US2219431A - Muffler tail pipe bending apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1940.

a. a. ROBBINS MUFFLER TAIL PIPE BENDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Find Feb. 5, 195a Brewsier 5: Fazms Oct. 29, 1940. B Ns 2,219,431

MUFFLER TAIL PIPE BENDING APPARATUS .1011 F013. 3,- 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i J n firew sierpazm I Oct. 29, 1940. a RbsBlNs 2,219,431

MUFFLER TAIL PIPE BENDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 3, 1938 3 sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED sT A Es MUFFLER TAIL PIPE BENDING APPARATUS Brewster G. Robbins, Utica, N. Y., assig'nor to H. S. Powell, Utica, N.

Application February 3, 1938, Serial No. 188,578

Claims.

The invention relates generally to the art of pipe bending and primarily seeks to provide a novel apparatus for bending muffler tail piping,

by the use and practice of which garage and serv- 5 ice station operatives can quickly and conveniently supply emergent needs of motorists for tail pipe replacements.

A tail pipe is employed on each modern automobile to discharge products of combustion, exhausted from the engine and passed through the muiiler, at a point beneath and at the rear end of the automobile. These pipes often rust out, or become bent or broken by rough road :contact, 1': and .must be replaced in order to prevent seepage of noxious gases into the interiors of theautomobiles on which they are used. Heretofore, it has been necessary for automobile service centers to keep on hand vast stores of tail pipes in order to supply the demands for replacements, and since the various makes and models of automobiles each carry a tail pipe of distinct length and compound curvature, it will be understood that much waste of space'and time, and much disappointment must of necessity be experienced in the present practice of serving tail pipe replacement demands. I

By'using my improved apparatus it is possible for even small service stations to keep on hand a relatively small, compact stock of piping, and to supply all demands for tail pipe replacements by mere chart reference and immediate bending of the proper piping length to the proper shape and compound curvature designed for the particular make and model of automobile.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel pipe bending apparatus in Which is provided a pair of clamp members shaped to receive and grasp a pipe at each side of a transverse head or corrugation for-med therein and each pivoted on a center disposed in line with or, intersecting the pipe axis, means for applying and releasing the clamp members, and means for rocking the clamp members about their pivots to simultaneously crimp or contract one side of the bead between said members and expand or spread said bead at the opposite side so as to form a partial bend in the line 3 -3 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal section illustrating the formation of the corrugations or beads;

. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a pipe portion which has been corrugated or beaded;

Fig. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic horizontal section illustrating the bending of the pipe by successively subjecting the individual corrugations or beads to-contracti0n or crimping at one side and expansion or spreading at the opposite side;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a pipe portion.

In the apparatus disclosed herein, I employ a support or table 5 formed of an inverted channel beam suitably supported, as upon legs 6. A pair 25 of carrier blocks I are pivotally mounted,as at 8,

in parallel spaced relation, upon the table 5, and upon each block I is mounted a clamp member or set composed of a fixed block and a block which is removable to permit placement of a pipe length between it and the fixed block.

The fixed blocks 9 are secured by screws III to the respective carrier blocks I and they, and the overlying or removable blocks I I are equipped with complementary half-cylindrical pipe grasping surfaces I2. Movement of the blocks I I, from and toward the blocks 9, is guided by long dowel pins I3 secured in the fixed blocks 9 and slidably received in bores I4 formed in the removable blocks I I. The pins I3 serve to maintain alignment of the blocks 9 and I I, and in their function of assuring perfect matching of the pipe graspingrecesses I2, they are aided by short dowel pins I5 extending upwardlyfrom the V blocks 9 and receivable in sockets I6 in the under surfaces of the blocks I I. See Figures 2 and 3. If desired the clamp block sets 9, ILcan be removed and replaced by sets adapted to grasp pipes of different diameters, and for thispurpose the blocks 9 preferably are secured to the carrier block I by the removable securing screws I0, and apertures H are formed in the table 5 through which access can be had to said screws. 4

In order to impart movement to the, clamp blocks II to enable the insertion of a piper-to bebent into the grasping recesses I2, said blocks are secured to a common T-head carrier by pivot screws 19. It will be observed, by reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, that the pivot screws l9, by which the removable blocks II are secured to the T-head, and the pivot screws 8 by which the fixed blocks 9 and carrier blocks 1 are rockably secured upon the table 5, are disposed in axially aligned pairs and that these axes lie between the diametrical limits of the pipe-tobe-bent. Preferably, these axes align with or intersect the axis of the grasping recesses l2 or the pipe-to-be-bent, as shown in the figures of the drawings referred to.

A pair of uprights 29 are secured to and project upwardly from the table 5, and these uprights are joined at their upper ends by a head piece 2| upon which is secured a pivot bracket equipment 22. Toggle links 23 are pivoted as at 24 to the bracket equipment, at 25 to the T-head I8, and at 26 to each other, and the upper one of said links is extended outwardly beyond its pivotal connection with the lower link to form an operating handle 21.

Each carrier block I carries a rearwardly extended stud 28 upon which is mounted a grooved roller 29, and a coniform wedge member 30 operates between and in contact with said rollers,

for imparting rocking movement to said blocks and the clamp sets mounted thereon. The wedge member 30 is connected to an actuator rod 3| connected with a suitable treadle equipment 32 by which the desired movement can. be imparted to said rod and member. A spring 33 may be provided for holding the rod elevated.

In practicing the invention a pipe 34, preferably of seamless steel tubing, is equipped with transverse beads or corrugations 35 disposed in equidistantly spaced relation along all or so much of the pipe length as is intended to be bent. These beads can be formed by any suitable mechanism, generally designated 36, either at the plant supplying the tubing, or at the service center at which the actual bending of the tail pipe units is to be performed. Such service centers are provided with charts showing the style and curvature of the tail pipes employed on all makes and models of automobiles, and when an auto mobile owner requires a tail pipe replacement an operative consults the proper chart and bends a selected length of beaded tail pipe stock to the desiredshape depicted on the chart. The necessary bending of the pipe length is accomplished by successively reshaping selected beads, the simultaneous expansion and contraction of opposite side portions of the individual beads in just the right degree making it possible to easily and accurately attain the desired compound curvature. By firmly grasping the pipe at each of the two spaces 31 lying at opposite sides of a given bead 35 and simultaneously applying forces acting in opposite directions at the respective sides of the pipe axis in the bending plane, the bead portion at the inner side will be contracted, asat 38, and the bead portion at the outer side will be expanded, as at 39, thereby forming a partial bend in the pipe. This simultaneous contraction and expansion of beads can be best gauged and con trolled by centering the reshaping forces at points lying between the diametrical limits of the pipe being bent and preferably at points'aligned with 'or intersecting the axis of the pipe.

In the use of my improved apparatus, a previously beaded pipe length is applied to the clamp sets 9, ll, space portions 31 lying at opposite sides of a selected bead 35 being positioned in the grasping recesses l2, and the selected bead being disposed between the blocks 1 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This placement of the pipe is accomplished by lifting the handle member 21 and raising or removing the block sections ll laying the pipe in the lower receiving recesses l2, then lowering the handle 21 to replace the block sections I l and set them in clamping engagement with the pipe, with the selected bead 35 lying between the clamp block sets. By now utilizing the treadle equipment, the wedge member 30 can be depressed to impart a rocking. movement tothe carrier blocks 1 and the clamp sets mounted thereon, and since the pipe is firmly grasped by the clamp sets, and the clamp sets are rockable about axes 8, I9 intersecting the pipe axis, the selected bead 35 will be contracted at one side, as at 38, and expanded at the opposite side, as at 39, to provide the exact degree of bend desired. With the improved apparatus herein disclosed the degree of this expansion and contraction of the successively selected beads can be controlled to a nicety, and by suitably altering the direction or plane of bending, any desired compound curvature may be formed in the pipe.

It will be obvious that by use of my improved apparatus all demands for tail pipe replacements can be filled, promptly and efiiciently, by even small service centers, and that in preparation for such service it is necessary to stock only a rela tively small number of pipe lengths to-be-bent.

What I claim is:

1. In pipe bending apparatus, a pair of clamp members disposed in spaced relation for grasping a pipe at opposite sides of a selected one of a plurality of annular beads formed in equidistantly spaced relation in a pipe-to-be-bent, means pivotally supporting each said member for rocking movement about a center disposed to lie between the diametrical limits of the pipe-to-be-bent one at one side and the other at the other side of said single bead, and means for rocking the clamp members to contract the bead at the inner side of the intended bend and simultaneously expand the bead at the outer side of said bend in any desired degree for forming a bend of a predetermined radius in the pipe. i

2. In pipe bending apparatus, a pair of clamp members disposed in spaced relation for grasping a pipe at opposite sides of a selected one of a plurality of annular beads formed in equidistantly spaced relation in a pipe-to-be-bent, means pivotally supporting each said member for rocking movement about a center intersecting the axis of the pipe-to-be-bent one at one side and the otherat the other side of said single bead, and means for rocking the clamp members to contract the bead at the inner side of the intended bend and simultaneously expandthe bead at the outer side of said bend in any desired degree for forming a bend of a predetermined radius in the pipe.

3. In pipe bending apparatus, a pair of clamp members disposed in spaced relation for grasping a pipe at opposite sides of an annular bead formed in a pipe-to-be-bent, said members being rockable about centers disposed to lie between the diametrical limits of the {zipe-to-be-bent, and means for rocking the clamp members to contract the bead at the inner side of the intended bend and simultaneously expand the bead at the outer side of said bend, said last named means including extensions from said clamp members disposed in adjacent spaced relation, and a wedge member operable between and in contact with said exten- SlOIlS.

In pipe bending apparatus, a pair of clamp members disposed in spaced relation for grasping a pipe at opposite sides of an annular bead formed in a pipe-to-be-bent, said members being rockable about centers disposed to lie between the diametrical limits of the pipe-to-be-bent, and means for rocking the clamp members to contract the bead at the inner side of the intended bend and simultaneously expand the bead at the outer side of said bend, said last named means including a mounting stud projecting from each clamp member, a grooved roller on each stud, and a coniform wedge operable between and in contact with said rollers.

5. In pipe bending apparatus, a pair of clamp members disposed in spaced relation for grasping a pipe at opposite sides of a selected one of a plurality of annular beads formed in equidistantly spaced relation in a pipe-to-be-bent, said members each being rockable about a center disposed to lie between the diametrical limits of the pipe-to-be-bent one at one side and the other at the other side of said single bead, and means forrocking the clamp members to contract the bead at the inner side of the intended bend and simultaneously expand the bead at the outer side of said bend in any desired degree for forming a bend of a predetermined radius in the pipe, said clamp members each including fixed and removable sections having complementary pipe grasping surfaces, and means for supporting and moving said removable sections toward and from said fixed sections.

6. In pipe bending apparatus, a pair of clamp members disposed in spaced relation for grasping a pipe at opposite sides of an annular bead formed in a pipe-to-be-bent, said members beingrockable about centers disposed to lie between the diametrical limits of the pipe-to-be-bent, and means for rocking the clamp members to contract the bead at the inner side of the intended bend and simultaneously expand the bead at the outer side of said bend, said clamp members each including fixed and removable sections having complementary pipe grasping surfaces, and means for pivotally supporting said removable sections and for moving them toward and from said fixed sections, said removable section pivots being aligned with said rocking centers.

7. In pipe bending apparatus, a pair of clamp members disposed in spaced relation for grasping a pipe at opposite sides of an annular bead formed in a pipe-to-be-bent, said members being rockable about centers disposed to lie between the diametrical limits of the pipe-to-be-bent, and means for rocking the clamp members to contract the bead at the inner side of the intended bend and simultaneously expand the bead at the outer side of said bend, said clamp members each including fixed and removable sections having complementary pipe grasping surfaces, and means for supporting and moving said removable sections toward and from said fixed sections including a common carrier head on which the removable sections are pivoted about axes positioned to align with'the rocking centers and clamp locking and carrier head moving toggle links. I

8. In pipe bending apparatus, a table, a pair of carrier blocks pivotally mounted in parallel spaced relation on said table, a clamp member secured upon each carrier block and composed of a fixed section and a removable section having complementary pipe grasping surfaces proportioned so that the diametrical limits of a pipe grasped therein will lie at opposite sides of the carrier block pivots, a carrier head to which both removable sections are pivotally secured on pivots disposed to align with the carrier block pivots, toggle levers for moving the carrier head and the removable sections and for locking the removable sections in pipe grasping relation to the fixed sections, and clamp member rocking means including a stud projecting from each carrier block, a grooved roller on each stud, and a coniform wedge operable between and in contact with said rollers.

9. In pipe bending apparatus, a table, a pair of carrier blocks pivotally mounted in parallel spaced relation on said table, a clamp member secured upon each carrier block and composed of a fixed section and a removable section having complementary pipe grasping surfaces proportioned so that the diametrical limits of a pipe grasped therein will lie at opposite sides of the carrier block pivots, a carrier head to whichboth removable sections are pivotally secured on pivots disposed to align with the carrier block pivots, toggle levers for moving the carrier head and the removable sections and for locking the removable sections in pipe grasping relation to the fixed sections, and clamp member rocking means.

10. In pipe bending apparatus, a table, a pair of carrier blocks pivotally mounted in parallel spaced relation on said table, a clamp member secured upon each carrier block and composed of a fixed section and a removable section having complementary pipe grasping surfaces proportioned so that the diametrical limits of a pipe grasped therein will lie at opposite sides of the carrier block pivots, a carrier head towhich both removable sections are pivotally secured on pivots disposed to align with the carrier blockpivots, toggle levers for moving the carrier head and the removable sections and for locking the removable sections in pipe grasping relation to the fixed sections, clamp member rocking means for removably and replaceably securing each fixed clamp member section on its associated carrier block, and means carried by one section of each set of clamp sections for guiding movement of separation of the sections of the set in a rectilinear path.

BREWSTER G. ROBBINS.

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