EP3167973B1 - Riveting tool - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a riveting tool for setting blind rivet nuts and / or blind rivet screws, according to the preamble of claim 1 (see eg DE 10 2010 024 610 A1 ).

Blind rivet nuts and / or blind rivet screws are rivets which have a thread and which are e.g. be used when a bottom, an inside or a back of a component is not or difficult to access. Blind rivet nuts or blind rivet screws also offer the possibility to attach components to components if they have too small a wall thickness to allow the cutting of threads.

Riveting tools of the type mentioned are used to attach the blind rivet or blind rivet in a comfortable manner to the respective component. The rivet to be set is arranged by the adjustable between the rivet receiving position and the set position and connected to the pulling mandrel by a defined deformation of the component, wherein the mandrel has an adapted to each rivet to be set inner or outer thread. The deformation of the rivet is determined from the applied by the mandrel stroke of the tension rod from the starting position in the adjustable setting position. To set the blind rivet nuts and / or the blind rivet screw they are previously screwed onto the mandrel, introduced into a previously created opening of the component for receiving the rivet and then by the force applied by the riveting tool stroke of the mandrel set, whereby the rivet deforms in a defined manner due to its support on a setting head on the riveting tool.

Essential for the quality of the connection between the set rivet and the component is the length of the setting movement, which is determined by the adjustment of the drawbar connected to the drawing mandrel, wherein the tension rod is adjusted by the drive piston. The adjustment path, d. H. the stroke of the mandrel, starting from the rivet receiving position of the tension rod to its set position determines the strength of the connection of the component and rivet. The adjustment is u. a. depending on the material thickness of the components and the rivet used. In conventional riveting tools the adjustment is regulated by the hydraulic pressure or the setting force. The setting movement is terminated, for example, by an automated or manual shutdown of a pump unit when a preset pressure or force is established.

However, such a pressure-controlled or force-controlled setting of rivets has the disadvantage that, in particular in the case of a manual interruption of the setting process by the operator when setting a preset pressure to setting operations, which have a different quality. Proceeding from this, the present invention seeks to provide a riveting tool of the type mentioned, can be carried out with the setting of rivets consistent with a high repeatability consistent.

The invention solves the problem by a riveting tool with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

A typical feature of the riveting tool according to the invention is that it has an actuating unit with a stroke limiting element that is axially adjustable relative to the coupling element in the longitudinal axis direction of the tension rod, the setting movement being determined by a stop of the coupling element on a stop surface of the stroke limiting means. It is therefore provided that the riveting tool has an actuating unit, which by the positionable in the longitudinal axis Hubbegrenzungselement by the tie rod, or mandrel on the zu putting rivet exerted stroke mechanically limited. Positioning in the axial direction relative to the coupling element, ie relative to this, taking place in the longitudinal axis direction of the tension rod makes it possible to mechanically fix the stroke in a predefined manner. The setting movement is determined by a stop of the coupling element on the stop surface of the Hubbegrenzungselements, wherein the Hubbegrenzungselement is fixed relative to the tie rod and the mandrel on the riveting tool.

The configuration of the riveting tool thus makes it possible, without an adaptation of the drive unit having the drive piston, to set and fix the setting stroke to be set on the rivets to be set, so that a setting of blind rivet nuts or blind rivet screws can be carried out with high repeatability. The use of the coupling element as engageable with the stop surface of the Hubbegrenzungselements engaging element allows it to dispense with a separate stop member, which would be brought into operative connection with the Hubbegrenzungselement. The coupling element thus fulfills the function of connecting the tension rod with an exchangeable mandrel in the axial direction. On the other hand, it provides a contact surface for the stop surface of the Hubbegrenzungselements. The riveting tool can thus be made particularly simple and compact. In addition, due to an unnecessary adaptation of the drive unit, it is possible to convert conventional pressure-controlled riveting tools by the connection to the setting unit, so that hub-controlled processing of the blind rivet nuts and / or blind rivet screws is then possible with riveting tools converted in this way.

According to the invention, which is particularly suitable for retrofitting existing riveting tools, it is provided that the adjusting unit as a Hubbegrenzungselement against the pull rod secured against rotation and adjustable in the longitudinal axis stop sleeve, which engages via an external thread with an internal thread of a rotatably mounted on the riveting tool collar is located. As a result, a stop sleeve displaceable along the pull rod forms the stroke limiting element that can be brought into engagement with the coupling element. For positioning the stop sleeve relative to the Coupling element has the stop sleeve while an external thread, which is located with an internal thread of an adjusting ring in engagement. The adjusting ring is in turn rotatably mounted on the riveting tool, but fixed in the longitudinal axis direction of the riveting tool, so that a rotation of the adjusting ring causes a displacement of the stop sleeve - depending on the direction of rotation - in the direction of the coupling element to or from this.

The invention thus enables a simple and reliable adjustment of the position of the stop sleeve and thus determination of the stroke, which can be exercised by the riveting tool. The rotation-proof arrangement of the stop sleeve can be realized in principle in any way. It is conceivable, for example, a tongue and groove connection between the tie rod and the stop sleeve. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the stop sleeve is slidably mounted in the longitudinal axis direction on one, preferably two, more preferably four parallel to the pull rod cylindrical pins.

Accordingly, at least one, preferably two, more preferably four cylindrical pins extend parallel to the longitudinal axis direction of the tension rod by corresponding receptacles on the stop sleeve, so that the stop sleeve is mounted against rotation against the tension rod within the actuator. The use of cylinder pins in this case represents a particularly simple possibility for torsion-proof storage, which can be done without an adaptation of the tension rod. The storage of the cylindrical pins can be done at a suitable location within the actuator. This embodiment of the invention also allows a simple adaptation of existing, purely pressure-controlled riveting tools, so that they provide the possibility for stroke-controlled setting of rivets after the conversion.

In order to simplify a conversion of existing riveting tools, according to a further embodiment of the invention it is further provided that the setting unit is detachably connected to a base body of the riveting tool, in particular screwed. This embodiment of the connection, which improves the modular design of the riveting tool, offers, in addition to the simple conversion, existing riveting tools the possibility of easily adapting the riveting tool to the operating conditions. Those from a group of different Actuators selectable actuator is this preferably connected to a body of a suitable drive unit, in particular screwed and thus forms an optimally adapted to the application riveting tool. Furthermore, pressure-controlled riveting tools can be converted in a simple manner by this embodiment of the invention, for which purpose the control unit must be adapted only to the drive units of the pressure-controlled riveting tools. To adapt the drive unit to the setting unit can, for example, an adapter ring are provided, which is designed on the one hand with a matched to a basic housing of the drive unit thread and on the other hand with a matched to the actuator thread.

The adjusting unit according to the invention allows a freely selectable positioning of the stroke limiting element within the adjustment range of the stroke limiting element. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the adjusting ring has latching marks which can be brought into engagement with latching bodies on the drive unit, in particular with latching bodies, on an adapter ring which can be fixed to the drive unit.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the adjusting ring engages in predetermined positions according to the arrangement of the locking marks and locking body and thus prevents in a complementary manner a displacement of the Hubbegrenzungselements during operation of the riveting tool. In addition, the latching marks and latching body can be arranged such that they repeatedly engage after a defined longitudinal adjustment of the Hubbegrenzungselements, so that the user graded a haptic feedback on the adjustment of the Hubbegrenzungselements is delivered. As latching body can be used, for example, spring-loaded locking balls, which can be brought with dome-shaped recesses on the adjusting ring in engagement. Also conceivable is an arrangement of the locking marks on the drive unit and the locking body on the adjusting ring, wherein the function is ensured in an identical manner.

According to a further embodiment of the invention it is further provided that the adjusting ring for visibility of the Hubbegrenzungselements has an opening which is particularly preferably provided on an edge with a scale for positioning the Hubbegrenzungselements. According to this embodiment of the invention, the adjusting ring allows through an opening a view of the Hubbegrenzungselements, so that its position from the outside is visible. An additionally arranged on the edge of the opening scaling, which corresponds to markings on the visible Hubbegrenzungselement, also allows a very accurate setting of the setting stroke, so that the riveting tool can be adapted to the processing conditions in a comfortable manner.

The design of the actuator is basically arbitrary, it must be ensured that in the assembled state on the drive unit a shift in the longitudinal axis direction is blocked. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the actuating unit has a base unit and a head piece, wherein the head piece is arranged coaxially to the coupling element and is detachably connected to the base unit via a quick release. The base unit of the actuating unit represents the unit, which is connected to the drive unit of the riveting tool and on which also advantageously the adjusting ring is formed. The head piece is arranged coaxially with the coupling element and has, for example, the setting head adapted to the blind rivet nuts and / or blind rivet screws to be set. The advantage according to this embodiment of this invention, according to which the head piece is detachably connected to the base unit via a quick release, consists in a simple and quick access to the coupling element, so that, if necessary, the entire setting unit does not have to be disassembled in order to apply the riveting tool to the use adapt to different blind rivet nuts and / or blind rivet screws. A change of the mandrel can be done in a simple manner by pulling the head piece of the base unit, the quick release this represents a particularly simple and comfortable design.

For example, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the quick-release fastener can have a sliding sleeve which is prestressed to a latching position and, in the latching position, displaces a latching element into a latching mark on the base unit. This embodiment of the invention represents a particularly simple and secure arrangement of the head piece on the base unit, wherein the locking element between the locking position and a release position is adjustable via the sliding sleeve. The bias of the sliding sleeve in the direction of the locking position ensures that the locking element in the unloaded state of the sliding sleeve, ie in the assembled state, permanently engaged with a latching mark in engagement.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the head piece releasably connected to this, coaxial with the mandrel arranged setting head. The arrangement of the setting head on the head piece can be realized in a particularly simple and comfortable way, with the detachable arrangement, a simple adjustment of the head piece, on which the riveting tool is supported during the drawing process, is possible. This makes it possible to easily convert the riveting tool to adapt to different blind rivet nuts or blind rivet screws.

The configuration of the coupling element can basically be done in any way. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is still provided that the coupling element has two coaxial with the mandrel and pull rod arranged half-shells, the stop surface of the Hubbegrenzungselements facing end face is formed as a contact surface, in particular has a lubricious coating. The formation of the coupling element by two half-shells represents a particularly simple and comfortable way to connect the mandrel and pull rod, with inwardly projecting projections or circumferential rings, which engage in corresponding recesses on the mandrel and the tie rod, a particularly simple definition of mandrel and tensile bar can be made in the axial direction. The design of the end face as a contact surface, after which this example. Is designed such that a jamming with the stop surface is prevented, makes it possible to dispense with separate functional elements. In particular, the arrangement of a sliding coating on the end face ensures trouble-free operation of the riveting tool according to the invention.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the drive piston is biased in the direction of the starting position, in particular spring-biased. This embodiment of the invention ensures a reliable return displacement of the drive piston in the starting position after completion of the lifting operation.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht eines Schnitts eines Nietwerkzeugs;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Nietwerkzeugs von Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a

eine Seitenansicht einer Antriebseinheit des Nietwerkzeugs von Fig. 1;

Fig. 3b

eine Seitenansicht der Antriebseinheit von Fig. 3a mit einem in die Antriebseinheit einzusetzenden Zugstab;

Fig. 3c

eine Seitenansicht der Antriebseinheit von Fig. 1 mit eingesetztem Zugstab und einer anzuordnenden Basiseinheit einer Stelleinheit;

Fig. 3d

eine Seitenansicht der Antriebseinheit von Fig. 1 mit eingesetztem Zugstab und angeordneter Basiseinheit sowie anzuordnendem Ziehdorn;

Fig. 3e

eine Seitenansicht der Antriebseinheit von Fig. 1 mit eingesetztem Zugstab, angeordneter Basiseinheit und angeordnetem Ziehdorn sowie anzuordnenden Halbschalen eines Kopplungselements;

Fig. 3f

eine Seitenansicht der Antriebseinheit von Fig. 1 mit eingesetztem Zugstab, angeordneter Basiseinheit und angeordnetem Ziehdorn und Kopplungselement sowie anzuordnendem Kopfstück;

Fig. 3g

eine Seitenansicht der Antriebseinheit von Fig. 3a mit eingesetztem Zugstab, angeordneter Basis und angeordnetem Ziehdorn, Kopplungselement und Kopfstück sowie anzuordnendem Setzkopf und

Fig. 3h

eine Seitenansicht des Nietwerkzeugs von Fig. 1 im montierten Zustand.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a view of a section of a riveting tool;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the riveting tool of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3a

a side view of a drive unit of the riveting tool of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3b

a side view of the drive unit of Fig. 3a with a tension rod to be inserted into the drive unit;

Fig. 3c

a side view of the drive unit of Fig. 1 with inserted tie rod and a base unit to be arranged an actuating unit;

Fig. 3d

a side view of the drive unit of Fig. 1 with inserted tension rod and arranged base unit as well as pulling mandrel to be arranged;

Fig. 3e

a side view of the drive unit of Fig. 1 with inserted tension rod, arranged base unit and arranged pulling mandrel and half shells to be arranged of a coupling element;

Fig. 3f

a side view of the drive unit of Fig. 1 with inserted tension rod, arranged base unit and arranged pulling mandrel and coupling element as well as head piece to be arranged;

Fig. 3g

a side view of the drive unit of Fig. 3a with inserted tension rod, arranged base and arranged pulling mandrel, coupling element and head piece as well as to be arranged setting head and

Fig. 3h

a side view of the riveting tool of Fig. 1 in the assembled state.

An in FIG. 1 in a sectional view and in Fig. 2 in a perspective view illustrated riveting tool 1 has essentially two modules. These are, on the one hand, a drive unit 3 having a drive piston 4 and, on the other hand, a setting unit 2 connected to the drive unit 3, by means of which a set stroke applied by the drive piston 4 to a pull rod 5 can be set in its stroke length.

The drive unit 3 of the riveting tool 1 has a base body 24, within which the drive piston 4 can be displaced in its longitudinal axis direction. An adjustment of the drive piston 4 takes place due to a hydraulic pressure, to the generation of which hydraulic fluid is passed through a connecting piece 32 via a hinge 31 in the base body 24, so that the drive piston 4 against a bias applied by a helical compression spring 25 from its initial position in the direction of an end position is adjusted. The helical compression spring 25 causes due to their support at one end to the drive piston 4 and the other end to a housing cover 22 which is connected via a threaded bushing 23 with the base body 24 that the Drive piston 4 is held in its initial position in the pressureless state.

For transmitting the axial movement of the drive piston 4 to a drawbar 6 connected to the pull rod 5, the drive piston 4 has a shoulder on which the pull rod 5 rests with a corresponding shoulder. About the paragraphs directed towards the end position movements of the drive piston 4 are transmitted directly to the tension rod 5.

The base body 24 forming a basic housing of the drive unit 3 has, at its end opposite the housing cover 22, a housing bushing 26, which is connected via an internal thread to an adapter ring 13 of the setting unit 2. The adjusting unit 2 serves to adjust the setting stroke to be applied by the riveting tool 1, for which purpose the setting unit 2 has a stroke limiting element designed as a stop sleeve 7. This forms an adjustable mechanical stop for a coupling element 9, by means of which the tension rod 5 is connected to the pulling mandrel 6.

For positioning of the stop sleeve 7 and thus for setting the setting stroke, the actuating unit 2 has an adjusting ring 11, which is fixed relative to the base body 24 of the drive unit 3 in the axial direction, but with respect to the adapter ring 13 is rotatable. The stop sleeve 7 is mounted against rotation, not shown here, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tension rod 5 within the adjusting ring 11 cylindrical pins, the cylindrical pins engage in corresponding openings on the stop sleeve 7. A rotation of the adjusting ring 11 thus causes an axial displacement of the stop sleeve 7 within the adjusting ring 11 in the longitudinal axis direction of the tension rod 5. A transmission of the rotational movement of the adjusting ring 11 on the coaxial with the tension rod 5 arranged stop sleeve 7 takes place via an internal thread 12 of the adjusting ring on an external thread This is thus freely positionable within the adjusting ring 11 on the tension rod 5 and provides with its stop surface 8 a Wegbegrenzer for the coupling element 9 ready. In the maximum setting position, the coupling element 9 rests with its end face 20 on the stop surface 8 of the stop sleeve 7. The maximum adjustable stroke is determined by the position in which the stop sleeve 7 rests against a stop ring 27 within the adjusting ring 11.

In order to enable a simple change of the drawing mandrel 6, the setting unit 2 further comprises a head piece 16 which can be removed from the setting unit 2 via a quick-release fastener 17. In the remote position, the coupling element 9 is freely accessible, so that a simple replacement of the mandrel 6 can take place. For quick removal of the head piece 16 is the quick release 17 with a sliding sleeve 18, which by a helical compression spring 28 in the in FIG. 1 shown latching position is biased, engage in the latching elements, not shown here in not shown here latching marks on a connecting sleeve 30, wherein the connecting sleeve 30 is inserted into the drive unit 3 opposite end of the adjusting ring 11. The drive unit 2 opposite end of the head piece 16 is formed by a replaceable setting head 19 on which a not shown rivet is supported during the setting process, so that the necessary for setting deformation of the rivet can take place when the mandrel 6 during setting from the in FIG. 1 shown position is shifted in the direction of the drive unit 3.

For the function of the riveting tool 1, it is necessary that the tension rod 5 and the mandrel 6 are fixed to each other both in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction. For fixing in the axial direction of the pull rod 5 and the mandrel 6 projections 33, which are formed corresponding to arranged within the coupling element 9 recesses 35, whereby a positive connection in the longitudinal axis direction is achieved in the assembled state. For torsion-proof connection, the abutting end faces of pull rod 5 and mandrel 6 have a corresponding toothing, wherein a centering pin 29 ensures the relative position of pull rod 5 and mandrel 6. Following the setting process can be screwed by the Blindnietmutter or blind rivet screw 6 due to the torsion-proof connection of pull rod 5 and mandrel 6 via an arranged on the opposite end of the mandrel 6 handle 21 of the mandrel.

An assembly of the riveting tool 1 is in the FIGS. 3a to 3h shown in steps. In the in FIG. 3a shown drive unit 3, the tension rod 5 is first used and fixed to the base body 24 via a housing cover 22. In the assembled state of the tension rod 5 (see. Figure 3c ) protrudes from the base body 24 on the side opposite the handle 21. On this free end of the pull rod 5 then the base unit 15 of the actuator 2 is pushed and screwed to the housing socket 26, for which purpose the base unit 15 has an adapter ring 13 which is adapted to a housing bushing 26 on the drive unit. After connecting the base unit 15, as in Fig. 3d illustrated, the mandrel 6 is positioned against rotation at the free end of the push rod 5 by means of the centering pin 29. For a form-locking connection in the longitudinal axis direction, the coupling element 9 consisting of two coupling half-shells 34 is placed on the sections of tension rod 5 and pulling mandrel 6 provided with projections 33 (cf. FIG. 3e ). After the arrangement of the coupling element 9, the positioning of the sliding sleeve 18 of the head piece 16 takes place (see. FIG. 3e ). Following this, the setting head 19, which is adapted to the rivet to be set, is then placed on the head piece 16 so that the riveting tool 1 is subsequently placed in the FIG. 3h is shown fully assembled position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 riveting tool 30 connection socket 2 actuator 31 joint 3 drive unit 32 spigot 4 drive piston 33 projections 5 tension rod 34 shells 6 mandrel 35 deepening 7 Stroke limiting element (stop sleeve) 8th stop surface 9 coupling element 10 External thread (stop sleeve) 11 collar 12 Internal thread (adjusting ring) 13 adapter ring 14 Opening (adjusting ring) 15 Base unit (actuator) 16 headpiece 17 quick release 18 sliding sleeve 19 setting head 20 face 21 handle 22 housing cover 23 threaded bushing 24 body 25 Helical compression spring 26 housing socket 27 stop ring 28 Helical compression spring 29 Centering

Claims (10)

1. A riveting tool for setting blind rivet nuts and/or blind rivet screws, comprising

   - a drive piston which is able to be hydraulically adjusted from an initial position toward an end position,

   - a pull rod which is releasably and operatively connected to the drive piston and which is able to be adjusted by the drive piston from a rivet receiving position into a setting position and

   - a coupling element fixing the pull rod and a drawing mandrel to one another in the longitudinal axial direction,

   wherein the riveting tool (1) for fixing the setting position has an adjusting unit (2) with a stroke-limiting element (7) which is axially adjustable relative to the coupling element (9) in the longitudinal axial direction of the pull rod (5), wherein the setting movement is determined by a stop of the coupling element (9) at a stop surface (8) of the stroke-limiting element (7) and the adjusting unit (2) as a stroke-limiting element has a stop sleeve (7) which is mounted fixedly in terms of rotation relative to the pull rod (5) and which is adjustable in the longitudinal axial direction,
   characterized in that the stop sleeve (7) is in engagement via an external thread (10) with an internal thread (12) of an adjusting ring (11) rotatably mounted on the riveting tool (1).
2. The riveting tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting unit (2) is releasably connected, in particular is screwed, to a drive unit (3) of the riveting tool (1).
3. The riveting tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting ring (11) has latching marks which are able to be brought into engagement with latching bodies on the drive unit (3), in particular with latching bodies on an adapter ring (13) which is able to be fixed to the drive unit (3).
4. The riveting tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting ring (11) has an opening (14) in order to be able to view the stroke limiting element (7), said opening being particularly preferably provided on an edge with a scale for positioning the stroke-limiting element (7).
5. The riveting tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stroke-limiting element (7) is displaceably mounted on one, preferably two, cylinder pins extending parallel to the pull rod (5) in the longitudinal axial direction.
6. The riveting tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting unit (2) has a base unit (15) and a head piece (16), wherein the head piece (16) is coaxially arranged relative to the coupling element (9) and is releasably connected to the base unit (15) via a quick-release connector (17).
7. The riveting tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the quick-release connector (17) has a sliding sleeve (18) which is pretensioned toward a latching position and which in the latching position engages with a latching element in a latching mark on the base unit (15).
8. The riveting tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head piece (16) has a setting head (19) which is releasably connected thereto and which is coaxially arranged relative to the drawing mandrel (6).
9. The riveting tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling element (9) has two half-shells coaxially arranged relative to the drawing mandrel (6) and the pull rod (5), the front face (20) of said half-shells which faces the stop surface (8) being configured as a contact surface and, in particular, having a lubricant coating.
10. The riveting tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive piston (4) is pretensioned, in particular spring-pretensioned, toward the initial position.

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