Non-impact swaging apparatus
AssigneeAlcoa Global Fasteners, Inc.
InventorsCristinel Ovidiu Cobzaru, Robert Bryant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved machine for performing a swaging operation includes a mandrel and an expandable collet that are mounted to an actuator such as a conventional pneumatic gun. The mandrel includes a plurality of ramped planar engagement surfaces that are slidably engageable with a plurality of planar reaction surfaces on deflectable segments of the collet. The planar nature of the engagement surfaces and the reaction surfaces avoids unwanted deflection of the segments that would otherwise turn the segments into cutting tools, such as would occur if the surfaces were of certain other shapes. The mandrel is rotatably mounted to the pneumatic gun whereby the engagement surfaces are self-aligning with the reaction surfaces during an initial stage of a swaging operation.
Claims23
A swaging apparatus structured to be operatively mounted to an actuator, the swaging apparatus being structured to swage together a first member and a second member, the swaging apparatus comprising:
- a support structured to be disposed on the actuator;
- a mandrel including a plurality of substantially planar engagement surfaces;
- a collet structured to be disposed on the actuator;
- the collet including a base and a plurality of segments, the segments being disposed on the base and being elastically deflectable with respect to the base;
- each segment including a substantially planar reaction surface and an arcuate swaging surface;
- the engagement surfaces being slidably engageable with the reaction surfaces to deflect the segments between a collapsed position and an extended position, the segments in the extended position being structured to swagingly engage the first member;
- and
- the mandrel being rotatably disposed on the support, whereby the engagement surfaces are self-alignable with the reaction surfaces, the engagement surfaces being disposed on the mandrel generally opposite the support.
A machine for swaging together a first member and a second member, the machine comprising:
- an actuator including a housing and a translatable piston;
- a swaging apparatus operatively mounted to the actuator;
- the swaging apparatus including a support, a mandrel, and a collet;
- the support being disposed on one of the housing and the piston;
- the collet being disposed on the other of the housing and the piston;
- the collet including a base and a plurality of segments, the segments being disposed on the base and being elastically deflectable with respect to the base;
- each segment including a substantially planar reaction surface and an arcuate swaging surface;
- the mandrel including a plurality of substantially planar engagement surfaces;
- the engagement surfaces being slidably engageable with the reaction surfaces to deflect the segments between a collapsed position and an extended position, the segments in the extended position being structured to swagingly engage the first member;
- and
- the mandrel being rotatably disposed on the support, whereby the engagement surfaces are self-alignable with the reaction surfaces, the engagement surfaces being disposed on the mandrel generally opposite the support.
A method of swaging together a first member and a second member, the method comprising:
- providing a mandrel having a plurality of substantially planar engagement surfaces;
- providing a collet having a plurality of deflectable segments, each segment having a substantially planar reaction surface and an arcuate swaging surface;
- establishing slidable engagement of the engagement surfaces with the reaction surfaces through self-alignment to elastically deflect the segments between a collapsed position and an extended position;
- and
- swagingly engaging the swaging surfaces with the first member.
A machine for swaging together a first member and a second member, the machine comprising:
- an actuator including a housing and a translatable piston;
- a swaging apparatus operatively mounted to the actuator;
- the swaging apparatus including a support, a mandrel, and a collet;
- the support being disposed on one of the housing and the piston;
- the collet being disposed on the other of the housing and the piston, the collet being rotatably adjustable among a plurality of rotational positions with respect to the other of the housing and the piston;
- the collet including a base and a plurality of segments, the segments being disposed on the base and being elastically deflectable with respect to the base;
- each segment including a substantially planar reaction surface and a swaging surface;
- the mandrel including a plurality of substantially planar engagement surfaces;
- the engagement surfaces being slidably engageable with the reaction surfaces to deflect the segments between a collapsed position and an extended position, the segments in the extended position being structured to swagingly engage the first member;
- and
- the mandrel being rotatably disposed on the support and self-alignable with the reaction surfaces according to the rotational position of the collet with respect to the other of the housing and the piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.