GB2062519A

GB2062519A - Roller swager

Info

Publication number: GB2062519A
Application number: GB8025567A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-11-14
Filing date: 1980-08-06
Publication date: 1981-05-28
Also published as: GB2062519B; AU506708B3

Abstract

A roller swager comprises a pair of axially rotatable shafts 36 mounted parallel to one another, a pair of pinions 38 each mounted on a respective one of said shafts for rotation therewith, a rack 42 mounted for linear motion having teeth on opposed sides thereof, said teeth meshing with said pinions, a pair of spaced roller dies 58 arranged to be mounted on respective shafts in spaced relation for rotation with said shafts, whereby, in use, linear motion is applied to said rack to cause said pinions to rotate and to thereby cause said shafts and dies to rotate. Preferably, linear motion is applied to the rack by hydraulic means. The roller swager of the invention is of simple construction, can be used without being secured to a fixed base, and is suitable for swaging a terminal fitting on a wire rope. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Roller swager The present invention relates to a roller swager.

It is known to swage metal terminal fittings to wire ropes by the technique known as swaging.

Typically, the wire rope is inserted into a hole in the fitting and sufficient pressure is applied to the outside of the fitting to cause the metal to plastically deform onto the wire rope. In this way the fitting is caused to grip the wire rope.

The technique is particularly but not exclusively used in securing sailing boat fittings to wire ropes for rigging. Typical fittings are the screw, eye, fork, toggle, T-bar, and key types and the wire size may range from about 1.5 to about 10 mm in diameter.

Swaging pressure may be provided by compressing the fitting between two dies or by rolling the fitting between two rotatable rollers or circular dies having a peripheral circumferential groove.

Known roller swagers use a hand operated crank which is arranged to be rotated or oscillated on a ratchet to rotate the circular dies through compound reduction gears. The number of gears required and their size necessitates a heavy construction. Further, because the torque at the die is produced by applying an external turning movement to the crank handle, the unit must be secured to a fixed base such as a bench.

The above problems with known roller swagers make them cumbersome to use, especially if they are to be used on the deck of a sailing boat for onsite rigging.

The present invention provides a roller swager which is simpler in construction than known roller swagers and does not require to be secured to a fixed base for use.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a roller swager comprising a pair of axially rotatable shafts mounted parallel to one another, a pair of pinions each mounted on a respective one of said shafts for rotation therewith, a rack mounted for linear motion having teeth on opposed sides thereof, said teeth meshing with said pinions, a pair of spaced roller dies arranged to be mounted on respective shafts for rotation with said shafts, whereby, in use, linear motion is applied to the rack to cause said pinions to rotate and to thereby cause said shafts and dies to rotate.

Linear motion may be applied to the rack by a hydraulic cylinder and piston rod connected to a hydraulic pump. In use, the fitting to be swaged to a wire rope is placed between the roller dies and upon rotation of the dies is rolled between them.

The spacing between the dies is such that the fitting is squeezed and swages onto the wire.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of typical terminal fittings which are swaged to wire ropes; Figure 3 is a simplified plan view of a pair of roller dies showing the technique of roller swaging; Figure 4 is a plan view partly in section of one embodiment of roller swager in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 5 is a plan view similar to Figure 4 of a further embodiment of roller swager in accordance with the present invention.

In Figure 1 there is shown a metal terminal fitting 10 having at one end an eye 12 integrally formed with an elongated shaft 14. The shaft 14 contains an axial hole into which is inserted an end of a wire rope 1 6.

In Figure 2 there is shown a metal terminal fitting 18 having at one end a thread 20 integrally formed with a shaft 22. The shaft 22 contains an axial hole into which is inserted an end of a wire rope 24.

The fittings 10 and 1 8 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are, in use, swaged to the wire ropes 16 and 24 by applying pressure to the outside of the shaft 14 and 22. In accordance with the present invention, this is done by rolling the shafts between a pair of roller dies 26 such as those shown in Figure 3. The dies 26 are substantially circular in plan view and are coplanar with one another. They comprise a part circular peripheral portion 28 having a part circumferential groove 30. Further, they comprise a pair of cut away portions 32. In use, the dies 26 are placed so that the cut away portions 32 are facing one another. One end of the shaft of a fitting with a wire rope inserted in it is placed between the dies 26.The dies 26 are then caused to rotate in counter directions as shown by the curved arrows so that the fitting is engaged by the circumferential grooves 30 and rolled between the dies from right to left as seen in Figure 3. The grooves 30 are so spaced that the shaft of the fitting is plastically deformed by the dies 26 and the fitting is swaged to the wire rope.

In Figure 4, there is shown a roller swager in accordance with the present invention, which comprises a housing 34 containing a pair of vertical parallel shafts 36. The shafts 36 are mounted within the housing in bearings so that they may be axially rotated. Further, each shaft 36 has a pinion 38 mounted on it within the housing 34. Each pinion 38 is, in the embodiment shown, separate from its shaft 36 and is mounted for rotation therewith such as by being keyed.

However, it is envisaged that the pinions 38 could be integrally formed with their respective shafts 36. An elongated rack 42 is located between the pinions 38. The rack 42 comprises rows of teeth 44 on each of two opposed sides, each of said rows of teeth 44 meshing with a respective pinion 38.

The rack 42 is secured to a piston rod 46 which is in turn actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 48. The cylinder 48 is securely mounted in a bush 50 attached to an end of the housing 34.

A return, tension spring 52 is attached to an end of the housing 34 remote from the bush 50 by means of a pin 54. At its inner end the spring 52 is attached to the rack 42 by means of a pin 56.

A roller die 58 is mounted on each shaft 36.

The shafts 36 project through an upper surface of the housing 34 and each roller 58 is mounted on the portion of its respective shaft 36 projecting from the housing 34. As shown, each die 58 is essentially the same as the dies 26 shown in Figure 3 (like reference numerals denoting like parts), and is mounted for rotation with its respective shaft 36 by means of a key 60. In use, hydraulic pressure is applied to the piston rod 46.

This pressure transmits linear motion to the piston rod 46 and thus to the rack 42 and causes the latter to move from right to left as seen in Figure 4, against the action of the spring 52. This action rotates the pinions 38 and thus the shafts 36 and the dies 58.

A fitting placed between the roller dies 58 is thus rolled from right to left between the dies and is plastically deformed by engagement with the circumferential grooves 30. When the fitting has passed completely between the dies the hydraulic pressure is released and the spring 52 automatically contracts to return the rod to its starting position.

The same fitting may be passed between the dies 58 again if desired by repeating the operation described above.

Further, the dies 58 are provided in matching pairs with each pair being arranged to accommodate a fitting of different diameter Thus, the dies 58 can be readily removed from the shaft 36 and replaced by another set of dies for swaging fittings of different diameter.

In Figure 5, there is shown a roller swager similar to that shown in Figure 4 and like reference numerals denote like parts. However, the spring 52 is replaced by a compression spring 61 which is in abutting relation with an internal end of the housing 34 and with an internal end within the rack 42. Further, the piston rod 46 is merely located against the rack 42. Still further, the hydraulic cylinder 48 is arranged to apply pressure such that the piston rod 46 moves from the left to right as shown in Figure 5, against the action of the spring 61. Aslo, it will be seen that each roller die 58 comprises a linear peripheral groove portion 62 at each end of the circumferential groove 30. In this case, grooves 62 on opposed dies 58 are initially located parallel and adjacent and the fitting inserted between them.

The grooves 62 are slightly oversize and their use enables a fitting of the correct diameter to be inserted between the dies 58, but not a fitting which is too big. With the dies shown in Figure 3, it would be possible to attempt to swage a fitting which was far too big and this could damage the dies. The end of two groove portions 62 enables the dies 58 to be readily used either way up.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A roller swager comprising a pair of axially rotatable shafts mounted parallel to one another, a pair of pinions each mounted on a respective one of said shafts for rotation therewith, a rack mounted for linear motion having teeth on opposed sides thereof, said teeth meshing with said pinions, a pair of spaced roller dies arranged to be mounted on respective shafts in spaced relation for rotation with said shafts, whereby, in use, linear motion is applied to said rack to cause said pinions to rotate and to thereby cause said shafts and dies to rotate.

2. A roller swager according to Claim 1 which further comprises a hydraulic piston rod having one end in engagement with an end of the rack and the other end in operative connection with a hydraulic cylinder.

3. A roller swager according to Claim 1, in which means is provided for returning said rack to its initial position.

4. A roller swager according to Claim 2, in which a spring is provided for returning said rack to its initial position.

5. A roller swager according to Claim 2, in which a tension spring is provided for returning said rack to its initial position, said spring being extended by movement of the rack in response to hydraulic pressure exerted on the piston rod and serving to retract the rack on release of said hydraulic pressure.

6. A roller swager according to Claim 2, in which a compression spring is provided for returning said rack to its initial position, said spring being compressed by movement of the rack in response to hydraulic pressure exerted on the piston rod and serving to retract the rack on release of said hydraulic pressure.

7. A roller swager according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each die is provided with a part circumferential groove and said grooves on respective dies are arranged to cooperatively apply pressure to a fitting inserted between the dies.

8. A roller swager according to Claim 7, wherein each part circumferential groove has an aligned linear oversize groove portion at at least one of its ends, said linear groove portion being arranged to initially receive a fitting to be swaged.

9. A roller swager substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A roller swager according to Claim 9 when modified substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.