Radial pressing tool

Abstract

According to the invention, to simplify handling of a multi-membered, movably constructed radial pressing tool, which, when closed, groups multiple matrix elements in a ring to form a drilling matrix and, when open, forms a variable passage gap for a workpiece between two matrix elements, the radial pressing tool, when open, has a number of surface features in the region of the passage gap, and said surface features allow, when the radial pressing tool is pushed onto a workpiece having a collar or bead, creation of a form fit with the collar or bead when the radial pressing tool is in the intended axial working position relative to the workpiece. The radial pressing tool can also comprise a latching device, which is designed to define a latching position which can be overcome in a number of open positions, of which one can be a partially open position in which passage of the workpiece through the passage gap is not possible.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a radial pressing tool for producing pipe connections, and in particular to a pressing ring and pressing tongs for these purposes, as well as methods for their use. Document DE 10 2014 112869 B3 discloses a radial pressing tool according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Common radial pressing tools, particularly those known as pressing tongs, pressing rings, and pressing slings, are designed to transform a workpiece, and in particular an assembly consisting of a pipe end piece and a connecting piece, e.g., a fitting, from an original oversized shape into a predetermined final shape by applying forces acting radially to the pipe axis. The shape change associated with the forming process can include a radial and / or axial deformation of the assembly or individual parts thereof. The shape change can also, alternatively or cumulatively, include a displacement of parts of the assembly relative to one another.Further details in this regard are disclosed in the documents DE 101 44 100 C1, DE 10 2008 010 083 A1, to which reference is made here for the purpose of supplementing the disclosure, with the note that the cited documents may give identical terms a meaning that differs from the present one.

[0003] Radial pressing tools often engage the workpiece over more than 180° of its circumference and must therefore be designed to create the clearance required for attaching and removing the radial pressing tool to or from the workpiece. In some cases, this is achieved by designing the radial pressing tool with a multi-link interconnected structure. The mobility of the individual links relative to one another is dimensioned such that the clearance required for the aforementioned purposes is present in at least one setting. In some designs, the radial pressing tools are two-link pressing rings with only one joint and two interconnected links. The die required for forming can be formed by several die elements arranged on the links. In one setting of the links, the die elements can form a more or less continuously defined die bore.In one or more other link settings, there is a sufficient gap for the workpiece to pass between at least two die elements. Simpler versions have only two die elements, which in special designs are integrally formed directly into the links. These two-link pressing rings can be positioned on the workpiece in an open setting. In other versions, the radial pressing tools are three-link pressing tongs, in which two levers equipped with die elements are connected to each other via a link. In yet other versions, the pressing tools are pressing chains or pressing loops with three or more links.

[0004] Dealing with the degrees of freedom of movement of a multi-link radial pressing tool when attaching and removing it from the workpiece can, in some situations, present difficulties for the user. In some designs, this has been addressed by a user-variable spring preload between the links. Further details in this regard are disclosed in the documents EP 2 995 426 A1 and DE 10 2013 112 848 A1, to which reference is made here for the purpose of completeness and supplementation, with the note that the cited documents may assign a meaning to identical terms that differs from the present one. Furthermore, approaches are known to assist a user in aligning radial pressing tools to the workpiece to be machined by improving the lighting of the work area. In this regard, particular reference is made to the document DE 797 14 679 U1.

[0005] Even in light of the advances described above, there is a continuing need to provide operators with even more support in correctly applying a radial pressing tool to the workpiece. This is based on the expectation that more extensive support can prevent faulty work results in certain situations. For example, more extensive support can prevent operator handling errors when applying a radial pressing tool to the workpiece in some situations. Some of these handling errors are known to impair the quality of the forming process performed with the radial pressing tool. Concepts

[0006] Fundamental improvements in handling are offered by a radial measuring tool with a multi-element movable structure according to claim 1.

[0007] The form closure can be one-sided or two-sided. In both cases, the form closure allows a user to tactilely locate the axial working position. From this position, the radial pressing tool can be moved into the working position by a displacement essentially radial to the die bore. In this position, the workpiece is formed by closing the radial pressing tool against its structural resistance.

[0008] The improved radial pressing tool is designed such that the bore die formed by the die elements in the closed setting is axially profiled and in particular has a circular groove for receiving a bead on the workpiece.

[0009] The improved radial pressing tool is designed in such a way that the surface features are arranged in such a way that when they form fit with the bead of the workpiece, the groove is radially aligned with the bead.

[0010] The improved radial pressing tool may further be designed such that the surface features are present on both sides of the passage gap.

[0011] The improved radial pressing tool is designed in such a way that the surface features are arranged in the space and / or on the front side of the passage gap.

[0012] The improved radial pressing tool can further be designed such that the surface features comprise a number of grooves or slots which are arranged in particular so as to taper off in the radial direction towards the die bore and, in particular, have a depth which decreases towards the die bore.

[0013] The improved radial pressing tool can further be designed in such a way that the grooves or slots are continued into one end face at the passage gap.

[0014] In principle, useful results are achieved by using a previously defined radial pressing tool to locate the axial working position before the forming process via the tactile form fit in the contact between a collar or bead on the workpiece and the surface features in the area of ​​the passage gap.

[0015] Further progress is achieved in principle or additionally by a design of a radial pressing tool with a multi-member movable structure, which is suitable for grouping a plurality of die elements in a ring shape to form a bore die in a closed setting and for forming a passage gap between two die elements in open settings, wherein the radial pressing tool comprises a locking device which is designed to define an surmountable locking position in a number of open settings.

[0016] The further improved radial pressing tool can further be designed in such a way that several links are movably connected to one another in pairs by joints and the parts of the locking device intended to overcome this mobility are assigned to the respective joint and in particular are integrated into the respective joint.

[0017] The further improved radial pressing tool can further be designed such that a locking position predetermined by the locking device is in a partially open setting in which the width of the passage gap is not sufficient for pushing through a workpiece suitable for machining with the axially profiled die bore.

[0018] The further improved radial pressing tool can further be designed such that the partially open setting is determined such that by radially pushing the passage gap in the first open setting against the workpiece, the locking device can be overcome by expanding the passage gap.

[0019] The further improved radial pressing tool can further be designed such that a locking position predetermined by the locking device is in a fully open setting in which the width of the passage gap is sufficient for pushing through a workpiece suitable for machining with the bore die while maintaining the locking position.

[0020] The further improved radial pressing tool can further be provided with a pretensioning device and in particular a closing spring, the pretension of which in at least one open setting is directed towards contracting the passage gap.

[0021] The further improved radial pressing tool can be a particularly two-part pressing ring, a particularly three-part pressing loop or a particularly three-part pressing tongs.

[0022] The further improved radial pressing tool can, in particular in the form of a two-part pressing ring, have a suspension or attachment point for a safety cable. In some embodiments, this suspension or attachment point can be arranged in particular in the region of a joint between the movable members. In other embodiments, the suspension or attachment point can be an eyelet or a hook.

[0023] Even further advances are achieved through an intermediate clamp for driving a press ring or a press sling by means of an electro-hydraulic press machine, wherein the intermediate clamp further comprises devices for attaching the press ring or press sling via a safety cable or an equivalent connection with a rigid end tension. In embodiments, the connection with a rigid end tension can comprise a safety cable. In further embodiments, the safety cable can be attached to a winding device, from which a limited length of the safety cable can be pulled out against a preset spring force.

[0024] Even further advances are fundamentally achieved in a method for forming a workpiece with a bead by means of a radial pressing tool as specified above and a drive device for actuating it, the method comprising steps of providing the radial pressing tool in a first setting in which the width of the passage gap is not sufficient for pushing through the workpiece intended for processing; of positioning the passage gap against the bead of the workpiece and aligning the radial pressing tool on the bead by means of the surface features present on the passage gap to the intended processing position; of pushing the radial pressing tool over the bead of the workpiece while widening the passage gap against a closing force; and of moving the radial pressing tool into the closed setting while forming the workpiece held by the die elements by means of the drive device. Short description of the characters

[0025] Two exemplary embodiments of the concepts outlined above are explained in the following section with reference to the attached drawings. They show: Fig. 1 is a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of a radial pressing tool in the form of a two-part pressing ring in the closed setting; Fig. 2 is a view of the two-part pressing ring in a first setting according to Fig. 1 from the front side; Fig. 3, 4 two sectional views through the two-part press ring according to Fig. 1 in the section plane shown there; Fig. 5 a sectional view of the detail "X" from the two-part press ring according to Fig. 1 in the plane cutting plane according to Fig. 3 ; Fig. 6 a sectional view of the detail "X" from the two-part press ring according to Fig. 1a in the plane sectional plane according to Fig. 4; Fig. 7 a side view of the two-part press ring according to the Fig. 1-6 in a first setting in abutting contact with an assembly of a straight fitting and a pipe end piece; Fig. 8 a side view of the two-part press ring according to the Fig. 1-3 in a second setting in abutting contact with an assembly of a straight fitting and a pipe end piece; and Fig. 9 a side view of the two-part press ring according to the Fig. 1-3 in a third setting in encompassing contact with an assembly of a straight fitting and a pipe end piece; Fig. 10 a plan view of the arrangement according to Fig. 9 ; Fig. 11 a side view of a cooperating arrangement of an exemplary pressing tool according to Fig. 1 and a drive device for actuating it; Fig. 12 a side view of a tool lock in the arrangement according to Fig. 11; Fig. 13 a side view of a second exemplary embodiment of a radial pressing tool in the form of a three-part pressing tongs in the closed position; Fig. 14 a sectional view of the detail "Y" from the three-part pressing tongs according to Fig. 13 in the closed position shown there; and Fig. 15 a sectional view of the detail "Y" from the three-part pressing tongs according to Fig. 13 in a partially open setting. Examples of implementation

[0026] The Fig. 1 to 6 show the structure of a first exemplary embodiment of a radial pressing tool 1, which is referred to in specialist circles and in the present case generically as a pressing ring 1.

[0027] The exemplary press ring 1 comprises two curved legs 2, 3, each of which is pivotally connected to one another by a joint about an axis A. The joint of the exemplary press ring 1 is formed by a bolt 4, which is inserted into aligned bores of comb-like interlocked end plates 5, 6 on the legs 2, 3.

[0028] The exemplary press ring 1 has two connection points 7, 8 for a drive device at the free ends of the legs 2, 3 protruding from the joint. The energy required to form a workpiece can be introduced into the exemplary press ring 1 via these connection points 7, 8. In particular, the connection points 7, 8 are configured for a pincer-like engagement of a special drive device and are specifically designed as conical calottes. A drive device compatible with these connection points 7, 8 could, for example, comprise spherical pressure bolts to compensate for the changes in the angle of engagement at the connection points 7, 8 that occur when the legs 2, 3 pivot.

[0029] The exemplary press ring 1 is two-part in the sense that the force-conducting structure running between the two connection points 7, 8 only comprises the legs 2, 3 and the joint.

[0030] On each leg 2, 3 of the exemplary press ring 1, a half-die is integrally formed as a die element 9 or 10. The die elements 9, 10 are designed such that they can be moved in the closed position of the legs 2, 3, in particular according to Fig. 1 , to form a profiled bore die. The bore die of the exemplary press ring 1 is defined in the closed setting except for rounded edges over the entire flat circumferential angle and can be, especially with regard to the Fig. 3 and 4 , three different profile sections can be seen in the axial direction, which are explained below.

[0031] A first profile section, located, for example, in the center of the die bore, defines a rounded groove 11 that is essentially circular. This groove 11 is adjoined on both sides by second, exemplary, identical profile sections, which together define essentially short, cylindrical bore sections 12, 13. Between these bore sections 12, 13 and the exit openings of the die bore from the press ring 1, third profile sections are provided on both sides, which, in the exemplary embodiment, define a total of two hexagons 14, 15 of equal size and orientation.

[0032] According to Fig. 1a, the die bore is divided into a flat surface in a manner known per se, whereby the four closing surfaces on the legs 2 and 3, which are opposite one another in the closed position of the exemplary pressing ring 1, extend directly adjacent to the die bore and across its entire axial extent in the exemplary embodiment. For the sake of clarity, only Fig. 4 For the lower leg 3, the inner closing surface 16, located closer to the joint, and the outer closing surface 17, located further away from the joint, are designated. The contact of the outer closing surfaces defines the end point of the forming process in a conventional manner. Furthermore, the narrow gap defined by the paired closing surfaces on both sides of the die bore prevents material from flowing out shortly before the end point of the forming process.

[0033] According to the Fig. 1 to 4The exemplary pressing ring 1 has a number of surface features 18, 19 adjacent to the outer closing surfaces 17, which are designed as wedge-shaped recesses 18, 19 extending towards the front side. Between the beginning of the recesses 18, 19 and the die bore, a sufficiently wide section of the outer closing surfaces 17 can remain according to the exemplary design. Due to the wedge-shaped depth of the recesses 18, 19 increasing towards the front side, these can form an attachment aid in a partially opened setting of the exemplary pressing ring, which will be referred to in the explanations of the Fig. 7 to 10 will be discussed in more detail.

[0034] According to Fig. 6In the exemplary press ring 1, a closing spring 21 is inserted in an enlarged space 20 between the comb-like end plates 4, 5, which is supported on each of the legs 2, 3 in a recess 22 or 23 arranged there. The closing spring 21 is designed in the exemplary press ring 1 to move the two legs 2, 3 towards the closed position according to Fig. 1 to preload the springs.

[0035] According to Fig. 5Furthermore, a blind hole 24 is provided in the upper leg 2 of the exemplary press ring 1, which receives a ball 25 that is preloaded towards the opening of the blind hole 24 by a compression spring 26 located behind it. The ball 25 rests against a running surface 27 arranged on the lower leg 3 and arranged in an essentially concentric, curved shape relative to the axis of the bolt 4. Deviating from the curved shape, the running surface 27 has two recesses 28, 29 that are angularly offset from one another. During a relative pivoting movement of the legs 2, 3, the ball 25 slides or rolls on the running surface 27. This generates a slight frictional moment in the region of the curved shape of the running surface 27, which counteracts the movement. At the locations of the recesses 28, 29, however, a pronounced cogging moment results, which, regardless of the direction of movement, is directed to the lowest position of the ball 25 in the respective recess 28, 29.

[0036] In a practical embodiment, the force exerted by the closing spring 21 on the legs 2, 3 in all settings of the legs 2, 3 is dimensioned such that the torque generated thereby overcomes the aforementioned frictional moment of the ball 25, but remains below its detent torque in the recesses 28, 29. In this design, the exemplary pressing ring 1 will maintain each of the two detent positions in which the ball 16 lies in one of the two recesses 28, 29. However, the pressing ring 1 will not maintain other, non-closed settings outside of the detent positions. In particular, designs of the closing spring 21, the compression spring 26, and the recesses 28, 29 are possible with which the exemplary pressing ring 1 automatically returns to the closed setting from any setting that does not correspond to a detent position.Such a design can allow a user to initially place the exemplary pressing ring 1 into one of the two exemplary locking positions, and then overcome these positions with a slight force. Furthermore, such a design ensures that the exemplary pressing ring 1 remains in the closed position or returns to it during storage and transport. This can be helpful in certain circumstances to prevent damage to the surfaces of the die elements 9, 10.

[0037] The exemplary press ring 1 can be used in a manner known per se to create a positive connection between an assembly comprising a fitting 31 and a pipe end piece 32. The exemplary press ring 1 and similarly constructed radial pressing tools are often applied to the workpiece separately from the drive device required to generate the actuating force. The drive device is only connected afterwards. This can be helpful for the user if the working situation would restrict maneuvering with the drive device for the purpose of aligning the radial pressing tool on the workpiece. In particular, in this case, the user can concentrate entirely on correctly applying the exemplary press ring 1 to the workpiece.

[0038] In a typical workflow according to the Fig. 7 to 10The user will utilize the pivoting connection of the two legs 2, 3 of the exemplary press ring 1 to position it from a radial direction, gripping the workpiece 30 to be machined, and in particular the illustrated assembly consisting of a fitting 31 and a pipe end piece 32. This procedure will be considered in particular if a lateral axial sliding of the exemplary press ring 1 is not possible.

[0039] In particular, according to Fig. 7 the exemplary pressing ring 1 can, at the beginning of the attachment to the workpiece 30, in a first partially opened setting, have the first locking position 28 according to Fig. 5The user can, for example, set the exemplary pressing ring 1 to the first locking position 28 before bringing it up to the workpiece 30. The exemplary pressing ring 1 will, with a suitable design, maintain this setting as long as no significant external forces act on a relative pivoting of the legs 2, 3. In this partially opened first setting, the user can bring the exemplary pressing ring 1 with its front side up to the workpiece 30 until contact is made, which is shown schematically in the Fig. 7is illustrated. If the user has aligned the exemplary pressing tool 1 axially correctly with the workpiece 30, the bead 33 on the fitting 31 will be aligned with the recesses 18, 19. From an alignment slightly axially offset from this correct position, the user will easily be able to find the correct alignment by slightly laterally sliding the exemplary pressing ring 1 on the bead 33 of the fitting 31. As soon as the exemplary pressing ring 1 reaches the correct position, the bead 33 of the fitting 31 will noticeably enter the prismatic depression formed by the recesses 18, 19. This process can provide an attentive user with useful tactile feedback regarding the correct alignment between the exemplary pressing ring 1 and the workpiece 30.

[0040] Once the user has found the correct alignment of exemplary pressing ring 1 on the workpiece, he can press the exemplary pressing ring 1 more forcefully against the workpiece 30 in order to thereby Fig. 8to overcome the locking position and to further open the legs 2, 3. The preload force of the closing spring 21 can help ensure that the outer ends of the legs 2, 3 maintain permanent contact with the workpiece 30. Due to the recesses 18, 19 that continue inward close to the die bore, the user can maintain the lateral positive engagement of the exemplary pressing tool 1 with the bead 33 of the fitting 31 until the bead runs over the short section of the outer closing surfaces 17 and into the groove 11 of the die bore. The user can support this by gently pressing the legs 2, 3 together and thereby attach the exemplary pressing ring 1 in the correct position on the workpiece 30. Then, according to the schematic illustration in the Figs. 9 and 10 the bead 33 of the fitting 31 lies in the groove 11 of the die bore.

[0041] The exemplary press ring 1 can in particular be designed to provide a sufficiently large closing force by means of the closing spring 21, which Fig. 7 to 10 The leg 3 shown below is held securely against the workpiece against the weight force acting on it in a real situation. Especially with small and light press rings, a closing force may be required that significantly exceeds that required to compensate for the weight forces. This can assist the user when attaching a drive device. In particular, a sufficiently large closing force can counteract the unintentional stripping of the exemplary press ring 1 from the workpiece 30 when attaching the drive device.

[0042] According to Fig. 11To create a press connection, the exemplary press ring 1 correctly arranged on the fitting 31 can be coupled with a suitable drive device. The drive device is in the Fig. 11symbolized as an assembly of an exemplary electro-hydraulic pressing machine 35 and an intermediate tong 34. The intermediate tong 34 has two legs 36a, 36b pivotally suspended in a common plane, which, for force transmission, engage with the connection points 7 of the exemplary pressing ring 1 with front pressure pins 37 facing away from the pressing machine 35. This is illustrated for the upper leg 36a in the broken-away sectional view. The pressure pins 37 can, in particular, be hemispherical in order to enable a freely selectable angle between the plane of the exemplary pressing tool 1 and the plane of the legs 35, 36 of the intermediate tong 34.Further details and possible embodiments are disclosed in the documents EP 1 201 371 B1, EP 1 972 394 B1 and EP 2 230 049 B1, to which reference is also made here for the purpose of completeness and supplementation of the disclosure, with the note that identical terms therein may have a different meaning.

[0043] According to Fig. 12In some applications, it may be advisable to attach the pressing ring selected for the work to the adapter tongs or the pressing machine using a rigid, end-to-end connection to prevent the pressing ring from falling due to careless handling. This measure may be required, in particular, as fall protection when working on roofs and scaffolding to protect people below the work site from injury from falling objects. In a simple design, the fall protection can be limited to equipping the pressing ring and the adapter tongs with eyelets to which the ends of a short safety rope are attached. The stop can be detachable on one or both sides. In particular, the detachable stop can be implemented using snap hooks, spring hooks, or folding eyes, particularly to ensure possible mechanical compatibility of the adapter tongs with several different pressing rings.In the exemplary situation, a further developed exemplary press ring 1' is equipped with a semicircular eyelet 4a on the head of the bolt 4, which allows a stop of a safety cable 38.

[0044] In the exemplary situation, the safety cable is a thin steel or synthetic fiber cable with a spring hook 38a at one free end. The other end of the safety cable 38 is attached to a winding device 39. The winding device 39 can be attached to the intermediate clamp 34, as shown in the example, and comprise a round housing in which a spool and a spring mechanism are housed to pull the safety cable 38 with a low force through an opening 39a into the interior of the housing.

[0045] The exemplary winding device 39 ensures that only the required length of the safety cable 38 is available in all work situations. This can help prevent the free section of the safety cable 38 from becoming accidentally knotted or tangled. The exemplary connection of the safety cable 38 to the intermediate clamp 34 offers the advantage of a shortened length of the safety cable in typical working practices compared to the usual attachment to the person, particularly the wrist, or to a personal safety harness. Alternatively, the safety cable of the pressing ring can also be attached to the pressing machine, which in the relevant scenarios always requires a connection via a safety cable.

[0046] The Fig. 13 to 15 show the structure of a second exemplary embodiment 40 of a radial pressing tool, which is referred to in specialist circles and in this case generically as a pressing tongs. Furthermore, the Figs. 14 and 15 a special possibility for handling the exemplary pressing tongs 40.

[0047] The force-conducting structure of the exemplary pressing tongs 40 comprises two two-armed levers 41, 42, which are connected to each other by a double-layered link plate 43. Since the link plate 43 forms a section of the force-conducting structure of the exemplary pressing tongs 40, this can be considered a three-part radial pressing tool. However, in the exemplary pressing tongs 40, only the two levers 41, 42, and thus only two parts of the force-conducting structure, are equipped with die elements 45, 45. As with the exemplary pressing ring 1 explained above, the die elements 44, 45 are also integrally formed with the force-conducting structure in the exemplary pressing tongs 40. The two-armed levers 41, 42 are hinged to the double-layered link plate 43 by two bolts 46, 47 in order to pivot the die elements 44, 45 apart from the closed position shown.

[0048] These articulated connections are, in principle, designed to be movable independently of one another. However, under certain circumstances, a user may perceive it as advantageous if the exemplary pressing tongs 40 are further developed with provisions for inverse synchronization of the pivoting movements in the articulated connections. For the purpose of completing and supplementing the present disclosure, reference is made to the official publications DE 10 2018 118 677 A1, DE 203 18 345 U1, and EP 2 995 426 A1, with the note that the cited publications may assign a meaning to identical terms that differs from the present one.

[0049] The outer ends of the exemplary pressing tongs 40, which project to the right, have two recesses 48, 49 arranged approximately centrally to the axial extent of the die bore, which are configured to form a positive connection with a bead 33 of a workpiece 30 to be machined in the closed setting and in some partially open settings of the exemplary pressing tongs 40. Again, the workpiece 30 to be machined can be an assembly comprising a pipe end piece 32 and a fitting 31.

[0050] In particular, in accordance with the Figs. 14 and 15 The recesses 48, 49 can be designed as grooves or ridges. In particular, the recesses can be curved or prismatic in order to enable the positive connection in two directions. According to Fig. 12A user can move the exemplary pressing tongs 40 in the closed position from an approximately radial direction until contact is made with the bead 33 of the fitting 31 and there look for the tactile positive connection between the bead 33 and the recesses. As soon as the position of the exemplary pressing tongs 40 to the fitting 31 is Fig. 12 , the operator can slowly open the exemplary pressing tongs 40 while maintaining contact and allow the front ends to slide over the fitting. The positive engagement between the bead 33 and the recesses will assist the operator in maintaining the previously determined axial alignment of the exemplary pressing tongs 40 with respect to the fitting 31.

[0051] Instead of the recesses recommended here as examples, other surface features in the area of ​​the passage gap for the workpiece can achieve an equally useful effect, both in a press ring and in a pressing tongs or a similarly constructed radial pressing tool. In particular, in some applications, surface features applied on one side may be sufficient to provide a sufficient tactile representation of the orientation of the radial pressing tool on the workpiece to be formed. Accordingly, projections, webs, and beads can also be considered as surface features if this is otherwise compatible with the function of the radial pressing tool. In particular, protruding surface features can be provided on surfaces that maintain a sufficient distance in all settings of the radial pressing tool.Such a situation occurs, for example, when the outer ends of the legs of a press ring are set back from the parting plane, as is the case in some typical designs.

Claims

1. Multi-member movable radial pressing tool (1; 40), which is designed, in a closed configuration, to group a plurality of die elements (9, 10; 44, 45) in a ring to form a bore die which is axially profiled and has a circular channel (11) for receiving a bead (33) on a workpiece (30), and, in open configurations, to form a variable passage gap (S) for a workpiece between two die elements (9, 10; 44, 45), characterized in that the radial pressing tool (1; 40), in an open configuration, has a number of surface features (18, 19; 48, 49) in the region of the passage gap (S), with which surface features, when the radial pressing tool (1; 40) is pushed onto the workpiece (30) with a collar or a bead (33), a positively locking connection can be established with the collar or the bead (33) when the radial pressing tool (1; 40) is in the intended axial working position relative to the workpiece (30), and the surface features (18, 19; 48, 49) are arranged in the intermediate space in the passage gap (S) and / or at the end side of the passage gap (S) such that, when they are positively connected to the bead (33) of the workpiece (30), the channel (11) is oriented in radial alignment with the bead (33).

2. Radial pressing tool (1; 40) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the surface features (18, 19) are present on both sides of the passage gap (S).

3. Radial pressing tool (1; 40) according to Claim 2, wherein the surface features (18, 19) comprise a number of grooves or slots (18, 19; 48, 49), which are created so as to taper towards the die bore in the radial direction in particular and very particularly have a depth which decreases in the direction of the die bore.

4. Radial pressing tool (1; 40) according to Claim 3, wherein the grooves or slots (18, 19; 48, 49) are continued up to an end side at the passage gap (S).

5. Radial pressing tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which is designed, in a closed configuration, to group a plurality of die elements (9, 10) in a ring to form a bore die and, in open configurations, to form a passage gap (S) between two die elements (9, 10), wherein the radial pressing tool (1) comprises a detent device (24, 25, 26, 27, 28), which is designed to define a detent position, which can be overcome, in a number of open configurations of the radial pressing tool (1; 40).

6. Radial pressing tool (1) according to Claim 5, wherein a plurality of members (2, 3) are movably connected to each other in pairs by joints and the parts of the detent device (24, 25, 26, 27, 28) respectively intended for defining this mobility such that it can be overcome are assigned to the respective joint and in particular are integrated into the respective joint.

7. Radial pressing tool (1) according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein a detent position specified by the detent device (24, 25, 26, 27, 28) is in a partially open configuration, in which the width of the passage gap (S) is not sufficient for pushing through a workpiece (30) suitable for machining with the axially profiled die bore.

8. Radial pressing tool (1) according to Claim 7, wherein the partially open configuration is determined such that, by the passage gap (S) being radially pushed against the workpiece (30) in the first open configuration, the detent device (24, 25, 26, 27, 28) can be overcome with expansion of the passage gap (S).

9. Radial pressing tool (1) according to either of Claims 6 and 7, wherein a detent position specified by the detent device (24, 25, 26, 27, 28) is in a fully open configuration, in which the width of the passage gap (S) is sufficient for pushing through a workpiece (30) suitable for machining with the bore die while maintaining the detent position.

10. Radial pressing tool (1; 40) according to any of the preceding claims, which is an in particular two-member press ring (1) or an in particular three-member press sling.

11. Radial pressing tool (1; 40) according to any of the preceding claims, which is an in particular three-member press jaw (40).

12. Method for shaping a workpiece (30) with a bead (33) by means of a radial pressing tool (1; 40) according to any of Claims 1 to 11 and a drive device (34, 35) for operation of the radial pressing tool, wherein the method comprises steps for: • providing the radial pressing tool (1; 40) in a first configuration, in which the width of the passage gap (S) is not sufficient for pushing through the workpiece (30) intended for machining; • positioning the passage gap (S) on the bead (33) of the workpiece (30) and aligning the radial pressing tool (1; 40) with the intended machining position on the bead (33) by means of the surface features (18, 19; 48, 49) present at the passage gap (S); • pushing the radial pressing tool (1; 40) over the bead (33) of the workpiece (30), with expansion of the passage gap (S) against a closing force; • moving the radial pressing tool (1; 40) to the closed configuration, with shaping of the workpiece (30) held by the die elements (9, 10; 44, 45), by means of the drive device.

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