Lock Strip Inserting Tool

Abstract

A lock strip inserting tool having a shank specially adapted for power operation and including a split shank construction with a resilient spacer and sleeve interconnecting the shank portions. This construction damps the impact load and vibratory frequency without reducing the stroke of the tool.

Parent Case Text

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 754,235, filed Aug. 21, 1968, now abandoned.

Description

This invention relates to a tool for installing weather stripping gaskets or the like and, more particularly, to a tool specifically adapted for inserting the locking strip in resilient structural gaskets.

Resilient gaskets formed from elastomeric materials such as neoprene are widely used for mounting, sealing and cushioning panels such as sheet glass in the wall of a builing or in automobile bodies. In general, such gaskets comprise opposed channel members separated by a cross-web defining the bottom surfaces thereof. One channel member is adapted to receive a construction member such as a sheet or glass or a panel with the other channel member being adapted to receive a frame member. The channel members are defined by outwardly extending generally parallel walls or wings which may terminate at their extremities in inwardly directed lips adapted to sealingly engage the members inserted therebetween.

The attainment of a weather tight seal with such gaskets is assisted by the provision of a groove running longitudinally of the gasket adjacent one wing of each of the opposed channels. The groove is adapted to receive a locking strip which urges the adjacent wings toward the frame and panel members.

It is to be appreciated that other forms and configurations of gaskets employing locking strips have been developed and the specific reference to a specific construction of the gasket is merely illustrative and not intended to be limiting in any way. For example, gaskets which employ but a single channel are known with the groove running longitudinally of the gasket adjacent the one channel and a locking strip being adapted to be received in the groove.

The insertion of the locking strip in the groove of such gaskets is normally accomplished by use of a hand tool and this invention is primarily concerned with a tool for accomplishing this purpose. However, it is to be appreciated that the tool hereinafter disclosed may be utilized in any environment where a strip is to be inserted in a groove having resilient walls.

Tools for the insertion of locking strips in structural gaskets normally are manually operated and have employed some form of a tool head which separates the resilient walls of the groove while feeding the locking strip into the groove. One such typical prior art tool is illustrated in Maudlin U.S. Pat. No. 2,486,666 in which the tool is drawn through the groove thereby separating the side walls of the groove and the lock strip is fed through the handle and the tool head into the groove. Another prior art form of tool is the type wherein the tool head is pushed through the groove and the lock strip enters the groove through the tool head in a direction opposite to the direction in which the tool head is passing.

Several shortcomings have been experienced with the prior art type of tools. For example, since most prior art tools are designed for manual operation, it has been necessary that the material from which the gasket is made be sufficiently resilient that the walls of the groove can be readily separated by an operator drawing or pushing the tool through the groove. If the material from which the gasket is formed is unduly rigid, it will be exceedingly difficult for the installer to insert the locking strip.

Another difficulty experienced with the prior art tools has been the time required to install the locking strips. The sliding engagement of the tool head with the walls of the groove impedes the progress of the tool through the groove and thereby inhibits the laying of the locking strip in the groove. Moreover, it frequently occurs with prior art tools that the tool will pop out of the groove thus necessitating time delays while the tool is reinserted in the groove and the process of inserting the locking strip is recommenced.

To expedite the installation of the lock strip, it has been suggested to use a power source such as an impact hammer to drive the inserting tool; however, problems have been experienced in adapting such tools to power actuation. For example, it is not unusual to experience breakage of the tool head within a very short period of power operation. In one specific instance, it has been found that the tool head will fracture after no more than three minutes of tool operation. Changing the mass of the tool head, the length of the shank and other alterations have been proposed to remedy this problem, but such modifications have merely changed the point at which the fracture occurs.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a power operated lock strip inserting tool which overcomes the problems heretofore experienced and which accomplishes the insertion of a continuous length of lock strip material into a gasket with ease and substantially increased speed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a lock strip inserting tool which reduces the labor required to install lock strips even during cold weather when the gaskets are stiff and generally non-resilient.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lock strip inserting tool which is especially designed to withstand the impact and shock loading imposed by the power source.

More specifically, this invention contemplates a lock strip inserting tool which includes a head portion adapted to cooperate with a groove in a gasket and which is connected to one end of a shank portion. The other end of the shank is adapted to be received in a power source such as an impact hammer adapted to apply a series of blows to the end of the shank. The shank is divided into two portions with vibration damping means in the form of a resilient spacer interposed between the adjacent ends of the two portions of the shank. A rubber sleeve is telescopically received over the adjacent ends of the two shank portions and encloses the spacer with a metallic jacket overlying the rubber sleeve. In this manner, the blows delivered by the hammer to one portion of the shank are transmitted through the spacer and sleeve to the other portion of the shank and thence to the tool head. The spacer absorbs some of the energy and impact but does not alter the stroke of the tool. However, by absorbing some of the impact energy, the vibration frequency normally imposed on the shank is disrupted and fracture of the tool head is thereby avoided.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon a complete reading of the following description which, together with the attached drawings, discloses but a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the tool as it is being used to insert a lock strip in a gasket.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a typical gasket and lock strip prior to installation.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool head.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the tool shank.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a typical gasket installation with which the instant tool is designed to be used. However, it is to be understood that the tool hereinafter described is in no way limited to its application to the specific gasket and lock strip illustrated, the particular gasket and lock strip illustrated being merely for purposes of facilitating an understanding of the invention.

A gasket 10 is designed to provide a weather tight seal between two members, 12 and 14. The gasket comprises opposed channels 13, 15 separated by a cross web 16. The edge of one member 12 is adapted to be received in one channel 13 and the edge of the other member 14 is adapted to be received in the other channel 15. The walls of the two channels 13, 15 are adapted to sealingly engage the two members 12, 14 inserted therebetween.

To assure the attainment of a weather tight seal between the two members 12, 14, there is provided in the gasket 10 a groove 18 which extends longitudinally of the gasket. The groove is of a generally V-shaped configuration with the side walls defining the groove being provided with opposed recesses 20 and lip portions 22. A lock strip 24 is adapted to be received in the groove 18, with longitudinal beads 26 formed on opposed sides of the strip 24 and being adapted to be received in the recesses or grooves 20. As is well understood in the art, the lock strip thus maintains the walls of the groove 18 separated so that the walls of the channels in which members 12, 14 are received are maintained in sealing engagement with the members.

FIG. 1 illustrates the tool as it is being employed in inserting a locking strip in the above-described gasket. Thus, the tool as shown in FIG. 1, employs an impact hammer 30, a tool shank 32 and a tool head 34. The tool head 34 is secured to one end of the shank 32 with the other end of the shank being received in the impact tool 30. The impact tool may be either electric or pneumatically powered and is designed to apply a rapid succession of blows to the end of the shank 32.

The tool head 34 may be of any suitable construction adapted to be received in the groove 18. However, a preferred form of the tool head is illustrated in FIG. 3 and comprises a body portion 36 at the forward end of which there is formed a tapered nose portion 38. The rearward or trailing end 37 of the body 36 opposite to the nose portion 38 is the point at which the shank 32 is connected to the tool head. The body 36 further includes a central aperture 40 which extends from the upper surface of the body through the body and opening on the lower surface thereof. The aperture 40 is preferably shaped to accommodate the particular configuration of the locking strip normally employed in gaskets of the type with which this invention is concerned. Thus, the aperture 40 includes a pair of spaced side walls 42, a front wall 44 and a rear wall 46. The front wall 44 is V-shaped in cross section and inclines forwardly with a guide groove 48 formed in the center of the incline. The walls of the groove 48 diverge rearwardly so that the groove is smallest at the upper portion of the wall 44 and is widest at the lower end of the wall. Thus, the surface of the wall 44 comprises a V-shaped surface adapted to support the locking strip with the groove 48 at the juncture of the sides of the V being adapted to serve as a guide for the strip as it is directed into the groove.

Depending from the lower surface of the body 36 is a generally triangularly shaped wedge or shoe 52. The shoe 52 includes a flat bottom surface 54 and opposed side walls which converge forwardly from the trailing edge of the shoe to define a nose or point 56. The width of the shoe 52 is slightly greater than the width of the aperture 40 in the body portion with the trailing edge of the shoe corresponding to the point at which the aperture 40 intersects the lower surface of the body portion 36. A groove or recess 58 is formed at the juncture of the shoe 52 and the body 36 with the recess forming an undercut portion beneath the nose 38 and extending along either side of the body portion terminating at the trailing edge of the shoe

It is contemplated that the tool head will be coated with a friction reducing material such as the plastic marketed by duPont as Teflon so that as the tool is inserted in the groove 18 in the gasket 10, the frictional resistance to progress of the tool through the groove is reduced.

The tool head operates to insert a locking strip in the following manner: With the gasket in position between the two members 12 and 14 which are received in their respective channels 13-15, the tool head is inserted in the groove 18. Since the groove 18 normally is at least partially collapsed when the members 12, 14 are received in their channels, the pointed portion 56 of the shoe facilitates the insertion of the tool head in the groove 18. The tool head is properly positioned in the groove 18 with the peripheral edges of the shoe 52 being disposed in the recesses 20, thereby supporting the tool head in a position spaced above the bottom of the groove 18. The lip portions 22 of the groove 18 are positioned in the groove 58 in the tool head and assist in maintaining the tool in its proper position. A length of flexible locking strip material is then inserted in the aperture 40 with the rib 25 which runs along the undersurface of the strip being received in the groove 48, thereby centering the locking strip in the aperture 40. Thereafter, movement of the tool head along the groove 18 causes the shoe 52 to separate the walls of the groove with the lock strip material being fed through the aperture 40 in the tool head and deposited in the groove 18. As the lock strip is fed into the groove, the ribs 26 on either side of the lock strip are properly positioned to be received in the grooves 20 of the gasket so that as the tool progresses along the gasket, the side walls of the groove which have been separated by the wedging action of the shoe tend to return to their original position and thereby firmly grip the ribs 26 on the lock strip.

To assure the firm seating of the lock strip in the groove, the tool head may include a heel portion 50 which is designed to engage the upper surface of the lock strip and press the lock strip into the groove.

The tool head is assembled to the shank 32 in any convenient manner as by welds 60. Preferably, the axis of the shank forms an angle such as 30.degree. with the lower surface 54 on the shoe.

Referring now to the specific construction of the tool shank, the shank may be made from any suitable stock such as hexagonal bar stock and is divided into two portions, a lower shank portion 62 and an upper shank portion 64. It is preferred that the two portions 62, 64 be identical in cross-sectional configuration but this is not absolutely necessary. A spacer 66 of a resilient material such as neoprene is positioned between the adjacent ends of the two shank portions 62, 64 with the spacer being clamped between these two ends. A sleeve 68 of resilient material such as rubber is telescopically received over the two shank portions and assists both in retaining the spacer in its assembled position and maintaining the two shank portions in alignment. The inner diameter of the sleeve should be less than the outer diameter of the shank so that the sleeve must be expanded to be received over the shank and thereafter frictionally grip the shank. In addition, a metallic jacket 70 may be received over the rubber sleeve and secured at its end of the shank to further assist in maintaining alignment and give the assembly further rigidity. The assembled condition of these parts is illustrated in FIG. 4.

As will be understood, the described shank construction together with the tool head is assembled to an impact hammer and employed in the manner described above when inserting a locking strip. The rapid succession of blows which are applied to the end 62 of the shank 32 are transmitted through the neoprene washer 66 to the tool head 34, thereby advancing the tool head along the groove 18. The shank construction described is of primary importance in obtaining power actuation of a tool head such as that described.

Although a conventional unitary shank might be secured to the tool head and employed to transmit the impacts from the hammer to the tool head, it has been found that under normal operating conditions with a rapid succession of blows such as 3,200 blows per minute being applied to the shank, a tool head will fracture within 3 minutes of operation. The precise reason for this occurrence is not fully understood. However, with the shank design disclosed hereinabove, fracture of the tool no longer presents a problem. It is believed that this results from the energy absorption and frequency damping characteristics of both the washer 66 and the sleeve 68, both of which function to dampen the shock load imposed on the shank and thereby damp the vibratory frequency imposed on the shank and tool head. In any event, and for whatever reason, the described shank eliminates the problem of fracture heretofore experienced. Moreover, this has been accomplished without reducing the stroke of the impact tool. The spacer is relatively rigid and transmits the stroke imparted to the upper shank portion 64 to the lower shank portion and the tool head without any significant diminution.

It will be appreciated that a shank of the described construction employed with an impact tool now makes it possible to power the lock strip inserting tool and thereby insert lock strips with reduced labor costs. Moreover, the tool is readily adaptable to use with relatively rigid gasket materials since the impact hammer has sufficient force to deform the walls of the groove irrespective of the resilient material employed in constructing the gasket.

For ease of description, the principles of the invention have been set forth in connection with but a single illustrated embodiment. It is not our intention that the illustrated embodiment or the terminology employed in describing it is to be limiting in as much as variations in this embodiment may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Rather, it is our desire to be restricted only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A lock strip inserting tool for inserting locking strips in the groove of a structural gasket, said tool including a tool head adapted to be received in the groove of the gasket and guide a locking strip thereinto and a tool shank secured at one end to said tool head with the other end of said tool shank being adapted to be connected to a power source such as an impact hammer or the like, the improvement comprising,

said tool shank including damping means for damping the vibrations imparted to the shank by the power source for transmission to the tool head whereby the vibrations received by the tool head are substantially less than the vibrations imparted to the upper end of the tool shank.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said shank comprises upper and lower shank portions with said damping means being interposed between said two portions of said shank.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said damping means comprises a spacer clamped between adjacent ends of said two portions.

4. A lock strip inserting tool for inserting locking strips in the groove of a structural gasket, said tool including a tool head adapted to be received in the groove of the gasket and guide a locking strip thereinto and a tool shank having a lower portion secured to said tool head and an upper portion adapted to be connected to a power source such as an impact hammer or the like, the improvement comprising,

said tool shank including damping means interposed between said two portions of said shank and comprising a spacer clamped between adjacent ends of said two portions for damping the vibrations imparted to the shank by the power source whereby the vibrations received by the tool head are substantially less than the vibrations imparted to the upper end of the tool shank,

said damping means further including a resilient sleeve telescopically received over and enclosing said adjacent ends of said shank portions.

5. The improvement of claim 4 and further including jacket means enclosing said sleeve.

6. A tool adapted for use with an impact hammer or the like, said tool including a shank having a tool head secured at one end with the other end of said shank being adapted to be received in said hammer, the improvement comprising,

said shank being divided into at least two portions,

said shank portions being generally coaxially aligned,

spacer means interposed between the adjacent ends of said shank portions, and

a resilient sleeve received over said adjacent ends of said shank portions and frictionally and resiliently gripping said portions.

7. The improvement of claim 6 and further including a jacket means enclosing said sleeve.