Patent attributes
A punching tool for attaching adjacent steel deck panels along a side-lapped seam positions first and second jaws on one side of the seam, and positions third, fourth and fifth jaws on the other side. An actuator compresses the two sets of jaws; blades on the ends of such jaws shear the seam to create two louvers extending in one direction separated by a third louver extending in the other direction. The first jaw blade passes between the third and fourth jaw blades, and the second jaw blade passes between the fourth and fifth jaw blades. The blades are tapered to prevent binding upon release. The blades may include semi-cylindrical punching portions, and can be formed as detachable inserts coupled to the jaws, as by dovetail joints. The jaws may be made of a metal having a hardness rating less than that of the detachable blade inserts.
