Apparatus for precision bending of plastic pipe

Claim 1

Apparatus for precision bending of plastic conduit comprising: a. a rotatable means for moving a segment of conduit through a plurality of locations for carrying out a variety of cooperating functions, said rotatable means having a plurality of sections, the plurality being at least as great as the number of locations; each section including: i. pressurizing means for establishing a super atmospheric pressure within a segment of conduit, said pressurizing means being connected with a pressurized source of fluid having a pressure regulating means and including cap means for emplacement at each end of said segment of conduit for controlling flow of fluid at each end of said segment of conduit; said pressurizing means being operable to maintain the super atmospheric pressure throughout said plurality of locations as said rotatable means is rotated therethrough; ii. clamping means for clamping each end of said segment of conduit, said clamping means having a fixed portion that is fixedly carried by said section, and a movable portion that is movable along a predetermined arcuate path so as to effect a desired degree of bend and desired shape of said segment of conduit; iii. jig means having an interior wall of a desired finish for effecting an elbow having a desired finished surface, and comprising at least an interior jig means having a desired degree of bend disposed intermediate said fixed portion and said movable portion of said clamp means; iv. automatic bending means connected with said movable portion of said clamping means for bending said segment of conduit responsive to an actuation means, said bending means having holding means for holding a desired degree of bend once attained; and v. stop means for limiting the degree of bending that is automatically effected by said bending means; b. loading and unloading location for emplacing said segment of conduit within said clamping means in a section and connecting said pressurizing means and for releasing said pressurizing means and taking a formed elbow from said clamping means; said loading and unloading location in combination with each said section including: i. means for releasing the pressure from within said conduit and disconnecting said pressurizing means therefrom; ii. means for releasing, respectively, said holding means, said bending means, and said clamping means for taking a formed elbow therefrom; and iii. means for reconnecting said pressurizing means with a subsequent conduit and establishing pressure therewithin; c. heating location including heating means and temperature controlling means disposed peripherally downstream of said loading and unloading location for heating said segment of conduit intermediate its ends to its softening temperature; d. heating and bending location disposed peripherally downstream of said heating location for bending the segment of conduit at its softening temperature to form a precision elbow; said heating and bending location including: i. a heating means for maintaining said segment of conduit at its softening temperature; and ii. actuation means for automatically actuating said bending means to bend the softened segment of conduit into conformance with said jig means and said stop means and into a precise degree of bend and shape; and e. at least one cooling location having means for subjecting said precision elbow to a cooling fluid to cool it below its softening temperature and into an inflexible state before it reaches said loading and unloading locations.