Hand pliers tool and method for assembling the same

The invention relates to a hand pliers tool which might be embodied as crimping pliers, tube pressing pliers or cutting pliers. According to the invention, pliers pivoting parts are not (exclusively) connected to each other for being pivoted by bearing bolts arranged in bearing bores. Instead, pivot bearings are formed by bearing lugs having edge openings by which it is possible to insert a bearing pin into the bearing lug.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a hand pliers tool (so a pliers tool actuated manually) which is in particular embodied as pressing pliers, crimping pliers or cutting pliers. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for assembling a hand pliers tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

By means of inventive crimping pliers it is possible to induce a pressing or crimping of a workpiece by a manual actuation of hand levers. Here, the crimping pliers in particular serve for producing a durable mechanical connection and providing an electrical contact. This is preferably achieved by crimping a connector or plug to a cable or an electrical conductor of any type. Dependent on the profile of the dies used it is possible to perform different crimping processes with the crimping pliers. It is e.g. possible to produce a closed crimp by introducing the electric conductor into a closed crimping zone of a connector or plug or into a closed sleeve and by crimping the crimping zone or sleeve with a plastic deformation. However, it is also possible to produce an open crimp wherein the connector or plug comprises an open crimping zone into which it is possible to insert the electric conductor from above. To mention only some examples not limiting the invention, with the crimping plierscable shoes or terminals according to German standard DIN 4623,aluminum connectors according to German standard DIN 46329,aluminum press-fit terminals according to German standard DIN 48201,crimp terminals or squeezing cable shoes according to German standard DIN 46234,pin terminals or pin cable shoes according to German standard DIN 46230 orconnectors, plugs or terminals for a connection to a cable or conductor as described in the product catalog “Werkzeuge für die professionelle Anwendung” of WEZAG GmbH Werkzeugfabrik (publication no. 10/11)

can be crimped.

For a closed crimp the produced crimp may be a hexagonal crimp, a square crimp, a B crimp, a trapezoidal crimp, a modified trapezoidal crimp, an oval crimp, a mandrel crimp or a double mandrel crimp. An open crimp may e.g. be realized as a V crimp or B crimp, a rolled crimp or a double rolled crimp.

In addition to establishing the electric connection between cable and conductor and plug, a mechanical connection may be established by means of a so-called insolation crimp. Here, a closed insolation crimp or an open insolation crimp (especially a V crimp or B crimp, O crimp or OV crimp) may be employed. With regard to further informationon a design of generic crimping pliers,on possible applications of generic crimping pliers and/oron different possible types of crimp connections which can be produced with the generic crimping pliers

A cutting tool of the inventive type might e.g. be embodied as manually actuated cable cutting pliers, can be embodied as disclosed in the publications DE 43 03 180 C1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,570 A), EP 3 159 088 B1 or EP 3 159 107 A1 (corresponding to EP 3 159 107 B1) or can be embodied as a cutting tool distributed by the applicant prior to the application date of the present patent application under the label cable cutter SH.

In the last years, hand pliers tools have more and more been equipped with electronic constructional units for providing additional functions (as e.g. a monitoring of a pliers force or crimping force and/or of a working stroke of the pliers jaws or an evaluation of the execution of the working process with the hand pliers tool). Options for additional functions of this type and for the design of the electronic constructional unit are disclosed in the publication EP 3 572 188 A1 (corresponding to US 2019/0363502 A1). Here, a mechanical pliers part used for providing the force transmission is equipped with an electronic constructional unit mounted to a region of the pliers head. In this publication the electronic constructional unit is also denoted as Tech-Pack.

The European patent application EP 3 656 504 (corresponding to US 2020/0161822 A1) discloses crimping pliers comprising an electronic capturing device by which it is possible to automatically identify a die inserted into a pliers jaw. Furthermore, the patent application discloses the integration of the crimping pliers into a network. Here, the network (besides the crimping pliers) comprises a central computer or smartphone communicating with the crimping pliers. The central computer or the smartphone again communicates with a cloud-storage unit. The network is used for a documentation of the crimping process, in particular of an input or captured workpiece, of the automatically identified die, of the crimping force and/or of the crimping displacement and/or the network is used for an analysis if a workpiece which is automatically captured or input by the user can be crimped with the automatically captured die.

DE 10 2005 022 188 A1 discloses a bolt cutter wherein two cutting jaws are each supported for being pivoted by a screwing bolt on a connecting tab. The distance of the screwing bolts here defines the distance of the pivot axes of the cutting jaws of the bolt cutter. On the side of the connecting tabs facing away from the cutting edges of the cutting jaws hand levers are linked to a toggle joint which is effective between the two hand levers for establishing a toggle lever drive such that by a pivoting movement of the hand levers it is possible to induce an opening and closing movement of the cutting jaws. Close to the inner ends of the cutting edges a convex protrusion is formed by the first cutting jaw. The second cutting jaw comprises a concave recess. With the closing movement of the cutting jaws the convex protrusion of the first cutting jaws rolls along the concave recess of the second cutting jaw. Here, the contact point between the protrusion and the recess changes in longitudinal direction of the bolt cutter. DE 10 2005 022 188 A1 also proposes that the convex protrusion might comprise an outer toothing which then meshes with an inner toothing of the convex recess.

Pliers with corresponding meshing toothings (however, here of the hand levers) are disclosed in US 2011/0214538 A1.

The publication DE 28 54 633 A1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,302 A; forming the closest prior art for the present invention) discloses scissor-like pliers wherein the two scissors parts each integrally form a hand lever and a pliers jaw. The two scissors parts are connected to each other by a scissors joint. The scissors joint comprises a pivot bolt which extends through bearing lugs of the two scissors parts having closed edges. A forced locking unit is effective between the two scissors parts. The forced locking unit has a design and is linked to the two hand levers of the scissors parts in a way such that the forced locking unit is able to secure a partially closed position once induced. In order to be able to adjust the operational region of the force locking unit and to adjust the closed position secured by the forced locking unit an adjusting device is suggested. By the adjusting device it is possible to link the forced locking unit at different positions of one hand lever. For one embodiment of the adjusting device the hand lever comprises slits which are inclined relatedly to the longitudinal extension of the handle in forward direction. It is possible to insert a pin carried by the end region of the force locking unit into the respective slits for the different adjustment positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a hand pliers tool which comprises hand levers and pliers jaws. The hand levers and the pliers jaws are coupled to each other by a drive mechanism in a way such that it is possible to induce a movement of the pliers jaws over a working stroke by a movement of the hand levers. Preferably, a suitable transmission ratio of the forces applied by the hand of the user on the hand levers is provided by means of the drive mechanism. To mention only one non-limiting example, the drive mechanism might comprise a toggle lever drive.

The inventive drive mechanism comprises drive elements which for the above example of a toggle lever drive might be the toggle levers.

In the inventive hand pliers tool two pliers pivoting parts (which might be embodied as a hand lever, a pliers jaw and/or a drive element) are connected to each other for being pivoted by a pivot bearing. The pivoting of the pliers pivoting parts during the working stroke of the hand pliers tool is a pivoting about a pivot axis defined by the pivot bearing. Accordingly, a pivoting of the pliers pivoting parts about the pivot axis of the pivot bearing correlates to a pivoting of the pliers jaws and the hand levers relative to each other corresponding to kinematics defined by the drive mechanism.

For the embodiments known from the prior art usually a pivot bearing between the two pliers pivoting parts is provided by a pivot bolt which extends through aligned bearing bores of the pliers pivoting parts and which is secured in axial direction by a shoulder of the pivot bolt, securing rings, a snap ring and the like. However, this design leads to the consequence that for the formation of the pivot bearing the pivoting bolt and at least one additional securing element is required (additional to the pliers pivoting parts that have to be connected and additional to the bores of the pliers pivoting parts) which increases the number of components. Furthermore, for an assembly of the pivot bearing in the beginning the two pliers pivoting parts have to be aligned exactly relative to each other so that the bearing bores of the pliers pivoting parts are aligned to each other. Subsequently, it is required to insert the bearing bolt into the aligned bearing bores and additional securing measures have to be taken which increases the complexity of the assembly.

The invention proposes a different way for the formation of the pivot bearing: According to the invention, a first pliers pivoting part comprises a bearing lug. However, this bearing lug does not have a closed edge as being the case for a bearing bore. Instead, the bearing lug comprises an edge opening which means that the bearing lug does not have a cross-section with a continuously closed inner contour but an inner contour being open due to the edge opening. The second pliers pivoting part comprises a bearing pin. This bearing pin can be inserted via the edge opening into the bearing lug. In this state of the bearing pin inserted into the bearing lug, the bearing lug is supported for being pivoted in the bearing lug so that the pivot bearing is formed. According to the invention, an insertion of an additional pivot bolt into a bearing lug of the first pliers pivoting part can be dispensable and/or in some cases there is no need for the use and the assembly of at least one additional securing element.

For a first proposal of the invention the bearing pin of the second pliers pivoting part comprises an outer surface having two different outer surface portions: In a first outer surface portion the transverse extension is larger than the transverse extension of the edge opening. Instead, in the second outer surface portion the transverse extension is smaller than the transverse extension of the edge opening. This leads to the consequence that when orienting the bearing pin in a way such that the transverse extension of the first outer surface portion has an orientation as the transverse extension of the edge opening of the first pliers pivoting part an entry of the bearing pin into the edge opening of the bearing lug of the first pliers pivoting part is not possible and it is also not possible that the bearing pin exits from the bearing lug from the edge opening. If instead the second outer surface portion has an orientation such that its transverse extension is parallel to the transverse extension of the edge opening the bearing pin is able to enter through the edge opening into the bearing lug and also a disassembly through the edge opening is possible. If e.g. the bearing pin is generally cylindrical and the cylindrical outer surface has a flattening, the bearing pin can be assembled or disassembled to or from the bearing lug with the edge opening if the bearing pin has an orientation such that the transverse extension is reduced due to the flattening. Preferably, for avoiding an undesired release of the connection between the bearing pin and the bearing lug with the edge opening, the completely assembled hand pliers tool over the whole working stroke of the hand pliers tool never results in an orientation of the bearing pin relative to the bearing lug such that the transverse extension of the second outer surface portion corresponds to the transverse extension of the edge opening of the first pliers pivoting part.

The invention covers embodiments wherein the pivot bearing is exclusively formed between one single bearing pin and the bearing lug comprising the edge opening. It is also possible that (e.g. on both sides of a base body of the pliers pivoting part) each a respective bearing pin is formed. In this case, the two bearing pins are each accommodated in an associated bearing lug of the other pliers pivoting part having an open edge. In this way, it is possible to increase the supporting surface and to improve the guidance of the pliers pivoting parts and it is possible to provide a symmetric support of the base body on both sides.

For a second proposal of the invention, the first pliers pivoting part comprises the bearing lug having the edge opening. Additionally, the first pliers pivoting part comprises another bearing lug having a closed edge. The two bearing lugs are aligned to each other. The second pliers pivoting part comprises the bearing pin described above and another bearing pin. In this case, a base body of the second pliers pivoting part is arranged between the bearing pin and the other bearing pin. Here, the two bearing pins are aligned to each other and have the same orientation. For this design, one bearing pin is arranged in the bearing lug having the edge opening, whereas the other bearing pin is arranged in the bearing lug having the closed edge. In this way, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the formed pivot bearing and the guidance provided by the pivot bearing. Here, the bearing surfaces of the bearing lug having the closed edge might have an increased mechanical stiffness and an increased resistance which is due to the fact that the material of the pliers pivoting part completely extends in circumferential direction of the bearing lug. Furthermore, the bearing lug having the closed edge guarantees that the associated bearing pin is not able to exit from the bearing lug in any direction in the pivoting plane. Instead, this bearing pin can only be inserted into an assembly direction along the pivot axis of the bearing lug into the bearing lug having the closed edge and exit in this direction from the bearing lug. The bearing lug comprising the edge opening provides an additional pivot bearing which might have a reduced functionality when compared to the first mentioned pivot bearing.

Within the frame of the invention there are a lot of options for the geometry of the first pivot bearing part and in particular for the geometry of the pivot bearing part in the region of the at least one bearing lug. The pliers pivoting part might comprise one or a plurality of plates or any form body. For the second proposal of the invention, the first pliers pivoting part might comprise (in the region of the bearing lugs formed by the same) two plates having an orientation parallel to each other and being spaced from each other. In a first plate, the bearing lug with the edge opening is formed, whereas in the other second plate another bearing lug (in some cases also comprising an edge opening or the previously mentioned bearing lug having a closed edge) is formed.

For a particular proposal of the invention, the first plate of the first pliers pivoting part comprises an insertion slit which opens into the edge opening of the bearing lug or only comprises an edge opening. For this proposal, the base body of the second pliers pivoting part comprises a portion which during the assembly is arranged in an assembling angular orientation in the region of the insertion slit and/or the edge opening. According to one embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned portion is smaller than the insertion slit and/or the edge opening. Furthermore, this portion of the base body of the second pliers pivoting part has a thickness which is smaller than the distance of the two plates. This design leads to the consequence that for an assembly wherein the pliers pivoting parts are brought into the assembling angular orientation and are moved towards each other in the direction of the pivot axis the bearing pin is able to enter into the bearing lug with the closed edge. At the same time, the aforementioned portion of the base body of the second pliers pivoting part is able to pass through the insertion slit and/or the edge opening and to arrive at an assembly position wherein the portion contacts the second plate. If then the relative angle of the pliers pivoting parts is changed about the pivot axis from the assembling angular position to an operating angular position the aforementioned portion is captured between the two plates in a direction corresponding to the orientation of the pivot axis. Here, preferably the assembling angular position is an angular position which is only achieved during the assembly, whereas this angular position cannot be reached when running through the working stroke.

The two plates can be formed by struts or even a one-pieced or integral body of any geometry.

The invention also covers embodiments wherein the pliers pivoting part comprises a base body and at least one bearing pin. Here, the base body in particular serves for the force transmission from or to the pivot bearing or a support in the drive mechanism. The bearing pin serves for the formation of the pivot bearing and so for the provision of the pivoting degree of freedom between the two pliers pivoting parts. Here, it is possible that the bearing pin forms a bearing bolt as a part separate from the base body. In this case, the bearing bolt is e.g. inserted with a press-fit into a bore of the base body or the bearing pin is connected in any other known fashion to the base body and secured on the same. However, the invention preferably proposes that the bearing pin is an integral part of the base body. In this way, it is possible to further reduce the number of the components and to reduce the assembly effort. In some cases, the integral design leads to an increased stiffness and it might be possible to at least reduce a play.

Preferably, in the region of the aforementioned plates the first pliers pivoting part has an U-shaped cross-section. In this case, the two side legs of the U each form one plate.

For inventive embodiments of the hand pliers tool, an exit of the bearing pin of the second pliers pivoting part from a bearing lug of the first pliers pivoting part having an edge opening might be provided by a kind of form lock as follows: It is possible that the bearing pin of the second pliers pivoting part can only be inserted in a specific angular position (which has above been denoted as assembly angular position) or in a specific angular region for the relative angle of the pliers pivoting parts into the edge opening of the bearing lug of the first pliers pivoting part. When the hand pliers tool has been completely assembled, due to the interaction of the further pliers pivoting parts it is not possible to arrive in this specific angular position or in this specific angular region. Accordingly, an exit of the bearing pin of the second pliers pivoting part through the edge opening of the bearing lug of the first pliers pivoting part is not possible for the completely assembled hand pliers tool. Instead, it is required to disassemble other pliers pivoting parts (which in some cases can be secured by specific securing devices) before it is possible to restore the specific angular position or the specific angular region and before disassembling the bearing pin of the pliers pivoting part through the edge opening from the bearing lug of the first pliers pivoting part.

For the choice of the hand pliers tool parts which can be connected to each other as described before there are a lot of different options within the frame of the invention. In order to mention only some examples (which are not intended to limit the invention), one of the two pliers pivoting parts might be a hand lever, whereas the other pliers pivoting part might be a pliers jaw. Alternatively or cumulatively, it is possible that the inventive connection is used for a connection of a hand lever to a pressure lever. Alternatively or cumulatively, it is also possible that the inventive connection forms a pivot bearing between a hand lever and a locking pawl of a forced locking unit. Here, a forced locking unit serves for securing an induced position after a sub-stroke of the working stroke against an undesired opening of the hand pliers tool also when temporarily removing the actuation force applied to the hand lever and additionally serves for providing that the working stroke is completely passed.

The pliers pivoting parts connected to each other by a pivot bearing formed according to the invention might have any function in the hand pliers tool and/or might have any geometry. Also the use of any material (in particular a metallic material as aluminum or steel) is possible. For another proposal of the invention, at least one pliers pivoting part is made of plastic which covers that the pliers pivoting part is completely made of plastic or a composite material comprising plastic is used or a fiber enforced plastic material is used (as e.g. a glass fiber enforced plastic, also abbreviated as GFK, cp. the contribution under “Glasfaserverstärkter Kunststoff” on the website Wikipedia of Nov. 19, 2019 concerning usable plastic materials and fiber materials, the length and orientations of fibers, the use of webs, rovings or uni-directional webs and the like).

At least one pliers pivoting part can be manufactured in an MIM-process. Under an MIM-process a metallic powder injection molding process is subsumed. With respect to the execution of the manufacturing process, usable materials and the requirements for the design of the geometry of the manufactured workpiece reference is made to the contribution “Metallpulverspritzguss” on the website Wikipedia with the date of inspection of Nov. 19, 2019.

Generally, the inventive hand pliers tool can serve for any purpose and can be adapted in its design for the intended use. Preferably, the inventive hand pliers tool is embodied as crimping pliers, cutting pliers or tube pressing pliers.

For one particular embodiment, the invention proposes that at the end of the assembly of the hand pliers tool two pivoting pliers parts are connected to each other for being pivoted by a pivot bearing. Here, a bearing bolt extends through bearing lugs of the two pliers pivoting parts having a closed edge. In this assembled position of the bearing bolt an axial securing of the same is provided by additional securing elements as shoulders or securing rings. However, it is also possible that no securing element is used if the bearing bolt is inserted or pressed with a press-fit into the bearing bore of a pliers pivoting part. Any other pliers pivoting parts are for this particular embodiment exclusively connected to each other by pivot bearings wherein bearing pins are accommodated in bearing lugs having an open edge.

Generally, it is possible that the bearing pin is able to exit from the bearing lug having the open edge. However, the exit can be made impossible by the assembly of the bearing bolt to the two bearing lugs of the two pliers pivoting parts having closed edges. This is due to the fact that by the assembly it is avoided that the other pliers pivoting parts arrive in a relative position wherein the bearing pin is able to exit from the edge openings of the bearing lugs. The assembly of a hand pliers tool of this type is notably simplified because in the beginning the different pliers pivoting parts only have to be inserted into each other with the entry of the bearing pins into the edge openings of the bearing lugs. The assembly is finalized and so a loss-proof connection of all of the pliers pivoting parts can be provided by the assembly of one single bearing bolt to the bearing lugs of the last remaining two pivoting pliers parts having the closed edges. The last remaining pliers pivoting parts (comprising the bearing lugs having closed edges and being connected to each other for being pivoted by the bearing bolt) might be the two pliers jaws or one fixed pliers part forming the pliers jaw and the other movable pliers jaw.

Another proposal of the invention aims for a (further) reduction of the number of components of the hand pliers tool and the required assembly steps. For one embodiment a mechanical pliers subassembly is provided. The pliers subassembly is defined such that the pliers subassembly contains all of the components which are required for transmitting the hand force applied by the user on the hand levers to the pliers jaws. Accordingly, the pliers subassembly in particular includes the hand levers and the pliers jaws as well as the drive elements of the drive mechanism interposed between the hand levers and the pliers jaws. Instead, further components (that do not serve for the transmission of the forces between the hand levers and the pliers jaws) are not part of the mechanical pliers subassembly. In this case, for one embodiment the invention proposes that the mechanical pliers subassembly comprises only one bearing bolt (and if applicable, any components required for securing the bearing bolt, which, however, can be dispensable when accommodating the bearing bolt by a press-fit) and a maximum of four further components. Here, the components are rigid components that can be made by one piece or a plurality of pieces. To mention only one example, which is not intended to limit the invention, the four further components might bea fixed pliers part which forms a fixed hand lever and a fixed pliers jaw,a movable hand lever,a movable pliers jaw and,a pressure lever.

It is generally possible that the hand pliers tool comprises additional components which are not part of the mechanical pliers subassembly. It is e.g. possible that additional opening springs and closing springs, handle shells, constructional elements of a forced locking unit and the like are provided. It is also possible that additionally an electronic unit is provided (as being known from the European patent application EP 3 572 188 A1).

Another solution of the object of the invention is given by a method for assembling a hand pliers tool of the aforementioned type. For this method, in a first method step a first pivot bearing between a pressure lever and a fixed pliers part is assembled. The fixed pliers part here forms a fixed pliers jaw and a fixed hand lever. The assembly of the first pivot bearing is provided by an insertion of a bearing pin into a bearing lug having an open edge. Here, the bearing pin might be arranged at the pressure lever or at the fixed pliers part so that then the bearing lug having the open edge is arranged at the other component of the pressure lever and the fixed pliers part. Subsequently, a second pivot bearing is assembled, namely a pivot bearing between a movable hand lever and a movable pliers jaw. Also the assembly of the second pivot bearing is provided by an insertion of a bearing pin into a bearing lug having an open edge. Also here, the bearing pin might be provided on the movable hand lever or on the movable pliers jaw, whereas then the bearing lug is arranged on the other component of the movable hand lever and the movable pliers jaw. Subsequently, a third pivot bearing is assembled between the pressure lever and the movable hand lever which is provided by the insertion of a bearing pin into a bearing lug having an open edge. Also here, the bearing pin might be arranged on the pressure lever or the movable hand lever. In this case, the bearing lug is arranged on the other component of the pressure lever and the movable hand lever. Finally, a fourth pivot bearing is assembled between the movable pliers jaw and the fixed pliers part. This is provided by inserting a bearing bolt into bearing bores of the movable pliers jaw and the fixed pliers part each having a closed edge. Then, the bearing bolt is secured against an exit from the bearing bores. With the assembly of the fourth pivot bearing and the securing of the same also the first, second and third pivot bearing are secured against an undesired exit of the respective bearing pin from the respective bearing lug.

For one embodiment of the inventive method, a spring base of an opening spring of the hand pliers tool is connected to the fixed pliers part which is preferably done between the steps of the assembly of the first and second pivot bearing. Furthermore, in this method the other spring base of the opening spring is connected to the fixed pliers jaw, which is preferably done before, simultaneously or after the assembly of the third pivot bearing (but in some cases after the assembly of the second pivot bearing and before the assembly of the fourth pivot bearing).

For a different or an additional development of the inventive method (e.g. between the provision of the first and second pivot connection), a pivot bearing between a locking element of a forced locking unit and the movable hand lever is assembled by inserting a bearing protrusion of the locking element into a bearing lug of the movable hand lever having an open edge.

Advantageous developments of the invention result from the claims, the description and the drawings.

The advantages of features and of combinations of a plurality of features mentioned at the beginning of the description only serve as examples and may be used alternatively or cumulatively without the necessity of embodiments according to the invention having to obtain these advantages.

The following applies with respect to the disclosure—not the scope of protection—of the original application and the patent: Further features may be taken from the drawings, in particular from the illustrated designs and the dimensions of a plurality of components with respect to one another as well as from their relative arrangement and their operative connection. The combination of features of different embodiments of the invention or of features of different claims independent of the chosen references of the claims is also possible, and it is motivated herewith. This also relates to features which are illustrated in separate drawings, or which are mentioned when describing them. These features may also be combined with features of different claims. Furthermore, it is possible that further embodiments of the invention do not have the features mentioned in the claims which, however, does not apply to the independent claims of the granted patent.

The number of the features mentioned in the claims and in the description is to be understood to cover this exact number and a greater number than the mentioned number without having to explicitly use the adverb “at least”. For example, if an element is mentioned, this is to be understood such that there is exactly one element or there are two elements or more elements. Additional features may be added to these features, or these features may be the only features of the respective product.

The reference signs contained in the claims are not limiting the extent of the matter protected by the claims. Their sole function is to make the claims easier to understand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the figures partly components having the same or comparable functions are denoted with the same reference numbers. In this case, the components are partly distinguished from each other by the additional letters a, b, . . . In the description and in the patent claims partially reference is made to these components by use of the reference number without the additional letter. In this case, reference is made to one single component, a plurality of these components or all of these components.

FIG.1in a three-dimensional exploded view shows a hand pliers tool1. A hand pliers tool is understood to be a tool which is manually actuated via hand levers and wherein pliers jaws interact with a workpiece for cutting, pressing or crimping. Here, the hand levers are preferably pivoted over the working stroke, whereas the pliers jaw can be pivoted relative to each other over the working stroke (as for the embodiments shown here) or can also be moved relative to each other by a translational relative movement (cp. in particular the crimping pliers with the label “CS10” or “CSV10” of the applicant). Generally, the hand pliers tool1might have any construction, cp. the different constructions according to the prior art mentioned in the beginning.

According toFIG.1, the hand pliers tool1comprises a fixed pliers part2, a pressure lever3, a movable hand lever4, a movable pliers jaw5, a bearing bolt6, an opening spring7, a locking element8of a forced locking unit, a locking spring9of the forced locking unit and bolts10a,10b.

FIG.2shows the fixed pliers part2in a three-dimensional single part representation. The fixed pliers part2forms a fixed pliers jaw11and a fixed hand lever12which are here integrally connected to each other as one piece.

The fixed pliers jaw11forms a die accommodation13wherein a die half14(cp.FIG.14) can be accommodated and held in an exchangeable way. With respect to the design of the die accommodation13and the die half14, reference is in particular made to the publication DE 198 02 287 C1 which is incorporated by reference into the disclosure of the present patent application. Furthermore, the fixed pliers part2comprises a bearing bore15. In the assembled state of the hand pliers tool, the bearing bolt6extends through the bearing bore15for the formation of a pivot bearing16for a pivoting support of the pliers jaws5,11on each other.

Between the hand lever12and the pliers jaw11, the fixed pliers part2comprises a bearing lug17having an edge opening18. An insertion slit19opens into the bearing lug17and the edge opening18.

Furthermore, the fixed pliers part2comprises bores20,21. The bolt10acan be inserted into the bore20(e.g. with a press-fit). It is also possible to mount a spring base of the opening spring7to the bolt10a.

For the shown embodiment, the fixed pliers part comprises (at least over a major part of its longitudinal extension) an U-shaped cross-section. The two side legs of the U form plates22,23extending parallel to each other and being spaced from each other. The U-shaped design of the fixed pliers part2leads to an increase of the stiffness, an increase of the geometrical moment of inertia and an increase of the resisting moment of the fixed pliers part2. Furthermore, the plates22,23of the fixed pliers part2provide two spaced supporting locations for components held on the fixed pliers part:

The die accommodation13accommodates a flange of a die half between the two plates22,23. Transverse bolts of the die half can then be supported on the shown half-cylindrical contact surfaces of the plates22,23on the fixed pliers jaw11. The two plates22,23provide two aligned bearing bores15a,15bfor accommodating the bearing bolt6. In a corresponding way the plates22,23also provide aligned bores20a,20b, respectively21a,21b. For the shown embodiment, the bearing lug17comprising the edge opening18and the insertion slit19is only provided at the plate22. Instead, the plate23comprises a bearing lug24aligned to the bearing lug17. The bearing lug24does not comprise an edge opening18. Preferably, the bearing lug24in the plate23is embodied as a bore25.

FIG.3shows the pressure lever3in a three-dimensional single part representation. The pressure lever3comprises a base body26and two bearing pin bodies27,28integrally connected to the base body26. The bearing pin body27comprises bearing pins29a,29bextending on both sides of the base body26. In a corresponding way, bearing pins30a,30bof the bearing pin body28extend on both sides of the base body26. The connecting region between the bearing pin bodies27,28provided by the base body26forms a toggle lever31. Furthermore, the base body26comprises a protrusion32with an accommodation or accommodating eye33. An outer surface of another protrusion34of the base body26forms a locking toothing35of a forced locking unit.

FIG.4shows the movable hand lever4in a three-dimensional single part representation. The movable hand lever4comprises a handle portion36. On the side which in the assembled state faces away from the fixed pliers part2, the movable hand lever4comprises a bearing lug37with an edge opening38. An insertion slit39opens into the bearing lug37or the edge opening38. The bearing lug37serves for the provision of a pivot bearing40which serves for pivotably linking the movable pliers jaw5to the movable hand lever4. The insertion slit39has an orientation in outer direction. The diameter of the bearing lug37is larger than the width of the insertion slit39.

On the inner side, the movable hand lever4comprises another bearing lug41awith an edge opening42a. Here, the edge opening42ahas an orientation approximately in longitudinal direction of the movable hand lever4to the front, so towards the pliers jaws5,11. The semi-circular cross-section of the bearing lug41ahas (remote from the edge opening42) an extension in circumferential direction in the region of 150° to 180°, preferably 160° to 180° or 170° to 180°.

The movable hand lever4comprises another bearing lug43with an edge opening44. An insertion slit45opens into the bearing lug43or the edge opening44. The diameter of the bearing lug43is larger than the width of the insertion slit45and of the edge opening44. The insertion slit45is curved or inclined and in the beginning has a component in forward direction and then curves or inclines in a way such that the insertion slit45in the region of its end-sided opening has an orientation approximately vertical to the longitudinal extension of the movable hand lever4.

In the transition region to the handle portion36the hand lever4comprises another bore46.

Without this necessarily being the case, the movable hand lever4also comprises a U-shaped cross-section with plates47,48formed by the side legs of the U. This leads to the consequence that the aforementioned design features are realized in both plates47,48.

Accordingly, in both plates47,48bearing lugs37a,37bwith edge openings38a,38band insertion slits39a,39bfor the formation of the pivot bearing40,bearing lugs41a,41b(where for the shown embodiment only one bearing lug41acomprises an edge opening42a, whereas the aligned bearing lug41bhas a closed edge),bearing lugs43a,43bwith edge openings44a,44band associated insertion slits45a,45bas well asbores46a,46b

are provided. However, within the frame of the invention it is also possible that for the shown pairs of bearing lugs37,41,43one bearing lug comprises an edge opening and the other aligned bearing lug does not comprise an edge opening or that both bearing lugs of the pair comprise an edge opening.

The material portion of the movable hand lever4between the bearing lugs37,41forms a toggle lever51.

FIG.5shows the movable pliers jaw5in a three-dimensional single part representation. The movable pliers jaw5comprises two pliers jaw parts49,50which are connected to each other by a mounting bolt52extending through aligned mounting bores of the pliers jaw parts49,50or connected rigidly to each other in another way. With respect to further information to the design of the movable pliers jaw with two parts and the geometric design reference is made to the European patent application EP 3 553 900 A1. The disclosure of the European patent application EP 3 553 900 A1 is incorporated by reference into the present patent application. However, it is also possible that the pliers jaw5is formed integrally as one single piece. In this case, no mounting bolt52is used.

InFIG.5the movable pliers jaw5in a rough approximation has the shape of an inverted T. Here, in the region of a transverse leg of the T a die accommodation53for the die half54is formed. With respect to the die accommodation53for the die half54reference is made to the publication DE 198 02 287 C1. The mounting bolt52is arranged in the crossing region of the vertical leg of the T and the horizontal leg of the T. In the free end region of the vertical leg of the T the movable pliers jaw5comprises a bearing bore55. In the assembled state, the bearing bolt6extends through the bearing bore55. Accordingly, the bearing bore55contributes to the pivot bearing16for the pivotable connection of the pliers jaws5,11. In the other end region of the horizontal leg of the T the movable pliers jaw5comprises a bearing pin body56. The bearing pin body56comprises two bearing pins57a,57b. The bearing pins57a,57bextend on both sides of the base body58of the pliers jaw part50. Furthermore, the movable pliers jaw5(here the pliers jaw part50) comprises an accommodation59or accommodating eye. For the shown embodiment, the movable pliers jaw5comprises a U-shaped cross-section in the region of the die accommodation53. A flange of the die half54can be inserted into the U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped cross-section provides a stiff support of the die half54.

The bearing pin57comprises a semi-cylindrical outer surface portion60as well as an outer surface portion61with a flattening85.

The two bearing pins57a,57bcan be integrally formed as one piece by the pliers jaw5or the pliers jaw part50or can be formed by a bearing bolt which is fixed in a bore of the pliers jaw5.

FIG.6schematically shows a method for assembling a hand pliers tool1. For the description of the method reference is made to the different assembly steps shown inFIGS.7to12:

In a method step62the bolt10ais inserted into the bores20of the fixed pliers part2. In a method step63then the pressure lever3is (pre-)assembled to the fixed pliers part2. For that purpose, the bearing pin29bof the pressure lever3is inserted in axial direction into the bearing lug24of the fixed pliers part2. Here, the assembly axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the bearing pin29and the assembly axis runs through the bearing lugs17,24. Here, a planar or straight back77of the pressure lever3slides along a guiding surface formed by the insertion slit19. A section82of the base body26of the pressure lever3comprises (in a side view) a smaller dimension than the insertion slit19and the edge opening18. Accordingly, this section82is able to enter into the insertion slit19and the edge opening from the side and pass through the same until the section contacts the plate23of the fixed pliers part2. This assembly state is shown inFIG.7. In this way, a pivot bearing64is established by which the pressure lever26is supported for being pivoted on the fixed pliers part2. In order to allow the pivoting in the region of the section82, the thickness of the base body26is smaller than the distance of the plates22,23. Accordingly, it is possible that with the pivoting movement the section82moves between the plates22,23.

In a method step65(by use of the pivoting degree of freedom of the pivot bearing84) the pressure lever3is pivoted backwards on the fixed pliers part2so that the section82is moved between the plates22,23and an overlap83between the section82and the plates22,23establishes. Due to the overlap83a disassembly along the (dis)assembly axis is blocked. Instead, an assembly and a disassembly of the pressure lever3to and from the fixed pliers part2is only possible in the assembling angular position ofFIG.7. However, this assembling angular position is not reached during the whole working stroke of the hand pliers tool1. Then the opening spring7is mounted to the bolt10awhich is fixedly held on the fixed pliers part2. This partially assembled state is shown inFIG.8.

In a method step66the locking pawl8and the locking spring9are mounted to the movable hand lever4. The locking pawl8comprises a bearing pin67. For the shown embodiment, the locking pawl8is manufactured from a bent sheet metal part. The bearing pin67is here formed by a locking pawl protrusion68. The bearing pin67of the locking pawl8is introduced through the insertion slit45and the edge opening44into the bearing lug43of the movable hand lever4. The locking spring9is mounted to the locking pawl8. The other spring base of the locking spring9is mounted to the pin10bwhich is fixedly connected to the bores46of the movable hand lever4. The locking spring9pulls the bearing pin67in a direction opposite to the edge opening44into the bearing lug43so that in the partially assembled state shown inFIG.9the locking pawl and the locking spring9are held in a loss-proof way on the movable hand lever4.

In a method step69the movable pliers jaw5is mounted to the movable hand lever4. For that purpose, the movable pliers jaw5is moved into an assembling angular position relative to the hand lever4. The assembling angular position will not be achieved over the whole working stroke when the hand pliers tool has completely been assembled. Here, according toFIG.10the horizontal leg of the T of the movable pliers jaw5has an orientation approximately vertical to the longitudinal extension of the hand lever4. Accordingly the flattening85of the outer surface portion61has an orientation parallel to the insertion slit39. Accordingly, a reduced extension70of the bearing pin57due to the flattening85of the outer surface portion61can be used for inserting the bearing pin57through the narrowed insertion slit39and the edge opening38into the bearing lug37of the movable hand lever4. The bearing pin57of the movable pliers jaw5and the bearing lug37of the movable hand lever4form the pivot bearing40for the pivotable support of the movable pliers jaw5on the movable hand lever4. If the movable pliers jaw5is pivoted from the position relative to the movable hand lever4shown inFIG.10towards the stretched position, the flattened outer surface portion61is pivoted relative to the edge opening38so that an increased extension71of the bearing pin57in the semi-cylindrical outer surface portion60of the bearing pin57comes into effect. The increased extension71makes an exit of the bearing pin57from the bearing lug37impossible.

In a method step72the pre-assembled subunits (namely on the one hand the fixed pliers part2, the pressure lever and the opening spring in the assembled state according toFIG.8and on the other hand the movable hand lever4with the locking pawl8in the locking spring9as well as the movable pliers jaw5in the assembled state shown inFIG.10) are assembled to each other. For that purpose, first the free spring base of the opening spring7is mounted to the accommodation59of the movable pliers jaw5. Furthermore, the movable hand lever4with the movable pliers jaw5held thereon for being pivoted is moved closer to the pressure lever3which is pivotably held on the fixed pliers part2. Accordingly, the bearing pins30a,30bof the pressure lever3are able to enter into the bearing lugs41a,41bof the movable hand lever. The bearing lugs30enter in axial direction into the bearing lugs41with an assembly along an assembly axis which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the bearing pins30and runs through the bearing lugs41. The section of the base body26in the neighborhood of the bearing pin30has a geometry being smaller than the geometry of the edge opening42. Accordingly, this section of the base body26is able to enter in lateral direction into the plate or wall opening42. It is possible that during this movement there is a sliding guidance between the movable hand lever4and the pressure lever3by a sliding movement of the back77of the pressure lever3along a guiding surface73of the movable hand lever4. The partially assembled state then reached is shown inFIG.11.

Then, in a method step74the bearing bores15of the fixed pliers part2and the bearing bore55of the movable pliers jaw5are moved into an aligned position so that it is possible to insert the bearing bolt6into the bearing bores15,55and to secure the bearing bolt6by suitable securing elements or by a press-fit against an undesired exit. In this position, the opening spring7is tensioned. The induced aligned position of the bearing bores15,55has the result that a pivoting movement of the pressure lever3relative to the movable hand lever4is possible. Due to this pivoting movement, the section of the base body26(which in the assembling angular position passed the bearing lug41aand the outer contour of the movable hand lever4) enters between the plates47,48of the movable hand lever4so that an overlapping83establishes which makes a disassembly for an orientation other than the assembling angular position impossible. Also this assembling angular position will not be reached when running through the working stroke. The state of the hand pliers tool (generally ready for being operated; completely assembled with respect to the base function) is shown inFIG.12.

The accommodation of the bearing pin30of the pressure lever3in the bearing lug41of the movable hand lever4provides a pivot bearing75. The pivot bearing75provides a toggle joint76for the toggle lever31formed by the pressure lever3and the toggle lever51formed by the movable hand lever4. Here, the toggle lever51is linked in the pivot joint40to the movable hand lever4and the movable pliers jaw5. The toggle lever31is linked by the pivot bearing64to the fixed pliers part2. When the pivot bearing16between the pliers jaws5,11has been assembled, the different bearing pins are not able to exit from the bearing lugs having (partially) open edges:

Due to a stop it is not possible to pivot the movable hand lever4starting fromFIG.11further away from the fixed pliers part2. Accordingly, it is not possible that the flattening of the pin57is rotated to an extent that the assembling angular position of the pin57and the bearing lug is again reached and the pin57is able to exit through the edge opening38from the bearing lug37.

Also an exit of the bearing pin30of the pressure lever3from the associated bearing lug41of the movable hand lever4would require a further opening movement of the movable hand lever4back to the assembling angular position of the bearing pin30and the associated bearing lug41. However, such a further opening movement is not possible.

Finally, the exit of the bearing pin29from the edge opening18of the bearing lug17would require that the pressure lever3is moved to the front which also is not possible.

Due to the fact that in the pivot bearing75one bearing lug41ahas an open edge, whereas the other bearing lug41bhas a closed edge and due to the fact that in the pivot bearing64one bearing lug17has an open edge and the other bearing lug24has a closed edge any displacements of the pressure lever3when opening the hand lever4(in some cases due to the effect of the opening spring) and/or any operational error can be avoided.

The fixed pliers part2as well as the movable hand lever4comprise a U-shaped cross-section as explained before. This design leads to an increase of the stability against bending and torsion. It would generally also be possible that components of the hand pliers tool1are produced in a plate design with parallel plates riveted to each other. However, in some cases by use of riveted parallel plates it will not be possible to achieve the same stability for comparable profile dimensions and material thicknesses.

The U-shaped fixed pliers part2and/or the U-shaped movable hand lever4can be manufactured by deep drawing or punch drawing of a metal sheet or as a MIM-injection molding part (in particular of steel). Also the other components as the pressure lever3or the pliers jaw parts49,50or an integral, one-piece movable pliers jaw5might also be manufactured by a MIM-process or precision casting.

It is also possible that the aforementioned components (all of them or only a part of them) is manufactured from a high rigidity plastic material. Preferably a plastic material can be used having a stiffness being higher than 230 N/mm2, higher than 250 N/mm2or even higher than 280 N/mm2.

It is possible that (alternatively or cumulatively to the opening spring7) another spring is used which is mounted with one spring base to the accommodation33of the pressure lever3, whereas the other spring base is linked to a bolt which extends through a bore21of the fixed pliers part2.

A drive mechanism78is interposed between the hand levers4,12and the pliers jaw5,11. Here, the drive mechanism78is embodied as a toggle lever drive79. Drive elements of the drive mechanism78are in particular the toggle levers31,51which are formed by the movable hand lever4and the pressure lever3.

In the pivot bearing64by which the pressure lever3is supported for being pivoted on the fixed pliers part2the fixed pliers part2forms the first pliers pivoting part80which forms the bearing lug17,24, whereas the pressure lever3forms a second pivoting pliers part81which provides the bearing pin29associated with the bearing lug17.

In the pivot bearing75by which the pressure lever3is supported for being pivoted on the movable hand lever4the movable hand lever4forms the first pliers pivoting part80which provides the bearing lug51, whereas the pressure lever3forms the second pliers pivoting part81which provides the bearing pin30.

In the pivot bearing40by which the movable pliers jaw5is supported for being pivoted on the movable hand lever4the movable hand lever4forms the first pliers pivoting part80which provides the bearing lug37, whereas the movable pliers jaw5forms the second pliers pivoting part81which provides the bearing pin57for the bearing lug37.