Hose crimping apparatus

An apparatus for crimping a fitting onto a hose end is described of the type having radially directed crimping dies and an associated camming surface, and a ram piston for moving the dies relative to the camming surface causing the dies to displace radially inwardly to effect crimping. A depth stop locating subassembly includes an inner platform on which the hose fitting is placed, an axially adjustable outer platform comovable with the inner platform, and a locator mounted adjacent the outer platform establishing a locating position preselected relative to the crimping dies, to ensure proper depth of crimping by aligning the locator with a gauge element disposed on the outer platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to apparatus for crimping hose fittings, and more 
particularly to a depth stop locator subassembly which enables crimping at 
a desired axial position along the fitting. 
Apparatus for crimping fittings onto the end of hoses, such as stem/ferrule 
single or two-piece couplings for hydraulic hose, are well known (see for 
instance assignee's Brochure No. 35019-N 12/77 "Gates Power Crimp 3000A", 
Canadian Pat. No. 732,810 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,594). To be most 
effective, the fitting and hose assembly needs to be positioned at the 
proper depth axially with respect to the adjacent crimping die fingers to 
ensure that the ferrule is crimped to the full extent desired (lengthwise) 
while avoiding damage to the rest of the fitting. In the above-mentioned 
patents visual sighting is apparently the sole technique employed for 
depth location. In the aforementioned brochure, proper depth could be 
established in one of two ways. In the first method, the distance from the 
top of the die finger to the top of the ferrule (positioned on an internal 
platform) was measured with a rule and compared against known correlations 
on a chart, for adjustment of the internal platform. Since the measurement 
was done on the inside of the die cone, there was little room to make the 
measurement and as a result it was easy to make an incorrect measurement. 
In the second method, a die finger could actually be removed from the die 
cage, and a line of sight established so that the depth stop could be 
adjusted relative to the ferrule. A problem with this method was not only 
reliance upon visual sighting, but also by the fact that different ferrule 
diameters would elongate different amounts causing inconsistencies in the 
finished crimped assembly. 
It is an object of the invention to provide a crimping apparatus employing 
the combination of an internal platform and an external depth stop locator 
arranged to ensure precision crimping of a hose fitting, in an easy and 
efficient manner. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly described, an apparatus is disclosed for crimping a fitting such as 
a one or two-piece coupling onto a hose, comprising the normal plurality 
of circumferentially spaced crimping dies, a camming surface against which 
the dies impinge, an axially disposed inner platform adjustably mounted 
adjacent the crimping dies beneath the opening between the dies, for 
receiving the fitting and positioning a crimpable portion thereof between 
the dies, and means for moving the dies relative to the camming surface to 
cause the dies to be displaced radially inwardly against the fitting and 
crimp the same. The improvement comprises particularly an axially 
adjustment outer platform coupled to and comovable with the inner 
platform, for disposing thereon a gauge element having an indicating 
portion bearing a relationship to the fitting to be crimped, and a locator 
disposed adjacent the outer platform establishing a locating position 
preselected relative to the crimping dies, adapted and arranged so that 
upon axial adjustment of the outer platform the indicating portion of the 
gauge element may be moved into alignment with the locator thereby 
properly positioning the inner platform relative to the crimping dies for 
crimping the fitting.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the figures, the crimping apparatus 10 is interconnected 
through four corner tie rods 14 to a fixed frustro-conical camming surface 
17 forming a part of cam head 16. A plurality of circumferentially spaced 
crimping dies 18 of truncated wedge shape (as best seen in FIG. 3) are 
slidably mounted within corresponding slots 24 of die cage 20 for radial 
inward movement toward axis 22 of the apparatus. 
Die cage 20 is of generally cylindrical shape and includes a base portion 
26 which is coupled to a piston shown in phantom at 28. The piston forms 
part of an hydraulic ram 30 integral with cylinder base 12. The piston 
also includes an extension portion 32 attached to the base 26 of the die 
cage with lock nut 34 and washer. The ram and piston are actuatable to 
move the die cage and die assembly axially upwardly to the position shown 
in FIGS. 3 and 4 by a conventional hydraulic system 36 including pump 38, 
hydraulic lines 40, and hydraulic fluid. The die cage is retractable with 
springs or the like (not shown) from the crimping position of FIGS. 3 and 
4 to the loading, rest position shown in FIG. 1. To reduce cycle time, the 
return stroke of the die cage is limited by arm 42 attached to a tie rod, 
against which die cage protrusion 44 reacts (FIG. 1 only). 
The die cage is provided with an enlarged window opening 46 within which 
the depth stop locator assembly of the invention is positioned. The depth 
stop includes inner platform 48 disposed along the axis 22 of the 
apparatus and adapted to receive the end of a hose fitting and assembly 50 
to be crimped. The inner platform 48 is coupled directly to and comovable 
with outer platform 52 through arm linkage 54. The linkage includes spring 
56 which biases the two platforms in a predetermined spaced relationship, 
maintained by lock nuts as shown. The inner and outer platform subassembly 
is also provided with a slotted upright linkage 58 which is vertically 
(axially) adjustable with the aid of wrench 60 and allen head bolt 62 
secured through a spacer 64 integral with the die cage. As shown in FIG. 2 
the outer platform 52 is adapted to receive a gauge element such as 
fitting (stem) 66 identical with the stem component 51 of fitting 50 to be 
crimped, exteriorly of the die cage, the details of which will be 
discussed hereafter with respect to the operation of the apparatus. 
The depth stop mechanism also includes a locator means such as locator arm 
68 having locating point 70 thereon, exteriorly mounted adjacent the outer 
platform 52 and adapted to be brought in alignment with an indicating 
portion of gauge element 66. The locator arm 68 in this embodiment is 
separate from and resting upon axially adjustable shaft collar 72 which is 
fixedly attached with a set screw to tie rod 14 at a preselected 
calibrated position. Specifically, locator point 70 is spaced vertically 
(axially) from the bottom of die fingers 18 approximately the same 
distance as the top of platform 48 is spaced vertically from the top of 
platform 52, when the apparatus is in the rest position of FIG. 1. In 
actuality, locator point 70 will preferably be spaced closer with respect 
to the bottom of the die fingers (i.e., raised), by an amount 
corresponding to one-half the extent of axial expansion the ferrule 74 of 
the hose fitting undergoes during crimping. 
The locating position can alternatively be established by an indicating 
mark 76 on the die cage, for instance, although use of adjustable arm 68 
with a pointer tip as shown is preferred. 
In operation, hose fitting 50 is assembled onto the end of hose 78 which 
may be provided with the usual tube and cover and embedded reinforcement 
80. In the case of the two-piece fitting shown, ferrule 74 is first 
inserted over the end of the hose, and then the threaded male fitting 51 
is inserted in the hose end so that the serrated stem 82 is fully inserted 
with the hose end abutting against stem shoulder 84, and shoulder portion 
86 of the ferrule abuts against hex 88 of the fitting 51. 
To set the depth stop, i.e., platform 48, for proper crimp length gauge 
element 66 is set on outer platform 52 externally of the die cage, and the 
platform adjusted vertically with wrench 60 and allen head bolt 62 until 
locator point 70 is in alignment with an indicating portion of the gauge 
element. In this case, locator 70 is brought into alignment with the top 
surface of hex 88', as shown in FIG. 2. With this adjustment having been 
made, platform 48 is positioned such that the vertical location of the 
crimping dies along axis 22 is exactly as desired relative to the ferrule 
74 upon crimping, as shown in FIG. 4. In most cases, locator point 70 will 
be calibrated so that the die fingers 18 extend even with the bottom of 
ferrule 74 when the die fingers are at their radial innermost position so 
that the full length of the ferrule is crimped. Of course, different types 
of fittings may dictate a different predetermined positioning of the die 
fingers relative to the ferrule, and this is accommodated by the apparatus 
of the invention. 
After the depth stop platforms have been set properly, a hose end and 
fitting assembly 50 is inserted in the opening between the dies with the 
threaded (bottom) portion of the fitting resting on platform 48 (the gauge 
element 66 is to be removed from platform 52 and the locator arm 68 may be 
swung clockwise, out of the way). The pump is now turned on and ram 30 
actuated whereby piston 28 moves upwardly against base 26 of the die cage, 
causing it to displace axially upwardly. As the cam surface of the 
crimping die fingers 18 impinge upon the stationary camming surface 17 the 
die fingers are displaced radially inwardly along tracks 24 and against 
the fitting as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to effect crimping of the fitting. 
The stroke of the piston is set in a control box (not shown) so that the 
radial extent of crimping is as preselected. Different size die fingers 
are employed for different categorical sizes of hose and fittings. 
It is one feature of the depth stop locator mechanism of the invention that 
upon crimping of ferrule 74, the ferrule elongates somewhat and spring 
member 56 preferably absorbs the lengthening of the ferrule and downward 
displacement of fitting 51. That is, the platform 48 is permitted an axial 
downward displacement because of its spring loading. This has been found 
to offer significant advantages over rubber cushions previously used. 
The depth stop locator mechanism of the invention possesses a number of 
advantages over prior art mechanisms. The depth stop may be set much 
quicker, and the setting is made outside of the machine where ample room 
is available. The setting particularly for one-piece couplings will also 
be more accurate. Various types of available crimping machines may be 
retrofitted with the depth stop locator mechanism of the invention. For 
instance, the machines described in the above-mentioned patents, which 
employ a moving cam surface and a fixed die cage may advantageously employ 
the depth stop mechanism of the invention. 
While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for 
the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those 
skilled in this art that various changes and modifications may be made 
therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.