Rod gripping tool for applying fasteners

A tool for releasably gripping a rod comprising:

• a support structure;
• a rod clamping assembly connected to said structure and movable relative to said structure;
• a release means connected to said structure and adapted to cooperate with said clamping assembly, when said clamping assembly and said structure are at one end of said relative movement, to release a said rod gripped by said clamping assembly;
• and
• means for producing said relative movement;
• wherein, upon operation of said means to produce said relative motion, away from said one end, a said rod, when gripped by said clamping assembly, is moved longitudinally relative to said structure;
• wherein the means for producing said relative movement comprises:
• a motion converter having first and second members supported by said structure and adapted to convert rotary motion of said first member into linear motion on said second member and vice versa;
• a clutch supported by said structure, having a driving member and a driven member connected to transmit rotary motion to said first member;
• means for selectively engaging said clutch;
• means to disengage said clutch;
• and
• biasing means connected to bias said second member in opposition to the linear motion produced by said rotary motion;
• and
• wherein said second member is connected to transmit said linear motion to said clamping assembly to produce said relative motion, away from said one end, in opposition to the bias of said biasing means, when said clutch is engaged by said selective engaging means to transmit a rotary input motion to said first member;
• said clutch disengaging means cooperates with said clutch to contact and disengage said clutch when said relative motion has produced a predetermined travel of said clamping assembly away from said one end;
• said biasing means being connected to return said second member and said clamping assembly to said one end of said relative motion upon disengagement of said clutch.