Tool for the connection of tubes by means of connection sleeves
A tool for the connection of tubes (T) by means of connection sleeves (C), comprising two jaws ( 2, 3 ) which are mutually movable between an open rest position, and a closed work position wherein they define an annular reception seat ( 7 ) of the connection sleeve (C), and wherein they turn a circumferential series of radial punches ( 6 ) towards the sleeve (C); said jaws ( 2, 3 ) each comprising at least one punch ( 6 ) sliding towards the center of said reception seat ( 7 ), and being mutually connected by means of a kinematic system which permits them, when they are found in said open rest position, to confer a generally open-ring shape to said reception seat ( 7 ), through whose lateral opening ( 8 ) the connection sleeve (C) can be inserted and extracted by lateral movement.
1. A tool for the connection of tubes (T) by means of connection sleeves (C), the tool comprising a jaw structure comprising two consecutive coplanar curved jaws connected at one end by a hinged joint allowing the jaws to rotate on a rotation axis orthogonal to their common position plane between an open rest position, wherein they define a laterally open reception seat, and a closed work position wherein they define an annular closed reception seat for a connection sleeve (C), each jaw of the jaw structure comprising an outer driving half ring fixed to the respective jaw and an inner support half-ring slidable with respect to the outer half ring on their common curvature axis, the inner and outer half rings forming an inner and an outer ring while the tool is in the work position, each inner half ring being provided with at least one radial engagement recess for housing a respective punch, and each outer half ring comprising a radially shaped profile cooperating with said punch to make the punch slide in its recess when said inner support half-rings rotates along its own curvature axis with respect to the outer driving half-ring, and a device to rotate one of the inner support half rings with respect to its outer driving half-ring, wherein for every punch, the inner surface of said driving half-ring bears a shaped profile acting as a cam, and a cam follower interposed between said shaped profile and the related punch.
2. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the device to rotate one of the inner support half rings with respect to its outer driving half-ring comprises at least one advancing bracket fixed to the inner support half ring, and variable length device connecting said bracket and the jaw.
3. The tool according to claim 1 wherein at opposite ends with respect to said hinged joint, said jaws comprise a lock for locking the jaws in said closed work position.
4. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein a closure plate is removably fixed to said support half-ring, for closing on a side of said at least one engagement recess for the punch.
5. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein each said cam follower comprises a rolling element received in a rolling race made in the inner surface of the driving half-ring, and a thrust section received in a housing seat made in the support half-ring, which is interposed between said rolling element and the punch.
6. The tool according to claim 5 , wherein each said cam follower comprises a thrust section received in a housing seat made in the support half-ring which has a rounded end adapted to stay in contact with the inner surface of the driving half-ring.
7. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein for every punch a control device is provided to keep the punch very close to its respective cam follower.
8. The tool according to claim 7 , wherein said control device comprises a first permanent magnet integral with the punch and a second permanent magnet integral with the support half-ring, which are positioned so as to constantly exert a mutual attraction force which pushes the punch against the respective cam follower, and in turn the cam follower against the shaped profile.
9. The tool according to claim 1 , further comprising at least eight punches.