GB2336172A - Clinching apparatus having pivotable clamping means - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for installing a channel-shaped seal onto a flange comprises first and second rotatable spindles 3, 13 which can carry respective rollers 4, 14 defining a gap of a predetermined distance to apply pressure to the side walls of the seal. The spindles 3, 13 are pivotable relative to each other with the degree of pivoting being either relatively free or relatively restricted. The relatively free pivoting is chosen to facilitate mounting of the apparatus onto the seal and the relatively restricted degree of pivoting secures the apparatus after mounting and is effected by a clamping means 21. The gap between the spindles may be adjustable via screw 23 and in any case a restricted amount of pivoting allows for tolerances in the flange.

Description

2336172 CLINCHING APPARATUS This invention relates to an apparatus

suitable for the clinching of a channel-shaped seal to a flange, particularly as used in the automotive industry.

Seals can be made of a metal-reinforced rubber and/or plastics material, and often have a channelshaped support portion with projecting sealing limbs. For ease of fitting, the seals may be manufactured with the side walls of the channel slightly splayed apart. After fitting on to the flange, the seal is then secured by clinching the support portion of the seal on to the flange. Clinching is effected by passing the seal between a pair or rotatable rollers, usually carried on spindles, which form part of the clinching apparatus. The apparatus is moved along the length of the seal on the flange by a drive means causing rotation of the rollers.

Although the flange can have a uniform thickness, variations in the thickness usually occur. It is therefore desirable to have a clinching apparatus which can tolerate a sudden increase in thickness of the flange without causing a significant reduction in positive drive and without causing any significant strain or damage to the apparatus. GB-A-2315313, GB-A2315236 and UK Patent Application No. 9707878.6 are all examples of such clinching apparatuses.

In practice, it can be difficult to fit the clinching apparatus on to the seal prior to clinching. EP-A-0818278 describes a clinching tool which comprises a prising means to temporarily widen the gap between the rollers and thereby permit the tool to be mounted on the strip.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for installing a channel-shaped seal on to a flange, the seal being 2- generally channel-shaped in cross-section but with the side walls of the channel initially splayed apart to facilitate mounting, the apparatus comprising first and second rotatable spindles which can carry first and second rollers, which rollers define between them a gap of such predetermined distance as to enable them to apply pressure to the splayedapart side walls of the channel, so as to close those side walls towards each other as the apparatus is moved along the length of the flange, whereby the side walls of the seal move into a subsequently retained configuration in which they embracingly grip the flange, wherein the spindles are pivotable relative to each other which pivoting alters the width of the said gap, characterised in that the degree of pivoting between the spindles may be relatively free, in order to facilitate mounting of the apparatus on to the seal, or relatively restricted, in order to secure the apparatus after it has been mounted on the seal and in that said relatively restricted degree of pivoting is effected by a clamping means.

Preferably, the clamping means comprises an overcentre mechanism.

More preferably, at least one of the two rotatable spindles is located in its own housing, and:

said housing is pivotally mounted to a fixed portion of the apparatus; said housing is integral with or rigidly mounted to a linking portion; said linking portion is pivotally connected to a clamping lever at a first pivot point; said clamping lever is also pivotally connected to a connecting member at a second pivot point; said connecting member is pivotally connected, directly or indirectly, to the fixed portion at a third pivot point; and when the first, second and third pivot points are is substantially aligned, the degree of pivoting between the spindles is restricted.

In a first preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the clamping means comprises a linear spring facility which affords a limited degree of pivoting between the spindles after the said degree of pivoting has been restricted by the clamping means.

The linear spring facility may be provided by the connecting member, for example if is arched to act as a flexible beam.

Alternatively, a linear spring facility may be provided if the connecting member is pivotally connected to the fixed portion at the third pivot point via a hinge, the apparatus comprises a hollow body, at one end of which hollow body the hinge is slidably mounted, and the other end of which hollow body is sealed, and within the hollow body, at the opposite end of the hinge f rom the third pivot point, the hinge abuts a plurality of spring washers.

According to a second preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, after the degree of pivoting between the spindles has been restricted by the clamping means, the angle of pivot between the spindles may be adjusted by an adjusting means.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a hollow body, at one end of which the hinge is slidably mounted, and at the other end of which a screw is rotatably mounted, so that rotation of the screw causes the hinge to slide within the hollow body.

According to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or both rotatable spindle(s) is driven by a drive means, the apparatus comprises a switching mechanism for activating said drive means, and the switching mechanism is operated by way of the clamping means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing a channel-shaped seal on to a flange using an apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, where:

the seal, which has side walls which are splayed apart, is fitted onto the flange; the spindles, or any rollers mounted thereon, of said apparatus are pivoted apart sufficiently to accommodate the strip; the clamping means of said apparatus is operated to the clamp the spindles or rollers in the clinching position and grip the strip on the flange; and the apparatus is moved along the length of the seal on the flange by a drive means causing rotation of the spindles or rollers.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of an apparatus is accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 is a side elevation of a variant head region for an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, showing a system in which both spindles are driven.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown a clinching apparatus with a clamping means. The apparatus comprises a head region 1. At one end of the head region 1, there is a first housing 2, in which a first rotatable spindle 3, is centrally located. The first spindle terminates in a first roller 4. The other end of the head region 1 is connected to a nutrunner 5, capable of causing rotation of the first spindle 3, and hence the first roller 4. Mounted on a central part of the head region 1, there is a bracket 6, on which is pivotally mounted a second housing 12.

A second rotatable spindle 13 is centrally located in the second housing 12. The second spindle terminates in a second roller 14. The second housing 12 is integral with a linking member 20, which extends away from the second housing 12 at an angle of about 600 to the second spindle 13. The linking member 20 is pivotally connected to a clamping lever 21 at a f irst pivot point A. The clamping lever 21 is in turn pivotally connected to one end of an intermediate connector 22 at a second pivot point B. Finally, the other end of the intermediate connector 22 is pivotally connected to a hinge 26 at a third pivot point C. The hinge 26 connects the clamping means to the adjusting means. The adjusting means comprises a hollow body 30, which is slidably mounted on the nutrunner 5 by a collar 31. Within the hollow body 30, there is a spring system 32 which is positioned against the hinge 26 at one end, and a screw 33 at the other. A release lever 23 is pivotally connected to the clamping lever 21.

In use, the degree of pivoting between the spindles 3, 13 and therefore the distance between the clinching rollers 4, 14 can be adjusted, depending on the width of the seal and the flange, by twisting or untwisting the screw 33. The clamping means operates between two positions; a "clamped" position, as illustrated, and an "open" position. In the open position, the second spindle 13 may pivot relatively freely with respect to the first fixed spindle 3. This facilitates fitting of the apparatus on to the seal and flange before clinching. once the apparatus is in place, the clamping lever 21 is moved towards the nutrunner 5, until the three pivot points A, B, and C are substantially aligned. This causes the intermediate connector 22 to,lock,' in the clamped position. In the clamped position, the second spindle 13 has a relatively restricted freedom to pivot with respect to the first spindle 3. However, the spring system 32, which tends to urge the second spindle to the clamped position, does allow a relatively small degree of pivoting, which enables the apparatus to tolerate relatively small changes in the thickness of the flange during operation.

The release lever 23 facilitates opening of the clamping means. The release lever 23 is pivotally connected to the clamping lever 21 at pivot point 24, and has a nose 25 which abuts the intermediate connector 22. When the apparatus is in the clamped position, application of pressure to the release lever 23 such as to move it towards the nutrunner 5, so that the release lever 23 pivots about its pivot point 24, causes the nose 25 to rock against the intermediate connector 22. This action causes the three pivot points A, B and C to be brought out of alignment, and the apparatus to move into the open position.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a clinching apparatus with an alternative clamping system. Reference numerals 1 to 20 in Figure 2 correspond to reference numerals 1 to 20 in Figure 1, and indicate corresponding features. In this second embodiment of the apparatus, the clamping lever 41 extends over the top of the nutrunner 5. In an analogous fashion to the first apparatus, the clamping lever 41 is pivotally connected to the linking member 20, at a first pivot point A. The apparatus also comprises an intermediate connector 42, one end of which is pivotally connected to the clamping lever 41 at a second pivot point B, and the other end of which is pivotally connected to is the nutrunner 5 at a third pivot point C. As with the first apparatus, after the apparatus has been fitted on to the seal and flange to be clinched, the clamping lever 41 is moved towards the nutrunner 5, until the three pivot points A, B, and C are substantially aligned. This causes the intermediate connector 42 to "lock" in the clamped position.

In the clamped position, the second spindle 13 has a relatively restricted freedom to pivot with respect to the first spindle 3. However, in this second apparatus, the intermediate connector 42 is arched so it acts as a flexible beam to allow a relatively small degree of pivoting, which enables the apparatus to tolerate relatively small changes in the thickness of the flange during operation. Other arrangements could be envisaged to provide this facility, such as making the connector 42 distortable via a system of springs.

The second apparatus (shown in Figure 2) also comprises a plunger 45 which, when pressed down into the nutrunner 5, activates the drive mechanism. Thus when pressure is applied to the clamping lever 41, so as to move it into the clamped position, pressure is also applied to the plunger 45, activating the drive.

In the apparatuses shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the first spindle 3 is driven, whereas the second spindle 13 is free-wheeling. However, the present invention could also be applied to apparatuses in which both spindles are driven. Figure 3 shows a transfer drive system, in which a respective gear wheel 7, 17 is mounted upon the spindles 3, 13, at the opposite end from the clinching rollers 4, 14. The gearing is coarse enough to tolerate a limited degree of pivot between the spindles, so it may be used in conjunction with an adjusting means, and so that it may tolerate small variations in the thickness of the flange during operation.

Claims (11)

1. An apparatus for installing a channel-shaped seal on to a flange, the seal being generally channelshaped in cross-section but with the side walls of the channel initially splayed apart to facilitate mounting, the apparatus comprising first and second rotatable spindles which can carry first and second rollers, which rollers define between them a gap of such predetermined distance as to enable them to apply pressure to the splayedapart side walls of the channel, so as to close those side walls towards each other as the apparatus is moved along the length of the flange, whereby the side walls of the seal move into a subsequently retained configuration in which they embracingly grip the flange, wherein the spindles are pivotable relative to each other which pivoting alters the width of the said gap, characterised in that the degree of pivoting between the spindles may be relatively free, in order to facilitate mounting of the apparatus on to the seal, or relatively restricted, in order to secure the apparatus after it has been mounted on the seal and in that said relatively restricted degree of pivoting is effected by a clamping means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said clamping means comprises an over-centre mechanism.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the two rotatable spindles is located in its own housing, and wherein:

said housing is pivotally mounted to a fixed portion of the apparatus; said housing is integral with or rigidly mounted to a linking portion; said linking portion is pivotally connected to a clamping lever at a first pivot point; said clamping lever is also pivotally connected to i a connecting member at a second pivot point; said connecting member is pivotally connected, directly or indirectly, to the fixed portion at a third pivot point; and when the first, second and third pivot points are substantially aligned, the degree of pivoting between the spindles is restricted.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said clamping means comprises a linear spring facility which affords a limited degree of pivoting between the spindles after the said degree of pivoting has been restricted by the clamping means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, when dependent on claim 3, wherein the connecting member is arched to act as a flexible beam.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, when dependent on claim 3, wherein the connecting member is pivotally connected to the fixed portion at the third pivot point via a hinge, wherein the apparatus comprises a hollow body, at one end of which hollow body the hinge is slidably mounted, and the other end of which hollow body is sealed, and wherein, within the hollow body, at the opposite end of the hinge from the third pivot point, the hinge abuts a plurality of spring washers.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that, after the degree of pivoting between the spindles has been restricted by the clamping means, the angle of pivot between the spindles may be adjusted by an adjusting means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 when dependent on claim 3, which comprises a hollow body, at one end of which the hinge is slidably mounted, and at the other end of which a screw is rotatably mounted, wherein rotation of the screw causes the hinge to slide is within the hollow body.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein one or both rotatable spindle(s) is driven by a drive means, wherein the apparatus comprises a switching mechanism for activating said drive means, and wherein the switching mechanism is operated by way of the clamping means.

10. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore defined with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of installing a channel-shaped seal on to a flange using an apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein:

the seal, which has side walls which are splayed apart, is fitted onto the flange; the spindles, or any rollers mounted thereon, of said apparatus are pivoted apart sufficiently to accommodate the strip; the clamping means of said apparatus is operated to the clamp the spindles or rollers in the clinching position and grip the strip on the flange; and the apparatus is moved along the length of the seal on the flange by a drive means causing rotation of the spindles or rollers.

1 1