Deflection compensating press tools

{
  "publication_number": "US9774159B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Deflection compensating press tools",
  "abstract": "Press tools and particularly crimp tools having a C-frame tool head are described which are configured such that upon a typical use load, the C-frame head deflects to a position in which mating components or surfaces are aligned. Also described are C-frame heads that utilize a particular deflection compensating engagement connection between a piston and a ram die holder. In addition, various methods of compensating for deflection are described. The use of such configurations, engagement connections, and methods enables such tools to be formed from lighter weight materials and/or to incorporate weight optimization designs.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A C-frame tool head for affixment to a press tool having a ram, piston, or force producing member, the tool head defining a proximal end and an opposite distal end, and upon affixment to the press tool, the tool head defines an extension axis corresponding to movement of the ram, piston, or force producing member, the tool head comprising: a body portion; a hook member extending from the body portion, the hook member defining a crimp face directed toward the proximal end of the tool head, the crimp face defining a center axis that bisects the crimp face; wherein upon the tool head being in an unloaded state, the center axis is spaced from the extension axis, and upon being in a loaded state, the center axis is displaced towards the extension axis; wherein the center axis defined by the crimp face extends parallel to the extension axis when the tool head is in the unloaded state.",
    "2. The C-frame tool head of claim 1 wherein upon being in a loaded state, the center axis is collinear with the extension axis.",
    "3. The C-frame tool head of claim 1 wherein the body portion defines a rear wall and the hook member further defines an access face, the tool head further comprising: a movable die holder which is linearly displaceable along the rear wall upon movement of the ram, piston, or force producing member; a first die received in the crimp face, the first die defining a die face extending between a first end proximate the access face, and a second end proximate the rear wall; a second die supported by the movable die holder, the second die defining a die face extending between a first end proximate the access face, and a second end proximate the rear wall; wherein upon the tool head being in the loaded state, the first and second dies are in a state of full die closure.",
    "4. The C-frame tool head of claim 3 wherein upon the tool head being in the unloaded state, an opposite end spacing between ends of the first and second dies exists within a range of from 3 mm to 0.1 mm.",
    "5. The C-frame tool head of claim 3 wherein upon the tool head being in the unloaded state, a bias angle between the first and second dies exists within a range of from 15 degrees to 0.1 degrees.",
    "6. A C-frame tool head and at least two crimping inserts, the tool head defining a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the tool head comprising: a body portion; a hook member extending from the body portion, the hook member defining a crimp face directed toward the proximal end of the tool head; a first crimping insert configured to be received along the crimp face, the first crimping insert defining a first end and a second end; a second crimping insert defining a first end and a second end, the second crimping insert positionable with the first crimping insert to thereby form a crimping profile; wherein (i) upon positioning of the first and the second crimping inserts such that one of the first and the second ends of the first crimping insert contacts one of the first and the second ends of the second crimping insert, and the tool head being in an unloaded state, an opposite end spacing is defined between the other ends of the first crimping insert and the second crimping insert; and (ii) upon the tool head being in a loaded state the opposite end spacing is within a range of from 0.1 mm to 3 mm.",
    "7. A C-frame tool head and at least two crimping inserts, the tool head defining a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the tool head comprising: a body portion; a hook member extending from the body portion, the hook member defining a crimp face directed toward the proximal end of the tool head; a first crimping insert configured to be received along the crimp face, the first crimping insert defining a first end and a second end; a second crimping insert defining a first end and a second end, the second crimping insert positionable with the first crimping insert to thereby form a crimping profile; wherein (i) upon positioning of the first and the second crimping inserts such that one of the first and the second ends of the first crimping insert contacts one of the first and the second ends of the second crimping insert, and the tool head being in an unloaded state, an opposite end spacing is defined between the other ends of the first crimping insert and the second crimping insert; and (ii) upon the tool head being in a loaded state, the other ends of the first crimping insert and the second crimping insert contact each other and the opposite end spacing is zero; wherein upon the tool head and inserts being in state (i), a bias angle between the first and the second crimping inserts exists within a range of from 15 degrees to 0.1 degrees.",
    "8. A press tool comprising: a frame including a C-frame tool head defining a work region and a first crimp face, the first crimp face defining a center axis that bisects the first crimp face; a hydraulic cylinder supported by and affixed to the frame; a piston movably disposed in the cylinder, the piston defining a piston face and an opposite distal end, the distal end extending outward from the hydraulic cylinder, the piston defining an extension axis; a ram die holder engaged with the distal end of the piston, the ram die holder including a second crimp face, the ram die holder accessible in the work region defined by the tool head; wherein upon application of a crimping load to the first and second crimp faces by the piston, the tool head is configured to deflect to an extent such that the first and second crimp faces are aligned; wherein the center axis defined by the first crimp face extends parallel to the extension axis when the tool head is in the unloaded state.",
    "9. The press tool of claim 8 wherein the C-frame tool head includes a hook member defining an access face, the C-frame tool head also defines a rear wall, the ram die holder being linearly displaceable along the rear wall upon movement of the piston, the press tool further comprising: a first die received in the crimp face, the first die defining a die face extending between a first end proximate the first access face, and a second end proximate the rear wall; a second die supported by the ram die holder, the second die defining a die face extending between a first end proximate the first access face, and a second end proximate the rear wall.",
    "10. The press tool of claim 9 wherein upon partial die closure, an opposite end spacing exists within a range of from 3 mm to 0.1 mm.",
    "11. The press tool of claim 9 wherein upon partial die closure, a bias angle exists within a range of from 15 degrees to 0.1 degrees.",
    "12. The press tool of claim 8 wherein upon the tool head being in an unloaded state, the center axis is spaced from the extension axis, and upon being in a loaded state, the center axis is collinear with the extension axis.",
    "13. A press tool comprising: a frame including a C-frame head defining a work region, the C-frame head including a body portion, a hook member extending from the body portion, the hook member defining a crimp face directed toward a proximal end of the head, the crimp face defining a center axis that bisects the crimp face; a linearly displaceable piston having a distal end, the piston extendable along an extension axis; a piston tip engaged with the distal end of the piston; a ram die holder engaged with the piston tip, the ram die holder accessible in the work region defined by the C-frame head; wherein the ram die holder is movably affixed to the piston tip, the piston tip defines a first arcuate face surface directed toward the ram die holder, and the ram die holder defines a receiving region with a second arcuate face surface, the first arcuate face surface of the piston tip contacting the second arcuate face surface of the ram die holder, and the first arcuate face surface is continuous and free of apertures; wherein upon the C-frame head being in an unloaded state, the center axis is spaced from the extension axis, and upon being in a loaded state, the center axis is displaced toward the extension axis; wherein the center axis defined by the crimp face extends parallel to the extension axis when the tool head is in the unloaded state.",
    "14. The press tool of claim 13 wherein, the ram die holder defines a crimping face, and the ram die holder is movably affixed to the piston tip so that the crimping face can be articulated to a plurality of different positions relative to the extension axis.",
    "15. The press tool of claim 13 wherein, the ram die holder is pivotally positionable about an axis transverse to the extension axis.",
    "16. The press tool of claim 13 wherein the C-frame head defines an alignment track, the ram die holder including at least one projection slidably disposed in the alignment track.",
    "17. The press tool of claim 13 wherein the first arcuate face surface of the piston tip is convex and the second arcuate face surface of the ram die holder is concave.",
    "18. The press tool of claim 13 wherein the first arcuate face surface of the piston tip is semi-cylindrical, and the second arcuate face surface of the ram die holder is semi-cylindrical.",
    "19. The press tool of claim 13 wherein the first arcuate face surface of the piston tip is semi-spherical, and the second arcuate face surface of the ram die holder is semi-spherical.",
    "20. The press tool of claim 13 wherein the ram die holder is affixed to the piston tip by a fastener member.",
    "21. The press tool of claim 13 wherein the ram die holder is pivotally positionable about an axis defined by the center of the first arcuate face surface of the piston tip.",
    "22. A method of compensating for deflection occurring in a C-frame head of a press tool during a pressing operation, the method comprising: providing a press tool including a C-frame head and a plurality of dies, the C-frame head defining an extension axis corresponding to movement of a ram, piston, or force producing member, the C-frame head including a body portion, a hook member extending from the body portion, the hook member defining a crimp face directed toward a proximal end of the head, the crimp face defining a center axis that bisects the crimp face; configuring the C-frame head such that upon application of a load as would be applied during the pressing operation, the tool head deflects to a position such that the plurality of dies are aligned to thereby enable full die closure, whereby upon the C-frame head being in an unloaded state, the center axis is spaced from the extension axis, and upon being in a loaded state, the center axis is displaced toward the extension axis, and the center axis defined by the crimp face extends parallel to the extension axis when the tool head is in the unloaded state.",
    "23. The method of claim 22 wherein at full die closure, contact between opposing faces of adjacent dies occurs on both sides of a fitting.",
    "24. The method of claim 22 wherein at full die closure, the plurality of dies are positioned such that opposing faces of die ends of adjacent dies are free of gaps."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present subject matter relates to press tools and particularly C-frame crimping tools.\n\nElectrical contractors use crimpable connectors to form terminations on various copper and aluminum wires. Examples of such connectors are described in UL Standard 486 provided by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. A variety of crimping tools and crimp profile die geometries are used. Although many different types of dies are used in the field, all dies require a linear application of force to plastically form the connector and wire to the internal geometry of the die. A wide variety of such tools are commercially available from suppliers such as Burndy, Greenlee, and Klauke.\n\nCrimp tools typically require about 53 to 130 kN of linear force and 18 to 32 mm of travel in order to perform a crimping operation. Because of the high amount of work capacity involved, the tools are typically large and heavy. For example, a 130 kN tool may weigh as much as 15 pounds. Electrical contractors use the tools in a variety of applications which require that they hold the tool in one hand. Because of this, weight is a primary concern of users. Thus, it is highly desirable to design a tool which is optimized for weight in order to increase ease of use of the tool.\n\nGenerally, these crimp tools utilize a C-frame crimping head. The C-frame crimping heads are subjected to high stresses during a crimping operation and thus are typically formed from a high tensile strength material, for example hardened alloy steel, and require a large cross section.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01R 43/0427",
    "B21F 15/00",
    "B25B 27/10",
    "B25B 27/146"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B21J 13/04",
    "B25B 27/10",
    "B25B 27/14",
    "H01R 43/042"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Ridge Tool Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "James E. Hamm",
    "Richard M. Kundracik",
    "Robert M. Baracskai"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-01-16",
  "publication_date": "2017-09-26",
  "grant_date": "2017-09-26",
  "priority_date": "2015-01-16",
  "application_number": "US-201514598326-A",
  "family_id": "55174547",
  "cited_by_count": 13,
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}