EP0874096B1 - Machine and process for crimping a sleeve on a rebar - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a machine and a process for crimping a coupler on a concrete rod, said coupler comprising a threaded part at one of its ends and a hollow cylindrical part in which is introduced the end of the concrete ring.

The present invention is intended to secure the coupler and the concrete ring in order to participate in the connection between two coaxial concrete rods.

It will find its application in particular in the construction, building and works public. It is indeed very common in this sector of activity to use concrete reinforcing bars which require sometimes to be assembled end to end.

Frequently used in the field of construction of bars, most often of steel, which participate in constituting the load-bearing structure of buildings. These steel bars are frequently used in combination with concrete elements and that's why they are commonly called concrete bars.

For transport, storage and concrete rods are often long limited. This requires, when the dimensions of the constructions require it, to assemble several rounds to concrete butt. This assembly can be done without special preparation of the end of the concrete reinforcing bars using parts called couplers.

The couplers fit on the end of the round concrete by inserting the end of the concrete rod into a hollow cylindrical part formed at one end of the coupler. The couplers thus positioned allow constitute the interface between two concrete rods, either directly, either with the use of a room intermediate which connects the two couplers.

The current couplers are most often in steel. Their installation and their fixing on the rounds to concrete require a crimping operation which is currently manual and not very mechanized.

The joining operation of the coupler and the concrete rod can be completely manual as is the case when the operator himself handles a crimping tool which radially crushes the material of the coupler at different places on its outer surface so as to establish the cohesion between the concrete ring and the coupler.

There are also known devices for crimping the coupler on the concrete rod. These devices use a spinning tool with a die of a diameter adapted to the diameter of the coupler to crimp. The spinning tool is moved along the coupler by translation means, so as to progressively crush along the axis of the coupler the material that composes it in order to crimping.

To keep the coupler in position when the spinning force is applied via the spinning tool, current devices use frequently a coupling part on the device; fixing is generally carried out by through a thread.

The devices and processes used currently to secure couplers and rounds to concrete have different disadvantages.

They are first of all most often manual or very weakly mechanized. They therefore require a significant intervention by one or more operators and do not allow any automation. Many consequences of this lack of automation are harmful to the performance and effectiveness of current devices.

First, the salary cost of the achievement coupler crimping on a concrete rod is very important since it requires intervention, throughout the operation, of one or more users. The salary cost is all the more important since, taking into account technical particularities and the quality requirement in the realization of coupler crimping on concrete rod, the operator must most often have suitable training and be sufficiently qualified to carry out the operations of crimping.

In addition, the current devices being weakly mechanized, productivity is often low and operation crimping takes a long time.

The cost price of the realization of coupler connections on concrete reinforcing bars is therefore currently high and requires qualified personnel.

Another disadvantage of devices and current processes is that they completely dissociate the phase of actual crimping and the verification and quality control of crimps performed.

It is clear that the assemblies of couplers on concrete reinforcing bars must meet very strict mechanical strength and mainly tensile strength. It is indeed essential for the safety of constructions that connections established between the reinforcing bars have properties of very high mechanical resistance and at the very least important than those of concrete reinforcing bars in themselves.

To ensure the quality of the crimping, it is necessary to perform many tests, the most often of traction since it is the mode of solicitation mechanical which predominates in the use of concrete bars. These are currently only performed in specialized laboratories.

The tensile tests currently carried out are particularly expensive since they are carried out at outside the crimp production site couplers on concrete rods and since they require a additional human intervention, most often from Qualified staff.

In addition, the tests currently carried out do not allow periodic or random checks of different crimps. Given the cost of the tests, the need to perform them in the laboratory and the time they take, it is currently not possible to control mechanical characteristics of each of the connections established by crimping between couplers and concrete bars. This point is a very essential disadvantage of current devices since they do not provide security of each of the connections established by crimping since the tensile tests are carried out not systematically.

This drawback is all the more damaging that the crimping devices and methods currently used are heavily manual. Indeed, human intervention means that each setting performed has special characteristics and individualized. We must indeed consider that the operator cannot absolutely repeat the whole thing crimping operations and that therefore the properties mechanical links formed vary for each set coupler - concrete round.

The tensile tests currently carried out are often planned in advance. The operator therefore knows if the binding that it will produce will be controlled or not. He will have naturally tends to take more care in crimping when the link is intended for control. This subjectivity still harms overall link security coupler - concrete round.

Thus, the external laboratory involves samples prepared, which is not strictly speaking a guarantee of certainty, given the manipulations that may be accomplished during the manufacture of these tests.

We must also consider that the concrete bars currently meet geometric tolerances and very wide dimensions both for their diameters and for their ratings. As a result, large dimensional variations between different concrete bars of same nominal diameter. These gaps and imperfections dimensional and geometric also imply variations mechanical strength characteristics for each of the coupler crimping on concrete rod.

Consequently, the performance of traction, in the laboratory and not systematically, not allow to have a total certainty as for the good mechanical resistance of each coupler - round connection to concrete.

Another disadvantage of devices and current crimping processes is that they make it difficult access to certification as part of a policy quality assurance.

We have recently seen the development of many companies a strategy for developing the quality with the aim most often of obtaining a official certification which is the guarantee of the quality of their activities.

Crimping devices and methods concrete round couplers currently used make difficult such approval. Indeed, accreditation must bear on the one hand on the material used for crimping but also on the quality of human interventions in the crimping.

Another disadvantage of devices and current processes is that they make it difficult to adapt to deviations and dimensional or geometric imperfections concrete bars. The manufacturing tolerances imposed for the production of concrete rods are indeed generally very wide and it is not uncommon for example to find that a concrete rod with an outside diameter of 30 millimeters actually measures 1 or 2 millimeters more or less. The current devices being little mechanized and using absolutely no automatic means, not allow to adapt the course of the operation of spinning according to these dimensional variations or geometric.

In case the outside diameter of the round to concrete is greater than the theoretical diameter, the force imposed on the material of the coupler during the spinning is increased and the plasticization of the material is more important.

In case the outside diameter of the round to concrete is less than the theoretical diameter, the spinning effort will be less important and will cause modifications of the totally different mechanical properties of the coupler previous case. Thus the current devices and methods do not ensure that, during crimping, modifications to the mechanical characteristics undergone by the coupler are constants whatever the round concrete - coupler assembly which is set.

This drawback further strengthens individuality that constitutes each coupler - round to concrete connection, which is harmful when it comes to quality assurance of the connection made and greatly relativizes the result laboratory tests on prepared samples specially for this purpose.

Another disadvantage of the methods and devices currently used to secure by crimping of couplers on concrete bars is that they do not avoid any risk of operator error.

The operator must most often be qualified because it must obligatorily produce crimps of very high quality concrete rod couplers. However, whatever the operator's skills, current processes and devices do not avoid all risk error especially in the choice of parameters of crimping, often only checked by sight of pressures read on a pressure gauge.

It therefore appears that the methods and devices current for crimping couplers on round to concrete are not entirely satisfactory. They have indeed especially low performance and require employees having a significant level of qualification.

From the point of view of safety and mechanical resistance of the coupler - concrete round connections, they do not allow to check and control the mechanical characteristics of each link produced. Quality assurance which is a major concern in many activities today and among others in construction, building and works is not fully established in the case of current processes and devices.

The patent is known from the state of the art EP-A-0.716.195. This discloses a mechanical connection between two concrete rods using crimping means of a socket on a concrete ring. He also discloses the device, as well as the method, for carrying out the mechanical connection using the crimping means. These crimping means include translation means of a spinning tool, said tool, while moving, deforms the sleeve and crimp it on the end of the concrete ring. The axial crimping of the sleeve on the concrete rod is made by acting against a fixed stop, which provides a random deformation of the sleeve given the shape variable of the reinforcing bars and therefore a random setting which may be defective.

This patent EP 0.716.195 also discloses means of testing the mechanical connection between the socket and the concrete rod used to check the quality of the crimping. This test consists, for an observer, in observing visually on a pressure gauge if there is a slip between the socket and the concrete ring, which results in a fall pressure on the pressure gauge. This test is separate from the crimping operation, and it is carried out by means of the spinning tool in position on the fixed stop which transmits then a constraint at the level of the mechanical connection between the socket and the concrete ring. This type of test therefore does not allow not to control precisely and automatically the efforts of constraint to exercise at the level of the mechanical connection between the two elements, since it does not avoid all risk operator error.

Due to these numerous drawbacks, crimping concrete coupler is currently a technique of restricted distribution, which is harmful given the specific interest of connections by crimping couplers on concrete rod.

The present invention aims to remedy the disadvantages of current devices and methods and has in particular to achieve and control each of the coupler - round to concrete connections so that their quality and their mechanical characteristics are established individually.

To achieve this objective, this invention has various advantages and in particular provides for the using fully automatic means to carry out the crimping and tensile testing.

According to the invention, the entire cycle of crimping which includes the fitting of the fitted coupler on the concrete rod in the machine and the spinning operation proper, takes place without human intervention as soon as the cycle is started and fully automatic.

This automaticity allows for example to avoid any risk of user error both in terms of crimp operations as test operations of traction. The automatic means used according to the invention allows crimping and tensile tests following fully operations similar for all coupler - round to concrete connections. This avoids the production of crimping couplers on concrete reinforcing bars with different characteristics each other which is inevitable in the case of a human intervention.

The invention also has the advantage of avoiding any risk of user error. Indeed, the task of the operator is limited to the cycle start operation since it suffices to introduce the concrete ring in the machine and take it out again at the end of the operation after crimping and tensile testing.

In addition, the set of parameters which involved in the crimping and testing cycle traction is set by the operator's choice of the type of sector to be implemented. As soon as the operator has set up a die corresponding to a predetermined diameter of the coupler, the device according to the invention manages all of the values to give to the cycle parameters. So we avoid everything risk of user error, particularly in the choice of preset charge level at which the connection will be tested coupler on concrete rod. Consequently, the quality of the crimping and ensuring its mechanical resistance to traction are further enhanced.

To ensure the quality of the link established by crimping between the coupler and the concrete rod, the process and the machine according to the invention also have the advantage of adapt to dimensional deviations and imperfections and geometrical shapes of concrete rods.

As mentioned above, the concrete bars of a same theoretical outside diameter actually show numerous imperfections and respond in particular to very wide dimensional tolerances. A consequence damaging to these deviations and these imperfections can be that the crimping is done differently from round to concrete to another because of a variation in the spinning effort and the elongation of each coupler according to the dimensional characteristics of rounds.

The present invention also aims to remedy this drawback by compensating for deviations and geometric and dimensional imperfections concrete reinforcing bars so as to make the modifications made to the material of the coupler during crimping.

The invention has for this the advantage of providing a automatic control of the elongation of the material of the coupler induced by the spinning force.

Therefore, even if the concrete bars of a same theoretical outside diameter are actually all different, the invention has the advantage of achieving a crimping providing the same modifications of mechanical characteristics of the coupler whatever the initial imperfections.

This advantage also contributes to the optimization of the quality of the coupler - round to concrete connections. he is indeed an additional step in standardization of coupler - concrete round connections and allows to homogenize the mechanical characteristics of each link.

The present invention also aims to provide for crimping and testing traction in a single global operation.

The machine and the method according to the invention have in effect the advantage of combining automatic means of crimping and automatic tensile testing means.

The combination in one machine of means automatic crimping and tensile testing is particularly interesting. It streamlines first the sequence of the two operations since it removes all intermediate handling of the concrete reinforcing bar. Indeed, the crimping cycle and tensile testing cycle are linked automatically on the same site and in the same machine.

It is no longer necessary to prepare and transport the concrete rods after crimping in a specialized laboratory often far from the production site coupler connections on concrete round. The combination of automatic means of crimping and tensile testing therefore reduces the overall cost of the operation.

Another advantage of the combination in the same machine of automatic crimping means and means automatic tensile testing is being able to test individually all coupler connections on round to concrete.

Currently, the test by laboratory traction of coupler - concrete round connections is only carried out for samples of these connections. he is too heavy and too expensive to test individually in this way each bond independently.

On the other hand, the invention, by grouping in the same machine automatic crimping means and automatic means of tensile testing, allows to chain systematic crimping and tensile testing. By making it possible to verify each link coupler - concrete round, the invention is particularly advantageous since it further increases mechanical safety connections and their quality.

A consequence of this verification of each mechanical connection is that it is not possible to produce and subsequently to use coupler - concrete round connections bad quality. Indeed, if the tensile test which is systematically linked after crimping is revealed unfavorable, the coupler - concrete ring connection is then immediately eliminated by automatic separation of the coupler and concrete rod.

Another object of the invention is to allow obtain quality assurance certification so easy.

Indeed, certification is obtained if all phases of production of round to concrete connections - coupler meet very strict quality criteria. Within the framework of the invention, the conditions are frequently fulfilled since the process and the machine it describes allow a fully automatic crimping and a rigorous crimping control.

The present invention combines in a single machine and in a single process the whole crimping and tensile tests. So there is no intervention human during the cycle after the cycle starts and no change of machine. Insurance certification quality therefore relates only to the single machine according to the invention which avoids having to certify at the same time the quality of the operators and the quality of the crimping and tensile testing operations.

Furthermore, by allowing a test to be carried out tensile strength for each coupler connection - concrete round and allowing the recording or saving of data from each of the tests, the present invention provides a full traceability of each coupler - round to concrete.

Another object of the invention is to allow the random destructive testing, periodic or manually triggered to strengthen the link security.

Performing destructive tests has the advantage to verify that the concrete ring breaks, that is to say that its maximum breaking stress is lower than that of the coupler connection on the round to concrete. According to the invention, this destructive test can be performed either by manual triggering or automatic. In this case, it is possible to program a destructive testing periodically or randomly.

Another object of the invention is to obtain a full automatic crimping and tensile testing so as to limit the importance of human intervention.

The machine and method for crimping a coupler on a concrete ring described here have means automatic crimping and automatic means tensile testing. As a result, the user has a very limited liability since it suffices to introduce the concrete ring on which the coupler is fitted in the machine and at the end of the cycle, come out of the machine concrete rod on which the coupler was crimped and having undergone a tensile test.

The operator therefore has for example the possibility during the automatic cycle to prepare the concrete ring and the next coupler and carry out the fitting. We thus increases productivity since the time required to the operator is reduced and since the crimping and testing traction are performed automatically faster than manually.

Furthermore, the present invention can be operated by an operator without any particular qualification.

Another object of the invention is to be usable on site or in the workshop.

The machine and method for crimping concrete rod couplers presented here have for this the advantage of having only a light structure, easily transportable from one site to another. Their implementation work is therefore possible directly on site or in workshop.

Other purposes and advantages of this invention will appear during the description which goes to follow which is however given only as an indication.

• un outil de vissage pour la fixation du coupleur par sa partie filetée,
• un outil de filage,
• des moyens de sertissage du coupleur sur le rond à béton comprenant des moyens de translation de l'outil de filage suivant l'axe du coupleur,
• des moyens d'essais de traction pour tester la liaison des coupleurs sur les ronds à béton,

caractérisée par le fait que :

• les moyens de sertissage et d'essais de traction sont automatiques au moyen d'un automate programmable qui assure le cycle automatisé de sertissage et d'essais de traction du coupleur sur le rond à béton,
• la poussée manuelle de l'opérateur sur le rond à béton agit sur des moyens de détection qui déclenchent le démarrage du cycle automatisé de sertissage et d'essais de traction du coupleur sur le rond à béton,
• les moyens de sertissage comprennent des moyens de contrepoussée du coupleur permettant de contrôler automatiquement l'allongement de la matière du coupleur induit par l'effort de filage, en fonction des imperfections et des écarts dimensionnels et géométriques du rond à béton,

afin d'automatiser la réalisation de sertissage et des essais de traction du coupleur sur le rond à béton et de garantir la constance des modifications des caractéristiques mécaniques subies par le coupleur durant le filage, et d'assurer la qualité de chaque liaison de coupleur sur le rond à béton.The present invention relates to a machine for crimping a coupler on a concrete ring, said coupler comprising a male or female threaded part at one of its ends and a hollow cylindrical part into which the end of the round is introduced. concrete, intended to secure the coupler and the concrete rod, the crimping of the couplers with the concrete rods allowing the realization of the connection between two concrete rods placed end to end, in particular usable in the field of construction, building and public works, said machine having:

• a screwing tool for fixing the coupler by its threaded part,
• a spinning tool,
• means for crimping the coupler onto the concrete rod comprising means for translating the spinning tool along the axis of the coupler,
• tensile test means for testing the connection of the couplers on the concrete reinforcing bars,

characterized by the fact that:

• the crimping and tensile testing means are automatic by means of a programmable automaton which performs the automated crimping and tensile testing cycles of the coupler on the concrete reinforcing bar,
• the operator's manual push on the concrete reinforcing bar acts on detection means which trigger the start of the automated crimping and tensile testing cycle of the coupler on the concrete reinforcing bar,
• the crimping means comprise means for pushing back the coupler making it possible to automatically control the elongation of the material of the coupler induced by the spinning force, as a function of the imperfections and dimensional and geometric deviations of the concrete rod,

in order to automate the setting up and the tensile tests of the coupler on the concrete reinforcing bar and to guarantee the constancy of the modifications of the mechanical characteristics undergone by the coupler during the spinning, and to assure the quality of each coupler connection on the concrete ring.

• on fixe le coupleur (27) par sa partie filetée (29) sur l'outil de vissage (2),
• on translate axialement l'outil de filage (37) sur le coupleur (27), déformant sa partie cylindrique creuse (30) de façon à ce qu'elle pénètre entre les cotes du rond à béton (28), sertissant ainsi ledit coupleur (27) sur ledit rond à béton (28),
• on réalise après sertissage du coupleur (27) sur le rond à béton (28) un essai de traction en appliquant un effort de traction entre ledit coupleur et ledit rond à béton, de traction lorsque l'on exerce une poussée manuelle sur le rond à béton,
• pendant l'opération de sertissage, on contrôle l'allongement de la matière du coupleur (27) en exerçant une contrepoussée opposée à l'effort de sertissage,

permettant l'automatisation de la réalisation de sertissage de coupleurs sur rond à béton tout en assurant la qualité de chaque liaison.The invention also relates to a method for crimping and automatic testing of a coupler on a concrete rod, said coupler comprising a male or female threaded part at one of its ends and a hollow cylindrical part into which is introduced. the end of the concrete rod, intended to secure the coupler and the concrete rod in order to participate in the realization of the connection between two concrete rods placed end to end, in particular usable in the field of construction, building and public works, using the crimping machine according to the invention, characterized in that:

• the coupler (27) is fixed by its threaded part (29) to the screwing tool (2),
• the spinning tool (37) is axially translated on the coupler (27), deforming its hollow cylindrical part (30) so that it penetrates between the dimensions of the concrete ring (28), thus crimping said coupler ( 27) on said concrete ring (28),
• a tensile test is carried out after crimping the coupler (27) on the concrete ring (28) by applying a tensile force between said coupler and said concrete ring, tensile when a manual thrust is exerted on the concrete,
• during the crimping operation, the elongation of the material of the coupler (27) is controlled by exerting a counter-thrust opposite to the crimping force,

allowing the automation of the setting of couplings on concrete rounds while ensuring the quality of each connection.

• la figure 1 présentant un mode particulier de réalisation de la machine selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 et la figure 3 illustrant deux modes particuliers de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 4 schématisant un exemple de réalisation de l'outil de filage,
• la figure 5 présentant un exemple de coupleur et de rond à béton utilisables,
• la figure 6 présentant un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood from the drawing boards located in the appendix, which include:

• FIG. 1 showing a particular embodiment of the machine according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrating two particular embodiments of the invention,
• FIG. 4 schematically showing an exemplary embodiment of the spinning tool,
• FIG. 5 showing an example of a coupler and a concrete reinforcing bar which can be used,
• Figure 6 showing another embodiment of the invention.

The machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) on a concrete ring (28) according to the invention comprises automatic crimping means and automatic means tensile testing. These automatic means allow the crimping of couplers (27) on rounds concrete (28) while ensuring the quality of the connections.

In a particular embodiment, the automatic crimping means comprise means (2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19, 26, 33) for fitting the coupler (27). These means allow automatic placement on the screwing tool (2) of the coupler (27). They ensure also unscrewing the coupler at the end of the cycle.

According to a possibility of realization, the means (2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19, 26, 33) for positioning the coupler (27) have a shaft (33) integral with the tool screwing (2). This tree (33) constitutes the support for the screwing tool (2). Its shape and size can be variable and it can appear as illustrated Figure 1. The shaft (33) allows the installation of the tool screwing (2) on the machine (1) and its replacement, especially if the diameter of the coupler (27) is changed to place on the screwing tool (2). The tree (33) will preferably made so that it can be mobile in rotation and translation along its main axis. His shapes will therefore most often be substantially cylindrical.

The screwing tool (2) is secured with the shaft (33) by current means and in particular by a thread (34) as illustrated in FIG. 1. A blocking by key will be commonly used to allow rotation reverse of the screwing tool (2) - coupler (27) connection.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the shaft (33) is movable in translation according to the axis of the coupler (27) of the guide means (19). These means guide (19) may be constituted by a hollow cylinder (19) whose body is constituted by an outer envelope (35). In this way, the hollow cylinder (19) allows mobility of the shaft (33) in translation along the axis of the coupler (27) and also in rotation.

The hollow cylinder (19) will be of current design and positioned as illustrated in Figure 1. The envelope (35) of the hollow cylinder (19) will preferably be shaped cylindrical hollow and could be made up of different materials such as standard steel. The envelope external (35) allows the fixing of the hollow cylinder (19) on the structure (40) of the machine (1).

In a preferred embodiment, the placement means (2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19, 26, 33) also include rotation means (9, 26) for the tree (33). The object of these rotation means (9, 26) is to drive the shaft (33) - tool in clean rotation screw (2) so as to set up the threaded part of the coupler (27) on the machine (1).

According to one embodiment, the means of rotation (9, 26) of the shaft (33) are constituted by a motor (9) driving in rotation a transmission shaft (26). The transmission shaft (26) is linked in rotation with the tree (33) so as to drive it.

The motor (9) will be of current design and could in particular be a hydraulic motor. His power and its rotation speed will be chosen so as to adapt to a good screwing on the screwing tool (2) of the part threaded (29) of the coupler (27).

The drive shaft (26) may have different shapes but will preferably be lengthened and cylindrical. We can use any common means to make the rotation connection of the motor (9) on the shaft of transmission (26). We can in particular place one or several keys at the end of the drive shaft (26).

To secure the rotation shaft transmission (26) and the shaft (33), we can also use common means such as keys. However, these means must retain the possibility to the shaft (33) to be mobile over a certain stroke by relative to the drive shaft (26). A particular mode for mounting the drive shaft (26) between the shaft (33) and the motor (9) is illustrated in FIG. 1. According to this possibility, the shaft (33) has a central bore (41) in which the drive shaft (26) is susceptible mobility in translation with respect to the shaft (33).

In the particular embodiment where the means of placing (2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19, 26 and 33) of the coupler (27) comprises a motor (9), a shaft of transmission (26), a shaft (33) and a screwing tool (2), the fitting of the coupler (27) can be carried out by the automatic screwing of the threaded part (29) of the coupler (27) on the threaded part of the screwing tool (2) by the rotation of the shaft assembly (33) - screwing tool (2) by means of the motor (9) and the drive shaft (26).

To control the rotation of the assembly shaft (33) - screwing tool (2), the invention, in a mode particular embodiment, includes detection means (15, 16) of the presence of the shaft (33) in the advanced position or moved back.

The detection means (15, 16) could be current design and in particular be constituted by capacitive type position sensors. We will be able to common use two position sensors (15, 16) placed at two different locations from the end upper (36) of the shaft (33).

As shown in Figure 1, the position (16) is placed opposite the upper end (36) of the shaft (33) when the latter is in position back to school. This position of the shaft (33) corresponds to the state of rest, that is to say when the tree (33) has not moved relative to the hollow cylinder (19).

The second capacitive sensor (15) is placed a little further upstream of the machine (1) as illustrated in the figure 1. The position sensor (15) is positioned preferably so as to be vis-à-vis the upper end (36) of the shaft (33) when the latter is in advanced position. The advanced position corresponds to the case where the shaft (33) is translated relative to the hollow cylinder (19).

The means for detecting (15, 16) the presence of the tree (33) therefore make it possible to determine whether the tree (33) is moved from its rest position which is the retracted position where it is tucked into the hollow cylinder (19).

In an additional embodiment, the invention comprises reaction means (3) of the translation of the shaft (33). These means could for example be constituted by a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder (3) mounted at the end of the drive shaft (26) and applying at the upper end (36) of the shaft (33).

The reaction means (3) make it possible to obtain a spring effect for the translational movement of the tree (33).

The different means of implementation (2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19, 26, 33) will preferably be chosen by shape and dimension so as to constitute a whole unitary and easily mounted. Each item will nevertheless sized to support the efforts generated during the installation of the coupler (27) on the screwing tool (2).

The crimping machine (1) comprises also a spinning tool (37) as illustrated in figure 1. The spinning tool (37) will most often include a die (7) and a die holder crown (8) ensuring the maintenance of the sector (7) and the possibility of adapting several diameters or types of die (7) on the machine (1).

The sector (7) will be of current design and its diameter will be chosen to suit the diameter outside of the coupler (27) to be crimped. The threaded part (29) of the coupler (27) can be introduced into the die (7) to the neck (31) of the coupler (27).

The machine (1) according to the invention comprises also means (13) for translating the spinning tool (37) along the axis of the coupler (27). In the particular mode shown in FIG. 1, the means (13) of translation consist of at least one spinning cylinder (13) integral with the spinning tool (37). We can use one or more spinning cylinders (13), for example hydraulic, whose axes are parallel and have the same direction as the axis of the coupler.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, the die (7) is mounted on the machine (1) via a die holder crown (8). This crown may be cylindrical in shape and will be adapted to mounting the die (7). This assembly can be carried out by any common means such as screw-nut systems.

In a preferred embodiment, the die holder crown (8) is integrally mounted with the translation means (13) of the spinning tool (37). Phone as illustrated in Figure 1, the die holder crown (8) is driven by three spinning cylinders (13) exerting a thrust distributed in three points of the circumference of the die holder crown so as to translate the following the axis of the coupler.

In order to ensure that the translation of the means translation (13) takes place along the axis of the coupler (27), guides (22) may be used parallel to the axis of the coupler (27) and guiding the translation of the crown die holder (8) when spinning.

In another particular embodiment of the invention, the machine (1) comprises means for counter-thrust (4, 5, 6) to control automatically the elongation of the material of the concrete reinforcing rod (28) induced by the spinning effort, depending on the imperfections and dimensional and geometric deviations of the coupler (27). In this way, we guarantee the consistency of changes in the mechanical characteristics undergone by the coupler (27) during spinning.

According to a possibility of realization, the backstop means (4, 5, 6) consist of two radial translation cylinders (5), at least one push cylinder (6) and two half shells (4).

The half shells (4) make it possible to constitute a support by their upper face (38) on the base of the coupler (27). The shape and dimensions of the half shells (4) may be variable but will preferably be adapted to the dimensions of the coupler (27) and the concrete ring (28).

We can especially make half shells (4) having a parallelepiped shape, one of the faces has a circularly curved profile as illustrated in figure 6.

The half shells (4) can be in various materials and in particular in standard steel treated. The curved part of each half shell will be preferably made so as to adapt to the diameter of the concrete ring (28) with a slight tightening.

According to a preferred embodiment of the backstop means (4, 5, 6), the half shells can be driven by a translation by means of two cylinders radial translation (5), most often hydraulic. The Figure 2 shows schematically two radial translation cylinders (5) the piston of which is integral with a half-shell (4) so to command them in translation in a direction perpendicular to that of the axis of the coupler (27). Of this way it is possible to adjust the radial position of each of the half shells (4).

In order to support the upper face (38) half shells (4) and the base of the coupler (27), the machine (1) preferably comprises at least one cylinder pusher ensuring translation along the axis of the coupler (27) half shells (4). We could for example use two hydraulic push cylinders (6) oriented along the axis of the coupler (27), as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Following the example in Figure 1, the half shells (4) and the radial translation cylinders (5) are mounted on a crown (39). This crown can be present in various shapes and sizes and will preferably substantially of shapes and dimensions equivalent to those of the die holder crown (8). According to this embodiment, the crown (39) constitutes the base for holding the half shells (4) and the jacks radial translation (5) and allows, by support of the jacks pushers (6) on the surface of this ring (39) the translation of the half shells (4) along the axis of the coupler (27).

The push cylinder (s) (6) will be preferably fitted with a valve allowing keep the pushing force they exert at a value constant. According to this configuration, the regulation of the pushing force will be carried out by a displacement in advance or retraction of the piston of the push cylinders (6). Of this way, by varying the position of the jack (s) pushers (6), we control the counterpush force applied to the coupler (27) and therefore the elongation of the metal of the coupler (27).

The machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) on a concrete ring (28) according to the invention comprises also automatic means of tensile testing.

Automatic means of tensile testing allow, when the crimping operation is completed, to check the mechanical tensile strength of the connection coupler (27) on concrete rod (28).

Automatic means of tensile testing will generally be constituted by blocking means (11) concrete reinforcing bar (28) and biasing means (14) in traction of the coupler (27). These latter means allow test the mechanical tensile strength up to a preset charge level or until the rupture of the connection formed between the coupler (27) and the concrete reinforcing bar (28) by crimping.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the blocking means (11) of the concrete rod (28) consist of a vice (11) as illustrated in the figure 3.

Figure 1 shows the realization of a vice (11) placed at the end of the machine (1) opposite the means of fitting (2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19, 26, 33) of the coupler (27). The vice (11) will be of current design and its opening and its closure will preferably be ordered by a control cylinder (12).

In a particular embodiment, the vice (12) comprises jaws (21) with inclined reach allowing the complete blocking of the concrete reinforcing bar (28) during the test of traction. Figure 1 shows jaws (21) based on an inclined bearing secured to the structure (40) of the machine (1). The jaws (21) will be of common design and preferably have faces capable of press on the outside diameter of the concrete bars (28).

The vice (11) thus described allows blocking complete with the concrete reinforcing bar (28) thanks to its jaws (21). This blocking can be controlled automatically using the control cylinder (12).

In order to perform the tensile test, we associate the locking means (11) biasing means (14) in traction of the coupler (27). According to a particular mode, we realize the biasing means (14) with a part intermediate (18). As Figure 1 illustrates, the coin intermediate (18) is placed between the outer casing (35) of the hollow cylinder (19) and the shaft (33). The intermediate piece (18), according to this possibility, constitutes a guide for the displacement of the shaft (33) in order to provide the means for shaft guide (33). The intermediate piece (18) is fixed on the hollow piston of the jack (19) which can translate in the outer casing (35).

According to this configuration, the hollow cylinder (19) is formed of an outer casing (35), of a part intermediate (18) integral with its piston and the shaft (33). The biasing means (14) are then produced by the translation of the intermediate piece (18) in the outer casing (35) of the hollow cylinder (19). This translation will be done by blocking the mobility of the tree (33) with respect to the intermediate piece (18) and in particular by means of a shoulder (48) formed on the shaft (33) intended to come into abutment on a dish made on the intermediate piece (18).

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the motor (9) and the drive shaft (26) are held by means of a support integral with the part intermediate (18). That way when trying to traction, it is the assembly constituted by the screwing tool (2), the shaft (33), the intermediate piece (18), the shaft of transmission (26) and the motor (9) which is driven by a translation along the axis of the coupler.

According to one embodiment of the invention, at less a return cylinder (20) whose body is integral with the structure (40) allows the movement of the part to be damped (18) when the tensile test causes the breaking of the circle concrete (28) or the coupler (27) - concrete rod connection (28). Figure 1 shows schematically the realization of a cylinder central reminder (20) whose piston is likely to shock absorbing support on the intermediate piece (18).

The return cylinder (20) also has the function to bring back the intermediate piece (18) and the shaft (33) in retracted position in the outer casing (35) of the hollow cylinder (19) at the end of the tensile test. The return cylinder (20) will be of current design. Its dimensions and characteristics will be adapted to the effort that it is likely to provide to cushion the displacement of the piece (18) and to fit the piece (18) into the envelope external (35).

The different components of the machine (1) can be mounted and maintained by a structure (40) forming the machine frame (1).

According to an embodiment illustrated in the figure 1, the structure (40) comprises fixed rings (49, 50, 51) mounted integrally by means of bars (52).

Fixed crowns allow in particular to support the spinning cylinders (13), the outer casing (35), the means of positioning (2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19, 26, 33) and the locking means (11) of the concrete rod (28). They will have preferably shapes and dimensions similar to those of the die holder crown (8).

Bars (52) assemble the crowns fixed (49, 50, 51) and also make it possible to adapt a casing around the machine.

Bars (52) and crowns (49, 50, 51) may for example be made of a type steel current.

Automatic crimping means and automatic tensile testing means are controlled from centralized by a programmable controller. This one can manage the progress of the crimping and testing cycle traction and adaptation according to the diameter of the coupler parameters of the crimping and testing cycle.

The programmable controller allows to direct the sequential sequence of all crimping operations and tensile testing. This automaton will be designed current and programmable type.

• la vitesse de rotation du moteur (9),
• la vitesse de translation des moyens de translation (13) de l'outil de filage (37),
• l'effort de contrepoussée appliqué par les moyens de contrepoussée (4, 5, 6) sur la base du coupleur (27),
• le niveau de charge auquel sera effectué l'essai de traction, c'est-à-dire la charge maximale engendrée par les moyens de sollicitation (14).

The automaton will also make it possible to adjust the cycle parameters, in particular as a function of the diameter of the coupler (27). The cycle parameters include:

• the engine speed (9),
• the translation speed of the translation means (13) of the spinning tool (37),
• the back-up force applied by the back-up means (4, 5, 6) on the base of the coupler (27),
• the level of load at which the tensile test will be carried out, that is to say the maximum load generated by the biasing means (14).

These different parameters can be adjusted manually by the operator. Nevertheless, they will preferably automatically adapted according to the diameter of the die (7).

The cycle parameters described above will be most often preset for an outside diameter of the round to concrete. The diameter of the die (7) being adapted to the outside diameter of the coupler (27), the operator's choice a system (7) automatically determines which is the outside diameter of the concrete block to be crimped and to adjust the parameters of the crimping and testing cycle in order to automatically adapt the parameters of the crimping and testing, the spinning tool (37) can be realized in a particular way. Following the example in the figure 4, the spinning tool (37) further comprises a die (7) and a die holder ring (8), a device for locating the diameter of the die (7) connected to the programmable controller.

The device for locating the diameter of the according to the invention, the sector (7) will include position (17) fixed on the die holder crown (8) as as illustrated in figure 4. The position sensors (17) may be of current design and will in particular be inductive sensors. These position sensors (17) deliver binary information according to the presence or absence of a landmark.

These markers are distributed in a predetermined manner but different on the surface of each die (7). Their position is chosen so that they can be placed opposite certain position sensors (17).

The tracking device according to the invention also includes a positioning device (44) allowing to uniquely mount the die (7) on the die holder crown (8). The positioning device (44) will for example consist of a position pin (45) able to cooperate with a cavity formed on the surface of the die (7), and by mounting screws (46) allowing the attachment of the die (7) on the die holder crown (8). The presence of a position pin (45) only authorizes only possibility of mounting the die (7) on the die holder crown (8). In this way, to a sector particular corresponds to a particular operating state position sensors (17).

So a combination of state detection position sensors (17) corresponds to a die (7) and therefore to a diameter of the coupler (27). The composed message binary information from position sensors (17) can be transmitted to the PLC in order to adapt accordingly the parameters of the crimping cycle and of tests.

The programmable controller also allows to record during the tensile test the evolution of the tensile force and the displacement of the means of solicitation (14). It is therefore possible to save the data from each tensile test.

The programmable controller can also manage the periodic or random testing destructive. It also allows to know the value of the tensile force corresponding to the breaking of the circle at concrete (28) or the coupler link (27) on a concrete rod (28).

The method of crimping a coupler (27) on a concrete ring (28) according to the invention allows automation of the crimping of couplers (27) on concrete reinforcing bars (28) while ensuring the quality of connections.

This crimping process makes it possible to limit human intervention and includes in particular the stages following.

We first put in place on the machine (1) the die (7) corresponding to the diameter of the coupler (27) at crimp.

We then prepare the coupler (27) and the round concrete (28) by covering the end of the concrete ring (28) with the coupler (27) by introducing it into the part hollow cylindrical (30) of the coupler (27).

The assembly thus formed can be introduced into the machine (1) until the part is brought into contact threaded (29) of the coupler (27) with the screwing tool (2).

We then exert an additional push on the coupler (27) - concrete rod (28) assembly so as to trigger the automatic cycle from crimping to the tensile test.

Once the cycle is completed, we remove the set coupler (27) - concrete rod (28) of the machine (1). In the in the case of a destructive or unfavorable test, we withdraw manually the coupler (27) - concrete rod (28) assembly dissociated.

The crimping machine (1) according to the invention allows, by automatic operation, to obtain connections by crimping couplers (27) on concrete rod (28) completely safe.

According to the method according to the invention, once that the concrete ring (28) on which the coupler is fitted (27) is introduced into the machine (1), the threaded part (29) of the coupler (27) comes into abutment against the tool screwing (2).

The operator then exerts a push additional on the concrete ring (28) which generates a elastic recoil of the shaft (33) relative to the chamber intermediate (18). This translation of the tree (33) can be retained by means of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder (3) preferably placed between the upper end (36) of the shaft (33) and the end of the shaft of transmission (26).

The position sensor (16) moves to the position rest as soon as the upper end (36) of the shaft (33) has translated. When the upper end (36) reaches position sensor (15), it is activated and triggers the rotation of the motor (9).

The motor (9) drives through the shaft of transmission (26) the shaft (33) and the screwing tool (2). The threaded part (29) of the coupler (27) begins to be screwed on the screwing tool (2).

When the coupler has been screwed in from the motor release (9), travel cylinders radial (5) ensure the closure of the half shells (4) on the circumference of the concrete ring (28). The half shells (4) are then brought into abutment on the base of the coupler (27) by pushing push cylinders (6).

Bringing the half shells (4) into contact with the base of coupler (27) ensures perfect fitting of the round to concrete (28) at the bottom of the hollow cylindrical part (30) of the coupler (27), the concrete ring (28) being driven by the slightly tight half-shells (4).

The coupler (27) then arrives in a position where its neck (31) is fully engaged in the die (7). In end of screwing of the threaded part (29), the shaft (33) is fully returned to a remote position which reactivates the position sensor (16). Once in abutment at the shoulder (48), the shaft (33) causes an increase in the engine torque (9) whose rotation is then interrupted for example by means of an incorporated pressure switch.

Any displacement of the shaft (33) with respect to the intermediate piece (18) is then blocked.

In order to maintain the concrete ring (28), the vice (11) is then controlled by the control cylinder (12). The control cylinder (12) causes the translation of the jaws (21) which come to bear on the diameter of the concrete ring (28).

The spinning operation then begins. For this move, the displacement of the die (7) is operated by translation of the spinning cylinders (13) which cause a displacement of the die (7) and of the die holder crown (8) along the axis of the coupler (27). Guides (37) allow in a particular embodiment to ensure the correct orientation of the movement of the die (7).

During spinning, the push cylinders (6) exert a force on the base of the coupler (27) which opposes to the spinning force exerted by the die (7). For keep the backstop effort constant, the cylinders pushers (6) are capable of translating so as to move back or forward the half shells (4).

The counterpush means (4, 5, 6) have the advantage of controlling the elongation of the metal of the coupler (27) and to guarantee the consistency of changes to mechanical characteristics of the steel making up the coupler (27). So if the diameter of the concrete ring (28) is greater than its theoretical value, the effort of the sector (7) increases, which produces an immediate recoil of the shells (4) by means of the push cylinders (6). The elongation of the metal of the coupler (27) will then be more important. If however diameter of the concrete reinforcing rod (28) is less than its value theoretical, the effort produced by the sector (7) is less important and does not produce a recoil of the half shells. The elongation of the metal making up the coupler is then less important.

At the end of spinning, the die (7) comes to push on the half shells (4) and causes a retreat of the cylinders thrust (6). Once the push cylinders (6) stop, the force exerted by the spinning cylinders (13) increases by fast way. The corresponding pressure in the cylinders of wiring (13) is such that it triggers the zeroing of spinning cylinders (13).

The spinning cylinders (13) then return to initial position. The half shells (4) are then or at the same time cleared from the circumference of the circle (28) by control of the radial translation cylinders (5).

The biasing means (14) are then activated to perform the tensile test. The room intermediate (18) gradually translates relative to the outer casing (35) by driving the shaft (33) by its shoulder (48). This movement continues to a level preset load corresponding to a control pressure displacement of the intermediate piece (18) in the outer casing (35).

In one embodiment, the effort data traction and displacement of the intermediate piece (18) are stored in order to ensure traceability of each coupler (27) - concrete reinforcing rod (28) connection.

If the programmable controller controls carrying out a destructive test, the latter is triggered and continued until the bar broke.

Following a destructive test, the cycle automatic managed by the automaton resumes by deactivation vice (11). This deactivation is carried out by command of the control cylinder (12). Unscrewing the coupler (27) can then be done manually, all organs of the machine (1) having been reset beforehand so automatic.

Following a non-destructive tensile test, the machine (1) unscrews the coupler (27).

Resetting the control pressure of the biasing means (14) triggers the rotation of the motor (9) in the opposite direction to that of screwing. In driving through the drive shaft (26) the shaft (33), the motor (9) makes it possible to unscrew the coupler (27). After unscrewing, the control cylinder (12) of the vice (11) is decompressed so as to release the concrete ring (28) of the grip of the jaws (21). The round to concrete (28) on which the coupler (27) has been crimped and whose link has been checked can then be extracted from the machine (1) manually by the operator.

If the non-destructive test is unfavorable, i.e. that the tensile force does not reach its value preprogrammed, the biasing means (14) continue their action until total separation of the coupler (27) and round (28). The coupler (27) is then unusable.

In the particular embodiment of the invention where a return cylinder (20) is used, it is activated prior to any manual operation and allows to bring the intermediate piece (18) and the shaft into abutment (33).

All the components of the machine (1) for crimping couplers (27) on concrete rod (28) are then brought back to the initial state and it is possible to carry out a new crimping and testing cycle traction.

Claims (14)

1. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), said coupler (27) including a male or female threaded portion (29) at its one end and a hollow cylindrical portion (30) into which is inserted the end of the concrete bar (28), for making the coupler (27) integral with the concrete bar (28), the crimping of the couplers (27) onto the concrete bars (28) allowing carrying out the connection between two concrete bars (28) placed end to end, mantely for use in the field of the construction, the building industry and the public engineering works, said machine (1) having :

   a screwing tool (2) for fixing the coupler (27) by its threaded portion (29),

   a drawing tool (37).

   means for crimping the coupler onto the concrete bar, including means (13) for translating the drawing tool (37) alongside the axis of the coupler (27),

   tensile-strength test means for testing the connection of the couplers to the concrete bars,

   characterised in that :

   the crimping and tensile-strength test means are automatically operated by means of a programmable automatic unit that ensures the automated cycle of crimping and tensile-strength tests of the coupler (27) on the concrete bar (28),

   the manual thrust exerted by the operator on the concrete bar (28) acts on detecting means (15 and 16) that cause the automated cycle of crimping and tensile-strength tests of the coupler (27) on the concrete bar (28) to start,

   the crimping means include counter-thrust means (4, 5, 6) for the coupler (27), allowing to automatically control the elongation of the material of the coupler (27) induced by the drawing force, according to the imperfections and the size and geometrical differences of the concrete bar (28),

   in order to automatise the carrying out of the crimping and the tensile-strength tests of the coupler (27) on the concrete bar (28) and to guarantee the constancy of the changes in mechanical characteristics undergone by the coupler (27) during the drawing, and to guarantee the quality of each connection of the coupler (27) on the concrete bar (28).
2. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 1, characterised in that the automatic crimping means include means (2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19, 26, 33) for placing the coupler that allow to place the coupler (27) on the screwing tool (2).
3. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 1, characterised in that the automatic tensile-strength test means are comprised of:

   means for locking (11) the concrete bar (28),

   means for applying a tensile stress (14) on the coupler (27),

   for testing the mechanical tensile strength up to a predetermined level of stress or up to the breaking of the assembly formed by crimping of the coupler (27) and the concrete bar (28).
4. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 2, characterised in that the means (2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19, 26, 33) for placing the coupler (27) are comprised of :

   a shaft (33) integral with the screwing tool (2),

   means (19) for guiding the shaft (33) alongside the axis of the coupler (27),

   means (9, 26) for rotating the shaft (33),

   means (15, 16) for detecting the presence of the shaft (33) in a forward and a backward position,

   for automatically placing the coupler (27) on the screwing tool (2) through screwing their respective threaded portions as soon as the operator exerts a thrust onto the concrete bar (28).
5. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 4, characterised in that

   the means (19) for guiding the shaft (33) alongside the axis of the coupler (27) are formed by a hollow jack (19) with an outer casing (35) in the centre of which is placed the shaft (33), so as to guide it during its movements in translation and in rotation alongside the axis of the coupler,

   the means (9, 26) for rotating the shaft (33) are formed by a motor (9) that drives in rotation a transmission shaft (26), said transmission shaft (26) being rotationally integral with the shaft (33),

   the shaft (33) is able to translate with respect to the transmission shaft (26), alongside their axis,

   the means (15, 16) for detecting the presence of the shaft in forward and backward positions are formed by two capacitive position detectors (15, 16) detecting the presence of the upper end (36) of the shaft (33) when it is located in front of the detector (15, 16).
6. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 1, characterised in that the counter-thrust means (4, 5, 6) of the coupler (27) are comprised of:

   two radial-translation jacks (5), each controlling the movement of a half shell (4) capable of resting, with its upper surface (38), on the base of the coupler (27),

   at least one pushing jack (6) ensuring the translation alongside the axis of the coupler (27) of the half shells (4), said pushing jack (6) being provided with a valve that allows, during the drawing, to automatically change the position of the pushing jack (6), so as to control the counter-thrust force and the elongation of the metal of the coupler (27).
7. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 3, characterised in that the means for locking (11) the concrete bar (28) are comprised of a vice (11) the opening and closing of which are controlled by a control jack (12) that includes at least two jaws (21) with an inclined clamping surface allowing to completely lock the concrete bar (28) during the tensile-strength test.
8. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to any of claims 3 or 5, characterised in that an intermediate part (18) is placed between the outer casing (35) of the hollow jack (19) and the shaft (33) and forms :

   a guide for the movement of the shaft (33), in order to constitute the guiding means (19) of the shaft (33),

   a piston that can translate in the outer casing (35), in order to constitute the means for applying a tensile stress (14) on the coupler (27) when the shaft (33) is in abutment in translation in the intermediate part (18).
9. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 1, characterised in that the means (13) for translating the drawing tool (37) are formed by at least one drawing jack (13) integral with the drawing tool (37) the axis of which is in the same direction as the axis of the coupler (27).
10. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 1, characterised in that the automatic crimping means and the automatic tensile-strength test means are controlled in a centralised way by programmable automatic device controlling :

    the evolution of the crimping and tensile-strength test cycle,

    the adapting, according to the diameter of the concrete bar, of the parameters of the crimping and tensile-strength test cycle.
11. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 10, characterised in that the drawing tool (37) includes :

    a drawing plate (7),

    a drawing-plate holding crown (8) integral with the means (13) for translating the drawing tool (37) on which the drawing plate (7) is mounted through jointing.

    a device for detecting the diameter of the drawing plate (7) connected to the programmable automatic device and comprised of position detectors (17) fixed to the drawing-plate holding crown (8), a device (44) for positioning the drawing plate (7) in a unique way on the drawing-plate holding crown (8) and marks distributed in a predetermined, but different way over the surface of each drawing plate (7), said marks being capable of being placed in front of certain position detectors (17),

    so that each drawing plate (7) corresponds to a combination of states of detection of the position detectors (17), in order to identify, through the diameter of the drawing plate (7), the diameter of the coupler (27) to be crimped on the concrete bar (28), in order to automatically adapt the parameters of the crimping and test cycle.
12. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 10, characterised in that the programmable automatic device controls at random or periodically a tensile-strength test until breaking.
13. Machine (1) for crimping a coupler (27) onto a concrete bar (28), according to claim 8, characterised in that it includes at least one jack (20) for restoring the intermediate part (18) when the tensile-strength test is completed.
14. Process for crimping and automatically testing a coupler (27) on a concrete bar (28), said coupler (27) including a male or female threaded portion (29) at its one end and a hollow cylindrical portion (30) into which is inserted the end of the concrete bar (28), for making the coupler (27) integral with the concrete bar (28), in order to take part in the carrying out of the connection between two coaxial concrete bars (28), namely for use in the field of the construction, the building industry and the public engineering works, implementing the crimping machine (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that :

    the coupler (27) is fixed by its threaded portion (29) onto the screwing tool (2),

    the drawing tool (37) is axially translated on the coupler (27), distorting its hollow cylindrical portion (30) so that it penetrates between the ribs of the concrete bar (28), thus crimping said coupler (27) on said concrete bar (28),

    upon crimping the coupler (27) onto the concrete bar (28), a tensile-strength test is carried out by applying a tensile force between said coupler and said concrete bar,

    the automated crimping and tensile-strength test cycle is started when a manual thrust is exerted onto the concrete bar,

    during the crimping operation, the elongation of the material of the coupler (27) is controlled by exerting a counter-thrust that opposes the crimping force, allowing automatising the carrying out of the crimping of couplers (27) on a concrete bar (28), while guaranteeing the quality of each connection.

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