Hydraulic crimping apparatus

Abstract

An hydraulic crimper ( 1 ) comprising, an elongated crimping assembly ( 3 ) with a forward end and a rearward end the crimper assembly having a crimping head ( 11 ) moveable towards and away from a die ( 9 ), a handle ( 5 ) for holding the crimping assembly, the handle extending above the crimping assembly and being constructed so that it has a balanced position where it may be held with the hydraulic crimper in balance, an actuator ( 7 ) moveable between an on setting and an off setting, the actuator being located on the handle, a control valve ( 37 ) for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure to move the crimping head, and a mechanical linkage ( 13 ) extending from the actuator to the control valve whereby to control the movement of the crimping head in response to the setting of the actuator.

1 . An hydraulic crimper comprising, 
 an elongate crimping assembly with a forward end and a rearward end the crimper assembly having a crimping head moveable towards and away from a die,    a handle for holding the crimping assembly, the handle extending above the crimping assembly and being constructed so that it has a balanced position where it may be held with the hydraulic crimper in balance,    an actuator moveable between an on setting and an off setting, the actuator being located on the handle,    a control valve for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure to move the crimping head, and    a mechanical linkage extending from the actuator to the control valve whereby to control the movement of the crimping head in response to the setting of the actuator.    
   
   
       2 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 1  wherein the crimping assembly comprises, 
 a piston chamber near the rearward end of the crimping assembly, a piston slidable within the piston chamber in response to pressure from the hydraulic fluid, and    a first push rod connecting the crimping head and piston.    
   
   
       3 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 1  wherein, one end of the handle is connected to the rearward end of the crimping assembly, 
 the actuator comprises a pivotable member operable by finger or thumb pressure, and    the pivotable member is located at a position on the handle forward of the balanced position whereby an operator may hold the handle in one hand at the balanced position whilst being able to push the pivotable member with a finger or thumb of the one hand.    
   
   
       4 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 2  wherein, 
 a forward part of the piston chamber is spaced from a rearward part of the piston chamber by the piston,    an inlet is arranged to direct the hydraulic fluid to the control valve, and    the control valve is arranged to direct the hydraulic fluid to the rearward part of the piston chamber when the actuator assumes the on setting and to the forward part of the piston chamber when the actuator assumes the off setting.    
   
   
       5 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 4  comprising, 
 an outlet for the hydraulic fluid,    a secondary valve which is adapted to be set in an open configuration and a closed configuration,    wherein the secondary valve is arranged to allow the hydraulic fluid under pressure to flow through the secondary valve and out of the outlet when the secondary valve is set in the open configuration and to prevent the hydraulic fluid under pressure flowing through the secondary valve and out of the outlet when it is in the closed configuration.    
   
   
       6 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 5  wherein the control valve and secondary valve are located in a rearward section of the handle.  
   
   
       7 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 6  comprising, 
 a first duct for allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow from a primary outlet of the control valve to the rearward part of the piston chamber,    a second duct for allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow from a secondary outlet of the control valve to the forward part of the piston chamber,    a bypass duct in communication with the second duct and with the outlet, wherein the secondary valve is arranged to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the bypass duct.    
   
   
       8 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 7  wherein the control valve comprises, 
 a housing provided in the handle, and    a spool moveable within the housing.    
   
   
       9 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 1  comprising, 
 an outlet duct for directing the hydraulic fluid from the control valve to an outlet from the hydraulic crimper, and    a pressure sensitive relief valve set to open and allow the hydraulic fluid to pass through the outlet duct when the pressure in the outlet duct exceeds a predetermined limit and to close and block the passage of the hydraulic fluid through the outlet duct when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid is below the predetermined limit.    
   
   
       10 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 9  comprising, 
 a sensor set to signal the passage of the hydraulic fluid through the outlet duct downstream of the pressure sensitive relief valve.    
   
   
       11 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 1  including retraction means for automatically retracting the crimping head away from the die when pressure of the hydraulic fluid drops below a predetermined limit.  
   
   
       12 . An hydraulic crimper comprising, 
 an elongate crimping assembly with a forward end and rearward end the crimper assembly having a crimping head moveable towards and away from a die,    an actuator moveable between an on setting and an off setting,    a control valve for controlling flow of the hydraulic fluid under pressure to move the crimping head,    a mechanical linkage extending from the actuator to the control valve whereby to control the movement of the crimping head in response to the setting of the actuator; and    retraction means adapted to automatically retract the crimping head away from the die when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid falls below a predetermined limit.    
   
   
       13 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 12  wherein the crimping assembly comprises, 
 a piston chamber near the rearward end of the crimping assembly,    a piston slidable within the piston chamber in response to pressure from the hydraulic fluid, and    a first push rod connecting the crimping head and piston.    
   
   
       14 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 13  wherein the retraction means comprise a spring telescoping the first push rod.  
   
   
       15 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 12  comprising a handle for holding the crimping assembly, the handle extending above the crimping assembly and being constructed so that it has a balanced position where it may be held with the hydraulic crimper in balance, and wherein, 
 one end of the handle is connected to the rearward end of the crimping assembly,    the actuator comprises a pivotable member operable by finger or thumb pressure, and    the pivotable member is located at a position on the handle forward of the balanced position whereby an operator may hold the handle in one hand at the balanced position whilst being able to push the pivotable member with a finger or thumb of the one hand.    
   
   
       16 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 13  wherein, 
 a forward part of the piston chamber is spaced from a rearward part of the piston chamber by the piston,    an inlet is arranged to direct the hydraulic fluid to the control valve, and    the control valve is arranged to direct the hydraulic fluid to the rearward part of the piston chamber when the actuator assumes the on setting and to the forward part of the piston chamber when the actuator assumes the off setting.    
   
   
       17 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 16  comprising, 
 an outlet for the hydraulic fluid,    a secondary valve which is adapted to be set in an open configuration and a closed configuration,    wherein the secondary valve is arranged to allow the hydraulic fluid under pressure to flow through the secondary valve and out of the outlet when the secondary valve is set in the open configuration and to prevent the hydraulic fluid under pressure flowing through the secondary valve and out of the outlet when it is in the closed configuration.    
   
   
       18 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 17  wherein the control valve and secondary valve are located in a rearward section of the handle.  
   
   
       19 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 18 , comprising, 
 a first duct for allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow from a primary outlet of the control valve to the rearward part of the piston chamber,    a second duct for allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow from a secondary outlet of the control chamber to the forward part of the piston chamber,    a bypass duct in communication with the second duct and with the outlet, wherein the secondary valve is arranged to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the bypass duct.    
   
   
       20 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 19  wherein the control valve comprises, 
 a housing provided in the handle, and    a spool moveable within the housing.    
   
   
       21 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 12  comprising, 
 an outlet duct for directing the hydraulic fluid from the control valve to an outlet from the hydraulic crimper, and    a pressure sensitive relief valve set to open and allow the hydraulic fluid to pass through the outlet duct when the pressure in the outlet duct exceeds a predetermined limit and to close and block passage of the hydraulic fluid through the outlet duct when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid is below the predetermined limit.    
   
   
       22 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 21 , comprising, 
 a sensor set to signal passage of the hydraulic fluid through the outlet duct downstream of the pressure sensitive relief valve.    
   
   
       23 . A sensor for signalling the passage of the hydraulic fluid through a duct comprising, 
 a flow member exposed to the movement of the hydraulic fluid through the duct moveable in response to movement of the hydraulic fluid through the duct, and    sensing means isolated from contact with the hydraulic fluid, the sensing means being responsive to movement of the flow member to provide a signal for indicating the passage of the hydraulic fluid.    
   
   
       24 . A sensor according to  claim 23  wherein the flow member comprises a paddle mounted for pivotal movement in response to the passage of the hydraulic fluid through the duct and the sensing means comprise a chamber for housing and isolating a moveable, visible indicator member from the hydraulic fluid, and at least one of the paddle and visible indicator include a permanent magnet to magnetically tie the movement of the visible indicator to respond to movement of the paddle.  
   
   
       25 . A sensor according to  claim 24  wherein the chamber includes a transparent window through which the visible indicator may be viewed and the paddle is connected to resilient means to urge the paddle to a rest position in the absence of the hydraulic fluid moving through the duct.  
   
   
       26 . An hydraulic crimper comprising, 
 an elongate crimping assembly with a forward end and a rearward end the crimper assembly having a crimping head moveable towards and away from a die,    an inlet for hydraulic fluid,    an actuator moveable between an on setting and an off setting,    a control valve for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure to move the crimping head,    a mechanical linkage extending from the actuator to the control valve whereby to control the movement of the crimping head in response to the setting of the actuator,    an outlet for the hydraulic fluid,    an outlet duct for allowing communication between the control valve and the outlet, and    a sensor according to  claim 23  arranged to signal the passage of the hydraulic fluid through the outlet duct.    
   
   
       27 . A hydraulic crimper according to  claim 26  comprising, 
 a handle for holding the crimping assembly, the handle extending above the crimping assembly and being constructed so that it has a balanced position where it may be held with the hydraulic crimper in balance, the actuator being located on the handle,    a piston chamber near the rearward end of the crimping assembly,    a piston slidable within the piston chamber in response to the hydraulic fluid pressure, and    a first push rod connecting the crimping head and piston.    
   
   
       28 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 27 , wherein, 
 one end of the handle is connected to the rearward end of the crimping assembly,    the actuator comprises a pivotable member operable by finger or thumb pressure, and    the pivotable member is located at a position on the handle forward of the balanced position whereby an operator may hold the handle in one hand at the balanced position whilst being able to push the pivotable member with a finger or thumb of the one hand.    
   
   
       29 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 27  wherein, 
 a forward part of the piston chamber is spaced from a rearward part of the piston chamber by the piston,    an inlet is arranged to direct the hydraulic fluid to the control valve, and    the control valve is arranged to direct the hydraulic fluid to the rearward part of the piston chamber when the actuator assumes the on setting and to the forward part of the piston chamber when the actuator assumes the off setting.    
   
   
       30 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 29  comprising, 
 an outlet for the hydraulic fluid,    a secondary valve which is adapted to be set in an open configuration and a closed configuration,    wherein the secondary valve is arranged to allow the hydraulic fluid under pressure to flow through the secondary valve and out of the outlet when the secondary valve is set in the open configuration an to prevent the hydraulic fluid under pressure flowing through the secondary valve and out of the outlet when it is in the closed configuration.    
   
   
       31 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 29  wherein the control valve and secondary valve are located in a rearward section of the handle.  
   
   
       32 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 31 , comprising, 
 a first duct for allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow from a primary outlet of the control valve to the rearward part of the piston chamber,    a second duct for allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow from a secondary outlet of the control chamber to the forward part of the piston chamber,    a bypass duct in communication with the second duct and with the outlet, wherein the secondary valve is arranged to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the bypass duct.    
   
   
       33 . An hydraulic crimper comprising, 
 an elongate crimping assembly with a forward end and rearward end the crimper assembly having a crimping head moveable towards and away from a die,    an actuator moveable between an on setting and an off setting,    a control valve for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure to move the crimping head,    an inlet for the hydraulic fluid,    an outlet for the hydraulic fluid,    a mechanical linkage extending from the actuator to the control valve whereby to control the movement of the crimping head in response to the setting of the actuator,    an outlet duct for directing the hydraulic fluid from the control valve to the outlet, and    a one way valve set to open and allow the hydraulic fluid to pass through the inlet so as to provide a one way flow direction of hydraulic fluid from the inlet to the outlet and to prevent flow in the reverse direction.    
   
   
       35 . A hydraulic crimper according to  claim 33  comprising, 
 a handle for holding the crimping assembly, the handle extending above the crimping assembly and being constructed so that it has a balanced position where it may be held with the hydraulic crimper in balance, the actuator being located on the handle,    a piston chamber near the rearward end of the crimping assembly,    piston slidable within the piston chamber in response to the hydraulic pressure, and    a first push rod connecting the crimping head and piston.    
   
   
       35 . An hydraulic crimper according to claim  34  wherein, 
 one end of the handle is connected the rearward end of the crimping assembly, t   he actuator comprises a pivotable member operable by finger or thumb pressure, and    the pivotable member is located at a position on the handle forward of the balanced position whereby an operator may hold the hydraulic crimper handle in one hand at the balanced position whilst being able to push the pivotable member with a finger or thumb of the one hand.    
   
   
       36 . An hydraulic crimper according to claim  34  wherein, 
 a forward part of the piston chamber is spaced from a rearward part of the piston chamber by the piston,    an inlet is arranged to direct the hydraulic fluid to the control valve, and    the control valve is arranged to direct the hydraulic fluid to the rearward part of the piston chamber when the actuator assumes the on setting and to the forward part of the piston chamber when the actuator assumes the off setting.    
   
   
       37 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 36  comprising, 
 an outlet for the hydraulic fluid,    a secondary valve which is adapted to be set in an open configuration and a closed configuration,    wherein the secondary valve is arranged to allow the hydraulic fluid under pressure to flow through the secondary valve and out of the outlet when the secondary valve is set in the open configuration and to prevent the hydraulic fluid under pressure flowing through the secondary valve and out of the outlet when it is in the closed configuration.    
   
   
       38 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 32  wherein the control valve and secondary valve are located in a rearward section of the handle.  
   
   
       39 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 38  comprising, 
 a first duct for allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow from a primary outlet of the control valve to the rearward part of the piston chamber, p 1  a second duct for allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow from a secondary outlet of the control chamber to the forward part of the piston chamber,    a bypass duct in communication with the second duct and with the outlet,    wherein the secondary valve is arranged to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the bypass duct.    
   
   
       40 . An hydraulic crimper according to  claim 39  wherein the control valve comprises, 
 a housing provided in the handle,.and    a spool moveable within the housing.