PLIERS DEVICE

Abstract: Pliers comprising a stationary pliers member (10) with associated first jaw member (11) and a moveable pliers member (12) with associated second jaw member (13). Jaw member (13) of the moveable pliers member is moveable towards and away from jaw member (11) of the stationary pliers member by means of an actuating handle (21) pivotable relative to the stationary pliers member (10). The second jaw member (13) is moveable towards the first jaw member (11) in a two-step movement, that is to say with a first movement with relatively long length of movement and with relatively little force by means of a first actuating means (17, 19) between the actuating handle (21) and the moveable pliers member (12) and with a second movement with relatively short length of movement and with relatively large force by means of a second actuating means (26) between the actuating handle (21) and the moveable pliers member (12).

Description: PLIERS DEVICE. The present invention relates to a pliers device, comprising a stationary pliers member with associated first jaw member and a moveable pliers member with associated second jaw member, where the jaw member of the moveable pliers member is moveable towards and away from the jaw member of the stationary pliers member by means of an actuating handle pivotable relative to the stationary pliers member. With the present invention the objective is pliers, which are easy to rearrange from an inactive position to a clamp engaging position in a first phase of a movement operation and which thereafter, in a second movement operation, are easy to adjust with a desired readily regulatable holding force and/or a desired readily regulatable clamping force. The pliers according to the invention can find different forms of application. In a first case the pliers can be utilised as a tool for clamping together an object with a relatively large clamping force, for example as nutcrackers for crackng nuts, and then especially cracking nuts with mutually different dimensions, but with an equal or substantially equal clamping force. In a second case the pliers can be employed as holding means, where the clamping force does not necessarily need to be especially large, but on the other hand can be maintained at a stable and uniform level, for example for securing a work piece and/or securing a ground wire in connection with an electrical welding operation. In the last-mentioned case the aim is especially pliers, which in a relatively simple and rapid manner can establish reliable earthing contact in a work piece via the pliers, at the same time as the pliers shall be able to support the weight of an earth cable of large dimensions. In addition the aim is to employ the pliers for conventional clamping and holding operations in connection with various working operations, for example within mechanical industry, within the plumbing trade, etc. The device according to the invention is characterised in that the second jaw member is moveable towards the first jaw member in a two-step actuating operation, that is to say a first step with a relatively, comparatively long length of movement between the jaw members and with relatively small force, by means of a first actuating means between the actuating handle and the moveable pliers member and a second step without relative move¬ ment or with a moderate relative movement with relatively short length of movement and with relatively large force, by means of a second actuating means between the actuating handle and the move¬ able pliers member. In this way pliers are obtained, where the two-step move¬ ments form part of a coherent movement of the actuating handle and where the jaw members are first automatically adjusted into engagement with the object which is to be secured/clamped, inde¬ pendently of the thickness of the object which the pliers are to engage with, and where thereafter there is directly exerted a suitable holding force or a suitable clamping force, substanti¬ ally independent of the size of the object which is to be secured/clamped, that is to say independent of the distance between the jaw members in their clamp engaging position. According to the invention one can adjust the jaw members with the first actuating means into an active engagement with an object which is to be secured between these, by means of a simple pivoting of the actuating handle relative to the stationary pliers member. This adjustment of the jaw members into engagement with an intermediate object can be effected easily and simply without having to pay attention to the actual thickness of the object. Thereafter with the second acutating means one can exert, by means of a continued, relatively small extra pivoting of the actuating handle, an extra clamping force between the jaw members or exert a desired holding force between the jaw members, by an equivalent manual regulation of the actuating force which is exerted against the actuating handle. The solution according to the invention can be utilised in different types of pliers, but it is preferred that the moveable pliers member is axially moveable in a control in the stationary pliers member. By this there is achieved, ' in a manner known per se a simple and effective sliding control between the stationary and the moveable pliers members . It is preferred that the first actuating means comprises a toothed wheel which is rotatably mounted at the outer end of an actuating arm, the opposite end of which is pivotably mounted on the actuating handle, the toothed wheel standing in rotary engagement with a first rack on the stationary pliers member and on the diametrically opposite side standing in rotary engagement with a second rack on the moveable pliers member. By this there is obtained with a relatively small pivotal arc for the actuating handle a relatively large axial movement of the moveable pliers member towards and away from the stationary pliers member, by means of the first actuating member. This means that relatively rapidly and easily, that is to say with rela¬ tively little force, one can adjust the pliers members from an opened, inactive position to a closed, active engaged position with the actual object which is to be clamped or secured with the pliers. In other words the aim is an adjustment of the pliers to the active engagement position which is almost automatic, inde¬ pendent of the thickness of the object which is to be clamped and then with a rather moderate actuating force in the first actu¬ ating step. Further it means that thereafter, without additional movement between the pliers members or only with a limited additional movement between the pliers members, there can be ensured an effective holding force or an effective clamping force in the pliers, with the possibility, for significant regulation of Correspondingly one can ensure, that when the pressure in the pliers is relieved, said spring can assist with returning the second actuating member to the inactive position in order to allow the repositioning of the jaw members to an equvalent inactive, open position. The second actuating member can take many different forms. It is preferred that the second actuating member comprises a sliding pawl, one end of which is fastened to the actuating handle and the opposite end of which is adapted to form a supporting abutment against a relevant locking groove in a series of locking grooves, which are arranged along the adjacent side edge of the moveable pliers member. In this way the jaw members can be secured in locking engagement with each other with a set, moderate pressure between the jaw members without additional manual actuating force, in such instances where this is of interest. Further features of the invention will be evident from the following description having regard to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows in a side view the pliers according to the invention with its jaw members illustrated in an inactive position, ready for relative movement thereof into a common clamping engagement with an intermediate object. Fig. 2 shows in a side view a part of the pliers according to Fig. 1 after a first step of a two-step movement is conducted. Fig. 3 shows in side view a part of the pliers according to fig. 1 after a second step of the two-step movement is conducted. Fig. 4 shows a part of the pliers according to an alterna¬ tive embodiment, illustrated with a locking member in an unstable locking engagement position. Fig. 5 shows the same as in Fig. 4, illustrated with the locking member in a stable locking engagement position. Fig. 6 -shows a modified construction of the pliers according to the invention, illustrated in a view from the side. In Fig. 1 there is shown a stationary pliers member 10 with associated jaw member 11, which projects laterally outwards from the main direction of the pliers member 10. Further there is shown a moveable pliers member 12 with associated jaw member 13, which is formed at the outer end 12a of the pliers member 12. In the illustrated embodiment the two jaw members 11 and 13 are shown with concave, relatively slightly arched jaw surfaces 11a and 13a, but in practive the jaw surfaces can have arbitrarily other designs adapted according to the field of use of the pliers. The pliers member 12 is provided with a shank portion (indicated by broken lines) 12b which is axially displaceably mounted in an associated guide on the shank portion or hand grip-forming portion 10a of the stationary pliers member 10. The pliers member 10 extends laterally outwards from the portion 10a to form a bow-shaped head portion 10b, so that there is defined a longitudinal, relatively wide gap 14 between the _- pliers members 10 and 12 axially just behind the jaw members 11, 13. Outermost in the gap 14 there is formed on the bow-shaped head portion 10b of the pliers member 10 a first rack 15 and on the oppositely facing side of the outer end 12a of the pliers member 12 there is formed a second rack 16. Between the racks 15, 16 there is arranged a toothed wheel 17 which is disposed in permanent engagement with the racks 15, 16. The toothed wheel 17 is pivotably mounted via a pivot pin 18 at the outer end of a pair of mutually parallel actuating arms 19. The actuating arms 19 are pivotably mounted at the opposite end about a pivot pin 20 on an actuating handle 21. The second jaw member 13 projects with a portion 13a from the pliers member 12 laterally inwards into the gap 14, where the portion 13a forms a stop piece for the toothed wheel 17 in the fully opened, inactive position of the pliers . The actuating handle 21 is pivotably mounted, at a suitable distance from the pivot pin 20, that is to say at the outer end 21a, about a pivot pin 22 on the head portion 10b of the pliers member 10. The opposite portion 21b of the actuating handle 21 constitutes, together with the rear portion 10a of the pliers member 10, hand grip portions of the pliers, with which the clamping force of the pliers is manually exerted. By squeezing together the hand grip portions 10a, 21b the toothed wheel 17 is arranged one on each side of head portion 10b of the pliers member 10. The pawl member 26 is adapted to be received pivotably " mounted- on the pin 20 between two opposite legs of the U shape. There is shown a spring 26a which ensures the pawl member is in place in the illustrated position, but which permits a certain pivoting of the pawl member against the force of the spring 26a. In the illustrated embodiment the pliers member 10 is shown in the form of a cast main component with an associated cover lOd which is fastened with screws lOe. Internally in a hollow space which is defined by the main component and the cover lOd there are defined guides for the pliers membere 12, the spring 41 and the band 40. By pivoting together the handle 21 and the pliers member 10, against the force of the spring 43 and against the force of the spring 41, the band 40 is pushed via the spring 41 against the pliers member 12 and there is ensured thereby that the pliers member.12 clamps via the jaw member 13 the object 23 into place between the jaw members 11 and 13. After this first phase of the clamping together is effected and one grips the handle 21 additionally against the pliers member 10, the springs 41 and 43 are further compressed, at the same time as an increased elastic force is exerted against the object 23 via the jaw member 11 and 13, until pawl tooth of the pawl member 26 engage with associated teeth on the rack of the pliers member 12 and the force can be directly transferred from the handle via the pawl member to the pliers member 12, whereby the clamping force can be regulated with great intensity (and minimal mutual movement between the jaw members) .

Claims: CLAIMS. 1. Pliers device, comprising a stationary pliers member (10) with associated first jaw member (11) and a moveable pliers member (12) with associated second jaw member (13), where the jaw member (13) of the moveable pliers member is moveable towards and away from the jaw member (11) of the stationary pliers member by means of an actuating handle (21) pivotable relative to the stationary pliers member (10), characterised in that the second jaw member (13) is moveable towards the first jaw member (11) in a two-step actuating operation, that is to say a first step with a relatively, comparatively long length of movement between the jaw members and with relatively small force, by means of a first actuating means (17, 19) between the actuating handle (21) and the moveable pliers member (12) and a second step without rela¬ tive movement or with a moderate movement with relatively short length of movement and with relatively large force, by means of a second actutating means (26) between the actuating handle (21) and the moveable pliers member (12) . 2. Device in accordance with claim 1, where the moveable pliers member (12) is axially moveable in a guide in the stationary pliers member (10), characterised in that the first actuating means comprises a toothed wheel (17) which is rotatably mounted at the outer end of an actuating arm (19) the opposite end of which is pivotably mounted on the actuating handle (21), the toothed wheel (17) standing in rotary engagement with a first rack (15) on the stationary pliers member (10) and on the diametrically opposite side standing in rotary engagement with a second rack (16) on the moveable pliers member (12) . 3. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the first actuating means comprises a joint arm mechanism, consisting of a first joint arm, one end of which is linked to the moveable pliers member (12) and the other end of which is linked to the actuating handle (21), and a second joint arm, one end of which is linked to the stationary pliers member (10) and the other end of which is linked to the actuating handle (21), the first and second joint arms being mutually linked to each other at the said other end, preferably at a common, acute or obtuse angle, via a pivot pin which is laterally displaceable in an axially extending guide groove in the actuating handle. 4. Device in accordance with claim 2 or 3 , characterised in that the actuating handle (21) and the one arm in the joint arm mechanism consist of an arm construction telescopically collapsible against spring loading, and that the second actuating means is moveable against its supporting abutment on the second pliers member against the force of the spring in said arm con¬ struction. 5. Device in accordance with one of the claims 1-4, characte¬ rised in that the second actuating means (30) comprises a two branched lever, one branch (at 30b) of which forms a supporting abutment against the moveable pliers member (12) and the opposite branch (at 30a) of which forms an abutment for a compression spring (33) for maintaining the actuating means in an active engagement position after pivoting of the lever over a dead centre. 6. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that said one branch (30b) of the lever forms a tooth segment teeth (35) of which form a supporting abutment against the teeth (36) in a rack (37) on the moveable pliers member (12) . 7. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the first actuating means comprises a flexible band (40) or a flexible cord which is displaceable endways in a guide in the stationary pliers member (10) from its lower end via an inter¬ mediate compression spring (41) against a stop in the moveable pliers member (12), against the force of said compression spring (41). 8. Device in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the flexible band (40) or the flexible cord is surrounded at the transition between the lower end of the stationary pliers member (10) and the lower end of the actuating handle (21) by a com¬ pression spring (43) . 9. Device in accordance with one of the previous claims 1 to 4, 7, 8, characterised in that the second actuating means comprises a sliding pawl (26), which projects laterally outwards from the actuating handle (21) at a specific angle established by a preferably double-acting spring (26a), one end of the sliding pawl being fastened pivotably mounted (at 20) on the actuating handle (21) , while its opposite end is adapted to form a supporting abutment against an appropriate locking groove (27) in a series of locking grooves which are arranged along the adjacent side edge of the moveable pliers member (12) .

Inventors: HAUGS AUDUN, HAUGS, AUDUN
Applicants: HAUGS AUDUN, HAUGS, AUDUN
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B25B7
IPC codes: B25B7, B25B13