WO2018185451A1

WO2018185451A1 - Rivet removal tool

Info

Publication number: WO2018185451A1
Application number: PCT/GB2018/000060
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul McAndrew
Original assignee: Aerofoil Energy Ltd
Current assignee: Aerofoil Energy Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-07
Filing date: 2018-04-06
Publication date: 2018-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-07
Also published as: GB2561231B; GB201705605D0; GB2561231A

Abstract

A rivet removal tool, comprising: a first plate and a second plate disposed in a parallel facing orientation; and a separation mechanism adapted to move the second plate relative to the first plate such that a distance between a face of the second plate and an opposing face of the first plate is varied while the parallel facing orientation of the plates is maintained, wherein the first and second plates comprise corresponding slots extending from a first edge of each plate in a direction towards a second, opposing edge of the plate.

Description

RIVET REMOVAL TOOL

The invention relates to rivet removal tool.

Retail refrigeration units (henceforth referred to as "refrigerators") often comprise ticket rails affixed to the customer-facing edges of the shelves thereof, in order that product and pricing information can be provided to the customer. These ticket rails are often formed from a strip of metal which is riveted onto the customer-facing edge of the shelf. A spacer washer is often placed between the ticket rail and the edge of the shelf, in order to create a fixing point which will hold a shelf edge riser. Shelf edge risers are typically made of a transparent material (e.g. Perspex), with channels cut into them to enable them to be slotted over fixing points on the customer-facing edge of the shelf, for example the spacer washer of a ticket rail fixing point.

Removal of the ticket rails is often required in order to refurbish a refrigerator and, more recently, in order to fix air guiding products to the shelf.

The usual method of removing a ticket rail from a shelf of a refrigerator would be to drill out the rivet, but this is time consuming and produces swarf (metal filings) in the vicinity of food products, which is undesirable.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a way of removing a rivet which does not involve drilling the rivet out of its surroundings.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a rivet removal tool, comprising: a first plate and a second plate disposed in a parallel facing orientation; and a separation mechanism adapted to move the second plate relative to the first plate such that a distance between a face of the second plate and an opposing face of the first plate is varied while the parallel facing orientation of the plates is maintained, wherein the first and second plates comprise corresponding slots extending from a first edge of each plate in a direction towards a second, opposing edge of the plate. The first and second plates can receive the shaft of a rivet by insertion of the shaft into the slots. At least one of the slots may have a diameter which is less than the diameter of the head of the rivet, so that the shaft is receivable into the slot while the underside of the rivet head contacts an outer face of the plate (the inner face of each plate being that which faces towards the other plate, and the outer face of each plate being that which faces away from the other plate). In one embodiment, when the plates are inserted around a rivet affixed to the edge of a shelf, the outer face of one plate contacts the underside of the rivet head, and the outer face of the other plate contacts the shelf edge. Increasing the distance between the plates therefore acts to pull the rivet out of its fixing hole in the shelf edge, thus removing the need to drill the rivet out. Alternatively, where the rivet attaches a structure such as a ticket rail to the front edge of the shelf, when the plates are inserted around the shaft of the rivet, the outer face of one plate contacts the ticket strip and the outer face of the other plate contacts the shelf edge. Increasing the distance between the plates therefore acts to pull the ticket rail away from the shelf edge, and thus pull the rivet out of its fixing hole in the shelf edge. By using the two plates, the present invention spreads the loading evenly across the outer face of the plate which sits flat against the shelf edge, therefore reducing the likelihood of bending and damaging the shelf edge (as could happen with a crow-bar or pry-bar, which would exert pivoting pressure to one side of the rivet and in a small area on the face of the shelf).

In some embodiments, the separation mechanism comprises a screw thread coupled to the first plate, wherein the screw thread is coupled to the second plate by way of a corresponding thread, the first and second plates being adapted so as to prevent rotation of the second plate relative to the first plate upon operation of the screw thread.

In one embodiment, the first plate comprises a first shaft extending from the outer face thereof, and the second plate comprises a second shaft extending from the inner face thereof. The first plate comprises a through-hole connecting an inner surface of the first shaft with the inner surface of the first plate. The second shaft is slidably received into the first shaft, and the second and first shafts are adapted so as to prevent rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft, e.g. by way of a protrusion on the inner surface of the first shaft which is receivable into a corresponding channel extending in a longitudinal direction along the outer surface of the second shaft (or vice versa), or by virtue of the inner surface of the first shaft and the outer surface of the second shaft having corresponding polygonal cross-sections (e.g. square, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal cross-sections). A male screw thread may be receivable into the first and second shafts, wherein the inner surface of the second shaft comprises a corresponding female screw thread for receiving the male screw thread. The male screw thread is coupled to the first shaft such that longitudinal movement of the male screw thread relative to the first shaft is prevented, e.g. by way of a protrusion on the inner surface of the first shaft which is receivable into a corresponding channel extending around a circumference of the male screw thread (or vice versa). Rotation of the male screw thread thus causes the second shaft to move in a longitudinal direction relative to the first shaft, and thus causes the distance between the inner face of the second plate and the inner face of the first plate to be varied.

The screw thread may comprise a connector which is adapted to receive a ratchet (also known as a ratcheting socket wrench). For example, the screw thread may be a screw thread of a hex-headed screw, the head of which can receive a hexagonal ratchet.

The screw thread may comprise a connector which is adapted to be connected to a drill or a screwdriver. For example, the connector may be adapted to receive a driver bit of a drill or screwdriver. The drill or screwdriver may be an electric drill or electric screwdriver. The drill or screwdriver may be a mechanical drill or mechanical screwdriver. In the case of a mechanical screwdriver, the driver bit may be a tip of the screwdriver.

In some embodiments, the screw thread comprises a connector which is adapted to receive a ratchet (e.g. as described above) and is also adapted to be connected to a drill or a screwdriver (e.g. as described above).

In another embodiment, the second plate is coupled to a pin which is held captive in a track, the track being rotatable about a pivot coupled to the first plate such that the pin moves linearly relative to the first plate upon rotation of the track about the pivot. In this embodiment, the separation mechanism comprises the pin, the track and the pivot. The first plate may comprise a first shaft extending from the outer face thereof, and the second plate may comprise a second shaft extending from the inner face thereof. The first plate may comprise a through-hole connecting an inner surface of the first shaft with the inner surface of the first plate. The second shaft may be slidably received into the first shaft, the second and first shafts being adapted so as to prevent rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft, e.g. by way of a protrusion on the inner surface of the first shaft which is receivable into a corresponding channel extending in a longitudinal direction along the outer surface of the second shaft (or vice versa), or by virtue of the inner surface of the first shaft and the outer surface of the second shaft having corresponding polygonal cross- sections (e.g. square, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal cross-sections). In this embodiment, the pin is located on the second shaft and the pivot is located on the first shaft, the pin extending into the track through a slot in the first shaft.

In this embodiment, the track is arranged such that, upon movement of the pin along the track, a distance between the pin and the pivot is varied. When the pin is coupled to the second plate (e.g. located on the second shaft) and the pivot is coupled to the first plate (e.g. located on the first shaft), a decrease in the distance between the pivot and the pin upon rotation of the track results in an increase in the distance between the first plate and the second plate.

In another embodiment, the first plate is coupled to a pin which is held captive in a track, the track being rotatable about a pivot coupled to the second plate such that the second plate moves linearly relative to the pin upon rotation of the track about the pivot. In this embodiment, the separation mechanism comprises the pin, the track and the pivot. The first plate may comprise a first shaft extending from the outer face thereof, and the second plate may comprise a second shaft extending from the inner face thereof. The first plate may comprise a through-hole connecting an inner surface of the first shaft with the inner surface of the first plate. The second shaft may be slidably received into the first shaft, the second and first shafts being adapted so as to prevent rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft, e.g. by way of a protrusion on the inner surface of the first shaft which is receivable into a corresponding channel extending in a longitudinal direction along the outer surface of the second shaft (or vice versa), or by virtue of the inner surface of the first shaft and the outer surface of the second shaft having corresponding polygonal cross- sections (e.g. square, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal cross-sections). In this embodiment, the pin is located on the first shaft and the pivot is located on the second shaft, the pivot being received in a slot in the first shaft in order to allow longitudinal movement of the second shaft within the first shaft.

In this embodiment, the track is arranged such that, upon movement of the pin along the track, a distance between the pin and the pivot is varied. When the pin is coupled to the first plate (e.g. located on the first shaft) and the pivot is coupled to the second plate (e.g. located on the second shaft), an increase in the distance between the pivot and the pin upon rotation of the track results in an increase in the distance between the first plate and the second plate. In some embodiments, the first and second plates are tapered towards the first edge of each plate. This facilitates insertion of the plates between a shelf edge and the underside of the head of a rivet inserted therein (or between the shelf edge and a ticket rail which is attached thereto by a rivet).

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a rivet removal tool, the tool being in the form of a wedge having a thin end and an opposing thick end, wherein the wedge comprises a slot extending from the thin end in a direction towards the thick end. In one embodiment, the wedge has a right-angled triangular cross-section.

The rivet removal tool of the second aspect can therefore receive the shaft of a rivet by insertion of the shaft into the slot. The diameter of the slot may be less than the diameter of the head of the rivet. When the wedge is inserted around a rivet affixed to the edge of a shelf, one face of the wedge contacts and lies flat against the shelf edge. Movement of the wedge so as slide the rivet shaft along the slot results in an increase in the distance between the shelf edge and the underside of the rivet head (or between the shelf edge and a ticket rail, when the rivet attaches the ticket rail to the front edge of the shelf). This increase in distance acts to pull the rivet out of its fixing hole in the shelf edge, thus removing the need to drill the rivet out. By using a wedge shape for the rivet removal tool, the loading is spread evenly across the face of the wedge which sits flat against the shelf edge, therefore reducing the likelihood of bending and damaging the shelf edge (as could happen with a crow-bar or pry-bar, which would exert pivoting pressure to one side of the rivet and in a small area on the face of the shelf).

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the

accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A is a side view of a rivet removal tool in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment;

Figure IB shows the tool of Figure 1A in which the separating mechanism is being actuated in order to move the plates apart;

Figure 1C shows the tool of Figure 1A in which the separating mechanism has been actuated in order to move the plates apart; Figure 2A is a perspective view of a rivet removal tool in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment;

Figure 2B shows the tool of Figure 2A in which the separating mechanism is being actuated in order to move the plates apart;

Figure 2C shows the tool of Figure 2A in which the separating mechanism has been actuated in order to move the plates apart;

Figure 3A is is a side view of a rivet removal tool in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment;

Figure 3B shows the tool of Figure 3A in which the separating mechanism is being actuated in order to move the plates apart;

Figure 3C shows the tool of Figure 3A in which the separating mechanism has been actuated in order to move the plates apart;

Figure 4A is a schematic view of a rivet removal tool in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention, showing insertion of the tool over the shaft of a rivet which affixes a ticket rail to the front edge of a shelf;

Figure 4B is a schematic view of the rivet removal tool as shown in Figure 4A being inserted around the rivet shaft.

Figures 1A to 1C show a rivet removal tool comprising a first plate 1 and a second plate 2 disposed in a parallel facing orientation. The rivet removal tool also comprises a separation mechanism 3 adapted to move the second plate 2 relative to the first plate 1 such that a distance between a face of the second plate 4 and an opposing face 5 of the first plate 1 is varied while the parallel facing orientation of the plates 1,2 is maintained. The first and second plates 1,2 comprise corresponding slots (not shown) extending from a first edge 8,9 of each plate 2,1 in a direction towards a second, opposing edge 10,11 of the plate 2,1.

The first plate 1 is coupled to a pin 12 which is held captive in a track 13, the track 13 being rotatable about a pivot 14 coupled to the second plate 2 such that the second plate 2 moves linearly relative to the pin 12 upon rotation of the track 13 about the pivot 14. The separation mechanism 3 comprises the pin 12, the track 13 and the pivot 14, along with a cam member 15 in which the track 13 is disposed, the cam member 15 being rotatable around the pivot 14. The first plate 1 comprises a first shaft 16 extending from the outer face 17 of the first plate 1, and the second plate 2 comprises a second shaft 18 extending from the inner face 4 of the second plate 2. The first plate 1 comprises a through-hole (not shown) connecting an inner surface of the first shaft 16 with the inner surface 5 of the first plate 1. The second shaft 18 is slidably received in the first shaft 16, the second and first shafts 18,16 being adapted so as to prevent rotation of the second shaft 18 relative to the first shaft 16, by virtue of the inner surface of the first shaft 16 and the outer surface of the second shaft 18 having a square cross-section. The pin 12 is located on the first shaft 16 and the pivot 14 is located on the second shaft 18, the pivot 14 being received in a slot (not shown) in the first shaft 16 in order to allow longitudinal movement of the second shaft 18 within the first shaft.

The track 13 is arranged in the cam member 15 such that, upon movement of the pin 12 along the track 14, a distance between the pin 12 and the pivot 14 is varied. As illustrated in Figures 1A to 1C (and Figures 2A to 2C), an increase in the distance between the pivot 14 and the pin 12 upon rotation of the track 13 results in an increase in the distance between the first plate 1 and the second plate 2.

As also shown in Figure 1A-1C and 2A-2C, the separating mechanism also includes a first handle 19 attached to the cam member 15, and a second handle 20 attached to the first shaft 16. Movement of the first handle 19 towards the second handle 20 causes the cam member 15 and thus the track 13 to rotate about the pivot 14, thus moving the pin 12 along the track 13 and increasing the distance between the pin 12 and the pivot 14, and thus increasing the distance between the first plate 1 and the second plate 2.

In the embodiment shown in in Figures 2A to 2C, a portion of the slot 6 of the second plate 2 has a diameter which is less than the diameter of a head of the rivet, thus the shaft of the rivet is receivable into the slot 6 while the underside of the rivet head contacts an outer face 21 of the second plate 2. The first plate comprises a slot 7. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2A to 2C, the pin 12 extends through the first shaft 16, and is also held captive in a second track 22 of a second cam member 23 which is disposed on an opposing side of the first shaft 16 to cam member 15. Pivot 14 thus also extends through the first shaft 16 such that the second cam member 23 is also rotatable around the pivot 14. Figure 3A shows a rivet removal tool in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, the separation mechanism 3 comprises a screw thread (not shown) coupled to the first plate 1, wherein the screw thread is coupled to the second plate 2 by way of a corresponding thread (not shown), the first and second plates 1,2 being adapted so as to prevent rotation of the second plate 2 relative to the first plate 1 upon operation of the screw thread.

The first plate 1 comprises a first shaft 24 extending from the outer face 17 thereof, and the second plate 2 comprises a second shaft 25 extending from the inner face 4 of the second plate 2. The first plate 1 comprises a through-hole (not shown) connecting an inner surface of the first shaft 24 with the inner surface 5 of the first plate 1. The second shaft 25 is slidably received into the first shaft 24, and the second and first shafts 25,24 are adapted so as to prevent rotation of the second shaft 25 relative to the first shaft 24, by way of a protrusion (not shown) on the inner surface of the first shaft 24 which is receivable into a corresponding channel (not shown) extending in a longitudinal direction along the outer surface of the second shaft 25. A male screw thread is receivable into the first and second shafts 24,25, wherein the inner surface of the second shaft 25 comprises a corresponding female screw thread for receiving the male screw thread. The male screw thread is coupled to the first shaft 24 such that longitudinal movement of the male screw thread relative to the first shaft 24 is prevented, by way of a protrusion (not shown) on the inner surface of the first shaft 24 which is receivable into a corresponding channel (not shown) extending around a circumference of the male screw thread. Rotation of the male screw thread causes the second shaft 25 to move in a longitudinal direction L relative to the first shaft 24, and thus causes the distance between the inner face 4 of the second plate 2 and the inner face 5 of the first plate 1 to be varied. The male screw thread also comprises a connector 26 which is adapted to receive a driver bit of a drill or screwdriver, for example an electric drill or electric screwdriver, or a mechanical drill or mechanical screwdriver.

In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in Figures 1A-1C and 3A-3C, when the rivet to be removed attaches a ticket rail to the front edge of the shelf, upon insertion of the plates 1,2 around the shaft of the rivet, the outer face of one plate contacts the ticket strip and the outer face of the other plate contacts the shelf edge. Increasing the distance between the plates 1,2 therefore acts to pull the ticket rail away from the shelf edge, and thus pull the rivet out of its fixing hole in the shelf edge. By using the two plates 1,2, the present invention spreads the loading evenly across the outer face of the plate which sits flat against the shelf edge, therefore reducing the likelihood of bending and damaging the shelf edge (as could happen with a crow-bar or pry-bar, which would exert pivoting pressure to one side of the rivet and in a small area on the face of the shelf).

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 2A-2C, when the plates 1,2 are inserted around a rivet affixed to the edge of a shelf, the outer face 21 of the second plate 2 contacts the underside of the rivet head, and the outer face 17 of the first plate 1 contacts the shelf edge. Increasing the distance between the plates 1,2 therefore acts to pull the rivet out of its fixing hole in the shelf edge, thus removing the need to drill the rivet out. By using the two plates 1,2, the present invention spreads the loading evenly across the outer face 17 of the plate 1 which sits flat against the shelf edge, therefore reducing the likelihood of bending and damaging the shelf edge (as could happen with a crow-bar or pry-bar, which would exert pivoting pressure to one side of the rivet and in a small area on the face of the shelf).

Figure 4A is a schematic view of a rivet removal tool in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention, showing insertion of the tool over the shaft 27 of a rivet 28 which affixes a ticket rail 29 to the front edge 30 of a shelf 31. The tool 32 is in the form of a wedge having a thin end 33 and an opposing thick end 34, wherein the wedge comprises a slot 35 extending from the thin end 33 in a direction towards the thick end 34. The slot 35 has a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the rivet shaft 27. The wedge has a right-angled triangular cross-section. When the wedge is inserted around the shaft 27 of a rivet 28 which affixes a ticket rail 29 to the front edge 30 of a shelf 31, a first face 36 of the wedge contacts and lies flat against the shelf edge 30. Movement of the wedge so as slide the rivet shaft 27 along the slot 25 results in an increase in the distance between the shelf edge 30 and the ticket rail 29. This increase in distance acts to pull the rivet 28 out of its fixing hole in the shelf edge 30, thus removing the need to drill the rivet out. By using a wedge shape for the rivet removal tool, the loading is spread evenly across the face 36 of the wedge which sits flat against the shelf edge 30, therefore reducing the likelihood of bending and damaging the shelf edge (as could happen with a crow-bar or pry-bar, which would exert pivoting pressure to one side of the rivet and in a small area on the face of the shelf).

Claims

1. A rivet removal tool, comprising:

a first plate and a second plate disposed in a parallel facing orientation; and

a separation mechanism adapted to move the second plate relative to the first plate such that a distance between a face of the second plate and an opposing face of the first plate is varied while the parallel facing orientation of the plates is maintained,

wherein the first and second plates comprise corresponding slots extending from a first edge of each plate in a direction towards a second, opposing edge of the plate.

2. The rivet removal tool of claim 1, wherein the separation mechanism comprises a screw thread coupled to the first plate, wherein the screw thread is coupled to the second plate by way of a corresponding thread, the first and second plates being adapted so as to prevent rotation of the second plate relative to the first plate upon operation of the screw thread.

3. The rivet removal tool of claim 2, wherein the screw thread comprises a connector which is adapted to receive a ratchet.

4. The rivet removal tool of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the screw thread comprises a connector which is adapted to be connected to a drill or a screwdriver.

5. The rivet removal tool of claim 1, wherein the second plate is coupled to a pin which is held captive in a track, the track being rotatable about a pivot coupled to the first plate such that the pin moves linearly relative to the first plate upon rotation of the track about the pivot.

6. The rivet removal tool of claim 1, wherein the first plate is coupled to a pin which is held captive in a track, the track being rotatable about a pivot coupled to the second plate such that the second plate moves linearly relative to the pin upon rotation of the track about the pivot.

7. The rivet removal tool of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the plates are tapered towards the first edge of each plate

8. A rivet removal tool, the tool being in the form of a wedge having a thin end and an opposing thick end, wherein the wedge comprises a slot extending from the thin end in a direction towards the thick end.

9. The rivet removal tool of claim 8, wherein the wedge has a right-angled triangular cross- section.