Device for displacing a push / pull rod in steps

Abstract

The invention relates to a tension clamp comprising a push / pull rod (1) that can be displaced in a housing (2) in steps and comprising a drive lever (3) that is supported by the housing (1) and displaces a drive element (4), which engages on the push / pull rod (1), forward in a clamping direction (S) relative to the housing (2) during an advancing actuation. The tension clamp has a blocking element (5) which is supported by the housing (1) and which prevents a reverse displacement of the push / pull rod (1) in a release direction (L) opposite the clamping direction (S) in a blocking position and which can be displaced from the blocking position into a release position by actuating a release lever (6) that engages on the blocking element (5), a displacement of the push / pull rod (1) in the release direction (L) being possible in the release position. The tension clamp also comprises a movement limiting element (7) which is struck by the blocking element (4) during a forward displacement of the drive element (4), said forward displacement carrying the push / pull rod (1). In order to improve the efficiency of the movement limiting element (7), the movement limiting element (7) is acted upon by a spring element (9) against the blocking element (5), wherein the movement limiting element (7) is arranged in a pocket (11) of the release lever (6).

Description

Description Device for gradually repositioning a pull / push rod field of technology

[0001] The invention relates to a device for the stepwise displacement of a pull / push rod, comprising a housing with a drive lever mounted on the housing, which, upon thrust actuation, displaces a drive element acting on the pull / push rod relative to the housing in a clamping direction, comprising a locking element mounted on the housing, which in a locking position inhibits a backward displacement of the pull / push rod in a release direction opposite to the clamping direction and which can be moved from the locking position to a release position, in which displacement of the pull / push rod in the release direction is possible, by actuating a release lever acting on the locking element, and comprising a movement limiting element against which the locking element abuts during the forward displacement of the drive element, which carries the pull / push rod along with it. State of the art

[0002] A device of the type described above is described in the DE 10 2013 101479 Al is described using a clamping device. The tool described there has a housing through which a pull / push rod passes. The housing carries a fixed clamping jaw. At one end of the pull / push rod is a movable clamping jaw. The clamping jaws can be moved towards each other in one clamping direction to clamp a workpiece between the two jaws. The clamping jaws point towards each other. However, the clamping jaws can also point away from each other, so that the device can be used as a spreading clamp. This is possible. By pumping a drive lever that acts on a drive element, the push / pull rod can be incrementally displaced in a clamping direction relative to the housing. A locking element prevents the push / pull rod from moving backward in a release direction opposite to the clamping direction. A release lever can move the locking element into a release position, allowing the push / pull rod to move backward. The release lever has a cam that prevents the locking element from moving along with the drive element when it is moved forward. During the drive element's forward movement, the locking element should remain as stationary as possible within the housing to prevent the push / pull rod from shifting slightly in the release direction after the drive element has finished moving forward, i.e., after a working stroke.

[0003] Due to unavoidable wear and tear and manufacturing tolerances, this is not sufficiently guaranteed with the current state of the art. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of further developing the generic device in a way that is advantageous for use and, in particular, of specifying supplementary means with which the slight retraction of the pull / push rod after a working stroke is further reduced.

[0005] The problem is solved by the invention specified in the claims. The dependent claims not only represent advantageous further developments of the device specified in claim 1, but also independent solutions to the problem.

[0006] First and essentially, it is proposed that the movement limiting element be acted upon by a spring element against the locking element. The spring element can compensate for the aforementioned tolerances and also the wear mentioned therein. In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the locking element, in the locked position, is supported against a housing-fixed stop in the release direction. The spring element is designed and arranged such that it acts upon the locking element in the release direction. In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the movement limiting element is supported by the release lever. The release lever can be pivoted about a pivot axis or a bearing pin when it is moved from its initial position, in which the locking element performs its locking function, to its release position, in which the pull / push rod can be moved relative to the locking element in the release direction.The movement limiting element can rotate about the pivot axis together with the release lever. The spring element can be arranged between the release lever and the movement limiting element. It is preferably arranged such that the movement limiting element is spring-loaded relative to the release lever. If the movement limiting element is designed as a pivot lever, the spring element can exert a torque on the movement limiting element. If the release lever is also designed as a pivot lever, the movement limiting element can pivot against the restoring force of the spring element relative to the release lever. Preferably, the movement limiting element and the release lever are mounted about the same pivot axis. The release lever can be mounted with play about the pivot axis. For this purpose, the release lever can have a non-circular bearing eye.The bearing eye of the movement limiting element can have a round cross-section, so that the movement limiting element is mounted on the bearing journal without significant bearing play. In a further development of the invention, it is proposed that the release lever has a pocket. (Referring to a...) The pocket between two walls of the release lever can be defined by an axis defined by the pivot axis of the release lever. The release lever can have an actuating flank against which the fingers of a tool user grip to move the release lever. The pocket can have an opening formed on the side of the release lever facing away from the actuating flank. An arm of the release lever can protrude at least partially through this opening. The spring element can act on the movement limiting element such that the first arm is acted upon in one direction towards the actuating flank of the release lever, i.e., into the pocket. The spring element is preferably arranged in the pocket. A support projection can be arranged in the pocket against which one end of the spring element, formed by a helical compression spring, is supported.The movement limiting element can form a support flank opposite the support projection, against which the other end of the reversing gear compression spring is supported. The support flank can be formed by a second arm of the movement limiting element, which, in particular, carries a cam at its free end with which the movement limiting element acts upon an end section of the locking element. The locking element is actuated in such a way that the end section actuated by the cam is supported against a housing-fixed stop, which can be formed by a pin. The locking element can be a steel plate with a window whose narrow edges have edge profiles. In the locking position, the locking element is in a canted position relative to the pull / compression rod, so that the edge profiles of the window engage the narrow sides of the pull / compression rod.A spring element can engage the end section opposite the end section actuated by the cam, thereby acting on the locking element in the locked position. The direction in which the spring element acts on the locking element is the same direction in which the locking element is acted upon by the movement limiting element against the stop. A forward-moving element is used to advance the pull / push rod. The drive lever is pivotally mounted about a positional axis. The drive lever can be moved towards a handle. The drive lever has a drive cam that acts against a drive element, which can have the same design as the locking element. The drive element can be formed from one or more steel plates, each with a window through which the pull / push rod protrudes. A drive cam is located on an end section of the drive lever that projects into the housing. This cam acts against the drive element to move the drive element relative to the housing. This movement occurs in a position that is canted relative to the pull / push rod, so that the drive element pulls the pull / push rod along in the tensioning direction.A torque is applied to the locking element, which is supported by the movement limiting element, in its release position, allowing the push / pull rod to be pushed through the locking element's opening with slight frictional resistance. After the working stroke is complete, a spring element moves the drive element out of its canted position and back into its starting position.

[0007] The invention relates in particular to devices designed as clamping or spreading clamps. However, the invention also relates to other devices, for example, cartridge ejection devices. Brief description of the drawings

[0008] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention designed as a clamping clamp; Fig. 2 shows section II in Figure 1, but in the case of a clamping clamp according to the prior art, wherein a drive lever 3 for displacing a pull / push rod 1 by means of a drive element 4 assumes its initial position; Fig. 3 shows a representation according to Figure 2, wherein the drive lever 3 has displaced the drive element 4 and the pull / push rod 1 in the direction of a clamping direction S, wherein a locking element 5 is acted against a cam 15 of a release lever 6; Fig. 4 shows the embodiment in an operating position as shown in Figure 2; Fig. 5 shows the section along line VV in Figure 1; Fig. 6 shows the section along line VI-VI in Figure 5; Fig. 7 is a representation according to Figure 6, but the drive lever 3 has been pivoted into a position corresponding to Figure 3; Fig. 8 shows a representation according to Figure 6, wherein after a reversal of the drive lever 3 from the position shown in Figure 7 the release lever 6 has been pivoted; Fig. 9a shows the section IX in figure 6 in a first constellation in which a distance a between an arm 13 of the movement limiting element 7 and a projection 32 has a mean value; Fig. 9b is a representation according to Figure 9a, where the distance a is minimal; Fig. 9c is a representation according to Figure 9a, in which the distance a has a large value; Fig. 10 shows an exploded view of essential elements of the embodiment. Description of the embodiments

[0009] The embodiment shown in the drawings is a clamping device comprising a housing 2 which supports a fixed clamping jaw 27. A push / pull rod 1, made of steel and having a narrow, rectangular cross-section, extends through the housing 2. A movable clamping jaw 28 is located at one end of the push / pull rod, but can also be attached to the other end of the push / pull rod 1 in a known manner, allowing the tool to be used as both a clamping device and a spreader clamp. The push / pull rod 1 extends through the housing 2.

[0010] A handle 30, which can be gripped by a user's hand, projects from the housing 2. An actuating arm of a drive lever 3 extends between a section of a release lever 6 projecting from the housing 2 and the handle 30. The release lever 6 and the drive lever 3 are each pivotally mounted on the housing 2 about bearing axes 10, 22. The drive lever 3 forms a grip section 31, which can be grasped by the user's fingers to pivot it forward toward the handle 30. The release lever 6 has a grip section 12 that can be grasped by the fingers of the user's hand in order to move the release lever 6 towards the handle 30.

[0011] Inside the housing 2 is a drive element 4, which in this embodiment is formed by two steel plates, each having a window through which the push / pull rod 1 projects. A spring element 20, designed as a reversing compression spring, supports the drive element 4 in a basic position against support flanks 37, which hold the drive element 4 in a position substantially perpendicular to the push / pull rod 1, so that the drive element 4 is not canted with the push / pull rod 1. With a pivoting movement of the drive lever 3, an end section of the drive element 4 is acted upon by a drive cam 21 of the drive lever 3 such that the drive element 4 cants relative to the push / pull rod 1. During the pivoting movement, the drive element 4 is displaced in the direction of the clamping direction S against the restoring force of the spring element 20.

[0012] In the prior art (Figures 2 and 3), the locking element 5, which is also a steel plate having a window 33, is supported by a cam 15 of the release lever 6. The release lever 6 forms a movement limiting element with respect to the locking element 5, in that the cam reduces displacement of the locking element 5 in the direction of clamping S. A tension spring 18 engages the other end of the locking element 5 to actuate it in the release direction L. The end of the locking element 5 acted upon by the cam 15 is supported by a stop 8.

[0013] During the forward displacement (Figure 3), the pull / push rod 1 can move against a frictional force through the window 33. The edges 33' of the window 33, which are tilted with the pull / push rod 1, can thereby be moved via the The narrow sides of the pull / push rod 1 slide. However, in the position of the locking element 5 shown in Figures 2 and 3, it is not possible to move the pull / push rod 1 in the release direction, since in this direction the edges 33' on the narrow sides of the pull / push rod 1 jam.

[0014] If the release lever 6 is pivoted, this canted position is lifted, so that the pull / push rod 1 can be moved through the window 33 in the release direction L.

[0015] The inventive device differs from the prior art device shown in Figures 2 and 3 by a spring-loaded movement limiting element 7.

[0016] The release lever 6 is a two-armed lever. One arm of the lever protrudes from the housing 2 through a housing opening 34. The other arm of the lever is located inside the housing 2 and forms a window through which the pull / push rod 1 is guided. The release lever 6 is mounted in the housing 2 about a pivot axis 10 that forms a bearing pin, the bearing pin 10 being inserted into a non-circular bearing eye 16 of the release lever 6. The free end of the inner arm of the release lever 6 is acted upon by a tension spring 19 in the release direction L. This free end forms a release cam 23, which, when the release lever 6 pivots, acts upon the end pointing away from the stop 8, which is acted upon by the spring element 18. The spring element 19 moves the release lever 6 back to its initial position.

[0017] The release lever 6 forms a pocket 11 which, in the exemplary embodiment, extends into the handle section 12 of the release lever 6 projecting from the housing 2. This handle section 12 forms the actuating flank 14. The pocket 11 extends from the surface, which is gripped by the user's fingers. Behind the actuating flank 14, the pocket 11 has an opening. The bottom of the pocket 11 forms a projection 32. A support projection 35 is also provided within the pocket 11. The pocket 11 has two walls arranged one behind the other in an axial direction with respect to the pivot axis 10. The movement limiting element 7, formed by a lever element and located within the pocket, extends between the two walls.

[0018] The drive lever 3 and the release lever 6, as well as the movement limiting element 7, can be made of plastic. The movement limiting element 7 forms a bearing eye 17 in which a bearing pin is arranged with virtually no play. In the exemplary embodiment, the movement limiting element 7 and the release lever 6 are pivotable about the same pivot axis 10, which is formed by a bearing pin.

[0019] The movement limiting element 7 forms a first arm 13 that extends within the pocket 11. The rear side of the arm 13 can have a distance a from the projection 32. Depending on manufacturing tolerances or wear, the distance a can vary as shown in Figures 9a to 9c. A section of the arm 13 can protrude from the pocket 11 through an opening facing away from the actuating flank 14.

[0020] The movement limiting element 7 can have a further arm which carries a cam 15 at its free end. The arm can arc around the stop 8, which can be a steel pin fixed in the housing.

[0021] A spring element 9 is provided, which acts on the cam 15 in the direction of the stop 8. The spring element 9 can be applied to the The movement limiting element 7 exerts a torque. The cam 15 engages directly at an end of the locking element 5 that is opposite the end of the locking element 5 where the spring element 18 engages. The end of the locking element acted upon by the cam 15 rests against the stop 8. The force of the spring element 9 is of sufficient magnitude to prevent the cam 15 from being dislodged from its position fixing the locking element 5 when the drive element 4 is moved forward. The force exerted by the spring element 9 on the locking element 5 is therefore preferably greater than the force exerted by the spring element 18.

[0022] The arm of the movement limiting element 7 forming the cam 15 has a support flank 36 pointing away from the cam 15, against which the spring element 9, formed by a reversing gear compression spring, is supported. The spring element 9 is supported at its other end against the support projection 35 of the pocket 11, so that the spring element 9 is mounted within the pocket.

[0023] The device further comprises a brake element 24, which has a window through which the pull / push rod 1 extends. A spring element 25 applies pressure to the brake element in a braking position, preventing the pull / push rod from moving freely and independently through the housing even with a slight pivoting of the release lever 6. Only when the release lever 6 is pivoted into the position shown in Figure 8 is the brake element 24 moved from the braking position to a release position against the restoring force of the spring element 25.

[0024] Figure 8 further shows that when the release lever 6 is moved into the release position, the cam 15 is displaced from the path of movement of the bio- The locking element 5 emerges, allowing the locking element 5 to move along the pull / push rod 1 until it touches the brake element 24.

[0025] Figure 8 further shows that when the release lever 6 is actuated, the spring element 9 relaxes in the release direction such that the arm 13, located in the pocket 11, rests with its rear side against the projection 32. When the release lever 6 is released from the position shown in Figure 8, the tensioned tension spring 19 moves the release lever back to its initial position. Simultaneously with this movement, the locking element 5 is moved back to the position shown in Figure 7 by the tension spring 18 acting upon it. The cam 15 then rests again against one of the broad surfaces of the locking element 5. The spring element 19 then tensions the spring element 9, since the spring element 19 acting on the release lever 6 exerts a greater force than the spring element 9. The cam 15 is then supported by the force exerted by the spring element 9 against a broad side surface of the locking element 5.

[0026] If the push / pull rod 1 is held during the movement from the operating position shown in Figure 8 to the operating position shown in Figure 7, only the release lever 6 moves. In this case, the cam 15 may contact a narrow side of the locking element 5. If the push / pull rod 1 is subsequently released, the force of the spring element 18 moves the locking element 5 into the position shown in Figure 7. Simultaneously, the spring element 19 moves the release lever 6 into the position shown in Figure 7.

[0027] The foregoing statements serve to explain the inventions covered by the application as a whole, which differ from the prior art at least through the following combinations of features, each also independently. further educate dig, whereby two, several or all of these feature combinations can also be combined, namely:

[0028] A device characterized in that the movement limiting element 7 is acted upon by a spring element 9 against the blocking element 5.

[0029] A device characterized in that the locking element 5, in the locking position in the release direction L, is supported against a housing-fixed stop 8 and the spring element 9 acts on the locking element 5 in the release direction L.

[0030] A device characterized in that the movement limiting element 7 is supported by the release lever 6 and the spring element 9 is arranged between the release lever (6) and the movement limiting element 7.

[0031] A device characterized in that the release lever 6 is pivotably mounted in the housing 2 about a pivot axis 10 and the movement limiting element 7 is pivotably mounted about the same pivot axis 10.

[0032] A device characterized in that the movement limiting element 7 is arranged in a pocket 11 of the release lever 6, wherein the pocket 11 is open on a side facing away from an actuating flank 14 of the release lever 6.

[0033] A device characterized in that the release lever 6 has a handle section 12 projecting from the housing 2, in which a first arm 13 of the movement limiting element 7 is located, wherein the spring element 9 acts on the movement limiting element 7 in such a way that the first arm 13 is acted upon in one direction on the actuating flank 14 of the release lever 6.

[0034] A device characterized in that a second arm of the movement limiting element 7, which is located inside the housing 2, has a cam 15 which acts on the blocking element 5.

[0035] A device characterized in that the first arm 13 of the movement limiting element 7 protrudes partially from the pocket 11.

[0036] A device characterized in that the release lever 6 is mounted on a bearing pin forming the pivot axis 10 with a non-circular bearing eye 16 allowing some movement, and the movement limiting element 7 is mounted on the bearing pin with a round bearing eye 17 allowing essentially no movement.

[0037] All disclosed features are essential to the invention (individually, but also in combination with one another). The disclosure of this application hereby incorporates in full the disclosure content of the associated / attached priority documents (copy of the earlier application), also for the purpose of including features of these documents in the claims of the present application. The dependent claims, even without the features of a referenced claim, characterize independent inventive developments of the prior art, in particular for the purpose of filing divisional applications based on these claims. The invention specified in each claim may additionally include one or more of the The invention relates to designs in which individual features mentioned in the preceding description, in particular those identified by reference numerals and / or those listed in the reference numeral list, are not realized, especially insofar as they are recognizably unnecessary for the respective purpose or can be replaced by other technically equivalent means. List of reference symbols 1 pull / push rod, 26 bearing pins 2 housings, 27 fixed clamping jaws 3 drive levers, 28 movable clamping jaws 4 Drive element 30 Handle 5 Locking element 31 Handle section 6 release levers 32 projection 7 Movement limitation 33 Window element 33' Edge edge 8 Stop 34 Housing opening 9 Spring element 35 Support projection 10 Swivel axis, bearing pin 36 Support flank 11 Pocket 37 Support flank 12 Handle section 13 Arm 14 Actuating flank S Clamping direction 15 cams S clamping direction 16 Bearing eye L Release direction 17 Bearing eye 18 spring element 19 spring element 20 spring element 21 drive cams 22 bearing journals 23 Loose cams 24 Brake element 25 spring element

Claims

Claims 1. Device for the stepwise displacement of a pull / push rod (1), comprising a housing (2), a drive lever (3) mounted on the housing (1), which, upon thrust actuation, displaces a drive element (4) acting on the pull / push rod (1) relative to the housing (2) in a clamping direction (S), and a locking element (5) mounted on the housing (1), which, in a locking position, prevents the pull / push rod from being displaced backwards. / push rod (1) in a release direction (L) opposite to the tension direction (S) and which can be moved from the locking position to a release position by actuating a release lever (6) acting on the locking element (5), in which a movement of the push / pull rod (1) in the release direction (L) is possible, and with a movement limiting element (7) against which the locking element (4) abuts during the forward movement of the drive element (4) which carries the push / pull rod (1), characterized in that the movement limiting element (7) is acted upon by a spring element (9) against the locking element (5).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (5) in the locking position is supported on a housing-fixed stop (8) in the release direction (L) and the spring element (9) acts on the locking element (5) in the release direction (L).

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement limiting element (7) is supported by the release lever (6) and the spring element (9) is arranged between the release lever (6) and the movement limiting element (7). A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release lever (6) is pivotably mounted in the housing (2) about a pivot axis (10) and the movement limiting element (7) is pivotably mounted about the same pivot axis (10). A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement limiting element (7) is arranged in a pocket (11) of the release lever (6), the pocket (11) being open on a side facing away from an actuating flank (14) of the release lever (6). A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release lever (6) has a handle section (12) projecting from the housing (2), in which a first arm (13) of the movement limiting element (7) is located, the spring element (9) acting on the movement limiting element (7) such that the first arm (13) is acted upon the actuating flank (14) of the release lever (6) in one direction.Device according to claim 6, characterized in that a second arm of the movement limiting element (7), which is located inside the housing (2), has a cam (15) which acts on the locking element (5). Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the first arm (13) of the movement limiting element (7) projects partially out of the pocket (11). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release lever (6) is mounted on a bearing journal forming the pivot axis (10) with a non-circular bearing eye (16) allowing some play, and the movement limiting element (7) is mounted on the bearing journal with a round bearing eye (17) allowing essentially no play. Device characterized by one or more of the characterizing features of one of the preceding claims.

Images