GB2329140A

GB2329140A - Wire twisting device and a method of use thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2329140A
Application number: GB9818475A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Nigel Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-05
Filing date: 1998-08-25
Publication date: 1999-03-17
Also published as: GB9818475D0

Abstract

A wire twisting device (10) and a method of twisting wire particularly suitable for use in, but not exclusively in, the construction industry. The wire twisting device (10) comprises a holding portion (18) arranged to hold at least one wire length (36) to restrict movement of the wire (36) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the wire (36 and drive means (12) arranged, in use, to cause movement of the holding portion (18) about an axis, whereby the held wire and another length of wire (35) are twisted together.

Description

WIRE TWISTING DEVICE AND A METHOD OF USE THEREOF Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wire twisting device and to a method of twisting wire. The device is particularly suitable for use, though not exclusively, in the construction industry.

Background of the Invention Known hand tools for twisting and cutting metal wire that includes rods are pliers, wrenches and a plier-like device termed a "nip". All of these devices provide an improved grip on a wire, generally provided by toothed jaws. When the wire is held in a firm grip by the tool, the wire can be manipulated, ie, bent or twisted. Each of the tools then has a separate cutting section for cutting the wire to a particular length. Such tools require substantial manual work to be exerted to twist the wire and a separate action to cut the wire. Also it is difficult to twist the wire tightly in a loop, as greater manual force needs to be exerted the tighter the wire is twisted.

It is an aim of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to overcome or obviate at least one problem encountered in relation to the prior art, whether referred to herein or otherwise.

Sunnary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention a wire twisting device comprises a holding portion arranged to hold at least one wire length to restrict movement of the wire in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the wire and drive means arranged, in use, to cause movement of the holding portion about an axis whereby the held wire and another length of wire are twisted together.

The holding portion may comprise clamping means which may be releasable clamping means. The clamping means may be arranged to clamp wires of different cross-sectional area. The clamping means may comprise an opening in a rotatable member. The effective width of that opening may be progressively adjustable from a first position in which a wire can be inserted into, or removed from the opening and a second position in which the wire is held in the opening.

The clamping means may comprise clamping teeth adapted to hold the wire securely. Alternatively or in addition, the clamping means may comprise pincer ends adapted to cut the wire.

The clamping means may comprise a threaded member arranged to cooperate with a thread on a member having the opening whereby rotational movement of the threaded member on the member having the opening causes relative translational movement between the two members resulting in movement between the first and second positions. The threaded member may be arranged to bear against a wire in the opening indirectly such as via an abutment that is slidably mounted on the member having the opening. The abutment may be arranged to be biased towards the first position in which a wire can be inserted into or removed from the opening by resilient means such as a spring. The clamping means may be activated by a clutch, such that when the wire or wires are held tightly in the opening, the progressive movement between the first and second positions is halted. The clamp means may be engaged automatically.

The drive means may be inter-engaged with the holding means by inter-engaging means. Preferably, the interengaging means comprises a chuck, which rotates under the influence of the drive means.

The drive means may comprise a motor. The motor may include an opening through which a wire may extend to, and through the holding portion. The opening in the motor may extend completely through the motor. The longitudinal extent of the opening in the motor may be generally coincident with the region where a wire is arranged to be held by the holding portion and may be generally coincident with the axis about which the holding portion may rotate.

The drive means may comprise a gearbox. The gearbox may have an opening through which a wire may extend to and through the holding portion. The opening may extend completely through the gearbox. The longitudinal extent of the opening in the gearbox may be generally coincident with the region where the wire is arranged to be held by the holding portion and may be generally coincident with the axis about which the holding portion is arranged to rotate and may be generally coincident with the longitudinal extent of the opening in the motor.

The rotation of the holding portion may be about an axis that extends in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal extent of the held wire in the region of the holding portion.

The holding portion may be arranged, in use, to restrict movement of two lengths of wire.

The device can be used in a way such that a single wire can be bent back on itself to form a loop, and the free end of the wire and the main body of the wire may be held in the holding portion. The wire may be cut to length before twisting or may be twisted and then cut to length. The main body of the wire can then be rotated by the holding portion up to the holding portion, with the wire loop away from the holding portion remaining stationary. The rotation of the main body of the wire causes the main body of the wire to twist around the free end of the wire, from the held point to the free end of the wire. When the twisting reaches the free end of the wire, the main body of the wire continues to rotate about the same point on the wire and may cause the wire at this point to neck and break. The device therefore may twist and cut the wire in one continuous action.

The device may be suitable for twisting wire into a loop, in which a free end of a length of wire is twisted onto the body of the same length of wire. The type of loop provided is preferably independent of the device.

The wire is first looped about a body, for example a steel girder, before twisting with the device. The loop of wire may be crossed or in a figure of eight configuration for example, before twisting of the free end with another length of wire.

The device is particularly useful in the construction industry in the provision of "steel fixers". When two or more components are required to be tied together by wire, the device may be used to tie the wire tightly around the components with a marked reduction in the amount of manual labour required to perform the task. The device is a labour saving tool which allows tight loops of wire to be made. The device also provides substantially uniform twists which do not come apart easily.

If the rotation is ceased before the twisted region reaches the free end of the wire, the wire is not broken.

This allows two separate pieces of wire to be joined together along their coextent.

Thus the device is suitable for twisting two or more wires together to form an extended length of wire.

The device may comprise a switch. Suitably, the switch activates the rotation of the holding portion.

The motor may be powered by a power pack or battery.

The powering of the device by a power pack or battery negates the need for the device to be linked by wires to mains electricity for power. The wire twisting device is therefore portable and suitable for use in areas of limited accessibility, which is especially useful in the construction industry.

Suitably, the wire twisting device is lightweight.

According to another aspect of the present invention a method of twisting wire comprises holding one length of wire and causing the held wire to rotate about another length of wire with the rotation being effected by drive means with the drive means being part of a device that also includes a fixed part that does not rotate.

The method may comprise holding two lengths of wire in the same holding portion. The two lengths of wire may be comprised by a single wire that goes around a loop to provide the two lengths of wire that are held.

Alternatively the method may comprise holding two lengths of two different wires.

The method may comprise twisting the wires together until at least one wire breaks or, alternatively the method may comprise twisting the wires together to join the wires together.

The method may comprise rotating at least one wire about an axis displaced from the centre of that wire in the region where it is held.

The method may comprise automatically commencing rotation of the wire.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described7 by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a wire twisting device according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, with the wire inserted through the device and coiled around two rods.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view as in Figure 1 with the wire looped and clamped in the device and cut to the desired length, prior to twisting.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show various clamp end arrangements according to embodiments of the first aspect of the invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings that follow, there is shown a portable wire twisting device 10 having a cylindrical motor assembly 12 driving a gearbox shaft 14, which in turn drives a chuck 16 which causes a clamp 18 having two clamp heads 20 to rotate.

The motor assembly 12 is made up of a motor (not shown), a gearbox (not shown) and a clutch (not shown).

The gearbox is linked to the gearbox shaft 14 which extends from the motor assembly 12. The motor assembly 12 and gearbox shaft 14 have extending through them a central longitudinal channel 22 (shown by a dashed line) which extends from an insert end 24 on the motor assembly 12 to an exit end 26 on the gearbox shaft 14.

The gearbox shaft 14 is surrounded by a chuck 16 which is separate from but activated by the motor assembly 12. A switch 27 provides direct engagement between the chuck 16 and the motor assembly 12. The chuck 16 contains a clamp 18 having two clamp heads 20. The clamp 18 is slideably received in the chuck 16 and is adapted to move from a first position, with the clamp heads 20 spaced apart and the clamp 18 away from the chuck 16 (the insert position) to a second position with the clamp heads 20 together and the clamp 18 abutting the chuck 16 (the clamp position). This translational movement of the clamp 18 within the chuck 16 is afforded by means of a cross piece 28 and a spring 30, activated by a switch (not shown) between the first position and second position. In the first position, the cross piece 28 is separate from the spring 30 and the spring 30 is relaxed. In the second position, the cross piece 28 bears against the spring 30 so that the spring 30 is under tension, bringing the clamp heads 20 together.

A prototype cylindrical motor assembly has been made by using a hand drill and drilling a hole through the centre of a gearbox from a cordless screw driver and through a motor and clutch assembly from a Ford Fiesta (trade mark), and soldering the pieces together to provide a channel that extends through the motor assembly and out through the gearbox shaft.

Each clamp head 20 comprises clamping teeth 32 and a pincer 34. Alternative clamp heads are described later in the description.

The device 10 is now described in use with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings that follow, when twisting the end of a length of wire 36 into a loop around two steel rods 38 to tie the rods 38 together.

A first end 35 of the length of wire 36 is inserted into the insert end 24 of the central channel 22 and pulled out through the gearbox shaft 14 at the exit end 26 of the central channel 22. With the chuck 16 and clamp 18 in the first position, with the clamp 18 spaced from the chuck 16 and the clamp ends 20 spaced apart, the first end 35 of the length of wire 36 is passed through the cross piece 28 and between the clamp ends 20.

The length of wire 36 is pulled out between the clamp ends 20 and wrapped once around the two steel rods 38 to form a loop 40. The first end 35 of the length of wire 36 is then passed back between the clamping teeth 32 of the clamp heads 20.

Once the loop 40 has been formed and the first end 35 of the length of wire 36 is reinserted between the open clamping teeth 32, it is necessary to move the clamp 18 from its first position (as shown in Figure 1) to its second position (as shown in Figure 2). A manual switch (not shown) moves the cross piece 28 against the spring 30, causing tension in the spring 30, bringing the clamp heads 20 together. When the clamp heads 20 are brought together, the pincers 34 meet and cause the length of wire 36 to be cut, leaving two ends 35, 42 of the loop 40 clamped within the clamping teeth 32. Once the two ends 35, 42 are held tightly within the clamp heads 20 the clutch (not shown) prevents further tightening of the clamp heads 20. The clutch (not shown) can be configured with different settings to break the tie under different tensions.

In the second position shown in Figure 2, the clamp 18 abuts the chuck 16. The twisting device 10 may then be activated by a switch (not shown), which causes the motor assembly 12 to rotate the gearbox shaft 14 which causes the chuck 16 to rotate, as indicated by the arrow X on Figure 2. A bearing (not shown) may be provided at the end of the shaft 14 away from the clamp 18, to prevent wear. Rotation of the chuck 16, which abuts the clamp 18, causes the clamp 18 to rotate in the same way. The looped wire 35, 40, 42 held between the clamp heads 20 and the steel rods 38 is progressively twisted to provide a wire loop 40 that is securely twisted around the steel rods 38.

Once the wire loop 40 is tightly twisted, the switch (not shown) activating the motor assembly 12 is then switched off.

To disengage the clamp 18 from the twisted wire loop ends 35, 42, the chuck 16 must be manually pushed up, drawing the clamp 18 back within the interior of the chuck 16, spaced from the chuck 16.

In an alternative arrangement, in use, the switch 27 may be used to effect the clamping of the clamp teeth 32 about the wire 36, 35 cutting the wire 36 and rotation of the chuck 16 in one action.

Advantages of the above described system are that uniform twisted wires can be provided with little manual effort, and that once the length of wire 36 is drawn through the device 10 it is simple to repeat the process by just pulling the cut end of the wire further through the clamp 18, looping it around more steel rods and carrying out the clamping and twisting process previously described.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, there are shown four different clamp end arrangements for use in producing twisted wire.

Figure 3 shows clamp heads 44 each comprising a pincer 46 only. Such a clamp head 44 can be used for both gripping and cutting the wire, very much like pliers. The wire is cut when the two pincers 46 come together.

Figure 4 shows clamp heads 20 having a combined pincer 34 and clamping teeth 32 arrangement, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 shows a clamp head 48 comprising clamping teeth 50 only. Such a clamp head 48 can be used for clamping and twisting wire. When the wire is overtwisted, it may snap, providing the clamp heads 48 with a cutting function as well as a clamping function.

The device shown according to Figure 5 may be used to join two wires (not shown). This can be done by inserting a first wire through the device in the normal way in a position to be held by the clamping teeth 50. A second wire is inserted in the opposite direction, to be held by the clamping teeth 50. The clamp is then moved from the first position to the second position, therefore holding the two wires together in the clamp heads 48. Rotation of the two wires using the motor assembly causes twisting, if the opposite ends of the wire to those ends held in the clamp heads are held static. Turning the motor assembly off and opening the clamping ends 48 should result in the two wires being twisted together to form an extended length of wire which may then be pulled out of the device.

The clamp head 52 shown in Figure 6 shows a further use for the twisting device according to the present invention. The clamp heads 52 are locked together about a hooked attachment 54, with the clamp in the second position, ready for rotation. The hooked attachment 54 may be used to hold two loops of wire (not shown) to twist the loops of wire together. Such an embodiment is intended to fall within the scope of the invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims1 abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A wire twisting device comprising a holding portion arranged to hold at least one wire length to restrict movement of the wire in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the wire and drive means arranged, in use, to cause movement of the holding portion about an axis whereby the held wire and another length of wire are twisted together.

2. A wire twisting device according to Claim 1, in which said holding portion comprises clamping means.

3. A wire twisting device according to Claim 2, in which the clamping means comprises releasable clamping means.

4. A wire twisting device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the clamping means is arranged to clamp wires of different cross-sectional area.

5. A wire twisting device according to any one of Claims 2-4, in which said clamping means comprises an opening in a rotatable member.

6. A wire twisting device according to Claim 5, in which the effective width of said opening is progressively adjustable from a first position in which a wire can be inserted into, or removed from said opening and a second position in which said wire is held in said opening.

7. A wire twisting device according to any one of Claims 2-6, in which said clamping means comprises clamping teeth adapted to hold the wire securely.

8. A wire twisting device according to any one of Claims 2-7, in which said clamping means comprises pincer ends adapted to cut the wire.

9. A wire twisting device according any one of Claim 5 8, in which said clamping means comprises a first threaded member arranged to cooperate with a thread on a second member, which second member provides said opening, whereby rotational movement of said first member relative to said second member causes relative translational movement between said first and second members resulting in movement between said first and second positions.

10. A wire twisting device according to Claim 9, in which said first member is arranged to bear against a wire in said opening indirectly.

11. A wire twisting device according to Claim 10, in which said first member bears against said wire via an abutment that is slidably mounted on said first member.

12. A wire twisting device according to Claim 11, in which said abutment is biased towards said first position by resilient means.

13. A wire twisting device according to Claim 12, in which said resilient means is a spring.

14. A wire twisting device according to any one of Claims 1-13, in which said clamping means is activated by a clutch.

15. A wire twisting device according to Claim 14, in which said clutch is arranged such that when a wire or wires are held in said opening, the progressive movement between said first and second positions is halted.

16. A wire twisting device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said drive means is inter engaged with said holding means by inter-engaging means.

17. A wire twisting device according to Claim 16, in which said inter-engaging means comprises a chuck.

18. A wire twisting device according to Claim 17, in which said chuck rotates under the influence of said drive means.

19. A wire twisting device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said drive means comprises a motor.

20. A wire twisting device according to Claim 19, in which said motor includes an opening through which a wire may extend to, and through said holding portion.

21. A wire twisting device according to Claim 20, in which said opening in the motor extends completely through said motor.

22. A wire twisting device according to Claim 20 or Claim 21, in which the longitudinal extent of said opening in the motor is generally coincident with the region where a wire is arranged to be held by said holding portion.

23. A wire twisting device according to Claim 22, in which said opening in the motor is generally coincident with the axis about which said holding portion rotates.

24. A wire twisting device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said drive means comprises a gearbox.

25. A wire twisting device according to Claim 24, in which said gearbox has an opening through which a wire may extend to and through said holding portion.

26. A wire twisting device according to Claim 24, in which said opening extends completely through said gearbox.

27. A wire twisting device according to Claim 25 or Claim 26, in which the longitudinal extent of said opening in the gearbox is generally coincident with the region where the wire is arranged to be held by said holding portion.

28. A wire twisting device according to Claim 27, in which said opening in the gearbox is generally coincident with the axis about which said holding portion is arranged to rotate.

29. A wire twisting device according to Claim 27 or Claim 28, in which said opening in the gearbox generally coincident with the longitudinal extent of the opening in the motor.

30. A wire twisting device according to any one of the preceding claim, in which the rotation of said holding portion is about an axis that extends in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal extent of the held wire in the region of the holding portion.

31. A wire twisting device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said holding portion is arranged, in use, to restrict movement of two lengths of wire.

32. A wire twisting device according to any one of the preceding claims, which device further comprises a switch.

33. A wire twisting device according to Claim 32, in which said switch activates the rotation of said holding portion.

34. A wire twisting device according to any one of Claims 19-33, in which the motor is powered by a power pack or battery.

35. A wire twisting device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the wire twisting device is lightweight.

36. A method of twisting wire, comprising holding one length of wire and causing the held wire to rotate about another length of wire with the rotation being effected by drive means with the drive means being part of a device that also includes a fixed part that does not rotate.

37. A method of twisting wire according to Claim 36, in which two lengths of wire are held in the same holding portion.

38. A method of twisting wire according to Claim 37, in which the two lengths of wire comprise two parts of the same wire.

39. A method of twisting wire according to Claim 37, in which two different wires are held in the same holding portion.

40. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-39, in which the wires are twisted together until at least one of the wires breaks

41. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-39, in which the wires are twisted together to join the wires together.

42. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-41, in which at least one wire is rotated about an axis displaced from the centre of that wire in the region where it is held.

43. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-42, in which rotation of the wire is automatically commenced.

44. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-43, in which the wire is cut to length before twisting.

45. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-43, in which the wire is twisted and then cut to length.

46. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-45, in which the main body of the wire is rotated by the holding portion up to the holding portion, with a wire loop away from the holding portion remaining stationary.

47. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-46, in which the rotation of the main body of the wire causes the main body of the wire to twist around the free end of the wire, from the held point to the free end of the wire.

48. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-47, in which the device twists and cuts the wire in one continuous action.

49. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-48, in which said wire is twisted into a loop, in which a free end of a length of wire is twisted onto the body of the same length of wire.

50. A method of twisting wire according to any one of Claims 36-49, in which two separate pieces of wire are joined together along their coextent.

51. A wire twisting device substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings hereof.

52. A method of twisting a wire substantially as described herein.