Technical field

The invention relates to a device for crimping the end connector on a hose or pipe, comprising a carrier disc which is in its longitudinal axis provided with a central longitudinal opening and which is in a radial dividing plane divided into a first part and a second part which are separable from each other, wherein in the carrier disc, swages are reversibly linearly slidably mounted in a beam like manner around the central opening. The swages are provided at their end at the central hole with a pressing surface or surfaces for crimping the end connector onto the hose or pipe, the swages being coupled to a press drive for synchronized movement of all the swages radially with respect to the central opening towards and away from the longitudinal axis.

Background art

To connect hoses to various devices, special end connectors are used, which are pressed onto the end of the hose. This process is generally called crimping. These end connectors typically comprise an inner tube which is inserted into the inner space of the hose end and these end connectors further contain an outer tube which is slid onto the outer surface of the hose end and then pressed from the outer side around the circumference of the hose towards the inner tube. By deforming the outer tube and the hose wall material, the hose and the end connector are joined together form-fittingly and tightly, so that the hose can be easily connected to the desired connection point by means of the end connector thus crimped.

US 3 731 518 discloses a crimping device, especially for crimping fittings of high-pressure hydraulic hoses and the like, which comprises two die bodies, each of which is housed in one spatial frame. In the centre between the two die bodies, an empty space is formed for inserting the end of the hose with a crimping fitting, i.e., an empty space for crimping the crimping fitting onto the end of the hose, wherein radially adjustable fingers are arranged radially in the die around the crimping space, which are provided at their ends at the crimping space with a crimping profile by which the fingers are pressed into the outer tube of the crimping end at the end of the hose. The fingers are coupled to a drive for their longitudinal movement, i.e., in the direction radially towards and away from the crimping space, so that uniform crimping of the end fitting on the hose and the like is achieved and the crimped fitting can withstand high pressures in the hose and, moreover, its crimped part is symmetrical.

The disadvantage of this arrangement is a split die on a massive frame, which limits the achievable crimping pressures and leads to a manufacturing and space-intensive design and at the same time requires the use of a die-to- frame device for spacing the die bodies from the frame. Another disadvantage is the necessity to create an independent powerful drive for each part of the split die, which further increases the complexity of the device and, in addition, increases the risk of failure of the synchronisation of the stroke of the fingers and the uniformity of the crimped connection between the end fitting and the hose.

US 4 989 443 describes an improved design of the device according to US 3 731 518, in which the actuation of radial swages is provided for each half of the split die, wherein within each half of the die, the actuation of the swages is further divided into two branches, i.e., into a left side and a right side, wherein each branch is provided with a quarter-circle collar with inclined surfaces which abut the rear ends of the swages, both collars being resiliently and reversibly slidably mounted in the die along a circular path around the crimping space. On mutually adjacent parts, both collars of one half of the die are provided with an inclined surface, wherein an expanding wedge is directed into the wedge gap thus formed, adapted to move the two collars away from each other, which is transmitted via said inclined surfaces to the ends of the swages, which thus move towards the crimping space. The whole assembly requires a massive frame for each half of the die adapted to be placed between the rams of the press. Another disadvantage is the necessity to create an independent powerful actuator for each part of the split die, which further increases the complexity of the device and increases the risk of failure of the synchronization of the stroke of the swages and of the uniformity of the crimp connection of the end connector and the hose.

JP 2019 051 539 discloses a crimping device which comprises a one- piece die with a circular shape, in which swages are arranged radially around a crimping space, inclined surfaces being assigned to the outer ends of the swages on an eccentric ring, which is rotatably mounted around the outer circumference of the die in the frame of the crimping device. The eccentric ring is coupled to a drive of its rotation about the longitudinal axis of the crimping space, for example it is coupled to a linear drive. The swages and the eccentric ring are formed by a set of elements arranged one behind the other for gradually crimping the crimping end connector in the direction of the length of the crimping end connector. The disadvantage of this arrangement is the closed construction of the die, additionally supplemented by the drive of the swages by means of rings rotatable around the die, which requires, among other things, a relatively massive frame around the eccentric ring, as well as a relatively massive design of the eccentric ring.

Furthermore, a common disadvantage is difficult adjustability and operability of the device when changing the dimensions of the crimping end connectors and hoses, etc. Known are also solutions of crimping heads with an individual drive of each swage by means of a separate hydraulic cylinder, wherein each hydraulic cylinder works essentially independently and with its own internal resistors, which means that the individual swages descend to a defined position adjustable by mechanical grinding or by the underlaying of the swages, and therefore do not descend in the same way at a precisely defined time, which results in elliptical deformation of the originally circular cross-sections of the crimped parts, which is unacceptable.

The object of the invention is to eliminate or at least reduce the disadvantages of the background art. Principle of the invention

The object of the invention is achieved by a device for crimping the end connector onto a hose or pipe, whose principle consists in the fact that a press drive comprises a set of gear wheels with outer teeth, which are rotatably mounted in a carrier disc, and the axis of rotation of the gear wheels is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrier disc, the adjacent gear wheels engage each other with their outer teeth and one of the gear wheels is coupled to a drive, one gear wheel being always assigned to one swage, the axis of rotation of the gear wheels intersects the longitudinal axis of the respective swage and the gear wheel is coupled to the respective swage by an eccentric gear for controlled bidirectional sliding movement of the swage.

The advantages of this configuration include precise dosing of even high pressing pressure at small dimensions of the device, high durability and performance of the press drive and high reliability of the device. Another advantage is the relatively easy adjustability of the device for crimping the end connector onto other hoses or pipes. The advantage of this solution is the defined stroke of all the swages, at a precisely defined time, thanks to the mechanical linkage of the swages and their cams via the gear wheels and their mechanical (tooth) backlash, which can be eliminated. For making the best possible quality crimp hinge, uniform compression around the entire circumference of the parts to be joined is required, within a very strict tolerance. The advantage of the cam drive of the swages is also the fact that it provides wide possibilities of setting the stroke of the swages, when by rotating the cams through the system drive (servo)-gear wheels-cam (on individual swages) it is possible to achieve a precise run-down-compression (adjustable by setting the parameter of the rotation of the system drive-gear wheels-cams) and, as a result, controlled compression of the crimped parts is also achieved.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject-matter of the dependent claims. Description of drawings

The invention is schematically represented in a drawing, wherein Fig. 1 shows an overall spatial arrangement of the device according to the invention from the front, Fig. 2 shows the spatial arrangement of the device according to the invention in cross section along the plane l-l from the front, Fig. 3 shows the spatial arrangement of the device according to the invention in cross section along the plane ll-ll from the front, Fig. 4 shows the spatial arrangement of the device according to the invention in cross section along the plane Ill-Ill from the rear, Fig. 5 shows the spatial arrangement of the press drive with gear wheels, swages and pulleys and Fig. 6 shows a detail of the arrangement of one part of the press drive with a gear wheel and associated swage and pulleys.

Examples of preferred embodiments

A device for crimping an end connector on a hose or pipe or "a crimping head" comprises a carrier disc 1, which is in its longitudinal axis X provided with a central longitudinal opening 10. The carrier disc 1 is radially in the dividing plane A divided into a first part 11. and a second part 10, wherein the two parts are mutually tiltable from each other by means of a hinge 13 arranged at one end of the dividing plane A of the two parts 11., 12. On the opposite end of the dividing plane A, each part 11., 12 of the carrier disc 1 is provided with one part of a locking node 14. In a practical embodiment, the lower part 11. of the carrier disc 1. is mounted on a holder and the upper part 10 is tiltable upwards.

In an embodiment shown, the hinge 13 comprises a pair of eyes 130, 131. each of which is arranged on one of the parts 11., 12 of the carrier disc 1, wherein in the eyes is arranged a common pin 132, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the carrier disc 1. and on which the two parts 11., 12 of the carrier disc 1 are mutually tilted away from the dividing plane A. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the lower part 11. of the carrier disc 1 is mounted on the device 0, so that the upper part 12 of the carrier disc 1. on the hinge 13 is tilted away from the dividing plane A upwards, whereby the device also opens to insert and remove the pressed parts and closes for performing the pressing. In an unillustrated exemplary embodiment, the hinged connection of the two parts H, 12 of the carrier disc 1 is implemented in a different suitable manner and by using different means.

In the embodiment shown, the locking node 14 is formed by a pair or a trio of mutually overlapping tangential projections 110, 120 of the two parts 1±, 12 of the carrier disc 1, wherein these tangential projections 110, 120 are provided with a radially arranged through hole 1100, 1200, into which a locking pin 140 operated by a locking drive 141, here exemplarily a linear motor, is inserted when the carrier disc 1 is closed, i.e., when the two parts 11., 12 of the carrier disc 1 are together. In the unillustrated exemplary embodiment, the locking node 14 is implemented in a different suitable manner and by using different means.

In the carrier disc 1, linear guides 15 are formed radially around the central opening 0 in which swages 2 are reversibly linearly slidably arranged. The swages 2 are at their ends at the central opening 10 provided with a crimping surface 2L or surfaces for crimping the end connector onto a hose or pipe.

At their opposite end, the swages 2 are coupled to the press drive 3 which ensures synchronised movement of all swages 2 around the entire circumference of the central opening 10 in the direction towards the longitudinal axis X and away from the longitudinal axis X.

The crimping drive 3 comprises a set of gear wheels 30, which are rotatably mounted in the carrier disc 1, wherein each swage 2 is assigned to one gear wheel 30 with outer teeth, whose axis of rotation is parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the carrier disc and at the same time passes through the longitudinal axis 2X of the respective swage 2. Adjacent gear wheels 30 engage each other with their outer teeth, wherein one of these gear wheels 30 is further coupled to a drive 31, formed here, for example, by a rotary motor 310 which is connected via the gearbox 311 "in slow motion" to the drive gear 312, which is rotatably mounted in the carrier disc 1 and with its outer teeth engages with the above-mentioned single gear wheel 30. Thus, all the gear wheels 30 constitute a closed circuit transmitting the torque of the drive 31 in the direction of the arrows S in Fig. 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the eccentric gearing is implemented in such a way that in one of its front faces 300, the gear wheel 30 is provided with a circular circumferential groove 3000 with an eccentric elevation 3001. A first pulley 20 extends into the circumferential groove 3000 and projects laterally from the end of the respective swage 2, or if the swage 2 is short, then the first pulley 20 projects laterally from the end of the extension piece 21 which is coupled to the swage 2_at its other end. A second pulley 22 is arranged at the far end of the swage 2 or at the far end of the extension piece 21. The second pulley 22 abuts the eccentric circumferential surface 320 formed on a shaft 32 of the respective gear wheel 30, into whose circumferential groove 3000 the first pulley 20 extends on the same swage 2 or on the same extension piece 21_. The eccentric circumferential surface 320 and the circular circumferential groove 3000 with an eccentric elevation 3001 thus essentially constitute pressing cams, which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, are attached firmly to the shaft 32 with gear wheels 30.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the carrier disc 1. comprises 8 (eight) swages 2, 8 gear wheels 30, etc., all symmetrically distributed around the central opening 0, wherein in each part H, 12 of the carrier disc l^ half the number of the swages 2 are mounted, half the number of the gear wheels 30, etc. In an exemplary embodiment (not shown), the carrier disc 1 comprises 6 (six) swages 2, 6 gear wheels 30, etc., all symmetrically distributed around the central opening 10, wherein in each part H, 12 of the carrier disc 1 _j _ half the number of the swages 2 are mounted, half the number of the gear wheels 30, etc. In another unillustrated exemplary embodiment, the carrier disc comprises 4 (four) swages 2, 4 (four) gear wheels 30, etc., all symmetrically distributed around the central opening 10, wherein in each part H, 12 of the carrier disc 1, half the number of the swages 2 are mounted, half the number of the gear wheels 30, etc. In another unillustrated exemplary embodiment, the carrier disc 1 comprises 10 (ten) swages 2, 10 gear wheels 30, etc., all symmetrically distributed around the central opening 10, wherein in each part 11, 12 of the carrier disc 1. half the number of the swages 2 are mounted, half the number of the gear wheels 30, etc. In another exemplary embodiment (not shown), the carrier disc 1 comprises an odd number of swages 2, an odd number of gear wheels 30, etc., all asymmetrically distributed around the central opening 10, wherein in each part 11., 12 of the carrier disc 1 the number of the swages 2, the number of the gear wheels 30 mounted, etc., is one unit larger than in the second part 11., 12 of the carrier disc 1.. In another unillustrated exemplary embodiment, the carrier disc 1 is divided into asymmetrical parts 11., 12. Typically, the dividing plane A of the carrier disc 1 is bent at least once, wherein in each part 11., 12 of the carrier disc 1 a suitable number of swages 2, gear wheels 30, etc., is mounted, according to the size of the particular part 11., 12 and the number of swages 2, gear wheels 30, etc., in each part 11., 12 of the carrier disc 1 varies, even by more than one unit.

The device for crimping the end connector on a hose or pipe according to the invention operates in such a manner that either the two parts 11., 12 of the carrier disc 1 are tilted from each other at the hinge 13 to insert the crimped end of the hose or tube with the connector into the central hole 10 when the locking node 14 is unlocked, or the crimped end of the hose or tube with the connector is inserted into the central hole 10 when the locking node 14 is locked and when these parts 11., 12 of the carrier disc 1. are mutually tilted.

To insert the crimped end of the hose or tube with the connector into the central opening do 10, this end of the hose or tubes with the respective end connector fitted, is arranged between the pressing surfaces of the swage 2 around the entire circumference of the pressed part of the end connector.

The adjust the crimp depth, i.e., the value of each crimp 2 run-down towards the centre of the device, i.e., towards the centre of the hose or pipe with the respective end connector fitted, the drive 31 is rotated by the required number of revolutions, for example, by entering a value on a control panel (not shown) of the control device.

Subsequently, the crimping sequence of the drive 31 is initiated, which includes rotation of the drive 31 that is transmitted to the rotation of each of the gear wheels 30, during which the first pulleys 20 on the swages 2 (or on the extension pieces 21) are guided along the circumferential grooves 3000 with the eccentric elevation 3001 in the end face 300 of each respective gear 30 and at the same time, the second pulleys 22 on the swages 2 (or on the extension parts 21) roll down the eccentric circumferential surface 320 on the shaft 32 of each respective gear wheel 30. Thereby, the rotational movement of each respective gear wheel 30 is converted into a linear reciprocating movement of each respective swage 2, which with its pressing surface first approaches the pressed end connector and sinks into it in its designated part of the circumferential surface of the crimped end connector, by which the crimping of the end connector into the end part of the hose or pipe, the so-called crimping, is performed along the entire circumference of the crimped end connector by all swages 2 along the entire circumference of the hose or pipe with the respective end connector fitted at the same time and identically and equally accurately. Then the drive 31 is rotated backwards and the gear wheels 30 with it, so that the swages 2 again move away from the circumferential surface of the already crimped end connector and the drive 31 stops. Subsequently, the hose or pipe with the crimped end connector is removed from the device, either directly without the two parts H, 12 of the carrier disc 1 on the hinge 13 being tilted off, or se the hose or tube with the crimped end connector is removed from the device after unlocking the locking node 14 and after the two parts H, 12 of the carrier disc 1 on the hinge 13 have been mutually tilted away from each other. The device is now ready for the insertion of a new hose or pipe with an end connector which is to be crimped.