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US 2015/0026950 A1Published application
Method of using a pierce nut insertion tool
AssigneeBTM Corporation
InventorsEdwin G. Sawdon, Stephen E. Sawdon, Steven J. Sprotberry, Brian D. Petit
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pierce nut insertion tool is provided. In another aspect, a pierce nut feeding mechanism has a mechanically independent driver actuator from that of a punch. A further aspect of the present tool employs a member, moveable with a punch, that retains a pierce nut prior to fastening of the nut to a workpiece. An additional aspect uses a fluid actuated nut feeder including a piston.
Claims20
A method of using a pierce nut insertion tool comprising:
- (a) applying fluid pressure to advance a piston toward a punch axis;
- (b) feeding pierce nuts along a path, located on an opposite side of the piston from a moveable press platten, in response to step (a);
- (c) moving the nut path and piston away from the platten by an actuator to assist in the pierce nut feeding;
- (d) allowing one of the nuts to be advanced and aligned with the punch axis;
- (e) moving the nut path and piston toward the platten, after step (d);
- and
- (f) creating a hole in a workpiece and clinching the pierce nut to the workpiece by the punch pushing the pierce nut against the workpiece.
4 more elements
A method of using a pierce nut insertion tool comprising:
- (a) applying fluid pressure to advance a piston in a first direction toward a punch axis;
- (b) moving a pierce nut-feeder in the first direction in response to step (a);
- (c) advancing a pierce nut-insertion punch in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
- and
- (d) varying the timing of subsequent feeder movement relative to subsequent punch advancing only through a programmable controller change.
2 more elements
A method of using a pierce nut insertion tool comprising:
- (a) advancing a string of temporarily attached pierce nuts toward a punch axis by use of a fluid powered pawl;
- (b) moving a tool body at least partially containing the pawl and pierce nuts away from a tool base to which a punch is mounted to allow alignment of one of the pierce nuts with the punch;
- (c) moving the tool body toward the tool base to sever the one of the pierce nuts from the string;
- and
- (d) using fluid actuation to move the tool body relative to the tool base in at least one of steps (b) and (c).
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.