KR950009914B1 - Tube bender - Google Patents

Abstract

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Description

Tube bender

1 is a side view of a tube bender structure embodying the present invention having a shoe connected to a handle showing different positions in dotted lines;

2 is a partially enlarged side view of a portion removed to show the connection state of the handle and the shoe in detail.

FIG. 3a is a partial cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 3B is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3A but showing that the handle is in a dashed position in FIG.

4 is a partially exploded side view of the handle connecting means without the shoe structure.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: tube bender 11: mandrel

12: groove 13: shaft

14: shoe 19: first handle

20: holding part of the first handle 21: the second handle

23: holding part of the second handle 24,25: longitudinal axis

27,30: distal end 31: slot

33: locking pin 34: socket

37: Spring Washer

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a tube bender, in particular a manual tube bender with a pair of handles that can be gripped by hand to move the squeeze shoe with respect to the bending mandrel.

[Prior example]

An improved form of hand-operated manual tube bender is Lionard J. Kowal is disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,685,335. As shown there, the mandrel is provided with a circumferential arcuate groove which pushes the tube to be bent into the groove. The shoe is pivotally mounted in relation to the mandrel and is moved by an outwardly extending handle therefrom. The mandrel is supported on a second handle that is firmly connected thereto, and in the tube forming operation, the gripping portion of the first handle has a grip portion of the first handle from a starting position that extends the first handle generally perpendicular to the second handle. Take it to the final position adjacent to the gripping portion. In achieving the desired bending it is desirable to limit the turning of the first handle to avoid crossover between the handles. This limitation limits the amount of movement of the shoe relative to the mandrel groove. The tube bender includes means for repositioning the first handle from the tip portion adjacent to the gripping portion of the first handle so that the first handle is similar to the initial movement between the bending start position and the position adjacent to the second handle gripping means. It is proposed to allow the movement of the bending shoe with respect to the mandrel by allowing it to move continuously. Thus, bending over 180 ° is achieved with this structure without loss of desirable lever action, thereby allowing bending of relatively rigid tubes.

US Patent No. 2,979,976, and Patent No. 3,190,105, seek to provide this feature in the prior art. However, the tube benders described in these patents suffer from the complexity of the design and, ultimately, more expensive to manufacture. In addition, US Pat. No. 2,979,976 discloses a manual locking mechanism that is inconvenient to use, while US Pat. No. 3,190,105 discloses a vendor form in which the operation of repositioning the handle is more careful and requires more manipulation.

[Initiation of invention]

The present invention provides a tube bender with improved means for repositioning the second handle so that the tube can be bent about 180 ° in the mandrel groove when required.

The present invention provides a means for connecting a second handle to the shoe and for allowing the steering of the handle between any one of a plurality of preselected positions, wherein in the illustrated embodiment the handle connecting means is a second handle to the shoe. The turning positions of are provided in advance in two places.

The illustrated handle includes an end portion rotatably received in a socket provided in the shoe. The means for retaining the handle end in the socket also defines a means for positioning the handle in a preselected position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the gripping portion of the second handle is at an angle of about 65 ° with respect to the end portion received in the socket.

In the illustrated embodiment, the end portion of the second handle is rotatable 180 ° within the socket such that the handle gripping portion can be in two preselected positions.

An elastically biased friction means is provided for holding the second handle in either of two preselected positions.

The means for connecting the second handle to the shoe includes overcenter menas which effectively maintain the second handle in the selected preselected position by applying a tube bending force to the second handle.

The structure of the tube bender of the present invention is very simple and economical to manufacture, provides automatic self-locking of the handle to the required position, has improved turning means for extended life and aesthetics, and can bend the tube. Provide a smooth and controlled operation.

EXAMPLE

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention as shown in the figure, a tubebender comprising a mandrel 11 having a tube bend groove 12 of a circumference extending concentrically about the axis 13 of the mandrel. 10 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tube bending shoe 14 pivots about 90 ° from the bending start position 16 to the bending position 17 while gradually pressing the tube T to be bent into the groove. It is pivotally connected by the link 15 so as to be concentric with respect to 13).

The present invention is directed to providing a tube bender that is used to easily bend a tube by at least 90 degrees to approximately 180 degrees.

More specifically, the mandrel is secured to the end 18 of the first handle 19 with the gripping portion 20. The shoe 14 is moved relative to the mandrel by a second handle 21 having an end 22 connected to the shoe and a gripping portion 23 at the bulk end of the end 22.

The handle end 22 defines the longitudinal axis 24 and the gripping portion 23 defines the longitudinal axis 25. As best shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal axis 25 is at an angle of about 115 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis 24.

In the illustrated embodiment, the handle end 22 includes an arc portion 26 and a rectangular distal end 27. As shown in FIG. 4, the handle is tubular and a cylindrical extension 28 is fitted to its distal end 27. The extension 28 is secured to the distal end 27 of the handle by suitable crimping 29.

The extension 28 is provided with a thin slot 31 extending about three quarters over the transverse length of the extension adjacent the distal end 30. The inner end 32 of the slot 31 is arcuate and adapted to receive the locking pin 33 snugly.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the handle extender 28 is rotatably housed in a cylindrical socket 34 in the shoe 14 to rotate about the longitudinal axis 24. The shank 35 of the locking pin 33 extends less than half through the slot 31, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In turning about the longitudinal axis 24, the distal end 36 of the shank 35 is selectively positioned such that the bottom inner end 32 of the slot 31 is positioned at different positions of FIGS. 3a and 3b 180 degrees apart. Bring near of. In the illustrated implementation, the handle is rotated slightly above 180 ° to be positioned slightly past the center of each preselected end position and thus through the handle while pressing the shoe against the mandrel axis 13 during the bending operation. The generated force acts to hold the handle in a preselected position.

The handle is also releasably held in a selected position by a spring washer 37 which is received at the bottom of the socket 34 and elastically presses the extension portion of the handle in the longitudinal direction outward with respect to the side of the locking pin shank 35. do.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the pin 33 is forcibly fitted through the side of the shoe such that it is flush with the outer surface 38 for accurately positioning the inner distal end 36. The extended position 28 is maximally supported on the side of the pin to the selected position in FIG. 3b and allows pivoting of the inner multi-part 32 around the distal end of the pin.

As shown, the pivot means is housed inside the shoe for minimal maintenance and long trouble-free life. That is, the turning means are protected from contamination and are not open unlike conventional devices.

In use, the handle 21 is first arranged as shown in dashed lines at the top of FIG. 1, and the shoe 14 is brought into the mandrel to bring the shoe against the tube T to bend in the groove 12. It is operated on the link 15. The shoe 14 then handles each distance A from the bending start position 16 to a bending position 17 of approximately 90 ° with the gripping portion 23 of the handle parallel to the gripping portion 20 of the handle 19. As the 21 moves, it pivots about the axis 13 of the mandrel. For bending above about 90 ° C., the user only pivots the handle 21 about the longitudinal axis 24 of the extension 28 to bring the gripping portion 23 back again adjacent to the original bending start position and then the first The tube is bent approximately 180 ^° as shown by moving the handle back about the axis 13 of the mandrel by moving the handle by an angle B to the final bending position shown by the solid line in the figure.

On the other hand, the handle 21 is effectively retained in a preselected position by the eccentric level during the bending operation, while the handle is spring-loaded when the extension 28 portion is positioned in any of the desired selection positions of FIGS. 3A and 3B. It can be easily rotated between two preselected positions with respect to the longitudinal axis 24 of the extension 28 against the action of the releasable piece of the washer 37.

The improved pivotable handle of the present invention provides an automatic preliminary choice of handle position with a self-locking feature that can hold the handle in a preselected desired position during a bending operation. Fully encircling the swing mechanism provides a long, trouble-free extended life. Mounting of the swing mechanism by spring washers provides controlled smooth adjustment. The structure of the swing mechanism is very simple and economically manufacturable while providing the highly desirable functions described above.

The foregoing description of specific embodiments illustrates the broader inventive concept understood by the present invention.

Claims (16)

A mandrel having a tube receiving groove confined to the axis and radially outwardly open to the outer periphery, means for connecting the tube bending shoe, the shoe to the mandrel to move about an axis adjacent the groove, and A tube bender having a first handle having an end and a gripping portion fixed to a mandrel, wherein the second handle having a gripping portion and an end portion, and the gripping portion of the second handle, are gripped from the bending start position. Selectively allowing the second handle to any one of a plurality of different positions facing outwards from the shoe such that a plurality of similar pivoting movements can be made toward the portion to allow the shoe to have a corresponding plurality of consecutive sequential movements about the axis. A means for positioning and defining a longitudinal axis and rotatably connecting the end of the second handle to the shoe. A tube bender, characterized in that it comprises a connecting means for. The device of claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a socket in the shoe, and the distal end of the second handle defines a longitudinal axis of the connecting means and is received in the socket for selective positioning with respect to the longitudinal axis. Characterized by a tube bender. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a socket in the shoe, and the distal end of the second handle is received in the socket to define the longitudinal axis of the connecting means and to selectively position with respect to the longitudinal axis, And the gripping portion of the second handle defines a longitudinal axis angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the second handle. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a socket in the shoe, the distal end of the second handle being received in the socket to define the longitudinal axis of the connecting means and to selectively position with respect to the longitudinal axis, And the gripping portion of the second handle defines a longitudinal axis extending at an angle of 115 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the second handle. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a socket in the shoe, and the distal end of the second handle defines the longitudinal axis of the connecting means and has any one of a plurality of positions having a preselected angular relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis. A tube bender characterized in that it is received in the socket for selectively positioning in position. The first and second positions of claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprise a socket in the shoe, the distal end of the second handle defining the longitudinal axis of the connecting means and having a preselected angular relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis. A tube bender, characterized in that it is received in the socket for selective positioning. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a socket in the shoe, and the distal end of the second handle defines the longitudinal axis of the connecting means and has a preselected angular relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis and is spaced 180 degrees from each other. A tube bender characterized in that it is housed in the socket for selectively positioning in the first and second positions. The tube bender of claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises means for rotatably locking the end of said second handle to said shoe. A mandrel having a tube receiving groove confined to the axis and radially outwardly open on the outer periphery, a tube bending shoe, means for connecting the mandrel to move about the axis adjacent the groove, and A tube bender having a first handle having an end and a gripping portion secured to the mandrel, the tube bender comprising: a second handle having a gripping portion and an end, and at any one of two preselected positions at least 90 ° apart; And connecting means for adjustable and rotatably connecting said end to said shoe for disposing a gripping portion. 10. A tube bender as set forth in claim 9 wherein said second handle end is adjustablely connected to said shoe to place said gripping portion in one of two preselected positions spaced about 115 degrees. 10. A tube bender according to claim 9, wherein said second handle end is rotatably received in a socket in said shoe. 10. A tube bender according to claim 9, wherein said second handle end is rotatably received in a socket in said shoe for selective placement in either of two positions having a 180 [deg.] Relationship. 10. The tube bender of claim 9, comprising means for securing a grip portion of the second handle to the end of the second handle. 10. The tube bender of claim 9, further comprising means for releasably retaining said second handle in said preselected position. 10. A tube bender as set forth in claim 9, wherein friction means are elastically biased to releasably retain said second handle in said preselected position. 10. A tube bender according to claim 9, wherein said connecting means includes eccentric means for effectively holding said second handle in a preselected position as a result of applying a tube bending machining force to said second handle.

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