Swaging machine and method of use

• US 7,010,953 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Confluent Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Interface Associates, Inc. (Confluent Medical Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stupecky, Josef J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crane, Daniel C.
• Application Number:
  US10/676,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 724/02, 724/16, 72/76, 723/18, 723/16, 292/835
• US Class Current: 72/416
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/04 of tubes with tubes; of tubes with rods crimped pipe joints as such F16L13/14
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/042 using explosives by explosive welding B23K20/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53996 by deforming

Abstract

A swaging machine is configured to substantially uniformly reduce the diameter of a tubular attachment, such as a marker band, to result in a smooth and repeatable finished part. The swaging machine comprises a feed system, an impact system, and a rotation system. A split die having a compound die cavity is provided for use in conjunction with the swaging machine to receive an impact force from the impact system and, in turn, apply a swaging force to the marker band. The rotation system rotates the impact system, including the die, about the axis of the marker band to apply swaging forces about the circumference of the marker band, while the feed system feeds the marker band through the die thereby applying swaging forces along the length of the marker band.

Claims

1. A swaging machine configured to swage a marker band onto a catheter, comprising:

a feed system comprising a motor and a clamp, the clamp slideably disposed on a rail, the motor in driving engagement with the clamp and configured for transmitting a feeding force to the clamp, the motor being operatively coupled to a feed screw, the feed screw having a coupled end connected to the clamp, the motor configured to drive the feed screw and the clamp linearly, the feed system further comprising a damping coupling between the feed screw and the clamp;

an impact system comprising a hammer and a die, the hammer configured to deliver an impact to the die, the die configured to distribute the impact force as a swaging force to the marker band; and

a rotation system comprising a motor and configured to rotate the impact system to distribute the swaging force about a circumference of the marker band.

2. The swaging machine of claim 1, wherein the damping coupling is configured to allow restricted movement of the feed screw to align itself with the motor.

3. The swaging machine of claim 1, wherein the damping coupling is formed of polyurethane tubing.

4. A swaging machine configured to swage a marker band onto a catheter, comprising:

a feed system comprising a motor and a clamp, the clamp slideably disposed on a rail, the motor in driving engagement with the clamp and configured for transmitting a feeding force to the clamp, the clamp comprising a first jaw and a second jaw configured for relative displacement to open and close the clamp, the feed system further comprising a pneumatic cylinder having a pair of compressed air supply hoses, an internal piston, and a piston rod connected to the clamp;

an impact system comprising a hammer and a die, the hammer configured to deliver an impact to the die, the die configured to distribute the impact force as a swaging force to the marker band; and

a rotation system comprising a motor and configured to rotate the impact system to distribute the swaging force about a circumference of the marker band.

5. The swaging machine of claim 4, wherein the cylinder piston rod translates an actuation force to at least one jaw of the clamp.

6. The swaging machine of claim 5, further comprising a coupling interconnecting the first jaw to a second jaw and configured to translate an actuation force thereto.

7. The swaging machine of claim 6, wherein the coupling comprises a lever having a midpoint rotatably mounted to a base and slidingly engages each of the first jaw and second jaw.

8. A swaging machine configured to swage a marker band onto a catheter, comprising:

a feed system comprising a motor and a clamp, the clamp slideably disposed on a rail, the motor in driving engagement with the clamp and configured for transmitting a feeding force to the clamp;

an impact system comprising a hammer and a die, the hammer configured to deliver an impact to the die, the die configured to distribute the impact force as a swaging force to the marker band, the hammer comprising a pneumatic cylinder having one or more delivery hoses coupled thereto, an internal piston moveable through a powerstroke and a return stroke, and a piston rod extending from the piston to the exterior of the cylinder; and

a rotation system comprising a motor and configured to rotate the impact system to distribute the swaging force about a circumference of the marker band.

9. The swaging machine of claim 8, wherein the piston rod carries a mass configured to deliver an impact.

10. The swaging machine of claim 9, wherein the one or more delivery hoses supply compressed air to the cylinder to drive the piston and piston rod through the powerstroke.

11. The swaging machine of claim 10, wherein the piston is caused to move through its return stroke by a biasing member.

12. The swaging machine of claim 10, wherein the piston is caused to move through its return stroke by a pneumatic cylinder.

13. A swaging machine configured to swage a marker band onto a catheter, comprising:

a feed system comprising a motor and a clamp, the clamp slideably disposed on a rail, the motor in driving engagement with the clamp and configured for transmitting a feeding force to the clamp;

an impact system comprising a hammer and a die, the hammer configured to deliver an impact to the die, the die configured to distribute the impact force as a swaging force to the marker band; and

a rotation system comprising a motor and configured to rotate the impact system to distribute the swaging force about a circumference of the marker band, the rotation system further comprising a rotation limiter for limiting the angular displacement of the rotation system.

14. The swaging machine of claim 13, wherein the rotation limiter comprises an indicator, a sensor, and a signal output generator.

15. The swaging machine of claim 14, wherein the indicator is a timing cam, the sensor senses at least two states of the timing cam corresponding with the angular orientation of the timing cam, and the signal output generator sends a signal to a control system corresponding with the state of the cam.

16. The swaging machine of claim 13, wherein the rotation limiter limits angular displacement of the rotation system to 180 degrees.

17. The swaging machine of claim 13, wherein the angular displacement is limited by a control system.