Drive Unit for a Press Collar

Abstract

A drive unit for use with a press collar for pressing two workpieces, including a drive and pressing pliers connected to the drive, the pressing pliers having two jaws. The jaws of the pressing pliers can be moved toward each other by means of the drive in order to close the press collar and to press the two workpieces. Furthermore, the two jaws each have a first connecting element for connecting to a second connecting element of the press collar. At least one of the first connecting elements is at least partly surrounded by a marking.

Claims

1. A drive unit for use with a press collar for pressing two workpieces, comprising: a drive; and pressing pliers connected to the drive, wherein the pressing pliers comprises two jaws, wherein the jaws of the pressing pliers can be moved towards each other by the drive in order to close the press collar and to press the two workpieces; wherein the two jaws each comprise a first connecting element for connection with a second connecting element of the press collar; wherein at least one of the first connecting elements is surrounded at least in part by a marking.

2. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the size of the marking is adapted to a press collar segment of the press collar, wherein the marking is covered completely by the press collar segment only if the second connecting element of the press collar is fully connected with the first connecting element.

3. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein both first connecting elements are each surrounded by one marking.

4. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the marking is a color marking, a surface embossing, a sticker or a lasered surface.

5. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the marking is surrounded by a further marking, so that the further marking is completely covered by a press collar segment of a further press collar only if a third connecting element of the further press collar is fully connected with the first connecting element.

6. A system, comprising a drive unit according to claim 1 and a press collar for connection with the drive unit; wherein the press collar comprises a plurality of pressing elements connected in an articulate and chain-like manner by means of bolts; wherein each pressing element has a plurality of press collar segments arranged in parallel, which extend from one bolt to the next bolt; and a second connecting element is provided at each of the first pressing element and the last pressing element for connection with the first connecting element of the drive unit.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the press collar segments are each designed in a plate-shape and extend laterally beyond the second connecting elements.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the drive unit is connected with the respective second connecting element below the respective topmost press collar segment.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of different press collars, wherein, for all press collars, the press collar segments are designed identically in the region of the second connecting elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the following, the disclosure is described in more detail by means of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0020] In the figures:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a drive unit with a press collar,

[0022] FIG. 2 is a detail of the jaw of the drive unit and

[0023] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0024] FIG. 1 shows the drive unit 10, as well as the press collar 12. The drive unit 10 has a drive (not illustrated) which may, in particular, be electrohydraulic. The drive displaces a piston 14, whereby jaws 16 of a press collar 18 are moved about respective rotational axes 19, so that the end of the pressing pliers 18 facing away from the drive move the jaws 16 towards each other as indicated by the arrows 22.

[0025] The jaws 16 comprise first connecting elements which are designed as recesses 24 (FIG. 2), for connection with second connecting elements of the press collar 12 which are designed as connecting bolts 26. As an alternative thereto, the first connecting element and the second connecting element may have different shapes, with the shape of the first connecting element and the second connecting element always being designed to ensure force transmission from the drive unit 10 to the press collar 12. In particular, the first connecting element and the second connecting element have congruent shapes so as to provide at least a partial positive engagement.

[0026] In the example of FIG. 1, the press collar 12 has three pressing elements 28, which are connected with each other in a chain-like and articulate manner via bolts 30. Here, the press elements 28 have common pressing surfaces 32 on the inner side, which come into contact with the workpieces 33 to press the workpieces 33. Furthermore, the pressing elements 28 comprise press collar segments 34 extending between the bolts 26, 30. Here, the press collar segments 34 are designed, in particular, to be plate-shaped. The jaw 16 of the pressing pliers 18 engages below the topmost press collar segment 34 to connect the recess 24 of the jaw 16 with the respective connecting bolt 26, so that a part of the jaw 16 is covered by the topmost press collar segment 34.

[0027] By the drive of the drive unit 10, the jaws 16 of the pressing pliers 18 are moved towards each other as indicated by the arrows 22. This movement is transmitted to the press collar 12 via the connecting bolts 26, whereby the radius of the press collar 12 decreases and a pressing of the workpieces 33 is performed.

[0028] According to FIG. 2, the recess 24 is surrounded at least in part and in particular completely by a marking 36. This marking has a size adapted to the size of the press collar segments 34 of the press collar 12. As schematically shown in FIG. 3A, the press collar segment 34 covers the marking 36 completely, given a correct fit of the connecting bolt 26 in the recess 24 of the jaw 16. Thereby, the user is given a visual indication that the connecting bolt 26 is arranged correctly in the recess 24 and that a safe handling of the system is thus guaranteed.

[0029] FIG. 3B shows the situation in which the connecting bolt 26 is not correctly arranged in the recess 24. Furthermore, the press collar segment 34 of the press collar 12 covers the jaw 16 in part, so that the user can hardly or not at all see the recess 24. Therefore, checking the correct fit of the connecting bolt 26 in the recess 24 is made difficult. However, by applying the marking 36, the user can clearly and directly see that the connecting bolt is not yet fully and correctly received in the recess 24. Thus, the user has the opportunity to adjust the fit of the connecting bolt 26, and in particular the connection of the press collar 12, with the drive unit 10. Thereby, a damage to the jaw 16 or an injury to the user is avoided.