EP2055430B1 - Toggle joint clamping device - Google Patents

Abstract

A lever clamp for use in assembly of automotive body panels has a drive with an opening (23) on the side away from the grip head (2), allowing a second rod (16, 17) for a change in rod (7) length relative to the drive (6) housing (19).

Description

The invention relates to a toggle lever device with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Toggle clamps are widely known in the art and find particular use in the bodywork of the automotive industry.

The toggle clamping devices have in particular a chuck, a clamping arm pivotally mounted in the clamping head and a drive with an actuating part which is connected to the clamping head on. This drive is, for example, a piston-cylinder unit to be acted upon alternately on both sides by pressure medium pressure, a linear motor or a linear electric motor which drives a rod back and forth in its longitudinal direction. To adjust the opening angle of the toggle lever tensioning device, thus the angle of the tensioning arm, based on the position of the drive, the reciprocally adjustable rod is formed from two bar parts screwed together, whereby the rod can be extended or shortened.

A toggle clamping device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 0 908 272 A1 known. In this, a first rod part is pivotally connected to the toggle lever assembly and a second rod part mounted in a linearly adjustable control part of the drive. The first rod part has an externally threaded portion and the second rod part has an internally threaded portion. The first rod part receives a first switching element and the clamping head is provided with a first interrogator for detecting an end position of the first switching element. The second rod part receives a second switching element and the clamping head is provided with a second interrogator for detecting an end position of the second switching element. The two switching elements are moved linearly when the rod is moved back and forth.

In this toggle clamping device, the housing of the drive must be released from the clamping head to adjust the length of the rod. Thus, after removing screws which serve to connect the housing of the drive to the housing of the clamping head, the housing of the drive can be rotated together with the rod relative to the housing of the clamping head about the longitudinal axis of the rod to a predetermined angle of rotation, which Reinstallation of the housing of the drive on the housing of the clamping head allows. If the housing of the drive has a square cross-section and the holes for the fastening screws are provided in the region of the corners of the housing, a rotation of the housing of the drive relative to the housing of the clamping head is at angles one or more times a 90 ° angle , possible. According to this 90 ° angle, a minimum adjustment of the two rod parts to each other is possible, whereby no infinitesimal adjustment of the opening angle of the toggle lever clamping device is possible. The two provided in this toggle lever switching elements are formed as flags, which interact with inductive Endstellungsabfrageeinrichtungen associated with the housing of the clamping head. With a minimum length of the rod, the two switching elements are arranged at a distance from each other, thus the first switching element substantially closer to the toggle lever arrangement than the second switching element. As a result, this clamping device requires a considerable space axially. The first switching element is also freely rotatably mounted to allow rotation of the drive and adjustable in the housing actuator - piston-cylinder unit -. The piston is designed, for example, rectangular in cross section.

In the EP 1 309 426 B1 there is described a toggle-type tensioning device in which the first rod member connected to the toggle assembly has an internal thread and the second rod member connected to the actuator of the actuator is externally threaded. Also in this device, two interrogators are provided for detecting the end positions of the toggle clamping device, wherein cooperates with these two interrogators designed as a switching flag switching element and thus indicates the position of the rod and thus indirectly also the opening angle of the clamping arm. The interrogators are, in particular, inductively operating sensors, microswitches or pneumatic switches. In the apparatus, the drive on its side facing away from the clamping head on an opening through which, for the purpose of length change of the rod, the second rod member rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the housing of the drive is. Consequently, to change the length of the rod, the housing of the drive does not need to be disassembled from the housing of the chuck.

A toggle clamping device is further in the EP 1 262 285 A2 described.

Finally, the prior art is based on the Italian patent application MI 2006 A 000834 directed.

Object of the present invention is to provide a toggle lever device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 so on that it has a particularly compact length and allows infinitesimal adjustment of the opening angle of the toggle lever device.

The problem is solved by a toggle lever device, which is designed according to the features of claim 1.

Particularly quickly and easily, the opening angle of the toggle lever device can be adjusted because the drive on its side facing away from the clamping head has the opening through which, for the purpose of length adjustment of the rod, the second rod member is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the housing of the drive. It is therefore not necessary to separate the housing of the drive from the housing of the clamping head.

The stepless adjustment of the opening angle of the toggle lever device is possible due to the formation of the rod with the telescoping rod parts. With a correspondingly fine thread pitch, an infinitesimal adjustment of the opening angle of the toggle lever clamping device, thus adjustment of the tensioning arm, is possible.

In terms of its length, the toggle-type clamping device is structurally particularly compact, because the second shifting element is rotatable relative to the second rod part about its longitudinal axis and mounted axially fixed on this rod part, and the two switching elements occupy at least an overlapping position at maximum bolted rod parts. When adjusting the two rod parts to each other, thus the rotation of the second rod part, the position of the second switching element changes only in the axial direction of the second rod part. The second switching element is preferably linearly guided, in particular guided in the housing of the clamping head and thus does not rotate when turning the second rod part. Characterized in that the two switching elements occupy at least an overlapping position with maximally interlocked rod parts, the two interrogators, which are engageable with the two switching elements operatively connected, are placed much closer to each other than in an arrangement of the switching elements, the spaced apart with each other bar members spaced apart are arranged. In the maximum nested position of the rod parts, the two switching elements take at least the overlapping position. This means that the switching elements could in principle also be moved beyond this overlapping position. The overlapping position is considered transversely to the direction of travel of the two switching elements, thus transversely to the longitudinal extent of the toggle lever tensioning device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first switching element is rigidly connected to the first rod part. This rigid connection of the first switching element with the first rod part is therefore fundamentally possible and is considered advantageous because the first rod part is not rotatable, but only the second rod part. But it is quite possible to make the storage of the first switching element so that it is axially fixed and rotatably mounted in the first rod part and guided in the housing of the clamping head. The storage of this first switching element would thus correspond to the storage of the second switching element.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that one of the two switching elements substantially plate-shaped and the other switching element is formed substantially U-shaped, such that at maximum nested rod parts, the plate-shaped switching element is retracted into the U-shaped switching element. The space between the two legs of the U is therefore suitable to receive the substantially plate-shaped switching element. This can, depending on the extent of the plate in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the rod, take the overlapping position with maximally nested rod parts overlapping position with the U of the other switching element or even occupy a position in which the U-shaped switching element has been run over by the plate-shaped switching element. The respective switching element is designed in particular as a flag.

The respective interrogator can be designed in different ways, especially under the aspect of their mode of action. For example, the respective interrogation device has a switch which can be swiveled or tilted by means of the respective switching element, preferably a limit switch, in particular a pneumatic limit switch. An alternative advantageous embodiment provides that the respective interrogator has an actuatable by the respective switching element electronic limit switch or optical reader.

Preferably, the first interrogator is used to detect the clamping position of the clamping arm and the second interrogator detecting the release position of the clamping arm.

The two rod parts can be designed differently; it is only necessary that the first rod part has the section with the external thread and the second rod part has the section with the internal thread. In this aspect, it is considered advantageous if the first rod part has a threaded bolt and a fork. In particular, the threaded bolt is pivotally connected to the fork. The fork is preferably guided in the longitudinal direction of the toggle lever clamping device and takes in the region of its end facing away from the threaded bolt pivotally the toggle lever assembly on. In such a design is provided in particular that the fork receives the first switching element. The second rod part and the actuating part of the drive form, for example, a structural unit or the second rod part is fixed axially and in this case mounted rotatably or non-rotatably in the actuating part of the drive.

Further features of the invention are described in the dependent claims, the description of the figures and the figures themselves, wherein it is noted that all individual features and all combinations of individual features are essential to the invention.

Figur 1

einen Längsmittelschnitt durch eine erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäße Kniehebelspannvorrichtung gemäß der Linie A-A in Figur 2, veranschaulicht für die Offnungsstellung des Spannarms,

Figur 2

einen Schnitt durch die in Figur 1 gezeigte Kniehebelspannvorrichtung, senkrecht zur Ebene A-A geschnitten und veranschaulicht ohne Spannarm,

Figuren 3 und 4

Schnittdarstellungen entsprechend den Schnittdarstellungen nach den Figuren 1 und 2 der Kniehebelspannvorrichtung, für die Klemmposition des Spannarms,

Figuren 5 und 6

Schnittdarstellungen entsprechend den Figuren 1 bis 4 der Kniehebelspannvorrichtung, veranschaulicht für die Klemmposition des Spannarms, allerdings bei gegenüber der Ausführungsform nach den Figuren 1 bis 4 maximal verkürzter Stange und in überlappender Stellung angeordneten Schaltelementen,

Figuren 7 und 8

für eine zweite Ausführungsform der Kniehebelspannvorrichtung Schnittdarstellungen gemäß der Figuren 1 und 2, für den Öffnungszustand des Spannarms, der nur in der Figur 7 veranschaulicht ist,

Figuren 9 und 10

für die Ausführungsform gemäß den Figuren 7 und 8 die den Figuren 3 und 4 entsprechende Klemmposition des Spannarms,

Figuren 11 und 12

für die Ausführungsform gemäß der Figuren 7 bis 10 die den Figuren 5 und 6 entsprechende Klemmposition des Spannarms bei minimaler Länge aufweisender Stange und in überlappender Stellung befindlichen Schaltelementen.

In the figures, the invention is illustrated with reference to two embodiments, for example, without being limited thereto. It shows:

FIG. 1

a longitudinal center section through a first embodiment of the invention toggle lever clamping device according to the line AA in FIG. 2 , illustrated for the opening position of the tensioning arm,

FIG. 2

a section through the in FIG. 1 shown toggle lever device, perpendicular to the plane AA cut and illustrated without tension arm,

FIGS. 3 and 4

Sectional views corresponding to the sectional views of the Figures 1 and 2 the knee lever tensioning device, for the clamping position of the tensioning arm,

FIGS. 5 and 6

Sectional views according to the FIGS. 1 to 4 the toggle lever device, illustrated for the clamping position of the clamping arm, but with respect to the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 to 4 maximum shortened rod and arranged in overlapping position switching elements,

FIGS. 7 and 8

for a second embodiment of the toggle lever clamping device sectional views according to the Figures 1 and 2 . for the opening state of the tensioning arm, which is illustrated only in FIG. 7,

FIGS. 9 and 10

for the embodiment according to the FIGS. 7 and 8 the the FIGS. 3 and 4 corresponding clamping position of the clamping arm,

FIGS. 11 and 12

for the embodiment according to the FIGS. 7 to 10 the the FIGS. 5 and 6 corresponding clamping position of the clamping arm with minimal length exhibiting rod and located in overlapping position switching elements.

The Ausfühirungsformen shown in the figures of the toggle clamping device 1 are used in particular in the bodywork of the automotive industry use. The toggle clamping device 1 has a clamping head 2 and a clamping arm 3 pivotally mounted in the clamping head. This is rotatably connected to a shaft 4, which is mounted in the housing 5 of the clamping head 2 and out of the housing 5 out.

With the chuck 2, a drive 6 is connected. This has an axially back and forth adjustable rod 7. A knee lever assembly 8 connects the rod 7 with the shaft 4 and thus the clamping arm 3. The toggle lever assembly comprises a lever 9 and a lever 10. The lever 9 is rotatably connected at one end to the shaft 4 and it is hinged at the other end of the lever 9 of the lever 10 by means of an axis 11 pivotally. The other end of the lever 10 is articulated by means of an axis 12 pivotally connected to a fork 13 of the rod 7. This fork 13 is axially guided in the longitudinal direction of the toggle lever clamping device 1 in the housing 5 of the clamping head 2. With the toggle lever 8 facing away from the end of the fork 13 is a likewise part of the rod 7 forming threaded bolt 14 by means of an axis 15, thus pivotally connected. Functionally form the Gabel.13 and the threaded bolt 14, a first rod part. The threaded bolt 14 is screwed into a threaded sleeve 16 which is fixedly connected to a plugged into this pin 17. Functionally form the threaded sleeve 16 and the pin 17 a second rod part. The pin 17 is fixedly connected to a trained as a piston 18, linearly adjustable control part of the drive 6. This piston 18 is sealed radially to the housing 19 of the drive 6. The associated with the clamping head 2 cover 20 of the housing 19 and the bottom 21 of the housing 19 are provided with connections 22 for compressed air supply and Druckluftabfuhr so that with appropriate control of the piston 18 for the sake of adjustability of the rod 7 can be moved back and forth.

The change in the length of the rod 7 is effected by turning pin 17 and threaded sleeve 16 relative to the rotatably mounted threaded bolt 14. For this purpose, the bottom 21 on its side facing away from the clamping head 2 an opening 23 through which the pin 17 and thus the threaded sleeve 16th is rotatable by means of an external hex tool. Specifically, when moved into the end position against the bottom 21 piston 18 a slidably mounted in the opening 23 actuator 24 with a projection 25 which is formed as a hexagon, in a recess 26 which is formed as a hexagon, retractable, wherein the control part on his the rod 7 facing away from a recess 27 which has a hexagon socket, for receiving the tool, not shown. About the tool so that the rotational movement is introduced into the actuating part 24 and 17 introduced in this position, the torque in the pin 17 and the threaded sleeve 16 due to the positive connection between the actuating part 24 and pin 17. In the process of the piston 18 away from the bottom 21 of the pin 17 is disengaged from the actuator 24. A return of the actuator 24, for example, in a manner not shown, by acting on the actuator 24 on its side facing the pin 17 with compressed air ,

The clamping head 2 is provided with an interrogation unit 28, which in turn has a first interrogator 29 for detecting the clamping position of the clamping arm 3, which clamps a workpiece and a two interrogator 30 for detecting the other open end position of the clamping arm 3. With the first interrogator 29 acts in the clamping position of the clamping arm 3 a first switching element 31 together, which is connected on the side facing the interrogator 29 side fixed to the first rod part, specifically the fork 13. With the second interrogator 30, a second switching element 32 cooperates in the opening end position of the clamping arm 3. This switching element 32, which is also oriented in the direction of the interrogation unit 28, has a in the axial direction of the rod 7 to the bottom 31 directed toward 33 and 33 connected to the neck ring portion 34. This is in the region of the toggle lever assembly 8 facing the end of Threaded sleeve 16 axially fixed, but freely rotatably mounted on the threaded sleeve 16. In order to ensure that the second switching element 32 can not rotate with respect to the housing 5 of the clamping head 2, the housing 5 has planar guides for the projection 33 of the second switching element 32. When changing the length of the rod 7, the switching element 32 thus moves only linearly to the switching element 31 to or from this.

If the rod 7 has a minimum length, then the threaded bolt 14 is completely screwed into the threaded sleeve 16, takes in the embodiments shown, such as FIGS. 5 and 6 11 and 12 can be seen, the second switching element 32 with respect to the first switching element 31, a position such that the two switching elements 31, 32 overlap. If the threaded bolt 14 is partially unscrewed from the threaded sleeve 16, as illustrated in the other figures, a distance between the two switching elements 31 and 32 results.

The different details of the two embodiments are explained below:

In the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 to 6 the respective interrogator 29 and 30 has a contactable by means of the switching elements 31 and 32, a roller 36 which is mounted in a pivotable about an axis 37 lever 38, said lever under the action a spring, not shown

Pneumatic valve 39 contacted. Acts the respective switching element 31 and 32 together with the roller 36, the pneumatic valve 39 is actuated due to the successful pivoting of the lever 38 and thus queried via the associated pneumatic control the position of the switching element 31 and 32 and consequently the position of the clamping arm 30.

So that the two switching elements 31 and 32 can assume the overlapping position or in principle could also be moved beyond this position with a corresponding structural design, the first switching part 31 is substantially plate-shaped, wherein the plate in the cross-sectional plane AA according to FIG. 2 oriented and designated by the reference numeral 40. The second switching element 32 is formed substantially U-shaped, with the two legs 41. At maximum nested rod parts, the plate 40 of the first switching element 31 between the two legs 41 of the second switching element 32 is retracted.

The Figures 1 and 2 show the toggle lever when partially unscrewed out of the threaded sleeve 16 threaded bolt 14 in the moving towards the bottom 31 end position of the piston 8, in which the second switching element 32, the second interrogator 30, concretely contacted their role, and thus actuates the associated pneumatic valve 39.

This position corresponds to the opening position of the clamping arm. 3

When applying the terminal 22 in the bottom 21 with compressed air and discharge of compressed air from the cover 20 via the local terminal 22, the piston 18 is moved in the direction of the clamping head 2 and it passes the second switching element 32 out of contact with the second interrogator 30. The end position of the piston 18, which represents a substantially middle position of the piston 18 in the housing 19 due to the selected length of the rod 7, results in contacting the roller 36 of the first interrogator 29th by the first switching element 31, as shown in the FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown. This end position corresponds to the clamping position of the clamping arm. 3

The FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate, according to the clamping position according to the FIGS. 4 and 5 , the situation when the threaded bolt 14 is completely screwed into the threaded sleeve 16. In this case, the piston 18 can perform a movement from the bottom 21 to the cover 20, which results in a larger pivot angle of the clamping arm 3 between the open position and clamping position. In the open position, the legs 41 of the second switching element 32 contact the roller 36 of the second interrogator 30. In the in the FIGS. 5 and 6 shown clamping position, the plate 40 of the first switching element 31 contacts the roller 36 of the first interrogator 29th

With a relatively short stroke of the piston 18, a stepless opening angle adjustment of 0 ° to 135 ° is possible in the toggle lever tensioning device.

The modification of the second embodiment of the FIGS. 7 and 12 refers to the fact that instead of a pneumatically acting query unit 28 an interrogation unit 28 is provided which has electronic interrogators 29 or 30 or interrogators 29, 30 which are effective as optical readers. These interact with the two switching elements 31 and 32, the plates 40 and 41 have.

Claims (12)

1. Toggle joint clamping device (1), in particular for use in body manufacturing in the motor vehicle industry, with a clamping head (2), a clamping arm (3) mounted pivotably in the clamping head (2), a drive (6) which is connected to the clamping head (2) and has a rod (7) which can be adjusted to and fro axially, a toggle joint arrangement (8) for connecting the rod (7) and clamping arm (3), wherein the rod (7) has a first rod part (13, 14), which is connected pivotably to the toggle joint arrangement (8), and a second rod part (16, 17), which is mounted in a linearly adjustable adjusting part (18) of the drive (6), wherein the two rod parts (13, 14; 16, 17) are screwed one inside the other and are changeable in length, wherein the first rod part (13, 14) has a section with an external thread, and the second rod part (16, 17) has a section with an internal thread, wherein, furthermore, the first rod part (13, 14) accommodates a first switching element (31), and the clamping head (2) is provided with a first interrogation device (29) for detecting an end position of the first switching element (31), and the second rod part (16, 17) accommodates a second switching element (32), and the clamping head (2) is provided with a second interrogation device (30) for detecting an end position of the second switching element (32), and the two switching elements (31, 32) are moved linearly during the adjustment of the rod (7) to and fro, characterized in that the drive (6), on its side facing away from the clamping head (2), has an opening (23) through which, for the purpose of changing the length of the rod (7), the second rod part (16, 17) can be rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the housing (19) of the drive (6), and the two switching elements (31, 32) can be moved linearly in the housing (5) of the clamping head (2), with the second switching element (32) being mounted rotatably relative to the second rod part (16, 17) about the longitudinal axis of the second rod part (16, 17) and such that it is fixed axially thereon, and with the two switching elements (31, 32) taking up at least an overlapping position when the rod parts (13, 14; 16, 17) are screwed to the maximum extent one inside the other.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second switching element (32) is guided linearly, in particular is guided linearly in the housing (5) of the clamping head (2).
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first switching element (31) is connected rigidly to the first rod part (13, 14).
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second switching element (32) moves over the first switching element (31) during the adjustment of the rod parts (13, 14; 16, 17) into the position thereof in which they are screwed to the maximum extent one inside the other.
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one switching element (31) is of substantially plate-like design and the other switching element (32) is of substantially U-shaped design in such a manner that, when the rod parts (13, 14; 16, 17) are screwed to the maximum extent one inside the other, the plate-like switching element (31) is inserted into the switching element (32) which is of U-shaped design.
6. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the respective switching element (31, 32) is designed as a tab.
7. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the respective interrogation device (29, 30) has a switch (36, 37, 38) which can be pivoted or can be tilted by means of the respective switching element (31, 32), and preferably has an end switch, in particular a pneumatic end switch.
8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the respective interrogation device (29, 30) has an electronic end switch or optical reader actuable by means of the respective switching element (31, 32).
9. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first interrogation device (29) serves to detect the clamping position of the clamping arm (3), and the second interrogation device (30) serves to detect the open position of the clamping arm (3).
10. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first rod part (13, 14) has a fork (13) and a threaded bolt (14), in particular a fork (13) which is connected pivotably to the threaded bolt (14).
11. Device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the fork (13) accommodates the first switching element (31).
12. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the second rod part (16, 17) and the adjusting part (18) of the drive (6) form a constructional unit, or the second rod part is mounted in an axially fixed, rotatable or nonrotatable manner in the adjusting part (18) of the drive (6).

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