Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21D39/00—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders
  • B21D39/02—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders of sheet metal by folding, e.g. connecting edges of a sheet to form a cylinder
  • B21D39/025—Hand tools
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21D19/00—Flanging or other edge treatment, e.g. of tubes
  • B21D19/08—Flanging or other edge treatment, e.g. of tubes by single or successive action of pressing tools, e.g. vice jaws

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to improvements made in the field of crimping.
• crimping operations on relatively large parts are carried out using presses which bend the sheet over the entire length of the part, or even over the entire periphery of the part in a single operation. .
• This is how quick and clean crimps are made.
• openings doors, covers
• Such a press crimping process is no longer possible in the workshop, for example to carry out a repair on a crimped assembly.
• a crimping tool comprising: a pusher head suitable for being brought into contact with a flap of a sheet metal and having, in plan, a convex front contour and a guide base suitable for being applied under said sheet metal, said pusher head and said guide base being spaced from each other and defining therebetween a groove delimited by substantially parallel opposite faces of the pusher head and the base, this groove having a thickness corresponding substantially to the thickness of the parts to be crimped.
• This known tool is, by the geometry of its forms, unsuitable for the work for which it is intended.
• the pusher head has a front edge strictly perpendicular to the flat face, defining above the groove or "receptacle” used for crimping, forming a sharp angle with the latter.
• this sharp angle marks the sheet and it is not possible to obtain a good quality crimp.
• the bottom of the crimping groove extends in a substantially rectilinear manner, substantially parallel to the front edges of the pusher head or "upper projection” and of the guide base or “lower projection”, and the bottom of this groove opens at a sharp angle to the lateral faces of the tool.
• 6,609,406 also describes a crimping tool of a type similar to the previous one, but which is however arranged in a specific shape to provide crimping of the edge of the sheet by continuous and unidirectional movement of this tool along the edge of the sheet which serves as a guide.
• a crimping tool of a type similar to the previous one, but which is however arranged in a specific shape to provide crimping of the edge of the sheet by continuous and unidirectional movement of this tool along the edge of the sheet which serves as a guide.
• Such a tool is difficult to use along a curved edge (for example a wheel arch).
• it is necessary to start bending with the hammer one end of the flap so that the tool can be engaged and then pushed along the edge of the sheet.
• This hammer bending primer is a heavy constraint.
• the object of the invention is therefore to propose improved means capable of enabling crimping to be carried out on demand, for example in the workshop, in a rapid and economical manner, and above all with a quality of work markedly improved compared to what allow currently known technical solutions, the field of application more particularly, although not exclusively, aimed at being that of the automobile, and in particular the repair of openings (doors, hoods) of motor vehicles.
• the invention provides a crimping tool which is characterized in that the front face of the pusher head is connected convexly to the above flat face delimiting the groove and in that the bottom of the groove extends along a convex contour, in particular substantially parallel to the front face of the pusher head.
• the folding of the flap takes place gradually and avoids undesirable marking of the sheet, at the same time as the convex shape given to the front face of the push head eliminates any risk of marking, such as scratches, of the sheet.
• the fact that the bottom of the groove extends along a convex contour, in particular substantially parallel to the front face of the pusher head leads to the fact that the groove has a sufficient depth over its entire extent and the crimping can be carried out correctly even if the tool is inclined relative to the edge of the flap. This results in greater ease of work for the worker who is not required to keep the tool strictly perpendicular to the edge of the sheet under penalty of seeing the good quality of his work destroyed.
• the tool can engage the edge to be folded at any location of said edge, without it necessarily being an end.
• This is a remarkable advantage because it results in considerable ease of crimping an outer sheet onto an inner box: we can start by folding the flap of the outer sheet into a central location on each of its edges, which has the effect of wedging the box in the sheet; one can then, without constraint, carry out the complete crimping of each of its edges.
• the front face of the pusher head extends along a curved convex contour, in particular along a semi-circular or semi-elliptical convex contour.
• the pusher head and the guide base are formed in the form of a single piece, with a groove of determined thickness, such an arrangement being able to find application when the sheets to be crimped always have the same thickness.
• the one-piece part is supported by a fork support provided with a mounting rod for mounting in a tool holder.
• the pusher head and the guide base are respectively constituted in the form of two parts having guide means and joined to each other by their own adjustable assembly means. to allow adjustment of the thickness of the groove.
• the pusher head and the guide base are made of a rigid plastic material, in particular of polyamide resin, the material in front of, preferably, have features that facilitate sliding on the sheet.
• the invention provides a crimping tool comprising a tool holder supporting a crimping tool as described above, said tool holder being arranged in such a way that said crimping tool is driven by reciprocating back and forth in the axial direction of the pusher head.
• the crimping tool comprises a support rod extending in said axial direction and adapted to be detachably held in a retaining member, such as a mandrel or the like, of the tool holder.
• the tool holder incorporates a striker device, in particular of the pneumatic type, and the crimping tool is driven by it; in this case, a pneumatic striker commonly available commercially can be used.
• a pneumatic striker commonly available commercially can be used.
• FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a crimping tool according to the invention
• FIG. 2A to 2C illustrate three phases of a crimping operation performed with the tool of Figure 1 on a single sheet
• - Figures 3A to 3C illustrate three phases of a crimping operation performed with the tool of Figure 1 on a sheet associated with a lining
• - Figures 4 to 6 illustrate a top view respectively three possible conformations of the crimping tool of Figure 1
• - Figure 7 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a crimping tool according to the invention
• - Figure 8 schematically illustrates a crimping device arranged in accordance with one invention with a crimping tool according to one invention
• - Figure 9 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the tool
• the crimping tool 1 comprises: a pusher head 2 which is suitable for being brought into contact with a flap 3 of a sheet 4 and which has, in plan, a convex front contour 5 which will be discussed below.
• a guide base 6 suitable for being applied under said sheet 4, said pusher head 2 and said guide base 6 being spaced from one another and defining between them a groove 7 delimited by faces 8, 9 in screw - opposite and substantially parallel respectively belonging to the pusher head 2 and the guide base 9, this groove 7 having a thickness e corresponding substantially to the total thickness of the parts to be crimped, and the bottom 10 of the groove extending along a convex contour which, in particular, is substantially parallel to the convex front contour 5 of the pusher head 2; the front face 5 of the pusher head 2 connecting convexly, preferably curved convex, in particular in an arc of a circle, at 11 to the aforesaid flat face 8 delimiting the groove 7.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the crimping tool 1 according to which the pusher head 2 and the guide base 6 are produced in the form of a single piece 12.
• This piece can be made of any rigid, metallic material (for example steel) or of preferably hard plastic such as a polyamide resin (for example "Nylon”) lighter and less expensive and which especially slides easily on the sheet without marking thereof.
• the part 12 can, as shown in FIG. 1, be provided with a tapped bore 13 to receive, for example by self-locking screwing, a rod 14 with threaded end intended for mounting on an apparatus as will be explained further.
• Figure 2 are illustrated three phases of a crimping operation of a single sheet 4.
• FIG. 3 is illustrated in the same way a crimping operation of a sheet 4 on a lining 17, the flap 3 then being folded as explained above in enclosing the edge of the lining 17.
• the thickness e of the groove 11 must then correspond as precisely as possible to the sum of the respective thicknesses of the sheet 4, of the lining 17 and of the flap 3.
• FIGS. 4 to 6 are illustrated, by way of example, various for mes can be given to the crimping tool 1 according to the invention.
• the convex front contour 5 of the pusher head 2 comprises a central portion 18 which is substantially rectilinear, connecting, on either side, to curved end portions 19, for example in a quarter of a circle.
• Figures 5 and 6 illustrate two preferred embodiments with the convex contour 5 continuously curved, of semi-elliptical shape in FIG. 5 and of semi-circular shape in FIG. 6.
• FIG. 7 is illustrated another possible embodiment of the crimping tool 1 in which the he thickness of the groove 7 is made variable within a range of predetermined values.
• the tool 1 is made up of two separate parts, on the one hand the pusher head 2 and on the other hand the guide base 6.
• the two parts 2 and 6 have, behind the faces 8 and 9 delimiting the groove 7, facing surfaces having respective complementary reliefs (such as projections or ribs or studs 20 and notches or shoulders 21) suitable for guiding the two parts 2 and 6 in a movement relative distance or transverse approximation, leading to an adjustment of the thickness e of the groove.
• respective complementary reliefs such as projections or ribs or studs 20 and notches or shoulders 21
• elastic means such as one or more springs 22, while one or more screws 23 allow the desired adjustment to be made.
• an apparatus which includes a clean tool holder 24 to support the crimping tool 1, the tool holder 24 being arranged so that the tool 1 is driven in an alternating back-and-forth movement substantially in the axial direction of the pusher head (double arrow 15 ).
• the tool holder 24 incorporates a striker device (not visible), preferably of the pneumatic type; the tool holder can then be a pneumatic striker of a type commonly available in auto body repair shops.
• the tool 1 is then mounted, by its rod 14 provided with the appropriate shoulder, in the support of the tool holder through the retaining spring 25 or other similar support member of the tool holder 24.
• the one-piece part 12 retains the conformation exposed above in relation to FIG. 1, being made here of synthetic material, preferably of polyamide resin (“Nylon ").
• the support can be metallic (for example steel).
• the attachment of the part 12 and the support 26 can be obtained by means of one (or more) assembly rod 27 (bolt, pin, rivet, ).
• the support 26 is equipped with a mounting rod 28, which may be in one piece (for example coming from molding), and which is intended for mounting in the tool holder 24.
• the mounting rod 28 is provided with a flange 30 defining the shoulder 29 capable of cooperating with the retaining spring 25 of the tool holder, for the alternative drive of the tool by the tool holder 24.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Straightening Metal Sheet-Like Bodies (AREA)
• Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
• Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

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• 2004
  • 2004-03-30 FR FR0403323A patent/FR2868345B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-03-25 EP EP05744636A patent/EP1755802B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2005-03-25 US US11/547,147 patent/US7493792B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-03-25 AT AT05744636T patent/ATE395993T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-03-25 ES ES05744636T patent/ES2307181T3/es active Active
  • 2005-03-25 DE DE602005007019T patent/DE602005007019D1/de active Active
  • 2005-03-25 WO PCT/FR2005/000732 patent/WO2005095015A1/fr active IP Right Grant

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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