Pliers

Abstract

Pliers include a first and a second plier limb which are rotatably held relative to one another about an axis of rotation in an articulation region and which form handle regions on one side of the articulation region and a jaw of the pliers on the other side, the plier limbs being designed to cut a threaded bolt in an overlap region, using first and second cavities that can be superposed in alignment. A thread is formed in each first cavity in order to cut a threaded bolt. The thread is provided over only part of the height of the first cavity and over only part of the inner circumference of the first cavity.

Claims

1. Pliers (1) comprising a first plier limb (2) and a second plier limb (3), which are held rotatably relative to one another about an axis of rotation (x) in an articulation region (4), wherein the plier limbs form handle regions (6, 7) on one side of the articulation region (4) and a plier jaw (8) on the other side, wherein said plier limbs (2, 3) are designed for shearing off a threaded bolt (20) in an overlap region (U) by first and second cavities (18, 18′, 19, 19′) that are configured to be superimposed in alignment, wherein a thread formation (29, 30) is provided in the first cavity (18, 18′), wherein the thread formation (29, 30) is provided over only part of a height (h) and the first cavity (18, 18′) is realized with a cylindrical inner surface (28), and wherein a longitudinal cylinder axis (y) of the cylindrical inner surface (28) includes an acute angle with an axis of rotation (x), wherein two circumferentially opposite thread formations (29, 30) are provided and arranged offset in height, wherein the thread formations (29, 30) are provided over only part of an inner circumference of the first cavity (18, 18′), and wherein the thread formations (29, 30) extend with respect to a root of a thread in alignment with the axis of rotation (x).

2. The pliers according to claim 1, wherein the second cavity (19, 19′) has two inner edges (24, 25) that extend differently from one another in a cross section.

3. The pliers according to claim 2, wherein a first inner edge (24) extends in a projection in alignment with the axis of rotation (x) and the second inner edge (25) includes an acute angle (α) between 10 and 30° with the axis of rotation (x).

4. The pliers according to claim 1, wherein the second cavity (19, 19′) is free of thread formations.

5. Pliers (1) comprising a first plier limb (2) and a second plier limb (3), which are held rotatably relative to one another about an axis of rotation (x) in an articulation region (4), wherein the plier limbs form handle regions (6, 7) on one side of the articulation region (4) and a plier jaw (8) on the other side, wherein said plier limbs (2, 3) are designed for shearing off a threaded bolt (20) in an overlap region (U) by first and second cavities (18, 18′, 19, 19′) that are configured to be superimposed in alignment, wherein a thread formation (29, 30) is provided in the first cavity (18, 18′), wherein both cavities (18, 18′, 19, 19′) are provided with a depression (31, 32), each depression being aligned along a separating plane (E), opposite of a shearing region (23, 27) of an outer edge (22, 26) of the other cavity, and wherein the depressions (31, 32) are formed opposite of one another with respect to a cross section such that the outer edges (22, 26) of the cavities (18, 18′, 19, 19′), which form the cutting edges are exposed in any pivoting position of the plier limbs.

6. The pliers according to claim 5 wherein the depressions (31, 32) are realized in the form of oblong.

7. The pliers according to claim 6, wherein the depressions (31, 32) extend along a circular line referred to the axis of rotation (x).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings that, however, merely show exemplary embodiments. A component, which is described with reference to one of the exemplary embodiments and not replaced with a different component in another exemplary embodiment, is therefore also described as a potentially existing component in this other exemplary embodiment. In the respective drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of pliers in the closed position concerning a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a partial representation of the pliers in the form of a top view;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a rear view of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a section along the line V-V in FIG. 4 concerning a bolt receiving position;

(7) FIG. 6 shows an enlarged section along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a section along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a sectional representation corresponding to FIG. 6 and concerning a follow-up representation to FIG. 6 in the course of shearing off a bolt;

(11) FIG. 10 shows an enlarged detail of the region X in FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 5, however, concerning the plier position after the completion of the shearing process;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a follow-up representation to FIG. 9 concerning the completed shearing process according to FIG. 11;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a partial view of pliers according to another embodiment concerning the closed position;

(15) FIG. 14 shows another partial view of pliers according to a third embodiment concerning the closed position;

(16) FIG. 15 shows a view of pliers according to a fourth embodiment in the closed position; and

(17) FIG. 16 shows a view of pliers according to a fifth embodiment concerning the closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(18) Pliers 1 with two plier limbs 2 and 3, which are only partially illustrated, e.g., in FIG. 2, are initially described below with reference to FIG. 1, wherein said plier limbs are held rotatably relative to one another about a geometric axis of rotation x in an articulation region 4. The geometric axis of rotation x is defined by an articulation pin 5 that extends through the plier limbs 2 and 3 in the articulation region 4.

(19) The first plier limb 2 forms a handle region 6 and the second plier limb 3 forms a handle region 7 on one side of the articulation region 4 whereas a plier jaw 8 is formed on the other side of the articulation region 4.

(20) According to the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12, the plier jaw 8 specifically may have different functional regions that are formed behind one another, i.e. referred to a longitudinal line L-L. For example, a flat jaw region 9 may be formed on the side of the tip, i.e. on the free ends of the plier limbs 2 and 3.

(21) The plier jaw 8 may have a cutting region 12 near the articulation, wherein said cutting region has a first cutting edge 13 on the first plier limb 2 and a second cutting edge 14 on the second plier limb 3.

(22) According to the first exemplary embodiment, a stripping region 10 may furthermore be provided between the cutting region 12 and the flat jaw region 9, wherein said stripping region comprises cutting formations 11 with different diameters in order to make it possible to strip wires with different cross sections.

(23) According to the illustrations in FIGS. 13 to 16, the pliers 1 may also be realized in the form of so-called universal pliers, e.g. as illustrated in FIG. 13, wherein said universal pliers have a cutting region 12 and a flat jaw region 9, as well as a burner hole 15 formed between these regions.

(24) According to the illustration in FIG. 14, the pliers 1 may also be realized in the form of wire rope cutters with a first cutting region 12, which lies opposite of the handle regions 6 and 7 referred to the axis of rotation x, and a second cutting region 16, which is formed between the handle regions 6 and 7 near the articulation. In this embodiment, multiple crimping regions, in this case two crimping regions 17, may furthermore be provided along the longitudinal axis L-L.

(25) FIG. 15 shows pliers 1 in the form of cutting pliers, which accordingly have a cutting region 12.

(26) Pliers 1 in the form of side cutters are illustrated in FIG. 16.

(27) Furthermore, the pliers 1 may also be realized in the form of any gripping pliers, center or front cutting pliers, stripping pliers, cable pliers, crimping pliers or also wire strippers. The pliers 1 particularly may be realized in the form of pliers or shears, in which the plier limbs 2 and 3 overlap in the articulation region 4 in any pivoting position of the plier limbs.

(28) In the exemplary embodiments shown, each plier limb 2, 3 is provided with bore-like cavities in an overlap region U of the plier limbs 2 and 3, which essentially corresponds to the articulation region 4, wherein said cavities extend completely through the respective plier limb 2, 3 in the thickness direction, i.e. in essentially the extending direction of the axis of rotation x.

(29) With respect to an outline, e.g. according to the illustration in FIG. 2, the two first cavities 18 and 18′ in the first plier limb 2, as well as the two second cavities 19 and 19′ in the second plier limb 3, approximately lie diametrically opposite of one another referred to the axis of rotation x. Furthermore, these cavities 18, 18′ and 19, 19′ are arranged radially outside the articulation pin 5, but adjacent thereto.

(30) During a pivoting motion of a plier limb 2, 3, the cavities 18, 18′ and 19, 19′ formed therein move along a circular line referred to the axis of rotation x.

(31) The cavities 18 and 19, as well as the other cavities 18′ and 19′, essentially can be superimposed in alignment in a direction, which is essentially oriented in the extending direction of the axis of rotation x, by pivoting the plier limbs accordingly. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this superimposed position preferably is an open position of the plier jaw according to the illustrations in FIGS. 5 and 6.

(32) In this open position of the plier jaw or in this overlap position of the first cavity 18, 18′ and the second cavity 19, 19′, a bolt 20 to be cut to length can be inserted through these cavities starting from the exposed surface of the first plier limb 2. The free end of the bolt 20 may emerge on the underside of the second plier limb 3 through the correspondingly provided second cavities 19, 19′ or extend in the region of the respective cavity 19 or 19′.

(33) The design and the arrangement of the cavities serves for shearing off a bolt 20, for example a bolt 20 with an external thread 21. The shearing plane or separating plane E extends between the planar surfaces of the plier limbs 2 and 3, which lie on top of one another in the articulation region 4, wherein the separating plane E simultaneously also forms the cutting plane of the cutting region 12 if such a cutting region is provided. The separating plane E therefore extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation x.

(34) With respect to their respective cross-sectional design, the pairs of cavities 18, 19 and 18′, 19′ are adapted for shearing off bolts with different diameters.

(35) The cavities of a pair of cavities (18 and 19 or 18′ and 19′) are furthermore designed differently.

(36) With respect to a cross section according to FIG. 6, in which the axis of rotation x is illustrated in the form of a line, the respective second cavity 19 or 19′ of the second plier limb 3 widens in a funnel-shaped manner in the direction of the separating plane E starting from the exposed outer surface of the second plier limb 3. In this case, a first inner edge 24, which in the separating plane E essentially forms the associated outer edge 22 in the second shearing region 23, is essentially aligned in parallel with the axis of rotation x or aligned perpendicular to the separating plane E whereas the second inner edge 25, which essentially lies opposite in this section, includes an acute angle α between approximately 15 and 20° with the axis of rotation x or a line extending in parallel with the axis of rotation x, respectively. This second inner edge 25 essentially faces the outer edge 26 in the first shearing region 27 of the associated first cavity 18 or 18′.

(37) The respective first cavity 18 or 18′ initially has an essentially cylindrical inner surface 28 with a longitudinal cylinder axis y, which likewise includes an acute angle β with the axis of rotation x and therefore is acutely angled relative to the separating plane E as it is also the case with the second inner edge 25 of the respective second cavities 19 or 19′.

(38) The diameter dimension in the region of the cylindrical inner surface 28 measured transverse to the longitudinal cylinder axis y may approximately correspond to between 0.4-times and 0.7-times, e.g. approximately 0.5-times, the opening dimension of the respective second cavity 19 or 19′ in the region of the separating plane E, wherein said opening dimension refers to a cross section according to FIG. 6.

(39) The respective first cavity 18 or 18′ furthermore has two thread formations 29 and 30, which are spaced apart from one another with respect to the height h of the first cavity 18 or 18′ and essentially arranged circumferentially opposite of one another. One thread formation 29 faces the exit region of the respective first cavity 18 or 18′ whereas the second thread formation 30 is formed on the end of the first cavity 18, 18′ in the region of the separating plane E.

(40) The thread formations 29 and 30 extend with respect to a respective root of the thread essentially in alignment with the axis of rotation x and therefore essentially in perpendicular alignment to the separating plane E.

(41) The clear inside diameter of the first cavity 18, 18′ in the region of the cylindrical inner surface 28 may be chosen larger than the outside diameter of the bolt 28 to be sheared off by a factor between approximately 1.1 and 1.2. If this bolt is realized in the form of a screw bolt, in particular, it can initially be inserted into the superimposed pair of cavities in acutely angled alignment to the separating plane E in order to be cut to length as illustrated in the figures (compare to FIG. 6). As a result of this acutely angled alignment of the bolt 20 relative to the separating plane E, it can also be easily inserted through the respective first cavity 18 or 18′ with of the thread formations 29 and 30 because these thread formations 29 and 30 (initially) do not come into engagement due to the acutely angled alignment of the bolt 20.

(42) Subsequently, the bolt 20 is set upright into a position according to the illustration in FIG. 9, in which it is oriented perpendicular to the separating plane E, manually or solely as a result of a corresponding pivoting motion of the plier limbs 2 and 3 in the direction of a closed position of the plier jaw. In this position, the bolt 20 is supported as a result of an engagement of its external thread in the region of the thread formations 29 and 30 whereas the remaining external thread section of the bolt 20 extends freely within the respective cavity 18 or 18′. The support in the region of the respective first cavity 18 or 18′ preferably is only achieved in the region of the thread formations 29 and 30.

(43) In the course of the further displacement of the plier limbs and 2 and 3, the bolt 20 reaches a position, in which the section of the bolt 20 to be cut to length comes with respect to a cross section according to FIG. 9 in contact with the first inner edge 24 in the region of the respective second cavity 19 or 19′. This contact additionally supports the shearing position of the bolt 20, which is oriented perpendicular to the separating plane E, such that the bolt 20 can be sheared off in the region of the separating plane E in the course of the further pivoting motion of the plier limbs 2 and 3 by moving the outer edges 22 and 26 forming the shearing edges toward one another. The subsequently resulting cut surface on the bolt 20 is essentially aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal bolt axis (compare to FIGS. 11 and 12).

(44) The thread runout of the thread formation 30 into the associated outer edge 26 in the first shearing region 27 has a sharp edge. A sharp-edged outer edge 26 prevents the formation of burrs on the bolt 20 during a shearing process.

(45) In the course of the use of the pliers 1 for shearing off bolts 20 or the like, bulging of the cutting edges may occur over time in the region of the outer edges 22 and/or 26 that act upon the bolt 22 be sheared off. In order to offer durable pliers 1 in this respect, depressions 31 and 32 are provided in the respective plier limb 2, 3, wherein said depressions are associated with the outer edges 26 and 22 and lie opposite of one another referred to the separating plane E. Each depression 31, 32 is essentially realized similar to an oblong hole and extends along a circular line—referred to the axis of rotation x. The respective outer edge 22 or 26 moves at least outside the opposite cavity 18, 19 or 18′, 19′ in the course of the pivoting motion of the plier limbs in the region of the respective opposite depression 31 or 32.

(46) The depth of each depression 31, 32 measured in the extending direction of the axis of rotation x may correspond to between one-hundredth and one-tenth of the height h of the respective first cavity 18 or 18′.

(47) As a result of this design, the outer edges 22 and 26 forming the cutting edges are exposed in any pivoting position of the plier limbs.

(48) The cavities of a pair of cavities may furthermore be positioned in such a way that the cutting outer edges 22 and 26 are not completely superimposed or do not completely converge when the pliers 1 are closed. In such an embodiment, the outer edges 22 and 26 in fact remain in a position, in which they are still slightly spaced apart from one another, in the closed position of the pliers. This spacing may amount to a few tenths of a millimeter such that bolts of a tough material such as special steel can nevertheless be completely severed.

(49) It is furthermore preferred that particularly the outer edges 22 and 26 are hardened, preferably by means of laser hardening, in order to achieve a sound wear resistance and a low break-out risk of the outer edges 22 and 26.

(50) The preceding explanations serve for elucidating all inventions that are included in this application and respectively enhance the prior art independently with at least the following combinations of characteristics, wherein two, multiple or all of these combinations of characteristics may also be combined with one another, namely:

(51) Pliers, which are characterized in that a thread formation 29, 30 is provided in the first cavity 18, 18′ over only part of the height h and over only part of the inner circumference of the first cavity 18, 18′.

(52) Pliers, which are characterized in that two circumferentially opposite thread formations 29, 30 are provided over the height h of the first cavity 18, 18′.

(53) Pliers, which are characterized in that the circumferentially opposite thread formations 29, 30 of the first cavity 18, 18′ are arranged offset in height.

(54) Pliers, which are characterized in that the first cavity 18, 18′ is realized with a cylindrical inner surface 28.

(55) Pliers, which are characterized in that a longitudinal cylinder axis y of the inner surface 28 includes in a projection an acute angle β with the axis of rotation x.

(56) Pliers, which are characterized in that the thread formations 29, 30 extend with respect to a respective root of the thread in alignment with the axis of rotation x of the plier limbs 2, 3.

(57) Pliers, which are characterized in that the second cavity 19, 19′ has two inner edges 24, 25 that extend differently of one another in a cross section.

(58) Pliers, which are characterized in that a first inner edge 24 extends in a projection in alignment with the axis of rotation x and the second inner edge 25 includes an acute angle α between 10 and 30° with the axis of rotation x.

(59) Pliers, which are characterized in that the second cavity 19, 19′ is free of thread formations.

(60) Pliers, which are characterized in that a cavity 18, 18′, 19, 19′ is with respect to a cross section provided with a depression 31, 32, which is aligned along the separating plane E, opposite of the shearing region 23, 27 of the outer edge 22, 26 of the other cavity.

(61) Pliers, which are characterized in that the depression 18, 18′, 19, 19′ is realized similar to an oblong hole.

(62) Pliers, which are characterized in that a depression 31, 32 is formed on both cavities 18, 18′, 19, 19′.

(63) Pliers, which are characterized in that the depressions 31, 32 are formed opposite of one another referred to a cross section.

(64) Pliers, which are characterized in that the depressions 31, 32 extend along a circular line referred to the axis of rotation x.

(65) All disclosed characteristics are essential to the invention (individually, but also in combination with one another). The disclosure of the associated/attached priority documents (copy of the priority application) is hereby fully incorporated into the disclosure content of this application, namely also for the purpose of integrating characteristics of these documents into claims of the present application. The characteristics of the dependent claims also characterize independent inventive enhancements of the prior art without the characteristics of a claim to which they refer, particularly for submitting divisional applications on the basis of these claims. The invention specified in each claim may additionally comprise one or more of the characteristics that were disclosed in the preceding description and, in particular, are identified by reference symbols and/or included in the list of reference symbols. The invention also concerns design variations, in which individual characteristics cited in the preceding description are not realized, particularly as far as they are obviously dispensable for the respective intended use or can be replaced with other, identically acting technical means.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(66) 1 Pliers 2 First plier limb 3 Second plier limb 4 Articulation region 5 Articulation pin 6 Handle region 7 Handle region 8 Plier jaw 9 Flat jaw region 10 Stripping region 11 Cutting formation 12 Cutting region 13 First cutting edge 14 Second cutting edge 15 Burner hole 16 Cutting region 17 Crimping region 18 First cavity 18′ First cavity 19 Second cavity 19′ Second cavity 20 Bolt 21 External thread 22 Outer edge 23 Second shearing region 24 First inner edge 25 Second inner edge 26 Outer edge 27 First shearing region 28 Inner surface 29 Thread formation 30 Thread formation 31 Depression 32 Depression h Height x Axis of rotation y Longitudinal cylinder axis E Shearing/separating plane L Longitudinal axis U Overlap region α Angle β Angle