Abstract:
A clamping and/or spreading tool comprising a push or pull rod to which a mobile jaw is fixed, a fixed jaw, a gear mechanism which can be used to move the mobile jaw towards or away from the fixed jaw by moving the push or pull rod in a clamping or spreading direction, and to apply clamping and/or bracing forces between the jaws, and a lock used to block movement of the push or pull rod in an opening direction opposing the clamping or spreading direction, in order to maintain clamping and/or spreading forces produced between the jaws. A mechanism for dissipating the stored clamping and/or spreading forces enables an absorption movement of the push or pull rod in the opening direction along a pre-determined absorption course, and especially detachably blocks an absorption movement of the push or pull rod over the predetermined absorption course, in the opening direction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. §371 to International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2005/005193, filed Mar. 12, 2005, International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2004/013979, filed Dec. 8, 2004, and German Patent Application No. 10 2004 024 862.1, filed May 19, 2004, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The invention relates to a clamping and/or spreading tool, comprising a push or pull rod to which a movable jaw is fixed, a stationary jaw, a gear mechanism by which the movable jaw is movable towards or away from the stationary jaw by displacement of the push or pull rod in a clamping or spreading direction and by which clamping and/or spreading forces are applicable between the jaws, further comprising a lock which blocks displacement of the push or pull rod in opening direction opposite to the clamping or spreading direction so as to maintain the clamping and/or spreading forces generated between the jaws. 
     2. Background Art 
     DE 103 35 365 A1 discloses a clamping or spreading tool of this kind which can generate very great clamping forces between the stationary and movable jaws. To accomplish that, the pivot arm is pivotably mounted at a clamping side of the push or pull rod on a support which holds the stationary jaw. The point of contact at which the actuating arm can introduce actuating forces into an entraining slide element of the gear mechanism likewise is provided at the clamping side of the push or pull rod between the swivel joint and the push or pull rod. The leverage thus achieved is apt to provide clamping or spreading forces of up to 3000 Newton between the clamping jaws when the clamping tool is manipulated by one hand. 
     Once great tensioning forces have been generated, it may happen that actuation for release of the draw-back lock retaining the high tension will cause the movable jaw to be propelled explosively away from the stationary jaw. Analyses have clearly demonstrated that the clamping tool, especially the material of the clamping jaws, when tensioned, behaves like an elastic system deforming elastically in accordance with the tension created. Discharging of the clamping tool unloads the stored tension in correspondence with the modulus of elasticity inherent in the system by a shock-like movement of the push or pull rod in opening direction. The stored potential tensional energy is converted into kinetic energy of the push or pull rod. And it may happen that the push or pull rod is launched right through the support of the stationary jaw. 
     Since it is preferred to keep a low friction profile of the push rod within the support to permit easy displacement and adjustment of the push or pull rod, the release of very great tensional forces may let the push or pull rod, together with the movable jaw, glide through the support without any deceleration, whereby not only the workpiece to be treated may be damaged but also the person handling the tool may be hurt. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a clamping or spreading tool which permits the energy stored in the tensioned clamping or spreading tool to be discharged, especially non-explosively, at the same time warranting simple manipulation not susceptible of causing injury. 
     This object is met by the features of claim  1 . 
     Thus a clamping and/or spreading tool comprises a push or pull rod to which a movable jaw is fixed, a stationary jaw, a gear mechanism by which the movable jaw is movable towards or away from the stationary jaw by displacement of the push or pull rod in a clamping or spreading direction and by which clamping and/or spreading forces are applicable between the jaws, and further comprises a lock which blocks displacement of the push or pull rod in opening direction opposite to the clamping or spreading direction so as to uphold the clamping and/or spreading forces generated between the jaws. In accordance with the invention, a conventional draw-back lock as described in DE 39 17 473 A1 or an entraining slide element canted with respect to the push or pull rod by coercive means, such as a compression spring, and embodied by a wedging plate which is capable of blocking the displacement of the push or pull rod due to its canting, may be regarded as the lock. 
     According to the invention the clamping and/or spreading tool comprises a mechanism for dissipating the clamping and/or spreading forces stored, said mechanism allowing especially controlled absorption displacement of the push or pull rod in opening direction along a predetermined, limited absorption path. The limitation of the absorption path is obtained by a blocking effect of the mechanism which does not come to bear until the absorption displacement of the push or pull rod in opening direction goes beyond the predetermined absorption path. And it blocks the further absorption displacement of the push or pull rod in opening direction with respect to the stationary jaw. The limitation of the absorption displacement may be removable to guarantee unblocked displacement of the push or pull rod for quick adjustment of the jaws. 
     The invention makes it possible to assure that the stored tensioning and/or spreading forces, when set free, will not let the push or pull rod become displaced in space like a projectile. Instead, loosening of the clamping and/or spreading tool will move the jaws only a little in opening direction, especially just a few millimetres, preferably without losing contact with the workpiece. During this absorption displacement at least part of the clamping and/or spreading forces, preferably all of these forces, will be dissipated by friction or damping. What remains of the clamping and/or spreading forces is retained by the blocking effect of the mechanism initiated after the absorption displacement. In this manner the dissipation of the stored clamping and/or spreading forces can be controlled, and the absorption displacement of the push or pull rod upon release of the tension is restricted to a desired extent. 
     In a further development of the invention the mechanism is adapted to be activated, especially by being actuated by the operator thereof, so that the absorption displacement of the push or pull rod in opening direction along the absorption path is allowed and carried out independently upon activation. After the absorption displacement a limitation of the absorption displacement takes hold automatically. 
     The mechanism, preferably, can be activated only upon release of the blocking effect of a lock, especially a draw-back lock. 
     According to a further development, the mechanism should be capable of being activated only by release of the tensioned clamping and/or spreading tool, especially of the lock which is charged by clamping and/or spreading forces. It is preferred that the mechanism be or remain inactive when the clamping and/or spreading tool is not tensioned, especially the lock is not charged. 
     With a preferred further development of the invention, the lock can be shifted essentially in opening direction with respect to the stationary jaw while the blocking effect is maintained to accomplish the absorption displacement. The blocking effect of the lock is to be understood as meaning that the displacement motion of the push or pull rod in opening direction with respect to the lock itself is blocked. When shifting the lock per se, the push or pull rod is allowed to move in opening direction, and this movement presents the predefined absorption displacement. The lock is arranged in a support in such a way that it can be shifted in opening direction while its blocking effect is upheld during shifting, the support carrying the stationary jaw and holding the push or pull rod for displacement. 
     A known clamping and/or spreading tool such as described in the above mentioned DE 103 35 365 A1 might be developed further by a mechanism according to the invention in that the spring biased release lever of the draw-back lock is supported so that it can be shifted, especially in opening direction, with respect to the support carrying the stationary jaw, for example, by an eccentric rotary member to be actuated by the operator. Shifting of the release lever, together with the push or pull rod which is canted with respect to the same, shortens the spring excursion of the elastically biased system at least in part, cancelling it entirely, if desired. The spring excursion is defined by elastically deformable clamping jaw parts of the clamping and/or spreading tool. And the elastic tensioning forces are dissipated. 
     Preferably, the lock can be shifted from a resting position in which it is set, especially forcibly upon actuation of the mechanism, into an absorption end position at which its blocking effect sets in. During shifting, the blocking effect of the lock prevents displacement of the push or pull rod with respect to the lock. Yet the push or pull rod, including the lock, is able to move in opening direction with respect to the stationary jaw. The shifting distance of the lock may be limited, especially by an abutment formed on the support. 
     The shifting distance travelled by the lock during absorption displacement, preferably, is equal or at least proportional to the predetermined absorption path. 
     In a preferred further development of the invention the mechanism includes a drive for shifting the lock in opening direction, together with the push or pull rod which is locked to the same. A drive may be provided for implementation by the operator, comprising an eccentric bearing for the lock. To implement an automatic drive, at least part of the clamping and/or spreading forces stored may be introduced into the lock to be shifted. 
     The blocking effect of the lock may be realized by forced canting of a plate-type lock with respect to the push or pull rod to block displacement of the push or pull rod in opening direction. 
     The mechanism, preferably, comprises two plate-type locks for blocking the displacement of the push or pull rod in opening direction. One of them may be shifted or moved with respect to the stationary jaw, essentially in opening direction, especially parallel to the push or pull rod, to provide the absorption displacement, while maintaining its forced canting. The other one is arranged stationarily with respect to the stationary jaw, while maintaining its forced canting. 
     In further development of the invention, the forced canting of the stationary plate-type lock may be lifted before lifting the forced canting of the shiftable plate-type lock, especially offset in time and/or distance. 
     When the forced canting of the stationary plate-type spring is lifted the clamping and/or spreading forces set free preferably can be introduced into the plate-type lock adapted to carry out shifting or translatory motion. They cause the shifting or displacing of the shiftable plate-type lock from a starting position into an end position at which further shifting is prevented. 
     In a particular embodiment of the invention, the shiftable plate-type lock comprises a wedging plate which is forcibly canted to the push or pull rod so that displacement of the push or pull rod with respect to the wedging plate in opening direction is blocked. The wedging plate contacts a movable place for engagement. 
     The wedging plate may be an entraining slide element of the gear mechanism embodied by a stepping gear. And the movable place for engagement is a location on the movable actuating arm of the stepping gear for transmitting the actuating force into the entraining slide element. 
     The actuating arm may adopt a mid position at which the actuating arm is positioned when unloaded by an operator, a stroke end position into which the actuating arm can be moved when actuated by an operator for displacing the push or pull roll in clamping or spreading direction, and an absorption end position, opposite to the stroke end position, into which the actuating arm can be moved for shifting the entraining slide element, while maintaining the forced canting thereof. In the latter position the actuating arm strikes against an abutment to present a limitation to the absorption displacement. 
     In a further development of the invention, the mechanism comprises a damper which dampens the absorption displacement of the push or pull rod along the absorption path. The damper, preferably, is activated only when the mechanism for absorption displacement of the push or pull rod in opening direction is activated. The damper may be formed by a centering spring, especially a compression spring which is adapted to be tensioned by shifting of the lock in opening direction. The centering spring may be disposed between a support holding the stationary jaw and the actuating arm. Alternatively, the damper may be formed by a catch means by which the clamping or spreading forces set free are damped by friction when the catch snaps into and out of engagement. 
     Preferably, the centering spring and a gear spring for canting the entraining slide element are tuned to each other in such a way that the actuating arm is forcibly located in mid position. From this position, lifting motion for the gear mechanism contrary to the gear spring and absorption motion for the mechanism contrary to the centering spring are allowed. 
     The centering spring which is tensioned in the absorption end position of the actuating arm can be relieved of tension by cancellation of the forced canting of the entraining slide element. It is especially the relaxing centering spring which urges the actuating arm into mid position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages, features, and characteristics of the invention will be described in the description below of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an untensioned clamping and/or spreading tool according to the invention, showing a casing broken away for better viewing and free sections for better recognition of the interior of the stepping gear and the mechanism according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the clamping and/or spreading tool according to  FIG. 1 , in tensioned state, with a release lever already having been partly actuated but not yet cancelling clamping forces; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the clamping and/or spreading tool according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , showing the mechanism according to the invention in an intermediate phase in which the clamping forces are cancelled only partly; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the clamping and/or spreading tool according to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , showing the mechanism according to the invention in a final phase in which the clamping forces are cancelled completely; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the clamping and/or spreading tool according to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , showing the release lever of the mechanism according to the invention in non-actuated state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The clamping tool  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5  comprises a support  3  on which a stationary jaw  5  is mounted and in which a push rod  7  is supported for displacement in longitudinal direction. Near the ends of the support  3 , slide bearing portions  9  and  11  offering low sliding friction are provided to support the push rod  7 . 
     A movable jaw  13  is removably mounted at one end of the push rod  7 . It is oriented with respect to the stationary jaw  5  so as to create a clamping tool configuration, as may be seen in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . If the movable jaw  13  were to be mounted at the other end of the push rod  7  the configuration would be that of a spreading tool, not shown in the drawings. 
     A handle member  17  is formed integrally with the support  3  at an actuating side  15  of the push rod  7 . An actuating arm  19  is pivoted to the support  3  in such manner as to allow swinging of the actuating arm  19  in the direction of the handle member  17 . The actuating arm  19  is supported on the support  3  by means of a swivel joint  21  disposed at a clamping side  23  of the push or pull rod  7 . Below the swivel joint  21 , the actuating arm  19  has a cylindrical projecting stop  25  in engagement with entrainment plates of an entraining slide element  27 . 
     The entraining slide element  27  is part of a stepping gear to be actuated by means of the actuating arm  19  for displacing the push rod  7  in spreading and/or clamping direction S. The stepping gear comprises a helical compression spring  29  disposed at the clamping side, oriented parallel to the push rod  7 , and fitted under bias in a blind bore  31  formed in the support  3 . The helical compression spring  29  acts on the entraining slide element  27  below the cylindrical projecting stop  25 . The helical compression spring  29  in mounted under such bias as to swing the entraining slide element  27  in counterclockwise sense around the cylindrical projecting stop  25 . Thereby the entraining slide element  27  enters into forced canting engagement with the push rod  7 . Canting of the entraining slide member  27  results in blocking movement of the push rod  7  with respect to the entraining slide element  27  in opening direction O, opposite to the clamping and/or spreading direction S. The entraining slide element  27  thus acts in blocking sense on the displacement in opening direction O. Consequently the clamping forces generated between the clamping jaws  5  and  13  can be maintained when the projecting stop  25  has been moved in opening direction, stationary with respect to the support  3 . 
     The stepping gear, moreover, comprises a draw-back lock  35  formed by a wedging plate  37  which is brought into canted blocking engagement with the push rod  7 , like the entraining slide member  27 , around a stationary point for engagement  41  of the support  3 . A compression spring  39  disposed at the clamping side and a secondary spring  43  disposed at the actuating side cooperate to accomplish that. Arranging the compression spring  39  and the secondary spring  43  as a pair has the additional effect of preventing that the wedging plate  37 , too, is shifted in clamping direction S due to friction when the push rod  7  is displaced in clamping direction S. 
     The draw-back lock  35  further comprises a release lever  45  to be actuated by an operator, especially with a forefinger, so as to enter into engagement with the lower end (covered up by component  61 ) of the wedging plate  37  to lift the canting thereof. The release lever  45  is in constant contact with a tappet  49  which is spring-( 47 )-biased and supported parallel to the push rod  7  in a longitudinal guideway  45  formed in the support  3 . A return spring  47  is disposed between a projection  53  formed essentially in the middle of the tappet  49  and an abutment surface  50  of the support  3 . Under bias, this spring serves to press the tappet  49  in the direction of the release lever  45 . 
     A centering spring  61  is arranged between a spring stop  57  of the support  3  and an edge portion  59  of the actuating arm  19 , attempting to urge the actuating arm  19  in the direction of the handle member  17 . At the level of the support  3 , the actuating arm  19  is shown in the drawing in dash-dot lines only for better recognition of the mechanism according to the invention. 
     When the actuating arm  19  is actuated, i.e. when the actuating arm  19  is pulled towards the handle member  17  the push rod is displaced in clamping direction S by virtue of the engagement of the projecting stop  25  with the entraining slide element  27 . Hereby the workpiece  63  arranged between the clamping jaws  5  and  13  is gripped tight and clamping forces are imparted to the workpiece  63 . A highly loaded, clamped workpiece  63  is to be seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     The description below relates only to the mechanism according to the invention for dissipating the stored clamping and/or spreading forces at the workpiece  63 . 
     The basic concept of the mechanism according to the invention for dissipating the stored clamping and/or spreading forces resides in permitting a certain predetermined absorption displacement of the push rod  7  in opening direction O along a predetermined absorption path, with further displacement beyond the absorption path being blocked. 
     According to the invention, the absorption displacement may be obtained by shifting the lock which blocks the displacement of the push rod  7  in opening direction. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the lock is formed by the forcibly canted entraining slide element  27 . The lock can be shifted because the entraining slide element  27  is movable in opening direction O, together with the push rod  7  canted to it, due to the pivotable projecting stop  27  of the actuating arm  19  which stop is capable of carrying out translatory motion in longitudinal direction of the push rod  7 . 
     Movability of the actuating arm  19  is granted by a free space  67  which allows clockwise swinging of the actuating arm  19  from the mid position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  into an absorption end position ( FIG. 3 ) at which the actuating arm  19  strikes against an abutment  69  formed on the support  3 . 
     To make sure the actuating arm  19  does not get into the absorption end position ( FIG. 3 ) during normal operation, in other words before tension stored between the clamping jaws  5  and  13  is relaxed, the centering spring  61  is tuned in consideration of the leverage to the swivel joint  21  and the leverage of the helical compression spring  29  to the projecting stop  25 . When at mid position, the actuating arm  19  is offered a great lifting swing distance towards the handle member  17  and, by comparison, a relatively small absorption swing distance x ( FIG. 2 ) towards the absorption end position. 
     It should be noted that the absorption swing distance x, i.e. the travel from mid position of the actuating arm  19  to the absorption end position thereof corresponds substantially to the absorption travel of the push rod  7  during which damping and dissipation are achieved of the tensioning forces set free. 
     The individual working steps of the mechanism for obtaining the desired controlled absorption displacement and the limitation of the absorption displacement of the push rod  7  will be described below. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the clamping tool  1  in fully tensioned state which means that the workpiece  63  is under clamping load between the clamping jaws  5  and  13 . The clamping jaws  5 ,  13  and the clamped workpiece  63  constitute an elastic system whose modulus of elasticity is determined by the materials used. The exaggerated dumbbell deformation of the workpiece  63  shown in the fig. is intended to demonstrate the elasticity of the system. 
     The clamping forces acting between the clamping jaws  5  and  13  were generated by the stepping gear upon actuation of the actuating arm  19 . When the operator (not shown) lets go the actuating arm  19  the helical compression spring  29  moves the actuating arm  19  into mid position, shown in  FIGS. 2 and 1 . The centering spring  61  keeps the actuating arm  19  away from the abutment  69 . 
     When the clamping tool  1  is in the tensioned state shown in  FIG. 2  the clamping forces are held only by the draw-back lock  35 . The blocking effect of the entraining slide element  27  is inactive since the canted entraining slide element  27  cannot yet take up any forces because of the shiftability of the projecting stop  25  in opening direction O. 
     To release the clamping forces stored, in other words to discharge the workpiece  63  of the tensioning load, the operator actuates the release lever  45 . In a first step of release, indicated in  FIG. 3 , the release lever  45  is pulled further back, beyond the intermediate position shown in  FIG. 2 , until the wedging plate  37  is relieved of its canting to the push rod  7 . To this end, the release lever  45  presses against the lower end (not visible) of the wedging plate  37 , changing the position thereof in counterclockwise sense into a substantially vertical one. Hereby the blocking effect of the draw-back lock  35  is cancelled. Due to the release of the draw-back lock  35  the elastic system composed of deformed clamping jaws and workpiece relaxes, as expected, displacing the push rod  7  with respect to the support  3  in opening direction O. At the same time, the entraining slide element  27  canted to the push rod  7  is shifted in correspondence with the absorption swing distance x in opposition to the centering spring  61  until the actuating arm  19  strikes against the abutment  69 . 
     It is obvious that at the intermediate step of release, shown in  FIG. 3 , the wedging plate  37  is no longer canted and the actuating arm  19  is in its absorption end position. At this time, the centering spring  61  is compressed. Part of the clamping forces has been dissipated, as indicated by the less strongly deformed workpiece  63 . 
     The blocking effect of the entraining slide element  27  cannot take hold immediately upon release of the draw-back lock  35  because, when in mid position, the actuating arm  19  is not fixed in clockwise sense. Instead an absorption path x exists by virtue of the free space  67 . It is only when the actuating arm  19  is stopped by the abutment  69  and the projecting stop  25  is fixed in opening direction O that blocking becomes effective. This delayed entering into effect of the blocking by the canted entraining slide element  27  stops the absorption movement of the push rod  7  in opening direction. 
     Moreover, by overcoming the centering spring  61 , the absorption displacement of the actuating arm  19  and of the push rod  7  is damped. In this manner the clamping forces released which cause the push rod  7  to become displaced in opening direction O are partly dissipated, on the one hand, by frictional losses of the movement of the actuating arm  19  and the push rod  7  in opening direction O and, on the other hand, by the build-up of tension of the centering spring  61 . The remaining clamping forces are upheld by canting of the entraining slide element  27 . 
     It is only when the release lever  45  is pressed further, as shown in  FIG. 4  that the entraining projection  53  takes along the entraining slide element  27  allowing it to swing in clockwise sense around the projecting stop  25 . Hereby the canted engagement between the entraining slide element  27  and the push rod  7  is lifted and thus the locking or blocking effect of the entraining slide element  27  is cancelled.  FIG. 4  shows this final release step with the release lever  45  pulled all the way. 
     When both locks, the draw-back lock  35  and the blocking entraining slide element  27  of the gear mechanism, have become fully loosened the desired possibility of free shifting of the push rod  7  at fully actuated release lever  45  can be warranted. In this condition the operator can let the push rod  7  slide through the support  3  under the influence of its weight. 
     When the release lever  45  is let go the return spring  47  presses the release lever  45  via the tappet  49  back into the starting position of the stepping gear and the mechanism, shown in  FIG. 5 . At the same time, the engagement of the entraining projection  53  lifting the canting of the entraining slide element is cancelled, and subsequently the blocking effect of the draw-back lock  35  caused by canting is reestablished by freeing the lower end of the wedging plates  37 . 
     When the blocking effect of the entraining slide element  27  is given up the actuating arm  19  is moved back into the mid position illustrated in  FIG. 5  since there is no resistance and the centering spring  61  is stronger with the actuating arm  19  in this position. 
     The features disclosed in the specification above, in the figures and drawings may be significant for implementing the invention in its various embodiments, both individually and in any combination.