the clamping process takes place inside the housing of the setting device. Occupational safety is improved due to such an arrangement.

Furthermore, the clamping jaws can preferably be displaced along a conical surface of a conical sleeve via a spring-loaded inner guide sleeve.

This has the advantage that a secure tension between the drill shank and the jaws can always be achieved with simple means. The clamping jaws, of which three clamping jaws preferably encompass the drill shaft, cannot tilt in the event of an axial displacement and faults are avoided.

In a further embodiment of the invention, if the clamping jaws, the inner guide sleeve, the conical sleeve, a spiral spring and a support ring form a jointly movable component, the clamping jaws can be securely closed on the one hand by means of an axial displacement and can be opened again quickly on the other hand. The design of such a device can be considerably simplified on the basis of this operating principle.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the component is axially displaceable via an outer guide sleeve, the outer guide sleeve having teeth on an annular surface and a thread being formed on the circumference of the outer guide sleeve over the axial length of this sleeve.

This has the advantage that, with such a construction, not only can the movable parts be displaced relative to one another, but the assembly of such a device is considerably simplified by simply axially interlocking the parts in the case of straight teeth can be used.

A portion of the shaft carries an external toothing which, in the first working position, engages in the internal toothing of a support ring, so that this movement is reliably transmitted to the support ring when the shaft rotates. If, as already mentioned, the support ring forms a component with the clamping jaws, the clamping jaws are rotated without interference by means of a rotary movement of the shaft.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the setting device is formed from two housing parts which can be screwed into one another. This has the advantage that the device is easy to open both in the event of malfunctions and when individual components are replaced.

To move the shaft from a first working position into a second working position, a spring force must be overcome when operated manually. As a result, it is always reliably displayed in which working position the setting device according to the invention is located.

If the setting device according to the invention is to be used in a riveting process, it is possible, for example, that colored rings are attached to the free shaft end in axial spacing, which indicate in which working position the setting device is located. Such a visual display can be used to determine whether the clamping jaws are in contact with the guide sleeve and whether the drill shaft of a self-drilling rivet can be inserted into the setting device. Measures can also be provided which trigger a contact when the drill shaft of the self-drilling rivet is inserted into the guide sleeve such that the correct rotary movement is always set on the drive of the hand drill. The drill shank is then held by the clamping jaws in a rotationally and tensile manner when the drive is actuated briefly. If the working position of the shaft is then changed, drilling can be carried out with the self-drilling rivet.

The setting device according to the invention thus meets all of the extended requirements that are required in corresponding areas of application. The setting device is easy to handle, is easy to maintain and is not susceptible to faults and can also be used in conjunction with known hand drills. The simple structure means that it is light in weight and contributes to improved occupational safety. Of course, the parts of the setting device that move during the drilling process can also be arranged in the stationary housing in such a way that the guide sleeve also rotates. This embodiment is also part of the inventive concept.

Further advantages result from the description and the attached drawing.

• Figur 1 eine erfindungsgemäße Setzvorrichtung in einer Schnittdarstellung mit an einer Führungshülse anliegenden Klemmbacken und in einer ersten Arbeitsposition;
• Figur 2 eine erfindungsgemäße Setzvorrichtung in einer Schnittdarstellung mit einem eingeführten Selbstbohrniet und in einer ersten Arbeitsposition zum Durchführen eines Borhvorganges;
• Figur 3 eine erfingungsgemäße Setzvorrichtung in einer Schnittdarstellung mit einem abgebrochenen Bohrerschaft und in einer zweiten Arbeitsposition.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing and is explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in the drawing. Show it:

• Figure 1 shows a setting device according to the invention in a sectional view with clamping jaws lying against a guide sleeve and in a first working position;
• Figure 2 shows a setting device according to the invention in a sectional view with an inserted self-drilling rivet and in a first working position for performing a drilling process;
• Figure 3 shows an inventive setting device in a sectional view with a broken drill shaft and in a second working position.

The individual figures of the drawing show the subject according to the invention in a highly schematic manner and are not to be understood to scale. The objects of the individual figures are shown partially enlarged so that their structure can be shown better.

Figure 1 shows a setting device 1 for a self-drilling rivet, which is composed of a first housing part 2 and a second housing part 3. The first housing part 2 and the second housing part 3 are detachably connected to one another via a threaded section 4.

In the end of the first housing part 2 facing away from the second housing part 3, a centrally located bore 5 is provided which has a thread 6. A guide sleeve 7 is screwed into the thread 6. Clamping jaws 8 adjoin the end of the guide sleeve 7 which points inward into the first housing part 2 and rest with one end on the end face of the guide sleeve 7. The end face of the guide sleeve 7 pointing into the first housing part 2 has the function of a stop for the clamping jaws 8 and limits the maximum axial displacement of the clamping jaws 8 in one direction. The clamping jaws 8 are guided in a conical sleeve 9 which has a passage 10 tapering towards the free end of the first housing part 2. The passage 10 is arranged centrally in the rotationally symmetrical conical sleeve 9. An inner guide sleeve 11 is arranged in the passage 10, which adjoins the clamping jaws 8. The end face of the inner guide sleeve 11 pointing towards the clamping jaws 8 lies on the end faces of the clamping jaws 8. The inner guide sleeve 11 is provided with a blind hole 12, the diameter of which is so large that at the ends of the jaws 8 at the transition a recessed shoulder 13 is formed for the inner guide sleeve 11. A bolt 14 lies partially on the shoulders of the heel 13, which is pressed against the shoulders of the heel 13 via a spring 15 which is supported on the bottom of the borehole.

The inner guide sleeve 11 has a pin 16 at the end pointing away from the clamping jaws 8, which ends at an annular extension 17. The annular extension 17 is adjoined by a tapered conical surface 18 which, in the position shown in FIG. 1, is always spaced from the inner surface of the passage 10 over its entire length.

The annular extension 17 serves as a support for a spiral spring 19 which on the one hand encases the pin 16 and on the other hand rests with the other end on the base of a support ring 20. The support ring 20 is screwed to the conical sleeve 9 in such a way that the web 21 shown in cross-section in the figure engages over its entire length in the conical sleeve 9 via a thread 21.

The spiral spring 19 is prestressed by screwing the conical sleeve 9 to the support ring 20 and presses the inner guide sleeve 11 against the clamping jaws 8 with great force.

Viewed in cross section, a rectangular recess 22 is provided on the cone sleeve 9, which extends annularly around the cone sleeve 9 and is delimited by the support ring 20. Cross-sectionally L-shaped bearings 23, 24 are inserted into the recess 22 and, as a sliding bearing, space an outer guide sleeve 25 from the conical sleeve 9.

On the circumference of the outer guide sleeve 25, a thread 26 is provided over the entire length of the outer guide sleeve 25, which thread engages in a thread 27 of the first housing part 2. The outer guide sleeve 25 has, along the section that is not in the recess 22, a toothing 28 directed inward over the entire axial length. The toothing 28 is a straight toothing. The support ring 20 is spaced apart from the toothing 28 by an outer annular surface 29.

The support ring 20 is provided in the center with a bore which has an internal toothing 30 and which is brought into engagement in FIG. 1 with an external toothing 31 which is formed in sections on a shaft 32. The external toothing 31 is attached in the end region of the shaft 32 over the circumference of the shaft 32 and extends over a short section in the axial direction.

The shaft 32 is rotatably supported in the second housing part 3 via slide bearings 33, 34. The shaft 32 can be rotated in the direction of arrow 35 and can be clamped with its free shaft journal 36 in the chuck device. The shaft 32 is axially displaceable in the direction of arrow 37. 1 shows one of two possible end positions of the shaft 32. In this first end position, i.e. H. in the first working position, the external toothing 31 of the shaft 32 engages in the internal toothing 30 of the support ring 20. In a second end position, i. H. in the second working position, after an axial displacement, the shaft 32 engages in the external toothing of pinions 38, 39, which are rotatably fastened to the second housing part 3 by screws 40, 41. The external toothing of the pinions 38, 39 simultaneously engages in the toothing 28 of the outer guide sleeve 25. The toothing of the pinions 38, 39 is indicated in the figure by reference numerals 42, 43.

In the figure, the shaft 32 has in the middle part of the second housing part 3 an annular shoulder 44 which is provided as a support for a spiral spring 45 which is supported with its other end on an end face of a sleeve 46 which can be screwed into the second housing part 3. The sleeve 46 carries the slide bearing 34. The shoulder 44 limits the axial displacement of the shaft 32 in the direction of the arrow 37 in both directions.

FIG. 2 shows a setting device 1 for a self-drilling rivet, in which a self-drilling rivet 50 is inserted into the device and the setting device 1 holds the self-drilling rivet in a rotationally and tensile manner. The cone sleeve 9 is slightly axially displaced towards the second housing part 3, whereby the Klemmba ken 8 due to the spring force of the coil spring 19 over the inner guide sleeve 11 to the guide sleeve 7 out until a drill shaft 51 is firmly clamped by the jaws 8 . A free space 52 is formed between the end faces of the clamping jaws 8, which point towards the guide sleeve 7, and the guide sleeve 7.

If the shaft 32 is now driven in the direction of the arrow 53, for example via a hand drill, and the shaft 32 is in an axial position in which it engages in the internal toothing 30 of the support ring 20 (first working position), the support ring 20 is driven via the shaft 32 . Characterized in that the support ring 20 is screwed tightly to the cone sleeve 9, the cone sleeve 9 is also set into a rotational movement via the rotational movement of the support ring 20 and thus also the clamping jaws 8, which hold the drill shaft 51 in a rotationally fixed manner. With the working position shown in FIG. 2, the drilling process can be carried out with the self-drilling rivet 50. FIG. 3 shows a setting device in a second working position with the drill shaft 51 broken off. After a borehole has been drilled with the setting device 1 in the first working position, as shown in FIG. 2, and after the self-drilling too rivet 50 and the closing head was formed, the drill shaft 51 has been broken off at a predetermined breaking point between the drill head and drill shaft.

The drill shaft 51 is torn off due to an axial displacement of the conical sleeve 9 in the direction of the second housing part 3 from the drill head at a predetermined breaking point. Via the clamping jaws 8, the drill shaft 51 is drawn into the setting device 1 until the tensile force resulting therefrom exceeds the connecting force from the drill head to the drill shaft and a tear between these parts is thereby established. In this process, the cone sleeve 9 is displaced axially towards the second housing part 3 by manually moving the shaft 32 into a second working position. You can change the working position, for example, by pulling on the hand drill. The shaft 32 is thereby withdrawn. The shaft 32 engages with its external toothing 31 in the toothing 42, 43 of the pinions 38, 39 via an axial displacement described in this way. If the shaft 32 is then driven in the direction of the arrow 54, the pinions 38, 39 rotate and simultaneously engage in the toothing 28 a, which is a spur gear. As already described in FIG. 1, the toothing 28 is attached to a surface of the outer guide sleeve 25 pointing into the interior of the device. The outer guide sleeve 25 is also in engagement with the thread 26, which is designed such that when the pinion 38, 39 is rotated in the arrow direction 54 by the shaft 32, the outer guide sleeve 25 is displaced in the arrow direction 55. FIG. 3 shows the maximum displacement of the outer guide sleeve 25.

If the broken drill shaft 51 is now to be ejected from the setting device 1, the shaft 32 is to be driven in the second working position shown in FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow 56, whereupon the conical sleeve 9 moves axially in the direction of the arrow 57. The conical sleeve 9 can be moved axially as far as possible in the direction of the arrow 57 until the end faces of the clamping jaws 8 come into contact with the guide sleeve 7, as shown in FIG. 1. Due to the abutment of the jaws 8 on the guide sleeve 7, the spiral spring 19 is pushed back and the jaws 8 release the drill shaft 51. The spring 15 then presses the drill shaft 51 out of the setting device 1 via the bolt 14.

If the drill shaft 51 of a self-drilling rivet 50 to be newly inserted is to be inserted into the setting device 1, this insertion must be carried out in a position of the clamping jaws 8, as shown in FIG. 1. If the drill shaft 51 has been removed by also moving the bolt 14 with the spring 15 toward the second housing part 3, the shaft 32 must then be brought into the second working position, via which the pinions 38, 39 are to be driven. If the shaft 32 is then briefly driven in the direction of the arrow 54, as shown in FIG. 3, the conical sleeve 9 is shifted slightly towards the second housing part 3, as is also shown in FIG. With the rotary movement in the direction of arrow 54 according to FIG. 3, the drill shaft 51 is clamped by the clamping jaws 8 of the conical sleeve 9, due to the fact that the inner guide sleeve 11 shifts towards the guide sleeve 7 due to the spring force, and at the same time a free space 52 is formed, as shown in FIG. 2 shows. If the clamping process of the drill shaft 51 into the setting device 1 has been carried out in the manner described, the shaft 32 can be moved into a first working position, as shown in FIG. 2. If the shaft 32 is then driven in the direction of the arrow 53 (FIG. 2), the drilling process can begin again with the self-drilling rivet 50 clamped in.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show no connection of the free shaft 36 to a commercially available drilling machine, and there is also no anti-rotation device from the drilling machine to the setting device 1 shown in the figures. Measures of how to use a commercially available drill in connection with the setting device 1 and how an anti-rotation device must be arranged between the drilling machine and the setting device 1 are known to the person skilled in the art, so that no further explanations need to be given here. The drill shank 51 can also have profilings or its surface can be roughened so that it can be held in the setting device 1 in a rotationally and tensile manner via the clamping jaws 8. These are also further developments which are known to the person skilled in the art, so that there is no need to go into this here. Optical displays can also be provided on the setting device 1, by means of which the clamping process, the first working position and the second working position can be recognized.

A setting device for a self-drilling rivet has internals in a two-part housing, which can grip a drill shank in a rotationally and tensile manner. In a first working position, the drilling process for the self-drilling rivet is carried out and in a second working position, the self-drilling rivet is set and the closing head is formed. The jaws move axially until the drill shank breaks off the drill head. The operations for drilling and riveting are carried out in different directions of rotation of a shaft. Drilling takes place in a first end position of the shaft and in a second end position shaft fixation of the drill shaft in the setting device and the setting of the self-drilling rivet.

Claims (10)

1. Setting apparatus for a self-drilling rivet with a housing (2, 3) and housing components which engage a drill shaft (51) in a rotationally and translationally secure fashion and which can be caused to rotate via a drive mechanism, characterized in that the drill shaft (51), from a first end position of a shaft (32) via a rotational motion directed oppositely to that of a drilling operation can, in a second end position of the shaft (32), be clamped into the setting apparatus (1) and a riveting operation can terminate in this rotational motion, and the housing components exhibit rotatable and translatable gripping jaws (8) which are arranged in the setting apparatus (1) covered by a guide bushing (7) which is arranged at a fixed position thereto.

2. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping jaws (8) can be displaced along a conical surface (18) of a conical bushing (9) by means of a spring-loaded inner guide bushing (11).

3. Setting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gripping jaws (8) the inner guide bushing (11), the conical bushing (9), a helical spring (19) and a support ring (20) form a commonly movable component.

4. Setting apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the component is axially displacable via an outer guide bushing (25), whereby the outer guide bushing (25) exhibits a gear (28) and a ring-shaped surface, and a thread (27) is formed on the circumference of the outer guide bushing (25) along the axial length.

5. Setting apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the support ring (20) exhibits an inner gear (30) in a bore, which can be brought into engagement with an outer gear (31) of the shaft (32).

6. Setting apparatus according to one of the claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the setting apparatus (1) exhibits a first housing portion (2) and a second housing portion (3) which are connected to each other in a detachable fashion.

7. Setting apparatus according to one of the claims 1 through 6, characterized in that a shaft (32) is guided and borne in an axially displacable fashion within the setting apparatus (1), and the shaft (32) can be manually positioned from a first working position to a second working position in the setting apparatus (1) in opposition to the spring force of a helical spring (41).

8. Setting apparatus according to one of the claims 2 through 7, characterized in that a spring-loaded bolt (14) is arranged in the inner guide bushing (11).

9. Use of the setting apparatus (1) according to one of the claims 1 through 8 as a attachable accessory for a commercially available hand- drilling machine with left and right drive.

10. Method for the use of the setting apparatus (1) according to one of the claims 1 through 8, characterized in that

- a drill shaft (51) of a self-drilling rivet (50) is introduced through a guide bushing (7) into the setting apparatus (1) in a largely resistance-free fashion when the gripping jaws (8) are seated on the guide bushing (7),

- the drill shaft (51) is inserted sufficiently far into a blind hole bore (12) until, on the one hand, a bolt (14) and a spring (15) or, on the other hand, a head of the self-drilling rivet (50) limit the axial displacement,

- a shaft (32) is brought into engagement with pinions (38, 39) in a rotationally secure fashion, which axially displaces one of the conical bushings (9) supporting the gripping jaws (8) via a rotational motion in such a fashion that an inner guide bushing (11) axially drives gripping jaws (8) such that the gripping jaws (8) clamp the drill shaft (51) in a rotationally and translationally secure fashion and a free space (52) is formed between the guide bushing (7) and the front side of the gripping jaws (8),

- the shaft (32) is positioned into a first working position in which it is arranged in rotationally secure engagement with a support ring (20) and, by rotation of the shaft (32), drives the drill shaft (51),

- the shaft (32), after completion of the drilling operation, is brought into a second working position to cooperate with the pinions (38, 39), whereby the gripping jaws (8) are axially displaced away from the self-drilling rivet (50),

- the gripping jaws (8), after the tearing-off of the drill head, are axially so displaced that they seat on the guide bushing (7) and the gripping jaws (8) exert a force onto the spring-loaded inner guide bushing (11) in such a fashion that the clamping connection between the drill shaft (51) and the gripping jaws (8) is released, and a spring-loaded bolt (14) automatically ejects the drill shaft (51).

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