Tube crimping/bending apparatus

• US 6,854,313 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary A. Knudson, Patrick D. Flood
• Original Assignee: Gary A. Knudson, Patrick D. Flood
• Inventors: Flood, Patrick D., Knudson, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crane, Daniel C.
• Application Number:
  US10/632,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20040025559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 723/07, 724/00, 724/20, 723/701.9, 723/700.1, 723/700.4
• US Class Current: 72/307
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 11/08 Bending by altering the thickness of part of the cross-section of the work B21D11/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 41/04 Reducing; Closing

Abstract

Tube bending/crimping apparatus has a frame, a toggle assembly and a carriage assembly. The toggle assembly has overlapping male dies with tapering working tips that form a self-centering wedge. The carriage assembly has a shaft with a pinion that engages a rack on the frame to move the carriage assembly. A handle on the shaft is linked to the shaft by a cam clutch and a plunger, so that when the plunger is engaged, pushing the handle moves the carriage assembly forward. When the plunger is disengaged, the carriage assembly is easily moved back to the starting position. Mechanical stops for the handle assure consistent advancement. A receiving element on the carriage assembly has grooves for several sizes and orientations of tube.

Claims

1. Apparatus for crimping/bending a tube comprising:

a frame including a female die,

a toggle assembly mounted on said frame and having male dies that, in cooperation with said female die, crimp said tube, and

a carriage assembly having a receiving element slidably mounted on said frame, a carriage shaft carried on said receiving element and engaging said frame to move said carriage assembly relative to said frame, a carriage handle rotably mounted on said carriage shaft and means for coupling said carriage handle to said carriage shaft, said means for coupling having a first configuration wherein said carriage handle engages and turns said carriage shaft when turned in a first direction and rotates freely relative to said carriage shaft when turned in an opposite second direction, and a second configuration wherein said carriage handle rotates freely relative to said carriage shaft in both directions,

whereby said toggle and carriage assemblies are actuated alternately, crimping then advancing and folding said tube, to a plurality of folds in said tube, thereby bending said tube.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for coupling includes a cam clutch, mounted on said carriage shaft, that engages and turns said carriage shaft when turned in said first direction and rotates freely relative to said carriage shaft when turned in said second direction.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for coupling includes a plunger slidably mounted on said carriage handle, said plunger engaging said cam clutch in a first position and slidably moving to a second position and disengaging said cam clutch in said second position.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carriage assembly includes a means for limiting the rotation of the carriage handle.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for limiting includes a ring attached to said carriage handle and having a stop groove, and a stop rod carried on said receiving element and extending into said stop groove, so that said stop rod limits rotation of said carriage handle at opposite ends of said groove.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame includes a toothed rack and said carriage shaft includes a toothed carriage pinion that engages said rack so that when said carriage shaft rotates said carriage assembly moves relative to said frame.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said female die includes an annular groove,

said male dies include a top, right and left male die,

said top male die overlaps said right male die and said left male die, and

said top male die has a working tip that tapers towards said right and left male dies and said right and left male dies each have a working tip that tapers toward said top male die,

whereby said working tips of said top, right and left male dies form a wedge that self-centers said working tips of said top, right and left male dies in said annular groove of said female die.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiving element includes a plurality of tube receiving grooves sized and shaped to receive a plurality of tube sizes and orientations.

9. Apparatus for crimping/bending a tube comprising:

a frame including a toothed rack, and a female die mounted on an end of said toothed rack and having an annular groove,

a toggle assembly mounted on said frame and having top, left and right male dies that, in cooperation with said female die, crimp said tube, said top male die overlapping said right male die and said left male die, said top male die having a working tip that tapers towards said right and left male dies and said right and left male dies each having a working tip that tapers toward said top male die, whereby said working tips of said top, right and left male dies form a wedge that self-centers said working tips of said top, right and left male dies in said annular groove of said female die, and

a carriage assembly having a receiving element slidably mounted on said frame, a carriage shaft carried on said receiving element and having a pinion that engages said rack to move said carriage assembly relative to said frame, a carriage handle rotably mounted on said carriage shaft, a cam clutch mounted on said carriage shaft that engages and turns said carriage shaft when turned in a first direction and rotates freely relative to said carriage shaft when turned in a second direction, a plunger slidably mounted on said carriage handle that engages said cam clutch in a first position and slidably moves to a second position and disengages said cam clutch in said second position, a ring attached to said carriage handle and having a stop groove, and a stop rod carried on said receiving element, extending into said stop groove, and limiting rotation of said carriage handle at opposite ends of said groove, said receiving element including a plurality of tube receiving grooves sized and shaped to receive a plurality of tube sizes and orientations,

whereby said toggle and carriage assemblies are actuated alternately, crimping then advancing and folding said tube, to a plurality of folds in said tube, thereby bending said tube.