Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02380879 2002-04-05
TITLE
CABLE CRIMPER AND CUTTER METHOD AND APPARATUS
INTRODUCTION
This invention relates to a cable crimper and cutter
method and apparatus and, more particularly, to a combination of
the same in a single tool for use in the logging industry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
To maintain a bundle of logs in a secure condition
during transport and otherwise in logging operations, steel
cables are typically used. An aluminum ferrule is slipped over
one end of the cable. and the cable is positioned so as to
encircle the lags. The other end of the cable is inserted into
the ferrule and pulled tight. The ferrule is crimped
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longitudinally using a compressive force in,several places by an
appropriate tool so that the cable is held securely within the
ferrule. The free end of the cable extending from the ferrule is
then severed. The cable is severed when the destination is
reached or the cable is no longer necessary.
Heretofore, the two operations, namely crimping and
cutting, were carried out separately; that is, the crimping
operation Was accomplished with a first tool and the cable was
severed with a second tool. The tools were typically
pneumatically driven and since the tools must be robust to
adequately criatp the ferrule about the cable and withstand the
forces required, the tools were required to be strong and
concomitantly heavy. Using two(2) tools, however, was
inefficient and unnecessarily costly.
I5 A combination tool which both crimps the ferrule and
cuts the cable a.s described and illustrated is United States
Patent 4,558,484 (Myers). This patent describes a tool which has
a central vice type jaw for performing the crimping operation and
a cable cutter comprising an anvil and a cutter which is mounted
offset from the central axis of the tool for cutting the cable
after the crimping operation. This tool operates satisfactorily
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under many conditions but it does suffer disadvantages.
The tool is very heavy as described due to the rugged
applications in respect of which the tool.is used. In order to
cut the cable following the crimping operation, the tool must
necessarily be rotated about a vertical axis while it is being
held by the user: While the crimping operation is conducted
while the tool is held by the user in a straight ahead position
and the forces resulting from the crimping operation are applied
symmetrically on the user while holding the tool, the cable
cutting operation is carried out with the tool held by the user
asymmetrically. Since the tool is quite heavy, a.t creates a
significant moment force on the user, particularly when the
cutting operation is actually taking place. The moment created
by the asymmetric force is disadvantageous and awkward.
SUN~lARY OF: THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a combination crimper and cutter tool for crimging a
ferrule and cutting a cable extending therefrom comprising a
first set of crimper jaws for encircling and critaping said
2b ferrule and a first set of cutter jaws for severing said cable
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extending from said ferrule, each of said crimper and cutter jaws
rotating about coincident axes.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there
is provided a method of se~trering cable and crimping a ferrule
positioned on said cable with a single tool comprising the steps
of encircling said ferrule with a first pair of jaws rotating
about a first axis, cramping said ferule with said first pair of
jaws in at least one location on said ferrule, moving said tool
to encircle said cable extending from said ferrule with a second
pair of jaws of said tool and closing said second pair of jaws to
sever said cable, each of said firshand said second pair of jaws
being movable about coincident axes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention will now be described,
by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic isometric view of the
combination cable crimper and cutter tool according to the
invention;
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Figure 2 is a diagrammatic exploded view of the
combination cable crimper and cutter tool of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan.view of the crimper and
cutter tool of Figures 1 and 2 particularly showing the crimper
and cutter jaws in theix open position; and
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the crimper and
cutter tool similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the crimper and
cutter jaws in their closed position.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC Eb,030DIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, a combination cra.mper
and cable cutting tool is generally illustrated at 100 in Figure
1. It comprises a pair of handles 101 connected to the frame 105
of the crimper and cable cutting tool 100 with a push button 104
operated by the user of the tool 100 used for initiating
operation of the tool. A pneumatic plenum chamber generally
illustrated at 102 is positioned at the rearward end of the tool
100 which is operable to open and close the cutter and crimper
jaws 103 which rotate about vertical axes as will be described.
Crimper and cable cutting tool 100 is generally symmetrical about
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a vertical plane A-A extending from the forward to the rearward
end of the tool 100, it being understood that the directions
given refer to the tool when the handles 101 are held. by a user.
Axes 110 are symmetrically located on opposite sides of plane A-
A.
With reference to Figure 2, the pneumatic plenum
chamber 102 includes a diaphragm 111 acting on an attached piston
head 115 which has an attached piston 112 as best seen in Figures
3 and 4.' The piston head and piston reciprocate under control of
the diaphragm 111 and spring 113. Piston 112 is threadedly
connected to movable link block I14 which reciprocates with
piston 112. A pair of concave shaped circumferential clamps 116
(Figure 2) encircle the pneumatic plenum chamber 102, diaphragm
112 and a casing 117 to hold the various members together and in
. their correct operating relationship during operation.
A pair of links 120 are rotatably mounted raithin link
block 114 by pins I2l and extend generally outwardly from the
link block 114 to pivotally connect with crimper and cutter jaws
122. Crimper and cutter jaws 122, in turn, are mounted within
upper and louver support frames 123, 124, respectively, and rotate
under the influence of links 120 about pins 130 (Figure 3). A
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series of bolts 131 (Figure 2) is used to connect the upper and
lower support frames 123, 124 and a spacer 132 maintains the
proper distance between upper and lower support frames 123, 124
to allow for movement of the criniper and cutter jaws 122 with
adequate clearance within the support frames 123, 124. The upper
and lower support frames 123., 124 are connected to support block
member 125 which, in turn, is connected to casing 117 by bolt
members 126 (see also Figure 3).
The crimper and cutter jaws 122 include a crimping
portion 133 and a cutting portion I34. The crimping portion
includes two concave areas which are adapted to encircle a
ferrule (not illustrated) and apply a compressive force on the
ferrule thereby to deform the aluminum material of the ferrule
and crimp the ferrule securely against a cable within the
ferrule. The cutting portion 134 has two cutters 140, which
cutters are pir~. mounted in the jaws 122 by pins 135. The cutters
134 are used to sever the cable following the crimping operation
and are replaceable as desired over time by removing pins 135.
The operator's handle 101 is connected to the upper
support frame 123 and support block member 125 by bracket 126.
Push button 104:is connected to the pneumatic plenum chamber 102
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by a pneumatic hose 106 and a coupling 107 between the hose 106
and the coupling 107.
OPERATION
In operation, it will be assumed that the cri.mper and
cutter tool 100 is in the position illustrated in Figure 3; that
is, that the crimper and cutter jaws 122 are in their open
condition and that it is desired to crimp a ferrule encompassing
a cable and, thereafter, to sever the cable~following the
crimping operation.
The user will connect a pneumatic line from a source of
compressed air to the fitting 108 (Figure 2) below the push
button control 104. Thereafter, the user will manipulate the
crimper and cable cutting tool 100 by handle 101 and encircle the
ferrule within which the cable is positioned with the crimper and
cutter jaws 122. Specifically, the ferrule will be positioned
such that the outside diameter of the ferrule is within the
concave area of the crimping portion 133 of the jaws 122.
When the appropriate position of the tool 100 is
obtained and the ferrule is properly positioned within the
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crimping portion 133 of jaws 122, push button 104 is pressed by
the operator. This allows compressed air to pass through fitting
107 and hose 106 to the pneumatic plenum chamber 102.. The
compressed air will move diaphragm 111 outwardly- toward the
forward portion of the tool 100 together with the piston head 115
and piston 112.
Piston 112 is connected to link block L14. Link block
114 will therefore move forwardly thereby driving links 120 and
crimper and cutter jaws 122 which rotate about pins I30 and
thereby exert a crimping force on the ferrule between the jaws
122. Following the application of the crimping force by the jaws
122, push button 104 is released. Spring 113 will return the
piston head 115 and piston 112 to its initial position thereby
opening the jaws 122 to the position illustrated in Figure 4 and
releasing the ferrule. The operation is repeated until the
ferrule has been crimped over several positions and the cable is
securely held Within the ferrule.
The tool 100 is then moved toward the operator by the
use of handles 101 until the cable extending from the ferrule is
adjacent the cutters 140. Specifically, the tool 100 is
manipulated until the cable is nestled within the recess 141 of
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the leftwardly mounted cutter 140 (as viewed by the user) as best
seen in Figure 3. Push button 104 is again pressed and, in the
same sequence as previously explained, the cutters 140 sever the
cable between the cutters 140. The pushbutton 104 is released
and the operation is then complete.
The force applied by the tool 100 during the crimping
and cutting operations is symmetrical about the pins 130 on which
the jaws 122 are mounted. The operator, therefore, is exposed to
a moment which is always exerted in the same direction, although,
of course, the magnitude of the force may vary during the
crimping and cutting operations. The manipulation of the tool is
not sidewise but, rather, it is simply moved inwardly or
outwardly depending on which of the crimping or cutting
operations is desired by the operator.
Many modifications will readily occur to those skilled
in the art. Rather than being pneumatically powered, of course,
hydraulic or even electrical operation is contemplated depending
on the location of use of the tool and the availability of
compressed air or hydraulic fluid. while the cutters 140 are
illustrated and described as being mounted outside the crimping
portion 133 of the jaws 122, the cutters 140 might also be
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positioned inwardly of the eriatping portion,133 without departing
from the scope of the invention. Similarly, various link
configurations could be used to power the jaws 122 during
operation of the piston 112.
While the crimging and cutting jaws 122 in the
embodiment described and illustrated are included in a single set
of members 122, it is contemplated that the crimping and cutting
jaws 122 may be separate members. In this instance, the two sets
of members Would rotate about coincident axes and the benefits of
the invention of a symmetrical moment applied during the crimping
and cutting operations would remain:
While the crimping and cutting tool 100 has particular
applicability to logging operations, it is contemplated that the
tool may have applications in other industries such as lumber
mills or wherever a large number of heavy items must be
maintained together using steel cable or, indeed; where it is
desired to crimp a ferrule onto a steel cable and thereafter cut
the cable extending from the ferrule.
Many additional modifications will readily occur to
those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the
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specific emboda.ments described should be taken as illustrative of
the invention only and not as limiting its scope v~hich should be
defined in accordance with the accompanying claims.
