Patent Publication Number: US-2022234231-A1

Title: Shearing tool

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/126,361, filed Dec. 16, 2020, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to shearing tools, and more particularly to tools for shearing steel studs. 
     To enable metal stud shearing operations to occur at any area of a worksite, without the effort to take down, move, and set up a stud shearing apparatus, a handheld shearing tool is disclosed herein. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention provides, in one aspect, a shearing tool including a drive device and a shearing assembly. The drive device includes a housing and an output member linearly movable relative to the housing along a drive axis. The shearing assembly includes a frame coupled to the housing, a blade pivotally coupled to the frame, and a linkage assembly interconnecting the output member and the blade. The blade is pivotable relative to the frame about a pivot axis in response to movement of the output member along the drive axis. 
     The invention provides, in another aspect, a shearing assembly removably coupled to a drive unit. The shearing assembly includes a frame, a blade, and a guide. The frame may be removably coupled to a drive device. The blade has a pivot axis and is pivotally coupled to the frame and is pivotably relative to the frame. The blade is movably relative to the frame in response to movement of the drive device. A plurality of slots extend through the guide. 
     The invention provides, in another aspect, a guide for a shearing tool including first and second plates spaced apart and configured to receive a blade therebetween, a first slot extending through the first and second plates, and a plurality of second slots extending from the first slot. The plurality of second slots is configured to receive and guide workpieces having different nominal sizes. 
     Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shearing tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is perspective view of the shearing tool of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a blade of the shearing tool in a raised position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the shearing tool of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the blade in a lowered position. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the shearing tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of a shearing tool according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a shearing tool according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a shearing tool according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a shearing tool  10  according to one embodiment. The shearing tool  10  includes a drive device  14  and a shearing assembly  18  coupled to the drive device  14 . The shearing assembly  18  includes a frame  22 , a guide  26  supported by the frame  22 , a blade  30  pivotally coupled to the frame  22 , and a linkage assembly  34  interconnecting the blade  30  with an output member  38  of the drive device  14 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , in the illustrated embodiment, the drive device  14  includes a housing  40 , a clevis  42  fixed to the housing  40 , and a pin  46  extending through the clevis  42  to couple the frame  22  to the clevis  42  (and thus, to the housing  40 ). The drive device  14  is operable to reciprocate the output member  38  relative to the clevis  42  along a drive axis  48 . The drive device  14  may be any suitable tool having a linearly-movable output member but is preferably a motorized tool powered by a removable, rechargeable battery. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the drive device  14  is a battery-powered crimping tool, such as the crimping tool described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 10,213,821, issued to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. In such embodiments, the working assembly of the crimping tool is removed, and the frame  22  of the shearing assembly  18  is then coupled to the crimping tool (e.g., via the pin  46 ). In some embodiments, the shearing assembly  18  may be provided with the crimping tool as a kit (e.g., as an interchangeable working assembly). 
     In some embodiments, the output member  38  may be an adapter removably coupled to an output of the drive device  14 . For example, with reference to  FIG. 4 , the illustrated output member  38  includes a pair of arcuate recesses  50  configured to receive rollers on a roller carriage (not shown) of the drive device  14 . The roller carriage may be advanced or retracted upon operation of the drive device  14 , thereby linearly moving the output member  38 . In other embodiments, the output member  38  may formed as an integral component of the drive device  14 , or the output member  38  may be configured in other ways suitable for interfacing with the drive device  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , the blade  30  is pivotable about a pivot axis  54 , which is orthogonal to the drive axis  48  in the illustrated embodiment, in response to linear movement of the output member  38  along the drive axis  48 . The blade  30  is movable (e.g., pivotable) relative to the frame  22  and the guide  26  between a raised position ( FIG. 2 ) and a lowered position ( FIG. 3 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the blade  30  is received between two plates  26   a,    26   b  of the guide  26 . The plates  26   a,    26   b  of the guide  26  may comprise metal, plastic, or other suitable material capable of withstanding the force applied by the drive device  14 . A plurality of slots  58  extends transversely through the guide  26 , and through the path of the blade  30 . The slots  58  are preferably sized and shaped to receive a plurality of different standard/nominal sizes of workpieces, such as steel studs (e.g., used for construction framing). As presently embodied, the slots  58  accommodate steel studs having three different sizes, with one stud size having a nominally square cross-section and two other stud sizes having different, nominally rectangular cross-sections. The slots  58  of the guide  26  of the present embodiment include a first slot  58   a  and a plurality of second slots  58   b  extending perpendicularly from the first slot  58   a.  Each of the second slots  58   b  is generally L-shaped in the illustrated embodiment, with a flange portion  58   c  at a distal end of each second slot  58   b,  opposite the first slot  58   a.    
     The second slots  58   b  are spaced along the first slot  58   a  in a manner corresponding to different stud widths. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide  26  includes four second slots  58   b,  such that the guide  26  is able to receive three differently sized studs or workpieces. Other cross-section geometries may be accommodated by the slots  58  in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the guide  26  may be interchangeable with a plurality of guides, each having slots  58  of different sizes/geometries. 
     The linkage assembly  34  interconnects the output member  38  and the blade  30 . With reference to  FIGS. 3-4 , the illustrated linkage assembly  34  includes a first link  62 , a second link  66 , and a third link  70 . The first link  62  is pivotally coupled to the output member  38  and to an intermediate portion of the second link  66 . The second link  66  is pivotally coupled at one end to the frame  22  and at its opposite end to the third link  70 . The third link  70  is pivotally coupled at one end to the second link  66  and at its opposite end to the blade  30 . The links  62 ,  66 ,  70  pivot in response to movement of the output member  38  to convert linear movement of the output member  38  into pivotal movement of the blade  30  between the raised position ( FIG. 2 ) and the lowered position ( FIG. 3 ). 
     In operation, with the blade  30  in the raised position ( FIG. 2 ), a user inserts a stud to be cut into the appropriately sized slot  58  in the guide  26 . The user then operates the drive device  14 , which advances the output member  38  toward the shearing assembly  18  along the drive axis  48 . The linkage assembly  34  converts the linear movement of the output member  38  into pivotal movement of the blade  30  about the pivot axis  54 . The blade  30  pivots toward the lowered position ( FIG. 3 ) and shears the stud. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a shearing tool  10  according to another embodiment. The shearing tool  10  of  FIG. 5  is similar in some aspects to the shearing tool  10  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , and features of the shearing tool  10  of  FIG. 5  corresponding to features of the shearing tool  10  of  FIGS. 1-4  are given like reference numbers. In addition, it should be understood that features of the shearing tool  10  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-4  may be incorporated into the shearing tool  10  of  FIG. 5 , and vice versa. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the drive device  14  of the shearing tool  10  is a hydraulic tool having a motor  74  that drives a hydraulic pump  78 , which pumps hydraulic fluid from a reservoir (not shown) to a chamber  82 . The chamber  82  is defined at one end by a piston  86 , which is slidably disposed within a cylinder  90 . As described in greater detail below, the hydraulic fluid imparts a force on the piston  86 , causing the piston  86  to translate in the cylinder  90  (e.g., to the left with reference to the orientation illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a spring  94  engages a side of the piston  86  opposite the chamber  82  and imparts a return force opposite the hydraulic force applied to the piston  86  by the pressurized hydraulic fluid. A seal  98  is disposed circumferentially around the piston  86  for sealing the chamber  82  of hydraulic fluid. When the piston  86  reaches a desired position (e.g., an extended position) during operation, a dump valve (not shown) may release pressure from the chamber  82 , allowing the spring  94  to return the piston  86  to its starting position (e.g., a retracted position). As such, the cylinder  90  may be referred to as a single-acting hydraulic cylinder. In other embodiments, the cylinder  90  may be a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, plumbed to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid on either side of the piston  86  to move the piston  86 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 5 , the piston  86  is coupled to the blade  30  via an output member (such as the output member  38 ). The piston  86  may instead be integral with the output member  38 . In the illustrated embodiment, the blade  30  moves linearly within the frame  22 , but the blade  30  may be configured to pivot in other embodiments. In addition, the illustrated blade includes two edges  30   a,    30   b,  which converge at an apex  30   c.  The edges  30   a ,  30   b  preferably intersect at an obtuse angle, which may facilitate cleanly shearing/cutting the workpiece. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a shearing tool  10  of another embodiment. The shearing tool  10  of  FIG. 6  is similar in some aspects to the shearing tools  10  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 and 5 , and features of the shearing tool  10  of  FIG. 6  corresponding to features of the shearing tool  10  of  FIGS. 1-4  or the shearing tool  10  of  FIG. 5  are given like reference numbers. In addition, it should be understood that features of the shearing tools  10  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 and 5  may be incorporated into the shearing tool  10  of  FIG. 6 , and vice versa. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the drive device  14  of the shearing tool  10  includes a motor  74  and a transmission assembly or gear assembly  102 . The motor includes an output shaft  106  with an output gear  110  coupled to the output shaft  106  and rotatable therewith. The output gear  110  may be a bevel gear, or other suitable gear geometry for transfer of rotational motion. The transmission assembly  102  includes a transmission gear  114  engaged by the output gear  110 . The transmission gear  114  includes an input portion  118  and a pinion portion  122 . The input portion  118  may be a bevel gear or other suitable gear geometry engageable with the output gear  110 . The pinion portion  122  may be a spur gear or other appropriate gear geometry. The pinion portion  122  engages an output member  38  having a rack  126  that is coupled to the blade  30 , thereby transforming the rotational motion of the motor  74  to a linear displacement of the blade  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the output member  38  may instead be coupled to a blade  30  by an extension mechanism  130 , which is configured as a scissor mechanism in the illustrated embodiment, facilitating increased travel of the blade  30  with a shorter stroke from the linear motion source (e.g., the rack  126 ). 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.