Thread rolling tool

Abstract

A thread rolling tool for rolling or repairing a thread has a tool body, a profiled roller, and at least one counter roller. The profiled roller and the at least one counter roller are mounted on the tool body. Preferably, at least one of the profiled roller and the at least one counter roller is mounted so that it is axially displaceable. The profiled roller has a profiled roller profile that has a pitch.

Claims

1. A thread rolling tool for rolling and/or repairing a thread, comprising: (a) a tool body, (b) a shaft and a profiled roller that is mounted to the tool body by means of the shaft, wherein the profiled roller has a rotational axis, and (c) at least one counter roller, which has a counter roller rotational axis and is mounted to the tool body, (d) wherein the profiled roller and/or the at least one counter roller is mounted so that it is axially displaceable with respect to the shaft, and (e) wherein the profiled roller has a profiled roller profile that has a pitch and runs in a helix about the rotational axis of the profiled roller.

2. Thread rolling tool according to claim 1, wherein (a) the tool body has a base body and an arm, (b) at least one of the profiled roller or at least one counter roller is mounted on the base body, (c) at least one of the profiled roller or at least one counter roller is fixed to the arm, and (d) the arm is configured to be put in a locking position, in which the tool body is locked around a work piece, and an opening position in which the arm can be moved relative to a base board in such a way that the work piece can be removed.

3. Thread rolling tool according to claim 2 wherein the arm is connected to the base body by a snap connection.

4. Thread rolling tool according to claim 1 wherein the profiled roller has a profiled roller rotational axis and both the profiled roller rotational axis and the counter roller rotational axis comprise a maximum offset angle of 2.

5. Thread rolling tool according to claim 1 wherein the at least one counter roller includes at least a second counter roller which has a second counter roller rotational axis that runs parallel to the counter roller rotational axis.

6. Thread rolling tool according to claim 1 further comprising a setting device by means of which an inner diameter of a pitch circle is adjustable, wherein the pitch circle is a circle in which a work piece comes into contact with the profiled roller and the at least one counter roller during operation.

7. Thread rolling tool according to claim 1 wherein the profiled roller is removably mounted and/or the at least one counter roller includes a first counter roller and a second counter roller wherein the first counter roller is removably mounted and/or the second counter roller is removably mounted.

8. Thread rolling tool according to claim 1 further comprising a coupling device and an adapter for interacting positively with the coupling device so that the base body is rotatable from an axially distanced point.

9. Thread rolling tool set; comprising: (i) a thread rolling tool according to claim 1 with at least one of the rollers being removable, and (ii) at least one replacement roller that can be used in the thread rolling tool in place of the removable roller.

10. Thread rolling tool according to claim 1, wherein the profiled roller has a profiled roller rotational axis which forms a maximum angle of 2 with the counter roller rotational axis.

11. Thread rolling tool according to claim 10, wherein the profiled roller rotational axis and the counter roller rotational axis of the at least one counter roller run parallel to one another.

Description

(1) In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail in the attached drawings. They show

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective view of a thread rolling tool according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 the tool according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 the thread rolling tool according to FIGS. 1 and 2 where the tool body is locked, and

(5) FIG. 4 a further view in which the snap mechanism can be seen.

(6) FIG. 1 depicts a thread rolling tool 10 according to the invention that comprises a tool body 12, a first counter roller 14.1 and a second counter roller 14.2. The tool body 12 comprises a base body 16 to which an arm 18 is fixed so as to be rendered movable.

(7) The tool body 12 has a first shaft 20.1 onto which the first counter roller 14.1 is mounted such that it can be rotated about a counter roller rotational axis D.sub.14.1. A second counter roller rotational axis D.sub.14.2, about which the second counter roller 14.2 can be rotated, runs, in the technical sense of the word, parallel, i.e. parallel within the scope of a predetermined tolerance, to the counter roller rotational axis D.sub.14.1. The second counter roller 14.2 is mounted on a second shaft 20.2 of the tool body 12. The counter rollers 14.1, 14.2 are mounted on their respective shafts 20.1, 20.2 so as to be axially displaceable, as indicated by the arrows P1 and P2.

(8) FIG. 1 shows that the arm 18 is connected to the base body 16 by means of a snap connection in such a way that it can be reversibly connected. In addition, the base body 16 comprises a preloaded snap hook 24 which can engage with a fixing element 26. When connected, the arm 18 and the base body 16 enclose a internal space in which a work piece 28 (see FIG. 2) can be arranged. FIG. 1 shows an opening position in which the arm 18 can be removed relative to the base board 16 in such a way that the work piece can be removed.

(9) FIG. 1 also shows a setting device 30 which comprises a set screw 32. The set screw 32 interacts with a thread, not depicted in FIG. 1, so that a third shaft 20.3 can be positioned on the two counter rollers 14.1, 14.2. In addition, the third shaft 20.3 is mounted on a slide 34 onto which the set screw 32 acts.

(10) FIG. 1 shows that the counter rollers 14.1, 14.2 have a profile that has a pitch.

(11) FIG. 2 depicts another view of the thread rolling tool 10 according to FIG. 1. It should be noted that the thread rolling tool 10 comprises a profiled roller 36, which is mounted such that it can rotated about the shaft 20.3. The profiled roller 36 has a profiled roller rotational axis D.sub.36 which forms a maximum angle of 2 with the counter roller rotational axis D.sub.14.1 and/or the second counter roller rotational axis D.sub.14.2. It is especially beneficial if the three axes of rotation run parallel to one another with the highest possible accuracy.

(12) FIG. 2 schematically depicts a work piece 28 that is to be processed with the thread rolling tool 10. In addition, the arm 18 is locked as indicated by the arrow P3 until the snap connection 22 engages. The profiled roller 36 is then adjusted by means of the actuator 30. The thread rolling tool 10 is subsequently rotated about the longitudinal axis of the work piece 28, as shown by the arrow P4, thereby rolling a thread or repairing an existing thread.

(13) FIG. 3 depicts the thread rolling tool 10 in the locked state, in which the arm 18 is securely connected to the base body 16. In this state, the snap hook 24 engages with the element 26. FIG. 3 also shows two indentations 38.1, 38.2, which positively interact with a hand piece or adapter 40. The hand piece 40 makes it possible to rotate the base body 16 by hand or with a motor in an axial distance relating to the profiled roller rotational axis D.sub.36 so that threads that are difficult to access can also be repaired or rolled. The indentation 38 is an embodiment of a coupling device. Alternatively, the thread rolling tool 10 may comprise a hole or a different structure that enables a positive-locking connection with the adapter 40.

(14) FIG. 4 depicts another view of the thread rolling tool 10. The shafts 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 are fixed to the tool body so as to be detachable, for example the shafts are screwed in. By rotating the shafts 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, for example with an Allen key that interacts with an inner hexagonal depression in the respective shaft, the shaft can be separated from the rest of the tool body 12. This allows for the exchange of the rollers, i.e. the counter rollers 14.1, 14.2 and the profiled roller 36. However, it is also possible that not all rollers are designed to be exchanged, but rather only the profiled rollers for example.

(15) The shafts 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 and the rollers 14.1, 14.2, 36 are made of hardened steel, for example. It is possible, but in general not necessary, for the rollers to be mounted to their respective shafts by means of bearings, for example a ball bearing or needle roller bearing. However, as a general rule, it is sufficient for the rollers to only be connected to the respective shaft by means of a frictional joint.

(16) FIG. 4 also schematically depicts a thread rolling tool set 42 that, alongside the thread rolling tool 10, contains at least one replacement roller 44, which can be installed in the thread rolling tool 10 instead of one of the rollers, namely one of the counter rollers 14.1, 14.2 or the profiled roller 36.

REFERENCE LIST

(17) 10 thread rolling tool 12 tool body 14 counter roller 16 base body 18 arm 20 shaft 22 snap connection 24 snap hook 26 fixing element 28 work piece 30 setting device 32 set screw 34 slide 36 profiled roller 38 indentation 40 hand piece/adapter 42 thread rolling tool set 44 replacement roller D.sub.14.1 counter roller rotational axis D.sub.14.2 second counter roller rotational axis D.sub.36 profiled roller rotational axis