Method and apparatus for bending tubing

Claim 1

The method of bending metal tubing of substantially circular cross Section including restraining the tubing against lengthwise movement, exerting lateral force on the tubing at a localized region to initiate cold flow of the metal of the tubing at said localized region, and applying force against the tubing adjacent the localized region to bend a portion of the tubing into an arcuate configuration while maintaining the bent portion of the tubing of substantially circular cross section.

Claim 2

The method of bending metal tubing of substantially circular cross Section including restraining the tubing against lengthwise movement, exerting lateral force on the tubing at a localized region to initiate cold flow of the metal of the tubing at said localized region, and applying force against the tubing adjacent the localized region to bend a portion of the tubing into an arcuate configuration while maintaining the bent portion of the tubing of substantially circular cross section.

Claim 3

The method of bending metal tubing of substantially circular cross section including restraining longitudinal movement of the tubing, applying force laterally against the tubing at a localized region to effect relative movement of the metal of the tubing outwardly at said localized region, and continuing the application of force against a portion of the tubing adjacent the localized region to form said portion into an arcuate configuration while maintaining the portion of arcuate configuration of substantially circular cross section.

Claim 4

The method of bending metal tubing of substantially circular cross section including restraining longitudinal movement of the tubing, applying force laterally against the tubing at a localized region to effect relative movement of the metal of the tubing outwardly at said localized region, and continuing the application of force against a portion of the tubing adjacent the localized region to form said portion into an arcuate configuration while maintaining the portion of arcuate configuration of substantially circular cross section.

Claim 5

The method of bending metal tubing of substantially circular cross section including clamping the tubing, exerting force against the tubing at a localized region to effect lateral and outward displacement of the metal of the tubing at said localized region, and applying force against the tubing adjacent the localized region to bend a portion of the tubing into an arcuate configuration while maintaining the bent portion of substantially circular cross section.

Claim 6

The method of bending metal tubing of substantially circular cross section including clamping the tubing, exerting force against the tubing at a localized region to effect lateral and outward displacement of the metal of the tubing at said localized region, and applying force against the tubing adjacent the localized region to bend a portion of the tubing into an arcuate configuration while maintaining the bent portion of substantially circular cross section.

Claim 7

The method of working metal tubing including the steps of restraining the tubing against longitudinal movement, exerting force laterally against the tubing at a localized region to distort the metal outwardly and thereby initiate cold flow of the metal of the tubing at the localized region, applying force against the tubing adjacent the distorted metal at the localized region forming a bend in the tubing, engaging a locking surface with the tubing at a region spaced from the bend, releasing the tubing from the influence of the laterally directed and tubing restraining forces, advancing the tubing and locking surface longitudinally in the direction of the bend through a predetermined distance, and rotating the tubing while engaged by the locking surface to predetermine the angular position of the bend to be formed relative to the angularity of the formed bend.

Claim 8

The method of working metal tubing including the steps of restraining the tubing against longitudinal movement, exerting force laterally against the tubing at a localized region to distort the metal outwardly and thereby initiate cold flow of the metal of the tubing at the localized region, applying force against the tubing adjacent the distorted metal at the localized region forming a bend in the tubing, engaging a locking surface with the tubing at a region spaced from the bend, releasing the tubing from the influence of the laterally directed and tubing restraining forces, advancing the tubing and locking surface longitudinally in the direction of the bend through a predetermined distance, and rotating the tubing while engaged by the locking surface to predetermine the angular position of the bend to be formed relative to the angularity of the formed bend.

Claim 9

The method of bending metal tubing of substantially circular cross section including the steps of disposing a length of tubing between clamping surfaces, engaging the surfaces with the tubing, moving a body into engagement with a localized region of the tubing, displacing metal of the tubing laterally and outwardly at the said region by the moving body and thereby initiate flow of the metal prior to a bending operation, rotating the body engaged with the tubing to form a bend in the tubing while maintaining the bent portion of substantially circular cross section, resisting rotational movement of the body by forces sufficient to maintain the body in engagement with the tubing during the formation of a bend, and limiting rotational movement of the body when a bend of desired depth has been formed.

Claim 10

The method of bending metal tubing of substantially circular cross section including the steps of disposing a length of tubing between clamping surfaces, engaging the surfaces with the tubing, moving a body into engagement with a localized region of the tubing, displacing metal of the tubing laterally and outwardly at the said region by the moving body and thereby initiate flow of the metal prior to a bending operation, rotating the body engaged with the tubing to form a bend in the tubing while maintaining the bent portion of substantially circular cross section, resisting rotational movement of the body by forces sufficient to maintain the body in engagement with the tubing during the formation of a bend, and limiting rotational movement of the body when a bend of desired depth has been formed.

Claim 13

The method of working metal tubing including restraining the tubing against longitudinal movement, exerting forces laterally against the tubing to distort the metal outwardly to initiate cold flow of the metal of the tubing and form a bend in the tubing, engaging a locking surface with the tubing at a region spaced from the bend, releasing the tubing from the influence of the laterally directed and tubing restraining forces, advancing the tubing and locking surface longitudinally in the direction of the bend through a predetermined distance, and rotating the tubing by the locking surface to predetermine the angular position of the bend to be formed relative to the angularity of the formed bend.

Claim 14

The method of working metal tubing including restraining the tubing against longitudinal movement, exerting forces laterally against the tubing to distort the metal outwardly to initiate cold flow of the metal of the tubing and form a bend in the tubing, engaging a locking surface with the tubing at a region spaced from the bend, releasing the tubing from the influence of the laterally directed and tubing restraining forces, advancing the tubing and locking surface longitudinally in the direction of the bend through a predetermined distance, and rotating the tubing by the locking surface to predetermine the angular position of the bend to be formed relative to the angularity of the formed bend.

Claim 15

The method of working metal tubing of substantially circular cross section including clamping the tubing, initiating cold flow of the metal of the tubing by distorting the metal in a lateral and outward direction at a localized region, and bending the tubing adjacent the localized region of the tubing while maintaining the bent portion if the tubing of substantially circular cross section.

Claim 16

The method of working metal tubing of substantially circular cross section including clamping the tubing, initiating cold flow of the metal of the tubing by distorting the metal in a lateral and outward direction at a localized region, and bending the tubing adjacent the localized region of the tubing while maintaining the bent portion if the tubing of substantially circular cross section.