US2452050A

US2452050A - Combined machine for feeding, bending, and flattening tubing

Info

Publication number: US2452050A
Application number: US680124A
Authority: US
Inventors: James R Hayward; John A Schild; William O Hartup
Original assignee: McCord Corp
Current assignee: McCord Corp
Priority date: 1946-06-28
Filing date: 1946-06-28
Publication date: 1948-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1965-10-26

Description

J. R. HAYWARD ET AL v COMBINED MACHINE FOR FEEDING, BENDING,

' AND FLA'ITENINQ TUBING Filed June 28, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 JYINVENTO JAMES R. HAYWAF JOHN A. sci-aw y WILLIAM o. HARTU? Get, 26, 1948 J. R. HAYWARD Er AL 2,452,05G

COMBINED MACHINE FOR FEEDING, BENDING,

AND FLATTENING TUBING Filed June 28, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1948- 7 J. R. HAYWARD AL COMBINED HINE FOR FEED BENDING,

FLATTENING TUBING- Filed June 28; 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 HILD z 30 I ATTOk/VFY JOHN 18y \VlL-LIAM .I-IARTUP ct. 263, 148. J. R. HAYWARD EI'AL 2,452,050

COMBINED MACHINE FOR FEEDING, BENDING,

AND FLATTENING TUBING Filed. June 28. 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JAMES R. HAYWARD JOHN A. SCHILD BY WILLIAM O- HARTUP Oct 1943- HAYWA RD ETAL COMBINED MACHINE FOR FEEDING, BENDING,

AND FLATTENING TUBING Filed June 28, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wNZ INVENTOR. JAMES R. HAYWARD JOHN A. SCHIILD fl-BY WILLIAM O. HARTUP Patented Oct. 26, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED MACHINE FOR FEEDING, BEND- ING, AND FLATTENING TUBING James R. Hayward, Washington, and John A. Schild and William 0. Hartup, Columbus, Ind., assignors, by mesne assignments, to McCord Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of ine Application June 28, 1946, Serial No. 680,124

13 Claims. (G1. 153-2) "Heat exchange apparatus discloses an early,

form of condenser of this type. The bending and. flattening of such tubing, as heretofore practiced, involves considerable labor, costs and/or relatively great investment in dies for the flattening operations. The present invention contemplates a machine which is constructed and arranged to perform the bending and flattening operations efficiently, and the construction of the machine is such that the investment cost thereof is relatively small with relation to the amount of work that the machine is' capable of performing. In addition, a mechanic may readily learn to operate and handle the machine emciently in a very short time.

Principal objects of the invention, therefore, are to provide:

A tube bending and flatteningmachine;

A tube bending and flattening machine which is constructed and arranged to bend tubing to form spaced runs and to flatten such runs.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are five sheets, which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes, may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the claims. We also contemplate that of the several different features of our invention, certain ones thereof may be advantageously employed in some applications separate and apart from the remainder of the features.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of part of a machine embodying the invention;

2 the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 but in another position thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken generally along the staggered line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of part of the apparatus shown in Fig, 4 but in a position thereof corresponding with that shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 8-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of part of the convention selected for purposes of illustration, a

machine for bending and flattening tubing comprises a supporting stand or table ill, tube bending means l2 (Fig. 9), tube flattening means it (Figs. 4 and 5), a vise It (Fig. 9) for holding the tubing while the bending and flattening operations are being carried on, suitable power operated means for actuating the foregoing, and a tube feeding means it. The machine illustrated is particularly adapted for bending and flattening small diameter copper or copper-coated steel tubing which is useful in making heat ex- Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with parts broken changers, such as condensers, for use in refrigerating systems.

A length of such tubing 26 is shown in Fig. 9 extending through the tube" feeding means it, past a stationary jaw or clamp member 22 of the vise i6, and between the mandrel 2t and the ironing shoe 26 of the tube bending means l2. There is also illustrated in Fig. 9 in dotted lines a length of tubing which has been partially bent into the form of a serpentine coil positioned at A to have another bending operation performed thereon and positioned at B after such bending operation has been performed.

The vise l6 includes the stationary clamp member or jaw 22 and the movable jaw or clamp member 28. The member 22 has one side 30 thereof grooved as shown in Figs. 5 and 9, and the slidable jaw 28 has its face grooved so as to accommodate the tube 20 therebetween without crushing or damaging the same and so that when the jaw 28 is in the position relative to the mem-" bcr22 as shown in Figs. 4 and aim tube 20 will be clamped therebetween.

The slidable jaw 28 is mounted for movement toward and away from the member 22 by means of pins 32 which extend through slots in the member 28, the pins 32 being mounted on the surface on which the member 28 is slidable. Springs 34 bias the jaw 28 away from the member 22. while a cam 36 pivoted on a pin 38 has its end 48 engageable with the rear face of the jaw 28 for biasing and holding the law 28 against the member 22 for gripping the tube therebetween.

The cam 36 is in the form of a lever, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the reciprocating arm 42 of the air cylinder 44 for operating the vise. The air cylinder 44 includes the air operated piston (not shown) which is connected to the arm 42 so as to position the cam lever 36 in either of the positions illustrated in Fig. 9, the dotted line position being the released position of of the vise.

The tube bending means comprises the stationary mandrel 24 and the ironing shoe 26. The

the shoe 26 may roll so as to reduce the friction between the shoe 26 and the guide 56. The shoe 26 has a tube groove therein and, as shown in Fig. 9, is arranged tangent to the mandrel 24 with the tube groove in the shoe 26 aligned with that of the mandrel so as to permit the tubing 28 to extend therebetween.

The disc 52 is rotatable about the axis of urva-.

ture of the tube groove 58in the mandrel 24, and when this occurs the disc 52 with the guide 56 and the shoe 26 will turn in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 9) so as to bend the tubing 28 around the mandrel 24. During this movement the shoe 26 through the groove in which the tubing 28 extends, will bend the tubing around the groove 58 in the mandrel, the device being constructed and arranged'so as to produce a bend in the tubing of one hundred eighty degrees.

In Fig. 9 a length of tubing 28 is shown in full lines projecting to the right of the mandrel 24 and the shoe 26. The first bending operation will form one bend in the tubing so that the tubing will then have two generally arallel runs separated by a bend. The coil indicated at A in tube bending means including the shoe-26 the T during the bending operation. While the device is constructed and arranged so that the flattening operation is performed on each run ahead of the bend as soon as such bend is completed, the construction and operation of the flattening mechanism will be described hereinafter.

' After each bending operation and flattening operation the vise I6 is released, as will be described hereinafter, and the feeding means I8 is actuated to advance the tubing 28 a distance equal to the distance between successive bends in the tubing. When this isv done the runs will be positioned (looking at Fig. 9) above the line along which the tubing 28 is fed-that is, a line passing through the axis of the tube groove formed between the face 38 of the member 22 and the shoe 26 in the full line position illustrated in Fig. 9.

Thereafter, after the tubing has been advanced to the right as just described, the portion of the tubing which has been bent in the form of a coil will have to be swung about the longitudinal axis of the length of tubing just described so as to position the coiled portion of the tubing below such line and in position for the next bending operation.

A plan view of the partially bent piece of tubing is illustrated in Fig. 8. The number of bends and the distance therebetween may be as desired.

The disc 52 is keyed to rotate with a rotary head 98 on a shaft 92, the shaft being journaled in

bearings

94 and 96 for rotation about its axis.

' A gear 98 is suitably fixed to the shaft 92, and the dotted lines shows a partially bent length of tubing with three bends I8, I2 and 14 therein separating the parallel runs I6, 18, 88 and 82 thereof and positioned relative to the mandrel 24 for another bending operation to form another bend, while the coil indicated in dotted lines at B indicates the position of the coil after the additional bend 84 has been made therein.

After each bending operation the run of tubing ahead of the bend just made is positioned against the face 86 of the member 22; for example, after the bend 84 is made the run 82 ahead thereof is positioned against the face 86. The face 86 of the member 22 forms a jaw of the tube flattening means I4. The tube bending means thus positions the runs of tubing in position to be flattened by the jaws of the flattening means, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. After the bending operation the rotary parts of the teeth of the gear 88 are arranged tomesh with the teeth of a reciprocable rack I88. The rack I88 is connectedto a reciprocating member attached to the reciprocating piston of an air cylinder I84 whereby power may be supplied to the rack I88, the gear 98 and the tube bending means for operating the same. The air cylinder I84 is suitably connected to a source of air under pressure under the control of a valve whereby air may be supplied to the opposite ends of such air cylinder for actuating the piston thereof and the parts to which the piston is operatively connected.

The tube feeding means as illustrated comprises a handle I I8 on one end of a slidable bar II 2 having an arm H4 and a link I I6 forming a connection with a lever I I8 intermediate the ends thereof. The lever H8 is pivoted at I28 and has a slot I22 in the other end thereof into which a pin I24 (see Fig. 18) extends. The pin I24 projects downwardly from a block I26 which is slidably mounted on a guide rod I28. A wedge arm I38 is pivoted by means of a pin I32 to the block I26 and a torsion spring I34 biases the arm I38 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot (Fig. 9). The block I26 and wedge arm I38 have abutting faces, each of which is grooved, as illustrated in Fig. 18, to form a groove through which the tubing 28 extends.

The construction of the feeding means is such that, looking at Fig. 9, the tubing 28 may be- The feeding means I8 comprise a unidirectional feeding mechanism so that when the block I26 and wedge arm I30 are moved to the left, their grip on the tube 20 will automatically free itself and permit the tube 20 to remain in the position in which it is fed while permitting the feeding mechanism to be retracted for another feeding operation. Suitable stop means may be provided so as to accurately determine the proper distance for feeding the tube 20 forward for each bending operation. Obviously, the feeding means are actuated when the vise I6 is released when the tube bending means I2 are in the full line position as shown in Fig. 9. I

The face 86 of the member 22 forms a stationary jaw of the tube flattening means which, as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, includes a movable jaw Hi carried on a shoe I I2 pivoted at I III to arms of a block Hi0. Springs I00 are provided for retracting the movable jaw I00 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. Cams or wedges I50 are engageable with rollers I52 carried by links I56 pivoted on nine I56 for actuating the tube flattening means, that is, for closing the jaws thereof to the position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The pins I56 are carried on arms I50 on the shoe I52.

Fig. 2 shows the position of the cams I50 with the jaws of the tube flattening means closed. while Fig. 3 shows the position of the cams I50 with the jaws of the tube flattening means open. The cams I50 are connected to a rod I60 to be reciprocated thereby, the rod I60 being connected to the piston of an air cylinder I02, to the opposite ends of which air under pressure is supplied for shifting the cams I50 between the two positions as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The cams I50 are backed up by rollers I55 suitably mounted on the block I05 so that pressure may be applied to the rollers I52 and the arms I58 of the shoe I $2 for actuating the tube flattening means.

Air under pressure is supplied to the air cylinder II of the vise I6 under the control of a valve I66 which in turn is controlled by operating lever I60, the valve I66 with the control lever I60 in the position indicated in Fig. 1 being open, whereby the air cylinder 04 is holding the vise I6 closed. Movement of the control lever I68 ninety degrees in a clockwise direction will shut off the supply of fluid under pressure through the line I10 from the valve I86 to the air cylinder 24 for the vise I6 and vent the cylinder II. The cylinder MI may include a retracting spring (not shown) which automatically retracts the piston of the air cylinder for opening the vise I 6 when the supply of air under pressure to the cylinder III is cut off by operation of valve I66. However, the vise I 6 is not released until after a tube bending and a tube flattening operation have been performed.

Air under pressure is supplied to one end of the cylinder I04 through conduit I12 and to the other end of the ylinder I 04 through conduit I13 under the control of a valve I14. The valve IM has a control lever I16 therefor which upon being pushed downwardly will open the valve to permit air under pressure to be supplied through the conduit I13 to one end of the cylinder I00 in order to actuate the piston thereof to move the rack I00 to the right in order to actuate the tube bending means I2.

The valve I10 includes a valve operating shaft I15 having a ratchet wheel I11 fixed thereto. The lever I16 is pivoted on the shaft I15 and is provided with a spring pressed pawl I19 which is arranged to engage the teeth of the ratchet I11 so that when the lever I18 is pushed downwardly (clockwise about the axis of the shaft I15), the valve shaft I15 will be turned clockwise and shift the valve so as to supply air under pressure to the conduit I13. The valve I14 is suitably connected to a source of air under pressure and is of a type which is adapted selectively to connect such source of air under pressure to the conduits I12 and I13. The valve I14 includes a suitable return spring (not shown) for the lever I15 so as to normally position it as illustrated after it is operated as just described.

The rack I00 is provided with a laterally extending arm I80 to which trip lever IN is pivoted at I02, and trip lever I85 is pivoted at I01. A spring I89 connected to the trip lever I05 and the arm I00 and a pin IIlI on the arm I80 determine the normal position of the trip lever IOI,

while a spring I03 onnected to an arm on the trip lever I85 and a pin I05 on the arm I80 determine the normal position of the trip lever I05. The arm I80 is arranged to move with the rack I00 so that near the end of the power stroke of the rack I00, the trigger I92 formed by one end of the trip lever I85 will engage a lever 2III and move it and the parts to which it is connected to the right. v

An arm 203 pivoted on the shaft I15 is provided with a spring pressed pawl 205 which is arranged to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel I11 for actuating the valve. The lower end of the arm 203 has a pin and slot connection 201 with a member 209 fixed to an axially slidable shaft 2 I I. The shaft 2i I is slidable in guides 2I3'. A collar 2I5 fixed to the shaft 2i I is biased by spring 2I1 which is confined between the collar 2 I5 and one of the guides 2I3 for normally positioning the arm 203 in the position shown in Fig. l.

The lever 20I is carried on an arm 2I0 which is fixed to one end of the shaft 2i I. A pin 22I on the arm 2I9 and a spring 223 connected to the lever 20I and the arm 2H normally position the lever 20I as shown in Fig, ll. As the rack I00 moves to the right, the trigger I99 will engage the lever 20I' and through the mechanism just described swing the arm 203 in a counterclockwise direction about the shaft I15 so that the pawl 205 will engage with the next tooth to the right (Fig. 1) on the wheel I11.

As the tube bending mechanism completes the bending operation, the arm 225 on the trip lever IEII will engage the adjustable step 221 which causes the trip lever IBI to swing in a clockwise direction (Fig. 11) about its pivot I83, thereby releasing the trip lever I and permitting the spring ZII to return the arm 203 and the parts connected to move therewith to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. When the trip lever I05 is released, it is free to swing in a clockwise direction about its pivot I81 under the influence of the lever 20I.

The action of the spring 2I1 in moving the arm 203 in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft I15 will, through the engagement of the pawl 205 with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I 11, turn the valve shaft I15 and the valve so as to shut off the supply of air to the conduit I13 and establish communication between the air supply and the conduit I12.

The valve I10 also includes provisions for venting each side of the cylinder III I when th air supply thereto is shut oil. When the valve I14 establishes communication between the supply of air under pressure and the conduit I12, air will be supplied to one side of the cylinder I04 so as to effect the return or retracted stroke of the tube bending means, thus returning the: tube bending means to its starting position as shown in full lines in Fig. 9.

After the lever 29I moves to the left beyond the trigger I99, the springs I93 and I89 will return the trip levers I85 and I8I to their positions as illustrated on the arm I90. During the retractil'e movement of the rack I00, the lever MI is free to swing so as to permit the trigger I99 to move to the left past the same, and thereafter the spring 223 will normally position the lever 20I as shown.

As the rack I moves to the right, an arm I90 (Figs. 1 and 'I) pivoted on the rack moves to the right past pin 230. The pin 239 is carried on an arm I92 which is pivoted on the control shaft 23I of the valve I94. The valve I99 is essentially like the valve I14 and is connected to a source of fluid under pressure and is adapted upon stepby-step rotation of the shaft 23I to alternately supply such fluid to opposite ends of the cylinder I62 of the tube flattening means. In one position of the valve fluid under pressure will be supplied through the conduit I96 to effect the power stroke of the tube flattening means, while in another position of the valve air under pressure will be supplied to the opposite side of the cylinder I92 through the conduit 208 to effect the return stroke thereof and permit the springs I49 to open the jaws of the tube flattening means.

Like the valve I14, the valve I94 will vent each end of the cylinder I62 when the supply of air under pressure thereto is out off. The valve shaft 23I has a ratchet wheel 232 fixed thereto, and the lever I92 is provided with a spring pressed pawl 234 which upon movement of the lever I92 in one direction about the axis of the shaft 23l will shift the valve I94 so as to establish communication between the supply of air under pressure and the air cylinder I62 through the conduit I96 so as to effect the power stroke of the air cylinder I62 of the tube flattening means.

Thus, upon the retractile stroke of the rack I09, the lever I90 will engage the pin 239 and through the arm I92, pawl 234, and ratchet wheel 232 turn the shaft 23I so as to supply air under pressure to the conduit I95 at the end of the return stroke of the tube bending means, as previously described. Supplying air to the cylinder I92 through the conduit I96 will actuate the tube flattening means to flatten the length of tubing which has just been positioned by the tube bending means. At this time the tube flattening means will be in the positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

After the tube flattening operation has been completed, the lever I68 is shifted ninety degrees clockwise so as to release the vise I6. A connection is provided between the lever I69 and the valve I94 for shifting the same so as to restore the tube flattening means to their starting position, that is, to the positions illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. This connection comprises a link 236 pivotally connected at one end thereof to one end of the lever I66 and a pin and slot connection 238 between the other end of the link 236 and one arm 249 of a bell crank. The bell crank includes a shaft 242 pivoted in a bracket 244 and an arm 200 fixed to shaft 242. The arm 209 is engageable with a rod 202 bolted to an arm 204 and projecting laterally therefrom. The arm 294 is pivoted on the shaft 23I and is provided with a spring pressed pawl 246 which is engageble with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 232 at the end of the shifting movement of the lever I69 just describedso as to turn the valve shaft I so as to actuate the valve I94 to shut oil the communication of air under pressure to the cylinder through the conduit I96 and to vent the side of the cylinder I62 to which the conduit I96 is connected, and at the same time to establish communication between the supply of .air under pressure and the conduit 299 so that air under pressure will be supplied to the other end of the.

cylinder I62 in order to retract the piston thereof and shift the cams I69 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, thereby restoring the tube flattening means to its startin position and opening the laws thereof.

A spring 269 acting on the lever I92 normally positions it as illustrated. A spring (not shown) normally positions the valve lever 294 in the position as illustrated. The valve levers I92 and 294 act independently on the ratchet wheel 292. The lever 294 is manually actuated or controlled, while the lever I92 is controlled by the return movement of the rack I09.

The valves I66, I24 and I94 are standard forms of air control valves which are available for controlling the supply of air under pressure to work cylinders, the valve I66 being a single valve while the valves I19 and I94 are double valves, that is. valves which are adapted to control the supply of air under pressure to opposite ends of the cylinder alternately and to vent the air pressure on I one side while air under pressure is being supplied to the other side of the cylinder. Since the details of these valves form no part of the invention, no further illustration or explanation of the construction thereof is considered to be necessary to an understanding of the invention claimed.

Thus a length of tubing 20 to be bent and flattened is inserted into the machine from the left-hand end (Fig. 9) through the feeding mechanism I8 so that the forward end of the tubing will be positioned approximately as indicated in Fig. 9 in position to be acted upon by the tube bending means I2. The lever I69 of valve I68 is then operated to supply air to the cylinder 44 in order to eflfect the closure of the vise I6. The lever I16 of the valve I14 is then depressed which effects the supply of air to one end of the cylinder I94-through the pipe I19 so as to eflect a tube bending operation of the tube bending means I2. During the tube bending operation the rack I moves to the right (Fig. 1) so as to bend the tubing around the mandrel 24. At the end of the movement to the right of the rack I99 the valve tripping mechanism associated with the arm 203 resets the valve I14 so as to effect a return movement of th rack I99 and the restoration of the tube bending means to the full line position shown in Fig. 9. At the end of the retracting stroke of the rack I09 the arm I90 thereon will operate the valve I94 which controls the supply of air to the cylinder I62 to supply air to the cylinder I62 so as to effect a tube flattening operation of the tube flattening means I4 on the run of the tubing 29 which has been positioned by the tube bending means I2 to be acted on by the jaw I49 of the tube flattening means I4. After the tube flattening operation has been completed, the lever I68 is shifted 90 clockwise so as to release the vise I6 and coincident with this the connection between the lever I69 and the valve I94 will shift the latter so as to effect the return stroke of the piston of the cylinder I62 and restore the tube flattening means I4 to its starting position. Thereafter the tube feeding means may be actuated to advance the tubing sufliciently so that another run of tubing may be formed, but before the cycle of operations is again repeated the end of the tubing 20 which has the bend thereon must be flopped over, as previously described, so that the next bending operation of the tubing will be to form a bend opposite to that previously formed.

While we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterationsas fall within the purview of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine for bending and flattening tubing to form a serpentine coil, tube bending means constructed and arranged to bend a length of tubing to form spaced runs therein, tube flattening means constructed and arranged to flatten such runs of said tubing. said means being constructed and arranged relative to each other so that said tube bending means will position a run of said tubing in position to be flattened by said tube flattening means.

2. In a machine for bending and flattening tubing to form a serpentine coil, tube bending means, tube flattening means, a source of power connected to said means for operating the same,

said tube bending means being constructed and arranged to bend a length of tubing to form spaced runs therein, said tube flattening means being constructed and arranged to flatten such runs of said tubing between the bends therein, and means operable for gripping a portion of the length of tubing other than that being bent or flattened during the bending and flattening operations. I

3. A tube bending and flattening machine according to claim 2 wherein said source of power is connected to said bending and flattening means in such a manner so as to successively actuate said means.

4. In a machine for bending and flattening tubing to form a serpentine coil having a series of alternate runs and bends all lying in the same plane, tube bending means, means, a source of power connected to said means for operating the same, said tube bending means being constructed and arranged to bend a length of tubing to form spaced runs therein and bends between successive runs, said tube flattening means being constructed and arranged to flatten only the runs of said tubing between the bends thereof, and mechanism intermittently operable for feeding said tubing to said means between each tube bending operation.

5; A machine according to claim/l wherein means are provided for gripping a portion of the length of tubing other than that being bent or flattened only during the bending and flattening operations.

6. A machine according to claim 2 wherein a stationary member is formed to provide a part of each of said means.

'7. In a machine for bending and flattening tubing to form a serpentine coil, tube bending means, tube flattening means, and a source of power connected to said means for operating the same, said tube bending means being constructed and arranged to bend a length of tubing to form spaced runs therein, said tube flattening means being constructed and arranged to flatten each of said runs of said tubing ahead of a bend theretube flattening in, said source of power being constructed and arranged so as to actuate said bending means and said flattening means in the order named.

8. In.a machine for bending and flattening tubing to form a serpentine coil having a series of alternate runs and bends all lying in the same plane, tube bending means constructed and arranged to bend a length of tubing to form spaced runs therein, tube'flattening means constructed and arranged to flatten only the runs of said tubing, and unidirectional mechanism operable for intermittently feeding tubing to said means and constructed and arranged to permit the tubing to be advanced relative to said means when said means and said mechanism are inoperable.

9. A tube bending and flattening machine according to claim 8 wherein said means are constructed and arranged relative to each other so as to be operable one after the other and wherein one of said means positions said tubing to be acted on by the other of said means.

10. In a machine for bending and flattening tubing, a vise engageable with a part of a length of tubing for holding the same, a stationary member forming a part of said vise and having a mandrel at one end thereof around which the tubing may be bent and alongside of which man- 'drel tubing to be bent is fed, an ironing shoe positioned adjacent said mandrel and so that tubing may extend between said shoe and mandrel, said shoe being cooperable with said mandrel by movement relative thereto for bending the tubing around said mandrel, a tube flattening means engageable with a portion of said tubing ahead of the bent portion thereof for flattening said tubing to form a hollow flat portion, said station ary member forming a part of said tube flattening means, power operated means connected to said ironing shoe for moving the same to bend the tubing around said mandrel and power operated means connected to said flattening means for actuating the same to flatten a part of the tubing ahead of said mandrel.

11. I a machine for bending and flattening tubing, a vise engageable with a, part of, a length of tubing for holding the same, a mandrel around which the tubin may be bent and alongside of which mandrel tubing to be bent is fed, an ironing shoe positioned adjacent said mandr-eland so that tubing may extend between said shoe and mandrel, said shoe being cooperable with said mandrel by movement relative thereto for bending the tubing around said mandrel, a tube flattening means engageable with a portion of said tubing ahead of the bent portion thereof for flattening said tubing to form a hollow' flat portion, power operated means connected to said ironing shoe for moving the same to bend the tubing around said mandrel and power operated means connected to said flattening means for actuating the same to flatten a part of the tubing ahead of said mandrel.

12. In a machine for bending and flattening tubing, a mandrel around which tubing may be bent and alongside of which mandrel a length of tubing to be bent is fed, an ironing shoe positioned adjacent said mandrel and so that tubing may extend between said shoe and mandrel, said shoe being cooperable with said mandrel by movement relative thereto for bending thetubing around said mandrel, a tube flattening means engageable with a portion of said tubing for flattening such portion of said tubing, power operated means connected to said ironing shoe for moving the same to bend the tubing around said 11 mandrel and power operated means connected to said flattening means for actuating the same to flatten a part oi the tubing, said mandrel and ironing shoe being arranged relative to said tube flattening. means so as to position such portion 5 of said tubing at the ends of a bending operation in position to be flattened by said tube flattening means.

- 13. A machine for bending and flattening tubing according to claim 12 wherein said tube flattening means comprises a pair of jaws between which such portion of said length of tubing is positioned so as to be flattened upon the closing of the Jaws.

JAMES R. HAYWARD. JOHN A. SCHILD. WILLIAM 0. KARTUP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile 01' this patent:

Number Number Name Date Row Sept. 10, 1907 Trorsiener Aug. 24, 1909 Jones Oct. 19, 1920 Skinner July 14, 1925 Summers Apr. 21, 1931 Mason et a1. Aug. 23, 1932 Limpert Oct. 10, 1933 Winkler et a1. Apr. 6, 1937 Kritzer et al Sept. 7, 1937 Townsend et a1 Nov. 14, 1939 Kurtz Jan. 21, 1941 Rosales Mar. 18, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 16, 1937