Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
A2f:1t11B US
liAND 11E~1.) 5flN-I'~I7LL'f(7C7L F0121NS'fALLING
TI-~nD>?~ rnlsE»TS nrt» ~~xan >~oR UsrnrG snlvtE
This is a Ccmtinuaticm-in-Part of 1J. i. Serial Nu. 091707,113 filed Ntavemher
6,
2t1tN1 and a C.°ontinuation-in-Part of U.S. Serial No. lUl~5H,53U filed
September 27,
2t)t12.
Backfiround ofthe Invention
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for installing threaded
iascrts
into a substrate. Such substrates, fnr example, include films, sheets or
plates that may
he curved or flat. The substrates rnay be made of materials such as metal,
wood,
~las4, ceramic:, cellulose, leather car plastic and mxy be completely solid,
ar partly
porous, e.g. in the form of textiles of foam. More pareicularly, the invention
concerns
an insert that has a hallow shaft having first and second end portions and an
uittrn~ediate portion between tht end portions and a fhuigc surrounding the
first end
portion. The insert is installed by passing the intermediate portion and
second and
porkican into ar thruuih a bole in the substrate to preferably, bui not
essentially, pass
through a rear surface of the substrate so that the tlange of the insert
contacts a front
surface of the substrate. The second end pariion is then pulled toward the
first end
portion to collapse the intermediate portion of the shall apart the rear
surlace at' the
substrate (or upon the sidcwalls defining the bolt in the substrate) tcs Pnrm
a gripnin~
structure that secures the insert.
inserts, as described shave, are well known. They are for txample readily
purchased at lcx;al hardware 3'tores far insertion into drywall substrates.
Such inserts
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
have Tnc~re recently been used in production processes to provide threaded
structure.,
in substrates that may cot be strung ettough 8y themselves to support reliable
threads
or to reduce prnduation time by eliminating the need to thread individual
liolcs in the
substrates with taps.
The use ixt production has, however beers hampered by the lack ui' pr«cessw
and equipment to rapidly and raliably in,;tall such inserts.
The first, and still most common, way to install such inserts is by placing
the
shaft tluough a hole in (ha substrate, as above described, stud turning a
threaded rod
with an end flange, e.g. a bolt having a bolt head or flaatgcd threaded
mandrel or screw
head, into the threads in the Second end of the insert thus pulling the second
end
inward the first end of the insert to collapse the interntediate portion of
the insert, as
previously described.
Such a method of installation has numrrcaux cli~civxntages. lror example, when
the threaded rod with its end flange is ttlrncd to Collapse the intermediate
portion,
significant torque is requireil. 'fhe high torque tends to turn the cntil'e
insCrt which Can
result iu a bad installation by causing the frnmation of a defective gripping
stmcturc,
or destroying or damaging the substrcte or even snore cammonly, causing
Failure of
threads within the ittsort. i,ireai care must therefore be taken let assure
th<tt the insert
does trot spin. This cyRen requires that a separate itlscl't retaining means
be employed
chat can withstand the required high torque. Even in such eases, the failure
to obtain a
good installatian is ntcma frequent thau can be tolerated by many, if not
most,
production systems,
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CA 02443013 2003-09-26
Mrrre recently, such inserts have beets ittstallcd in prnduction systems by
threading a tnandrcl into the insert and longitudinally pulling the second end
of the
shaft of die insert tuward the first end of the shat!; of the insert, wittaovt
applying a
ratatianal torque. Nevertheless, the apparatus and processes far zccon~piishu~
that
result have not been as reliable as desired, in particular, in existing
apparatus, when
the mandrel was pullets, !l was nec:esmry to move the ctttire drive assembly
with the
mandrel thus preventing secure attachment of the drive to a cylinder housing
rut the
piston providing tlic pulliag force. As a result, the drive (meter) tended m
at least
partially mave ratationally wlicn it was activated creating wear and
misali,gtvment and
pmvcnting smooth rutational operation, Further when the drive wts :u:livuted
to roW to
the drive shaft, due to wear, ar rrevicyusly described, unacccplabiy high
friction
resulted between the drive shaft and pia~tan thmugh which the shaft passed,
wearing
both the drive Sha$ and the race or bore Lhraugh the piston accommodating the
drive
shall. As a further result, the turning of the drive shaft tcnrled to also
rotitte the piston
creating wear ut the piston seals. The same increase in friction caused an
increase in
torque rcquirctucnts to uvercume friction lasses. This is especially
troublesome in a
hand held tool
hll of these problems rcsrltcd in significant down time and potentially
unsatisfactory installation rtf the insert. As ail cvCn further disruivantagc
crf such
apparatus aztd methods, there wa_, no good way to detect what the screw head
(e.g.
threaded mandrel) was withdrawn to permit positioning of an insert far loading
onto
the screw head. There was also no gcxtd way to detect where the screw head was
screwed into the in.;ert so that tlxe nose retainer contacted the t'lange of
the insert or
3
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
where the shaft of the insert was inserted into the suhstrne so that the
inner! flange
contacted the lint aurlscG oi' tha substrata or wliere the screw head had been
completely unscrewed .from the insert. Accurate use of dctcetois would have
been
Lrarupered in such devices due to motion of the drive relative to the cylinder
housing
alrd also due to i<~rek of a secure attaclarxrent of the drive, the tendency
of the piston to
rotate s.od undesirable wear, as nr-cviaaly described. Atternpts to stag the
piston from
rotating tbernselves give a further wear paitlt as tile rrtisaligttmanls dtte
to the
insccurcfy attached drive pewit rottrtionaI forces to he applied to the piston
to be at
least partly successful in Causing piston rotxticnn clue to wear :r..s
previ<icsiy ~st~ribul.
The devices further did rant lend themselves to safe placement cyf detectors,
i.c, them
was no grind way for internal detecting mechanisms and the requirr;d
uetdcsirablc
mUYCnlCtltS previously described caused vibration of any sensors arced,
Hand held tools for securing inserts, :rs previously described had numerous
additiartal problems. In particular; forwt~rd rotation of a thrra<ted m:utdrel
!x7 properly
load the insert into the tcml wsl~ begun and stc~ppad by a trigger switch
subject only to
judgment cxznlrul of the operator. This sanrctitttes resulted in incomplete or
too tight
initial threading of the insert onto the tool. Incomplete seating resulted in
subsequent
pulling upon an incompletely seated insert with poss'hle damage W the inser!
Mange or
possible collapsing of the in;;ert at undeainrhlc lacatiorts, Initial seating
that was too
tight could cause premature collapsing of the insert duo to drawing the
Qtrcads toward
the tool upon excess continued rotation.
~aimilarly, after the insert was initially thze~aded with the mandrel of the
took,
initiaticm of the actican to draw the second and portion to collapse tbc
iutcnnediate
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CA 02443013 2003-09-26
portion of the insert ugirinst the second surface of the substrate to secure
the insert was
again a judgmment c:ail by the operator. 11 the drawing action was begun too
soon., i.c.
before proper seating en the tool, 4ollapsing of the iuscit could again occur
at an
improper location an the insert. Further, oven if the insert were properly
seated en the
tool, the operator could inadvertently move the local and seated insert away
from the
hole before initi:~ling the pulling action thus collapsing the intermcadiatc
portion of the
insert at an improper position reiativr to the hole thus again not properly
scu~uric~ the
insert, l;vcn more commonly, the operator could continue tile drawing ac6an
taa long
thus actually farting the mandrel. from the in,~rl anti dewrc~ying threads of
the insert.
There was also no wuy tier the operstor i<7 know when the insc~~t was properly
secured
into the substrare thus the operator could only guess at the proper lime to
reverse the
mandrel to uxtt)hrcaJ it tram the insert, Again, in sucli tools, the pulling
action
required movement of the entire drive. This created serious control prahlcans
in a
hand held tool due to the need to c<mtra~i inertial cffc~~ by the operator.
Brief t3escription of the Drawings
rigure 1 is 3n elevational view al an appat'atus in accotdanCC with a
preferred
embodiment of the present invention where the insert gun of the invention is
mounted
on a frame.
Figure 2 is a ;;ide view of a preferred eanbodirnent of an insert gun of the
Present invention as Shawn in lTigure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the gun of Fiyre ~ taken on line 3-3 at
Pigure 2.
Figure 4 is an exploded isometric view of the gun of Figure 3.
5
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Figure 5 shows a perspective view of t~ preferred enbncliment al' a hand ht;ld
spin-pull tool of the invention for installing inserts into a substrate, 1e55
retaining
handles.
Figure 6 ahcrw;; an cxplndcd assembly drawing of a preferred embodiment of a.
hand held spin-pull tool of the invention,
Figure 7 chows a magnified view al'section L3 of 1~igtue 2.
figure 8 shows a front elevation of cut open controller board box for a
preferred
ernbadimnnt of a hand held spin-pull tool of the invention.
JHigurc ) shows an end view of the box of Figure $.
BriefDescription ol'the Inventicm
Tn accordance wifh the invention there is therefore provid~;d a method and
apparatus that tJVGICUIIIe Or rnlnltntGC the disadvantages of the tnethpds and
apparatus
discasscd above in the Background of the Invention, Particularly, the
apparatus and
method of the invention permit reduced apparatus wear, provide better and more
reproducible results, v~-ilieatiam cef crimp farce to collapse the iusett to
farm the grip,
confirmation of the collapsed dimension of the insert, and the verification of
the
presence nl'propcr threads in the installed it~scrt.
As already discussed, the insert to be used in accordance with the inventicm
i;; a
liollow threaded insert for placement into a herle in a substrate where the
substrate
prefernhly, hut not essentially, has front and rear surfaves. The insert has a
shaft with
a firfit end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion between
the first
end portion and secoltd end portion. The insert has a front flange at the
first end
portion of the shaft for engaging the lirsl ((;.oat) surface of the substrate
around the
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CA 02443013 2003-09-26
hole. The second and pottioix of the shaft preferably has an intct~ual thread,
but may
have a malt thrratleti memher within a, hc~ilaw shall. '1"he intcrrne<li:ste
poriian
ltlClndeS ii gripping means that engages the rear surface of the Substrate; or
in the cast
where the shall of the insert dries not pass through the hole, the side walls
of the hole;
when a force is applicti that pulls the second end portion toward the first
end portion.
In particular, the method titili~ing a frame held apparatus of the invention
includes the steps of
activating a rotatablc drivo having an attached drive shaft in turn having an
attached threaded mandrel so that the threaded portion of the mandrel rotates
and
threads with flit threaded portion of the insert through the flange until a
nose retainer,
through which the mandrel passes, contacts the flange of the insert;
moving the drive, drive sha8, n~androt and attaahcd invert to place the shaft
of
the insert into the hole in the substrate so that the flat~e of the Insert
contacts the fast
surface of tlic substrate;
pulling the sec:oncl end pnrtivn of the ::ha.ll cal' tha insert toward thG f
first end
portion of the shah of the insert by means of a pressure applied to a piston
witlwt a
cylinder where the piston is coiutcctcd to thc,drive shaft holding the mandrel
so that
the motion of the mandrel oollapses the intermediate portion of the insert to
grip the
second (rear surface ofthe substrate, or the sidewal.ls of the hole), and so
that floe dzive
shaft moves in a compliant coupling toward the drive;
turning the drive in a eevcrsc direction to disengage flu: mandrel from the
threads in the insert; and
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CA 02443013 2003-09-26
moving the rn. <tndrel, nose retainer, drive shaft and drive in a direction
away
front the flan~,e of the installed insert
'fhc mclhod using a preferred rmtwdiment of a brand held spin-pull toot of the
invention for installing a hallow tlireaded insert into a bolo in a substrate,
having first
and second surfaces, includes a number of method steps. It is undErstood that
the
insert has a shad having first and ~ocmd s~rrd ~rticms <md a hollow
intermediate
portion between the L'trst end portiowand a second end portion. The fnsert has
a trcmt
flange surrounding the first end portion, of tlic sliaft for engaging the
front surface of
the substrate around the hole The second end portion of the shaft has a thread
and the
intermediate pi~rtion hsc a gripping means that engagrs the second surface
when a
force is applied that pulls the second end portion toward the first end
portion, '.The
method for using the hand held spin-pull tool of the ittvcntiou includes the
steps v1:
a) placing the shaft of the insert into the liole in the substrate so that the
(lunge «f the insert cont~rets the first surface ofthe substrate;
b) closing a switch
c) activating a rotatabie drive in response to the closed switch where the
ror<ztable drive has an attached drive shaft in acre having an attached
mandrel so that the mandrel rotates so that threads of the mandrel mate
with the thread. of the insert until a nose retainer, through which the
mandrel passes, conricts the flee of the insert;
d) detecting when the nose retainer reaches the t'langc of the insert;
e) stopping the rotation in response to detecting when the nose retainer
rcachES the flange of the inxert;
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f) applying pressure to a piston within a cylinder where the piston has a
central bare retaininfi the delve shaft that pass, through ehe bare so that
the apptied pressure move the drive shah in a slide couriling toward the
drive so that the motion of the drive shaft and attached mandrel pulls the
second end portian of the insert toward the second surface of the
substrate and callapscs the intermediate portion of the insert to ~~ip the
second surface of the suhstratc;
g) detecting when the intem~ediate portion has collapsed to grip the secand
surface of the substrate,;
h) corning the drive in a teversc direction la disengage the mandrel from
the threads of the insert in response to sensing when the intermediate
portion has collapsed tea grip the second strrlacx of the substrate; and,
l) contlvliing steps c.), e), t) and h) by a controller liaviitg a
progranyrned
Iogic chip in response to data received by elening afthe switch in step b)
and in response to data obtained in detecting steps d) and ~).
Steps a) thmugh h) are sequential except that step aj may be hefore step b) or
step a) uray be between srteps d) and e) or between steps ej and fy.
The frame held apparatus fur installing a hollow threaded inset thxougli a
hole
in a substrate includes a piston, a drive shaft, a cylinder, an externally
threaded
mandr~t having threads tliat match the internal threads of the insert, a
compliant
coupling, a mtatable drive, and a host retainer.
Stt~tMure is provided fur mcfving the piston, drive shaft, cylinder, mandrel,
compliant caupliy;, ratatable drive and nose rctailtcr toward the Mange Ut'the
insert so
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CA 02443013 2003-09-26
that the threads o1' the mandrel contact the threads crf the insert and for
moving the
threads of the mandrel into the hollow portion of the insert through the
flange so that
the threadv of the mandrel rotate into the threads within the hollow portion
of the
iziscrf until the flange ofth.e iiiscrt contacts the nose retainer. Tlle
struchirc far rnuving
and rotating inclucles the drive shaft coiiiiccted to the mandrel where the
drive shall f:;
set into the compliant coupling to the rotatablc drive.
Apparatus is provided for moving the mmdrel with attached insert to place the
insert shaft into a hole iii the sitbstralc so that the flange of. the insert
contacLv the first
(leant) surface of the Substrate Gild for pulling the second end portion of
the insert
toward the second {rear surface or hole sidewalls) surface crf the substrate
by applying
prossurc to the piston within the cylinder whcro the piston is connected to
the drive
shaft so that the intcrtnrdiate portion of the insert collapses to yip the
second surface
of the suhstrate and so that the drive shall moves in the coupling toward the
drive
without moving the drive.
Tlie drive is any suitable rotating drive, c,g. an electric or air matc}r that
mn be
urn in a rcvarsc direction to disengage the screw hood froin tlic threads in
the insert.
Structure is also provided for moving the pistcm, drive shaft, cyliiidcr,
mandrel, slide
coupling, rotatable drive and nose rctaicicr away from the flange of the
installed insect.
'fhc hand held spin-pull tool of the invention for securing a hollow threaded
insert in a hole in the suhstraee is very similar t4 tlic ~'atne mounted
apparatus except
that the hand held apparatus {at least the components of a cylinder, piston,
drive, drive
shaft, mandrel, varizble coupli.rig, arid na:,e retainer t<~ken together) is
manually inavul
relative to the insert arul wcirkpiece {substrate). Except for relative
rneition of initially
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
activating switch cocnponcn',, relative motion of components within the tcyol
is
autt>mxtic after initial activation.
The hand held tool of the invention has at !cast the following components;
a) a switch activated (closed) by manual tnovcruC.nt, which may be any
suitable initialty activating switch such as a truer switch or a travel
activated switch that closes when the nose cetaincr is pushed against the
!lunge of the insert when the itango is in contact with the first surface of
the substrate. Such a travel activated switch tray also be referred to 'as a
push to skart switch;
by a rotatablc drive activatahle in response to the closed switch where the
rotatable drive has an attached drive stsalt in tom, having an attached
threaded mandrel so that upon activation of the drive, the mandrel
rotates so thal tlaeads of the mandrel mate 'with the threads of the insert
until a nose retainer, through which the mandrei passes, contacts the
flange of the insert;
c) a nose ratuiner position detector for dvtccting when the nose retainer
reaches the Mange of the insert;
d) a controller for stopping the rotation in response to detoctittg when the
nose retaiucr reaches the flange of the insert;
G) a cylinder and piston wlxcre the piston has a c;er,tral bare retaining die
drive shaft that passes through ttae bore;
fj a slide coupling connecting the drive shaft with the drive;
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
g) a, hydraulic system Cor applying pressure tc7 ttn piston ao that the
applied
pressure linearly irtoves the drive sl~ft in the slide coupling toward tl~c
drive so that the motion of the drive sha8 and attached mandrel ,pulls the
second end portion of the insert toward the second surface of the
substrate and catlapse!; the intermediate partic~n ad' the insert to grip the
second surface of the substrate;
h) a controller for activating and controlling the hydraulic system for
applying pressure to the piston in response to detecting when the nose
retainer reaches the flange saf the inaert;
l) an insert collapse dctcxtor for detecting when the internlediate portion
has collapsed to grip the sc.~~.ona surface of the subsrZ~atc;
j) a controller far disengaging the hydraulic system and for turning the
drive in .~ reverse tlireiaion tc~ disengage the manclrel lTOrn the threads of
the insert in response to sensing whca tlic intcrtncdiatc portion leas
collapsed to grip the second surface of the substrate.
Tlic controllcm far stopping flit rotation, for aetivati~ and controlling the
hydraulic system, for disengaging the hydraulic system and for turning the
drive in a
reverie directinn are preferably alI the carne contrallcr having, a
prograttuucd logic
chip operating in response to data received fcozn closing of the switch
activated by
manual movat~ncnt, ,~olzi the izosc rc~incr position detector, and from the
insert
collapse detector. The insert collapse detector may operate by detecting any
parameter indicating that the intermediate portion of the insert has properly
collapsed.
The insert collapse detector may for exazYZple detect an increitse in pulling
force when
12
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
the intermediate pardon has Collapsed sufficiently to l;rip the aa~;ond
surface of the
substrate or my detect travel distance of the iecand end portion relative to
the second
end portion of tltc utscrt that Correspanda to the relative travel after the
intermediate
pardon has Collapsed sufficiently to grip the second surfacC of the substrate.
As previously discussed, the initially activating switch may he a hand trigger
switch or a travel activated switch that closes when the nose retainer is
pushed against
the Ilatigc when the flanl,'e is in u~ntact with the fit~st surface of the
substrata.
The apparatus (foal) of the invention may operate where the tlrst and second
surFaces of the substrate are parallel surfaces and the hale holding the
insert passes
through the surfaces and the intermediate portion of the insert passes through
the hole.
The hole may also be a blind hole where the first stufacc is a surface
perpendicular to
a longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft in contact with fife front flame and
the second
surface is au inside surface surrounding flit blind hole. In such a case, the
intermediate portion of the insext Collapses to pruvitle lateral prcsstue
agA.inst the
inside surfaoc surrounding the hole (,~eccind surface).
The liydrAUlic system fior applying pressure to the piston so that the applied
pressure linearly moves the drive shall is usually an air compressor having a
gas valve
activatable by the etmtrc~llcr. The hydraulic system is usu~~lly connected to
the tool by
a hose carrying pressurized hydraulic fluid.
ThC ittandrel rnay have a male thread for Cngagcntcnt with a Female thread of
the it~scit or rnay have a female thread fur vngagiu~ a rattle thread inside
the insert to
form a stud when the ~,~c:and end is pulled toward the teal to collapse the
intcrmcdiate
portion.
1~
,. .. ,.,.....~ ..."",..~m ..wx..n.. nn nmxx =~.,nttr,.,~".-
yTeY0.'F°5.: ~c.ayysp.~=.~-a~~na.~w.urn~w.x..w.~wm..........,.........r
.....". ..._-,_.... . ...,.".,..,t "~..,.~",...,.".._.., ~_.. .__..
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
Laetailed Description of the Invention
The irtseris far uae in ac:cc~rdance With the present invention arc as
previously
dcscr~cd. Such inserts are usually made from a men.3lic material, e.g.
aluntitzum,
steel, sapper, an bronze, but naay be made ftucn u;rlain plastics that are
both flexible
and rigid enough to form a permanent geip when the second end of the insert is
drawn
toward the second surface of the aubstr,tte, and stmng enough to maintain
threads that
can withstand the tordue and retaitwlg ability required Fur a particular
s~plica,ticm.
The firs end of, the insert frecprently has a length about equal to the
thickness of the
substrate or slightly less. The intermediate pnrtiort of the insert shaft,
that forms the
grip, usually begins $t about the rear surface of the substrate and extends to
the threads
at the second Grid when the shaft of the insert passes through the substrate,
As aire<~dy discussed, the substa~tc may be math of many types of materials
and is usually of a thickness of from abort 0.5 tam to about lj cm. 'fhc
thiclatcss of
t(lc substrate i~ most c;c.~mmonly from about l mm to about 10 mm. It is
.nevertheless
to be understood that the invention is rat nu;css:srily limited by substrate
thickness.
tn either the frame mottntcd or hand held apparatus, the rolatable dIlYe is
usually a hydraulically operated motor, e.g. a pneumatic air motor, but may be
any
suitable urarce for application of a rotarional force, e.g. an electric motor.
The drive shaft is usually a stool rc~d that may he provided with bosses or
shoulders for seals or retention. A first end of the drive shaft is adapted to
be lilted to
a variable coupling, as described intta, and the second end of the drive shaft
is usually
furtned to accept a threaded mandrel so that the mandrel, which is a wear
part, can be
I4
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
quickly replaced without disassembly of the apparatus of the invention to
remove the
drive ahail.
An imporhant as~sect of the present irwetttion is the variable (~or wmplisnt)
coupling that petnlits the first end of the drive shaft to be connected to the
spindle of
the drive while at the same time allowing the drive shaft to move towarel and
away
I'rorn the drive without causing drive movement. Suali a coupling also allows
tin v.t
least some misalignment cat' the spindle and drive shaft wittaoui creating
significant
wear. Examples of such variable or wmpliant couplings are slide couplings and
spring loaded couplings.
The apparatus for palling the second end of the shall of the insert includes
a.
pistnn within a cylinder. The piston is biased toward the nose of the insert
gun, e.g.
with a spring. When the piston is forced in a direction away from the insert,
e.g. by
application of pressurized hydraulic fluid to tkte t'aea ot° the piston
sealed within a
cylinder, the piston engages the drive shaft, that passes through the piston,
anti forces
the drive shaft away from the insert thus pulling the second end of' the
insert shaft
toward the rear surface ofthe substrate to cause the intcrmudiatc portion of
the shaft to
form a grip against the rear surface of the substrate. "Hydraulic", as used
herein
means the use of pressurized fluid to move a piston. The fluid may be either a
liquid,
e.g. an cut car a gas, e.g. air.
fn the Name tnountal cntbodimettt, the entircs gun assembly, i.e. cylinder,
piston, drivo, drlv4 shall, mandrel, variable coupling, and nose retainer, is
moved in a
slide on a frame using hydraulic, e.g. pneumatic, cylinders connected between
the
frame and a bracket holding the gtln.
15
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
In the hand held tool, movement of the tool to the insert a~~d r;ubstrate and
initial switch activation is acCOn7plished rr~anuully, but drive rotations and
palling
sequences then are essentially automatic.
The invWtion may he better understood by rcfi:rence to the drawings that show
a preferred en~bodimcut of the invention.
As ;peen in Figr.~rc 1, insert gun Itf is mourrtad on br~ckct 12 that aperales
within a slide i4 em a frame 1G. lei opcratiun inserts 1$ are tbroed through a
blow tube
20 to an utienled position in an insert grippes 22. The grippes 22 is then
moved to a
position beneath nose 24 by hydraulic cylinder 26 having its piston 28
interconnected
to dipper 22, so that the niaudrcl can be lowered to engage the threads of an
insert 18.
The lcnverinl; of lrun 10 is accocuplished by hydraulic cylinder 30
cotttteeted between
bracket 12 and frame 16.
'fhe gun lt), whcr;e component parts are best seed in Fieurcs 3 and 4,
includex a
screw head (mandrel) 32 adapt~;d to screw into, the threaded second end 34 of
ttlc shaft
36 ofi the insert 18. Insert 18 further has a first end iii surrounded by a.
flange 40 and
has intermediate collapsible portion 42.
Mandrel 32 is readily replaceable and is held by chuck 44 attached to drive
shaft 46, Drive shaft 4b is in turn connected to slide coupling 48 that is
connected to
drive spindle 54, Mandrel 32 is stabili~d by nose 52 which also acts as a
rctaillcr
against insert tiange 40 when second end 34 is being pulled toward flange 40.
Gun 10 is further provided with a. cylinder S4 and a pi:,ton 5b contained
within
tire cylinder 54. Cylinder 54 includes spring retainer sleeve 5$ for haldirt~,
a spring 6U
that hia,es piston 56 toward a cylinder front cud cap 62. Piston 5( is
provided with a
I6
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
thrcwgh bore 64 permitting passate of shaft 46. Shaft 46 is free to rotate
wiQtizt bore
G4 but is keyed to piston 5G so that longitudinal moWmcnt of piston 5b alsa
longiiudinally moves sl~~ft 4G, prcfcmbly s thrust hearing G5 is provided to
reduc..~e
friction with piston 56 when shaft 4G is rotated with respect to piston 56.
This is
especially floc wh~an a lonl,~itt~dinal forte, e.g. the weight crf drive 56,
is appliCd to
shall 4b that increases f~ict~ion with piston 56.
A dri ve 66 i.s provided that rotates spindle Stl when the drive is activated.
Drive G6 is preferably an air molar ope~ratLd by means caF' valve 96
controlling ~Iow
from air supply 98 but may also be another type of mla,ting tlrive such as an
electric
motor. The drive is securely attached to cylinder 54 by threading the Franl of
drive
housing; 93 into sleeve S8. Tlte housing of drive 66 does not move relative to
cylialdcr
54. The slide coupliu~ 48 permits longitudinal movement of drive shaft 46
relative to
s~pintlle 50 so that there is also no longitudinal movc,mcnt of spindle 50
relative tcs
cylinder 54 oven when shaft. 4G itself move Ioagihtdinally with aspect to
cylinder 54.
As prCViously discussed piston 56 has a central bore 64~, laid also has piston
front surface b8 facing the screw head 32. The drive shaft 46 passes thmugh
and is
retained by eentxttT bare G4 so that longitudinal tnovrmenl. oi' the piston SG
moves
vlrivE shaft 4fi while permitting drive shat 4G to rotate within bore b4.
Cylinder S4 housing pistcm 5t~ is rigidly connected to the drive GG and
slidably
connected to frame IG by slide 14 s~u that cylinder 54 can slide relative to
frame 1G loft
cannot rotate relafiive fii~ame ! G.
The nose 52 is rigidly coanected to cylinder S4. Nose 52 engages flange d0 of
insert 18 to hold it against first surl'uce b8 of substrate 70 when the socond
end of the
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CA 02443013 2003-09-26
insert shaft is pulled toward the first end of the itcxen shaft to form a grip
72 against
second surl'aca 74 of substrate 70,
A fluid inlet itiLluding pant 7fi in cylinder 54 is provided for permitting
fluid
under prtssu re to enter cylinder 54 and contact the front face 68 of piston
Sd to pusli
piston 5B and retained drive shaft 4G in a direction toward drive 66 and iaa
cause drive
shag 4b to xlide within coupling 48.
A fluid outlet iy al;,er ltrravideci to permit fluid to be released from
cylinder 54
which may use the same pori 76 as the fluid inlet. 'fhe direction of flow
through port
7(i is controlled by alt external valve.
A control 7$ is provided for eotttenIling the operation ell' the apparatus in
re.~spur~se ict input tiom sensors 8fl, 82, $4, 8G and 88 forming pant of
conLOl 78.
Control 78 activates drive 66 for causing screw head 32 to screw into threadCd
portion
34 of insert 18. Control 78 then stops drive 18 and causes cylinder 54 to move
in slide
14 relative to frame 16 along with gun 10 a,nd the insert 1 ti held on the
screw head 32
tey inxert the shaft 3b of the insert into the hole in substrate 70. '1 lit
control 78 olnves
valve 92 permitting outlet fre~m part 76 a~td causes fluid under pressure
froth reservoir
94 to enter cylinder 54 through port 76 to force screw head 32 attached to
drive shttlf
46 by coupling 44 toward drive 66 to cause the grip 72 of the insert 18 to
engage
second surface 74 of substrate 70. Gotltrol 78 stops fluid inlet into cylinder
54 Fred
opens the outlet in relieve pressure in cylinder 54. Control 78 then causes
drive 6~ to
activate is reverse lu unscrew screw head 32 from now installed insert 18,
Llriscrewing from the insert vcritie,~s that the threads in the insert are
undamaged,
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CA 02443013 2003-09-26
Control 78 then caused gun 10 to move relative to the frame in a direction
away from
the installed insert.
The sensors of the control 78 includes a piston position sensor 8U that may be
a
lnagnct tnoviaF with the piston and a magnetic field detector attached to the
cylinder
or m,ay be a feeler switch. Other sensors are: sensor $2 .for detecting when
cylinder
54 is positioned rehetive to the frame in a pn:;itiun where gttn 1U (atlachcd
to bracket
12 by cylinder S4) is withdrawn to permit positioning of an insert for loading
onto
screw head 32; scjlsor 84 for dctccting where the screw head 32 is screwed
into the
insert sa that nose retainer 52 contacts flange 40 of the insert; sensor 88
for detecting .
where the shat;t 18 s>f the insert is inxerted intc> ;substrata 7t? so lhat
insert flange 40
ccn,t:lcts the lust surlace 6ti a!' sahstrnte 7t) and sensor fib for detecting
where the
screw head 32 has bw1 unscrewed from the insert. Control 78 handles Signals
from
the sensors and provides co~~nmands to operate pistons, inlet and outlet valve
9ti and
dzive d6 using a programmecl Iogic chip within control 78.
As seen in Figures S and E~, a preferred cmboditncnt of hand hold spin-pull
Coal
of the invention 1 Ua is provided for securing a hallow ttu~eaded insert 18 in
a hole in a
substl~atc 70. As previously discussed, the substrate has first and second
surfaces 68
and 74. The insert 18 has a hollow shaft 36 having a first end portion 38, a
sercmd
end portion 34 artd an intermediate Ifortiat~ 42 between the first end portion
38 and the
second end portion 34. fhe insert 18 is placed in the hole and has a front
flange 40
surrounding the first end portion 38 of the shaft 36 for engaging tlic :first
sttrfacC 68 of
the substrate 70 around the hole. The second end porticm 34 of the shaft 3fi
has a
thread 34a, and said intcrmcdiate portion 42 has a grip T2 that engages the
second
19
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
surface 74 when a form is applied that pulls the second end portion 34 inward
the r~xst
end portion 313.
The hand tool l0a has at least one seyuen~x initiation switch activated by
manual move»aent. Such a switch m;ry, liar example, be a trigger switch 1 Ol
ar a push
to start 102 switch as d~c,r~ribrxt herein. lu particular, the switch may be a
hand trigger
switch lUl operated by I"rugcr pressure or, mare lmrst'erahly a tt~avel
activated switch
102 that closes when the nose retainer 52a is pushed by manual force against
the
flange 40 when the flange 40 .is in contact with the first surface 58 ofthe
substrate.
The hand held tool has a rotatablc drive Gtia activatable in response to a
closed
manual switch. The rotatablc drive 66a has an attached drive shaft 4Ga passing
through a barrel S 1. Drive sheft 42a in turn has an attached threaded mandrel
:i2a so
that upon activation of the drive G6a, the tuaudrcl 32a rotates sa that
threads of the
nuuidrel 32a mate with threadv of the insert 1$ until a nose retainer ~2a ,
through
which the mandrel 32a passes, contacts the flange 40 afthe infiert.
A detector is provided for detecting when the nose retainer 52a roaches the
t'langc 4U of insert 18. 'the detector is preferably a microswitch 1(14
located in a
cylinder body 54a that detixar when the insert has been threaded ante the
mandrel 32a
by means of movement of a psrt present pin 106 that moves to push on switch
I!?4
when the part prevent pin 10G contacts the fiunga 4U of the insert. Upon
activation of
switch 104, rotation of the drive 66a is clapped by controller 78a within a
control hex
105 that may be a part of or tethered to tool 1 Ua by an electrical conduit.
~'he toot has a cylinder S4a and piston 56a that has a central hare 64a
retaining
a drive shaft 4Ga that passes through the bOrC b4a. Like the frame mounted
apparatus,
2d
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
cylinder S4a is provided with a spring retainer slec:va and cap 58a for
balding a spring
60a than biases piston SGa toward a front of the cylinder 54t~. A slide
coupling 48a
connects drive sham 46a to a sputdle of drive GC~a.
In the preferred embodiment a hydraulic system lU7 within box lUS is
provided for applying pressure to the pi;.lon Sfia so that the applied
pressure
longitudinally maws the drive shaft 4Ga iu the slide coupling 48a toward the
drive bba
so that the motion of the drive sbaft 46a and auached mandrel 32a pulls the
second
end portion 34 of the insert 1 H tnward the sect~nd surfaoc 74 of the
substrate 70 and
collapses the intermediate portion 42 al' the insert 18 to grip the second
surface 74 of
the substrate 70, The hydraulic :,ystcm is preferably a pneumatic system
including an
air compressor having a gas valve '77 activatable by the controller 78a. The
hydt~ulio
system trallsfcrs pressurized tluid to the tool in a hose 79 cunnectCd to the
tool.
The tool is provided with a deteclnr 1(11; for detecting when the intermediate
portion 42 has collapsed to grip the second surface 74 of the substrate. '~'he
detector
lOR may be a pressure switch to detect al' incroasc in pulling force when the
intermediate portion 42 has collapsed sufficiently to grip the second surface
of the
substrate thus indicting completion of the collapse to form a tight grip or
the detector
10$ may detect travel distance of the secun~l end portion 34 relative to the
first end
pardon 3$ crf the insert I li that corres~nds to the relative travel after the
intermediule
portion 42 has cullapscd su~cicntly to grip the second surface of the
substrate.
Upon detection of collapse to form the Krip and signaling tlac controller 78a,
the
controller opens a. valve to release hydraulic fsrcssurc agaulst the piston
56a and the
piston S6a returns to ilv resting position due to tht bias of spring 60a. 'The
cantTC~ller
21
CA 02443013 2003-09-26
thcn also signals the drive to reverse thus withdrawing the threaded mandrel
from the
uzsert 18 thus confirnling the prcsrucc of insert threads.
The cnntmller 78a fnr cantmlling the rotatable drive 66a, and hydraulic
17r4'SSIirC Otl the piston 56a iucludcs a progranlnled logic chip operating in
response to
d&ta received by closing of tJle n.~anuat switch and in response to data
obtained by
detectors ! 02 and ! 08.
For pm7aose5 of saFecy anti cc>ntrol a TCVCTSC SWILCII 1l1 is provided for
reversing the motor to withdraw the mandrel iu case of a jam. All sequences
can be
manually stopped by repeated pushing of start switch 101.
22
