EP0860245B1 - Pressing tool - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a pressing device for connecting tubular workpieces, for example a pipe with a press fitting, with at least two press jaws surrounding a pressing chamber, of which at least two are movable relative to each other so that they are placed on the workpiece in an open position and for the pressing operation by means of a drive motor are movable into a closed position, wherein the or at least two of the movable cheek plates - directly or indirectly - are coupled such that upon actuation of a movable cheek and the other (n) movable cheek plate (n ) is moved in the same direction or be, and wherein the pressing device has on its housing a grip portion for a holding hand, which allows a holding of the pressing device.

For connecting pipes, it is known to use sleeve-shaped press fittings, which are made of plastic or metal. The press fitting is slid over the pipe ends to make a pipe joint and then radially compressed in the overlapping areas, with both the press fitting and the pipe being plastically deformed become. Such pipe connections and the associated press fittings are known, for example, from EP-B 0 361 630.

The pressing of the press fitting and the tube is done by means of pressing devices, as they are known in various embodiments, for example in DE-C 21 36 782, DE-A-34 23 283 and EP-A-0 451 806. The pressing devices consist of a pressing tool and a drive for the pressing tool.

The pressing tool has at least two, in some cases also more cheek plates, of which at least two cheek plates are movable relative to each other. You can be moved in this way in an open position in which an attachment of the pressing device to the press fitting is possible. Subsequently, the cheek plates can be moved together with the help of the drive to a closed position. As a drive hydraulic piston is often provided, which can be acted upon by a hand-operated or electric motor driven pump with hydraulic pressure. An electric drive is known.

In handling the pressing device is covered with a hand in a grip area, which lies behind the center of gravity of the pressing device at the rear. For the opening of the movable cheek plates, the other hand is necessary, so that both hands are busy for the attachment of the pressing device to a pipeline. This complicates the attachment of the pressing device at the intended location, especially as the pipes in usually are not fixed and even partially hang only on chains. As far as piping must be laid under a ceiling, the operators work on ladders. Since the hands are occupied by operation of the pressing device, there is an increased risk of accidents.

In FR 2 528 750 A and GB 1 179 929 A presses are disclosed in which two movable cheek plates are coupled so that upon actuation of a cheek plate and the other movable cheek plate is moved in the same direction. Due to this coupling, the actuation of a single cheek plate to move both movable cheek plates either in the direction of the open position or in the direction of the closed position, which makes the operation of the pressing device easier and safer. Nevertheless, two hands are required to open the cheek plates.

The invention is therefore based on the object to design a pressing device of the type mentioned so that the operation is simple and secure.

This object is achieved by a pressing device according to claim 1, wherein the handle portion is provided so that one of the movable cheek plates by means of the holding hand on the handle portion in the direction of the open position is movable, and that the pressing device comprises a switch for switching on the drive, the Griffbereicht is assigned such that it is actuated by a finger or thumb of the holding hand. Due to this assignment of the intended grip area, at least one of the movable press jaws and the switch for switching on the drive, the opening of the press jaws and the switching on can take place with one hand, which simplifies the handling of the pressing device. In addition, the handling is also safer, because the other hand is free to cling to ladders or the like, for example.

The coupling of the cheek plates can be done in different ways. In one embodiment, a coupling rod is used for this purpose, which is hinged to the cheek plates or associated parts such that the movement of a cheek plate is transferred to the other cheek so that both in the direction of either the open or the closed position and thus to move in the same direction, albeit usually in the opposite direction. The same effect can be achieved via a coupling friction or a coupling toothing. A kind of coupling toothing consists, for example, that the or at least two adjacent movable cheek plates have two opposite recesses in which a coupling element engages such that upon actuation of a Preßbakke and the other cheek plate is moved in the same direction.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the coupled cheek plates are spring-loaded in the closing direction, so that they close themselves after applying the pressing device to the press fitting by itself. This also facilitates the handling of the pressing device.

Provided that the cheek plates have in known manner drive lever or are connected to it, which can be acted upon by a drive in the closing direction,
they should end adjacent to this handle area, so that they can be moved over the cheek plates in the open position. The above-described training allows a particularly convenient one-handed operation of the pressing device. The other hand is free either to hold the pipeline or to secure himself to a ladder or scaffolding. Alternatively, it can be provided that the handle portion is associated with an actuating lever, via which one of the movable cheek plates - possibly via the drive lever - in the direction of the open position can be acted upon.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is proposed that a blocking device for non-positive or positive blocking of at least one of the coupled cheek plates is provided in the open position. Such a blocking device is particularly useful if - as provided above - the coupled cheek plates are spring-loaded in the closing direction. After opening the cheek plates, it is then no longer necessary to hold the cheek plates in this position. It is understood that the blocking for the closing of the cheek plates must be canceled again.

The blocking device can be designed in various ways. So there is the possibility to train them as magnets. If the movable cheek plates - as known per se - have drive lever or articulated with them, they can be provided with magnets which bear against each other in the open position of the cheek plates. Alternatively, the blocking device may also be designed as a movable blocking element, which is movable in the open position of the cheek plates in a blocking position. This may be locking elements, etc. In this case, the blocking element should be spring-loaded in the direction of the blocking position, so that it jumps on reaching the open position by itself in the blocking position.

According to a further feature of the invention it is provided that the pressing device has a gripping area for gripping the pressing device with one hand and the blocking element is assigned to the grip area such that it can be actuated by this hand. Alternatively, it can be provided that in the compression chamber, a movable sensor protrudes, which is coupled to the blocking device such that it causes a release of the Blokkiereinrichtung when attaching the pressing device to the workpiece. In this way, an influence of the blocking device by hand is not necessary.

Figur 1

die Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Preßgerätes in Schließstellung;

Figur 2

das Preßgerät gemäß Figur 1 in Offenstellung vor dem Ansetzen an einer Rohrverbindung;

Figur 3

das Preßgerät gemäß den Figuren 1 und 2 nach dem Ansetzen an der Rohrverbindung;

Figur 4

die teilweise Seitenansicht eines zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Preßgerätes in Schließstellung;

Figur 5

das Preßgerät gemäß Figur 4 in Offenstellung;

Figur 6

die teilweise Seitenansicht eines dritten erfindungsgemäßen Preßgerätes in Schließstellung;

Figur 7

das Preßgerät gemäß Figur 6 in Offenstellung;

Figur 8

die teilweise Seitenansicht eines vierten erfindungsgemäßen Preßgerätes in Schließstellung;

Figur 9

das Preßgerät gemäß Figur 8 in Offenstellung;

Figur 10

die Seitenansicht eines Preßwerkzeuges eines fünften erfindungsgemäßen Preßgerätes in Schließstellung;

Figur 11

das Preßwerkzeug gemäß Figur 10 in Offenstellung;

Figur 12

die Seitenansicht eines Preßwerkzeuges eines sechsten erfindungsgemäßen Preßgerätes in Schließstellung mit herausgezogener Ausschnittsvergrößerung der Koppelung und

Figur 13

das Preßwerkzeug gemäß Figur 12 in Offenstellung mit herausgezogener Ausschnittsvergrößerung der Koppelung.

In the drawing, the invention is illustrated by means of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

FIG. 1

the side view of a pressing device according to the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 2

the pressing device according to Figure 1 in the open position prior to attachment to a pipe joint;

FIG. 3

the pressing device according to Figures 1 and 2 after attachment to the pipe joint;

FIG. 4

the partial side view of a second pressing device according to the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 5

the pressing device according to Figure 4 in the open position;

FIG. 6

the partial side view of a third pressing device according to the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 7

the pressing device according to Figure 6 in the open position;

FIG. 8

the partial side view of a fourth pressing device according to the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 9

the pressing device according to Figure 8 in the open position;

FIG. 10

the side view of a pressing tool of a fifth pressing device according to the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 11

the pressing tool of Figure 10 in the open position;

FIG. 12

the side view of a pressing tool of a sixth pressing device according to the invention in the closed position with extracted detail enlargement of the coupling and

FIG. 13

the pressing tool of Figure 12 in the open position with extracted detail enlargement of the coupling.

The pressing device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 essentially consists of a drive 2 and a pressing tool 3. The drive 2 has an electric drive motor 4, which acts via a gear 5 on a movable in the longitudinal direction of the pressing device 1, hidden drive stamp, such as this results, for example, from DE-U-295 02 032.6.

The drive 2 runs in the direction of the pressing tool 3 in a holding fork 6, which is arranged by a front fork piece 7 and at a distance behind it and therefore not visible second fork piece is formed. In the space between the two fork pieces 7 of the drive stamp is retractable.

In the upper end region, the fork pieces 7 are connected to each other via a bearing pin 8. This bearing pin 8 passes through two T-shaped bearing plates 9, of which only the front bearing plate lying in the views to see 9, while the rear, identical bearing plate is covered by the front bearing plate 9. The bearing plates 9 are each directly adjacent to the respective adjacent fork piece 7 and have a distance from each other. In the space between the bearing plates 9, two mirror-formed press jaws 10, 11 are arranged and mounted on the bearing plates 9 pivotally mounted in the plane of the drawing via bearing pins 12, 13. The unit of bearing plates 9 and cheek plates 10, 11 with bearing pins 12, 13 form the pressing tool 3 and are separable as a whole by removing the bearing pin 8 of the drive 2. In this way can be attached to the drive 2 different sizes of pressing tools 3.

The cheek plates 10, 11 have above the bearing pin 12, 13 jaw arms 14, 15, in the opposite jaw recesses 16, 17 are formed. Between the Preßbacken 10, 11 is a third cheek plate 19, which is fixed between the bearing plates 9, that is held immovable. Your jaw recess 20 completes the jaw recesses 16, 17 in such a way that in the closed state of the Preßwerkzeuges 3 a closed baling chamber 21 is formed.

Below the bearing pins 12, 13, the cheek plates 10, 11 run out into drive levers 22, 23, which form opposite drive surfaces 24, 25. In the space between the drive surfaces 24, 25 of the drive motor 4 via the gear 5 slidable drive stamp is retractable. Whose drive head has in a conventional manner (eg DE-U-295 02 032.6; DE-A-34 23 283) two adjacent spreading rollers, which drive during extension of the drive punch against the drive surfaces 24, 25 and in this way the drive lever 22nd , 23 apart.

Figure 1 shows the position of the pressing device 1 before startup. The movable Preßbacken 10, 11 are due to a spring bias in the closed position. A hand 26 surrounds the housing of the drive 2 at a location provided immediately adjacent the free ends of the drive lever 22, 23, in such a way that the thumb 27 of the hand 26 can be placed on the outside of the right drive lever 23, without that thereby the handle is lost to the housing of the drive 2.

Thus, the pressing device 1 can be attached to a pipe joint 28 transverse to the tube axis, the pressing chamber 21 is thereby opened at the top, that the right drive lever 23 by means of the thumb 27 is pivoted inwardly, ie clockwise. Due to a kinematic connection, not shown here, shown in more detail in the other figures The two cheek plates 10, 11, the pivoting movement of the right cheek plate 11 is transferred to the left cheek plate 10 such that they are pivoted in the opening direction, ie in the opposite direction and thus counterclockwise. In this way, the symmetrical open position of the cheek plates 10, 11 shown in Figure 2 is achieved. Between the free ends of the jaw arms 14, 15 results in a mouth-like opening, which is slightly larger than the diameter of the pipe joint 28, so that the pressing device 1 can be moved over this.

This position of the pressing device 1 can be seen in Figure 3. Since the thumb 27 is no longer applied to the right drive lever 23, the cheek plates 10, 11 have created due to the going in the closing direction bias at the pipe joint 28. Now the pressing process can be started. This is done by depressing an actuating switch 29 by the thumb 27. This sets the drive motor 4 in motion, which moves the drive ram in the direction of the pressing tool 3. The head of the drive punch comes with the drive surfaces 24, 25 in abutment. Upon further propulsion of the drive punch the drive lever 22, 23 are spread apart with the result that the Bakkenarme 14, 15 approach each other. The pipe joint 28 is then plastically deformed radially inwardly.

Upon reaching the closed position of the movable press jaws 10, 11 of the drive punch is moved back out of the space between the drive levers 22, 23. With the thumb 27 then the cheek plates 10, 11 are again in the same manner in the open position shown in Figure 2 moved as before applying the pressing device 1 to the pipe joint 28. The pressing device 1 can then be removed from the compressed pipe joint 28.

In the further Figures 4 to 11 identical or functionally identical parts are provided with the reference numerals used in Figures 1 to 3, and reference is made to the description given to these figures with respect to the parts provided with these reference numerals.

In the dargestellen in Figures 4 and 5 embodiment are - as well as in the other embodiments - the front fork piece 7 and the front bearing plate 9 omitted, so that now the rear fork 30 and the bearing there bearing plate 31 can be seen. In this way, the kinematic connection between the movable cheek plates 10, 11 made visible. It is a coupling rod 32 which is connected at the left end to the jaw arm 14 and at the right end to the drive lever 23 adjacent to the bearing pin 12, 13. This causes upon actuation of one of the two movable drive lever 22 and 23, an opposite pivoting movement in the other press jaw 10, 11, with the result that both cheek plates 10, 11 synchronously and symmetrically from the closed position (Figure 4) in the open position (FIG 5) is moved.

In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the movement of the press jaws 10, 11 via an actuating lever 33, which on the side of the housing of the drive 2 facing away from the actuating switch 29, takes place here a bearing pin 34 is pivotally mounted. The actuating lever 33 thus lies in the grip region of the fingers of the hand 26 and is surrounded by these when holding the pressing device 1 on the outside. At the upper end of the actuating lever 33 is located on the outside of the left drive lever 22 at.

In Figure 4, the movable cheek plates 10, 11 are in the closed position. By pivoting the actuating lever 33 in a clockwise direction by corresponding gripping the fingers of the hand 26, the left drive lever 22 is moved inwards, ie counterclockwise and thus in the opening direction. The movement is transmitted via the coupling rod 32 on the right cheek plate 11, so that both cheek plates 10, 11 open and form a sufficiently large for the attachment to a pipe joint large mouth opening.

In the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 6 to 8, as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, no additional actuating lever 33 is present, ie. the operation of the cheek plates 10, 11 takes place here - as in the pressing device 1 according to Figures 1 to 3 - on the thumb 27 of the hand 26. The representation corresponds to that according to Figures 4 and 5, i. Front fork 7 and front bearing plate 9 are omitted.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7 has a blocking device 35 which is intended to hold the press jaws 10, 11 in the open position (FIG. 7) against the action of the spring bias acting in the closing direction. The blocking device 35 has a blocking ring 36, which surrounds the retaining fork 6 and is displaceably guided on it in the longitudinal direction of the pressing device 1. The blocking ring 36 is supported by compression springs 37, 38 on the retaining fork 6, so that it bears against the drive levers 22, 23 on the upper side under pretension.

In the closed position (Figure 6), the system is essentially on the underside of the drive lever 22, 23, so that their mobility is not hindered by the blocking ring 36. In the open position (Figure 7) of the drive lever 22, 23, the blocking ring 36 pushes under the action of the compression springs 37, 38 upwards and thus over the outside of the drive lever 22, 23. The drive lever 22, 23 no longer need - as in the Embodiment according to Figures 1 to 3 - held by hand in the open position, which depending on the bias of the cheek plates 10, 11 can be exhausting. After attaching the pressing device 1 at a pipe joint of the blocking ring 36 is pushed down from the range of movement of the drive lever 22, 23, which can be done here by a corresponding outside conditioning and movement of the thumb 27 of the hand 26. The Preßbacken 10, 11 are then free and can be due to the spring preload around the pipe joint.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9, the blocking device 35 has two magnets 39, 40, which are embedded in the drive surfaces 24, 25 opposite one another. In the open position of the cheek plates 10, 11 (Figure 9), the magnets come 39, 40 for mutual contact and keep the Preßbakken 10, 11 in this position.

The cheek plate 19 is penetrated by an opening rod 41 which is biased by a compression spring 42 in the direction of the pressing chamber 21 and axially movable. In the open position of the cheek plates 10, 11, the opening rod 41 protrudes a piece over the jaw recess 20 into the baling chamber 21. At the lower end of the opening rod 41 is formed so that it projects into the downwardly tapered space between the two drive surfaces 24, 25 and fills it.

When attaching the pressing device in the position shown in Figure 9 at a pipe joint, the opening rod 41 is moved through the pipe joint in the direction of the magnets 39, 40 and thereby spreads the drive lever 22, 23 a piece apart. The magnets 39, 40 are released, and the cheek plates 10, 11 move to the closed position. After removal of the pressing device 1 of the pipe joint, the opening rod 41 is pressed by the compression spring 42 back into the position shown in Figure 9.

Figures 10 and 11 show the pressing tool 3 after removal of the drive 2, wherein here the front bearing plate 9 is not shown. In this way, the view is released on two friction wheels 43, 44 which are freely rotatable in.der cheek plate 19 are mounted side by side and abut each other with their peripheral surfaces. The movable press jaws 10, 11 have transfer surfaces 45, 46, which are formed as circular arc sections which extend concentrically to the bearing pins 12, 13. They lie on the peripheral surfaces of the respective adjacent friction wheel 43, 44th at.

For example, if the right drive lever 23 is pivoted from the closed position shown in Figure 10 in the open position, so this pivotal movement on the transfer surface 46 on the right friction wheel 44, from this to the left friction wheel 43 and from this to the left transfer surface 45th and thus transferred to the left Preßbakke 10. The arrows in FIG. 11 indicate the respective directions of rotation. The effect is the same as in the coupling of the two Preßbacken 10, 11 via the coupling rod 32nd

The pressing tool 47 shown in Figures 12 and 13 is also shown without drive. It has two mirror-image forming cheek plates 48, 49, which are arranged between two bearing plates 50, of which the front bearing plate lying in the view - as in the previous embodiments - is omitted. On the bearing plates 50, the cheek plates 48, 49 are pivotally mounted on bearing pins 51, 52. can be connected via a further bearing pin 53 - similar to the embodiments of Figures 1 to 9 - a drive.

The Preßbacken 48, 49 have above the bearing pin 51, 52 jaw arms 54, 55, in the opposite jaw recesses 56, 57 are formed. In contrast to the embodiments described so far, a third cheek plate is missing. Below the bearing pins 51, 52 run the Preßbakken 48, 49 in drive lever 58, 59, the opposite drive surfaces 60, 61 form. In the gap between the drive surfaces 60, 61 can - as in the embodiments described above - the drive stem of a drive motor are retracted.

The Preßbacken 48, 49 have slightly below the plane of the bearing pin 51, 52 opposite, approximately semicircular recesses 62, 63, into which a transmission pin 64 is inserted circular cross-section. In the axial direction of the transmission pin 64 is bordered by the two bearing plates 50 so that it can not fall out. In the closed state (FIG. 12), the recesses 62, 63 adjoin one another on the top side, while a free space 65 exists on the bottom side. The free space 65 is shaped so that a pivoting of the cheek plates 48, 49 from the closed position (Figure 12) in the open position (Figure 13) is possible.

For example, if the right drive lever 59 pivoted from the closed position shown in Figure 12 in the open position, ie clockwise, this thrust movement is transmitted through the inner surface of the associated recess 63 on the transmission pin 64 and from there to the inner surface of the recess 62 of the left-side cheek 48 so that this cheek 48 in the same sense, ie also taken in the opening direction. In this case, a free space 66 is formed in the upper region of the two recesses 62, 63. The enlargements that are pulled out to the right show the change in the position of the recesses 62, 63 and the function of the transfer bolt 64.

Claims (14)

1. Pressing tool (1) for connecting tubular workpieces (28), comprising at least two pressing jaws (10, 11, 19, 48, 49) surrounding a pressing space (21), which at least two pressing jaws are movable relatively towards one another in such a way that they can be moved to an open position for placement on the workpiece (28) and to a closed position for the pressing process by means of a drive motor (4), the at least two movable pressing jaws (10, 11, 48, 49) being so coupled that, upon actuation of one pressing jaw (10, 11, 48, 49), the other movable pressing jaw(s) (10, 11, 48, 49) is/are moved in the same direction, and the pressing tool (1) having on its housing a handle area for a holding hand (26), characterised in that the handle area is so provided that it permits holding and operation of the pressing tool (1) with one hand, which remains in the same position in the handle area, one of the movable pressing jaws (10, 11, 19, 48, 49) being movable by means of the holding hand (26) on the handle area in the direction of the open position and the pressing tool (1) including a switch (29) for switching on the drive (4), which switch (29) is so associated with the handle area that it can be operated with a finger (27) or thumb of the holding hand (26).
2. Pressing tool according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least two movable pressing jaws (10, 11) are connected to one another via a coupling rod (32) in each case.
3. Pressing tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the at least two movable pressing jaws (10, 11) are connected to one another via a friction coupling (43 to 46) or via a toothed coupling.
4. Pressing tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the at least two adjacent movable pressing jaws (48, 49) have two opposed recesses (62, 63) in which a coupling element (64) engages in such a way that upon actuation of one pressing jaw (48, 49) the other pressing jaw (49, 48) is moved in the same direction.
5. Pressing tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the coupled pressing jaws (10, 11, 48, 49) are spring-loaded in the closing direction.
6. Pressing tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the coupled pressing jaws (10, 11, 48, 49) include or are connected to drive levers (22, 23, 58, 59) which can be urged by a drive (2) in the closing direction and which end adjacently to the handle area.
7. Pressing tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pressing tool (1) includes a handle area for holding the pressing tool (1) with one hand (26) and in that there is associated with the handle area an operating lever (33) via which one of the movable pressing jaws (10) can be urged in the direction of the open position.
8. Pressing tool according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a locking device (35) is provided for locking at least one of the coupled pressing jaws (10, 11) in the open position by positive or non-positive engagement.
9. Pressing tool according to claim 8, characterised in that the locking device (35) is in the form of magnets (39, 40).
10. Pressing tool according to claim 9, characterised in that the movable pressing jaws (10, 11) have drive levers (22, 23) which are provided with the magnets (39, 40) in such a way that they rest against one another in the open position of the pressing jaws (10, 11).
11. Pressing tool according to claim 10, characterised in that the locking device (35) is configured as a movable locking element (36) which is movable to a locking position in the open position of the pressing jaws (10, 11).
12. Pressing tool according to claim 11, characterised in that the locking element (36) is spring-loaded in the direction of the locking position.
13. Pressing tool according to claim 12, characterised in that the pressing tool (1) has a handle area for holding the pressing tool (1) with one hand (26) and the locking element (36) is so associated with the handle area that the locking element (36) can be operated by this hand (26).
14. Pressing tool according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterised in that a movable feeler (41) projects into the pressing space (21), which feeler (41) is so coupled to the locking device (35, 39, 40) that it causes the locking device (35) to be released when the pressing tool (1) is placed on the workpiece (28).

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