GB1428294A - Apparatus for bending tubes - Google Patents

Abstract

1428294 Bending tubes; shearing WELDUN TOOL & ENG CO 22 March 1974 [29 Nov 1973] 12781/74 Headings B3A B3E and B3W Apparatus for bending a length of tubular material 10 comprises a frame 44, Fig. 1, a table 58, Fig. 4, supported on the frame for lateral movement relative to the frame and to the path of endwise advancement of the material into the apparatus, a bend head 60 carried by the table and being pivotal relative to the table about a pivot axis extending transversely to the path, the bend head including a plurality of parts alignable to the path, and means 94, Fig. 16, for shifting the table relative to the frame wherein a selected part is aligned with the path to accommodate material of a given diameter. The tubular material 10 is supplied from a reel supply section 16 which includes a plurality of stanchions 26 each supporting a reel 12. Each stanchion carries a brake mechanism. A feed section 18 is utilized to pull the material from the reels 12 and feed it through a cutter section 20 and into a bending section 22. The cutter section includes a plurality of belt driven cutter units 48, each comprising a disc-type cutter 49. The bend head 60 includes a plurality of bend stations 62, Fig. 4, each of which comprise a bend block 64, a clamp block 66 and a drag block 68. The blocks have a plurality of parallel grooves 76 parallel to the direction of advancement of the material to form a set of grooves to accommodate material of a particular diametrical size and form material into bends of varying radii. Each clamp block is operatively associated with an hydraulic power cylinder (78), Fig. 17 (not shown), which causes the clamp block to shift toward and away from the bend block 64 between a tube clamp position and a tube release position. Gears 80, 82 are supported on the table and are rotatable by means of a power cylinder 84 to cause pivotal movement of bend head 60. Before the bending operation, guide tubes 88, 86 are aligned with each other and with the longitudinal axis of respective associated cutter units 48. The material 10 is fed over the ends of mandrel rods 118, Fig. 3B, which extends through hollow stripper rods 102 provided at the stripper section 24. After contacting the rods 102 a switch 122 is tripped causing subsequent reduction of speed of the drive of feed section 18 Contact of rod 102 with a switch 124 causes stoppage of the feed section drive. The material is then clamped in position, tensioned, and the cutters advanced through the material until it fractures under tension. After retraction of the cutting units the bending is performed. Posts 92 projecting upwardly from the table 58 serve as limit stops for the bend head 60 and a lift 94 is provided to vertically and horizontally move the table 58 and bend head relative to bed member 56. The lift is actuable via a handle 96.