Hose clamp setting tool and system

A clamp setting tool capable of securing an associated hose clamp having an associated catch tab and an associated stopper tab, the associated hose clamp includes a pre-clamped state where the associated catch tab is engaged to the associated stopper tab, and a clamped state where the associated catch tab is released from the associated stopper tab, the clamp setting tool comprising:

• a first member and a second member, the first member pivotally coupled to the second member forming pliers;
• a first head element at a first end of the first member and a second head element at a first end of the second member, each of the first head element and the second head element configured to receive both the associated catch tab and the associated stopper tab of the associated hose clamp;
• a first handle at a second end of the first member and a second handle at a second end of the second member;
• and
• a stop mechanism positioned between the first and second head elements, the stop mechanism includes a spring-biased sliding pin arrangement secured by one of the first and second head elements, the stop mechanism is configured to prevent movement of the first and second head elements from an open position where the associated hose clamp secured by the clamp setting tool is in the pre-clamped state toward a closed position where the associated hose clamp secured by the clamp setting tool is in the clamped state,
• wherein the sliding pin arrangement includes a lock pin movable between a locked state and an unlocked state, and the lock pin is biased toward the locked state,
• wherein the lock pin is movable in hinge parts formed on the first head element, one end of the lock pin includes a cap to limit axial displacement of the lock pin into the first head element, and an opposite end of the lock pin receives a spring and is mounted to a plate.

A method of securing a flexible hose onto a hollow shaft via a hose clamp, the hose clamp includes a pre-clamped state where a catch tab is engaged to a stopper tab, and a clamped state where the catch tab is released from the stopper tab, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a clamp setting tool including:
• (i) a first head element and a second head element, the first head element includes at least one first notch formed therein and the second head element includes at least one second notch formed therein that positionally corresponds to the at least one first notch, and
• (ii) a stop mechanism connected to one of the first and second head elements, the stop mechanism configured to prevent movement of the first and second head elements from an open position toward a closed position,
• (b) placing the hose clamp in the pre-clamped state loosely over an end portion of the hose mounted on the hollow shaft;
• (c) moving the first and second head elements to the open position and engaging the hose clamp with the clamp setting tool by positioning the catch tab and the stopper tab of the hose clamp within the first and second notches;
• (d) with the hose clamp in the pre-clamped state engaged by the clamp setting tool, rotating the clamp setting tool toward an associated component adjacent the hose end portion;
• (e) exerting a force on the stop mechanism via contact of the stop mechanism with the associated component to move the stop mechanism from a normally locked state to an unlocked state;
• and
• (f) with the stop mechanism in the unlocked state moving the first and second head elements toward the closed position to release the catch tab from the stopper tab, thereby moving the hose clamp to the clamped state.