US4031733A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for bending tubular members
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-10-15
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Granted: 1977-06-28
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Expires: 1996-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for bending tubular members such as pipe including a frame, a carriage-mounted gripping device for feeding the pipe longitudinally along the frame, a set of bending dies for receiving and bending the tubular member as the tubular member is fed therethrough, and a radius setting assembly positioned to engage and further bend the tubular member along a predesignated radius of curvature. The movement of the radius setting member and the feeding assembly for moving the tubular member longitudinally is coordinated and synchronized such that the radius setting member and carriage-mounted gripping device moving the tubular member are moved synchronously to arrive at predesignated positions during a first portion of the bending cycle thereby applying a predesignated radius to the tubular member evenly and uniformly.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Coody
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:35
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D7/00; B21D7/02; B21D7/022; B21D7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
Apparatus for bending tubular members such as pipe, comprising: a frame; gripping means for gripping said tubular member, said gripping means being mounted on said frame for movement between an initial and final position in a longitudinal direction; feed means mounted with said frame and attached to said gripping means for moving said gripping means between said initial and final positions; bending means for bending said tubular member as said feed means moves said gripping means gripping said tubular member from said initial to said advanced position, said bending means including: a set of bending dies for receiving and bending a tubular member and bending die mount means mounting said bending dies with said frame for adjustable movement in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis; and a radius setting assembly and radius mount means mounting said radius setting assembly for movement between an initial and a radius applying position in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, said radius setting assembly and bending dies cooperating to engage and bend a tubular member to a desired radius with said feed means moving said gripping means from said initial to said final position; and power control means controlling movement of said gripping means, feed means, bending dies and radius setting assembly, said power control means including means for synchronizing movement of said radius setting assembly with movement of said gripping means and said feed means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
Apparatus for bending tubular members such as pipe, comprising: a frame; gripping means for gripping said tubular member, said gripping means being mounted on said frame for movement between an initial and final position in a longitudinal direction; feed means mounted with said frame and attached to said gripping means for moving said gripping means between said initial and final positions; bending means for bending said tubular member as said feed means moves said gripping means gripping said tubular member from said initial to said advanced position, said bending means including: a set of bending dies for receiving and bending a tubular member and bending die mount means mounting said bending dies with said frame for adjustable movement in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis; and a radius setting assembly and radius mount means mounting said radius setting assembly for movement between an initial and a radius applying position in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, said radius setting assembly and bending dies cooperating to engage and bend a tubular member to a desired radius with said feed means moving said gripping means from said initial to said final position; and power control means controlling movement of said gripping means, feed means, bending dies and radius setting assembly, said power control means including means for synchronizing movement of said radius setting assembly with movement of said gripping means and said feed means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said synchronizing means includes: means for adjusting the rate of travel of said radius setting assembly and of said gripping means as moved by said feed means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said radius setting assembly includes: a movable support assembly and means mounting said movable support assembly for movement transverse to the longitudinal axis of said frame; a radial shoe mounted on said movable support assembly and having a bearing area for engaging and applying a radius to such tubular member; and said power control means including positioning means for moving said movable support assembly and radial shoe between an ititial position and said final position which is a predesignated radius applying position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure set forth in claim 3, wherein said positioning means includes: means for locking said radial shoe and movable support assembly in said radius applying position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
The structure set forth in claim 3, including: a lock shaft mounted for movement with said movable support assembly and extending outwardly of said movable support assembly; a position locking sleeve mounted with said frame in position to receive said lock shaft with said movable support assembly in said initial position, said position locking sleeve being mounted with said frame for adjustable movement; and a lock element positioned above said lock shaft with said lock shaft positioned in said position locking sleeve, said lock element dropping into a space between said lock shaft and said position locking sleeve as said movable support assembly moves to said radius applying position to cooperate with said sleeve to support said lock shaft against the bending load applied against said radial shoe during bending.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure set forth in claim 3, wherein said positioning means includes: first and second fluid-actuated cylinder assemblies connected on opposite sides of said movable support assembly for moving said movable support assembly with said radial shoe mounted thereon in said transverse direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
The structure set forth in claim 5, including: said lock shaft, position locking sleeve and lock element combining to provide a lock support assembly, first and lock support assemblies mounted onto said frame and connected to said movable support assembly on opposite sides thereof; and first and second fluid-actuated cylinder assemblies positioned on said opposite sides of said movable support assembly for moving said movable support assembly in said transverse direction between said initial and said radius applying position, said lock support assemblies providing mechanical locking support separate from and additional to locking support provided by said fluid-actuated cylinder assemblies.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure set forth in claim 3, including: said movable support assembly including a movable block having a plurality of spaced openings therein; and means for mounting said radial shoe in any of said openings whereby the initial position of the radial shoe with respect to said bending dies is initially adjustable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure set forth in claim 3, wherein said radial shoe is: a roller and means mounting said roller onto said movable support assembly for rollingly engaging such tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said bending means includes: first and second bending blocks; first and second bending dies and die mount means mounting said bending dies onto said bending blocks; bending block mount means mounting said bending blocks for movement transversely to movement of said gripping means and tubular member mounted therein, which is defined as a longitudinal direction; and said power means including bending die positioning means for moving said bending blocks and bending dies between initial and bending positions and bending die position lock means for maintaining said bending dies in said bending position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure set forth in claim 10, wherein said bending die positioning means includes: a fluid-actuated cylinder assembly attached to said first and second bending blocks separate from said frame for moving both of said blocks independently of said frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The structure set forth in claim 10, including: first bending die position lock means mounted with said frame for locking the position of said first bending block and die; and said bending die positioning means including means moving said second bending die with respect to said first bending die with said first bending die in a locked position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
The structure set forth in claim 10, wherein said bending die positioning means includes: a first rod extending outwardly from said first die block; first rod lock means mounted with said frame for locking the position of said rod and thus of said die block against further movement transversely inwardly toward the other of said bending dies; and a second rod mounted with the frame and extending transversely toward said first die block, said second rod being mounted with said frame for adjustable movement inwardly and outwardly toward first die block; and spacer means for positioning between said second rod and said first die block in order to lock said first die block against outward movement in a transverse direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure set forth in claim 10, including: said first and second bending dies cooperating to provide a curved cylindrical tunnel to receive and impart a bend in such tubular member with said first and second bending dies positioned in said bending position adjacent to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said gripping means includes: a carriage mounted on said frame for movement along the longitudinal axis of said frame; and a pair of gripping elements mounted with said carriage for movement into and out of gripping engagement with a tubular member, and said power means including means moving said gripping elements into and out of such gripping engagement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure set forth in claim 15, wherein said power control means includes: a fluid-actuated cylinder assembly mounted with said frame and with said carriage for moving said carriage from said initial position toward said bending means to said final position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said synchronizing means includes: means for controlling the movement of said radius setting assembly and said feed means independently of each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said synchronizing means includes: means coordinating movement of said radius setting assembly and said feed means such that said radius setting assembly and said gripping means, as controlled by said feed means, arrive at predesignated destinations at the same time during a bend in order to apply the radius of the bend to the pipe evenly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said coordinating means further includes: means for further activating said feed means to further move such tubular member through said bending dies and into engagement with said radius setting assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
97 words
The structure set forth in claim 3, wherein said positioning means includes: a fluid-actuated cylinder assembly mounted with said frame and attached to said movable support assembly; fluid power means for powering said fluid-actuated cylinder assembly for moving said movable support assembly; a scale positioned with said frame and a travel indicator mounted for movement along said scale; and switch means controlling said fluid power means for powering said fluid-actuated cylinder, said travel indicator cooperating with said fluid power means to stop said movable support assembly when said travel indicator attains a predesignated location on said scale.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
138 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said power control means includes: a fluid powered cylinder assembly mounted with said frame and attached to said radius setting assembly for moving same; said feed means including a fluid powered cylinder assembly mounted with said frame and attached to said gripping means for moving said gripping means between said initial and final positions; fluid control means for controlling the delivery of pressurized fluid to said fluid power cylinder assemblies for moving said radius setting assembly and said gripping means, and thus moving a tubular member gripped by said gripping means; and said fluid control means including flow control means for adjustably setting the flow of fluid delivered to said fluid powered cylinder assemblies for controlling the rate of travel of said radius setting assembly and of said gripping means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure set forth in claim 21, wherein said fluid control means includes: valve means forming part of said fluid control means for controlling the flow of fluid from said fluid cylinder assemblies in order to control the rate of travel of each.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3406551A
Cited
US3821525A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-27 | 1980-12-27 | 1981-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-12-27 | 1985-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-27 | 1988-12-27 | 1989-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |