GB2538855A - Cutting tool for cutting air lines and tie straps - Google Patents

Abstract

A cutting tool for cutting air lines and tie straps in vehicles, comprising at least one blade 12 with: a first portion 14 forming a v-shaped protrusion 16 for cutting an air line; and a second portion 20, abutting the first portion, forming a straight edge for cutting a tie strap. Preferably, a tool element 22 comprises: a third portion 24 with a v-shaped receptacle to partially receive the first portion; and a straight fourth portion 28, corresponding to the first portion, for supporting the tie strap. Preferably, the tool element and the blade are pivotally mounted in a scissor arrangement, where the pivot 30 is arranged between the blade and tool element and their respective handles 38,40.

Description

Cutting Tool for Cutting Air lines and Tie Straps The invention relates to a cutting tool for cutting air lines and He straps.

It is well-known from the general prior art to use both air lines and tie straps in, for example, vehicles such as commercial vehicles. Such an air line is also referred to as an air duct, wherein the air line is used to guide air. For example, the air line comprises at least one channel or conduit through which air can flow. Thus, the air flowing through the air line can be guided by the air line in a need-based manner. For example, the air flowing through the air line is used to actuate at least one brake, in particular at least one driving brake, of the vehicle.

Moreover, tie straps are used to fasten respective first components to respective second components of vehicles. For example, such a tie strap is used to fasten a component to a frame of a commercial vehicle. Said component fastened to the frame by means of at least tie strap is, for example, an air line. It has been shown that the installation of air lines and tie straps can be very time-consuming and cumbersome.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cutting tool by means of which a particularly easy installation of air lines and tie straps can be realized.

This object is solved by cutting tool having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

The invention relates to a cutting tool for cutting air lines and tie straps, in particular for vehicles. The cutting tool according to the present invention comprises at least one blade which has a first portion. The first portion is formed as a V-shaped protrusion configured to cut the respective air line. In other words, said V-shaped protrusion is used to cut air lines. The blade further has a second portion abutting the first portion, wherein the second portion is straight. Moreover, the second portion is configured to cut the respective tie strap. In other words, said second portion is used to cut He straps.

Since the cutting tool according to the present invention comprises the blade having the first and second portions both air lines and tie straps can be cut by using the same cutting tool so that an operator does not need to use two different tools and switch back and forth between them to cut air lines as well as tie straps, for example in the framework of installing air lines and tie straps in a vehicle. In other words, the cutting tool according to the present invention allows the operator to use one single tool to cut both air lines and tie straps. It was found that cutting air lines works best when using a V-shaped blade as this allows the blade to penetrate the respective air line without flattening it which is what a typical flat or straight blade does. Thus, the respective air line can be cut particularly advantageously by means of the first portion. Since the first portion is a V-shaped protrusion the first portion and, such, the blade, has a point which cuts into the respective air line. As said point of the blade cuts into the respective air line the blade begins to cut the air line from inside out which results in a particularly clean cut.

For example, the second portion forms a pointed end of the blade, wherein said pointed end is used to cut tie straps. By having a pointed end the cutting tool can be moved into particularly tight areas, and the straight or flat second portion of the blade effects a clean cut of the respective tie strap. Since the cutting tool according to the present invention has both the V-shaped portion and the straight or flat second portion the work of installing and cutting tie straps and air lines can be done in a particularly easy and fast way.

Preferably, the second portion is long and flat. Alternatively or additionally, the second portion is an end portion of the blade. Moreover, preferably, the second portion is tapered so that the cutting tool, in particular the second portion, can be moved in particularly tight areas. The idea of the cutting tool according to the present invention is to combine the V-shaped first portion for cutting air lines and the straight or flat second portion for cutting tie straps into one tool thus eliminating the need for two separate tools thereby speeding up manufacturing time for installing tie straps and air lines.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawings show in: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of a cutting tool for cutting both air lines and He straps, the cutting tool comprising at least one blade having a first portion being formed as a V-shaped protrusion for cutting air lines, and a second portion abutting the first portion, the second portion being straight and configured to cut tie straps; Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 a schematic perspective view of the blade; a schematic side view of said blade; a schematic perspective view of the cutting tool cutting an air line; a further schematic perspective view of the cutting tool cutting said air line; a schematic perspective view of the cutting tool cutting a tie straps; and part of a schematic perspective view of the cutting tool cutting said tie strap.

In the figures the same elements or elements having the same functions are indicated by the same reference signs.

Fig. 1 shows, in a schematic side view, a cutting tool 10 for cutting both air lines and tie straps which are used in, for example, a vehicle such as a commercial vehicle. For example, in the framework of manufacturing said vehicle air lines and tie straps are installed in the vehicle by an operator which is also referred to as a worker. For example, the air lines and the tie straps are mounted on respective components of the vehicle, wherein, for example, at least one of said air lines is mounted on or fixed to at least one component by means of at least one of said tie straps. For example, said component to which at least one of said air lines and/or at least one of said tie straps is fixed is a frame of said vehicle which can be a commercial vehicle such as a truck.

The respective air line is used to guide air from a first location to a different second location. For this purpose, the respective air line has at least one duct or passage through which air can flow so that the air flowing through the air line can be guided by the air line. For example, the air flowing through the air line is used to actuate at least one brake of the vehicle.

In order to realize a particularly fast and easy installation of both the air lines and the tie straps the cutting tool 10 comprises at least one blade 12 which is also shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As can be seen from Figs. 1 to 3, the blade 12 has a first portion 14 which is formed as a V-shaped protrusion 16 configured to cut the respective air line. Since the first portion 14 is formed as the V-shaped protrusion 16, the first portion 14 and, thus, the protrusion 16 have a point 18 by means of which the respective air line can be cut particularly advantageously.

The blade 12 further comprises a second portion 20 abutting the first portion 14, wherein the second portion 20 is straight or flat. Moreover, the second portion 20 is configured to cut the respective tie strap. Moreover, the second portion is an end portion of the blade 12, wherein the second portion 20 is tapered so that the second portion 20 forms a pointed or tapered end for cutting the respective tie strap. In other words, the second portion 20 is a long flat tapered blade portion of the blade 12.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the cutting tool 10 comprises at least one tool element 22 having a third portion 24 corresponding to the first portion 14. The third portion 24 is formed as a V-shaped receptacle 26 configured to receive at least partially the respective air line to be cut by the blade 12. Moreover, the tool element 22 comprises a fourth portion 28 abutting the third portion 24, wherein the fourth portion 28 corresponds to the second portion 20. Moreover, the fourth portion 28 is flat or straight, and the fourth portion 28 is configured to support the respective tie strap when cutting the respective tie strap by the second portion 20.

The blade 12 and the tool element 22 are pivotably connected with each other about a pivot axis 30. The cutting tool 10 further comprises a scissor mechanism 32 having a first scissor element 34 comprising the blade 12. The scissor mechanism 32 further comprises a second scissor element 36 comprising the tool element 22, wherein the scissor elements 34 and 36 are pivotably connected with each other about the pivot axis 30 in such a way that the blade 12 and the tool element 22 are pivoted towards each other when pivoting, in a first direction of rotation, one of the scissor elements 34 and 36 in relation to the other scissor element 36 or 34 about said pivot axis 30.

Moreover, the scissor elements 34 and 36 are pivotably connected with each other in such a way, that the blade 12 and the tool element 22 are pivoted away from each other when pivoting in an opposite second direction of rotation, said one scissor element 34 or 36 in relation to the other scissor element 36 or 34 about the pivot axis 30. Thus, the cutting tool 10 is a scissor-like shearing tool which can be used for cutting both air lines and tie straps. The scissor elements 34 and 36 have respective handles 38 and 40 which can be pivoted towards each other and away from each other. By pivoting the handles 38 and 40 towards each other, the blade 12 and the tool element 22 are pivoted towards each other. Thereby, said operator can handle the cutting tool 10 and pivot the tool element 22 and the blade 12 in relation to each other by means of said handles 38 and 40.

With respect to the respective scissor element 34 or 36, the pivot axis 30 is arranged between the blade 12 or the tool element 22 and the handle 38 or 40 respectively. Thus, the blade 12 and the tool element 22 are closed, i.e. pivoted towards each other by pivoting the handles 38 and 40 towards each other. Moreover, for example, the scissor element 36 is formed in one piece. The scissor element 34 comprises two separate parts reversibly connected with each other. A first one of said parts is a base element 42 forming the handle 38. The second one of said parts is the blade 12 which is reversibly connected with the base element 42 so that, for example, the blade 12 can be replaced by a further, new blade when the blade 12 is worn.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the cutting tool 10 when cutting an air line which is, in Figs. 4 and 5, indicated by 44. In order to cut the air line 44 the air line 44 is arranged at least partially in the receptacle 26 when the cutting tool 10 is open, i.e. when the blade 12 and the tool element 22 are pivoted away from each other. In order to cut the air line 44 the cutting tool 10, i.e. the tool element 22 and the blade 12 are closed by pivoting the blade 12 towards the tool element 22 or vice versa.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the cutting tool 10 when cutting a tie strap which is, in Figs. 6 and 7, indicated by 46. In order to cut the tie strap 46 the tie strap 46 is, for example, arranged in such a way that the tie strap 46 is supported on the fourth portion 28 when the cutting tool 10 is open. Then, the cutting tool 10 is closed thereby cutting the tie strap 46 by means of the second portion 20 whilst the tie strap 46 is supported by means of the fourth portion 28. Since the second portion 20 is pointed, the blade 12 can be moved into particularly tight areas so that the cutting tool 10 can be handled in a particularly easy way. Moreover, by using the V-shaped protrusion 16 to cut the air lines particularly clean cuts can be realized.

List of reference signs cutting tool 12 blade 14 first portion 16 protrusion 18 point second portion 22 tool element 24 third portion 26 receptacle 28 fourth portion pivot axis 32 scissor mechanism 34 scissor element 36 scissor element 38 handle handle 42 base element 44 air line 46 tie strap

Claims (5)

1. Patent Claims 1. A cutting tool (10) for cutting air lines (44) and tie straps (46), in particular for vehicles, the cutting tool (10) comprising at least one blade (12) having: a first portion (14) being formed as a V-shaped protrusion (16) configured to cut the respective air line (44); and a second portion (20) abutting the first portion (14), the second portion (20) being straight and configured to cut the respective tie strap (46).
2. 2. The cutting tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cutting tool (10) comprises at least one tool element (22) having: -a third portion (24) corresponding to the first portion (14), the third portion (24) being formed as a V-shaped receptacle (26) configured to receive at least partially the respective air line (44); and a fourth portion (28) abutting the third portion (24) and corresponding to the second portion (20), the fourth portion (28) being straight and configured to support the respective tie strap (46).
3. 3. The cutting tool (10) according to claim 2, wherein the blade (12) and the tool element (22) are pivotably connected with each other about a pivot axis (30).
4. 4. The cutting tool (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cutting tool (10) comprises a scissor mechanism (32) having: -a first scissor element (34) comprising the blade (12); and -a second scissor element (36) comprising the tool element (10), wherein the scissor elements (34, 36) are pivotably connected with each other in such a way that: o the blade (12) and the tool element (22) are pivoted towards each other when pivoting, in a first direction of rotation, one of the scissor elements (34, 46) in relation to the other scissor element (36, 34) about the pivot axis (30); and o the blade (12) and the tool element (22) are pivoted away from each other when pivoting, in an opposite second direction of rotation, the one scissor element (34, 36) in relation to the other scissor element (36, 34) about the pivot axis (30);
5. 5. The cutting tool (10) according to claim 4, wherein the scissor elements (34, 36) have respective handles (38, 40), and wherein, with respect to the respective scissor element (34, 36), the pivot axis (30) is arranged between the blade (12) or the tool element (22) and the handle (38, 40) respectively.