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A pneumatically operated rivet squeezer is described, having features that allow for the miniaturization of a squeezer to a size smaller than portable rivet squeezers presently available. A first feature of the invention is that a return spring is accommodated within the squeezer housing by embeddin

A pneumatically operated rivet squeezer is described, having features that allow for the miniaturization of a squeezer to a size smaller than portable rivet squeezers presently available. A first feature of the invention is that a return spring is accommodated within the squeezer housing by embedding the spring diametrically partially within a cavity in an internal wall of the housing and diametrically partially within a cavity in a jaw of the squeezer. A second feature of the invention contributing to miniaturization is that the squeezer utilizes a wedge having a very high mechanical advantage during the final stage of squeezing action, and a novel two curve surface for applying force to arms of the squeezer. A third feature of the invention contributing to miniaturization is that the squeezer utilizes a novel threading system for attachment of an air inlet piece to the squeezer housing, thereby eliminating the requirement for an O-ring to seal the attachment to the housing and achieving yet a further size reduction.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A rivet squeezer comprising: a housing having a first cavity in an internal wall; a first jaw positioned partially within the housing, the first jaw having a second cavity in an external wall; a second jaw positioned partially within the housing; a wedge operable between a starting posi

I claim: 1. A rivet squeezer comprising: a housing having a first cavity in an internal wall; a first jaw positioned partially within the housing, the first jaw having a second cavity in an external wall; a second jaw positioned partially within the housing; a wedge operable between a starting position and an ending position and adapted to be pneumatically forced from the starting position, thence between internal ends of the first and second jaws, to the ending position, whereby the internal ends are forced apart, and external ends of the jaws are forced together; and a return spring for returning the wedge from the ending position to the starting position; wherein the return spring is diametrically positioned partially within the first cavity in the housing, and partially within the second cavity in the first jaw. 2. The rivet squeezer of claim 1, wherein the first jaw is fixed to the housing, and the second jaw is pivotable about a pivot point. 3. The rivet squeezer of claim 1, wherein the wedge moves in a direction of travel, and wherein the second cavity in the first jaw is elongate and parallel to the direction of travel. 4. The rivet squeezer of claim 1, wherein the wedge is activated by a piston, and wherein the spring is positioned, at a first end of the spring, against the piston. 5. The rivet squeezer of claim 1, wherein the spring is positioned, at a second end of the spring, against a terminal point of the first cavity in the housing, and also against a terminal point of the second cavity in the first jaw. 6. The rivet squeezer of claim 1, wherein a roller is pinned to the internal end of the first jaw for contacting the wedge as the wedge moves from starting to ending position. 7. The rivet squeezer of claim 1, wherein a roller is pinned to the internal end of the second jaw for contacting the wedge as the wedge moves from starting to ending position. 8. The rivet squeezer of claim 1, wherein the rivet squeezer weighs less than 1 kilogram. 9. The rivet squeezer of claim 1, wherein the length of the rivet squeezer is less than 19 cm. 10. The rivet squeezer of claim 1, wherein the wedge is operable between a starting position and an ending position and is adapted to be pneumatically forced from the starting position, thence between internal ends of the first and second jaws, to the ending position, whereby the internal ends are forced apart, and external ends of the jaws are forced together; wherein the wedge has: a first surface for engaging the first jaw, the first surface being flat; and a second surface for engaging the second jaw, the second surface including: a first curve with a radius between 0.85 inches and 0.95 inches and a center point in a range between (-0.35 inches, 0.60 inches) and (-0.45 inches, 0.70 inches); a second curve with a radius between 5.0 inches and 6.0 inches and a center point in a range between (-4.5 inches, 0.0 inches) and (-5.5 inches, 0.0 inches). 11. A rivet squeezer comprising: a housing; a first jaw positioned partially within the housing, the first jaw being fixed to the housing; a second jaw positioned partially within the housing, the second jaw being pivotable about a pivot point; and a wedge operable between a starting position and an ending position and adapted to be pneumatically forced from the starting position, thence between internal ends of the first and second jaws, to the ending position, whereby the internal ends are forced apart, and external ends of the jaws are forced together; wherein the wedge has: a first surface for engaging the first jaw, the first surface being flat; and a second surface for engaging the second jaw, the second surface including: a first curve with a radius between 0.85 inches and 0.95 inches and a center point in a range between (-0.35 inches, 0.60 inches) and (-0.45 inches, 0.70 inches); a second curve with a radius between 5.0 inches and 6.0 inches and a center point in a range between (-4.5 inches, 0.0 inches) and (-5.5 inches, 0.0 inches). 12. The rivet squeezer of claim 11, wherein the wedge has a height between 1.4 inches and 1.6 inches and a width between 0.5 inches and 0.6 inches. 13. The rivet squeezer of claim 11, wherein the first and second curves join at a point that produces a continuous surface. 14. The rivet squeezer of claim 11, wherein the squeezer further comprises: an internal threaded bore in the housing for receiving an air supply, the threaded bore having a thread gauge and configured to have dimensions of a U.S. standard pipe thread having a conical taper, the threaded bore coinciding with a cylindrical bore having a first diameter and holding a valve; and an inlet piece for supplying air to the squeezer, the inlet piece having external threads of the same U.S. standard pipe thread as the threaded bore, the inlet piece having a terminal end with a second diameter not greater than the first diameter, wherein the length of the valve is such that, when the inlet piece is inserted into the bore to a standard torque, the terminal end is a distance "t" from an end of the valve, "t" being between 0.8 and 1.2 times the gauge of the bore thread; and further wherein the inlet piece is torqued into the bore beyond standard torque so that the terminal end of the inlet piece is in contact with the end of the valve, and no O-ring is used to seal the inlet piece to the bore. 15. The rivet squeezer of claim 11, wherein the rivet squeezer weighs less than 1 kilogram. 16. The rivet squeezer of claim 11, wherein the length of the rivet squeezer is less than 19 cm. 17. A rivet squeezer comprising: a housing; a first jaw partially included within the housing; a second jaw partially included within the housing; a wedge operable between a starting position and an ending position and adapted to be pneumatically forced from the starting position, thence between internal ends of the first and second jaws, to the ending position, whereby the internal ends are forced apart, and external ends of the jaws are forced together; and an internal threaded bore in the housing for receiving an air supply, the threaded bore having a thread gauge and configured to have dimensions of a U.S. standard pipe thread having a conical taper, the threaded bore coinciding with a cylindrical bore having a first diameter and holding a valve; and an inlet piece for supplying air to the squeezer, the inlet piece having external threads of the same U.S. standard pipe thread as the threaded bore, the inlet piece having a terminal end with a second diameter not greater than the first diameter, wherein the length of the valve is such that, when the inlet piece is inserted into the bore to a standard torque, the terminal end is a distance "t" from an end of the valve, "t" being between 0.8 and 1.2 times the gauge of the bore thread; and further wherein the inlet piece is torqued into the bore beyond standard torque so that the terminal end of the inlet piece is in contact with the end of the valve, and no O-ring is used to seal the inlet piece to the bore. 18. The rivet squeezer of claim 17, wherein the housing includes a first cavity in an internal wall, and the first jaw includes a second cavity in an external wall, the rivet squeezer further including a return spring for returning the wedge from the ending position to the starting position, wherein the return spring is positioned diametrically partially within the first cavity in the housing, and diametrically partially within the second cavity in the first jaw. 19. The rivet squeezer of claim 17, wherein the rivet squeezer weighs less than 1.0 kilogram. 20. The rivet squeezer of claim 17, wherein the length of the rivet squeezer is less than 19 cm.