US2827101A - Pivoted tube bender with tube positioning mark and adjustable tube locating device - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1958 E. A. DE voss 2,327,101

PIVOTED TUBE BENDER WITH TUBE POSITIQNING MARK AND ADJUSTABLE TUBE LOCATING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 4, 1954 March 18, 1958 E. A. DE voss 2,827,

PIVOTED TUBE BENDER WITH TUBE POSITIONING MARK AND ADJUSTABLE TpBE LOCATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 18, 1958 E. A. DE voss 1 2,

PIVOTED TUBE BENDER WITH TUBE POSITIONING MARK AND V ADJUSTABLE TUBE LOCATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 4. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IlllllH 'be made in a tube.

ilnited States Patent PIVO'iED BENDER WETH TUBE POSITION- ING MARK Abll ADFUSTABLE TUBE LO CATING DEVIQE Edwin A. de Voss, Los Angeles, Calif, assignor to Northrop Aircraft, End, l-lawthome, Calif., a corporation of California Application @ctober 4, 15 54, Serial No. 459,990

3 Claims. (Cl. 153-46) The present invention relates to tube bending apparatus and more particularly to a tube bending machine including a tube positioning facility, the use of the latter being made possible by the novel construction and arrangement of the component parts of the machine.

Tube assemblies, comprising one or more lengths of bent or preshaped tubes, are well known and extensively utilized for conveying fluid between various parts of a machine which are responsive to fluid pressures. A modern aircraft constitutes a typical example in which numerous preshaped tube assemblies function in the aforementioned capacity. Such bent or preshaped tubes are normally fabricated with the aid of an automatic or a hand bending machine depending on the number required. Either of the above machines has objectional features rendering them unsatisfactory for certain bending operations. For example, if a small number of preshaped tubes is required, the time required to set up an automatic machine will undoubtedly exceed the time required to bend the same number of tubes with a hand machine. it is also obvious that regardless of the number of preshaped tubes required forming them on a hand operated machine constitutes a time consuming operation. Therefore, the need for a tube bending machine enabling either large or small quantities of tubes to be shaped accurately and expeditiously is quite apparent.

The present invention discloses a tube bending machine in which the bending operation and the movement of the respective parts thereof are reversed as compared with the procedure and movement of parts in conventional tube bending machines. Briefly the present invention employs a stationmy radial block and a movable slide block. Employing a movable slide block results in a previously executed bend maintaining a fixed relationship, with respect to stationary portions of the machine, while a subsequent bend is being executed. Accordingly a fixture of the type disclosed. herein may be secured to the stationary portions of the machine to' facilitate the location, plane, and degree of all bends to The specific manner in which the instant tube bending machine operates, also the manner in which the locating fixture cooperates with the tube bending facility, will become more apparent as the disclosure progresses.

Accordingly it is an object of the instant invention to provide a tube bending machine in which small quantities of preshaped tubes of identical configuration may be fabricated accurately and expeditiously.

Another object is to provide a tube bending machine in which previously bent portions of a tube will maintain a fixed relationship with respect to non-movable portions of the machine during a subsequent bending operation.

Another object is to provide a tube bending machine incorporating means whereby the location, plane, and degree of bends to be made in a tube are readily locatable.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. t is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the tube bending machine of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view of certain parts of the tube bending machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the tube bending machine viewed as indicated by the arrow 3 in Figure 2, this view in particular shows the hand wheel of the instant invention and associated parts.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tube bending machine as viewed along the line of Figure 2.

Figures 5 and 6 are plan and elevational views, respectively, of the tube bending assembly of the instant invention.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of one of the connectors of the tube locating assembly as viewed along the line 77 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a length of tubing to be fabricated.

Figures 9 and 9a are perspective and elevational views, respectively, of a presnaped tube.

Figure 10 is an elevational view of the tube bending assembly showing the preshaped tube of Figures 9 and 9a in a typical locating position.

Figures ll and 12 are elevational views bending assembly showing various positions the component parts thereof in forming a configuration shown in Figures 9 and 9a.

Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of the tube locating member of the instant invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a complete tube bending machine 11 of the type disclosed herein. Principal component parts of the machine include a tube bending assembly 12 and tube locating assembly 14 each mounted on a common supporting structure 15. The supporting structure, in the present embodiment, consists of a bed plate 17 supported at a suitable height by a channel member 18 and legs 19. A folding leaf or shelf 21 is also provided on which tubes to be or that have been fabricated may be supported. Mounted on the upper surface of the bed plate is a guide rail .3. on which the assembly 14 is mounted for longitudinal movement thereof with respect to the guide rail and bed plate. The bed plate extends beyond one end of the channel member 13 to provide a suitable support for the tube bending assembly 12.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, 5, and 6 it is seen that the tube bending assembly 12 consists of a supporting shaft 23 having a disk-like radial block 24 fixedl' secured thereto at its upper end as viewed in Figure 2. A major peripheral portion of the radial block is provided with a continuous tube receiving groove 2%, the latter being semi-circular in cross-section. A major portion of the groove 2%) is of arcuate configuration so that similar wall portions thereof are spaced equal radial distances from the axis of the shaft 23. The groove 2%) terminates at one end in a straight portion which cooperates with a clamp block 32 to be described presently. A reference mark 39 extends normal to the periphery of the block 24 at the point at which the arcuate portion of the groove 24) becomes tangent to the straight portion thereof.

The shaft 23 is mounted in a vertical attitude on the overhanging portion of the bed plate by means of a sleeve 26 fixedly secured to the bed plate. Angular movement of the shaft 23 is prevented by a conventional of the tube assumed by tube of the section. ncut on the ,armld between a first position in which the walls of the groove 33 cooperate with the straight portion :of the groove 29 to firmly hold a length of-tub- V tending radially from the axis of the shaft 23.

keyjindLlreywayfassociated with the shaft and sleeve, however, the shaft may be raisedor loweredas desired and held in any suitable vertical position by a hand screw 27.

:Mounted' on and extending from the shaft 23, at a .position 'intern'lediate the plate 1'7 andthe radial block .24, 'an arm 28. The portion of thearm 2d encom- Passingthe shaft Z3 is bifurcated to allow an adjustable stopmember to be mounted on: the shaft between the respective forks o'f the arm 28. The arm Eb nfixedly secured to the shaft 23'by means of conventional set screws or the like. The-stop memberZ? is mounted for august movement on the shaft 23 and 'inay be secured thereto inany desired pos ition by sham screw 3:1. The function of the stop member 29will become more apparent as the vdisclosure progresses. Mounted on the arm 28 is a clamp block 32- provided with a straight tube receiving groove 33 which is also semi-circular in cross- The block 32 is mounted for pivotal move irig therebetween and a secondposition in which :the

tubing may be frec ly removed from the grooves and 33. The block 32 is manually moved between the two positions described above a lever 34, also pivotally mounted on the m 28, acting iii-conjunction with an of the shaft 23 and along the aforementioned longitudif.

nal axis of the arm 37. The member 39h; moved by means of a manually operable lever 4? pivotally mounted on-the :arm 37 and'by a cooperating toggle type linlrage 5 1. ,A1 1 --elorrgated holding member 33 is fixedly. se-

cared to the member 39. A groove 43 having a rectangular cross-section is formed in the member 38. .The' groove 43 is further characterized in that the side walls thereof are normal to the aforementioned axis A A of the arm 37. The groove 43 is adapted to slidably receive an elongated slide block 42 which is also rectangular in cross-section. V v

In the assembled position ofthe various parts of the assembly 12, as best seen in Figure 2, the following relationships are found. I The elongated side of the block 42, opposing the block 24, is provided with a straight tube receiving groove 44 which is semi-circular in crosssection; A groove 46 is also provided in the :.side of the block 42 opposite the side containing the groove .44. Also pivotally mounted on the member 39, by means cumferential groove 48 formed in its outer peripheral surface. Accordingly it will be apparent that the axes of the grooves 44 and 46 will-also be normal to the aforementioned axis A-A of the arm 37 regardless of 23. The axes of the semi-cylindrical grooves 20, 33, and 44 are located in a common horizontal plane. Portions of the outer peripheral surface of the roller 47 are in firm contact with portions of the side of the block '42 containing thegroove 46 At such times as the' member 39 is moved to a position most adjacent block 24, the roller 47 and block 24 will bear tangentially on the block 42v at directly opposite positions. In other words a plane containing the axes ofthe shaft 23 and roller 47 willalso contain, the-points of tangency of block 24 and roller 47 with the:slide, bloek-42. The position of :t'he'arm 37 and block 42,'with':respect to the blocks i of a pin 54, is a hollow roller element 47 having a ciri T the latters angular position with respect to the shaft" 78, and a flexible diaphragm 79.

24 and 32,'as best seen in Figures 2 and 10, constitutes the initial position which these parts are'caused toassurne prior to a bending operation. One end of the block 32 is chamfered as indicated at 52 to provide clearance for the roller 47 to assume its initial position as described above. f 7

With a length of tubing held in the grooves Ziland 33a, andwiththe tubing firmly bottomed in the gro'ove stressed spiral spring53 positioned in the hollo'ivf portion Iof the roller 4'7 as shown in Fig lfe l0. Onefendlof the s pring 53isfattached to the pin :54, about whichthe roller 47 rotates, its other end is secured to'thelinner periphery of the disk 47. One end of a flexibleinietal cable 56 is attached to the periphery of the roller .37 and the oth er end is attached to the side of'the; block 42in which the groove 46 is formed so that intermediate portions thereof .are located .in the grooves '46 and .48..

The roller 47, spring 53, and cable 56 cooperate tome turn the bloc: '42'to its initial relative'positio'nin the holder 3 3'upon completion of a bending operation' 'and the releasing of the block 42 from the tubing. ,;-Return movement of the block 42 is arrested byfa pro ect lug stop (not shown) formed on the holder 38. Itis apparent that the grooves 46 and lfi mate with each other to provide clearance'for the cable es.

H A hand wheel '57, having an annular V-sliapedgr oove 69, is mounted for free angular movement on thei'vshaft 23. The hand wheel rests on the upper surface of t lie plate 17' and serves to move 'a cable 68 thereby shifting a connector 58 ofthe tube locating assembly 14in a manner presently explained in connection with the detailed description ofithe assembly 14.

In the present embodiment the tube locating assembly I 14 includes three fluid operated ball and socket connectors 58, Y59, and 61. The connector 58 is slidably secured to aspire forlongitudinal movement thereon, the other two connectors are supported by the connector 58 on rigid arms 62 and 63. The connector 58 includes a base portion provided With'a groove 66 adapted to m- ,ceive the guide rail 22 as seen in Figure 4. To facilitate ihe aforementioned longitudinal movement of the connectorf SS a cable68 is rigged to operate in the groov d) 7 of the handwheel'57 and through a pulley 69, thelatter being attached toithe end of the plate 17 opposite the ass embly 1 2. The ends of the cable .22are attachedito .opposite sidesof the-base portion of the connector 58. With the cable rigged as described above it will ,be apparent'that the connector 58 responds to rotary movements of the hand 'whee1 57. A conventional locking 'device 67 is provided in the base portion of the connector This locking device allows or arrests longitudinal ,movement of theconnector 58.as desired by an'oper'ator of the machine :11.

The aforementioned connectors are of substantially identicalconstruction. Accordingly a description of the connector 61 follows which will also be applicable to thefconnectors 58 and.59.' The connector 61 comprises a disk-like closure element 73, retainer and auxiliaryretainer elements 74 and 76, respectively, a ring element .component parts of the connector 61 are assembled as shown'in Fig ure 7 with the spherical end of the 7 1 contained betweenspherical surface portions ofelernents 74 and 7,6. Fluid at superatmospheric .pressureisuti- The above recited lized to render the spherical end of the arm 71 nonmovable with respect to the elements 74 and 76. The aforementioned fluid enters the connector 61 through the elbow 81 and communicates with the side of the diaphragm 79 opposite the element 76. At such times as fluid at superatmospheric pressure is not in contact with the diaphragm 79 the arm 71 may be manually adjusted as desired. During these latter periods the spherical end of the arm 71 is firmly but adjustably held between the spherical surface portions of the element 74 and a supporting element 83 by a precompressed helical spring 82. The spring 82 is selected so that the force exerted thereby allows the arm 71 to be manually adjusted but retains it in any desired position. A snug sliding fit between the mating cylindrical walls of the element 74 and 76, the action of the spring 32, and the configuration of the element 83 preclude any lateral movement of the ball in the element 74 at such times as fluid is not present in the connector. The upper end of the element 83 is provided with a concave surface which mates with the spherical end surface of the arm 71. The lower portion of the element 83 comprises a cylindrical shell the outer surface of which bears a snug sliding relationship with a counterbore 85 formed in the base of the element 76.

Referring again to Figure 2 it is apparent that the spherical end portion of the arm 62 is contained in the connector 58 while the other end of the arm is rigidly attached to the connector 59 as indicated at 7'7. Similarly the arm 63 is associated with the connectors 59 and 61. Attached to the free end of the arm member 71 is a tube locating member 72 to be presently described. A flexible conduit 84 provides a passage for fluid between a source of fluid at superatmospheric pressure (not shown) and the connectors 53, 59, and 61. The flow of fluid to and from the above connectors is controlled by a valve mechanism 86 located in the conduit 84.

The tube locating member 72 consists of a pair of elongated bar members 87 and 83 of similar configuration hinged together at respective ends to permit relative angular movement therebetween.

The elongated bar members may be hinged together by means of a tongue 102, formed in an end of the member 88, and a tongue receiving slot 193, formed in an end of the member 87, and defined by side portions libiand 1% of the latter member. In the assembled position of the members 87 and 88 the side surfaces defining the slot 103 provide a snug sliding fit for the tongue 1%2. Also in the assembled position of the members 87 and 83 a bolt-like element 91 extends through registering apertures in the portions 104, 196, and tongue 192 and engages mating threads in the portion 1436. Upon suificient engagement of the aforementioned threads a shoulder M7, formed on the element 91, bears against the upper surface of the portion 104 thereby rendering the members 87 and 88 immovable with respect to each other. Rotary movement is imparted to the element 91 by means of a radially extending handle 198. In view of the above discussion it will be apparent that the element 91 provides means whereby the members 37 and 33 may be freed for relative angular movement or rendered immovable with respect to each other in any desired angular relationship with a predetermined range.

The member 87 is fixedly secured at its mid-portion to the free end of the tube 71 as by welding or the like. A pair of spaced quarter circular parallel grooves 85 and 89 extend longitudinally of the member 87. A pair of identical grooves 99 and 95 are similarly formed in the member 88. The location of the grooves 85 and 90, in the assembled position of the members 37 and 38, respectively, is further characterized in that the axes of these grooves are located in a common plane. Similarly the axes of the grooves 89 and 95 are also located in a common plane. The hinged connection between the members 87 and 88 permits angular movementthereof between a first position in which the axes of the grooves and 90 coincide with a straight line and a second position in which the included angle between their axes constitutes an acute angle. The radius of the grooves 35, 89, 90, and is substantially equal to the'outside radius of a tube being shaped in the machine 11.

The component parts of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention having been described a more complete understanding of its novel features and advantages will be forthcoming from the following description of its operation.

For illustrative purposes it may be assumed that a straight length of tubing 1% is to be fabricated to conform with the performed tube 92 as shown in Figures 9 and 9a. The tube 92 includes three typical bends 93, 94, and 96, straight portions 97 and 93, and end portions $9 and 101. The radius of each of the bends in the tube n2 is equal and is further characterized in that the bend 93 is located in a first plane while the bends 94 and 9 5 are located in a second plane positioned at ninety degrees (90) with respect to the first plane.

Inasmuch as the procedure involved in the executing each of the bends 93, 94, and @6 is substantially the same only the operations in effecting the bend 94- will be described in detail. The preformed tube 92 is first utilized to locate the member 72 in a position corresponding to the bend To accomplish this the tube 92 is positioned in the assembly lit with the bend 93 thereof located to the left of the radial block 2 as shown in Figure 10. The tube 92 is located in the position shown by positioning the point of tangency of the bend with the straight portion 97 directly opposite the reference mark 3% at such time as the bend 9d is bottomed in the arcuate portion of the groove 26. The tube 92 is now secured in the above position by the blocks and 32. With the tube 92 thus secured in the assembly 12 the bend 93 will be positioned in a vertical plane with the end portion 9 extending downwardly. The assembly 14 is new adjusted so that the straight portions and 99 of the tube 92 are bottomed in the grooves and b d, or 85? and 95, respectively, of the member assembly is now rendered immovable by means of the loc ting evice a? and by causing presse d fluid to communicate with each of the connectors 59, and 63.. The members 37 and 33 are also looked in position by means of the locking device 91. The stop mem ber 29 is also set at this time to govern the extent of the bend 94. To accomplish this the side block 42 is urged into contacting relationship with the tube 92 and the arm 37 rotated in a clockwise direction until the straight portion i=3 of the tube 92 is bottomed in the groove 44 of the block 1 2. The stop member 2? is now moved into abutting relationship with the arm 37 and secured in this position by means of the hand screw 31. The tube 92 is now removed from the assembly 12.

The tube 1% to be fabricated is now positioned in the assembly 12.

it is understood that a bend in the tube 1%, identical to the bend 93 of the tube 92, has been efiected during a previous operation. Accordingly the strai ht portions of the tube ltltl, corresponding to the pertions 97 and 99 of the tub 92, are bottomed in the grooves 85 and 9i? or 39 and @5, respectively, with the straight portion 99 extending vertically downward. At this time the straight portion of the tube 1%, correspondin to the portion W of the tube 92, is bottomed in the straight portion of the groove 21?. This procedure locates the tube 1% in the proper position so that the bend 94 may be executed. The tube M39 is now secured between the bloclrs 24 and 32, the slide block urged into firm contacting relationship with the tube, and the arm 37 rotated in a clockwise direction until it contacts the stop 2%. The bend in the tube 36%, corresponding to the bend 94 in the tube 2, has thus been effected. Any number of identical bends may now be made in tubes "During the above operation it shouldbe noted that the presha'ped portion'of the'tube I00 remainsffixetl while 'th'e straight portion-of the tube is moved i-n response to movem'ents of the :slide block 42. ln conventional equipment the reverse procedure is followed, that is the pre's'ha'ped portions of a tube be'ing fabricated are-moved While the 'untabr-icated portion aemains s'tatiouary or moves longitudinally. It should be apparent that the assenihly .14 enables a tube to b: positioned in the :as-

sembly 12 so that the longitudinal location and'nla'n'e of a 'bend to be made in' the tub'e 'will :fbe automatically de- "te'r mined. The degree of beniiji'sdeterminetl by thezbesition 'of'the stop 29 withrespecttothearm 3 7.

Figures 1 1 a'nd L2 show the relative positions uihich certain parts-"of the assemblies I- Z an'cl assume at the completion of the bends 94 a'rfd 96. 'These views are believed to be self explanatory Rand -further explanation not'deemed necessary. j

While "in order 'to c'omplywith the statute,the irivention has been described in' language more orlle'ss ispecificfas to structural features, it is to -be uniierstood that the invention is not limited to the specific feature's shown,

but that the means a'nd construction 'herein'idiselosed comprise a'preferred form er putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimedain any of,

' radial block; a tube positioning mark #on a silielface of said radial block intersectin'g said varcuate edge portion; anlongated tubelocating 'device, which may-be rendered either flexible or rigid, one end-of which issecure'd'to said base structure; a pair of adjustablemlongated mempassing throughsaid r ihin gedr endjportions and haying ta restingzrelative aangular movement, grespectively, -;betvy.een

3.,Apparatus as set forth in=claim12 furthergcharacterized in that :said complementary tube .-receiviug grooves consist of :-;at least one tube, :receiving 4 groove; having a partial .cylindricalisurface,stormed in each; of said elontgated memberswith the axes-thereof;lyingeinzavcommen plane. l r

Referencs,Citedinithe tile ofithisslpatent r

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