US3301036A

US3301036A - Small diameter tube bender

Info

Publication number: US3301036A
Application number: US417289A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Philip E Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-12-10
Filing date: 1964-12-10
Publication date: 1967-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-31

Description

1967 P. E. DAVIS, JR

SMALL DIAMETER TUBE BENDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1964 fi/ 0 f. Dav/J, (fr.

INVENTOR' 1967 P. E. DAVIS, JR

SMALL DIAMETER TUBE BENDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10, 1964 //7///,0 f. flaw/J (fr.

INVENTOR.

United States Patent SMALL DIAMETER TUBE BENDER Philip E. Davis, Jr., 1423 Maury,

Houston, Tex. 77tl26 Filed Dec. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 417,289 Claims. (Cl. 72-457) The present invention relates to a device for bending small diameter tubes, such as hollow tubes, up to approximately inch outer diameter.

Various forms of tube and rod bending devices have been devised and used over the years. Most of such devices a-re bulky and are complicated in construction as well as in operation, requiring complex manipulatlon by the user.

The present invention relates to a simple device for bending small diameter tubes such as those up to approximately /8 inch outer diameter which can be carried 1n the pocket of the user and manipulated relatively easily with the hand or hands.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hollow tube bender so as to bend a tube and obtain a bend of a predetermined desired length.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a tube bender for small diameter tubular elements which is constructed and arranged so as to inhibit wearing or flattening of any portion thereof during repeated or continued use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invent on will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating the preferred form of the present invention with a hollow tube positioned therein ready to be bent;

FIG. 2 is a back view somewhat similar to FIG. 1 showing additional structural details and the relationship of the components of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, partly in elevation, showing further structural details of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a tube bent to a predetermined length in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a back view of an alternate form of the invention for bending the hollow tube positioned therein up to 180; and

FIG. 6 is a front view of. the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 illustrating engagement of said invention with the hollow tube prior to bending.

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 wherein the invention is shown as comprising a body represented generally by the numeral which may be of any suitable extent such as approximately 9 to 12 inches, the body 10 being formed of flat strip material as shown more clearly at 11 in FIG. 3 and having its

side edges

13 and 14 tapered inwardly toward each other and relative to the longitudinal axis represented by the line 15 to form a suitable area for grasping in the hand of a user. It will be noted that the wider end of the body 10 is provided with a bent up portion or end 16 that extends at substantially right angles relative to the flat plate-like portion 11 of the body 10.

The bent end 16 extends laterally relative to the fiat portion 11 a suitable extent to accommodate functioning of the device as will be described hereinafter.

The body 10 is provided with a slot 17 which is spaced from the bend end 16 as more clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings and extends along the longitudinal axis represented by the numeral 15 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The slot 17 is formed by the curved end surfaces 18 and 19 at each end thereof which are connected with the parallel spaced side surfaces 20 and 21.

ice

The slot 17 provides a means for receiving the wheel referred to generally by the numeral 23. The wheel 23 is provided with an annular groove 24 in the circumference thereof for receiving the hollow tube represented at 25 and positioning relative to the bent end 16 for bending of the tube 25 in a desired manner as will be described hereinafter.

The wheel 23 is positioned on the body 1% by any suitable means and is shown as including a wheel mounting means represented generally by the numeral 26. Such wheel mounting means 26 includes a portion 27 which, if desired, may be formed integrally with one side of the wheel 23 and extends through the slot 17 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The portion 27 is of smaller diameter than the width of the slot between the parallel side surfaces 20 and 21 of the slot 17 so that the wheel 27 may freely rotate and move longitudinally relative to body 10. However, the portion 27 fits snugly in slot 17 so that the wheel 23 moves up and down therein along and in alignment with the longitudinal axis 15 of body It for a purpose to be described hereinafter. It will also be noted that the portion 27 is of less longitudinal extent that the distance between the end surfaces 18 and 19 of the slot 17. This construction enables the tube 25 to be inserted in groove 24 of the wheel and the wheel then moved longitudinally of the body 10 to position the tube 25 adjacent the bent end 16 of plate 11 for bending of tube 25. Also, since the wheel 23 may rotate freely relative to the body 10, wear on any one portion or spot on the wheel is reduced so that wear is evenly distributed.

The wheel mounting means 26 also includes the enlarged end 30 which is adapted to engage the rear surface 31 of the flat plate-like member 11 and thereby retain the wheel 23 in position thereto. As a practical matter, the enlargement 30 may be formed by a screw which is adapted to be threadedly received as shown at 33 with the portion 27 of the wheel 23 to lock the wheel in position on the body 10 while permitting free longitudinal movement thereof and free relative rotation between the wheel 23 and the body 10.

The invention also includes the additional body member represented by the numeral 39 which is also formed of flat plate-like material and is pivotally connected to the body 10 by any suitable means such as the pin 40 which fits through suitable aligned openings 41 in each the body 10 and additional body member 39, such pin having a groove 42 therein adjacent the surface 43 of the additional body 39 and adjacent the surface 44 of the body 10 for receiving the spring retainer 45 therein to hold the pin in place and thereby retain body 10 and additional body member 39 in proper relationship. Also, such construction enables body 10 and additional body member 39 to be grasped by a user for urging wheel 23 toward bent end 16 as will be described. The body 39 is formed with edges which incline toward each other in a manner similar to body member 10 to facilitate grasping thereof by the user. Thus, the additional body member 39 is free to move relative to the body 10, and it will be noted that the additional body 39 is provided with an arcuate end surface or edge 46 which is adapted to engage the periphery of the enlarged end 30 so that when the additional body 39 is moved relative to the body 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2, the wheel 23 is moved longitudinally of the slot 17 to position the tubular member 25 adjacent the bent end 16 so that a hollow tube may be bent.

The depth of groove 24 in wheel 23 as represented at 24a in FIG. 3 is determined by the diameter of tube 25 to be bent. For example, if a tube /8 inc-h DD. is to be bent, a wheel having a groove depth 24a of 4 inch less than /8 inch is most satisfactory. It can be appreciated that a different wheel 23 may be used for each size tube.

The pitch diameter of the groove 24 is represented at 246 in FIG. 3 and is the distance from the bottom of groove 24 in wheel 23 to the center of the tube 25 to be bent. Obviously, this will vary for various size tubes and wheel grooves 24.

As previously noted, wheel 23, regardless of the depth of groove 24 and regardless of the size of tube 25 within the limits of the present invention, moves up and down in slot 17 in a straight line which coincides with the longitudinal axis of body 10.

Therefore, a vertical line drawn from the

end

50 or 51 adjacent bent end 16 as represented at 52 is tangent to the pitch diameter of the groove 24 regardless of the depth of groove 24 and size tube (within the limits of the present invention).

The above construction and arrangement enables a user to easily and quickly form a bend in a tube of a desired length. For example, assume that it is desired to form a right angle bend in tube 25, a distance represented at 55 in FIG. 4. This is accomplished by placing a pencil or other suitable mark at 56 on tube 25 and then aligning mark 56 with the edge 50 as shown in FIG. 1 and bending tube 25 as indicated in dotted line to a right angle.

While it is believed that the operation of the invention is apparent from the foregoing description, to further amplify and describe, it will be assumed that the present invention is to he used to bend a hollow tube 25 up to approximately "3 inch CD. A wheel 23 of proper size to match the outer diameter of tube 25 to be bent is positioned on body 1.0. The tube 25 is marked as above described to provide a bend of predetermined length. The mark such as mark 56 on the tubing 25 is aligned with the edge 50 of body 10 and the wheel 23 may be moved upwardly to hold the tube 25 against bent end 16 by grasping body 10 and additional body 39 and closing them toward each other. The tubing may be bent manually and then removed by releasing wheel 23 from engaging the tube against the bent end 16.

It can be appreciated that the wheel 23 can be quickly and easily changed to accommodate the size of tubing 25 to be bent. Also, it a left-handed person is using the invention, the additional body 39 may be easily and quickly removed and turned over, or reversed, so as to engage enlargement on the side opposite to that shown in FIG. 2.

When body 39 is released relative to the body 10 after use of the invention, the wheel 23 may move longitudmany of slot 17, and during such movement, it is not uncommon for some rotation of the wheel 23 to occur. Thus, the next time that the device is used, the hollow tube 25 will contact another portion of the bottom of the groove 24, and similarly, the curved surface will contact another portion of the enlargement 30. This enables the device to be used repeatelly and continued over an extended period of time without causing undue wearing or flattening of any portion thereof.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 5 and 6 which illustrate an alternative embodiment 60 of the present invention which is adapted to bend small diameter tubes or the like up to 180. The embodiment 60 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 includes a fiat plate-like member 61 having a laterally extending portion 62 at the upper end thereof. Portion 62 includes an upturned edge 63 similar to the bent end 16 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for receiving small diameter tubing 64 thereagainst. In the preferred form illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the embodiment 60, the plate-like member 61 extends at right angles with respect to the lateral projection 62, and the edges 62a and 625 are perpendicular to the bent end 63.

The lateral projection 62 includes a slot 66 similar to the slot 17 formed in the embodiment 10. The slot 66 includes semicircular ends 66a and 6612 between parallel side edges 66c and 66d as shown in FIG. 5. The slot 66 accommodates wheel means indicated generally at 70 and provides support therefor in moving same to and from a bending position, permitting relative rotation thereof as will be described hereinafter. The wheel means 70 includes a bending wheel 71 having a peripheral groove 71a of a diameter related to the small tube 64 in the same way as the relationship of wheel 23 to tube 25 previously described. The wheel 71 is mounted on a wheel mounting means 72 having a reduced diameter circular portion indicated in dotted line at 73 in FIG. 5 and a larger circular portion 74 extending above the back side of the plate-like member 61. The reduced diameter portion 73 carried on the wheel means 70 fits between the parallel side edges 66c and 66d of the slots 66 with sufficient clearance to rotate therein and may reciprocate longitudinally along the slot 66 to either of the semicircular ends 66a or 66b and transports the bending wheel 71 therewith as will be described. The bending wheel 71 rotates with the wheel mounting means 72 whereby the wheel 71 may rotate relative to the body 61 and move towards or away from bent end 63.

The embodiment 60 includes an actuating member which is flat and plate-like similar to the member 61 and is joined thereto by connective means indicated generally at 82. The connective means 82 includes a shaft 83 extending through appropriate openings in the

members

61 and 80 which is engaged at its outer ends byfiat springlike washers 84 which fasten the

members

80 and 61 together. The washers 84 are engaged with grooves formed on the shaft 83, and reference is made to FIG. 3 for details illustrating similar structure employed in the embodiment 10.

The upper end of the plate-like member 80 includes an edge or surface 80a which is adapted to contact the circular member 74 carried on the wheel mounting means 72 for translating same relative to the longitudinal slot 66. Engagement of the edge 80a with the wheel means 70 will be described in greater detail hereinafter relative to operation of the embodiment 60 of this invention.

The diameter of the bending wheel 71 having the encirculing groove 710 formed therein is related to the length of the bent end 63 whereby the

edges

62a and 62b of the plate-like member 61 define reference points for indicating the extent of tubing 64 included in the bent portion and further defining the straight portion of tubing extending from the arcuately formed curve.

Considering operation of the embodiment 60, the tubing 64' is engaged with the bent end 63 and positioned relative to either of the

ends

62a or 62b and referenced thereagainst in a manner previously described. The plate-

like members

80 and 61 are grasped near the small ends thereof, and relative rotation about the pivotal means 82 is achieved by squeezing or gripping in a manner akin to operating pliers or the like. The edge 80a is moved against the wheel mounting means portion 74 and provides a cam action wherein the wheel mounting means indicated at 72 is translated longitudinally of the slot 66 toward the bent end 63 to thereby engage the groove 71a with the tubing preparatory to bending. The tubing 64 is bent with reference to either of the edges 620 or 62b and may even be bent to accomplish a bent, and a grooved depth of perhaps inch less than the CD. of the tube to be bent.

The various diameter wheels 71 may be assembled readily by fabricating the wheel mounting means 72 carried on the back side of the plate-like member 61 in the formof an enlarged head having internal threads for engaging in axial projection extending from the bending wheel 71. By such means, the bending means indicated generally at 70 may be rapidly and readily adjusted to accommodate various sizes.

When the actuating member 80 is released and the edge 80a disengaged whereby the bending wheel means indicated generally at 70 is freed to move laterally to the right as illustrated in FIG. 5, the bent tube 64 may be removed from the device of this invention and additional tubing to be bent may be engaged therewith with ease and facility. In further particular, it should be recognized that engagement and disengagement of the bending wheel means 70 with the tubing to be bent results in slight rotation of a perhaps random nature to engage different arcuat-e portions of the bending groove 71a with the tubing 64 from one" operation to the next. This rotation avoids the wearing of fiat spots in the embodiment 60 in a manner similar to that described relative to embodiment 10.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a tube bending device which may be grasped in one hand of a user for bending small diameter hollow tube.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for bending hollow tubes up to approximately inch O.D. comprising:

(a) a body having one end bent at approximately 90 relative to the body,

(b) said body having a slot therein spaced from said bent end and extending along the longitudinal axis of said body, said slot having a curved surface at each end and spaced parallel side surfaces joined at each end to said curved surfaces,

() a wheel having an annular groove in the circumference thereof for receiving the tube to be bent,

(d) wheel mounting means having a portion extending through said slot and engaged with said wheel for mounting it adjacent said bent end, said wheel mounting means having an enlarged end for abutting said body to position said wheel thereon,

(e) said portion of said wheel mounting means extending through said slot being smaller in diameter than the width of said slot between said parallel side surfaces and being smaller in diameter than the longitudinal extent of said slot between said end curved surfaces whereby said wheel may rotate relative to said body and may move toward and away from said bent end on said body,

(f) an additional body member,

(g) means pivotally mounting said additional body member on said body, and

(h) said additional body member having an arcuate edge for engaging said enlarged end of said wheel mounting means whereby movement of said additional body member relative to said body forces said wheel toward and away from said bent end.

2. A device for bending hollow tubes up to approximately inch O.D. comprising:

(a) a body having one end bent at approximately 90 relative to the body,

(c) a wheel having an annular groove in the circumference thereof for receiving the tube to be bent,

(e) said portion of said wheel mounting means extending through said slot being smaller in diameter than 1 the width of said slot between said parallel side surfaces and being smaller in diameter than the longitudinal extent of said slot between said end curved surfaces whereby said wheel may rotate relative to said body and may move toward and away from said bent end on said body,

(f) an additional body member,

(g) means pivotally mounting said additional body member on said body,

(h) said additional body member having an arcuate edge for engaging said enlarged end of said wheel mounting means whereby movement of said additional body member relative to said body forces said wheel toward and away from said bent end, and

(i) the pitch diameter of said annular groove in said wheel being in vertical alignment with a line drawn from either end of said bent edge vertically and longitudinally of said body.

3. A device for bending hollow tubes up to approxi mately /8 inch O.D. comprising:

(a) a body having one end bent at approximately 90 relative to the body,

(f) an additional body member,

(g) means pivotally mounting said additional body member on said body,

(i) said arcuate edge on said additional body member being formed so that reversal of said additional body member on said body enables the device to be used by a left-handed user.

4. A device for bending hollow tubes up to approxi- 60 mately 45 inch O.D. comprising:

(a) a body having one end bent at approximately 90 relative to the body,

(b) said body having a slot therein spaced from said bent end and having a curved edge at each end and spaced parallel side edges joining said curved edges,

(e) said portion of said wheel mounting means extend- 75 ing through said slot being smaller in diameter than the width of said slot between said parallel side surfaces and being smaller in diameter than the longitudinal extend of said slot between said end curved surfaces whereby said wheel may rotate relative to said body and may move toward and away from said bent end on said body,

(f) an additional body member,

(g) means pivotally mounting said additional body member on said body, and

(h) said additional body having an edge for engaging said enlarged end of said wheel mounting means whereby movement of said additional body member relative to said body forces said wheel toward and away from said bent end.

5. A device for bending hollow tubes up to approximately /8 inch O.D. comprising:

(a) a body having one end bent at approximately 90 relative to the body,

(b) said bent end being on a lateral projection extending from the main portion of said body,

(c) said body having a slot therein extending toward said bent end, said slot having a curved edge at each end and spaced parallel side edges joined at each end to said curved edges,

(d) a wheel having an annular groove in the circumference thereof for receiving the tube to be bent,

(e) wheel mounting means having a portion extending through said slot and engaged with said wheel for mounting it adjacent said bent end, said wheel 8 mounting means having an enlarged end for abutting said body to position said wheel thereon,

(f) said portion of said wheel mounting means extending through said slot being smaller in diameter than the width of said slot between said parallel side surfaces and being smaller in diameter than the longitudinal extent of said slot between said end curved surfaces whereby said wheel may rotate relative to said body and may move toward and away from said bent end on said body,

(g) an additional body member,

(h) means pivotally mounting said additional body member on said body,

(i) said additional body having cam means thereon for engaging said enlarged end of said wheel mounting means whereby movement of said additional body member relative to said body forces said wheel toward and away from said bent end, and

(j) said groove accommodating bends of up to 180 in the hollow tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1962 Baumgartner 72457 6/1964 Grazier 72457

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR BENDING HOLLOW TUBES UP TO APPROXIMATELY 5/8 INCH O.D. COMPRISING: (A) A BODY HAVING ONE END BENT AT APPROXIMATELY 90* RELATIVE TO THE BODY, (B) SAID BODY HAVING A SLOT THEREIN SPACED FROM SAID BENT END AND EXTENDING ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BODY, SAID SLOT HAVING A CURVED SURFACE AT EACH END AND SPACED PARALLEL SIDE SURFACES JOINED AT EACH END TO SAID CURVED SURFACES, (C) A WHEEL HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE IN THE CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF FOR RECEIVING THE TUBE TO BE BENT, (D) WHEEL MOUNTING MEANS HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT AND ENGAGED WITH SAID WHEEL FOR MOUNTING IT ADJACENT SAID BENT END, SAID WHEEL MOUNTING MEANS HAVING AN ENLARGED END FOR ABUTTING SAID BODY TO POSITION SAID WHEEL THEREON, (E) SAID PORTION OF SAID WHEEL MOUNTING MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT BEING SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID SLOT BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL SIDE SURFACES AND BEING SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN THE LONGITUDINAL EXTENT OF SAID SLOT BETWEEN SAID END CURVED SURFACES WHEREBY SAID WHEEL MAY ROTATE RELATIVE TO SAID BODY AND MAY MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID BENT END ON SAID BODY, (F) AN ADDITIONAL BODY MEMBER, (G) MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID ADDITIONAL BODY MEMBER ON SAID BODY, AND (H) SAID ADDITIONAL BODY MEMBER HAVING AN ARCUATE EDGE FOR ENGAGING SAID ENLARGED END OF SAID WHEEL MOUNTING MEANS WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONAL BODY MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID BODY FORCES SAID WHEEL TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID BENT END.