EP2601061A1

EP2601061A1 - Device with a spherical element to be crimped, crimping method and crimping system

Info

Publication number: EP2601061A1
Application number: EP11755367.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas Boivin; Patrick Lejars
Original assignee: Bollhoff Otalu SA
Current assignee: Bollhoff Otalu SA
Priority date: 2010-08-05
Filing date: 2011-08-02
Publication date: 2013-06-12
Also published as: KR20130097743A; FR2963576A1; CN103201125A; US20130125360A1; JP2013540954A; JP5886286B2; MX2013001411A; WO2012017143A1; RU2013109404A; CA2807261A1; FR2963576B1; BR112013002872A2; RU2567492C2; DE202011110816U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for crimping a device with a spherical element (2) to be crimped, comprising a rod (1) mounted in a socket (5) and completed at one end by the spherical element (2), said system comprising an anvil (101) to bear on a bearing collar (8) of the socket (5), and traction means (102) comprising a system of jaws(103, 103a, 103b) designed to clamp the spherical element (2).

Description

Spherical crimp element device, crimping method and crimping system

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a spherical crimp element device comprising a rod terminated at a first end by a spherical element. The invention is also related to the crimping process and the associated crimping system.

State of the art

A spherical element device comprises a rod equipped at a first end of the spherical element which is, for example, in the form of a ball joint. A first example of a device with a spherical element is illustrated in FIG. 1 and comprises a rod 1 provided successively along the longitudinal axis A1 of the rod of a spherical element 2, of a support element 3, and of a cylinder 4. This spherical element device is intended to be crimped on a plate having a through hole, the end of the rod formed by the cylinder 4 is inserted into the hole of the plate until the element of support 3 comes into contact with the plate. The hole of the plate is of complementary dimensions to the cylinder 4 of the rod 1 so that the support element 3 abuts against the plate. Then, the cylinder 4 is deformed so as to form a bead whose dimensions are greater than the diameter of the opening hole of the plate, and thus crimp the spherical element device on the plate. This technique has the disadvantage of requiring access to two opposite sides of the plate to be crimped the device, a first side for the insertion of the device, and a second allowing the deformation of the rod of the device to crimp it. A second example of a device with a spherical element is illustrated in FIG. 2. This device with a spherical element differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the cylinder 4 of rod 1 is threaded. This threading makes it possible to fix the spherical element device with a nut after its insertion through a hole of the plate. This technique has the disadvantage of requiring several steps to the operator to fix the spherical element device, in addition to access to both sides of the plate.

In addition, screwing does not provide as many guarantees as crimping at the level of mechanical strength. For example, if the spherical member device is screwed to a bolt on a plate subjected to high vibration, this may result in unwanted loosening of the spherical member device, and thus disengagement of the spherical member device from the plate. Spherical element devices are used in multiple fields. They are present at the service jack mounting interfaces, when opening elements such as vehicle tail lifts, doors, chests, etc.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a spherical element device allowing a blind assembly, that is to say eliminating the need for accessibility on both sides of the plate where said spherical element device will be fixed. . This object is achieved by the appended claims and in particular in that the device comprises a sleeve in which the rod is inserted, said sleeve comprising successively along its longitudinal axis:

an assembly zone of the socket on the rod,

a chambering zone intended for the formation of a crimping bead, and

- A support flange, the spherical element of the rod projecting at the support flange.

The invention also relates to a method of crimping a device with a spherical element with a support having a hole. The method comprises the following steps:

inserting the device with a spherical element into the hole of the support, at its end opposite to the spherical element, until the support flange comes into contact with the support,

- Crimping the device by applying a holding force so as to press the support flange on the support, while applying traction on the spherical element so as to deform the sleeve at the chambering zone to form a bead

The invention also relates to a crimping system, a spherical crimp element device comprising a rod mounted in a socket and terminated at one end by the spherical element, said system comprises: an anvil intended to be supported on a support collar of the socket,

traction means comprising a jaw system configured to grip the spherical element. Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate two types of devices with separate spherical element according to the prior art.

Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of a spherical device device according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rod with a spherical element as used in the device of FIG. 3.

Figures 5 and 6 respectively illustrate another embodiment of the spherical device device and its associated rod.

Figure 7 illustrates a step of a method of crimping the spherical element device of Figure 3 on a support.

Figure 8 illustrates the spherical device in place on a support after crimping.

FIG. 9 illustrates a three-dimensional view of a crimping system of a crimping device in which a jaw of the traction means and a moving part of the anvil have been removed.

Figure 10 illustrates a three-dimensional view of the crimping system of Figure 9 at which the missing jaw was added.

Figure 11 illustrates a centric view of a jaw of the crimping system.

Figure 12 illustrates a three-dimensional view of the crimping system of Figure 10 at which the movable portion of the anvil has been added.

Fig. 13 illustrates a locking member mounted on the body of the anvil of Fig. 12.

FIG. 14 schematically illustrates two jaws of the traction means in the open position. FIG. 15 schematically illustrates two jaws of the traction means in the closed position.

Description of preferred embodiments

In FIGS. 3 to 6, the spherical crimp device comprises a rod 1 terminated by a spherical element 2. This rod 1 is mounted, preferably at a second end opposite the spherical element 2, on a spherical element 2. sleeve 5, a part of the body is deformable. Preferably, the bushing 5 forms a shank open at its two distal ends along its longitudinal axis A2, said longitudinal axis A2 then being collinear with the axis of the opening or non-forming hole forming the bushing 5. The shank 1 is inserted into the bushing 5. The bushing 5 comprises, successively along its longitudinal axis A2 (FIGS. 3 and 5), an assembly zone 6 of the bushing 5 on the rod 1, a holding zone 7, and a bearing flange 8. The collar support 8 protrudes, preferably, all around the outer periphery of the sleeve 5. The spherical element 2 of the rod 1 protrudes from the bushing 5 at the level of the bearing flange 8. In other words, the bushing 5 comprises at one of its ends the support flange 8, and the spherical element 2 protrudes from the collar 8 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A2 of the sleeve 5 so as to allow gripping of the element spherical

The chambering zone 7 is intended for the formation of a crimping bead, it is therefore deformable. In other words, the recessing zone 7 can be made of a more malleable material than that forming the assembly zone 6 and the support flange 8. According to a particular preferred case, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the bushing 5 is formed in a single material. In this case, the thickness of the material at the chambering zone 7, in a direction D1 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2 of the bushing 5, and according to the revolution of D1 about the longitudinal axis A2 of the bushing 5, may be less than the thickness of the material in the other zones of the bushing 5 (collar 8 and assembly zone 9) in the direction D1 and its revolution about the axis A2.

The rod 1 and the sleeve 5 are preferably made of a material selected from steel, stainless steel, aluminum or brass The sleeve 5 can be assembled to the rod at the assembly area 6 for example by welding, by shrinking, by stamping, or by pegging the sleeve 5.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the rod 1, illustrated in Figure 4, comprises a portion 9, preferably threaded forming a first thread. This threaded portion 9 is formed along the body of the rod 1 along its longitudinal axis A1, preferably at the second end of the rod 1 opposite to the spherical element 2. The assembly zone 6, at the Inside the sleeve 5 (Figure 3), then has a second complementary thread. The rod 1 is mounted by screwing on the sleeve 5 at the assembly zone 6. In other words, the first thread of the rod 1 cooperates with the second complementary thread of the sleeve 5 made at the assembly area 6. The assembly zone 6 can be stamped on the outer surface of the sleeve 5. This stamping allows a hardening permanently sealing the rod 1 to the sleeve 5 by promoting the melting of the first and second threads.

According to a variant, the rod 1 comprises a threaded portion as indicated above, and the assembly zone 9 inside the sleeve 5 is smooth. When assembling the rod 1 with the socket 5, the sleeve 5 undergoes a stamping on its outer surface at the assembly area so that the material of the bushing 5 flows into the thread of the threaded portion of the rod to lock the assembly. The method of manufacturing the spherical crimp member device is to separately manufacture the rod 1 and the sleeve 5, and then assemble. Preferably, before assembly, the sleeve 5 and the rod 1 are treated, in particular by an anti-corrosion surface treatment. The spherical crimp member device thus obtained is a ready-to-use product which exhibits good resistance to corrosion, since its two constituent components, namely the rod 1 and the sleeve 5, have been treated separately.

More generally, the assembly can be achieved by inserting the second end of the rod 1 opposite to the spherical element 2 by the end of the sleeve 5 comprising the collar 8, and then fixing them to each other at level of the assembly area 6 by screwing or any other means of assembly.

As in Figures 3 to 6, the rod 1 may comprise a bearing element 3 formed between the spherical element 2 and a portion 9 of the body of the rod 1 (threaded portion or not) intended to come opposite the zone This support element 3 advantageously allows, for a given rod 1 and a socket 5, to ensure that the assembly zone 6 is brought into line with the corresponding portion 9 of the rod 1 (FIG. and 5). Indeed, during the assembly of the rod 1 with the bushing 5, the support element 3 comes into contact with a corresponding bearing zone, for example made by a shoulder inside the bushing 5 for FIG. 3 or on the support flange 8 for FIG. 5, ensuring the correct positioning of the rod 1 with the sleeve 5 for assembly, such as, for example, stamping. The embodiment of FIG. 3 will be preferred because it makes it possible to conceal the support element 3, according to this mode the rod may comprise, moving away from the spherical element 2, a first diameter then a second smaller diameter. at the first diameter. The change of diameter allows the support of the shoulder of the socket.

In fact, the support element 3 and the associated support zone act as means for aligning the bushing 5 with the rod 1, facilitating their assembly in the factory. Therefore, any other means of alignment may be considered by the skilled person.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 according to a second preferred embodiment, the rod 1 may comprise, on the outer surface of its body at the second end of the rod opposite to the spherical element 2, a portion 9, of preferably knurled and intended to secure the rod 1 to the sleeve 5 at the assembly area 6. The knurled portion 9 comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 of the rod (Figure 6) and made on a first thread of the rod 1 so as to form a plurality of helical grooves, the first thread cooperating with a second thread of the sleeve 5 formed at the assembly area 6. In Figure 5, the portion 9 knurled is located next to the assembly zone 6 of the sleeve 5 when the device is assembled, and can extend under part of the chambering zone 7 of the sleeve 5. This extension can be used used to control the proper placement of the rod 1 and the sleeve 5 after assembly. It can be used in combination or not with the alignment means described above. Preferably, the sleeve 5 and the rod 1 are then permanently sealed by stamping.

The helical grooves, constituted by the characteristic interlacing of the thread of the rod 1 and the longitudinal grooves, have the role of optimizing the assembly of the sleeve 5 on the rod 1. The longitudinal grooves guarantee an anti-rotation effect of the bushing 5 on the rod 1 and the helical grooves guarantee an anti-extraction effect of the bushing 5. Thus, the 9 knurled portion ensures good mechanical strength of the device once it is crimped.

According to a variant of the assembly applicable to the embodiments and their variants, the sleeve 5 is open at its two distal ends along its longitudinal axis A2. The rod 1 is inserted by the support flange 8 until its second end, opposite to the spherical element 2, protrudes from the bushing 5 at the end of said bushing 5 opposite to the flange 8. Next, this second end of the rod 1 can be deformed so as to form a head 10 (FIG. 5), the dimensions of which are greater than the dimensions of the section of the bushing 5, at its end opposite to the support flange 8, according to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2 of the sleeve 5. Thus, the head 10 of the rod 1 bears on a bearing 11 of the sleeve 5 at the assembly area 6. For example, the bearing 11 is formed by the end of the sleeve 5 opposite to the support flange 8. This head 10 limits the risk of tearing of the rod 1 during crimping or after crimping. The risk of tearing can be further improved by the combination of this variant with the first or the second preferred embodiment, especially in combination with the stamping.

In a particular case where the dimensions of the spherical element 2, and a portion of the rod 1, are smaller than the internal dimensions of the sleeve 5, that is to say that the spherical element 2 and at least a portion of the rod 1 can slide freely in the sleeve 5, the second end of the rod 1 opposite the spherical element 2 may comprise a head 10 directly formed during the machining of the rod 1. The dimensions of this head 10 are greater than the dimensions of the section of the sleeve 5, at the end of the sleeve 5 opposite the flange 8 of support and in a plane perpendicular to the axis A2 of the sleeve 5. Thus, the rod 2 can be inserted, spherical element side 2, in the socket 5 by the end of the sleeve 5 opposite to the support flange 8, until the head 10 comes to bear on a bearing 11 of the bushing 5 at the assembly zone 6, and that the spherical element 2 protrudes from the side of the sleeve 5 having the flange 8. Therefore, the head 10 of the rod 1 bears on the sleeve 5, limiting the risk of tearing of the rod 1 during crimping or after crimping. The risk of tearing can be further improved by the combination of this variant with the first or the second preferred embodiment, especially in combination with the stamping.

According to a variant of the rod 1 equipped with a head 10 or not, the rod 1 comprises a groove 12 (Figures 3 to 6) formed in the rod 1 opposite the assembly zone 6 and filled with the material forming the sleeve 5. Preferably, if desired, the groove 12 is formed between the head 10 and the knurled portion (Figures 5). The groove 12 serves to improve the assembly of the sleeve 5 on the rod 1, and to improve the anti-extraction effect of the rod 1, especially in case of stamping of the sleeve 5. Indeed , stamping of the bushing 5 with the rod 1 at the assembly zone 6 makes it possible to drive the material from the bushing 5 into the groove 12, thus further improving the tear resistance of the rod 1 after or during crimping.

In general, as mentioned above, the assembly of the sleeve 5 with the rod 1 is made by stamping. The bushing 5 is then crimped by two dies on the rod 1 in one or more operations, at different angles, in order to reduce the outside diameter of the bushing 5 at the assembly area 6. When stamping the bushing 5 on the rod 1, the material constituting the sleeve 5 penetrates, if necessary, firstly in the portion 9 knurled or threaded, and secondly in the groove 12 so as to fill them. This allows the material to be hardened at the level of the assembly zone 6, the hardened material and the particular design of the rod 1 facing the assembly zone 6 make it possible to obtain a mechanical assembly that is very resistant to rotation and / or extraction of the two constituent components of the device. The spherical crimp element device is particularly suitable for the automotive industry, in particular for forming ball joints, joints, or clip-on elements in a device having a shape complementary to the spherical element 2. The crimping method of a crimp element device crimping as described above with a support 13 is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. The support 13 has a hole 13a, preferably opening, wherein the spherical element device is inserted by its opposite end to the spherical element 2 until the support flange 8 is brought into contact with the support 13. Of course, in order to enable the bearing flange 8 to be brought into contact with the support 13, the hole 13a of the support 13 has dimensions greater than the dimensions of the bushing 5, with the exception of the support flange 8, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2 of the bushing 5 and dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the flange 8 in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2 of the sleeve 5. Then, the spherical element device can be crimped by applying a holding force (arrows F1, F2) so to press the support flange 8 onto the support 13, while applying a pull (arrow F3) on the spherical element 2 so as to deform the bushing 5 at the recessing zone 7 to form a crimping bead 15 The pulling force is preferably carried out in a direction opposite to the holding force. Indeed, the combination of the traction and the holding force will bring the assembly area 6 of the support 13 by deformation of the recess zone 7. In other words, the crimping bead 15 has dimensions in a perpendicular plane to the axis A2 of the sleeve, greater than the dimensions of the hole in this same plane. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the deformation of the chambering zone 7 forms a crimping bead 15, whose function is to hold the device on the support 13. In other words, the support 13 is held between the bead 15 and the flange 8 support.

The advantageous shape of sphere or ball of the spherical element 2 of the rod 1 makes it possible to facilitate traction on the latter by using, for example, a jaw system 14a, 14b coming to grip the spherical element 2, in particular at its interface. with the rest of the rod 1. The holding force can in turn be achieved by an anvil (not shown) placed on the support flange 8, and pushing the support collar 8 towards the support 13 during the tensile force on the spherical element of the rod 1. This tensile force is preferably substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 5.

Preferably, the end of the device intended to be inserted in the hole 13a of the support 13 comprises a chamfer, of substantially frustoconical shape, also called inlet cone. The chamfer facilitates the introduction of the device into the support.

Such a device and its crimping method allow crimping with access only on one side of the plate. The rod and the spherical element are monoblock elements derived from the same material.

Advantageously, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, the rod 1 comprises a section located between the assembly zone and the spherical element which has a convergent shape in the direction of the spherical element 2. This section makes it possible in fact to form a stop when pulling to limit the crimping. In other words, the rod comprises at least one portion, between the assembly zone and the spherical element, shaped to perform a stop function during crimping so that the stop cooperates with the anvil to stop the deformation of the sleeve. 5. According to an implementation of the stop, the latter can form an annular projection at the stop section of the rod 1, a face of the projection flush with an upper face of the support flange 8 at the level of of which rises a rod portion 1 equipped with its spherical element 2. As mentioned above, a crimping system, a crimp element device to crimp comprising a rod mounted in a socket and terminated at one end by the spherical element can be advantageously used in the crimping process. The crimping system makes it possible to position the spherical element in a three-dimensional space in a repeatable and reliable manner.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the crimping system comprises an anvil 101. This anvil 101 is intended to bear on a bearing collar 8 of the sleeve 5. In fact, in FIG. 9, the anvil 101 is supported on one side of the flange 8 at which the rod provided, at its free end distal from the flange 8, of the spherical element 2.

The crimping system further comprises traction means 102 comprising a jaw system 103 configured to grip the spherical element 2. Thus, during crimping, the jaws enclose the spherical element 2 to obtain a grip on the rod and the bring in traction while the sleeve 5 is held in place by means of the anvil 101 which bears on the flange 8. By "grip" is meant that the jaws at least partially and closely surround the spherical element so as to contain it. Thus, the shape of the jaws allows the repeatable and reliable positioning of the spherical element. As a result of the crimping of a spherical element crimping device a problematic insertion of the spherical element. Indeed, the spherical element 2 constitutes an obstacle for the insertion of the rod in the crimping system. To answer this problem, the jaw system comprises at least two jaws preferably articulated with respect to each other.

In Figure 10, the jaw system comprises two jaws 103a, 103b. In the illustrated example, the two jaws 103a, 103b are in the closed position. Preferably, in this closed position, a face through which the crimping device is introduced has an opening 103c sized to prevent the removal of the spherical element disposed within a main cavity defined by the two jaws and in which opens the opening 103c. To ensure the best retention of the spherical element during crimping, the two jaws 103a, 103b each comprise an open cavity 104 (Figure 1 1) shaped to at least partially follow the outer lines of the rod and the element spherical at their junction, the cavities 104 allow the maintenance of the crimping device, by its spherical element, in the closed position of the jaws 103a, 10b. Thus, when the jaws 103a, 103b are in the closed position as in Figure 10, the two open cavities 104 delimit the main cavity mentioned above. In other words, the two open cavities 104 each have a partial imprint of the spherical element and the rod. In the open position of the jaws, the angle formed by the two jaws 103a, 103b is sufficient to allow the insertion of the spherical element between the two jaws 103a, 103b, and in the closed position of the jaws 103a, 103b the jaw system comprises the opening 103c sized to receive a portion of the rod located between the spherical element and the support flange.

Advantageously, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the two jaws 103a, 103b are pivotally mounted on each other to define an open position allowing the insertion of the spherical element between the jaws 103a, 103b and a closed position. in which the spherical element becomes integral with the movements of the traction means 102. Preferably, return means (not shown) are arranged to continuously urge said jaws to the open position. The traction means 102 are preferably aligned along a longitudinal axis A3. This longitudinal axis A3 also defines the direction of traction, in FIGS. 9 and 10, it is parallel to the axis of the rod of the crimping device. The two jaws are mounted to pivot about an axis A4 substantially perpendicular to the axis A3.

In order to achieve a compact and efficient crimping system, the traction means are preferably mounted in translation in the body of the anvil 101 which then forms a sleeve for guiding the jaws during traction. In FIG. 12, the body of the anvil 101 then preferably comprises a fixed part 101a and a movable part 101b pivotally mounted A5 on the fixed part 101a, whose open and closed positions coincide respectively with the open and closed positions respectively. two jaws 103a, 103b (Figure 10). In fact, when no force is applied to the anvil, the return means allow the jaws to be kept in the open position, the jaw 103b pivotally mounted on the jaw 103a is in contact with the movable portion 101b of the jaw. anvil and the forces exerted by the return means are transmitted to the movable portion 101b so as to maintain the anvil in the open position.

The pivot axis A5 of FIG. 12 is also shown in FIG. 10. In FIG. 10, this pivot axis is parallel to the pivot axis A4 of the jaws.

As illustrated in Figure 12, the jaws (not visible) and the anvil 101 are in the closed position. In this closed position, the end face 107 of the anvil coming into contact with the bearing flange 8 (FIG. 9) has an opening 108 intended to allow the rod to slide during the tensile force applied by the means traction on the spherical element. This opening 108 is coaxial with the opening 103c of the jaws mentioned above. The opening 108 may be dimensioned so as to cooperate with the abutment section of the rod mentioned above. Thus, the abutment section comes, during traction, in contact with the anvil. The traction torque exerted by the traction means is calculated so that when the abutment section comes to rest on the anvil traction is either stopped or is no longer sufficient to deform the sleeve of the crimping device at the level of the rooming area.

To facilitate the closure of the jaws 103a, 103b and the anvil 101, there is a need to counteract, if necessary, the return means to pass the jaws 103a, 103 and the fixed and movable parts 101a, 101b in closed position. This need can be satisfied by providing, as in FIG. 13, a locking element 105 mounted in translation on the outside of the body of the anvil 101. The locking element 105 comprises a disengaged position in which the jaws and the anvil 101 (via its fixed and mobile parts) are in the open position, and a position engaged (FIG. 13) closing the movable part 101b of the anvil 101 on its fixed part 101a so that the closing movement of the anvil either transmitted to the jaws to put them in the closed position by compression of the return means. In fact, the mobile part 101b being pivotally mounted on the fixed part 101a, during the transition from the disengaged position to the engaged position the locking element 105 bears on these two parts so as to fold down the movable part 101a on the fixed part 101 b.

According to a mode of implementation of the return means illustrated in FIG.

14, the latter comprise a spring 106 bearing at each of its ends at one of the jaws 103a, 103b, preferably in an associated open cavity. It may be a compression spring 106 whose free length is sufficient to open the jaws 103a, 103b so as to allow the insertion of the spherical element 2 between said jaws 103a, 103b. In Figure 14 the jaws 103a, 103b are in the open position and in the figure

15, the jaws 103a and 103b are in the closed position. In Figures 14 and 15, the open cavities 104 described above are shown in dashed lines.

In addition to the jaws, the traction means may comprise a traction rod integral with the jaws and a motor configured to put the rod in translation.

According to one variant, the jaw system comprises a plurality of jaws organized in the form of segments able to open radially. This allows in particular to adapt the jaw system to different diameters of spherical elements.

Claims

claims

Crimping system, a crimp element device (2) to be crimped comprising a rod (1) mounted in a socket (5) and terminated at one end by the spherical element (2), said system comprises:

an anvil (101) intended to bear on a bearing flange (8) of the sleeve (5),

- Traction means (102) comprising a jaw system (103, 103a, 103b) configured to grip the spherical element (2).

Crimping system according to claim 1, characterized in that the jaw system comprises two jaws (103a, 103b).

Crimping system according to claim 2, characterized in that the two jaws (103a, 103b) each comprise an open cavity (104) shaped to at least partially follow the outer lines of the rod (1) and the spherical element ( 2) at their junction, the cavities (104) for maintaining the crimping device in the closed position of the jaws (103a, 103b).

Crimping system according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the two jaws (103a, 103b) are pivotally mounted (A4) on one another to define an open position allowing the insertion of the spherical element (2) between the jaws (103a, 103b) and a closed position in which the spherical element (2) becomes integral with the movements of the traction means (102), and in that return means (106) are arranged to continuously urge said jaws (103a, 103b) to the open position.

5. crimping system according to claim 4, characterized in that the traction means (102) are mounted in translation in the body of the anvil (101). 6. crimping system according to claim 4, characterized in that the body of the anvil (101) comprises a fixed part (101 a) and a movable part (101 b) pivotally mounted on the fixed part (101 a ), whose open and closed positions coincide respectively with the open and closed positions of the jaws (103a, 103b).

Crimping system according to claim 6, characterized in that a locking element (105) is translationally mounted on the outside of the body of the anvil, the locking element (105) comprising a disengaged position in which the jaws (103a, 103b) and the fixed and movable parts (101a, 101b) of the anvil (101) are in the open position, and an engaged position closing the movable part (101b) of the anvil (101) on its fixed part (101 a) so that the closing movement of the anvil (101) is transmitted to the jaws (103a, 103b) to put them in the closed position by compression of the return means (106).

8. Crimping system according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the biasing means (106) comprise a spring bearing at each of its ends at one of the jaws (103a, 103b). 9. Device with a spherical element (2) to be crimped comprising a rod (1) terminated at a first end by the spherical element (2),

characterized in that it comprises a sleeve (5) in which the rod (1) is inserted, said sleeve (5) comprising successively along its longitudinal axis (A2):

- an assembly zone (6) of the sleeve (5) on the rod (1), a chambering zone (7) intended to form a crimping bead (15), and

- A support flange (8), the spherical element (2) of the rod (1) projecting at the support flange (8).

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the rod (1) comprises a first thread at a portion (9) of said rod (1) cooperating with a second thread complementary to the bushing (5) produced at level of the assembly area (6).

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that opposite the assembly area (6) the portion (9) is knurled, the knurling being provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves made on the first thread of the rod (1) so as to form a plurality of helical grooves.

12. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the rod (1) has a head (10) at a second end of the rod (1) opposite the first end of the rod. (1), the head (10) bearing on a bearing surface (11) of the sleeve (5) at the assembly area (6).

13. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the rod (1) has a groove (12) formed in the rod (1) facing the assembly area (6) and filled by the material forming the sleeve (5).

14. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that assembly area (6) is stamped.

15. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the rod (1) and the sleeve (5) are assembled at the assembly area (6) by welding, hooping or bouterollage the sleeve (5).

16. Method for crimping a device with a spherical element according to one of claims 9 to 15 with a support (13) having a hole characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

inserting the device with a spherical element into the hole (13a) of the support (13) at its end opposite the spherical element (2) until the support flange (8) comes into contact with the support (13)

- Crimping the device by applying a holding force so as to press the support flange (8) on the support (13), while applying a traction on the spherical element (2) so as to deform the sleeve (5). ) at the chambering zone (7) to form a crimping bead (15).