EP3717178B1 - Installation tool for a wire thread insert - Google Patents

Description

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an installation tool for a wire thread insert, a torque coupling usable in such tools, and an installation method for a wire thread insert in a threaded bore.

2. Background of the Invention

In the prior art, installation tools with a rotating drive unit are well known. Installation tools of this type are used, for example, to install wire thread inserts in a threaded hole, to screw in a threaded bolt or to tighten or loosen a female threaded element on a threaded bolt or the like. In this context, pneumatic and electric motors are used as drive units. It is also conceivable to drive such installation tools manually.

The document EP 1 847 357 A2 shows an installation tool according to the preamble of claim 1 and the U.S. 2005/274230 A1 a torque coupling according to the preamble of claim 10.

Torque couplings are used in the prior art in order to avoid an overload condition when screwing in a threaded bolt or in the case of another connection to be produced in a rotating manner. Such clutches are also referred to as overload clutches, as in DE 195 01 084 C2 is described. The overload clutch shown there is used in a power or motor-driven tool. This overload clutch consists of driving clutch parts and driven clutch parts. The driving and driven clutch parts are connected to one another via spring means and a prestressing force generated by them. The mutually spring-biased clutch parts comprise input and output cam discs arranged axially opposite one another. In addition, clutch balls are arranged between these input and output cam disks, these clutch balls cooperating with the cams in such a way that a releasable drive takes place between the rotary drive input and the rotary drive output. As soon as a critical torque is reached, the clutch parts of the overload clutch, which are spring-loaded against each other, interrupt the power flow between the input side and the output side. This way will avoids that an overload torque reaches the connection to be made and causes damage there.

While DE 195 01 084 C2 describes an overload clutch in combination with an electric motor is in U.S. 3,442,362 describes a torque clutch in combination with a shut-off mechanism for a pneumatic drive unit. In this prior art, too, the aim is to avoid in good time the transmission of excessive torque to a connection to be made, so that this connection and the tool are not damaged.

Known overload clutches work with clutch balls which are arranged between the oppositely arranged spring-loaded clutch parts. These coupling balls ensure low friction between the coupling parts that implement the power flow and are detachable from one another. At the same time, such a complex construction of an overload clutch results in high manufacturing and maintenance costs.

With regard to installation tools for wire thread inserts, it has been shown that simply interrupting the transmission of torque when a depth stop of the installation spindle of the installation tool is reached is not sufficient to achieve comfortable installation. Rather, the constructions of wire thread inserts meanwhile require a specific loosening or separating of the installation spindle from the screwed-in wire thread insert or also a specific bending back of parts of the wire thread insert. For example, a wire thread insert with mounting spigot is installed in such a way that the mounting spindle creates a positive connection with the mounting spigot for screwing in the wire thread insert. In order to be able to loosen the spindle from the threaded opening again, the mounting pin must be loosened from this form-fitting connection.

A wire thread insert without built-in pin, which has a driving notch on a radial inner side, requires a built-in blade in order to be able to screw this wire thread insert into the threaded hole. After the wire thread insert has been threaded to the desired depth, appropriate manipulation of the installation tool must disengage this installation blade from the wire thread insert. Only then can the spindle be turned back or spindled out of the threaded opening in a targeted manner.

The wire thread insert, which is in DE 10 2010 050 735 is described requires, after it has been screwed into the desired depth of the threaded opening, its mounting pin to be bent back in a targeted manner. Accordingly, it is necessary for an installation blade to engage this deflectable installation spigot in order to deflect it back into the threads of the threaded hole. Only when this additional installation step has been completed should the installation spindle be removed from the threaded opening.

Based on the special requirements for installation tools for wire thread inserts, it is the object of the present invention to provide an installation tool for installing wire thread inserts which, in addition to protecting against an overload torque, also enables additional installation steps to be carried out automatically.

3. Summary of the Invention

The above object is achieved by an installation tool for a wire thread insert according to independent claim 1, by a torque coupling used in this installation tool according to independent claim 11 and by an installation method for a wire thread insert in a threaded hole using the above installation tool according to independent claim 22. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention, further developments and modifications emerge from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended patent claims.

The wire thread insert installation tool according to the invention has the following features: a drive unit, in particular an electric or a pneumatic drive unit, which provides a rotary movement that can be switched between a first and a second direction, a spindle body with a drive section for rotating the spindle body and with a threaded section from which the wire thread insert can be spindled and from which the wire thread insert can be spindled off, an installation blade which is movably arranged in the spindle body between an engaged position and a rest position in order to selectively engage the wire thread insert and/or disengage from an engagement or engagement with the wire thread insert, and a torque clutch Consisting of a positive and non-positive fit interlocking upper part and lower part of the clutch, of which the upper part of the clutch is non-rotatably connected to the drive unit and the lower part of the clutch is non-rotatably connected to the spindle body, while with a decoupled relative rotation between the upper part of the clutch and the lower part of the clutch triggered by exceeding a limit torque between the upper part of the clutch and the lower part of the clutch, a relative movement, in particular a linear relative movement, can be generated between the spindle body and the installation blade.

The above Wire Thread Insert installation tool, by virtue of its configuration, first aids in avoiding torque overload conditions when installing or threading the Wire Thread Insert into a threaded hole. The torque coupling used releases the connection between the drive side and the driven side of the installation tool as soon as a critical torque is reached, for example when an axial stop of the installation spindle runs up. With this release movement of the torque clutch, however, an adjustment movement, preferably a linear adjustment movement, is simultaneously generated between one of the clutch halves and a movable actuator. These coupling halves are formed by the above-mentioned coupling upper part and the coupling lower part. Thus, while an overload condition during the rotary movement causes the connection between the upper coupling part and the lower coupling part to be released, an axial movement along an axis of rotation of the upper coupling part and the lower coupling part is preferably triggered at the same time.

This axial relative movement between said actuator and the upper coupling part and/or the lower coupling part can be used for a further work step during the installation of the wire thread insert in a threaded bore. This relative axial movement of the actuator preferably finds application in releasing an installation blade of the installation tool from engagement with the wire thread insert. Another alternative is to relocate the installation blade to an engaged position or other mounting position within the installation mandrel and/or on the wire thread insert. A further preferred embodiment consists in that, with the aid of the axial relative movement of the actuator, a further adjustment element is actuated in addition to an installation blade. This actuating element can be used, for example, to release the installation pin from an engagement of the installation spindle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the installation tool according to the invention, the lower coupling part and the upper coupling part are arranged spring-loaded against one another, so that if the lower coupling part is blocked from rotating via the spindle body, the upper coupling part can be rotated relative to the lower coupling part, with the lower coupling part yielding resiliently.

Due to the shape of the mutually facing sides of the lower coupling part and the upper coupling part, both coupling parts form a positive and/or non-positive connection supported by spring preload. The spring preload applied to the coupling parts determines a release torque between the two coupling parts, which causes the connection between the lower part and the upper part of the clutch to be released. This detachment of the coupling parts from one another takes place precisely when said blocking of rotation of the coupling lower part or the coupling upper part occurs.

According to the present invention, it is preferred that the lower coupling part is connected to the spindle body, so that a rotational blockade of the spindle body leads to a standstill of the lower coupling part. Since preferably the upper clutch part is rotated further by the drive unit, exceeding a critical torque between the two clutch parts leads to overcoming of the spring preload between the lower clutch part and the upper clutch part. Accordingly, the upper part of the clutch then rotates further in comparison to the lower part of the clutch, as a result of which the torque clutch is released. The spring preload provided between the lower clutch part and the upper clutch part thus opens up the possibility that the lower clutch part can avoid a continued rotation of the upper clutch part by a preferred axial displacement.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the installation tool according to the invention, the upper clutch part includes a link guide with which an axial actuator of the upper clutch part can be displaced axially depending on a direction of rotation of the upper clutch part, with the axial actuator not rotating with the upper clutch part. In this context, it is also preferred that the axial actuator is a clutch piston that is guided axially in the clutch upper part and has a roller pin that projects radially at least on one side and engages in the link guide.

The wire thread insert installation tool is provided such that the spindle for installing the wire thread insert is connected to the lower coupling. Accordingly, the spindle is blocked during installation and thus also the lower part of the coupling as soon as a certain installation depth or an axial stop of the spindle is reached. In this situation, the blocking of the spindle from rotating causes the lower part of the coupling to stop rotating, but does not prevent further rotation of the upper part of the coupling due to the overload torque that occurs.

Since the upper part of the clutch rotates relative to the centrally arranged clutch piston, the slotted guide, which is positively connected to the clutch piston, causes an axial displacement of the clutch piston. This movement, which can be understood as a secondary use of the triggering movement between the upper clutch part and the lower clutch part, is used within the scope of the present invention for the targeted movement or switching or setting of an axial actuator. The movement profile of the axial actuator can be defined as a function of the shape of the link guide, which here preferably specifies a movement path of the engaging roller pin.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the link guide defines a curvilinear path, in particular a helical path, in the upper clutch part, which causes a relative axial offset between the upper clutch part and the clutch piston when the upper clutch part rotates relative to the clutch piston.

A direction, a size of an axial offset and a speed of an axial offset taking place can be set as a function of the preferred circumferential course of the link guide. Thus, it is preferred to set or coordinate the movement of the actuator to the installation function of the installation tool to be implemented by the shape of the link guide.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the wire thread insert installation tool, the axial offset of the clutch piston can be transmitted to the installation blade via an actuator. The installation blade disposed within the spindle body finds use in installing a wire thread insert and/or uninstalling the wire thread insert or machining the wire thread insert in the threaded opening. Accordingly, the moving actuator and those on the installation blade transmitted motion used to perform installation steps, machining steps, and/or deinstallation steps on a wire thread insert in a threaded hole.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the wire thread insert installation tool, the above-mentioned axial offset occurs depending on the direction of rotation of the upper coupling part compared to the lower coupling part in the direction of the spindle body or in the direction of the drive unit. Furthermore, according to the invention, the upper clutch part and the lower clutch part each have a circumferential sequence of at least two counter-rotating ramps adjacent to a common apex, which define an engagement contour between the upper clutch part and the lower clutch part, in the axial and opposite orientation of end faces.

In addition to the spring preload between the upper and lower coupling parts discussed above, the strength of the detachable connection between the upper and lower coupling parts is also determined by the interlocking contours of the facing surfaces or end faces of the upper and lower coupling parts. According to the invention, these surfaces of the upper coupling part and the lower coupling part each have at least one cam, which comprises two ramps running in opposite directions and connected via the common apex. An inclination of these ramps and the spring preload, which presses the upper clutch part and the lower clutch part against one another, define a release torque which is required so that the upper clutch part can slide off in rotation on the lower clutch part, which is preferably locked in rotation. Depending on the field of application of the installation tool, the shaping contour of the mutually facing sides of the upper and lower coupling parts and the strength of the spring preload between the upper and lower coupling parts can be specifically selected and/or adjusted.

Based on the above description, it is therefore also preferred according to the invention that an angle of inclination of the ramps in combination with the spring preload between the upper clutch part and the lower clutch part determines a limit torque at which a relative rotation between the upper clutch part and the lower clutch part can be generated.

The present invention also encompasses the torque coupling employed in the wire thread insert installation tool described above. This torque coupling can also be used for other tools in which a rotating drive unit is used. This Torque coupling has the following features: a positively and non-positively interlocking upper part and lower part of the clutch, of which the upper part or the lower part of the clutch can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a drive unit and the other part of the clutch can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to an output unit, while a decoupled relative rotation between the upper part of the clutch and the lower part of the clutch is triggered by exceeding a limit torque between the upper clutch part and the lower clutch part, a linear relative movement can be generated between the clutch part coupled to the drive unit and an axially movable actuating unit arranged in this clutch part.

According to the invention, the torque clutch also includes the property that the lower clutch part and the upper clutch part are spring-biased relative to one another, so that when the lower clutch part is blocked in rotation, the upper clutch part can be rotated relative to the lower clutch part. This configuration ensures that the torque coupling actually releases the connection between the lower part and the upper part of the clutch when a critical torque is exceeded.

Furthermore, the upper clutch part preferably comprises a link guide with which an axial actuator of the upper clutch part can be displaced axially relative to the actuator, depending on a direction of rotation of the upper clutch part. Furthermore, the axial actuator is preferably a clutch piston that is guided axially in the upper clutch part and has a roller pin that projects radially at least on one side and engages in the above-mentioned link guide. In this context, it is preferred that the link guide is defined as a curvilinear path, in particular a helical path, in the upper clutch part, which causes a relative axial offset between the upper clutch part and the clutch piston when the upper clutch part rotates.

In order to be able to use this relative axial offset between the upper part of the clutch and the clutch piston, this can preferably be transmitted via an actuator to the actuating unit, in particular to an actuating unit arranged inside the output unit. In addition, the axial offset preferably takes place depending on the direction of rotation of the upper clutch part compared to the lower clutch part in the direction of the output unit or in the direction of the drive unit.

As already described above in combination with the installation tool for a wire thread insert, the upper coupling part and the lower coupling part each have a circumferential sequence of at least two in axial and opposed orientation ramps running in opposite directions and adjacent to a common vertex, which define an engagement contour, preferably a direct engagement contour, between the upper coupling part and the lower coupling part. The angle of inclination used for the ramps in the direction of the apex, in combination with a spring preload between the upper part and the lower part of the clutch, generates a limit torque at which a relative rotation between the upper part and the lower part of the clutch and a relative displacement between an actuator and the upper part or the lower part of the clutch can be generated.

The present invention also discloses an installation method for a wire thread insert in a threaded opening with an installation tool according to any of the embodiments described above. The installation method has the following steps: threading the wire thread insert onto the spindle body in a first direction of rotation of the spindle body, attaching the spindle body with the wire thread insert to the threaded opening and screwing the wire thread insert into the threaded opening using the spindle body by rotating the spindle body in the first direction of rotation until a Stop blocks further axial screwing in of the spindle body, triggering the torque clutch by blocking the spindle body, so that the installation blade is moved into an attack position/operating position via a relative movement to the spindle body or is moved from the operating position to a rest position, and rotating the spindle body in a second position Direction of rotation until the wire thread insert is unscrewed from the spindle body.

The preferred installation method for a wire thread insert of the present invention utilizes the advantageous characteristics of the torque coupling installation tool described above. A wire thread insert is usually screwed into a threaded opening with the help of the installation tool until the spindle of the installation tool is blocked in further rotation by a depth stop. This depth stop determines the depth to which the wire thread insert should be installed in the threaded opening. At the same time, however, the blocking of the rotary movement of the spindle means that further joint rotation of the upper coupling part and the lower coupling part is prevented due to the releasable positive and non-positive connection between them. However, since the drive unit is still operatively connected to the torque coupling, the upper part of the coupling continues to rotate despite the blockage of the lower part of the coupling so that the torque coupling releases the connection between the spindle body and the drive unit. With this release of the active connection between the drive unit and the spindle body is simultaneously a triggers relative axial movement between the upper clutch part and a clutch piston preferably arranged therein. This is because this clutch piston is held radially in a link guide, which converts the continuing rotational movement of the clutch upper part into an axial relative movement between the clutch piston and the clutch upper part. This axial relative movement can be transferred to the spindle body and the installation blade arranged therein and converted into a movement of the installation blade.

The installation method also preferably includes the further step: bending back an installation spigot of the wire thread insert into a thread of the threaded opening by the installation blade, which has been placed in the attacking position, while rotating in the second direction of rotation. In addition, preferably according to the invention, the mounting pin is compressed after bending back and the torque coupling is switched over when a limit torque is reached in combination with a displacement of the installation blade from an engagement position on the wire thread insert into a rest position. According to a further preferred embodiment of the installation method according to the invention, manual or automatic switching takes place between the first and the second direction of rotation.

4. Brief description of the accompanying drawings

Figur 1

eine Explosionsdarstellung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des Einbauwerkzeugs,

Figur 2

eine seitliche Schnittdarstellung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Einbauwerkzeugs,

Figur 3

eine weitere seitliche Schnittdarstellung des bevorzugten Einbauwerkzeugs,

Figur 4

eine Illustration einer ersten Bewegungssequenz des Einbauwerkzeugs beim Eindrehen eines Drahtgewindeeinsatzes in eine Gewindeöffnung,

Figur 5

eine weitere bevorzugte Bewegungssequenz des Einbauwerkzeugs beim Blockieren der weiteren Drehung des Spindelkörpers aufgrund des Tiefenanschlags,

Figur 6

eine Illustration einer sich anschließenden Bewegungssequenz an eine Blockade des Spindelkörpers durch den Tiefenanschlag,

Figur 7

eine Schnittdarstellung der bevorzugten Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 6 zur Illustration der inneren Bewegungsabläufe im Einbauwerkzeug,

Figur 8

eine Illustration einer weiteren Bewegungssequenz des Einbauwerkzeugs beim Rückdrehen des Spindelkörpers,

Figur 9

eine Illustration einer weiteren bevorzugten Bewegungssequenz während des Zurückdrehens des bevorzugten Einbauwerkzeugs,

Figur 10

eine Schnittdarstellung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des Einbauwerkzeugs gemäß Figur 9 zur Illustration der inneren Bewegungsvorgänge im Einbauwerkzeug,

Figur 11

eine Illustration einer weiteren Bewegungssequenz des bevorzugten Einbauwerkzeugs während des Zurückdrehens,

Figur 12

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der Entstörblockade des bevorzugten Einbauwerkzeugs

Figur 13

eine bevorzugte Darstellung der Ansteuerung des bevorzugten Einbauwerkzeugs bei Nutzung der Entstörfunktion,

Figur 14

eine Illustration der bevorzugten Bewegungsabläufe während der Nutzung der Entstörfunktion,

Figur 15

ein Flussdiagramm einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Installationsverfahrens.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

figure 1

an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the installation tool,

figure 2

a lateral sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the installation tool according to the invention,

figure 3

another side sectional view of the preferred installation tool,

figure 4

an illustration of a first movement sequence of the installation tool when screwing a wire thread insert into a threaded opening,

figure 5

a further preferred movement sequence of the installation tool when blocking further rotation of the spindle body due to the depth stop,

figure 6

an illustration of a movement sequence that follows when the spindle body is blocked by the depth stop,

figure 7

according to a sectional view of the preferred embodiment figure 6 to illustrate the internal movements in the installation tool,

figure 8

an illustration of a further movement sequence of the installation tool when turning the spindle body back,

figure 9

an illustration of another preferred movement sequence during the turning back of the preferred installation tool,

figure 10

according to a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the installation tool figure 9 to illustrate the internal movement processes in the installation tool,

figure 11

an illustration of a further movement sequence of the preferred installation tool during the turning back,

figure 12

a preferred embodiment of the interference suppression of the preferred installation tool

figure 13

a preferred representation of the control of the preferred installation tool when using the interference suppression function,

figure 14

an illustration of the preferred movement sequences when using the interference suppression function,

figure 15

a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the installation method according to the invention.

5. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to figure 1 the preferred structure of the installation tool 1 for a wire thread insert is shown on the basis of the exploded view. The installation tool 1 includes a drive unit 10. The drive unit 10 is preferably driven electrically or pneumatically. It also preferably includes a start switch 12 to switch the drive unit 10 on or off. Accordingly, a spindle body 20 begins rotating or stops rotating when the start switch 12 is actuated. Furthermore, the drive unit 10 preferably includes a switch 14 for changing the direction of rotation. If this switch is actuated, preferably in combination with the start switch 12, the direction of rotation of the drive unit 10 is reversed.

The spindle body 20 has a threaded section 22 facing away from the drive unit 10 . The wire thread insert to be installed is screwed on or off this.

The spindle body 20 has an inner cavity in which a slide 24 is arranged. The slide 24 is axially displaceable via the release of a torque clutch or a clutch arrangement 30, which is explained in more detail below.

At an installation end of the spindle body 20 that faces away from the drive unit 10, an opening to the inner cavity of the spindle body 20 is provided. Correspondingly, at this point, a built-in blade 28 or the slide 24 preferably adjustably engages from the inside of the spindle body 20 to the outside. In addition, the installation end preferably has installation structure to hold a wire-threaded insert on the threaded portion 22 in a rotationally fixed manner. The preferred installation structure for a wire thread insert with a bend back tang is in DE 10 2010 050 735 described and incorporated by reference. Alternatively, for a wire thread insert with a radial mounting tang, the installation structure consists of a radial recess or groove. Furthermore, the built-in blade 28, which engages in a notch of the wire thread insert arranged radially on the inside, can also preferably be used as an installation structure.

A depth stop 26 is preferably arranged on the threaded section 22 . If the threaded section 22 with wire thread insert up to the depth stop 26 in a threaded opening screwed in, then the depth stop 26 blocks further screwing in and further rotation of the spindle body 20 in the screwing-in direction or installation direction Ri. (S2, S3)

Within a housing G in which the spindle body 20 is rotatably held, the clutch assembly 30 is provided. The coupling arrangement 30 establishes a detachable connection between the drive unit 10 and the spindle body 20 . This detachable connection transfers the rotary movement of the drive unit 10 to the spindle body 20 or interrupts the power flow between the drive unit 10 and the spindle body 20.

The torque clutch 30 preferably includes a lower clutch part 32 which is spring-biased against an upper clutch part 34 . The spring preload generates a spring 36. A clutch surface 38, 40 is preferably provided on the upper clutch part 34 and the lower clutch part 32, respectively. These clutch surfaces 38, 40 face each other and are releasably pressed against each other by the spring 36. Depending on the design of the coupling surfaces 38, 40, a positive and a non-positive connection is created between the upper coupling part 34 and the lower coupling part 32, which transmits the rotation of the drive unit 10 to the spindle body 20.

Preferably, each clutch surface 38, 40 includes at least one lobe 39, 41, preferably two, bounded by adjacent valleys. Based on this shape, the clutch faces 38, 40 preferably matingly engage one another. Each cam 39, 41 has an apex via which two ramps inclined in opposite directions are connected to one another.

In the preferred embodiment of the installation tool 1 , the upper coupling part 34 is connected to the drive unit 10 in a rotationally fixed manner. The lower coupling part 32 is preferably connected to the spindle body 20 in a rotationally fixed manner. At the same time, however, the lower coupling part 32 can be deflected in the axial direction, i.e. in the direction of the spindle body 20, against the force of the spring 36.

During installation of the wire thread insert into the threaded bore, the spindle body 20 rotates with the wire thread insert according to the pitch direction of the receiving thread of the threaded bore. As soon as the depth stop 26 runs onto the component with the threaded hole, the spindle body 20 is blocked against further rotation. The torque which the drive unit 10 transmits to the upper clutch part 34 in comparison to the blocked lower clutch part 32 now reaches a limit value, so that the upper clutch part 34 is rotated relative to the lower clutch part 32 . (S4)

The limit torque is preferably initially determined by the biasing force of the spring 36 between the upper clutch part 34 and the lower clutch part 32. In this context, it is also preferred, for example, for the clutch surfaces 38, 40 lying against one another to be flat. A frictional connection between the two clutch surfaces 38, 40, which would be determined solely by the surface friction, then determines the limit torque. For this purpose, the coupling surfaces 38, 40 are preferably also profiled or roughened.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, the clutch surfaces 38,40 have interlocking ridges and valleys as shown in FIGS figures 5 , 6 , 8th are recognizable. A cam is correspondingly formed by two ramps running towards a vertex. The limit torque of the torque clutch 30 can be set as a function of the angle of inclination of the ramps, which run towards the common apex. The steeper the ramps rise to the apex, the higher the limit torque for triggering the torque clutch 30 must be.

The clutch base 32 is provided with an axial cavity. This serves to accommodate and move a pin-like slide connection 42. The slide connection 42 preferably serves to transmit a linear movement along the longitudinal axis of the installation tool 1. Here, the movement of a clutch piston 44 within the clutch upper part 34 via the slide 24 onto the installation blade 28 or directly the bed blade 28 transferred. Preferably, the slide 24 and the slide connection 42 are connected to the spindle body 20 and/or the lower coupling part 32 in a torque-proof manner. As a result, they cannot be twisted against each other.

According to the invention, the upper coupling part 34 is preferably provided as a hollow-cylindrical sleeve, at least over an axial partial area. In the inner cylindrical free space of the clutch upper part 34, the clutch piston 44 is held in an axially displaceable manner. For this purpose, the clutch piston 44 preferably has at least one roller pin 46 which projects radially outwards. The roller pin 46 is fixedly arranged in the clutch piston 44 . In addition, the roller pin 46 is preferably accommodated and guided in a link guide 48 of the upper clutch part 34 .

If the clutch arrangement 30 is in the released state, the upper clutch part 34 rotates together with the clutch piston 44 and the lower clutch part 32. The rotation of the clutch piston 44 is based on the rotary entrainment of the roller pin 46 by the link guide 48. The form-fitting connection between the cams 39 , 41 and valleys of the coupling surfaces 38, 40, the non-rotatable connection of the coupling piston 44 to the spindle body 20 is created via the slide connection 42.

As soon as the clutch arrangement 30 is triggered, the upper clutch part 34 rotates relative to the lower clutch part 32 and the spindle body 20 which is blocked against rotation. As a result, the roller pin 46 remains in its rotational angle position, while the link guide 48 of the upper clutch part 34 moves on. Since the link guide 48 has a slope, preferably the link guide 48 has a helix shape, the clutch piston 44 is displaced in the axial direction during a relative rotation between the clutch piston 44 and the upper clutch part 34 . The strength and the direction of the axial offset of the clutch piston 44 is determined by the slope and the direction of the link guide 48 .

Referring to figure 4 the screwing of the wire thread insert into the threaded opening is first shown schematically (S3) until the depth stop 26 blocks the component (not shown). For this purpose, the threaded section 22 preferably has a right-hand thread, so that the drive unit 10 works in a clockwise direction for installation (see arrows in figure 4 ). With a left-hand thread on the threaded section 22, the movements required for driving and installation take place in the opposite direction.

After the depth stop 26 blocks further rotation of the spindle body 20, the upper coupling part 34 continues to rotate relative to the lower coupling part 32 (see FIG figure 5 ). Since the clutch piston 44 is non-rotatably connected to the lower clutch part 32, the link guide 48 rotates relative to the roller pin 46 arranged therein (S4).

According to the figure 5 The preferred embodiment shown has the link guide 48 a slope in the installation direction R _I similar to a left-hand thread. If the link guide 48 is thus rotated to the right around the clutch piston 44, the link guide 48 moves the clutch piston 44 via the roller pin 46 in the installation direction R _I . With this preferential axial movement, the slider 24 is axially displaced to displace the bed blade 28 from inside the spindle body 20 to the outside (S4). This preferably prepares the further installation of the wire thread insert with bendable pins, as shown in DE 10 2010 050 735 is described. In general, the installation blade 28 is exhibited by the axial movement of the clutch piston 44 in the installation direction Ri. This motion is also preferably used to eject a mounting tang of a wire threaded insert from a radial groove at the installation end of threaded portion 22 .

Similarly, it is also preferred to return an already deployed installation blade 28 or pusher to the spindle body 20. For this purpose, the link guide 48 preferably has a course similar to a right-hand thread in a clockwise rotating drive unit 10 . In this case, the relative rotation between the lower clutch part 32 and the upper clutch part 34 would cause an axial offset of the clutch piston 44 against the installation direction R _I .

In the case of a left-hand rotating drive unit 10, the link guide 48 would have to be inclined correspondingly the other way around, ie with an axial offset in the installation direction Ri similar to a right-hand thread and opposite to the installation direction R _I similar to a left-hand thread.

The offset in the installation direction R _I is also shown schematically in figure 7 illustrated. It can be seen here how the axial offset of the clutch piston 44 is transmitted to the slide 24 and the installation blade 28 via the slide connection 42 . figure 10 shows how a preferred axial offset takes place against the installation direction R _I. Since the clutch piston 44, the slide connection 42, the slide 24 and the installation blade 28 are preferably coupled axially, the axial offset of the clutch piston 44 leads to the installation blade 28 being drawn into the spindle body 20.

After the installation blade 28 has been displaced, the direction of rotation of the drive unit 10 is preferably reversed (S7). According to a preferred embodiment, this is done by triggering or pressing the start switch 12 and the switch 14 for changing the direction of rotation at the same time. It is also preferable to provide only one switch for this function or to change the direction of rotation automatically. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the direction of rotation changes, the switch for changing the direction of rotation does not engage. In this way, the handling and use of the installation tool is facilitated.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, after threading a retractable pin wire threaded insert with right-hand threads, the spindle body 20 rotates counter-clockwise with the installation blade 28 deployed DE 10 2010 050 735 which is incorporated herein by reference, the bendable tang of the wire thread insert is first bent back into the threads of the threaded hole (S5).

This is followed by upsetting of the pin (S6). During upsetting, the installation blade 28 presses against the trunnion, thereby blocking further rotation of the spindle body 20. This blockage in rotation results in a release of the clutch assembly 30 in a manner similar to the abutting of the depth stop 26 described above figure 5 The process described takes place in the opposite direction, as in figure 9 is illustrated. In this context, the limit torque of the clutch arrangement 30 is used to set the maximum torque with which the pin is compressed.

The rotational blockade of the spindle body 20 also blocks the lower clutch part 32. Accordingly, the upper clutch part 34 continues to rotate relative to the lower clutch part 32 and axially displaces the clutch piston 44 counter to the installation direction R _I .

Due to the axial offset against the installation direction R _I , the installation blade 28 is released from engagement or attack on the wire thread insert (S6). This releases the locking of the spindle body 20 from rotating, and the threaded portion 22 is stripped from the installed wire thread insert (S9).

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, before the axial displacement of the installation blade 28 occurs, the installation blade 28 engages the end of the wire thread insert to be upset. This attack is preferably by a frictional connection between the Supports installation blade 28 and the end of the wire thread insert, which may make it difficult to loosen the installation blade 28 by said axial offset. Therefore, it is preferred to precede the above-mentioned axial offset for loosening the connection between the installation blade 28 and the wire thread insert with a counter-rotation opposite to the upsetting rotary movement. This counter-rotation includes an angle of rotation of less than 360°, preferably less than 180° or even less than 90°. This reverse rotation disengages the installation blade 28 from frictional engagement with the end of the wire thread insert to be upset. Preferably, this counter-rotation relieves the installation blade 28. The above-described axial displacement of the installation blade 28 then takes place, with this movement preferably not being impeded by friction losses.

In order to be able to start a new installation process, the direction of rotation of the drive unit 10 is preferably first switched to the direction of the thread of the threaded section 22 . A new wire thread insert can thus be threaded onto the threaded section 22 (S1) and subsequently installed.

During the installation of a Wire Thread Insert, the threaded portion 22 may become jammed in the threaded opening of the component without installing the Wire Thread Insert. Because of the canting, the limit torque of the clutch arrangement 30 is exceeded and the clutch arrangement 30 is released. Accordingly, the installation blade is now in a position in which it could impede removal of the wire thread insert from the threaded opening and/or unwinding of the wire thread insert from the threaded section 22 .

It is therefore preferred to initially block the rotation of the spindle body 20 with the aid of an interference suppression block 50 . The interference suppression block 50 is preferably a pin which is pressed against a flat surface or into a depression or into a groove on the spindle body 20 . The resulting frictional connection between the interference suppression blockage 50 and the spindle body 20 prevents the spindle body 20 from rotating. In this context, it is also preferable for the lower coupling part 32 to be blocked. In this way, the same function as provided by the pin 50 described above is achieved.

The direction of rotation of the drive unit 10 is now preferably changed by actuating the start switch 12 and the switch 14 for changing the direction of rotation simultaneously (S7). The thereby When the drive unit 10 is rotated, the torque limit is exceeded because the drive unit 10 attempts to rotate the upper clutch part 34 against the lower clutch part 32 which is held in place. Accordingly, the clutch arrangement 30 releases and axially switches the clutch piston 44 and thus the bed blade 28 back to the starting position. The threaded section 22 with the wire thread insert is now preferably removed from the threaded opening. It is then preferred that the wire thread insert still on the threaded section 22 is installed again in the threaded opening. Alternatively, it is also preferred to remove the wire thread insert located on the threaded portion 22 and spin on a new wire thread insert. After threading is complete, the newly threaded wire thread insert can be installed into the threaded opening of the component.

Reference List

1

installation tool

10

drive unit

12

start switch

14

Direction change switch

20

spindle body

22

threaded section

24

slider

26

depth stop

28

built-in blade

30

clutch assembly

32

coupling lower part

34

coupling upper part

36

Feather

38, 40

clutch faces

42

slider connection

44

clutch piston

46

roller pin

48

link guide

50

interference suppression

Ri

installation direction

Claims (14)

1. Installation tool (1) for a wire thread insert which comprises the following features:

   a. a drive unit (10), in particular an electric or pneumatic drive unit, which provides a rotation movement switchable between a first and a second direction,

   b. a mandrel body (20) with a drive section for rotating the mandrel body (20) and with a thread section (22) onto which the wire thread insert is rotatable on and from which the wire thread insert is rotatable off,

   c. an installation blade (28) which is movably arranged in the mandrel body (20) between an engagement position and a rest position in order to attach in a targeted manner at the wire thread insert and/or to release itself from an attachment or engagement at the wire thread insert, and characterized in that the installation tool comprises as further features:

   d. a torque clutch (30) consisting of a form-fit and force-fit interlocking clutch upper part (34) and clutch lower part (32), of which

   the clutch upper part (34) is fixedly connected with the drive unit (10) and

   the clutch lower part (32) is connected torque-proof with the mandrel body (20), while with

   e. a decoupled relative rotation between the clutch upper part (34) and the clutch lower part (32), caused by exceeding a limit torque between clutch upper part (34) and clutch lower part (32), a relative movement between the mandrel body (20) and the installation blade (28) is generable.
2. Installation tool (1) according to claim 1, in which the clutch lower part (32) and the clutch upper part (34) are arranged against each other in a spring-pretensioned manner, so that in case of a rotation blockage of the clutch lower part (32) over the mandrel body (20), the clutch upper part (34) is rotatable with respect to the clutch lower part (32), with the clutch lower part (32) giving way in a springy manner.
3. Installation tool (1) according to claim 2, in which the clutch upper part (34) comprises a link guide (48) with which an axial actuator (42) of the clutch upper part (34) is axially displaceable depending on a rotation direction of the clutch upper part (34), with the axial actuator (42) not co-rotating with the clutch upper part (34).
4. Installation tool (1) according to claim 3, in which the axial actuator (42) is a clutch piston (44) that is axially guided in the clutch upper part (34) with a roller pin (46) radially protruding on at least one side, which engages into the link guide (48).
5. Installation tool (1) according to claim 4, in which the link guide (48) defines a curvilinear path, in particular a helix path, in the clutch upper part (34), which causes a relative axial displacement between the clutch upper part (34) and the clutch piston (44) when the clutch upper part (34) is rotated relative to the clutch piston (44).
6. Installation tool (1) according to claim 5, in which the axial displacement of the clutch piston (44) is transferable to the installation blade (28) via an actuator (24) and/or in which the axial displacement takes place depending on the rotation direction of the clutch upper part (34) compared with the clutch lower part (32) in the direction of the mandrel body (20) or in the direction of the drive unit (10).
7. Installation tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the clutch upper part (34) and the clutch lower part (32) each comprises in an axial orientation and opposite to each other a circumferential sequence of at least two contra-directional ramps being adjacent with respect to a common vertex, with the ramps defining an engagement contour between the clutch upper part (34) and the clutch lower part (32).
8. Installation tool (1) according to claim 7 in which an inclination angle of the ramps in combination with a spring pretension between the clutch upper part (34) and the clutch lower part (32) determines a limit torque, at which a relative rotation between the clutch upper part (34) and the clutch lower part (32) is generable.
9. Installation tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims which comprises a manual anti-disruption blockage (50) with which a rotation movement of the mandrel body (20) is block-able in a targeted manner so that in combination with a rotation direction reversion of the drive unit (10), the installation tool (1) is displaceable into an initial state.
10. Torque clutch (30) for a tool (1) which comprises the following features:

    a clutch upper part (34) and clutch lower part (32) engaging into each other in a form-fit and force-fit manner, of which

    the clutch upper part (34) or the clutch lower part (32) is connectable with a drive unit (10) in a torque-proof manner and

    the other clutch part is connectable with an output unit (20) in a torque-proof manner, characterized in that with

    a decoupled relative rotation between clutch upper part (34) and clutch lower part (32), caused by exceeding a limit torque between the clutch upper part (34) and the clutch lower part (32), a linear relative movement is generable between the clutch part (34) that is coupled to the drive unit (10) and an axially movable actuation unit (44) that is arranged in this clutch part (34),

    in which the clutch lower part (32) and the clutch upper part (34) are spring-pretensioned against each other, so that in case of a rotation blockage of the clutch lower part (32), the clutch upper part (34) is rotatable with respect to the clutch lower part (32) and in which the clutch upper part (34) comprises a link guide (48) with which an axial actuator (44) of the clutch upper part (34) is axially displaceable depending on a rotation direction of the clutch upper part (34) relative to the actuator (44).
11. Installation method for a wire thread insert in a thread opening with an installation tool (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, comprising the following steps:

    i) screwing or rotating (S1) the wire thread insert onto the mandrel body (20) in a first rotation direction of the mandrel body (20),

    ii) placing (S2) the mandrel body (20) with the wire thread insert in position at the thread opening and screwing (S3) the wire thread insert into the thread opening with the help of the mandrel body (20) by rotating the mandrel body (20) in the first rotation direction until a stop (26) blocks a further axial screwing in of the mandrel body (20),

    iii) actuating (S4) the torque clutch (30) by blocking the mandrel body (20) so that by means of a relative movement with respect to the mandrel body, the installation blade (28) is displaced into an attachment position/operating position or is displaced from the operating position into a rest position, and

    iv) rotating (S9) the mandrel body (20) in a second rotation direction until the wire thread insert in the thread opening is screwed or rotated off from the mandrel body (20).
12. Installation method according to claim 11, with the further step:
    bending back (S5) an installation tang of the wire thread insert into a thread of the thread opening by means of the installation blade (28) which is displaced into an engagement position during the rotation in the second rotation direction.
13. Installation method according to claim 12, with the further step:
    compressing (S6) the installation tang after bending back and switching the torque clutch (30) when reaching a limit torque in combination with a displacing of the installation blade (28) from an attachment position at the wire thread insert into a rest position.
14. The installation method according to one of the claims 11 to 13, with the further step:

    manual (S7) or automatic (S8) switching between the first and the second rotation direction and/or

    blocking a rotation of the mandrel body (20) with an anti-disruption blockage (50) and changing the rotation direction of the mandrel body (20), which causes an actuating of the torque clutch (30) and a moving back of the installation blade (28) into an initial position.

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