"MECHANISM OF RETENTION OF INDIZATION OF ROTATIONAL MATRIX"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to tools with a re-positioning matrix and, more particularly, to a positioning system for locating the matrix.
2. PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE
U.S. Patent No. 5,211,050 discloses a catch mechanism for controlling the position of a rotating die. The mechanism has a ball pushed by a strip. The strip is mounted on the frame between a pivot pin and another pin. U.S. Patent No. 4,926,685 discloses a matrix repositionable on a longitudinally movable axis. The shaft is pushed by a spiral spring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a flanging tool comprising a frame, a wheel of the die rotatably connected to the frame by means of a pivot pin and a positioning system for retaining the location of the wheel of the matrix in predetermined rotation positions in the frame. The positioning system has a ball and a spring that pushes the ball towards the wheel of the matrix. The spring is mounted on the frame by only the pivot pin. According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a beading tool comprising a frame, a die wheel rotatably connected to the frame by means of a pivot pin and a positioning system for retaining the location of the wheel of the die. at predetermined rotation positions in the frame. The positioning system has a ball and a spring that pushes the ball towards the wheel of the matrix. The ball is placed adjacent to a rigid flat washer on the pivot pin. The rigid flat washer is pushed by a spring against the ball. According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a beading tool comprising a frame, a wheel of the die rotatably connected to the frame by means of a pivot pin, and a positioning system for retaining the location of the wheel of the wheel. matrix in predetermined rotation positions in the frame. The positioning system has a ball and a spring that pushes the ball towards the wheel of the matrix. The spring consists of a generally ring-shaped spring member mounted on the pivot pin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The aforementioned aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool that incorporates the features of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the tool shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of the portion of the tool shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lower die of the tool shown in Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a partial elevation side view of a portion of the tool shown in Figure 1; Figure 6A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the spring for use with the tool retainer system shown in Figure 1; Figure 6B is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the spring; and Figure 6C is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the spring.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY
Referring to Figure 1, a detailed perspective view of a tool 10 incorporating the features of the present invention is shown. Although the present invention will be described with reference to a single embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention may be encompassed in many alternative forms of the embodiments. further, any size, shape or type of appropriate elements or materials could be used. The tool 10 usually consists of a frame 12, a re-placeable matrix 14 and a stationary matrix 16. The tool 10 is a manually operated hand-beading tool for beading the connectors on the electrical conductors. However, in alternative embodiments, the features of the present invention could be used in other types of tools. The beading tool 10 is similar to the tool described in U.S. Patent No. 5,211,050 which is incorporated herein by reference. The frame 12 includes an upper frame part 18, a lower frame part 20 and a lower handle part 22. The lower frame part 20 is pivotally connected to the upper frame part 18 by a pivot 24. The piece of lower frame 20 is pivotally connected to lower handle part 22 by means of a pivot 26. Lower handle part 22 is connected to upper frame part 18 by means of a connecting rod 28. In alternative embodiments, other types could be provided of frame configurations. The relocatable matrix 14, in this embodiment, is a wheel of the matrix rotatably connected to the upper frame part 18. In the alternative embodiments, the matrix 14 could have a different shape than a general rotating wheel, it could be mounted on the Upper frame for sliding and / or rotating movement or it could be mounted on the lower frame part. The die wheel 14 has five different sized flanging areas placed around its perimeter to flange five different sized connectors. However, any appropriate number of beading areas of different size could be provided. Referring also to Figure 2, the upper frame part 18 includes two frame pieces 30, 31 which are connected and separated by the spacers 32. The wheel of the die 14 is placed between the two frame parts 30, 31. A pivot pin 34 rotatably connects the wheel of the die 14 with the frame parts 30, 31. Referring also to Fig. 3, a detailed view of the portion of the tool shown in Fig. 2 is shown. The tool 10 includes a positioning system for retaining the location of the wheel of the die 14 at predetermined rotational positions in the part of the upper frame 18. The positioning system includes a spring 36, a washer 38 and a ball 40. The wheel of the Matrix 14 has five seats 42 placed on its side that surrounds its central mounting hole 44; a seat for each of its perimeter beading areas. The frame part 30 has a hole 46 which is where the ball 40 is placed. The ball 40 is brought into contact with the side side and on the wheel of the die 14 and the washer 38 on the opposite sides of the frame part. 30. In this embodiment, the washer 38 is a flat rigid washer. The spring 36 is positioned between the washer 38 and the head 48 of the pivot pin 34. In this embodiment, the spring is a spring washer and, more specifically, a curved washer. However, in alternative embodiments the spring washer could be a Belleville washer 36a, as shown in Figure 6A, a corrugated washer 36b, as seen in Figure 6B, or even a helical wire formed as a spring 36c, as shown in Figure 6C. The general ring shape of the spring 36 allows the spring to be mounted on the shaft or arrow section 50 of the pivot pin 34. Therefore, the spring 36 can be mounted on the frame by only the pivot pin 34. When gun, the spring 36 pushes the washer 38 towards the frame part 30 and the ball 40 towards the die wheel 14. When the ball 40 coincides with one of the seats 42, the ball projects towards the seat to stop the location and retaining the rotational position of the wheel of the die 14 relative to the part of the upper frame 18. When a user manually rotates the wheel of the die 14 relative to the upper frame part 18, the ball 40 is pushed laterally outwardly as the ball moves out of the seat 42. The ball 40 pushes the washer 38 outwards with the spring 36 being deviated. As the next seat 42 is placed in coincidence with the ball 40, the spring 36 pushes the washer 38 laterally inward, which, in turn, pushes the ball 40 laterally inward toward the new seat to again stop the location of the die wheel relative to the upper frame part 18. The movement of the ball towards one of the seats 42 results in a tactile and audible indication to the user that the wheel of the die is in one of its Appropriate rotation positions for beading. Unlike US Patent Number 4,926,685, the present invention does not require a user to manually press the pivot pin before the wheel of the die can be made to lock. Unlike US Patent Number 5,211,050, the spring assembly requires only the main pivot pin, and not an additional mounting pin. Also, unlike US Patent Number 5,211,050, because the ball can be placed closer to the pivot pin, the more compact design allows the die wheel to have a fifth die groove (flanging area) while the Prior art tool had only four die slots due to space and size limitations. In addition to the benefits of providing a compact design and allowing the die wheel to have a fifth die groove, the close proximity of the beading area to the main pivot pin 24 provides the benefit of a higher beading force available in the a connector placed between the dies 14, 16 or a lower handle force during beading. The closer the dies 14, 16 are placed to the main pivot pin 24, the greater the mechanical advantage. This results in an increase in the scale of application as well as a decrease in the handle force required by the user. Referring now to Figures 1 and 4, a perspective view of the lower die 16 is shown. The lower die 16 is stationary connected to the lower frame part 20 by a pin 52. The lower die 16 is generally placed opposite the die wheel 14 for flanging a connector between the two matrices. The lower die 16 usually comprises a bottom section 54, an upper section 56, two laterally extending support sections 58a, 58b and two laterally extending rear support sections 60a, 60b. The lower frame part 20 has two sections 62, 64. The lower section 54 of the lower die 16 is placed between the two sections 62, 64. The lower section 54 has a hole 66 which receives the pin 52. The upper section 56 of the lower die 16 has flanging surfaces 68 which contact the connector being crimped. The two laterally extending support sections 58a, 58b are essentially mirror images of one another, but extend from opposite sides of the matrix. Each section 58a, 58b has a lower surface 70 which rests against the edge of the sections 62, 64 of the lower frame part which are oriented directly towards the wheel of the die 14 during beading. These surfaces 70 help to transfer the forces incurred during beading through the die 16 to the lower frame part 20 and not only through the pin 52. Each subsequent support section 60a, 60b has a surface lower 72 and a rear surface 74. These surfaces 72, 74 help transfer the forces towards the lower frame part 20 that occur during beading. In the alternative modalities, the lower matrix could have a means of transfer of support or additional alternative force. Also referring to Figure 5, the support sections 58a, 58b, 60a, 60b, generally increase the strength of the stationary die 16 to resist bending forces without breaking. To further reduce the risk and breakage of the stationary matrix, the A-axis of beading is placed at an angle. Therefore, the bending forces due to the axis A of beading at an angle are divided in force against the surfaces 66, 70, 72 and the forces against the surfaces 74. This division or distribution of the bending forces reduces the stress in the stationary matrix 16 in direction B, transferring a certain amount of force to direction C (see Figure 4). In addition, the distance D between the main pivot and the pivot pin 34 is reduced to increase the mechanical advantage of the tool handles to decrease the strength of the handle required to flange and increase the scale of connectors that can be crimped with increased force. It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to encompass all of these alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.