Thread rolling head

Abstract

A thread rolling head comprises a bearing unit, in which at least two profile rollers, preferably at least three profile rollers, are rotatably mounted, and a shank section coupled to the bearing unit. Adjacent profile rollers delimit an insertion section into which a workpiece to be machined can be inserted. The bearing unit is built from at least two modules each forming a functional unit, wherein the modules each have a fastener through which modules can be connected together and can be exchanged for other modules also each forming a functional unit. One of the modules has fasteners for connecting to corresponding fasteners of the shank section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thread rolling head, comprising:
 a bearing unit in which at least two profile rollers are rotatably mounted; and   a shank section coupled to the bearing unit; wherein:   adjacent ones of the at least two profile rollers delimit an insertion section into which a workpiece to be machined can be inserted;   the bearing unit is built from at least two modules, each module forming a functional unit and having a module fastening device through which they can be connected together;   each module can be exchanged for other modules also each forming a functional unit; and   one of the at least two modules includes a fastener for connecting to a corresponding fastener of the shank section.   
     
     
         2 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 1 , wherein the module fastening devices of adjacent modules of the at least two modules define a unique fastening position of the adjacent modules to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 1 , wherein the module fastening devices of adjacent modules of the at least two modules define exactly two fastening positions of the adjacent modules to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a first module of the bearing unit is a profile roller cage holding the at least two profile rollers;   a second module of the bearing unit is a spring housing having a spring arranged in the spring housing, the fastener being a first connector of the spring housing connecting the spring housing to the shank section and the module fastening device of the second module being a second connector of the spring housing connecting the spring housing to the module fastening device of the profile roller cage.   
     
     
         5 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the shank section is built from at least two modules;   a first module of the shank section is a closing unit having a first closing unit fastening device and a second closing unit fastening device;   a second module is a shank having a shank fastening device;   the first closing unit fastening device is connected to the shank fastening device; and   the second closing unit fastening device is connected to the first connector of the spring housing.   
     
     
         6 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the profile roller cage has a front plate and an intermediate plate; and   the at least two profile rollers are held together with eccentric shafts rotatably bearing the at least two profile rollers between the front plate and the intermediate plate.   
     
     
         7 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 6 , wherein the profile roller cage has a plurality of distance bolts fastened to the front plate and extending between the front plate and the intermediate plate. 
     
     
         8 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the module fastening device of the profile roller cage comprises a central ring gear with external teeth arranged on the intermediate plate on a side facing away from the front plate;   the profile roller cage comprises a plurality of outer gears meshing with the external teeth of the central ring gear, arranged also on the intermediate plate on the side facing away from the front plate; and   each of the plurality of outer gears is connected so as to be fixed against rotation to one of the eccentric shafts.   
     
     
         9 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 8 , wherein the second connector of the spring housing comprises a coupling section engaging in a form-locking manner in the central ring gear of the profile roller cage. 
     
     
         10 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the coupling section is formed as a splined shaft;   the central ring gear on an inner surface thereof has a plurality of engaging grooves running in an axial direction of the thread rolling head; and   and the splined shaft engages into the plurality of engaging grooves.   
     
     
         11 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 10 , wherein a division of the splined shaft and a division of the plurality of engaging grooves are non-uniform such that the coupling section can engage in the central ring gear in precisely one position of rotation. 
     
     
         12 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first connector of the spring housing has a coupling section;   the second closing unit fastening device comprises a coupling section in form-locking engagement with the coupling section of the spring housing.   
     
     
         13 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first closing unit fastening device has a coupling section; and   the fastener of the shank comprises a coupling section in form-locking engagement with the coupling section.   
     
     
         14 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 4 , wherein the profile roller cage and the spring housing are rotatable relative to each other with pre-tensioning or relaxing of the spring mounted in the spring housing and with changing of spacing of the profile rollers. 
     
     
         15 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the spring housing has an annular groove running in a peripheral direction about an outer surface; and   an actuating clip with a catch is fastened within the annular groove such that rotation of the spring housing relative to the profile roller cage is possible using the actuating clip.   
     
     
         16 . The thread rolling head according to  claim 15 , wherein the actuating clip has an actuating section to which the catch is releasably fastened.