Crimping

For a better understanding of this invention, both as to its organization and as to its method of opertion, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view enlarged of a new split-pin assembly which is subjected to a crimping operation in the practice of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along line II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a simplified view in isometric showing generally the apparatus for practicing this invention including the crimping mechanism and its support with this mechanism in crimping position with parts omitted for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation of the apparatus showing the crimper in full lines in the operating position and in broken lines in the retracted position;

FIG. 4A is a fragmental plan view of the extension of the piston rod which positions the crimping mechanism showing the manner in which it operates;

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation, partly in section of the apparatus in operating position taken in the direction V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmental plan view showing an adjusting structure for the crimping mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a fragmental view in side elevation, and partly in section, of the part of the crimper which performs the crimper operation;

FIG. 8 is a fragmental view in transverse section taken along line VIII--VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view in front elevation, and partly in section, showing particularly the lower portion of the support for the apparatus for practicing this invention with the support in the retracted position;

FIG. 10 is a fragmental view in side elevation; and partly in section, taken in the direction X--X of FIG. 9 showing the camming action which advances the crimping head of the crimper horizontally;

FIG. 11 is a fragmental view in transverse section taken along line XI--XI of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a fragmental view in transverse section taken along line XII--XII of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a fragmental view in end elevation, taken in the direction XIII of FIG. 5, showing the mechanism which produces the crimping;

FIG. 14 is a fragmental view in transverse section taken along line XIV--XIV of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmental view in section taken along line XV--XV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a crimping jaw used in the crimper tool; and

FIG. 17 is a view in section, taken along line XVII--XVII of FIG. 16 showing a fragment of the crimper tool housing.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a new split-pin assembly 100 mounted on the upper counterbore 102 of the flange 104 of an LGT 113 (FIGS. 7, 8). The split pin assembly 100 includes a new split pin 127b and a new nut 135. The new split-pin 127b has an upper stem 137 in which two pair of oppositely disposed flutes 139 are provided. A collar 141 extends from a shoulder at the top of the nut 135. The collar 141 has diametrically disposed circular holes 155. The nut 135 is fabricated with a locking cap 157 securely crimped into the holes 155. The locking cap 157 has a pedestal 159 from which a cylindrical shell 160 extends. The shell 160 is coaxial with, and encircles, the stem 137 having the flutes 139. As mounted on the flange 104, the new split-pin assembly 100 extends into the "mouse hole" 163 (FIG. 7) and is straddled by the edge of the wall 165 of the guide tube 113. In accordance with the invention a method of crimping the shell 160 of the locking cap 157 to the stem 137 is provided. The crimping must be such that the locking cap 157 joins the nut 135 and the split pin 127b so securely that rotation of one relative to the other under the forces exerted by the coolant of the reactor is precluded.

The method according to this invention is practiced with the crimper tool 221 (FIGS. 3-17) which includes the crimper mechanism and its support and the means for actuating the crimper mechanism in the practice of this invention.

The crimper tool 221 includes a support 915 formed of a vertical plate 917 having welded near its top and bottom horizontal plates 919 and 921 braced by trapezoidal plates 923 and 925. The vertical plate 917 is mounted on a cluster plate (not shown) which is in turn suspended from a strong-back (not shown) supporting the robotic tools, in the work station, which carry out the replacement of the old split-pin assemblies by the new split-pin assemblies (see Calfo). The plate 921 has a slot 935 (FIGS. 3, 9). A frame 927 having vertical sides 928 and 929 and horizontal sides 931 is mounted pivotal about a vertical axis on flanged bushings 933 (FIG. 9) secured to the top and bottom support plates 919 and 921 and engaging the horizontal sides 931 so that their centers define the pivot axis.

An angle support 937 (FIGS. 3, 4, 5) formed of angles 939 braced by a cross plate 940 is mounted pivotally at one end on the frame 927 on a pin 941 (FIG. 15) extending between the vertical sides 928 and 929. The pin rides in bushings 943 (FIG. 11) in the sides 928 and 929. The angle support 937 is pivotal on the pin 941 between the operating position shown in full lines in FIG. 4 and the retracted or storage position shown in broken lines. The angle support 937 carries a stop bracket 945 which engages adjustable stop bolts 947 (FIG. 4) extending upwardly near the ends transversely of the bottom plate 921 of the fixed support 915. Being suspended from the frame 927, the support 937 is also pivotal about the vertical axis about which the frame is pivotal. Arrow 938 (FIG. 3) shows the direction of the vertical pivoting movement of support 937 about pin 941 and arrow 942 shows the direction of the horizontal pivoting movement about the axis of the flanged bushings 933. The bracket 945 and the stops 947 prevent the angle support 937 from dropping below the plate 921. The angle support 937 also has an adjustable stop 949 (FIG. 4) which abuts the end of the top plate 919 when the angle support is in the retracted position. With reference to FIG. 4, the angle support 937 is pivoted vertically in the plane of the drawing and horizontally into and out of the drawing. It is to be realized that under certain circumstances the crimper tool 221 and the split-pin assembly may be oriented so that the frame is supported in another position than vertically and may be pivoted first directly out of this position and then in a direction transversely or laterally to the first direction.

The angle support 937 is pivotal between the operating and the retracted positions by a cylinder 951. The cylinder 951 is pivotally suspended on a pin 952 (FIG. 5) passing through a clevis 954 which is bolted to the upper side 931 of the frame 927. The piston rod 953 of the cylinder 951 has an extension 955 which carries a slot 957 (FIGS. 4, 9). The slot is engaged by a pin 959 carried by plates or tabs 961 (FIGS. 4, 11) welded to the angles 939. The pin 959 is secured in tabs 961 by cross pins 960. The pin 959 is positioned in the slot 957 between bronze bushings 962 in collars 964 (FIG. 10). Below the slot 957 and pin 959, the piston-rod extension 955 has a cam surface 963 (FIG. 10) which extends into slot 935 in bottom plate 921. The cam surface 963 (FIG. 10) is engaged by the tip of a bolt 965, which serves as cam follower, and which extends into the slot 935 of lower plate 921. The position of bolt 965 is adjustable. In any position, the bolt 965 is locked by nut 968 against plate 921.

With the angle support 937 in retracted position, the tabs 961 are in the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 4 with the sides (as distinct from the ends) of slot 957 in engagement with pin 959 so that the upper side of the slot can exert a downward force on the pin. Only tab 961 is shown in broken lines, (pin and slot not shown). When the piston rod extension 955 is moved downwardly by actuation of cylinder 951, the tabs 961 are moved downwardly with the upper side of slot 957 and turned. The angle frame 937 is pivoted to the operating, generally horizontal, position and the tabs 961 are in the full line position shown in FIG. 4 (bottom). The movement of the angle frame 937 is stopped by engagement of bracket 945 with stop 947. With the angle frame in this position the pin 959 is engaged with the lower end of slot 957 as shown in FIG. 4 where the slot 957 is shown in broken lines. As the piston rod extension 955 now continues to be moved downwardly by cylinder 951, the slot 957 moves to the full-line position shown in FIG. 4A. Pin 959 remains fixed and angle support 937 remains horizontal. But during the movement of the slot to the full-line position shown in FIG. 4A, the angle support 937 is pivoted generally horizontally about the axis of bearings 933 by the coaction of pin 965 and cam surface 963 (FIG. 10). This motion is produced by the action of pin 959 against a side of slot 957.

A tension spring 967 (FIGS. 4, 12) connected between an anchor 969 at the inner end of plate 921 and an anchor 971 on the vertical side 928 of the frame 927 exerts a force pulling the frame 927 and the parts connected to it inwardly. Excessive displacement of the frame is prevented by a stop 973 (FIG. 12) engaging the other side 929 of the angle frame.

An angle bracket 975 (FIGS. 4, 5) is bolted to side 928 of the frame 927. The bolts securing the bracket 975 to side 928 pass through slots 977 so that the height of the bracket 975 is adjustable. A cylinder 979 is suspended from the horizontal member of the bracket 975. A latch 981 is pivotally suspended from the side 928 on a plurality of washers 983 (FIG. 5) and a bolt 984. The latch 981 has a flat tail-plate 985 which extends inwardly and a hook 987 which extends outwardly. Above the tail plate 985 a sleeve housing 989 is threaded into a horizontal plate 991 suspended from side 928. The position of the housing 989 is adjustable along plate 991 and the housing may be locked in any position by nuts 993. The lower part of the housing 989 is widened providing a shoulder between the upper and lower parts. A spring pin 994 having a tapered tip extends through the housing 989. The pin 994 has a shoulder from which a stem extends into the restricted portion of the housing. A compression spring 995 acts between the shoulder in the housing 989 and the shoulder on the pin, resiliently urging the pin downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of tail-plate 985 and pivoting the latch 981 counter-clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 4) on the pivot 984. The force of the spring is counteracted by the cylinder 979. This cylinder has an extension 997 on its piston rod 999 which engages the lower surface of tail-plate 985 and pivots the latch 981 clock-wise. The angle support 937 carries a strike or hook 1001. When the angle support is retracted, the piston rod 999 of cylinder 979 is retracted so that the latch 981 is swung to its most counter-clockwise position engaging hook 1001 securing the angle support 937 and the components which it carries in the retracted position. When the angle support is to be set in the operating position, the piston rod 999 is extended rotating the latch 979 clockwise and disengaging hook 1001.

Near the end remote from the support, guide rails 1003 are secured to the vertical members of the angles 939 (FIGS. 4, 5) as seen in solid lines in FIG. 4. Two sets of pillow blocks 1005 and 1007 are slideable along the guide rails. The pillow blocks 1005 and 1007 support a carriage or housing 1009. The carriage 1009 supports a base plate 1011 on rods 1013 (FIGS. 4, 5). The rods 1013 penetrate through blocks 1015 welded to the base plate 1011 (FIG. 4). The base plate and the parts connected to it may be moved along the rods 1013 relative to carriage 1009 so that its position in the direction perpendicular to the axes of the rails 1003 (along the plane of FIG. 4 parallel to beams 939) may be set. The base plate 1011, once set, is secured in the set position by set screws 1016 (FIG. 5). Crimping jaws 1017 and 1019 are mounted pivotally on a pin 1021 is secured near the outer end of the base plate. The pin 1021 is secured by a locking nut 1023 which is threaded onto the lower end of the pin 1021 and engages a washer 1025 between the nut and the plate 1011 (FIGS. 4, 5). At the top the pin 1021 is secured to an angle block 1027 by a cap screw 1029. A washer 1030 is interposed between the block 1027 and the pivoting bearings of the jaws but engages a shoulder on pin 1021 clearing the bearings. Another washer 1031 is interposed between the base plate 1011 and the pivoting bearings of the jaws and a shoulder on pin 1021.

Each guide rail 1003 carries a compression spring 1035 (FIG. 5). Each spring engages pillow block 1007 at one end and is engaged by a member 1037 clamped to the guide rail at the opposite end. The springs 1035 resiliently urge the pillow blocks 1007 and the parts connected to them including the base plate 1011 outwardly; i.e. away from plate 928; to the right as seen in FIG. 5. At its outer end, the base plate 1011 has a downwardly facing shoulder 1039 (FIG. 7). Above this shoulder the base plate terminates in a cylindrical surface 1041 (FIGS. 5 and 7) which has the same curvature as the nut 135 of the new split-pin assembly 127b. The relative position of the crimper tool 221 and the pin-insertion/torque tool on the strong-back (see Calfo FIG. 9B) is such that when the angle support 937 of the crimper tool 221 is moved to the operating setting (full lines FIG. 4) the coaction of the pin 965 and cam surface 963 (FIG. 10) advances (pivots about the axes of bushings 933) the base plate 1011 and the parts mounted on it inwardly with reference to support 915 (into the plane of the drawing as seen in FIG. 4) (to the right as seen in FIG. 3). The shoulder 1039 seats on the top of the flange 104 (FIG. 5) of the LGT 113, whose old split-pin assembly is replaced by new assemblies 100 (FIGS. 1, 2), and the cylindrical surface 1041 seats precisely against the new nut 135 (FIGS. 5, 7). The springs 1035 hold the surface 1041 in resilient engagement with the nut 135. The pin-insertion/torque tool is, during this operation, in the retracted position (761, FIG. 61 of Calfo) with the pin 127b on its blade (815, FIG. 64 of Calfo).

Near the outer end the pillow blocks 1007 engage a plate 1043 (FIG. 6) which is slideable on the rails 1003. This plate is connected to the carriage 1009. The position of the plate 1043, longitudinally of the rails 1003, is adjustable by bolts 1045 each of which is threaded into a boss 1047 on each angle 939 (FIG. 6). Each bolt carries a block 1049 at its inner end may be locked in any position by a nut 1051. The position of the carriage 1009 and the parts connected to it including base plate 1011, longitudinal of the rails 1003, is thus adjustable.

A cylinder 1053 (FIGS. 4, 13) is supported horizontally in carriage 1009 on an angle bracket 1055. This angle bracket is bolted to spacer blocks 1057 supported on base plate 1011. A bearing yoke or "C"-frame 1059 is mounted on an extension 1061 of the piston rod 1063 of the cylinder 1053 (FIGS. 5, 7, 13, 14). The bearing yoke 1059 supports rollers 1065 and 1067 on bearing screws 1069. These rollers engage cam surfaces 1071 of the jaws 1017 and 1019. In FIG. 14, the rollers 1065 and 1067 are shown in full lines with the jaws in the retracted position and in broken lines with the jaws in the crimping position.

The blank for jaw 1017 is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. This jaw includes a circular hub 1073 from which arms extend. The opening in the hub is constricted at one end providing a shoulder 1075 (FIG. 17). Jaw 1019 is interlocked with jaw 1017, the constricted portion of its hub seated in the expanded portion of the hub of jaw 1017 and its lateral surface engaging shoulder 1075. The openings 1077 in the jaws are coaxial and are engaged by pin 1021 (FIGS. 5, 7). The arms of the jaws extending on each side of the hub have the cam surface 1071 on one side. Near one end each of the jaws 1017 and 1019 has an opening 1079 for a crimping pin 1081 (FIG. 14). At the same end there is an opening 1083 perpendicular to opening 1079 for a locking pin (not shown) for the crimping pin 1081. The cam surfaces 1071 have a contour such that the crimping jaws are open with the rollers 1065 and 1067 retracted (full lines FIG. 14) and closed with the rollers advanced (broken lines FIG. 14). The semi-circular extension 1085 of each hub 1073 affords clearance for the closing of the jaws.

During standby the angle support 937 is latched in the retracted position shown in broken lines in FIG. 4. When a crimping operation is to take place, the LGT is positioned with one of its new split-pin assemblies oriented for crimping and the support 937 is unlatched by remote actuation of cylinder 979 (FIGS. 4, 5). Cylinder 951 (FIG. 5) is then actuated remotely, first, to lower the support 937 vertically, then, to swing the support horizontally (to the right as seen in FIG. 3 and into the plane of the drawing as seen in FIG. 4). The base plate 1011 is positioned with its shoulder 1039 seated on the top surface of the flange 104 of the LGT which is to be processed and its cylindrical surface 1041 is seated against the surface of the new nut 135. The crimping pins are in position to crimp the cylindrical portion 160 of the locking cap 171 into opposite flutes 139 of the new split pin 127b. The LGT 113 is so positioned that a pair of opposite flutes 139 of one of its new split-pin assemblies 100 is oriented to receive the crimped projections of the cylindrical portion 160 of the locking cap 157. Cylinder 1053 is now actuated to cause the crimping pins 1081 to engage the portion 160 and crimp it onto the opposite flutes. The flutes preclude the necessity, which would be involved in the use of indentations instead of flutes, of precisely positioning the jaws 1017 and 1019 vertically to effectuate the crimping operation.

While preferred practice of this invention is disclosed herein, many modifications thereof are feasible. This invention is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the spirit of the prior art.