Patent ID: 8561531

Claim:
A band clamp tensioning tool, for attachment to a hand-held power tool having a main body and an electrical power source configured for rotationally driving a chuck, to tension and lock a center punch band clamp having a band and a buckle, said apparatus comprising: a band tensioning assembly attached to the power tool; said band tensioning assembly including a gear box and a gear box mount mechanically coupled to said chuck; said gear box mount including a generally U-shaped rigid strap which engages a rear portion of the hand-held main body to secure the gear box; said gear box including a worm gear axially coupled to the chuck for powered driven rotation thereby; a winder gear in intermeshing relation with said worm gear for rotation about an axis disposed generally perpendicular to the worm gear axis; said winder, defining a band-receiving slot; a punch assembly, defining a slot, connected to the distal end of said gear box with the slot disposed in forwardly spaced aligned relation with said winder; said punch assembly including a pivotal punch having a first end pivotally connected to said gear box, and a second end having a first side adapted with a generally pointed tip positioned to engage the band clamp buckle, and an opposing generally planar second side that provides a surface for receiving an impact blow from a blunt striking implement so as to securely lock the band clamp by impact of the pointed tip of said pivotal punch that deforms a portion of the band within the band buckle.