FR2590330A1 - Device for clamping at least two adjoining components to be assembled, and clamping assembly comprising a clamping tool and the said clamping device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device 1 for clamping at least two adjoining components 5, 6, 7 equipped with aligned bores 2, 3, 4 comprising a head 8 having a hole to receive a sliding rod 10 the threaded end of which, neighbouring the head, interacts with a nut 14 and the other end of which is equipped with a stud 13. According to the invention, the clamping device 1 comprises blocking means comprising a first element secured to the head 8 and a second element 15 secured rotationally to the rod 10, the first and second blocking elements interacting so as to rotationally block the rod in a projecting position, relative to the bores, of the stud 13, so that any additional rotation of the nut in the same direction leads to an axial translation of the rod. The invention applies to the clamping of adjoining components.

Description

The present invention relates to a clamping device of at least two adjoining parts to be assembled, intended to be introduced into at least two bores aligned with each other provided, respectively, in said parts, as well as an assembly clamp comprising a clamping tool and said clamping device.

US-A-3,747,168 already describes a clamping device for this use comprising - a head capable of coming to bear on one face of a part and which is provided with a bore whose longitudinal axis is offset by relative to the longitudinal axis of the head, - the bore being capable of slidingly receiving a rod, threaded at least at its end portion close to the head, and the other end of which comprises a lug, and - a nut intended to cooperate with the threaded part of the rod so that, after introduction of the clamping device into the bores, introduction during which the lug is in alignment position relative to the bores, and after rotation of the rod, and consequently of the lug, up to a projecting position of the latter relative to the bores, the rotation of the nut makes it possible to tighten the parts to be assembled between the head and the lug.

The main drawback of the device described in the patent cited above lies in that, in this case, it is not possible to use automatic means for locking the device against the parts to be assembled. Indeed, on the one hand, once the lug is in said projecting position, the axial translation of the rod, making it possible to lock the device, can only be obtained by manually blocking the latter in rotation. On the other hand, the operator must, each time, prevent the head from rotating by means of a spindle passing through it and engaging in a corresponding blind hole provided in one of the parts to be assembled.

It thus appears that the use of the clamping device described in US-A-3,747,168 requires numerous manual operations, which, in practice, prohibits, or at least strongly limits, the use, over a large area. scale, of such a device.

The object of the present invention is therefore to avoid this drawback by providing a tightening device designed in such a way that it is possible to automate the locking and / or tightening process thereof.

To this end, the clamping device, of the type described above, is particularly remarkable, according to the invention, in that it comprises blocking means comprising a first element secured to the head and a second element secured to rotation of the rod and capable of being rotated by the nut at the same time as the rod between said alignment position and said projection position, projection position in which said first and second locking elements cooperate to block rotation of the rod, so that any additional rotation of the same direction of the nut causes an axial translation of the rod in the direction of tightening of the parts.

Thus, after introduction of the device into the bores of the parts, a single and same movement of rotation of the nut allows, first of all, a rotation of the threaded rod to the position of projection of the lug, then, once this projecting position is reached, an axial translation of the rod allowing the parts to be clamped.

Thanks to the invention, the use of a rotary, automatic, clamping tool becomes possible, and the clamping device can be used on an industrial scale.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the second blocking element comprises a cam, of generally circular shape, housed in a recess provided in said head, and provided with an arcuate window into which a stop constituting the first element is introduced. locking, the cam being pierced with a hole for the introduction of the threaded rod, the cross section of the rod and that of said hole being adapted so that any rotation of the rod causes a concomitant rotation of the cam.

In particular, the rod and the cam hole may have corresponding oblong sections, and the cam window may extend around its periphery over approximately half of its circumference.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the clamping device further comprises a guide body in said bores, integral with said head and provided with a bore, in alignment with the bore of the head, for slidingly receiving said rod.

In this case, it is also possible to provide return means between the lug and the base of the body, against which the axial translation of the rod takes place.

Another possibility consists in providing an additional guide body mounted on said rod in the vicinity of the lug, return means then being provided between said guide body and said additional guide body.

According to another characteristic of this embodiment, said guide body is cylindrical of circular section, and the lug is in the form of a disc integral with the rod, of diameter at least substantially equal to the diameter of the body and whose l 'central axis is offset from the axis of the rod by a value at least substantially equal to the offset between the longitudinal axis of the head and that of its bore.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the invention, the head of the clamping device is provided with a central recess in which are housed return means, against which the axial translation of the rod. More specifically, said return means can be provided between the bottom of said recess and a guide body surrounding the rod in the vicinity of the lug and which can slide in the recess.

As seen above, the invention allows the use of an automatic clamping tool capable of cooperating with a clamping device to lock it.

To make it even simpler. The use of the clamping device, the invention further relates to a clamping assembly comprising a clamping tool, and at least one clamping device of at least two joined pieces to be assembled, intended to be introduced into at least two bores aligned with each other provided, respecti.vement, in said parts, the clamping device comprising - a head capable of coming to bear on one face of a part and which is provided a bore, the longitudinal axis of which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the head, the bore being capable of slidingly receiving a rod, threaded at least at its end portion close to the head, and the other end of which comprises a lug, and, - a nut intended to cooperate with the threaded part of the rod so that, after introduction of the clamping device into the bores, introduction during which the lug is in the alignment position relative to the bores, and after rotation of the rod, and consequently of the lug, to a projecting position of the latter relative to the bores, the rotation of the nut makes it possible to tighten the parts to be assembled between the head and the lug, and the tightening tool comprising - a head having a sleeve capable of cooperating with said nut, and - means for driving the sleeve in rotation, the assembly being notably remarkable in that the head of the tool and the head of the clamping device comprise, respectively, first and second means capable of cooperating with each other so that the engagement of the head of the clamping device with the head of the tool guarantees locking in rotation of the clamping device head.

In particular, the head of the tool has a recess for receiving at least a portion, of corresponding shape, of the head of the clamping device.

Finally, according to yet another characteristic of the invention, said recess and said part of the head of the clamping device have cylindrical shapes of complementary circular section, and said first and second means comprise, respectively, at least one projection provided on the internal lateral surface of the head of the tool, respectively on the external lateral surface of the head of the clamping device, capable of cooperating with a notch provided in the head of the clamping device, respectively in the head of the tool.

The figures of the appended drawings will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate identical or similar elements.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the clamping device of the invention before introduction into the aligned bores of three adjoining parts to be assembled.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the clamping device of FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of a locking cam of a clamping device of the invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic view in axial section of the body and the head of a clamping device of the invention.

Figures 5A and 5B are schematic views of a modified embodiment of the clamping device of Figure 1, respectively, in the projection position of the lug and in the locking position.

Figure 6 is a schematic view in axial section of another embodiment of the clamping device of the invention.

Figures 7A, 8A and 9A are schematic views of the clamping device of the invention, respectively, in the insertion position in the bores of the parts, in the projection position of the lug and in the locking position.

Figures 7B, 8B and 9B are top views of Figures 7A, 8A and 9A, respectively.

Figures 7C, 8C and 9C are simplified bottom views of Figures 7A, 8A and 9A, respectively.

Figure 10 is a schematic view of the clamping tool of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the head of the clamping tool of FIG. 10.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the clamping device 1 according to the invention is intended to be introduced into the bores 2, 3, 4 aligned with each other provided, respectively, in a number 5,6,7 pieces joined together to assemble. By way of example, three pieces, in the form of a plate, joined to one another are shown in FIG. 1.

The clamping device 1 comprises a head 8 capable of coming to bear on one face of a part (the upper part 5 in the example shown in FIG. 1) and which is provided with a bore 9 whose longitudinal axis
XX 'is offset from the longitudinal axis YY' of the head 8.

The bore 9 is capable of slidingly receiving a rod 10, threaded at least at its end part 11 adjacent to the head 8, and the other end 12 of which has a lug 13.

The clamping device 1 further comprises a nut 14 intended to cooperate with the threaded part 11 of the rod 10 (a safety ring is provided at this end 11 to prevent the nut 14 from escaping), as well as a cam 15, of generally circular shape, housed in a recess 16 provided in the head 8, and provided with an arcuate peripheral window 17 extending, for example, over approximately half of its circumference.

The cam 15 is capable of cooperating with a stop 18 integral with the head 8, in particular of the periphery of the recess 16, and which can be introduced into the arcuate window 17 of the cam 15.

The cam 15 is, moreover, provided with a hole 19 for the introduction of the threaded part 11 of the rod 10, the rod 10 and the cam hole 19 having corresponding oblong sections. In particular, the threaded part 11 of the rod 10 has two diametrically opposite flats, a single flat 20 being visible in FIG. 2. The cam 15 is held in the recess 16 by means of an elastic ring 21 housed in a groove 22 in the head 8.

In the embodiment of the clamping device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it further comprises a guide body 23 in the bores of the parts to be assembled. The body 23 is integral with the head 8 and is provided with a bore 24, in alignment with the bore 9 of the head 8, for slidingly receiving the rod 10. There are also provided return means, such than a helical spring 25, between the lug 13 and the base of the body 23.

With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the clamping device 1 of the invention is, in this example, suitable for clamping two parts 26, 27 joined to one another.

The embodiment of the clamping device 1 illustrated by these figures is modified, compared to the embodiment illustrated by Figures 1 to 4, by the addition of an additional guide body 28 mounted on the rod 10 in the vicinity of the lug 13. In this case, the return means 25 are provided between the additional guide body 28 and the base of the guide body 23 secured to the head 8 of the clamping device 1. In the case where the nut 14 would include a pressure base, the return means 25 could be omitted.

It should be noted that, in the examples described above, the guide body 23 secured to the head 8 is cylindrical with a circular section. In this case, the lug 13 is in the form of a disc integral with the rod 10, of diameter at least substantially equal to the diameter of the body and whose central axis is offset from the axis of the rod 10 of a value at least substantially equal to the offset between the longitudinal axis of the head 8 and that of its bore 9.

Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment of the clamping device of the invention which is specially adapted for clamping thin plates 29,30 contiguous.

In this case, the clamping device 1 ′ likewise comprises a head 8 ′ in which a rod 10 ′ can slide, capable of cooperating, at one end, with a nut 14 ′ and with locking means, comprising a cam 15 'and a stop 18', and which is provided at its other end with a lug 13 '.

On the other hand, the head 8 ′ is, in this particular embodiment, provided with a central recess 31 in which the return means 25 ′ are housed. The latter are provided between the bottom of the recess 31 and a guide body 32 surrounding the rod 10 'in the vicinity of the lug 13' and which can slide in the recess 31.

There is also provided a first seal 33 between the base of the head 8 'and one of the parts 29 to be assembled, as well as a second seal 34, surrounding the rod 10', arranged between the two parts 35 , 36 constituting the head 8 '.

It is obvious that in the other embodiments, similar seals can also be provided.

The clamping device 1,1 'of the invention is particularly suitable for cooperating with the rotary clamping tool 37 schematically represented in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Referring to FIG. 10, the clamping tool 37 comprises a body 38 in which are housed drive means, such as an electric motor (not shown), connected, by a link 39, to an electrical supply. suitable, and controlled, for example, by a trigger 40, and a head 41 having a socket 42 capable of cooperating with the nut 14,14 'of the clamping device 1, 1', the socket 42 being rotated by said drive means via a shaft 43.

According to the invention, the head 41 of the tool and the head 8, 8 'of the clamping device comprise, respectively, first and second means capable of cooperating with each other so that the engagement of the head 8, 8 'of the clamping device with the head 41 of the tool guarantees the locking in rotation of the head of the clamping device.

In particular, the head 41 of the tool has a recess 44 for receiving at least a portion, of corresponding shape, of the head 8,8 'of the clamping device.

The recess 44 and the part of the head of the clamping device which is received therein may have cylindrical shapes of complementary circular section. In this case, as in the example shown in FIG. 11, a projection 45 is provided on the internal lateral surface of the head 41 of the tool delimiting the recess 44.

This projection 45 is capable of cooperating with a notch 46 provided in the head 8 of the clamping device 1 (Figures 1 and 2), or, possibly, with a notch (not shown) provided in the projecting part 35 of the head 8 ' in the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6.

Another possibility, illustrated by FIGS. 7 to 9, consists in providing flats 48, for example diametrically opposite, in the head 8 of the clamping device, the section of the recess in the head of the tool then having a shape corresponding.

The operation of the clamping device of the invention will be explained below in detail with reference to Figures 7 to 9.

In this case, the clamping device 1 is intended to clamp two adjoining flat parts 49.50, and is produced as in the example, illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 4, described above. It is obvious that the operating principle remains the same for all the embodiments shown.

FIG. 7A shows the clamping device 1 in the position of insertion into the bores 49a, 50a of the parts 49.50 to be assembled. In this position, the lug 13 is in alignment with the guide body 23, and the assembly can slide in the bores until the head 8 is supported on the free face of the part 49. The lug 13 is then outside the bores of the parts to be assembled in alignment with them.

A rotation of the nut 14 allows, at first, to rotate the rod 10 by a certain angle (preferably about 1800). Thus, the lug rotates, by the same angle, until it is in its projecting position illustrated by FIGS. 8A and 8C, position in which it is no longer in alignment with the bores 49a and 50a (this is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 8C).

During this rotational movement of the rod 10, the cam 15, integral in rotation with the rod, also rotates around 1800 (FIG. 8B), the window 17 moving, relative to the stop 18 integral with the head 8, from the same angle. In this projection position of the lug, the cam 15 is blocked in rotation by the stop 18 so that the rod 10 can no longer rotate. Thus, any additional rotation of the same direction of the nut 14 causes an axial translation of the rod 10, against the return means 25, so as to clamp the parts 49.50 between the base of the head 8 and the 'pin 13 (Figure 9A). It will be noted that the cross-hatched portion 51 in the form of a crescent in FIG. 9C represents the active bearing surface of the lug 13 at the periphery of the bore 50a of the part 50.

The nut 14 can cause the rod 10 to rotate thanks to the friction of a brake (not shown) with which it can be provided, to the friction between the base of the nut which can then be widened and the cam, or else under the influence of the return means 25. It is obvious that any combination of these possibilities is also possible.

The nut 14 can be driven in rotation, in a particularly advantageous manner, by the rotary tightening tool 37.

The head 8 of the clamping device being introduced into the recess 44 of the head 41 of the tool (the first being locked in rotation in the recess by the cooperating means described above), the nut 14 is housed in the socket 42 whose rotation causes that of the nut. The rod 10 could also be driven in rotation by a tightening tool 37 comprising a disengageable bush 42, driven by friction relative to the shaft 43 in which the flat part 20 of the rod 10 fits. It is then possible to use a nut 14, not equipped with brake.

The implementation of the clamping device of the invention is therefore particularly simple and, in particular, it requires only a minimum of manual operations.

Claims (14)

1 - Clamping device of at least two adjoining parts to be assembled, intended to be introduced into at least two bores aligned with each other provided, respectively, in said parts, of the type comprising - a head capable of come to bear on one face of a part and which is provided with a bore whose longitudinal axis is offset from the longitudinal axis of the head, - the bore being capable of slidingly receiving a rod, threaded at least at its end part close to the head, and the other end of which comprises a lug, and - a nut intended to cooperate with the threaded part of the rod so that, after introduction of the clamping device into the bores , introduction during which the lug is in position of alignment relative to the bores, and after rotation of the rod, and consequently of the lug, until a position of projection of the latter relative to the bores, the rotation of the nut allows to tighten the parts to be assembled between the head and the lug, characterized in that said clamping device (1,1 ') comprises locking means comprising a first element (18,18') integral with the head (8,8 ') and a second element (15,15 ') integral in rotation with the rod (10,10') and capable of being driven in rotation by the nut (14,14 ') at the same time as the rod (10,10') between said alignment position and said projection position, projection position in which said first and second locking elements cooperate to block the rotation of the rod, so that any additional rotation of the same direction of the nut causes an axial translation of the rod in the direction of clamping of the parts. 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second blocking element comprises a cam (15), of generally circular shape, housed in a recess (16) provided in said head (8), and provided with a window arcuate (17) into which is introduced a stop (18) constituting the first blocking element, the cam (15) being pierced with a hole (19) for the introduction of the threaded rod (10), the section of the rod (10) and that of said hole (19) being adapted so that any rotation of the rod causes a concomitant rotation of the cam. 3 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the rod (10) and the cam hole (19) have corresponding oblong sections. 4 - Device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the window (17) of the cam extends at the periphery of the latter over about half of its circumference. 5 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises a guide body (23) in said bores, integral with said head (8) and provided with a bore (24) , in alignment with the bore (9) of the head (8), for slidingly receiving said rod (10). 6 - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that there is provided return means (25) between the lug (13) and the base of the body (23), against which the axial translation takes place the rod (1 O). 7 - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that there is provided an additional guide body (28) mounted on said rod (10) in the vicinity of the lug (13), and in that return means (25 ) are provided between the additional guide body (28) and the base of the guide body (23) secured to the head, against which the axial translation of the rod (10) takes place. 8 - Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said guide body (23) is cylindrical with circular section, and in that the lug (13) is in the form of an integral disc of the rod (10), of diameter at least substantially equal to the diameter of the body and whose central axis is offset from the axis of the rod by a value at least substantially equal to the offset between the longitudinal axis of the head and that of its piercing. 9 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said head (8 ') is provided with a central recess (31) in which are housed return means (25), against which is carried out the axial translation of the rod (10 '). 10 - Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said return means (25) are provided between the bottom of said recess (31) and a guide body (32) surrounding the rod (10 ') in the vicinity of the lug (13 ') and can slide in the recess (31). 11 - Clamping assembly, of the type comprising a clamping tool, and at least one clamping device of at least two adjoining parts to be assembled, intended to be introduced into at least two bores aligned with respect to each other provided, respectively, in said parts, the clamping device comprising - a head capable of coming to bear on one face of a part and which is provided with a bore whose longitudinal axis is offset from the longitudinal axis of the head, - the bore being capable of slidingly receiving a rod, threaded at least at its end part close to the head delta, and the other end of which comprises a lug, and - a nut intended to cooperate with the part threaded on the rod so that, after insertion of the clamping device into the bores, introduction during which the lug is in position of alignment with respect to the bores, and after rotation of the rod, and consequently of the lug, to a projection position ie of the latter relative to the bores, the rotation of the nut makes it possible to tighten the parts to be assembled between the head and the lug, and the tightening tool comprising - a head having a socket capable of cooperating with said nut, and - means for driving the sleeve in rotation, characterized in that the head (41) of the tool and the head (8,8 ') of the clamping device comprise, respectively, first (45) and second (46,48) means capable of cooperating with each other so that the engagement of the head (8,8 ') of the clamping device with the head (41) of the tool guarantees locking in rotation of the head of the clamping device. 12 - assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the head (41) of the tool has a recess (44) for the reception of at least one part, of corresponding shape, of the head (8,8 ') of the clamping device. 13 - assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that said recess (44) and said part of the head (8,8 ') of the clamping device have cylindrical shapes of complementary circular section, and in that said first and second means comprise, respectively, at least one projection (45) provided on the internal lateral surface of the head of the tool, respectively on the external lateral surface of the head of the clamping device, capable of cooperating with a notch (46) provided in the head of the clamping device, respectively in the head of one tool. 14 - assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a clamping device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.