Shutter-Type Crimper

Abstract

A crimping device is provided for crimping an outer work piece onto an inner work piece. The crimping device includes at least two jaws forming a throat surface about the outer work piece and movable between a partially closed position wherein the outer work piece is not crimped and a closed position wherein the jaws crimp the outer work piece onto the inner work piece. The jaws are configured as a shutter mechanism so that the throat surface remains substantially continuous about the first work piece as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. At least one of the jaws moves in straight line motion as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. At least two of the jaws radially and slide against each other as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position.

1 . A crimping device for crimping a first work piece onto a second work piece located internal to said first work piece, said crimping device comprising, in combination:
 at least two jaws forming a throat surface about the first work piece and movable between a partially closed position wherein the first work piece is not crimped onto the second work piece and a closed position wherein the jaws engage and crimp the first work piece onto the second work piece to form a fluid-tight seal between the first work piece and the second work piece;   wherein the throat surface is substantially continuous about the first work piece as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position; and   wherein at least one of the jaws moves in straight line motion as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position.   
   
   
       2 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the jaws radially overlap and slide against each other as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       3 . The crimping device according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the jaws radially overlap and slide against each other as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       4 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein the throat surface continuously reduces a circumference of the outer work piece around at least one circumferential path. 
   
   
       5 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the jaws move in straight-line motion as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       6 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the jaws has a thin edge section partially forming the throat surface and the thin edge section slides against an adjacent one of the jaws and receives support from the adjacent one of the jaws to prevent deformation of the thin edge. 
   
   
       7 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein the throat surface is tapered. 
   
   
       8 . The crimping device according to  claim 7 , wherein a distance between the throat surface and a longitudinal centerline of the throat surface varies in an axial direction. 
   
   
       9 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein there are at least four jaws forming the throat surface. 
   
   
       10 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein the throat surface is circular-shaped when the jaws are in the closed position. 
   
   
       11 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein the throat surface is a polygonal-shaped when the jaws are in the closed position. 
   
   
       12 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein the jaws are configured as a shutter mechanism about the first work piece. 
   
   
       13 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein the jaws overlap in a longitudinal direction of the throat surface and slide against each other as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       14 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein the jaws slide against each other as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       15 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first work piece is an outer work piece and the second work piece is a fitting and a hose extends between the outer work piece and the fitting. 
   
   
       16 . The crimping device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the jaws separate for entry of at least one of the first work piece and the second work piece in a radial direction between the separated jaws. 
   
   
       17 . A crimping device for crimping a first work piece onto a second work piece located internal to said first work piece, said crimping device comprising, in combination:
 at least two jaws forming a throat surface about the first work piece and movable between a partially closed position wherein the first work piece is not crimped onto the second work piece and a closed position wherein the jaws engage and crimp the first work piece onto the second work piece;   wherein the throat surface is substantially continuous about the first work piece as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position; and   wherein at least two of the jaws overlap in a longitudinal direction of the throat surface and slide against each other as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position.   
   
   
       18 . The crimping device according to  claim 17 , wherein each of the jaws radially overlap and slide against each other as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       19 . The crimping device according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the jaws moves in straight line motion as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       20 . A crimping device for crimping a first work piece onto a second work piece located internal to said first work piece, said crimping device comprising, in combination:
 at least two jaws forming a throat surface about the first work piece and movable between a partially closed position wherein the first work piece is not crimped onto the second work piece and a closed position wherein the jaws engage and crimp the first work piece onto the second work piece;   wherein the throat surface is substantially continuous about the first work piece as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position; and   wherein at least two of the jaws separate for entry of at least one of the first work piece and the second work piece in a radial direction between the separated jaws.   
   
   
       21 . The crimping device according to  claim 20 , wherein each of the jaws radially overlap and slide against each other as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       22 . The crimping device according to  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the jaws moves in straight line motion as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       23 . A method for crimping a first work piece onto a second work piece located internal to said first work piece, said method comprising steps of, in combination:
 providing at least two jaws forming a throat surface about the first work piece;   moving the jaws from a partially closed position wherein the first work piece is not crimped onto the second work piece to a closed position wherein the jaws engage and deform the first work piece onto the second work piece to form a fluid-tight seal between the first work piece and the second work piece;   wherein at least one of the jaws moves with straight-line motion; and   maintaining the throat surface substantially continuous about the first work piece as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position.   
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising steps of radially overlapping at least two of the jaws and sliding the overlapping jaws against each other as the jaws radially move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising steps of placing the jaws about at least one additional work piece and deforming the first work piece onto the second work piece with the additional work piece located between the first and second work pieces. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising steps of providing an inner work piece with a cavity and deforming the outer work piece into the cavity. 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising steps of overlapping at least two of the jaws in a longitudinal direction of the throat surface and sliding the overlapping jaws against each other as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. 
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising steps of separating at least two of the jaws for entry of at least one of the first work piece and the second work piece in a radial direction between the separated jaws.