Rivet gun

Abstract

A rivet gun for setting a self-tapping rivet in one or more work pieces has a tool body having a handle for gripping, a rotation assembly having a motor attached to an axially adjustable shaft and a chuck to thereby impart rotation to the chuck adapted to grip and rotate the shank of the self-tapping rivet. A hydraulic assembly having a pull bushing is connected to a piston rod attached to a piston and a retraction assembly having a mandrel clamp and a mandrel clamp ring is connected to a spring guide biased toward the mandrel clamp by a spring to thereby compress the mandrel clamp to grip and retract the shank, set the self-tapping rivet in the work pieces and detach the shank from the self-tapping rivet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to a field of tools and devices for setting rivets, and more particularly to a rivet gun suitable for setting self-tapping rivets.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Blind setting rivets are usually set in a work piece using a rivet setting tool or device which may be pneumatically, electrically, or hydraulically powered. Blind setting rivets typically include a hollow rivet body and a mandrel disposed longitudinally within the hollow rivet body. The mandrel includes a shank terminating in the head for radially compressing and spreading the rivet body as the mandrel is retracted rearward relative to the rivet body. The shank includes an area of reduced diameter for allowing the head to detach from the shank upon application of predetermined tinsel force supplied to the shank. To set a blind setting rivet, the shank of the rivet mandrel is inserted into the rivet gun. The tubular portion of the hollow rivet body is inse...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present invention is directed to a rivet gun for setting a self-tapping rivet. In one embodiment of the present invention, a rivet gun for setting a self-tapping rivet having a mandrel with a shank and a self-tapping head, a weakened area of reduced diameter and a hollow rivet body surrounding the mandrel for joining one or more work pieces is disclosed. The rivet gun includes a tool body having a handle for gripping, a rotation assembly having a motor attached to an axially adjustable shaft, mandrel clamp and a chuck to thereby impart rotation to the chuck adapted to grip and rotate the shank of the self-tapping rivet, and a hydraulic assembly connected to a retraction assembly adapted to first grip and retract the shank to set the self-tapping rivet in the work pieces by compressing and spreading the hollow body with the head and second detach the shank from the head at the weakened area of reduced diameter. In a preferred embodiment, the rivet gun also has a braking assembly having a brake disk extending radially outward from a drive shaft connected to the rotation assembly and a brake body with a brake pad biased toward a non-braking position by a brake

Problems solved by technology

However, because conventional rivet setting tools do not rotate the mandrel rivet, application of such self-tapping rivets currently require the use of a drill for rotating the rivet mandrel to tap a hole in the work piece.

This use of two separate tools slows application of the rivets, reduces their advantage over non-tapping varieties.

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