Crimping tool

Abstract

The invention relates to a crimping tool (1) with a jaw (3). A bearing body (38b) is mounted on the jaw (3) via a jaw bearing (68b), having one degree of pivoting freedom about a pivot axis (69b) oriented vertically to a plane of the plier head. A die half (39b) is mounted on the bearing body (38b) via a die half bearing (40b), having one degree of rotation about a crimping axis (41). A locking element (32) of a locking device (33) is manually movable via an actuating section (70) and, in a locked position, blocks the degree of rotation of the die half (39b) relative to the bearing body (38b). Preferably, the locking element (32) is multifunctional in that, in the locked position, it both secures the bearing body (38b) to the jaw of the pliers (3) and blocks the degree of rotational freedom of the die half (39b) relative to the bearing body (38b).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a crimping tool used for crimping (hereinafter referred to as "crimping") a workpiece, in particular a connector with a cable arranged therein. The crimping tool can be used, for example, to perform a so-called "conductor crimp" by crimping a contact area of ​​the connector to the electrical conductor of the cable, and / or a so-called "insulation crimp" by crimping a clamping area of ​​the connector to the insulating sheath of the cable. For possible applications of such a crimping tool, reference is made to the crimping tools offered and described on the website www.wezag.de. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] EP 0 516 598 B1 and EP 0 888 850 B1 disclose a crimping tool in which die halves are each held on the corresponding jaws by a bearing body. The bearing bodies each have aligned, pin-shaped axle bodies on both sides, which are received in jaw bearing eyes with a closed cross-section. This forms a jaw bearing that allows the bearing body to be mounted with one degree of pivot freedom about a pivot axis oriented vertically to a jaw head plane relative to the corresponding jaw. The die halves are in turn mounted on the bearing body by means of a die half bearing. The die half bearing ensures a relative degree of rotation of the die half with respect to the bearing body about a crimping axis of the crimping tool.In this way, it is possible to pivot the longitudinal axis of the die formed by the two die halves, into which the workpiece can be inserted, into different operating positions and orientations around the crimping axis. One die half has guide rods oriented parallel to the crimping axis, which are received in correspondingly aligned guide bores in the other die half. The guide thus formed ensures that the die halves can be moved relative to each other along the crimping axis by a crimping stroke of the crimping pliers, while relative rotation of the two die halves is prevented by this guide, and a manual rotation of one die half by the degree of freedom automatically moves the other die half.The pivoting degree of freedom provided by the jaw bearing enables a pivoting compensation movement between the bearing bodies and the jaws. This is necessary because the jaws pivot relative to each other during the crimping stroke, while the die halves must remain aligned with each other along the crimping axis. A locking device secures the die halves in a first and a second rotational position. In the first position, the workpiece receptacle formed by the die halves is oriented longitudinally along the crimping pliers and parallel to the plane of the pliers head. In the second position, the receptacle is oriented vertically to the plane of the pliers head. According to EP 0 516 598 B1, the locking device is designed as a ball detent.According to EP 0 888 850 B1, the locking device has a U-shaped spring clip with detent lugs molded into its side legs. The die halves then have a bearing journal of the die half bearing, which has circumferential grooves into which the detent lugs of the spring clip can engage. According to EP 0 516 598 B1 and EP 0 888 850 B1, one die half has a convex punch formed by a projection, while the other die half has a concave recess. The projection and the recess form the die half surfaces between which the workpiece is crimped.

[0003] German patent application DE 20 2018 006 658 U1 discloses a crimping tool in which the bearing bodies have an axle body that forms the jaw bearing and has opposing flats inclined relative to the crimping axis. In this case, the jaws have open-edged jaw bearing eyes with a partial circular cross-section and a circumferential angle greater than 180°, so that the edge opening of the jaw bearing eyes forms a constriction. In an assembly orientation, the axle body can be inserted into the jaw bearing eye through the edge opening in the area of ​​the flats. When the crimping tool is assembled, the axle body extends coaxially to the pivot axis of the jaw bearing.When the bearing body is pivoted from its mounting position around the pivot axis into an operating alignment range effective during normal crimping, the constricted edge opening prevents the axle body from exiting the jaw bearing eye. The bearing body also forms a bearing journal oriented coaxially to the crimping axis, which extends through a bearing eye formed by a blind hole in the base of the die half, forming a die half bearing with one degree of rotational freedom around the crimping axis. The mounted position of the bearing journal of the bearing body in the bearing eye of the die half is achieved by means of a U-shaped spring clip, the side arms of which are inserted into bores in the die half on both sides of the bearing eye and extend through circumferential grooves of the bearing body journal.A locking device is formed here by the fact that the base of the circumferential groove of the bearing journal has a hexagonal cross-section. In the rotational positions defined by the flat sides of the hexagonal cross-section, the die halves are locked with respect to rotation according to the degree of rotational freedom, since for rotation from these locked positions, the corners of the hexagonal cross-section must elastically expand the side legs of the U-shaped spring clip. According to DE 20 2018 006 658 U1, the die halves are designed as ribbed die halves, with the respective ribs of the two die halves interlocking like a comb. The workpiece is crimped via the end faces of the ribs. These end faces form die surfaces that provide a receptacle for the workpiece with a square cross-section.In this process, the edge length of the square cross-section decreases as the die halves move over the crimp stroke.

[0004] The publication EP 3 004 007 B1 discloses a crimping tool in which a pivoting degree of freedom of a bearing body relative to the jaw is provided via a jaw bearing, and a rotational degree of freedom of a die half relative to the bearing body is provided via a die half bearing. Here, too, the rotational position of the die halves with respect to the rotational degree of freedom is locked by means of a locking device. The locking device is designed as a ball detent. For this purpose, a detent ball is supported by a detent spring, which extends parallel to the crimping axis in a detent spring bore of the bearing body, and is acted upon in the direction of an end face of the bottom of the die half facing the crimping axis. In the locked rotational positions, the detent ball engages in detent recesses in the end face of the bottom of the die half, with several detent recesses being evenly distributed along the circumference of the crimping axis. TASK OF INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is based on the objective of proposing a crimping tool which is improved in particular with regard to operability, operation and / or the guarantee of defined crimping conditions. SOLUTION

[0006] The object of the invention is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claim. Further preferred embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention is based on the understanding that for some applications it can be disadvantageous if the rotational position of the die halves around the die half bearing and thus around the crimp axis is not fixed, but is freely variable (e.g., due to tensile forces acting on the workpiece that are not oriented exactly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the receptacle formed by the die halves) or is merely detented, which can make operation more difficult or result in no defined crimping conditions.

[0008] The invention proposes a crimping tool comprising a jaw on which a bearing body with one pivoting degree of freedom about a pivot axis oriented vertically to a jaw head plane is mounted via a jaw bearing. The jaw head plane is the plane in which the jaws are moved, in particular pivoted relative to each other. Furthermore, in the crimping tool according to the invention, a die half with one rotational degree of freedom about the crimping axis is mounted on the bearing body via a die half bearing.

[0009] The crimping pliers have a locking device that includes a locking element. However, this locking element is not simply a detent element acting inside the crimping pliers, such as an internal spring clip or detent ball. Rather, according to the invention, the locking element has an actuating section. The user can apply actuating forces to the locking element via this actuating section, thereby initiating manual movement of the locking element. This allows for manual movement of the locking element from a locked position to an unlocked position and / or vice versa.

[0010] Preferably, the locking element is moved automatically into a locked position via a locking spring, while the user can manually move the locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position via the actuating section.

[0011] According to the invention, the locking element, in a locked position, blocks the rotational freedom of the die half relative to the bearing body. Such a blocking of the rotational freedom can occur in specific rotational positions or rotational position ranges, the limits of which are then defined by the locking element. According to the invention, the user can thus influence the operating position of the locking element and selectively bring about a blocked rotational position of the die half, thereby establishing defined crimping conditions at the crimping tool and defining the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the receptacle formed by the die halves for the workpiece. According to the invention, the locking element acts directly on the die half to block its rotational freedom, with a contact surface between the locking element and the die half being established for this blocking action.For this purpose, the locking element can, for example, be movably mounted or guided on the bearing body or the jaw of the pliers.

[0012] It is possible that the bearing body is permanently connected to the associated jaw via the jaw bearing, allowing for pivoting freedom. In one specific design, the bearing body is held in the jaw bearing in the assembled operating position by means of a locking device (while maintaining pivoting freedom). In this case, the locking element can be multifunctional: in the locked position, it secures the bearing body to the jaw. Additionally, it can block the rotational freedom of the die half relative to the bearing body. This multifunctional use of the locking element can lead to a more compact crimping tool design and a reduction in the number of components.Furthermore, the multifunctional use of the locking element can result in simplified operation. According to the invention, the locking element can, in one and the same operating position (the locked position), secure the bearing body to the jaw and block the rotational freedom of the die half relative to the bearing body, and / or, in the unlocked position, ensure neither securing the bearing body to the jaw nor blocking the rotational freedom of the die half relative to the bearing body. It is also possible for the different functions of the locking element (securing / releasing the pivoting freedom of the jaw bearing; blocking or releasing the rotational freedom of the die half bearing) to occur in different operating positions of the locking element.For example, in a locked end position, preferably achieved automatically by means of a locking spring, both the pivoting position of the bearing body on the jaw of the die is secured and the rotational position of the die half relative to the bearing body is blocked. If the user then moves the locking element into a partially locked position, preferably against the force exerted by the locking spring, the securing of the bearing body to the jaw of the die remains, while the blockage of the rotational freedom of the die half relative to the bearing body is released, so that a different rotational position of the two die halves can be achieved without the bearing body being able to unintentionally detach from the jaw of the die.If the user then moves the locking element further, especially by applying further pressure to the locking spring, the unlocked operating position of the locking element can be achieved, in which both the blockage of the rotational freedom of the die half relative to the bearing body is lifted and the securing of the bearing body to the jaw of the pliers is removed, so that the disassembly of the bearing body (possibly with the die half mounted on it) is possible.

[0013] The invention offers numerous possibilities for the design of the locking device and the interaction between the locking element and the adjacent components (especially the die half). In one proposal, the die half has recesses extending radially to the crimp axis. These recesses can be closed-edge or open-edge, for example, grooves. The locking element can then be moved into one of the recesses in different rotational positions of the die half with respect to its degree of rotation. When the locking element is positioned in one of the recesses, the degree of rotation of the die half is blocked relative to the bearing body by a positive engagement of the locking element with the boundary of the recess in the die half.This design provides a structurally simple solution that ensures reliable locking of the rotational degree of freedom. The rotational positions can be defined by specifying the orientation of the recess and the locking element. If the cross-section of the recess has an interference fit with the locking element, a permissible rotational angle range can be specified with respect to the rotational degree of freedom, whereby locking occurs via positive engagement when the limits of this rotational angle range are reached.

[0014] In one design, the die half has ribs or wings oriented radially to the crimping axis. Preferably, the ribs or wings are arranged in the area of ​​the die base on the side facing the bearing body. The recesses are then formed between the ribs or wings.

[0015] Within the scope of the invention, the locking element can, for example, be held and guided on the bearing body. However, in one proposal, the locking element is held and guided on the jaw of the pliers, with the guidance by the jaw being such that the locking element is movable between the locked position and the unlocked position (and optionally the partially locked position).

[0016] While the locking element in this case must fundamentally ensure the fixation of the relative rotational position between the die half and the pliers jaw with respect to the rotational degree of freedom, but simultaneously the connection of the pliers jaw to the die half via the locking element must not block pivoting of the bearing body with the die half with respect to the pivoting degree of freedom to enable the previously described compensation movement, one embodiment proposes that the locking element does not block the pivoting of the bearing body relative to the pliers jaw about the pivot axis, which is also the case in the locked position. During the crimping stroke, the rotational degree of freedom of the die halves is thus blocked by the blocking contact of a contact surface of the locking element with a contact surface of the die half, which is formed in particular by a boundary of the recess of the die half.On the other hand, the pivoting of the bearing body relative to the jaw of the pliers about the pivot axis is made possible by the fact that the aforementioned contact surfaces can perform relative sliding movements with respect to each other. In other words, the positive locking of the locking element with the boundary of the recess of the die half exists independently of a relative sliding movement of the contact surfaces and thus of a sliding movement in the area of ​​the positive locking.

[0017] The above findings pertain only to one jaw of the crimping pliers and the components associated with that jaw, in particular the bearing body and the die half. The following refers to another jaw and its associated components, for which the adjective "other" is used for differentiation. The adjective "other" here does not necessarily imply that another jaw or component is also present.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, a further jaw is provided, to which a further bearing body is held via a further jaw bearing. This holding is achieved with an additional pivoting degree of freedom about a further pivot axis oriented parallel to a jaw head plane. A further die half is then mounted on the further bearing body via a further die half bearing with an additional rotational degree of freedom about the crimping axis. In this case, the die half and the further die half are coupled to each other in such a way that they are movable relative to each other in the direction of the crimping axis, thus enabling the relative movement of the die half and the further die half over the crimping stroke to crimp the workpiece.On the other hand, the coupling between the two die halves is such that they cannot be rotated relative to each other around the crimping axis (or only to a limited extent). This ensures that the correct relative orientation of the die halves is maintained with respect to rotation around the crimping axis. Furthermore, this allows the other die half to be automatically rotated along with one of the die halves when the user manually rotates it.

[0019] There are numerous possibilities for connecting the bearing bodies to the jaws of the pliers, including methods known from the prior art. The bearing bodies can be identical or different in design and connected to the jaws in the same or different ways.

[0020] In one proposed design, the jaw of the pliers has an open-edged bearing eye. The bearing body can be inserted into the jaw bearing eye through this opening when the locking element is in the unlocked position. Preferably, the jaw bearing eye has a semicircular cross-section with a circumferential angle of no more than 180°. The opening of the jaw bearing eye thus does not form a constriction or narrowing. It is possible that the locking element must be manually moved into the unlocked position for insertion, particularly by increasing the force exerted on a locking spring. Alternatively, the locking element may have an insertion ramp inclined relative to the insertion direction.When the bearing body is pressed against this insertion ramp during insertion, an insertion force component is generated at the ramp, which can move the locking element into the unlocked position against the force exerted by the locking spring. Once the bearing body is inserted into the jaw bearing eye, the locking element can automatically return to the locked position due to the force exerted by the locking spring, thus preventing the bearing body from freely exiting the jaw bearing eye through the opening. To prevent this, the locking element, in the locked position, forms a constriction, constriction, and / or undercut in the jaw bearing eye, thereby creating a positive fit with a cross-section of the bearing body.This positive locking prevents the bearing body from exiting the jaw bearing eye, which may mean that exit is merely made more difficult or that exit is blocked.

[0021] Alternatively or cumulatively, the additional jaw of the crimping tool has another open-edged jaw bearing eye. This open-edged jaw bearing eye has an undercut (preferably fixed, unlike the locking element). In one assembly orientation, a further bearing cross-section of the additional bearing body can be inserted into the additional jaw bearing eye. The assembly orientation is selected such that the additional bearing body cross-section can pass through the undercut. Preferably, the assembly orientation of the additional bearing body relative to the additional jaw of the crimping tool is such that this assembly orientation cannot be reached when the crimping tool is fully assembled during operation. After the additional bearing body is inserted into the additional jaw bearing eye, it pivots into an operating orientation.In the operational alignment area, the further bearing body is prevented from exiting the further jaw bearing eye by a positive locking of the further bearing body cross-section with the undercut of the further jaw bearing eye.

[0022] It is fundamentally possible that the cross-sectional areas of the bearing body and the additional bearing body have different geometries, or that the entire bearing bodies are designed differently. However, in one aspect of the invention, the cross-sectional area of ​​the bearing body and the additional bearing body have the same geometries, and it is also possible that the bearing body and the additional bearing body are designed identically. In this way, the degree of uniformity can be increased.

[0023] Within the scope of the invention, die halves with any desired die contour and die surface design can be used in the crimping pliers, cf. in particular the fixtures disclosed on the website www.wezag.de for the workpieces, die contours and die surfaces and geometries and workpieces to be crimped with the die halves.

[0024] In one embodiment, the die half and the other die half have interlocking ribs. In this case, the end faces of the ribs form a rectangular die contour, the size of which changes over the crimp stroke.

[0025] Advantageous further developments of the invention result from the patent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0026] The advantages of features and combinations of features mentioned in the description are merely exemplary and can have an effect alternatively or cumulatively, without the advantages necessarily having to be achieved by embodiments according to the invention.

[0027] Regarding the disclosure content—not the scope of protection—of the original application documents and the patent, the following applies: Further features can be derived from the drawings—in particular, the geometries depicted and the relative dimensions of several components to one another, as well as their relative arrangement and functional connection. The combination of features from different embodiments of the invention or from features of different claims is also possible, deviating from the chosen cross-references of the claims, and is hereby encouraged. This also applies to features that are illustrated in separate drawings or mentioned in their description. These features can also be combined with features from different claims.Likewise, features listed in the patent claims may be omitted for further embodiments of the invention, but this does not apply to the independent patent claims of the granted patent.

[0028] The features mentioned in the claims and the description are to be understood, with regard to their number, as meaning that exactly that number or a greater number than the stated number is present, without the need for the explicit use of the adverb "at least". Thus, for example, if an element is mentioned, this is to be understood as meaning that exactly one element, two elements, or more elements are present. The features listed in the claims may be supplemented by further features or may be the only features that the subject matter of the respective claim possesses.

[0029] The reference numerals contained in the patent claims do not constitute a limitation of the scope of the subject matter protected by the patent claims. They merely serve the purpose of making the patent claims easier to understand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] The invention will now be further explained and described with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the figures. Fig. 1 The image shows a crimping tool viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the tool head. Fig. 2 The crimping tool shows according to Fig. 1 in a spatial view obliquely from below. Fig. 3 The crimping tool shows according to Fig. 1 and 2 when viewed vertically to the plane of the pliers head, with die half units removed from the associated pliers jaws. Fig. 4 The crimping tool shows according to Figs. 1 to 3Viewing direction perpendicular to the plane of the crimping pliers, showing the crimping pliers in a partially disassembled state and without die halves. Figs. 5 and 6 show a die half unit in spatial views for different viewing directions, with one die half unit shown in an exploded view. Fig. 7 The crimping tool shows according to Figs. 1 to 4 when viewed vertically to the plane of the crimping pliers, the crimping pliers are shown in a partially disassembled state, but with die half units mounted on the jaws and a locking device in an unlocked position. Fig. 8 shows Detail VIII of Fig. 7 . Fig. 9 The crimping tool shows according to Figs. 1 to 4 when viewed vertically to the plane of the crimping pliers, the crimping pliers are shown in a partially disassembled state, but with die half units mounted on the jaws and a locking device in a locked position. Fig. 10 shows a detail X of Fig. 9 . Fig. 11 shows another embodiment of an assembly unit with two die half units in a spatial view. Fig. 12 shows another embodiment of a die half unit in a spatial exploded view. FIGURE DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the following figure description, the same reference number is sometimes used for components or features that are identical or similar in design and / or function. These components or features can then be distinguished from one another by an additional letter, a, b. These components or features can also be referred to using only the reference number without the additional letter, in which case one, any number, or all of them can be meant.

[0032] Fig. 1 and 2Figure 1 shows a crimping tool 1. The crimping tool 1 has a fixed jaw 2 and a movable jaw 3. Die halves 4 and 5 are held on the jaws 2 and 3. A crimping stroke pivots the jaws 2 and 3 relative to each other, crimping a workpiece, in particular a connector, which is to be crimped to a conductor or cable, in a die contour 61 formed by the die halves 4 and 5.

[0033] The crimping jaws 2, 3 are actuated by a fixed hand lever 6 and a movable hand lever 7 to produce the crimping stroke. For this purpose, a drive mechanism 8 is arranged between the hand levers 6, 7 and the crimping jaws 2, 3. This drive mechanism is a gearbox that ensures a suitable transmission and reduction of the forces and movements applied to the hand levers 6, 7 to the forces and movements generated at the crimping jaws 2, 3.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the fixed jaw 2 and the fixed hand lever 6 are parts of a fixed plier part 9. The movable jaw 6 is pivotally mounted on the fixed plier part 9 in a pivot bearing 10 about a pivot axis oriented vertically to the plane of the plier head.

[0035] An end region of the movable hand lever 7 is articulated to the movable jaw 3 via a pivot bearing 11, the pivot axis of which is also oriented vertically to the plane of the plier head, at a distance from the pivot bearing 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the movable jaw 3 is L-shaped, with the pivot bearing 10 arranged in the free end region of one leg of the L, the die half unit 5 held in the free end region of the other leg of the L, and the pivot bearing 11 arranged in the region of the angulation of the L.

[0036] A further pivot bearing 12 connects one end of a pressure lever 13 to the movable hand lever 7 (spaced apart from the pivot bearing 12). The other end of the pressure lever 13 connects to the fixed gripper part 9 via a pivot bearing 14.

[0037] The section of the movable hand lever 7 between the pivot bearing 11 and the pivot bearing 12 forms a first toggle lever 15. The pressure lever 13 forms a second toggle lever 16 between the pivot bearing 12 and the pivot bearing 14. The toggle levers 15 and 16 are part of a toggle lever drive 17, in which the pivot bearing 12 forms the toggle joint. At the end of the crimping stroke and upon reaching the closed position of the die halves 4 and 5, the toggle lever drive 17 approaches its extended position. As the crimping stroke is completed, the transmission ratio of the toggle lever drive 17 changes such that, as it approaches the extended position, a transmission ratio is ensured that increasingly larger crimping forces can be generated.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the crimping pliers 1 have a forced locking mechanism 18 (see below). Fig. 4The positive locking mechanism 18 ensures that, during the crimping stroke, the closed position of the hand levers 6, 7, the plier jaws 2, 3, and the die half units 4, 5 is secured, even if the hand forces applied to the hand levers 6, 7 are temporarily released, for example, when at least one hand is repositioned. Opening of the hand levers 6, 7, and thus of the plier jaws 2, 3 and the die half units 4, 5, is only possible once the crimping stroke has been completed.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure lever 13 has a toothed section 19 to form the positive locking mechanism 18. This toothed section interacts with a pawl 20 rotatably mounted on the movable hand lever 7. During the crimping stroke, the pawl 20 slides along the toothed section 19 in a ratchet-like motion, pivoting and acting upon a pawl spring 21, which acts upon the pawl 20 in the direction of the toothed section 19. During the crimping stroke, the engagement of the pawl 20 with the toothed section 19 prevents an opening movement. Upon reaching the closed position, the pawl spring 21 pivots such that another side of the pawl's toothed section 20 engages with the toothed section 19, allowing it to slide along the toothed section 19 in a ratchet-like motion during an opening movement.

[0040] The crimping pliers 1, in particular the jaws 2, 3, the movable hand lever 7, the fixed pliers part 9 and the fixed hand lever 6, as well as the pressure lever 13, are constructed of plates, whereby several plates may be rigidly connected to one another to form these components. The hand levers 6, 7 also have handles 22, 23 that are slid onto the plates.

[0041] A jaw of the pliers, here the fixed jaw of the pliers 2, has a jaw bearing eye 24, which has a rim opening 25 (cf. Fig. 3 and 4The jaw bearing eye 24 has a bearing surface corresponding to the lateral surface of a half-cylinder. The edge opening 25 then has an opening width that is at least equal to the diameter of the half-cylinder. However, the jaw bearing eye 24 has a locking lug 26, which is located in the end region of the circumference of the half-cylinder and forms an undercut 27 of the jaw bearing eye 24.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, the fixed jaw 2 is formed with three plates arranged directly on top of each other in a sandwich-like manner. The upper and lower plates form semi-cylindrical bearing surfaces with the edge opening, but without the locking lug 26, while the middle plate forms the semi-cylindrical outer surface with the locking lug in the transition area to the edge opening 25.

[0043] Another jaw of the pliers, here the movable jaw 3, has a jaw bearing eye 28, which is also fundamentally semi-cylindrical with a rim opening 29 and has a locking lug 30 that forms an undercut 31. However, here the locking lug 30 is not a rigid component of the jaw 3. Rather, the locking lug 30 is formed by a locking element 32 of a locking device 33. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking element 32 is designed as a locking slide 34.The locking element 32 is movable, in this case slidable, and guided on the movable jaw 3 such that the locking element 32 can assume a locked position in which the locking lug 30 forms the undercut 31 of the jaw bearing eye 28, and a non-locked position in which the edge opening 29 of the jaw bearing eye 28 is exposed, so that the locking lug 30 does not form an undercut 31. A locking spring 35 acts on the locking element 32 in the locked position.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the movable jaw 3 is formed with an upper plate and a lower plate, which together form the jaw bearing eye 28 with the edge opening 29. The two plates are spaced apart from each other. The locking element 32 is guided slidably between the two plates in a sandwich-like manner. The locking slide 34 is guided and / or its degree of displacement is limited by a bolt 36, which can be a pivot bearing bolt of the pivot bearing 11, via an elongated hole 37 through which the bolt 36 extends.

[0045] Fig. 5 and 6The figures show die half unit 5 in an exploded view, while die half unit 4 is shown in its assembled state. Essential design features of die half units 4 and 5 are identical, so the same reference numbers are used, but they are distinguished by the additional letter "a" for die half unit 4 and by the additional letter "b" for die half unit 5. In some cases, only one of the die half units is referred to below, in which case the same may also apply to the other die half unit.

[0046] The die halves 4, 5 each have a bearing body 38 and a die half 39. The bearing body 38 and the die half 39 are rotatably mounted to form a die half bearing 40 with one degree of rotational freedom about a crimp axis 41. For this purpose, the die half 39 has a bearing journal 42 on the side facing away from the other die half 39. The bearing journal 42 of the die half 39 extends through a bearing eye 43 of the bearing body 38. The bearing eye 43 has an open cross-section, with a slot 44 opening into the bearing eye 43. The slot 44 has a smaller width than the diameter of the bearing eye 43. The surface of the bearing body 38 is planar in the area surrounding the bearing eye 43 and the slot 44. The bearing journal 42 has a circumferential groove 45, which is limited by a mushroom-shaped head 46 of the bearing journal 42.In the mounted state within the bearing eye 43, the head 46 and part of the circumferential groove 45 extend out of the bearing eye 43. In this mounted state, a locking element in the form of a retaining ring 47, in particular a snap ring, can be elastically engaged with the circumferential groove 45. The retaining ring 47 is then trapped between the surface of the bearing body 38 and the head 46, thus securing the die-seal bearing 40 axially against disassembly in the direction of the crimp axis 41.

[0047] On the side facing the bearing body 38, the die halves 39 have recesses 48-1, 48-2, ... extending radially to the crimp axis, where the suffix "-1", "-2", "..." distinguishes the different recesses 48 from each other and an additional distinction for the different die half units 39 can be made by the suffix "a", "b".

[0048] The recesses 48 are limited in both circumferential directions by boundaries 49, which here are formed by ribs or wings 50 extending star-shaped or radially to the crimp axis 41.

[0049] The bearing body 38 has a base plate 51 that is approximately circular in shape, two bearing body cheeks 52, 53 extending from the base plate 51 on diametrically opposite sides, and an axle body 54 extending transversely to the crimp axis 41 between the bearing body cheeks 52, 53. The base plate 51, the bearing body cheeks 52, 53, and the axle body 54 are preferably formed integrally. The axle body 54 is held at a distance from the base plate 51 by the bearing body cheeks 52, 53. The head 46 and the retaining ring 47 are arranged in the space formed between the axle body 54 and the base plate. The base plate 51 has the slot 44 and the bearing eye 43 centrally located.

[0050] The axle body 54 has a bearing surface 55. Centrally, the bearing surface 55 has a circumferentially oriented groove 56 that extends only over a partial circumference of the bearing surface 55. The groove 56 is located in a cross-sectional plane transverse to the longitudinal extent of the axle body 54 and, when the crimp axis 41 is oriented vertically, in a 3 o'clock position and / or a 9 o'clock position. It is possible that a rib 57 is arranged on the opposite side of the bearing surface 55, i.e., in the 9 o'clock or 3 o'clock position, the circumferential extent of which may correspond approximately to the circumferential extent of the groove 56. The bearing body cross-section 58 may also have a flattened area 66 on the side opposite the groove 56. The axle body 54 forms with the cross-section in the area of ​​the bearing surface 55, the groove 56 and, if applicable, the rib 57 as well as, if applicable,The flattened area 66 provides a bearing body cross-section 58, the function of which will be explained below.

[0051] In Fig. 5 and 6 It can also be seen that the die halves 39 are each designed as rib dies with comb-like interlocking ribs 59, whose end faces 60 together form a square die contour 61, the size of which changes over the crimp stroke, so that a workpiece can be pressed between the end faces 60.

[0052] The die halves 4 and 5 are fundamentally identical. However, the die halves 39 must be guided relative to each other in such a way that they can perform relative movement in the direction of the crimp axis 41, but cannot rotate relative to the crimp axis or displace radially to the crimp axis 41. For this purpose, in the embodiment shown here, die half 39a has guide rods 62 and 63 arranged on both sides of the ribs 59 and extending parallel to the crimp axis 41. These guide rods slide in guide bores 64 and 65 of die half 39b. The guide rods 62 and 63 project beyond the ribs 59 of die half 39a towards the other die half 39b.

[0053] It is possible that the guide bores 64, 65 do not have a closed cross-section, but are formed by a guide wall that adjoins two adjacent ribs and extends in cross-section only over a partial circumferential region, and / or that the guide rods 62, 63 are connected to the side surfaces of the ribs 59. For further details in this regard, reference is made to EP 3 904 007 B1, which is incorporated into the present patent application.

[0054] To mount the die halves 4, 5 onto the jaws 2, 3, the die halves 4, 5 are first assembled together to form a mounting unit. This allows the guide rods 62, 63 to be inserted into the guide bores 64, 65, and the ribs 59 of the die halves 39 to engage. The jaws 2, 3 are then moved into an open position.

[0055] In the Fig. 7 and8 It can be seen that for the alignment of the bearing body cross-section 58a of the die half unit 4 in an operating alignment area, from which an operating alignment into the Figs. 7 to 8 The bearing body 54a, as shown, could not be inserted into the jaw bearing eye 24, since the bearing body cross-section 58a could not pass the locking lug 26 of the jaw bearing eye 24 in this orientation. Instead, the axle body 54a is mounted into the jaw bearing eye 24 in a modified mounting orientation, in which the mounting unit with the die half units 4, 5 is vertical to the plane of the drawing. Fig. 7 and 8The bearing body is pivoted clockwise relative to the position shown, such that the bearing body cross-section 58a can pass the locking lug 26. Pivoting back into the operating alignment range then results in a locking lug 67, formed by the boundary of the groove 56a of the bearing body cross-section 58a, being located in the area of ​​the undercut 27 of the jaw bearing eye 24. This creates a positive fit, which prevents disassembly (especially in the direction of the crimping axis 41) in the operating alignment range. A jaw bearing 68a is formed between the axle body 54a and the jaw bearing eye 24, with the bearing surface 55a being supported on a corresponding bearing surface of the jaw bearing eye 24. The jaw bearing 68a defines a pivot axis 69a, which is vertical to the jaw head plane (see the drawing planes according to Fig. 7 and 8 ) is oriented.

[0056] Following this, the axle body 54b of the die half unit 5 is assembled with the jaw 3. The locking element 32 has an actuating section 70 that is accessible to the user from the outside, so that the user, for example with the thumb of the hand holding the movable hand lever 7, can move the locking element 32 into the unlocked position against the force exerted by the locking spring 35. In the unlocked position of the locking element 32, the locking lug 30 of the locking element 32 does not extend into the jaw bearing eye 28, so that the jaw bearing eye 28 has no undercut 31. The axle body 54b, with its bearing body cross-section 58b, can thus be inserted into the jaw bearing eye 28 via the edge opening 29 in the operating alignment area of ​​the assembly unit with the die half unit 4 already mounted on the fixed jaw 2.Once the assembled position is reached, the locking element 32 can be moved from the unlocked position to the locked position, preferably by means of the locking spring 35 (see . Fig. 9 and 10 In the locked position, the locking lug 67b of the bearing body cross-section 58b is arranged in the area of ​​the undercut 31 of the pliers jaw bearing eye 28, so that the locking lugs 67b, 30 form a positive locking connection that blocks disassembly in the operating alignment area.

[0057] It is possible that the locking element 32 has an insertion ramp 71. In this case, it is possible that the locking element 32 is not manually moved into the unlocked position by the user. Rather, an insertion force causes an end face of the axle body 54b to slide along the insertion ramp 51, thereby bringing about the movement of the locking element 32 into the unlocked position. Upon reaching the assembled position, the locking element 32 then automatically snaps into the locked position.

[0058] The locking element 32 has a further locking lug 72. The locking lug 72 extends through the slot 44b, and for the movement of the locking element 32 between the locked and unlocked positions, the locking lug 72 moves along the slot 44b without restricting or hindering the movement of the locking element 32. In the unlocked position, the end portion of the locking lug 72 protruding from the slot 44a is arranged radially outside the recesses 48, the boundaries 49, and the ribs or wings 50. However, when moving into the locked position, the locking lug 72 engages in the recesses 48 between the ribs or wings 50.In this way, the die half units 4, 5 are locked by means of the locking element 32 against rotation with respect to the degree of rotational freedom of the die half bearing 40b about the crimp axis 41 in the locked position of the locking element 32, since the locking nose 72 is trapped in the circumferential direction between the limits 49 provided by the ribs or wings 50.

[0059] In the illustrated embodiment, the locking element 32 is thus designed to be multifunctional, in that it secures the die half unit 5 against disassembly on the one hand with the locking lug 30 and on the other hand blocks an unintentional rotation of the die half unit 5 about the crimp axis 41 with the locking lug 72.

[0060] An axial locking mechanism against displacement in the direction of the pivot axis 69 can also be achieved by the positive engagement of the bearing body cross-section 58 of the axle body 54 with the jaw bearing eyes 24, 28. This is accomplished in particular by the locking lug 26, 30 being axially captured in the groove 56 in the direction of the pivot axis 69. Similarly, a rib 57 of the bearing body cross-section 58 can also be axially captured in a corresponding groove of the jaw bearing eye 24, 28.

[0061] For the in Fig. 11In the illustrated embodiment, it can be seen that the axle body 54 has a rib 57 in the area of ​​the bearing body cross-section 58, which is caught in the area of ​​the jaw bearing eye 24, 28 between the two outer plates of the jaws 2, 3, thus providing axial locking against movement in the direction of the pivot axis 69. In the illustrated embodiment, flattened areas 66 are provided on both sides of the rib 57.

[0062] Fig. 12Figure 1 shows an embodiment in which the mounting of the bearing body 38 on the die half 39 in the area of ​​the die half bearing 40 is not secured by means of a retaining ring 47. Instead, the end region of the bearing journal 42, which projects from the bearing eye 43, has a transverse bore 73 into which a locking pin 74 is inserted. The locking pin 74 protrudes from the transverse bore 73 at both ends, thus capturing the base plate 51 of the bearing body 38 between the ends of the locking pin 74 and a top surface of the die half 39. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0063] 1 Crimping pliers 2 Fixed jaw 3 Moving jaw 4 Die half unit 5 Die half unit 6 Fixed hand lever 7 Moving hand lever 8 Drive mechanism 9 Fixed jaw part 10 Swivel bearing 11 Swivel bearing 12 Swivel bearing 13 Pressure lever 14 Swivel bearing 15 Toggle lever 16 Toggle lever 17 Toggle lever drive 18 Forced lock 19 Toothing 20 Pawl 21 Pawl spring 22 Handle 23 Handle 24 Jaw bearing eye 25 Edge opening 26 Locking nose 27 Undercut 28 Jaw bearing eye 29 Edge opening 30 Locking nose 31 Undercut 32 Locking element 33 Locking device 34 Locking slide 35 Locking spring 36 Bolt 37 Slotted hole 38 Bearing body 39 Die half 40 Die half bearing 41 Crimp axis 42 Bearing pin 43 Bearing eye 44 Slot 45 Circumferential groove 46 Head 47 Retaining ring 48 Recess 49 Limit 50 RibWing 51 Base plate 52 Bearing body cheek 53 Bearing body cheek 54 Axle body 55 Bearing surface 56 Groove 57 Rib 58 Bearing body cross-section 59 Rib 60 End face 61 Die contour 62 Guide rod 63 Guide rod 64 Guide bore 65 Guide bore 66 Flat 67 Locking lug 68 Jaw bearing 69 Swivel axis 70 Actuating section 71 Lead-in chamfer 72 Locking lug 73 Transverse bore 74 Locking pin

Claims

1. Crimping pliers (1) with a jaw (3) on which a bearing body (38b) with a pivoting degree of freedom about a pivoting axis (69b) oriented vertically to a pliers head plane is mounted via a jaw bearing (68b), wherein a die half (39b) is mounted on the bearing body (38b) via a die half bearing (40b) with a rotational degree of freedom about a crimping axis (41), characterized by the fact that a locking element (32) of a locking device (33), which has an actuating section (70) for manual movement of the locking element (32), blocks the degree of rotational freedom of the die half (39b) relative to the bearing body (38b) in a locked position.

2. Crimping pliers (1) according to claim 1, wherethe bearing body (38b) is detachably held in the jaw bearing (68b) by means of the locking device (33), wherein the locking element (32) of the locking device (33) in the locked position a) secures the bearing body (38b) to the jaw (3) b) and also blocks the rotational freedom of the die half (39b) relative to the bearing body (38b).

3. Crimping pliers (1) according to claim 1 or 2, where the die half (39b) has recesses (48b) extending radially to the crimp axis (41), wherein in different rotational positions of the die half (39b) with respect to the degree of rotational freedom the locking element (32) can be moved into one of the recesses (48b) in each case, so that by a positive locking of the locking element (32) with a limit (49b) of this recess (48b) of the die half (39b) the degree of rotational freedom of the die half (39b) is blocked relative to the bearing body (38b).

4. Crimping pliers (1) according to claim 3, where the die half (39b) has ribs or wings (50b) oriented radially to the crimp axis (41), between which the recesses (48b) are formed.

5. Crimping pliers (1) according to one of the preceding claims, where the locking element (32) is held and guided on the jaw of the pliers (3).

6. Crimping pliers (1) according to one of the preceding claims, where the locking element (32) does not block the pivoting of the bearing body (38b) relative to the jaw of the pliers (3) about the pivot axis (69b).

7. Crimping pliers (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherea) a further jaw (2) is provided, on which a further bearing body (38a) with a further degree of pivoting freedom about a further pivot axis (69a) oriented vertically to a jaw head plane is held via a further jaw bearing (68a), wherein a further die half (39a) is mounted on the further bearing body (38a) via a further die half bearing (40a) with a further degree of rotation about the crimp axis (41), and b) the die half (39b) and the further die half (39a) are coupled to each other such that ba) the die half (39b) and the further die half (39a) are displaceable relative to each other in the direction of the crimp axis (41), and bb) the die half (39b) and the further die half (39a) are not displaceable relative to each other about the crimp axis or only to a limited extent. (41) are rotatable.

8. Crimping pliers (1) according to claim 7, wherea) the jaw (3) has an open-edged jaw bearing eye (28) into which, in the unlocked position of the locking element (32), the bearing body (39b) can be inserted and in which, in the locked position, the locking element (32) forms a positive fit with a bearing body cross-section (58b) of the bearing body (39b), which prevents the bearing body (39b) from exiting the jaw bearing eye (28), and / or b) the other jaw (2) has another open-edged jaw bearing eye (24) which has an undercut (27) and into which, in a mounting orientation, another bearing body cross-section (58a) of the other bearing body (39a) can be inserted,wherein in an operating alignment area the further bearing body (39a) is prevented from exiting the further jaw bearing eye (24) by a positive locking of the further bearing body cross-section (58a) with the undercut (27) of the further jaw bearing eye (24).

9. Crimping tool (1) according to claim 8, wherein the bearing body cross-section (58b) and the further bearing body cross-section (58a) have the same geometries.

10. Crimping tool (1) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the die half (39b) and the further die half (39a) have interlocking ribs (59b, 59a) whose end faces (60b, 60a) form a square die contour (61) whose size changes over the crimp stroke.

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