SMART HAND INSTALLATION PINCER

Abstract

A manual assembly tool (10) of the compound action type for ear clamps, including a pair of lever arms (12, 14), a pair of jaw members (16, 18). The lever arms (12, 14) are pivotably connected to each other at a pivot point (20) near a distal end of the lever arms (12, 14), where-in each lever arm (12, 14) includes a handle end (12a, 14a) on a proximal side and an extension arm (12b, 14b) extending beyond the pivot point (20). The jaw members (16, 18) include clamp edges (16a, 18a) forming a lip for receiving the clamp ears. Each of the jaw members (16, 18) is pivotably connected to the one of the extension arms (12b, 14b) at its proximal end, wherein the jaw members (16, 18) are pivotally interconnected at an intermediate portion of the jaw member (16, 18) so that closing the handle ends (12a, 14a) of the lever arms (12, 14) translates the jaw members (16, 18) towards a closed position thereof, thus squeezing the clamp ear.

Claims

1. A manual assembly tool (10) of the compound action type for ear clamps, including: a pair of lever arms (12, 14) pivotably connected to each other at a pivot point (20) near a distal end of the lever arms (12, 14), wherein each lever arm (12, 14) includes a handle end (12a, 14a) on a proximal side and an extension arm (12b, 14b) extending beyond the pivot point (20), a pair of jaw members (16, 18) with clamp edges (16a, 18a) forming a lip for receiving the clamp ears, wherein each of the jaw members (16, 18) is pivotably connected to the one of the extension arms (12b, 14b) at its proximal end, wherein the jaw members (16, 18) are pivotally interconnected at an intermediate portion of the jaw member (16, 18) so that closing the handle ends (12a, 14a) of the lever arms (12, 14) translates the jaw members (16, 18) towards a closed position thereof, thus squeezing the clamp ear, further including a deformation sensor (22) directly attached to at least one of the jaw members (16, 18) and a signal means (24) for generating a signal indicative of the closing force applied by the jaw member (16, 18).

2. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the deformation sensor (22) is arranged between the proximal end of the jaw member (16, 18) connected to the lever arm (12, 14) and the intermediate portion of the jaw member (16, 18) connected to the other jaw member (16, 18).

3. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the signal means (24) includes an electronic circuit generating a signal when the force measured by the deformation sensor (22) exceeds a threshold.

4. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the threshold is adjustable.

5. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the deformation sensor (22) is arranged in a recess in the jaw member (16, 18) and is protected by a plastic housing or cover.

6. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the deformation sensor (22) is provided in a side face perpendicular to the pivot direction of the jaw member (16, 18).

7. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the deformation sensor (22) is a strain gauge.

8. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the deformation sensor (22) includes at least one flat spring arranged so as to be deformed during operation of the tool and connected to at least one first electrical contact (26), wherein the electrical contact (26) is configured to contact a second electrical contact (28) when a force corresponding to the threshold force or higher is applied.

9. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 8, further including an adjusting screw for adjusting the threshold force.

10. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the jaw member (16, 18) includes a slot (30) configured to be narrowed when a closing force is applied to the jaw member (16, 18), wherein electrical contact elements (26, 28) are provided on side faces of the slot (30), wherein the electrical contact between the contact elements (26, 28) is created when a force corresponding to the threshold force or higher is applied.

11. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the signal means (24) includes a vibration motor (24a).

12. A manual assembly tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the signal means (24) includes an LED (24b).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0025] The figures illustrate the following:

[0026] FIG. 1 a manual assembly tool according to a first embodiment of the invention with a strain gauge;

[0027] FIG. 2 a manual assembly tool according to a second embodiment of the invention with contacts moved by flat springs;

[0028] and

[0029] FIG. 3 a manual assembly tool according to a third embodiment of the invention with a contacts arranged in slot of the jaw member.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a manual assembly tool 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The manual assembly tool 10 is a tool of the compound action type for ear clamps, including a pair of lever arms 12, 14 and a pair of jaw members 16, 18. The lever arms 12, 14 are pivotably connected to each other at a pivot point 20 near a distal end of the lever arms 12, 14, where-in each lever arm 12, 14 includes a handle end 12a, 14a on a proximal side and an extension arm 12b, 14b extending beyond the pivot point 20. The jaw members 16, 18 include clamp edges clamp edges 16a, 18a forming a lip for receiving the clamp ears. Each of the jaw members 16, 18 is pivotably connected to the one of the extension arms 12b, 14b at its proximal end, wherein the jaw members 16, 18 are pivotally interconnected at an intermediate portion of the jaw member 16, 18 via a connection element 32 so that closing the handle ends 12a, 14a of the lever arms 12, 14 translates the jaw members 16, 18 towards a closed position thereof, thus squeezing the clamp ear.

[0032] A deformation sensor 22 is directly attached to one of the jaw members 16 and a signal means 24 for generating a signal indicative of the closing force applied by the jaw member 16, 18 is provided in a plastic hosing on a handle and 12a of one of the lever arms 12. A wire (not illustrated) is provided between the sensor 22 and the signal means 24 to read out sensor 22.

[0033] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the deformation sensor 22 is a strain gauge arranged between the proximal end of the jaw member 16, 18 connected to the lever arm 12, 14 and the intermediate portion of the jaw member 16, 18 connected to the other jaw member 16, 18, specifically in a recess in the jaw member 16, 18 and is protected by a plastic housing or cover. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the recess with the deformation sensor 22 is on a top side face parallel to the pivot direction of the jaw member 16, 18 at a place where maximum deformation is expected. In alternative embodiments, the deformation sensor 22 may be placed on a side face of the jaw member 16, 18, as illustrated with dashed lines in FIG. 1. It has turned out that the latter placement is preferable because the signal has been found to be most reproducible and stable, i.e. a time interval between re-calibration procedures may be set to be long.

[0034] The signal means 24 includes an electronic circuit (not illustrated) amplifying the signal of the deformation sensor 22 generating a signal when the force measured by the deformation sensor 22 exceeds a threshold. The threshold is adjustable, e.g. by setting the amplification of the electronic circuit. The signal means 24 includes a vibration motor 24a and a LED 24b providing a visual and tactile feedback for the user and may include means for indicating that a re-calibration is required. Moreover, the electronic circuit may optionally include wireless data transmission means for transmitting the measured data to a remote device, e.g. for quality control purposes.

[0035] FIGS. 2 and 3 show further embodiments of the invention. To avoid repetition, the following description of these further embodiments is essentially limited to differences from the first embodiment of the invention. Because of the unchanged features, the skilled person is referred to the description of the first embodiment. The same reference signs are used for features of the further embodiments that have the same or similar effect in order to emphasize the similarities.

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates manual assembly tool 10 according to a second embodiment of the invention with contacts 26, 28 normally separated by a force generated by flat springs.

[0037] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the deformation sensor 22 includes two stacks of annular flat springs 34a, 34b arranged so as to be deformed during operation of the tool 10 and connected to one first electrical contact 26, wherein the electrical contact 26 is configured to contact a second electrical contact 28 attached to the body of one of the jaw members 16 when a force corresponding to the threshold force or higher is applied. An adjusting screw 36 for adjusting the threshold force is provided on the top side of the jaw member 16 and the second electrical contact 28 is an inner end of the adjusting screw 36.

[0038] The force is transmitted via the two stacks of flat springs 34a, 34b which are being compressed when a force is applied. The first electrical contact 26 is arranged on a peg 38 in the center of one of the stacks of flat springs 34b. An inner end of the adjusting screw 36 is the second contact 28 which comes in contact with the contact 26 upon reaching a threshold force, which depends on the position of the adjusting screw 36, and closes the electric circuit triggering the signal of the signal means 24 via wire 38.

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates a manual assembly tool 10 according to a third embodiment of the invention with a contacts 26, 28 arranged in slot of the jaw member 16, 18.

[0040] The jaw member 16, 18 includes a slot 30 on a top side thereof and extending parallel to the pivot axis of the jaw element. The slot 30 is configured to be narrowed when a closing force is applied to the jaw member 16, 18, wherein electrical contact elements 26, 28 are provided on side faces of the slot 30, wherein the electrical contact between the contact elements 26, 28 is created when a force corresponding to the threshold force or higher is applied.

[0041] In further embodiments of the invention, the tool 10 may include a radio transmission circuit for transmitting the results of a force measurement to external monitoring and quality control databases and it would be possible to not only compare the force to a threshold but rather to measure an actual value of the force. The indicator means could further be used to indicate that a new calibration is required for the tool.

[0042] It is proposed that the manual assembly tool 10 further includes a deformation sensor 22 directly attached to at least one of the jaw members 16, 18 and a signal means 24 for generating a signal indicative of the closing force applied by the jaw member 16, 18. By providing a deformation sensor 22 directly to the jaw member 16, 18 rather than to a lever arm, a more reliable measurement can be assured. The signal means 24 provides visual, tactile or acoustic feedback regarding the clamping force and correct closure of the clamp to the user.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0043] 10 tool [0044] 12 lever arm [0045] 12a handle end [0046] 12b extension arm [0047] 14 lever arm [0048] 14a handle end [0049] 14b extension arm [0050] 16 jaw member [0051] 16a clamp edge [0052] 18 jaw member [0053] 18a clamp edge [0054] 20 pivot point [0055] 22 deformation sensor [0056] 24 signal means [0057] 24a vibration motor [0058] 24b LED [0059] 26 contact [0060] 28 contact [0061] 30 Slot [0062] 32 connection element [0063] 34a flat springs [0064] 34b flat springs [0065] 36 adjusting screw [0066] 38 peg