Crimping dice and crimp device

Abstract

To provide a crimping dice which makes an uneven thickness part hard to be generated in a crimp terminal and a wire after crimping, of which the configuration is simple, which enables a worker to perform a crimping work while holding it by hand and which is capable of generating a sufficient caulking force (crimping force), and a crimp device including the crimping dice.SOLUTION: A crimping dice comprises: a pair of crimping arms; a pair of perpendicular end portions provided in one end of each of the pair of crimping arms and respectively extending in a vertical direction with respect to an axial direction of the pair of crimping arms; and a pair of toothing port parts respectively disposed on mutually opposed side faces of the pair of perpendicular end portions and occluded with each other for performing caulking by pressing a crimp terminal and a wire with rotation of the pair of crimping arms.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a crimping die used for crimping a crimp terminal to an electric wire, and a crimping device equipped with the crimping die, and in particular to a crimping die and crimping device suitable for crimping a crimp terminal to an electric wire using a conductor made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. [Background technology]

[0002] Many of the crimping dies in crimping devices or crimping tools that an operator can use to perform hand-held crimping work have a structure in which a pair of arms are rotatably connected at a pivotal part, and by rotating the pair of arms around the pivotal part, an electric wire and a crimp terminal are crimped and connected at a pair of jaw parts at the tips of the arms.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a crimping die and crimping tool that includes a pair of jaw portions arranged so that their tip ends move toward each other, a pair of handle portions arranged so that their rear ends can rotate toward each other, and a stand portion rotatably connected to at least one side or the other of the handle portions by a specified shaft member.

[0004] Patent document 2 also describes a crimping die and crimping tool that includes a pair of gripping members extending from one end to the other, a pivotal portion that rotatably connects the pair of gripping members, a pair of clamping members extending from the base end to the tip, and a support portion that supports the pair of clamping members midway between the base end and the tip, wherein the other end of one of the clamping members is rotatably connected to one of the gripping members, and the other clamping member is fixedly fixed to the other gripping member or is formed from a member that is integral with the other gripping member, and by bringing one ends of the pair of gripping members closer to each other, the die portions provided at the tips of the pair of clamping members come closer to each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-023027 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-076647 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, with the conventional crimping dies and crimping tools described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a pair of crimping teeth move in an arc based on the rotation of a pair of arms to engage with each other and perform crimping, so the force applied to the crimped terminal and the electric wire is not uniform between the front and rear ends of the pressure surfaces, and uneven thickness portions inevitably occur in the crimped terminal and the electric wire after crimping. When uneven thickness portions occur, the crimp strength of the terminal is significantly reduced.

[0007] There are also crimping tools equipped with crimping dies in which a pair of teeth move linearly to engage with each other and perform crimping, but in crimping tools that can be held by the operator, the pivoting movement of the arm is forcibly converted into linear movement, making it difficult to crimp with sufficient crimping force and also making the structure complicated.There are also built-in crimping devices in which a pair of teeth move linearly to engage with each other and perform crimping, but because they are built-in, they have various problems such as poor operability due to their heavy weight and a tendency for crimping errors to occur, low productivity, and high cost.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a crimping die having a simple structure that is less likely to cause uneven thickness portions in the crimped terminal and electric wire after crimping, and a crimping device equipped with this crimping die.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a crimping die that can be handheld by an operator for crimping work and that can generate sufficient crimping force (crimping force), and a crimping device equipped with this crimping die. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] According to the present invention, the crimping die comprises a pair of crimping arms, a pair of right-angled ends respectively provided at one end of the pair of crimping arms and extending perpendicular to the axial direction of the pair of crimping arms, and a pair of tooth mouth portions respectively provided on opposing side surfaces of the pair of right-angled ends and engaging with each other to press and crimp the crimp terminal and electric wire as the pair of crimping arms rotate.

[0011] Each of the pair of crimping arms has a right-angled end portion at one end thereof, extending perpendicular to the axial direction of the crimping arms. The opposing side surfaces of the right-angled end portions are provided with a pair of jaw portions that engage with their mating counterparts for crimping. Because the jaw portions are provided on the side surfaces of the right-angled end portions, even when the jaw portions engage with each other due to the rotation of the crimping arms, the force applied to the crimp terminal and the electric wire is uniform across the pressure surface. As a result, uneven thickness is less likely to occur in the crimped terminal and the electric wire. Furthermore, since the crimping arms simply have right-angled end portions at one end thereof and jaw portions at these right-angled end portions, the device has a very simple configuration, can be manufactured inexpensively, and can generate sufficient crimping force. Furthermore, the crimping operation can be performed by hand by an operator. Because it is possible to generate sufficient crimping force, sufficient pressing force can be obtained even when crimping aluminum electric wires, and the aluminum conductor can be pressed into the multiple holes provided in the crimp terminal or serration to destroy the oxidized coating of the electric wire, making it possible to obtain good electrical conductivity in a short period of time.

[0012] Preferably, the pair of right-angled ends extend in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the pair of crimping arms rotate.

[0013] It is also preferable that each of the pair of crimping arms has a right-angled end portion provided at one end of the crimping arm, a pressure application portion provided at the other end of the crimping arm to which a driving force for the crimping operation is applied, and a pivot portion provided between the right-angled end portion and the pressure application portion, and that the pair of crimping arms are configured to pivot around the pivot portion so that the pair of tooth mouth portions crimp the crimp terminal and the electric wire.

[0014] According to the present invention, there is further provided a crimping device including the above-mentioned crimping die.

[0015] The crimping device is preferably a pneumatic crimping device driven by a driving force for the crimping operation generated by air pressure.

[0016] It is also preferable that the crimping die further comprises a toggle mechanism having a slider to one end of which a driving force for the crimping operation is applied, and two links each having one end connected to the other end of the slider, and that the other ends of the links of the toggle mechanism are connected to the pressure-applying portions of a pair of crimping arms of the crimping die. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, the force applied to the crimp terminal and the electric wire is uniform across the pressure application surface, making it less likely that uneven thickness will occur in the crimp terminal and the electric wire after crimping. Furthermore, since the crimping arm has a right-angled end at one end and a tooth mouth at this right-angled end, the configuration is very simple, can be manufactured inexpensively, and can generate sufficient crimping force. Furthermore, the crimping operation can be performed by hand by an operator. Since sufficient crimping force can be generated, sufficient pressing force can be obtained even when crimping an aluminum electric wire, and the aluminum conductor can be pressed into the multiple holes in the crimp terminal or serrations to break the oxidized coating of the electric wire, thereby achieving good electrical conductivity in a short period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the overall configuration of the exterior of a crimping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a partially perspective side view schematically showing a partial configuration inside a housing of the crimping device and a configuration of a crimping die in the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the crimping die in the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a state before crimping. [Figure 4]1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of the crimping die in the embodiment of FIG. 1, in which (A) is a left side view of the crimping state, (B) is a front view of the crimping state, (C) is a front view of the state before crimping, (D) is a front view of one crimping arm, (E) is a bottom view of one crimping arm, (F) is a front view of the other crimping arm, and (G) is a plan view of the other crimping arm. [Figure 5] 3 is an explanatory view for explaining the action of the crimping die in the embodiment of FIG. 1 during crimping. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the overall external configuration of a crimping device in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a portion of the internal configuration of the housing of the crimping device in this embodiment and the configuration of the crimping dies, and FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the configuration of the crimping dies in this embodiment in a pre-crimping state.

[0020] The crimping device of this embodiment is a pneumatic crimping device driven by a driving force for the crimping operation generated by air pressure, and is a crimping device suitable for use when crimping an aluminum electric wire to a crimp terminal.

[0021] In Fig. 1, 10 denotes a crimping die, 11 denotes a housing in which a drive mechanism for the crimping die 10 is provided, 12 denotes an air hose joint, and 13 denotes a trigger for the crimping operation provided on the housing 11. A toggle mechanism and an air cylinder connected to a pair of crimping arms (first crimping arm 22 and second crimping arm 23) of the crimping die 10 are provided within the housing 11, and pressurized air is supplied to this air cylinder via an air hose connected to the joint 12.

[0022] 2, 14 denotes a piston rod connected to the piston of the pneumatic cylinder, 15 a piston link rotatably connected at one end to the piston rod 14, 16 a connecting arm rotatably connected to the other end of the piston link 15, 17 a slider of a toggle mechanism inserted and fixed into the connecting arm 16, 18 a first link of the toggle mechanism, 19 a second link of the toggle mechanism, 20 a bracket for fixing the crimping die 10 to the housing 11, 21 a spacer inserted between the crimping die 10 and the bracket 20, 22 a first crimping arm of the crimping die 10, and 23 a second crimping arm of the crimping die 10. The first link 18 of the toggle mechanism is integrated with the slider 17 at one end. The second link 19 of the toggle mechanism is rotatably connected to the slider 17 and the first link 18 at a common connecting portion 19c provided at one end of the toggle mechanism.

[0023] The other end of the first link 18 of the toggle mechanism is rotatably connected to a pressure applying portion 22d provided at one end of the first crimping arm 22, and the other end of the second link 19 of the toggle mechanism is rotatably connected to a pressure applying portion 23d provided at one end of the second crimping arm 23. A right-angled end 22a is provided at the other end of the first crimping arm 22, and a pivot portion 22c is provided between the right-angled end 22a of the first crimping arm 22 and the pressure applying portion 22d. This first crimping arm 22 is configured to pivot around the pivot portion 22c. The other end of the second crimping arm 23 is provided with a right-angled end 23a, and a pivot portion 23c is provided between the right-angled end 23a of the second crimping arm 23 and the pressure applying portion 23d. This second crimping arm 23 is configured to pivot around the pivot portion 23c.

[0024] As shown more clearly in Figure 3, the right-angled end 22a extends from the other end of the first crimping arm 22 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the first crimping arm 22. In other words, it extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane about which the first crimping arm 22 rotates. The right-angled end 23a extends from the other end of the second crimping arm 23 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the second crimping arm 23. In other words, it extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane about which the second crimping arm 23 rotates. The opposing side surfaces of the right-angled ends 22a and 23a are provided with mating tooth gaps 22b and 23b, respectively. The tooth gap 22b is formed in a convex shape, and the tooth gap 23b is formed in a concave shape.

[0025] 2, a pair of mounting holes 20a and 20b of a bracket 20 are pivotally attached to a pair of mounting holes 11a and 11b of the housing 11, whereby the crimping die 10 is attached to the housing 11. In this state, when the piston rod 14 is linearly driven in the direction of arrow A (up and down in the figure), the connecting arm 16 is driven in the direction of arrow B (diagonally up and down in the figure) via the piston link 15, thereby driving the slider 17 of the toggle mechanism diagonally up and down in the figure. When the slider 17 is driven in this manner, the driving force is transmitted to the pressure receiving portion 22d of the first crimping arm 22 and the pressure receiving portion 23d of the second crimping arm 23 via the first link 18 and second link 19 of the toggle mechanism, and the first crimping arm 22 and the second crimping arm 23 pivot about the pivot portions 22c and 23c. The right-angled end 22a of the first crimping arm 22 and the right-angled end 23a of the second crimping arm 23 extend in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the first crimping arm 22 and the second crimping arm 23, or more precisely, in a direction perpendicular to the pivoting (rotating) plane of the first crimping arm 22 and the second crimping arm 23, so that the convex tooth mouth portion 22b and the concave tooth mouth portion 23b engage with each other due to this rotation, thereby performing the crimping operation.

[0026] Figure 4 shows the structure of the crimping die 10 in this embodiment in detail, with (A) showing the first crimping arm 22, the second crimping arm 23 and the spacer 21 as viewed from the left side during crimping, (B) showing the first crimping arm 22, the second crimping arm 23 and the spacer 21 as viewed from the front during crimping, (C) showing the first crimping arm 22, the second crimping arm 23 and the spacer 21 as viewed from the front before crimping, (D) showing the second crimping arm 23 as viewed from the front, (E) showing the second crimping arm 23 as viewed from the bottom, (F) showing the first crimping arm 22 as viewed from the front, and (G) showing the first crimping arm 22 as viewed from the top (plane).

[0027] As shown in these figures, the first crimping arm 22 has at its other end a right-angled end 22a extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the first crimping arm 22, with a convex mouth portion 22b formed on the side of the right-angled end 22a. Similarly, the second crimping arm 23 has at its other end a right-angled end 23a extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the second crimping arm 23, with a concave mouth portion 23b formed on the side of the right-angled end 23a.

[0028] In this way, in the crimping die 10 of this embodiment, the crimping is performed by the tooth mouth portions 22b and 23b formed on the right-angled ends 22a and 23a, respectively, engaging with each other, so that the force applied to the crimp terminal and the electric wire is uniform on the pressing surface. This action will be explained below.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the action of the crimping die 10 in this embodiment during crimping.

[0030] As shown in the figure, the crimping arm (second crimping arm) 23 of the crimping die 10 pivots about a pivot 23c to perform the crimping operation. In this case, the tooth mouth portion 23b, which applies force to the crimp terminal and the electric wire, is formed on the side of the right-angle end portion 23a. Therefore, the actual force applied to the left and right ends (top and bottom ends in Figure 5) of the tooth mouth portion 23b is equal to the force applied to the A and B sides. As a result, the force applied to the crimp terminal and the electric wire during crimping is uniform, and even when a large crimping force is applied, there is almost no uneven thickness in the crimped terminal and the electric wire. Since the crimping arms 22 and 23 simply have right-angle end portions 22a and 23a at one end and tooth mouth portions 22b and 23b at these right-angle end portions 22a and 23a, the structure is very simple, can be manufactured inexpensively, and can generate sufficient crimping force. Furthermore, the crimping operation can be performed by hand. Because it is possible to generate sufficient crimping force, sufficient pressing force can be obtained even when crimping aluminum electric wires. For example, as described in Patent No. 7032822, an aluminum conductor can be pressed into multiple holes in a crimp terminal or serration to destroy the oxidized coating of the electric wire, making it possible to obtain good electrical conductivity in a short period of time.

[0031] The crimping device of this embodiment is equipped with a toggle mechanism, which is a boosting mechanism consisting of two links and one slider, and therefore can obtain sufficient pressing force during crimping. As a result, even when crimping an aluminum electric wire using a pneumatic crimping device, sufficient pressing force can be obtained, and the aluminum conductor can be pressed into the many holes provided in the crimp terminal or serration to destroy the oxidized coating of the electric wire, making it possible to obtain good electrical continuity in a short period of time.

[0032] As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, right-angled ends 22a and 23a are provided at one end of each pair of crimping arms 22 and 23, respectively, extending perpendicularly to the axial direction of the crimping arms 22 and 23. Opposing side surfaces of the right-angled ends 22a and 23a are provided with a pair of mouth portions 22b and 23b, respectively, that engage with their mating parts for crimping. Because the mouth portions 22b and 23b are provided on the side surfaces of the right-angled ends 22a and 23a, even when the mouth portions 22b and 23b engage with each other due to the rotation of the crimping arms 22 and 23, the force applied to the crimp terminal and the electric wire is uniform across the pressure application surface. As a result, there is almost no uneven thickness in the crimped terminal and the electric wire. Furthermore, since the crimping arms 22 and 23 simply have right-angled ends 22a and 23a at one end thereof, and tooth mouths 22b and 23b at these right-angled ends 22a and 23a, the structure is very simple, can be manufactured inexpensively, and can generate sufficient crimping force. Furthermore, crimping work can be performed by hand by an operator. Since sufficient crimping force can be generated, sufficient pressing force can be obtained even when crimping aluminum electric wires, and the aluminum conductor can be pressed into the multiple holes in the crimp terminal or serrations to break the oxidized coating of the electric wire, thereby achieving good electrical continuity in a short time.

[0033] The above-described embodiments and examples are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not limiting, and the present invention can be embodied in various other modified and altered forms. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10 Crimping dies 11. Housing 11a, 11b, 20a, 20b Mounting holes 12 Air hose joint 13 Crimping trigger 14 Piston rod 15 Piston link 16 Connecting arm 17 Slider 18 First Link 19 Second Link 19c Common connection part 20 Bracket 21 Spacer 22 First crimping arm 22a, 23a Right angle end 22b, 23b Mouth area 22c, 23c pivot 22d, 23d Pressure entry section 23 Second crimping arm

Claims

1. A crimping die comprising: a pair of crimping arms; a pair of right-angled end portions provided at one end of each of the pair of crimping arms, each extending perpendicular to the axial direction of the pair of crimping arms; and a pair of tooth mouth portions provided on opposing side surfaces of the pair of right-angled end portions, which engage with each other to press against the crimp terminal and the electric wire and crimp it as the pair of crimping arms rotate.

2. 2. The crimping die according to claim 1, wherein said pair of right-angled ends extend in a direction perpendicular to the plane along which said pair of crimping arms rotate.

3. 2. The crimping die according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of crimping arms has the right-angle end provided at one end of the crimping arm, a pressure application portion provided at the other end of the crimping arm to which a driving force for the crimping operation is applied, and a pivot portion provided between the right-angle end and the pressure application portion, and wherein the pair of crimping arms are configured to pivot about the pivot portion so that the pair of tooth mouth portions crimp the crimp terminal and the electric wire.

4. A crimping device comprising the crimping die according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. 5. The crimping device according to claim 4, wherein the crimping device is a pneumatic crimping device driven by a driving force for the crimping operation generated by air pressure.

6. The crimping device according to claim 4, further comprising a toggle mechanism having a slider to one end of which a driving force for the crimping operation is applied, and two links each having one end connected to the other end of the slider, and the other ends of the links of the toggle mechanism are connected to the pressure applying portions of the pair of crimping arms of the crimping die.

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