GB2326692A

GB2326692A - Clinching rolls

Info

Publication number: GB2326692A
Application number: GB9713670A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Strachan Harris
Original assignee: STANDARD PROD Ltd
Current assignee: STANDARD PROD Ltd
Priority date: 1997-06-27
Filing date: 1997-06-27
Publication date: 1998-12-30
Also published as: GB9713670D0

Description

CLINCHING ROLLS This invention relates to clinching rolls.

It is well known in the automotive industry to use a clinching apparatus in order to fit a seal having a channel-shaped portion on to a flange. There are numerous different types of apparatus for effecting the clinching. One such known type of apparatus employs a housing from which project two rotatable rigid spindles, there being provision within the housing to cause rotation of the spindles. The clinching apparatus is positioned with the spindles over the exterior of the opposing walls of the channel-shaped portion of the seal when the seal is positioned on the flange and then rotation of the spindles of the clinching apparatus causes the apparatus to advance along the seal, clamping the seal to the flange as the clinching apparatus advances.

It is also common practice to fit clinching rolls to the end of each spindle. The clinching rolls rotate with the spindles and serve to clamp the seal on to the flange. The use of clinching rolls enables the same clinching apparatus to be used for many different seals and/or flanges. For example, one can vary the distance between the clinching rolls by using rolls of different diameters, whereby the clinching apparatus can be adapted to suit flanges/seals of various thicknesses.

Also the clinching roll can be specially designed to suit a particular shape or style of flange.

Clinching rolls are most commonly made from steel or brass which is relatively undeformable. In situations where the flange has a uniform thickness, i.e. without any variation in thickness along its length, clinching rolls made from a metal can provide good results. However, clinching apparatuses fitted with these clinching rolls cannot accommodate large variations in the thickness of the flange to which the seal is to be clamped without loss of positive drive and possibly strain or damage to the apparatus.

Seals may be made from rubbers, sponges or elastomers and may have surface regions coated in silicone. Often a clinching apparatus fitted with standard clinching rolls will slip when used to clinch seals made from such materials.

Another problem with standard clinching rolls is that they can leave an unsightly imprint on the seal.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clinching roll suitable for use with a clinching tool for clinching a channelshaped seal on to a flange, which clinching roll is manufactured wholly or partly from a relatively deformable material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clinching roll suitable for use with a clinching tool for clinching a channelshaped seal on to a flange, which clinching roll has such surface characteristics that there is increased traction between the clinching roll and the seal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a clinching roll suitable for use with a clinching tool for clinching a channelshaped seal on to a flange, which clinching roll has such surface characteristics that it does not leave an imprint on the seal after clinching.

The clinching roll may comprise a inner core made from a relatively hard material and an outer skin made from a relatively deformable material.

Preferably the relatively deformable material is an elastomer, for example styrene butadiene rubber (S.B.R.), ethylene propylene diene monomer (E.P.D.M.) or a natural rubber.

The surface of the clinching roll may be ground, patterned, diamond coated or shotblasted.

Alternatively, the clinching roll may have a relatively smooth surface, such as when the surface is polished, fine turned or plated.

The clinching roll may be manufactured by extrusion, casting, drawing, sintering, moulding or turning.

The clinching roll may be made or partly made from mild steel, stainless steel, cast iron, cast steel, steel alloys, brass, bronze, gunmetal, non-ferrous alloys, a plastics material, ceramics, composites or a glass.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotatable spindle provided with a clinching roll according to the present invention.

A rotatable spindle in accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention may have a degree of flexibility and can be used, for example, in a clinching apparatus such as that described in United Kingdom Patent Application No. 9614721.0 where: at least one of the spindles has (i) a first shaft rotatable along its own elongate axis, (ii) a second shaft rotatable along its own elongate axis, and (iii) a coupling means which allows the second shaft to be flexibly coupled to the first shaft in a manner such that rotation of the first shaft about its own axis causes rotation of the second shaft about its own axis, such that the axis of the second shaft can adopt a nonrectilinear relationship with respect to the axis of the first shaft; the or each such spindle has an elongate resiliently flexible member capable of acting so as to tend to urge the axes of the first and second shafts to adopt a rectilinear configuration; there is provision to allow the spacing between the spindles to increase in a plane in which the spindles lie, whilst preventing flexing of the spindles perpendicular to that plane; and biasing means are present, tending to urge the housings and hence the spindles, together.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clinching tool which comprises a housing and two rotatable spindles in accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention.

A clinching tool in accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention may have provision for pivoting of the spindles with respect to one another at the level of the housing, such as that described in United Kingdom Patent Application No. 9614745.9 whereby: the apparatus has first and second housings each having an upper region and a lower region; the first rotatable spindle, carried by the first housing, projects downwardly below the lower region of the first housing; the second rotatable spindle, carried by the second housing, projects downwardly below the lower region of the second housing; the drive means comprises a first drive means in the upper region of the first housing capable of causing rotation of the first rotatable spindle, the first drive means including a first gear, and a second drive means in the upper region of the second housing and capable of causing rotation of the second rotatable spindle, the second drive means including a second gear, the first and second gears being located meshed and radiused so as to allow the gears to remain operatively engaged even when there is a relative pivoting between the first and second housings over a predetermined angle; and there is also present a resilient closure means tending to urge the lower regions of the first and second housings, and hence the first and second rotatable spindles, together.

Alternatively, provision for pivoting of the spindles with respect to one another at the level of the housing may be provided by means of a rotatable worm as described in United Kingdom Patent Application No. 9707878.6, whereby, in the clinching tool, each rotatable spindle has its own gear wheel and the two gear wheels are capable of being driven directly or indirectly by the rotatable worm.

Claims

1. A clinching roll suitable for use with a clinching tool for clinching a channel-shaped seal on to a flange, which clinching roll is manufactured wholly or partly from a relatively deformable material.

2. A clinching roll suitable for use with a clinching tool for clinching a channel-shaped seal on to a flange, which clinching roll has such surface characteristics that there is increased traction between the clinching roll and the seal.

3. A clinching roll suitable for use with a clinching tool for clinching a channel-shaped seal on to a flange, which clinching roll has such surface characteristics that it does not leave an imprint on the seal after clinching.

4. A clinching roll according to claim 2, which also comprises the characteristics of the clinching roll of claim 1.

5. A clinching roll according to claim 3, which also comprises the characteristics of the clinching roll of claim 1.

6. A clinching roll according to claim 2, which also comprises the characteristics of the clinching roll of claim 3.

7. A clinching roll according to claim 1, which also comprises the characteristics of the clinching rolls of claims 2 and 3.

8. A clinching roll according to any preceding claim, which comprises a inner core made from a relatively hard material and an outer skin made from a relatively deformable material.

9. A clinching roll according to any preceding claim, wherein the relatively deformable material is an elastomer.

10. A clinching roll according to claim 9, wherein the elastomer is styrene butadiene rubber (S.B.R.), ethylene propylene diene monomer (E.P.D.M.) or a natural rubber.

11. A clinching roll according to claims 2, 4, 6 or 7, wherein the surface is ground, patterned, diamond coated or shotblasted.

12. A clinching roll according to claim 3, wherein the clinching roll has a relatively smooth surface.

13. A clinching roll according to claim 12, wherein the surface is polished, fine turned or plated.

14. A clinching roll according to any preceding claim, which is manufactured by extrusion, casting, drawing, sintering, moulding or turning.

15. A clinching tool according to any preceding claim, in which the or each clinching roll is made or partly made from mild steel, stainless steel, cast iron, cast steel, steel alloys, brass, bronze, gunmetal, non-ferrous alloys, a plastics material, ceramics, composites or a glass.

15. A clinching roll according to any preceding claim, which is made or partly made from mild steel, stainless steel, cast iron, cast steel, steel alloys, brass, bronze, gunmetal, non-ferrous alloys, a plastics material, ceramics, composites or a glass.

16. A rotatable spindle which comprises a clinching roll according to any of the preceding claims.

17. A clinching tool which comprises a housing and two rotatable spindles according to claim

16.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS

1. A clinching tool for clinching a channelshaped seal on to a flange, which comprises a housing and two rotatable spindle(s), wherein one or both of the rotatable spindle(s) has fitted to it a clinching roll, and wherein the or each clinching roll is manufactured wholly or partly from a relatively deformable material.

2. A clinching tool for clinching a channelshaped seal on to a flange, which comprises a housing and two rotatable spindle(s), wherein one or both of the rotatable spindle(s) has fitted to it a clinching roll, and wherein the or each clinching roll has such surface characteristics that there is increased traction between the clinching roll and the seal.

3. A clinching tool for clinching a channelshaped seal on to a flange, which comprises a housing and two rotatable spindle(s), wherein one or both of the rotatable spindle(s) has fitted to it a clinching roll, and wherein the or each clinching roll has such surface characteristics that it does not leave an imprint on the seal after clinching.

4. A clinching tool according to claim 2, in which the or each clinching roll also comprises the characteristics of the clinching roll of claim 1.

5. A clinching tool according to claim 3, in which the or each clinching roll also comprises the characteristics of the clinching roll of claim 1.

6. A clinching tool according to claim 2, in which the or each clinching roll also comprises the characteristics of the clinching roll of claim 3.

7. A clinching tool according to claim 1, in which the or each clinching roll also comprises the characteristics of the clinching rolls of claims 2 and 3.

8. A clinching tool according to any preceding claim, in which the or each clinching roll comprises a inner core made from a relatively hard material and an outer skin made from a relatively deformable material.

9. A clinching tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the relatively deformable material is an elastomer.

10. A clinching tool according to claim 9, wherein the elastomer is styrene butadiene rubber (S.B.R.), ethylene propylene diene monomer (E.P.D.M.) or a natural rubber.

11. A clinching tool according to claims 2, 4, 6 or 7, wherein the surface or the or each clinching roll is ground, patterned, diamond coated or shotblasted.

12. A clinching tool according to claim 3, wherein the or each clinching roll has a relatively smooth surface.

13. A clinching tool according to claim 12, wherein the surface of the or each clinching roll is polished, fine turned or plated.

14. A clinching tool according to any preceding claim, in which the or each clinching roll is manufactured by extrusion, casting, drawing, sintering, moulding or turning.