Pneumatic decking crimper

A portable crimping apparatus for crimping steel decking to a predetermined crimped thickness, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame,
• a first and second pivoted jaw, each pivotally attached to said frame, each of said first and second pivoted jaws comprising a free end and a driven end, said free ends having opposing surfaces, said surfaces being moveable between a first position in which said surfaces define an angular opening and a second position in which said surfaces define a substantially parallel gap corresponding to said crimped thickness of said steel decking;
• a toggle linkage disposed between said driven ends of said first and second pivoted jaws, said toggle linkage comprising a first and second link, said first and second links each having first ends, said first ends being pivotally attached one to another to form a toggle input joint, said first link pivotally attached at a second end thereof to said driven end of said first pivoted jaw and said second link pivotally attached at a second end thereof to said driven end of said second pivoted jaw;
• a cross head operatively, attached to said toggle input joint to constrain said toggle input joint to move linearly thereby causing said jaws to move in unison;
• a pneumatic cylinder:
• a connecting rod having an adjustable length operatively disposed between said pneumatic cylinder and said toggle input joint;
• said pneumatic cylinder being moveable between a first position in which said toggle linkage urges said jaws into an open position as said toggle linkage moves away from an overcenter position, and a second position in which said toggle linkage urges said jaws into a closed position as said toggle linkage approaches an overcenter condition;
• a valve for admitting a flow of pressurized air into said pneumatic cylinder to urge said pneumatic cylinder from said first position to said second position;
• and
• a set of punches and dies disposed in said free ends of said pivoted jaws, said set of punches and dies comprising:
• two die formed in said surface of said first jaw and a single punch removably attached to said surface of said first jaw, said single punch disposed between said two die such that said punch is raised above said surface of said first jaw;
• two punches removably attached to said surface of said second jaw such that said two punches are raised above said surface of said second jaw, and a single die formed in said surface of said second jaw disposed between said two punches;
• said two die being disposed in said first jaw opposite said two punches and said single die being disposed in said second jaw opposite said single punch, said set of punches and dies cooperating to raise three dimples of alternating direction in said steel decking.