Rod forming process and apparatus

Claim 2

A rod forming process comprising the following steps: a. clamping a first portion of a straight rod, such clamped portion defining a first axis; b. eccentrically bending a second portion of said rod relative to said clamped portion by a receiving means which constrains the second portion for pivotal bending movement about a pivot point disPlaced from said first axis; and c. coining said rod to produce a bend of uniform thickness between said clamped portion and said bent portion.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said coining step includes forming a flange extending from the bent portion of the rod, and adjacent said bend, such that there is no folding of rod material between said flange and said rod.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein said bent portion defines a second axis, and said pivot point is displaced from the intersection of said first axis and said second axis.

Claim 5

A rod forming process comprising the following steps: a. clamping a first portion of a straight rod, such clamped portion defining a first axis; b. eccentrically bending a second portion of said rod relative to said clamped portion, about a pivot point displaced from said first axis so that said bending step produces a bend with a bulge of rod material having a thickness greater than that of said clamped portion and said bent portion, and such that the rod material undergoes primarily compressive stress at the bend; and c. coining said rod to produce a bend of uniform thickness between said clamped portion and said bent portion.

Claim 6

A rod forming process comprising the following steps: a. clamping a first portion of a straight rod, such clamped portion defining a first axis; b. eccentrically bending a second portion of said rod relative to said clamped portion, about a pivot point displaced from said first axis so that said bending step produces a bend with a bulge of rod material having a thickness greater than that of said clamped portion and said bent portion, and such that the rod material undergoes primarily compressive stress at the bend; and c. coining said rod to produce a bend of uniform thickness between said clamped portion and said bent portion.

Claim 7

The process of forming a bend in a rod, defining two straight portions with the bend therebetween, and coining a circular flange extending radially from one of said portions and adjacent the bend, comprising: a. bending said rod by constraining said portions for pivotal bending movement of at least one of said portions about a pivot point displaced from the intersection of the axes of the two straight portions of the bent rod; and b. applying pressure at said bend, to form a bend of uniform thickness and having an outer curvature tangential to said two straight portions.

Claim 8

The process of forming a bend in a rod, defining two straight portions with the bend therebetween, and coining a circular flange extending radially from one of said portions and adjacent the bend, comprising: a. bending said rod by constraining said portions for pivotal bending movement of at least one of said portions about a pivot point displaced from the intersection of the axes of the two straight portions of the bent rod; and b. applying pressure at said bend, to form a bend of uniform thickness and having an outer curvature tangential to said two straight portions.

Claim 9

The process of claim 5 wherein said flange is concentric with said one straight portion.

Claim 10

A process of rod forming comprising: a. securing a first portion of a straight rod in a clamped position; b. bending a second portion of said rod at an angle of about 90* with respect to said clamped portion, said bending being about a pivot point displaced toward the outside curvature of said bend from the intersection of the axis of the clamped portion and the axis of the bent portion, causing a bulge of rod material at the bend; and c. coining said rod at the bend to force rod material from said bulged bend area and from said second portion into a radially extending flange, resulting in a bend of uniform thickness with a flange adjacent said bend, such that there is no detrimental fold between said flange and said rod.

Claim 11

A process of rod forming comprising: a. securing a first portion of a straight rod in a clamped position; b. bending a second portion of said rod at an angle of about 90* with respect to said clamped portion, said bending being about a pivot point displaced toward the outside curvature of said bend from the intersection of the axis of the clamped portion and the axis of the bent portion, causing a bulge of rod material at the bend; and c. coining said rod at the bend to force rod material from said bulged bend area and from said second portion into a radially extending flange, resulting in a bend of uniform thickness with a flange adjacent said bend, such that there is no detrimental fold between said flange and said rod.

Claim 12

The process as described in claim 7, comprising clamping said first portion of said straight rod between opposing jaws, and inserting said second portion of said rod within a receiving opening in a rotatable element; rotating said element about 90*, thereby putting about a 90* bend in said rod; and simultaneously applying pressure to the rod at the area of the bend and yieldingly moving said jaws in the direction in which said pressure is applied, while maintaining said first portion clamped between said jaws, thereby coining said rod without shearing it at the bend.

Claim 13

The process as described in claim 8 wherein said pressure is applied along the axis of said bent portion.

Claim 14

The process as described in claim 9, wherein said pivot point is located radially outward from the intersection of the axis of the two portions.

Claim 15

The process as described in claim 10, comprising transferring the straight rod into a receiving groove in the lower of said two clamping jaws; clamping the upper of said two jaws against said lower jaw, thereby clamping said first portion in place; and, ejecting said bent and coined rod from said jaws after said bending and coining steps.

Claim 16

A process for forming a rod, such formed rod having a first straight portion and a second straight portion bent at about a 90* angle with respecT to each other, comprising the following steps: a. placing a first portion of a straight rod on a first supporting jaw, the opposite portion of said rod being received in a rotatable member; b. clamping a second jaw against said first jaw, said first and second jaws having grooves in registry with each other so as to securely clamp said first portion of said rod; c. rotating said member through a predetermined angle, thereby bending said opposite portion about a pivot point displaced from the intersection of the axis of said first portion and the axis of said bent opposite portion; d. applying pressure to the outer surface of the bend of the rod to coin same, thereby causing material to flow from said bend area and from said bent portion into an annular flange on said bent portion; e. moving said jaws in the direction of said applied pressure during the application of such pressure, whereby said first portion of said rod is displaced uniformly with said bend undergoing said pressure; and f. ejecting said bent and coined rod.

Claim 17

A process for forming a rod, such formed rod having a first straight portion and a second straight portion bent at about a 90* angle with respecT to each other, comprising the following steps: a. placing a first portion of a straight rod on a first supporting jaw, the opposite portion of said rod being received in a rotatable member; b. clamping a second jaw against said first jaw, said first and second jaws having grooves in registry with each other so as to securely clamp said first portion of said rod; c. rotating said member through a predetermined angle, thereby bending said opposite portion about a pivot point displaced from the intersection of the axis of said first portion and the axis of said bent opposite portion; d. applying pressure to the outer surface of the bend of the rod to coin same, thereby causing material to flow from said bend area and from said bent portion into an annular flange on said bent portion; e. moving said jaws in the direction of said applied pressure during the application of such pressure, whereby said first portion of said rod is displaced uniformly with said bend undergoing said pressure; and f. ejecting said bent and coined rod.

Claim 18

Apparatus for rod forming comprising: a. clamping means for clamping and holding a portion of a rod; b. bending means for bending another portion of said rod at an angle relative to said clamped portion, the bending means including a receiving portion for receiving said other portion and constraining it for bending about a pivot point displaced eccentrically from the intersection of the axis of the clamped portion and the axis of the bent portion; and c. coining means for coining said rod in the vicinity of the bend.

Claim 19

Apparatus for rod forming comprising: a. clamping means for clamping and holding a portion of a rod; b. bending means for bending another portion of said rod at an angle relative to said clamped portion, the bending means including a receiving portion for receiving said other portion and constraining it for bending about a pivot point displaced eccentrically from the intersection of the axis of the clamped portion and the axis of the bent portion; and c. coining means for coining said rod in the vicinity of the bend.

Claim 20

The apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said receiving portion is mounted on a rotating element which rotates about said eccentric pivot point.

Claim 21

The apparatus as described in claim 14 comprising angle control means for causing said rotating element to rotate about 90*, thereby forming about a 90* bend in said rod.

Claim 22

The apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein said coining means produces an annular flange about the bent portion of said rod, and adjacent to said bend, said bending means and said coining means cooperating such that no fold is produced between said flange and said rod.

Claim 23

The apparatus as described in claim 13, comprising eject means for ejecting the formed rod from the apparatus after the bending and coining operations.

Claim 24

The apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein said clamping means is moveable in cooperation with said coining means, such cooperative moving maintaining said rod straight except at the point of bending.

Claim 25

Apparatus for forming a rod comprising: a. clamping means for clamping a portion of an unformed rod; b. receiving means for receiving an end portion of said unformed rod, said receiving means being displaced from said clamping means so as to provide an unengaged portion of said rod; c. rotating means, for rotating about a pivot axis, said rotating means carrying said receiving means; d. first actuating means, for actuating rotation of said rotating means following clamping by said clamping means; e. stopping means, for stopping rotation of said rotating means after rotation through a predetermined angle; f. said rotating means rotating about a pivot point displaced from the intersection of the axis of said clamped portion of said rod with the axis of said portion bent through said predetermined angle, such that said bending produces a bulge of excess rod material in the area of the bend; g. coining means, for applying pressure to said rod in said bend area, said pressure causing flow from said excess material and from said bent portion into a flange; h. second actuating means, actuating operation of said coining means after rotation of said rotating means through said predetermined angle; i. clamp adjusting means, for moving said clamping means in cooperation with said coining means; j. ejection means, for ejecting said formed rod after operatIon of said coining means; and k. third actuating means, for actuating said ejection means after operation of said coining means.

Claim 26

Apparatus for forming a rod comprising: a. clamping means for clamping a portion of an unformed rod; b. receiving means for receiving an end portion of said unformed rod, said receiving means being displaced from said clamping means so as to provide an unengaged portion of said rod; c. rotating means, for rotating about a pivot axis, said rotating means carrying said receiving means; d. first actuating means, for actuating rotation of said rotating means following clamping by said clamping means; e. stopping means, for stopping rotation of said rotating means after rotation through a predetermined angle; f. said rotating means rotating about a pivot point displaced from the intersection of the axis of said clamped portion of said rod with the axis of said portion bent through said predetermined angle, such that said bending produces a bulge of excess rod material in the area of the bend; g. coining means, for applying pressure to said rod in said bend area, said pressure causing flow from said excess material and from said bent portion into a flange; h. second actuating means, actuating operation of said coining means after rotation of said rotating means through said predetermined angle; i. clamp adjusting means, for moving said clamping means in cooperation with said coining means; j. ejection means, for ejecting said formed rod after operatIon of said coining means; and k. third actuating means, for actuating said ejection means after operation of said coining means.

Claim 27

The apparatus as described in claim 19 wherein said clamping means comprises upper and lower jaws, said jaws having grooves containing projected ridges for tightly clamping said rod.