Patent ID: 11872644
Assignee: ASC PROFILES LLC
Field: Machine tools (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  E | IPC B  E

Claim 13:
14. A method of crimping metal panels, comprising:
supplying pressurized gas to an inlet port of a pneumatic tool, the pneumatic tool comprising:
a frame comprising a first joint point and a fourth joint point;
a die rigidly coupled to a distal end of the frame, wherein a longitudinal axis of the pneumatic tool extends along the frame and is aligned with the die;
a coupler link having a first end connected at a second joint point and a second end connected at a third joint point, wherein the second and third joint points are movable relative to the frame;
a rocker link having a first end portion rotatably coupled to the first joint point of the frame and a second end portion rotatably coupled to the coupler link at the second joint point;
an actuator assembly comprising a housing and a push rod extending from the housing, wherein a distal end of the push rod is rotatably coupled to the coupler link and rotatably coupled to the second end portion of the rocker link at the second joint point, wherein the push rod defines a push rod axis that intersects the longitudinal axis at an oblique angle; and
a punch arm having a proximal end portion rotatably coupled to the coupler link at the third joint point and a distal end portion rotatably coupled to the fourth joint point of the frame;

the method comprising:
positioning a first panel and a second panel between the die and a punch coupled to the distal end portion of the punch arm; and
releasing pressurized gas from the inlet port of the pneumatic tool into a pressure chamber of the actuator assembly, thereby causing an internal diaphragm of the actuator assembly to linearly translate the push rod rotatably coupled to the coupler link and rotatably coupled to the second end portion of the rocker link;
wherein the linear translation of the push rod applies a force to the coupler link to thereby cause the punch arm to rotate, thereby moving the second joint point from one side of the longitudinal axis to an opposite side and driving a plurality of male punch projections of the punch through the first panel and the second panel, and into a corresponding one of a plurality of female die cavities in the die.