WO2008135033A1 - Device and method for bending pipes - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and method for bending pipes, said device comprising a feed device (4) for the pipe (2), which feeds the pipe (2) continuously in the longitudinal direction, a heating device (5) located in the feed direction for heating one region of the pipe (2) and a bending arm (7), which can be pivoted about a rotational axis (D) and comprises a holding device (6) for the pipe (2). The pipe (2) can be removably fixed in the holding device (6). The aim of the invention is to provide a device and a method for bending pipes with which the pipe can be bent in different bending directions. To achieve this, the feed device (4) and the bending arm (7) can moved in relation to one another in such a way that the feed device (4) and the rotational axis (D) of the bending arm (7) can be moved past one another.

Description

 Apparatus and method for bending pipes

The invention relates to a device and a method for bending tubes with circular cross section according to the preamble of claim 1 and according to the preamble of claim 39, comprising a feed device for the tube, which advances the tube continuously in the longitudinal direction, one in the feed direction arranged, usually inductive heating device for heating a portion of the tube, and a pivotable about an axis of rotation bending arm with a holding device for the tube, wherein the tube in the holding device in a detachable manner can be fixed. Bending devices of this type have long been known and described in the prior art for a long time.

DE 21 12 019 A1 shows, for example, an induction bending machine for bending pipes, in which a feed device which clamps the pipe to be bent, applying a force acting in the longitudinal direction of the pipe. In the direction of movement of the tube, the advancing device is subsequently provided with a heating device for heating a region of the tube. The front end of the tube is attached to a bending arm without rotation by a holding device. The bending arm is pivotable about a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis is articulated by means of a pivot pin in a frame. To bend the tube, the tube is advanced by means of the advancing device, the tube being pushed through the heating device. The heater heats a portion of the pipe on which the bending moment is applied. By the determination of the tube in the holding device on the bending arm is given by the pivoting movement of the bending arm, a circular positive guidance for the fixed to the bending arm tube so that it is bent on a circular path. The heating device is displaceable to a small extent so that a small correction by a movement of the heater in deviations from the bending radius is possible. Alternatively or in addition to the displacement of the heating device, a displacement of the axis of rotation of the bending arm is also provided parallel to the non-bent part of the pipe to be bent.

DE 25 46 695 C3 shows, for example, a device for bending pipes, in which a tube is arranged with a first end in a feed device and is advanced by means of this. In the longitudinal direction of the tube of the feed device is arranged downstream of a heater having an electrical induction heating coil. The induction heating coil is arranged downstream of a cooling device. The front end of the tube is fixed in a torque generating device. The torque generating device comprises a tensioning device in which the front end of the tube is fixed. The tensioning device is rotatably mounted on a cross slide, wherein the cross slide is movable in a longitudinal slide by means of rollers. The longitudinal slide is in turn by means of rollers on two longitudinal rails long to the extension of the non-curved tube movable. To bend the tube, a bending moment is exerted on the tube by the tensioning device, wherein a drive for rotating the tensioning device and a further drive for moving the longitudinal and transverse slide are switched on. By matching the drives for the feed and the rotation of the clamping device, a bending of the tube is achieved. A disadvantage of this type of bending device, however, is the fact that a bend is limited to the fact that only one direction of curvature, for example a left curvature, is possible for the tube.

DE 31 51 236 Al shows an induction bending device for pipes, in which one end of the tube is clamped in a feed device and the other end of the tube is fixed in a holding device on a bending arm. The tube extends through a heater. The holding device is rotatably provided about an axis and displaceable on the bending arm transversely to the tube direction. To bend the tube, the advancing device is driven by a drive and advances the tube, the tube being heated by the heater. The bending arm describes a predetermined pivoting movement, wherein the holding device on the bending arm is so displaceable and rotatable that different radii for the pipe bend can be achieved. A disadvantage of this type of tube bending machine is the fact that, although a bending of the tube with different radii and different curvatures is possible, so for example, an increasing or decreasing curvature for a bend of the tube is possible. However, this bending device also does not allow bending of the tube in different bending directions.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device and a method of the type mentioned, in which a bending of the tube is successively possible in different bending directions.

This object is achieved by a. Device for bending pipes, comprising

a feeding device for a pipe, which advances the pipe continuously in the longitudinal direction,

- A pivotable about an axis bending arm with a holding device for the

Tube, wherein the tube in the holding device is detachably fixable, wherein the feed device and the bending arm are movable relative to each other, that the Feed device and the axis of rotation of the bending arm are vorbeifiihrbar to each other, and

a heating device arranged in the feed direction for heating a region of the pipe,

- The holding device at least in a first locking position and a second

Locking position can be fixed to the bending arm,

wherein the first locking position and the second locking position of the holding device are provided opposite to the longitudinal center axis of the bending arm,

and by a method for bending pipes by means of a device of the type described above, wherein

in a first step, the tube is bent in a first direction and then released from the holding device from a first locking position of the bending arm,

in a second step, the feed device and the bending arm are moved relative to one another such that the feed device and the axis of rotation of the bending arm are guided past each other, and then the tube is fixed to the holding device in a second locking position on the bending arm, wherein the first locking position and the second locking position of the retaining device is provided opposite to the longitudinal center axis of the pivot arm, and

in a third step, the tube is bent in a second direction.

[0007] In a bending apparatus comprising a feeding device and a bending arm, the pipe being advanced by the feeding device and fixed to the bending arm in a holding device, a portion of the pipe is heated by a heater. By fixing the tube to the bending arm, a forced guidance is achieved during advancement of the tube by the advancing device, wherein the positive guidance is given by the pivotal movement of the bending arm about the axis of rotation in a first direction. In the region of the tube heated by the heating device, a bending moment is thereby exerted on the tube. The feed device is in this case arranged on a first side of the axis of rotation, wherein the side determined by the direction of the pivoting movement of the bending arm is. As a result, a bending possibility of the tube in a first direction, for example, an arc for the tube in the left direction, given. In order subsequently to be able to produce a bending in the other direction, for example in the right-hand direction, and thus approximately as an S-shaped tubular shape, the bending arm must perform a pivoting movement in the other direction, wherein the tube arranged in the feed device on the another side of the axis of rotation is provided. For this purpose, the feed device and the bending arm are movable relative to each other, which allows the feed device and the bending arm are aligned with each other so that the bending arm is pivoted in bending the pipe in the other pivot direction, so that for the pipe at the same feed direction a forced - tion is given in the opposite lateral direction. A pivoting movement in the opposite direction of the bending arm during advancement of the tube by the feed device is achieved when the feed device and the axis of rotation of the bending arm are provided in reverse order, that is, when the feed device and the axis of rotation of the bending arm are guided past each other. This allows bending of the tube in a second direction.

In preferred embodiments of the device is provided for the feed device or for the bending arm or both, that they are adjustable in height.

The juxtaposition of the feed device and the axis of rotation of the bending arm expediently relates to a plane, wherein the plane through the axis of rotation and a straight line which runs parallel to the unbent tube and the axis of rotation cuts, is clamped. The feed device and the axis of rotation of the bending arm are now guided past each other such that the feed device is arranged with respect to the plane and thus also with respect to the axis of rotation on different sides for bending the tube in different directions.

The bending arm expediently has a swivel arm on which the holding device is arranged. The holding device advantageously extends from the pivoting arm at an angle of approximately 90 ° from the pivoting arm upwards, ie in the direction of the axis of rotation. The height of the holding device is determined by the diameter of the tube to be bent so that the tube can be securely fixed in the holding device. In order to be able to bend tubes of different diameters, the bending arm and the feed device are advantageous relative to one another with respect to the height, ie, they can be moved relative to one another in the direction of the axis of rotation. This also ensures that the feed device and the axis of rotation are passed safely and easily past each other. To pass the feed device and / or the Bending so adjusted in height that the feed device arranged there

Pipe is provided above the holding device and the feed device and the rotation axis are guided past each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the feed device can be brought at least from a first feed position into a second feed position, wherein the first feed position is provided on one side of the rotation axis and the second feed position on the opposite side of the rotation axis. It is thereby achieved that the feed device can be arranged on both sides of the axis of rotation in the respective feed position, so that when advancing the tube in the first feed position a positive guidance of the tube by a pivoting movement of the bending arm in the first direction and in the second feed position a Forced guidance of the tube is given by a pivoting movement in the other direction. This is a bending of the tube both initially in the left direction and subsequently ensured in the legal direction on.

The first and the second feed position are expediently provided on different sides of the plane, which is spanned by the axis of rotation and a straight line which runs parallel to the unbent tube and which intersects the axis of rotation of the bending arm. This means that the feed device is brought from the one side of the plane to the other side of the plane, in order to drive past the latter on the axis of rotation. This plane determines how far the feed device must be guided in order to be arranged on the other side of the rotation axis, such that in the first feed position a forced guidance of the tube in the first pivoting direction of the bending arm and in the second in the other pivoting direction given is. This further allows bending of the tube in a first bending direction and a second bending direction.

Expediently, the first feed position and the second feed position of the feed device are arranged at a substantially equal distance from the axis of rotation of the bending arm or the clamped plane. By the distance of the feed device to the axis of rotation and the arrangement of the holding device on the bending arm of the bending radius for the tube is given or the bending radius for the tube is determined by the distance from the axis of rotation to the center of the arranged in the feed tube. However, the arrangement of the tube is given directly by the respective feed position of the feed device. Assign now the two feed positions for the feed device the same distance from the axis of rotation of the bending arm, wherein the two feed positions are arranged on different sides of the axis of rotation, it is ensured that identical Bend radii for the tube in the first bending direction and in the second bending direction are given.

It is understood that the two feed positions may also have a different distance from the axis of rotation, so that in the first bending direction, the tube is bent with a first radius and in the second, opposite direction with a second radius.

The heating device which heats the tube in a range is advantageously arranged in the feed positions of the feed device on a straight line with the axis of rotation of the bending arm, whereby it is achieved that in each feed position in the heated region, the bending moment acts on the tube.

For the feed device advantageously a plurality of feed positions are provided in which the feed device is set. By several feed positions for the feed device is achieved that the distance of the non-bent tube to the axis of rotation of the bending arm, said distance determines the bending radius for the tube is adjustable. This ensures that different radii are given for the bending of the tube. This allows different bends for a pipe both in the bending direction and in the bending radius. Thus, different bending radii can be realized in both left-hand and right-bending directions, whereby any bends for a pipe can be achieved.

It is understood that it can also be provided that the feed device can be continuously displaced so that the feed device can be brought into any desired position with respect to the bending arm.

In a further preferred embodiment, the bending arm can be brought at least from a first bending position to a second bending position. The first bending position is provided on one side of the feed device and the second bending position on the other side. This means that the plane passing through the axis of rotation and the straight line, which runs parallel to the unbent tube and intersects the axis of rotation, is moved, moved and guided past the advancing device. This ensures that the advancing device and the axis of rotation of the bending arm are guided past each other. In this case, in the first bending position, the bending arm is aligned with the feed device such that upon advancement of the tube, forced guidance is provided by the pivotal movement of the bending arm in the first bending direction and in the second bending position by forced guidance by an opposing one Pivoting movement of the bending arm is given in the second bending direction. This will be a

Bending the tube both first in the left direction and subsequently ensured in the right direction.

It is understood that it can also be provided that both the feed device and the bending arm are movable with the axis of rotation, so that the rotational axis and the feed device are guided past each other by simultaneously moving the feed device and the bending arm ,

Advantageously, a plurality of bending positions are provided for the bending arm, are given by the different bending radii and bending directions for the tube. By means of a plurality of bending positions for the bending arm, it is achieved that the distance between the unbent pipe and the axis of rotation of the bending arm is adjustable, so that different radii are predetermined for the bending of the pipe. This allows different bends for a pipe both in the bending direction and in the bending radius. Thus, different bending radii can be realized both in the left-hand direction and in the right-bending direction, whereby any bends for a pipe are achieved.

The heating device is expediently arranged in each of the bending positions of the bending arm with the axis of rotation of the bending arm on a straight line, so that the bending moment in the heated region of the tube acts to bend the tube.

There are expediently provided displacement means, wherein the displacement means have a plurality of embodiments. On the one hand, the displacement means are provided for displacing the feed device so that it is brought by means of the displacement means from the first feed position to the second feed position. Alternatively or additionally, displacement means may be provided for displacing the bending arm so that it is brought from the first bending position to the second bending position by means of the displacement means.

It is understood that both displacement means for the feed device and for the bending arm can be provided. The displacement means advantageously have slide rails, on which the feed device and / or the bending arm is displaced, whereby it is achieved that the feed device and / or the bending arm are displaced relative to each other such that the angle between the feed device and the bending arm is unchanged in such a way that, after the displacement, the tube arranged in the advancing device is again fixed precisely to the bending arm and bent in the other direction. An advantageous continuous displacement of the feed device is achieved by displacement means having, for example, rollers which are slidably mounted on a slide rail. To determine the feed device in the desired feed position corresponding locking means are provided. It is understood that the displacement means may also comprise any other type of displacement means, such as rollers arranged in a corresponding recess. The displacement means suitably comprise an electric or hydraulic drive.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the feed device is movable transversely to the longitudinal extent of the tube, thereby ensuring that the feed device can be moved from the individual feed positions into the other feed position, such that the feed device passes by the axis of rotation of the bending arm becomes. By the transverse direction of the displacement of the feed device from one locking position to the other is also avoided that the feed device is tilted during displacement, that is, that the feed device with respect to the bending arm has the same orientation. In the initial position, the non-tilted bending arm and the feed device or the unbent pipe, for example, at an angle of 90 ° to each other. Since the feed device is merely moved transversely from one to the other locking position, this right-angled alignment between the non-pivoted bending arm and the unbent tube is ensured in each feed position of the feed device. As a result, the starting position is precisely given in each feed position and accuracy in bending the tube is ensured both in the right and in the left direction.

In order to allow a bending of the tube in both the left and in the right direction in a wider range, in particular to allow small and / or large bending radii for the tube, the bending arm has a pivoting range of at least 180 °.

When bending in particular large pipes by means of a bending arm and a feed device correspondingly large bending moments must be exerted on the heated area of the respective tube. Since a counterforce is generated by each force, this counterforce must be compensated. By acting on the tube bending moment acts on the pipe arranged in the feed device, the corresponding counterforce. In this case, the counterforce is oriented such that the tube is pressed in the feed device in opposite direction to the pivotal movement. To compensate for these forces, the feed device has a support element. When bending the tube in two different bending directions, the bending moments given by bending different depending on the bending direction on the heated area. As a result, however, the given opposing forces are oriented in different directions. In order to achieve that the opposing forces on the pipe are correspondingly compensated in the feed device both in a left-hand and right-hand direction, the feed device advantageously has two support elements, wherein the two support elements are arranged on opposite sides of the unbent pipe ,

The holding device according to the invention releasably secured to the bending arm, wherein the holding device for the tube is at least in a first and a second locking positions on the bending arm can be fixed, which are arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinally extending central axis of the pivot arm.

In further embodiments of the invention it is provided that the first and the second locking position are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the central axis (M) of the bending arm (7).

When bending the tube, the heater is arranged on a straight line with the axis of rotation of the bending arm, so that the bending moment in the heated area acts on the pipe when advancing the tube and the pivoting movement of the bending arm. For this purpose, the heating device is arranged between the feed device for the pipe and the holding device on the bending gear. In order to allow bending of the tube in a first pivoting direction of the bending arm, the first locking position for the holding device is on the rear side of the bending arm, i. on the opposite side of a straight line with respect to the unbent pipe, arranged, wherein the heating device is arranged with the axis of rotation on this straight line and at the same time in front of the holding device. When bending the pipe in the other direction, the bending arm is pivoted in the other direction. In order to achieve that

Heater is arranged both on the straight line with the axis of rotation and with respect to the feed device in front of the holding device on the bending arm, the holding device is fixed in the second locking position, wherein the second Festestellposition is provided on the other side of the line with the axis of rotation. The fixing positions for the holding device on the bending arm are provided opposite to a center axis of the bending arm, and the heating device and the rotation axis of the bending arm are advantageously provided on the center axis of the bending arm. This ensures that both in the first locking position and in the second locking position, the heating device on a straight line with the rotary Axis is such that both in a left bend as well as a right bend of the tube, the bending moment acts in the heated area of the tube and a secure bending of the tube is made possible.

The bending arm expediently has a guide in which the retaining device is pushed from the first locking position into the second locking position. Thereby, a displacement of the holding device is facilitated from the first to the second locking position and it is ensured that the orientation of the holding device is given with respect to the bending arm for each locking position for bending the tube and that the tube is securely fixed in the holding device in both locking position. The guide for the holding device expediently has rollers or sliding elements or the like.

In one embodiment of the bending arm, the first and the second locking position is provided mirror-symmetrically to the central axis (M) of the pivot arm (37).

In order to ensure that the holding device is securely fixed to the bending arm, it is advantageously fastened by means of bolts to the bending arm. The provision of bolts offers the further advantage that the holding device can be easily released by loosening the bolts to be brought into the other locking position. It is understood that the holding device can also be arranged on the bending arm by any other releasable fastening means, such as screws or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the holding device can be removed from the bending arm, the holding device being removed from the bending arm, for example, by a crane or the like. This offers the advantage that the feed device and the axis of rotation can be guided past each other in a simple way, since the holding device extending upwards from the bending arm is no longer arranged in the path between the feed device and the bending arm. Since the tube arranged in the feed device and the pivoting arm of the bending arm are arranged in different planes, these can be guided past one another without the need for a height adjustment of the feed device or of the bending arm.

The heating arrangement expediently has an induction heating ring surrounding the pipe, which ensures that only a small area of the pipe is heated, this small area being the area of the pipe to which the bending moment acts to bend. The heating device is expediently arranged downstream of a cooling unit, such that the pipe, after the bending moments acted on the heated area, and the pipe is bent quickly, to ensure that further undesired bending in the already bent portion of the tube is avoided.

If the feed device and the bending arm are moved past each other in order to change the bending direction, in the second feed position of the feed device or in the second bending position of the bending arm, the heating device, the feed device and the bending arm must again be arranged such that the heating device with the axis of rotation lies on a straight line. Now, if the heater is advantageously arranged on the feed device, the arrangement of the components is simplified in that an alignment of the heater to the feed device is omitted and only the bending arm and the feed device are aligned with each other such that the heater is located on a straight line with the axis of rotation.

In addition, an arrangement of the heater to the feed device has the advantage that the tube does not have to be removed from the heater when changing the bending directions. The tube is thereby easily released from the holding device on the bending arm, so that there is no connection between the feed device and the bending arm, so that either the bending arm can be brought into a second bending position or the feed device in a second feed position. It is understood that the heating device can also be provided separately.

The feed device, the bending arm and the heating device are expediently coupled to a control unit. By means of the control unit is made possible that the movements of the feed device, the bending arm and the heating device can be coordinated or matched to each other, so that by means of the control unit, a predetermined bending pattern is achieved for bending the tube.

A sensor unit is expediently provided for monitoring the bending process. The sensor unit has for this purpose a plurality of sensors. Thus, sensors are provided which monitor the heating temperature of the heater for the pipe. Furthermore, displacement and length measuring sensors are provided for monitoring the bending moment acting on the pipe and sensors for monitoring the wall thickness of the pipe. The sensors are coupled via a control unit with an adjustment unit and the heating device, such that, based on the data determined by the sensors, the heating device and the pipe are aligned with one another. This will ensure that the tube is bent to the desired shape. Moreover, it is ensured that the wall thickness of the tube before and after bending is the same or that at the transition of a rectilinear portion of the tube in a curved portion of the

Transition is continuous and stresses in the tube wall are advantageously avoided. For this purpose, on the one hand, the heating device can be displaced expediently in two spatial dimensions, wherein the displacement is provided perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the tube. On the other hand, the tube is also displaced in the two spatial dimensions by means of the adjustment unit, so that an optimal alignment of the tube and the heating device during the entire bending process is further ensured.

A method according to the invention for bending a pipe is provided in that, in a first step, the pipe arranged in the feed device is bent in a first bending direction by advancing the pipe and by the forced guidance given the pivoting movement of the bending arm. In a second step, the feed device and the rotation axis are guided past each other. In a third step, the pipe is in turn bent by advancing and given by the pivoting movement of the bending arm forced operation, whereby with respect to the pivoting direction of the bending arm is given a reverse arrangement of the feed device and axis of rotation. By the reverse arrangement, an oppositely directed pivoting movement is achieved for the bending arm, so that the tube is given a reverse positive guidance during the feed by the feed device. This allows bending of the pipe in both left and right directions.

In a preferred embodiment of the method it is provided that the feed device holding the tube is fixed in a first feed position when the tube is bent during the first step in a first bending direction. The holding device for fixing the tube on the bending arm is set in a first locking position. The heating device is arranged between the feed device of the holding device, wherein the heating device lies with the axis of rotation of the bending arm on a straight line. For this is the

Rotary axis advantageously arranged on the central axis of the bending arm. The first fixing position for the holding device is expediently provided on the side facing away from the feed device of the bending arm, so that the holding device is fixed on the side facing away from the feed device of the central axis of the bending arm and the heater simultaneously between the feed device and the holding device and on the central axis of the Bending arms is arranged.

If the first bending operation is completed in the first bending direction, the tube is released from the holding device and, for example by means of the feed device of the bending arm away. For this purpose, the feed device moves upwards, for example, so that the tube is removed upwards. It is understood that the bending arm may also move downwardly to remove the holding device from the tube. It is further understood that the advancing device can move in the longitudinal direction of the tube in order to release the tube from the holding device by means of a corresponding pulling movement and to remove it. At the same time while the heater is provided if it is movably along the pipe, along the pipe over the pipe. However, it is preferred that the heating device is arranged on the feed device, so that the tube remains within the heating device, thereby avoiding that the heating device must be moved separately along the tube.

Thereafter, the holding device is released from the bending arm. This can be done, for example, by means of the above-mentioned guidance. It is preferred that the holding device is removed, for example by means of a crane from the first locking position, so that the feed device is brought without a height adjustment in the second feed position. The feed device with the tube arranged there can be guided over the pivoting arm of the bending arm on the axis of rotation just past and brought into the second feed position.

If the feed device guided past the axis of rotation, the holding device is brought to the bending arm in the second locking position and aligned the bending arm according to the feed device and the tube, with a pivoting of the bending arm is preferred by 180 °. Thereafter, the tube is fixed in the holding device.

Holding devices are preferred in which a tube can be fixed on both sides, so that the same holding device can be used for both bending directions. It is understood that a different holding device can also be used for each bending direction, whereby the embodiments of the fastening means of the holding device on the tube and on the pivot arm are simplified.

Since now the feed device is in the second feed position with respect to the axis of rotation of the bending arm, a bending of the tube in the second direction is made possible by advancing the tube by means of the feed device.

Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the bending arm is brought from a first bending position to a second bending position. The difference to the method already described consists merely in that, instead of the feed device, the bending arm or the plane which is spanned by the axis of rotation and the straight line is now at the front end. Pusher be performed over, so that the feed device and the axis of rotation of the bending arm are passed to each other.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and from the following description.

The invention will be explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention for bending pipes.

Fig. 2 shows the apparatus for bending pipes of Fig. 1 in a first forward thrust position.

Fig. 3 shows the apparatus for bending pipes of Fig. 1 with an intermediate position.

Fig. 4 shows the device of Fig. 1 in a second feed position.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the displacement device.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a preferred exemplary embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention for bending a tube 2.

The device 1 for bending a tube 2 comprises a feed device 4 arranged on a flat holding plate 3, the tube 2 being arranged in the feed device 4. The tube 2 can be pushed forward in the longitudinal direction by means of the feed device 3. The tube 2 extends beyond the advancing device 4 at one end, the tube 2 extending through a heater 5 which heats the tube 2 in a small area. In the longitudinal direction of the tube 2 of the heater 5 below, the tube 2 is fixed with the end to a bending arm 7 in a holding device 6, wherein the bending arm 7 is rotatably mounted on the flat plate 3 about a rotation axis D.

The feed device 4 for the tube 2 comprises a arranged on the support plate 3 housing 8, wherein the housing 9 has a U-shaped cross section. The base 9 of the U-shaped housing is arranged parallel to the flat retaining plate 3 and the two parallel legs 10a and 10b extend perpendicularly from the base 9 and thus perpendicularly from the retaining plate 3 upwards. Between the two legs 10a and 10b of the housing 8, the tube 2 is provided, wherein the tube 2 is fixed to a feed carriage 11. The feed carriage 11 for the tube 2 is arranged displaceably in a guide 12, the guide 12 being arranged by guide means 13 provided on the two legs 10a and 10b and by the surface 9 of the housing 8 directed inwardly into the U, is given further guide means 14.

The guide means 13 on the two legs 10a and 10b of the housing 8 are given by elongated recesses 19 formed in the legs 10a and 10b, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the housing 8. On the feed carriage 11 four projections 20 are arranged, which are guided in the recesses 19 slidably. At the feed carriage 11, two opposing projections 20 are respectively provided in front and behind, so that the feed slide 11 is guided securely in the recesses 19 and tilting of the tube 2 is avoided.

The guide means 14 on the base 9 of the housing 8 feed means 15 for advancing the feed slide 11 and thus of the tube 2 are assigned. The feed means 15 comprise a cylinder 16 arranged on the feed carriage 11, wherein a piston rod 17 is displaceably arranged in the cylinder 16. The piston rod 17 is fixed to one of the bending arm 7 side facing away from the housing 8 and between the two legs 10 a and 10 b provided bracket 18. For advancing the feed carriage 11 with the tube 2, the cylinder 16 is acted upon by a hydraulic fluid and the piston rod 17 is pressed out of the cylinder 16. The hydraulic fluid is provided from a pressure accumulator. Thus, a rectilinear force is generated, wherein the piston rod 17 and the cylinder diverge, so that the feed slide 11 is advanced with the tube 2 in the direction of the heater 5 and the bending arm 7.

It is understood that the feed carriage 11 can be advanced by any other type of feed means. Thus, for example, it is also possible that the feed carriage 11 can be advanced by means of a chain drive, wherein on the feed carriage 11, a corresponding chain is fixed, which is driven by means of a drive. In addition, it is understood that the feed slide may have any type of slide or roller means, such as sliding members or rollers. It is further understood that the guide 11 for the feed carriage 11 can also be given directly by the base 9 and the two legs 10a and 10b. The legs 10a and 10b of the housing 8 are provided as reinforcing elements 21. The reinforcing elements 21 take on bending of the tube 2, the resulting counterforce.

On the outer wall 9a of the base 9 of the housing 8 directed in the direction of the retaining plate 3, displacement means 22 for displacing the advancing device 4 are arranged on the retaining plate 3. On the holding plate 3, two parallel slide rails 23 are arranged, wherein the two slide rails 23 are provided perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the housing 8 and the tube 2, so that the feed device 4 is moved transversely on the support plate 3 on the slide rails 23.

Four displacement means 22 are arranged on the housing 8, two displacement means 22 being provided on the front end facing the bending arm 7 and two on the rear end of the housing 8 facing away from the bending arm. The two displacement means 22 are respectively arranged on the base 9 below the one leg 10a and 10b, so that below the one leg 10a two displacement means 22, respectively front and rear of the housing 8 and below the second leg 10b also two displacement means 22, are each provided at the front and rear of the housing 8. Thereby, the displacement of the feed device 4 is ensured on the holding plate 3, so that the feed device 4 is not changed in their orientation to the bending arm 7 and the heater 5.

The four displacement means 22 are of identical design, below a displacement means 22 will be explained in more detail by way of example. The displacement means 22 comprises two successively arranged rollers 24 which are rotatably arranged in a suspension 25. The rollers 24 have two spaced edges 26, between which the slide rail 23 is arranged. The suspension 24 is fastened to the housing 8 by means of a fastening element 27. The fastening element 27 has a substantially L-shaped configuration, wherein the fastening element 27 extends with the first L-leg on the outer wall of the leg 10 a upwards and with the second L-leg along the outer wall of the base 9. The fastening element 27 is welded to the housing 8. It will be appreciated that the fastener 27 may be attached to the housing 9 in any other manner of attachment, such as by gluing, screwing, riveting, or the like.

The two successively arranged rollers 24 are coupled by means of a coupling unit 28 with an electric drive 29, wherein the coupling unit expediently provides a translation. To move the feed device 4 from a first feed position to a second feed position, the rollers 24 are driven by the electric drive 29, wherein between the rollers 24 and the slide rails 23 a corresponding friction by the weight of the feed device 4 is given, so that the rollers Do not turn 24 on slide rails 22. By the displacement by means of the displacement means 22, the feed device 4 and the axis of rotation D of the bending arm 7 are guided past each other and a bending of the tube 2 in two bending direction is reached.

It is understood that it can also be provided that the sliding blocks 22 and / or the rollers 24 have a friction support, with which the spinning of the rollers 24 on the slide rails is further avoided. A Reibauflage is given for example by a Teflon coating.

The displacement means 22 also have locking means 30, by means of which the feed device 3 in the first feed position and in the second feed position can be determined. The locking means 30 comprise two clamping elements 31, each extending on one side of the slide rail 23. To determine the feed device 4, the two clamping elements 31 are moved toward each other by means of a force motor, so that the slide rail 23 is clamped between the two clamping elements 31 and the feed device 4 is held in the desired feed position. To release the feed device, the two clamping elements 31 are moved apart so that the slide rail 23 is no longer clamped and the rollers 24 can slide on the slide rails 24.

It is understood that any other type of locking means for the feed device 4 may be provided. Thus, it is also possible that in each case an electromagnet is provided instead of the two clamping elements, wherein an electromagnet is arranged on each side of the slide rail. To determine the feed device 4, the electromagnets are charged with electricity, so that due to the magnetic force, the feed device 4 can be fixed to the slide rails 23. For this purpose, the slide rails are formed correspondingly metallic or magnetic.

On the feed carriage 11, a sensor unit 32 is provided on the side directed in the direction of the heater 6 side. The sensor unit 32 comprises a first sensor 33 for controlling the wall thickness of the tube 2 and a second sensor 34 for monitoring the bending moment, which acts on the tube 2. The two sensors 33 and 34 are coupled to a control unit, during the bending process so can the wall thickness and the bending moment monitored and regulated in case of deviations. For this purpose, the control unit is coupled to an adjustment unit 35, which surrounds the tube 2. The adjustment unit 35 can align the tube 2 by small movements in two spatial dimensions. The adjusting device 35 also couples the heating device 6 in such a way that the compensating movements of the adjusting unit 35 are correlated with corresponding compensating movements of the heating device 6, so that the tube 2 and the heating device 6 are optimally aligned with each other during the entire bending process and the tube 2 is inserted into the desired shape is bent.

It will be appreciated that any type of sensors may be used to monitor the bending process, such as temperature sensors for monitoring the heating temperature for the pipe 2 or displacement and length sensors.

The bending arm 7 rotatably mounted on the holding plate 3 comprises a pivoting arm 37 arranged on a rotary base 36. The rotating base 36 is rotatable about a rotation axis D on the holding plate 3, a circular opening 38 being formed in the holding plate 3 for this purpose, through which the rotary base 36 extends. The rotary base 36 is rotatably formed at or even below the opening 38, for example, due to a ball bearing or the like. The axis of rotation D forms the pivot axis for the bending arm. 7

The pivot arm 37 has a double T-shaped cross-section, wherein on the upper T-surface, an elongate slide rail 40 extends along the elongate Aussteckung the pivot arm 37, wherein the elongated slide rail 40 provided on the central axis M of the pivot arm 37 is. The center axis M of the pivot arm 37 and the axis of rotation D for the bending arm 7 intersect at a point.

On the elongated slide rail 40, a carriage 41 is slidably provided, wherein the carriage 40 has a substantially rectangular configuration. The carriage 41 has on the lower surface of the rectangle on an elongated recess 42 with which the carriage 40 is arranged on the slide rail 41 that the carriage 40, the elongated slide rail 41 laterally engages around to be moved securely on the slide rail 41. The side walls 43 of the carriage 40 extend laterally downwardly on the pivot arm 37, at the lower ends of the side walls 43 protrusions are formed, which reach into the recesses 44 of the double-T-shaped pivot arm 37, whereby the recesses 44 of the double-T -shaped pivot arm 37 form a guide for the carriage 41.

The carriage 41 is slidably provided on the pivot arm 37 in the longitudinal direction of the pivot arm 37, wherein the displacement, for example by means of a corresponding Hydraulic device comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a piston rod is realized. It is understood that any other type of displacement device for the carriage 41 may be provided. Due to the displaceability of the carriage 41 on the pivot arm 37, it is possible to obtain different radii for bending the tube 2, in particular deviating from the circular shape bends for the tube 2 can be achieved when the carriage 41 with the holding device 6 arranged thereon the tube 2 is moved during the bending process.

In the carriage 41, the holding device 6 is detachably arranged, wherein the carriage 41 has a first locking position and a second locking position for the holding device 6. In the two locking positions, the holding device is fixed to the carriage 41, for example by means of bolts. To release the holding device 6 from the carriage 41, the bolts are removed.

The two locking positions for the holding device 6 are provided on different sides of the central axis M of the pivot arm 37 of the bending arm 7. The two fixed setting positions for the holding device 6 for the tube 2 are provided for two different bending directions for the tube 2, wherein the locking position for the holding device 6 is respectively provided on the side facing away from the advancing device 4 with respect to the central axis M of the bending arm 7, the heating device 6 is arranged between the holding device 6 and the feed device 4. The heating device 6 is provided on the central axis M of the swivel arm 37 such that the heating device 6 is aligned with the axis of rotation D of the bending arm 7 on a straight line.

The arrangement of the holding device 6 for the tube 2 in the two with respect to the central axis M opposite locking positions allows both in the first locking position for bending in the first direction and in the second Feststellpositi- on to bend in the second Direction, the heater 6 is arranged for the tube 2 with the axis of rotation D on a straight line.

The heater 6 has an inductor ring which surrounds the tube 2 circumferentially. The heating device 6 can be moved with respect to the tube 2, so that the area heated by the heating device 6 can be changed during the bending process, so that the heated area can be correspondingly adapted on the basis of the data determined by the sensors 33 and 34 of the sensor unit 32. In this case, the heating device 6 can be displaced along the tube 2 and the angle between the inductor ring and tube 2 can be varied in this way. that the heat distribution in the tube 2 is adjusted accordingly. Appropriately, the

Heater 6 associated with a cooling unit, which cools the heated area of the tube 2 after bending again.

A method according to the invention for bending a pipe 2 in two different directions now works as follows: For bending the pipe 2 in a first bending direction, for example to the left, the pipe 2 is arranged in the feed device 3, wherein the feed device 4 is provided in the first feed position. The first feed position of the feed device 4 is on a first side with respect to a plane E, which is given by the rotation axis D and a straight line G which is parallel to the unbent pipe 2 and the axis of rotation cuts.

The tube 2 extends through the heating device 6 and is fixed in the holding device 4 on the bending arm 7. The holding device 6 is arranged in the first locking position on the pivot arm 37 of the bending arm 7, wherein the locking position is provided on the side facing away from the advancing device 4 with respect to the central axis M of the bending arm 4. The heating device 5 is arranged on the center axis M of the bending arm 7 so that the heating device 5 forms a straight line with the axis of rotation D of the bending arm.

For bending the tube 2, the feed device 4 is now actuated, wherein the tube 2 is advanced by means of the feed carriage 11 in the direction of the bending arm 7. Since the tube 2 is fixed in the holding device 5 on the bending arm 4, a Zwangsfuhrung due to the pivotal movement of the bending arm 7 is given about the axis of rotation D. As a result, when bending the pipe 2, the bending arm 7 is pivoted about the rotation axis D in a first direction, and a bending moment acts on the area heated by the heater 5 so that the pipe 2 is bent in the first direction by advancing.

The tube 2 is advanced by means of the feed device 4 until the desired bending of the tube 2 is reached. For example, the tube 2 is advanced so far that the bending arm 4 rotates 90 ° about the rotation axis D in the first pivoting direction and the tube 2 is bent in a quarter arc in the first direction. If the bending process is completed in the first direction, the feed device is turned off and the tube 2 is no longer advanced.

Then, the tube 2 is released from the holding device 4 of the bending arm 7. For this purpose, the holding device is, for example, completely detached from the swivel arm 37 and guided by means of a crane over the tube 2 and detached therefrom. It is understood that the tube 2 and the holding device 6 can be solved in many ways from each other. So can the

Holding device may be provided, for example, to the sides or upwardly opening so that the tube 2 can be removed, for example, by a height or Seitenverstellbarkeit the bending arm 7 or the feed device 4 from the holding device.

Advantageously, however, the holding device 6 is released from the pivot arm 37, that after the holding device 6 has been solved on the pipe 2 leader of this, the heater 5 in the same way on the pipe 2 leader can be removed.

Then the feed device 3 is released from the first feed position due to the locking means 30 and brought by means of the displacement means 12 along the slide rails 23 from the first feed position to the second feed position, wherein the feed device 4 is presented on the axis of rotation D of the bending arm 7. Since both the holding device 6 have been removed from the bending arm 7 and the heater 5 of the tube 2, the still moving in the feed device 4 tube 2 is guided over the pivot arm 37 of the Beigearms 7 during displacement of the feed device. It is understood that the heating device 5 can also remain arranged on the pipe 2 and / or the feed device 4.

The feed device 4 is set in the second feed position by means of the locking means 30, wherein the second feed position is provided on the other side of the plane E. The bending arm 7 is now further pivoted in the first bending direction so that the bending arm 7 is aligned perpendicular to the still unbent part of the tube 2.

Then, the heater 5 is passed over the pipe 2 and positioned on the center axis M of the bending arm 7 so that the heater 5 is provided on a degree of the rotation axis D. The heating device 5 is not disposed on the bending arm 7 and is not pivoted upon pivoting of the bending arm, but remains aligned with respect to the advancing device during the bending operation, so that the tube 2 is passed through the inductor ring of the heater 5.

Then, the holding device 6 is again guided over the tube 2 and set in the second locking position in the carriage 41 to the Biegearm 7, wherein the second locking position for the holding device 6 is now provided on the other side of the central axis M of the bending arm so in that the holding device 6 is again provided on the feed device 4 from the side facing the center axis M of the bending arm 7. The holding device 6 is fastened to the carriage 41 by means of the bolts. For bending the tube 2 in the second direction, the feed device 4 is actuated and the feed carriage 11 pushes the tube 2 in the direction of the bending arm 7, wherein the tube 2 is passed through the heater 5 and heated in a certain range.

Since the tube 2 is fixed in the holding device 6 on the bending arm 7, a positive guidance is given due to the pivotal movement of the bending arm 7 about the rotation axis D, wherein the forced pivoting movement due to the different arrangement of the feed device 4 and the bending arm 7, namely in that the advancing device 4 is arranged on the other side of the plane E with respect to the axis of rotation D of the bending arm 7, now directed in the opposite direction. Thereby, when bending the pipe 2, the bending arm 7 is pivoted about the rotation axis D in the second direction opposite to the first direction, and a bending moment acts on the area heated by the heater 5 such that bending of the pipe 2 causes bending of the tube 2 is given in the second direction.

The tube 2 is now in turn advanced by means of the feed device 4 until the desired bending of the tube 2 is reached. For example, the tube 2 is advanced so far that the bending arm 4 in turn, for example, rotates 90 ° about the axis of rotation D in the second pivoting direction and the tube 2 is bent in a quarter arc in the second direction.

If the bending process is completed in the second direction, the feed device 4 is turned off and the tube 2 is no longer advanced. The tube 2 has after the two bending operations on a quarter circle arc in the first direction and a four-circle arc in the second direction.

It is understood that by the method described above, any desired combination of left and right bends for the tube 2 can be achieved. The invention has been explained in more detail above with reference to an exemplary embodiment, in which the feed device is brought from a first feed position to a second feed position by means of displacement means. It is understood that a device may be provided in which the displacement means are associated with the bending arm so that the bending arm can be brought from a first bending position to a second bending position, and that the axis of rotation D of the bending arm 7 and the feed device 4 to each other be passed.

Claims

claims 1. A device for bending pipes, comprising a feed device (4) for the tube (2), which advances the tube (2) continuously in the longitudinal direction, a bending arm (7) pivotable about an axis of rotation (D) with a holding device (6) for the tube (2), the tube (2) being releasably fixable in the holding device (6), the feeding device (4) and the bending arm (7) are movable relative to each other so that the feed device (4) and the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7) are guided past each other, and a heating device (5) arranged in the feed direction for heating a region of the pipe (2), characterized in that the holding device (6) can be fixed to the bending arm (6) at least in a first fixing position and a second fixed setting position, wherein the first fixing position and the second fixing position of the holding device (6) with respect to the longitudinal center axis (M) of the bending arm (6 ) are provided opposite one another. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed device (4) is provided adjustable in height. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bending arm (7) is provided adjustable in height. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the feed device (4) can be brought at least from a first feed position to a second feed position. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a displacement means (22) for the feed device (4) is provided. 6. The device according to spoke 5, characterized in that the first feed position and the second feed position on different sides of a plane (E) are provided, wherein the plane (E) by the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7) and a straight line ( G), which runs parallel to the unbent tube (2) and the axis of rotation (D) cuts, is clamped. 7. Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the first feed position and the second feed position of the feed device (4) have the same distance from the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7). 8. Device according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that in the forward thrust positions of the feed device (4), the heating device (5) with the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7) is arranged on a straight line. 9. Device according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that for the feed device (4) a plurality of feed positions are provided. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bending arm (7) can be brought at least from a first bending position to a second bending position. 11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a displacement means for the bending arm (7) is provided. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that in the bending positions of the bending arm (7), the heating device (5) with the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7) is arranged on a straight line. 13. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that for the bending arm (7) is provided a plurality of bending positions. 14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the feed device (4) transversely to the longitudinal extent of the tube (2) is movable. 15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the feed device (4) in the longitudinal extension of the tube (2) is movable. 16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the bending arm (7) has a pivoting range of at least 180 °. 17. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the Feed device (4) has at least one support element (21). 18. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that the feed device (4) has two support elements (21), wherein the two support elements (21) on opposite sides of the tube (2) are provided. 19. Device according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the holding device (6) releasably on the bending arm (7) can be fixed. 20. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the first and the second locking position are mirror-symmetrical with respect to the central axis (M) of the bending arm (7) are provided. 21. Device according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the holding device (6) of the bending arm (7) is removable. 22. Device according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the holding device (6) is displaceably arranged on the bending arm (7), and that the bending arm (7) has a guide (40, 44) for the holding device (6). having. 23. Device according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7) on the central axis (M) of the bending arm (7) is arranged. 24. Device according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the heating arrangement (5) comprises at least one pipe surrounding the (2) induction heating ring. 25. Device according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the heating device (5) is arranged on the feed device (4). 26. Device according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that the heating device (5) along the tube (2) is movable. 27. Device according to one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the heating device (5) is associated with a cooling unit. 28. Device according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that the feed device (4), the bending arm (7) and the heating device (5) are coupled to a control unit. 29. The device according to claim 28, characterized in that the heating device (5) is associated with a coupled to the control unit temperature sensor. 30. The apparatus of claim 28 or 29, characterized in that a sensor (33) for a wall thickness control of the tube (2) is coupled to the control unit. 31. Device according to one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that a sensor (34) for monitoring the bending and / or torque of the tube (2) is coupled to the control unit. 32. A bending arm for a device for bending a pipe, comprising a about an axis of rotation (D) pivotable swivel arm (37), and - At least one arranged on the arm holding device (6) for fixing the Pipe (2) on the bending arm (7), characterized in that the holding device (6) can be fixed to the pivoting arm (37) at least in a first locking position and a second locking position, the first locking position and the second locking position of the holding device (6) being relative to the longitudinal center axis (M) of the pivoting arm (37). are provided opposite. 33. Bending arm according to claim 32, characterized in that the first and the second locking position are provided mirror-symmetrically to the central axis (M) of the pivot arm (37). 34. Bending arm according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7) on the central axis (M) of the pivot arm (37) is arranged. 35. Bending arm according to one of claims 32 to 34, characterized in that the holding device (6) extends at an angle of 90 ° from the pivot arm (37) upwards. 36. Bending arm according to one of claims 32 to 35, characterized in that the Haltevor- direction (6) by means of bolts on the pivot arm (7) can be fixed. 37. Bending arm according to one of claims 32 to 36, characterized in that the at least one holding device (6) in a carriage (41) in the longitudinal direction of the pivot arm (37) is displaceable. 38. Bending arm according to claim 37, characterized in that the at least one Haltevor- direction (6) in the carriage (41) transversely to the longitudinal extent of the pivoting arm (37) is displaceable. 39. A method of bending pipes, comprising a feed device (4) for the tube (2), which advances the tube (2) in the longitudinal direction, - A heating device (5) for heating a portion of the tube (2), and a bending arm (7) arranged pivotably around a rotation axis (D) with a holding device (6) for the tube (2), the tube (2) being detachably fixed in the holding device (6), wherein in a first step, the tube (2) is bent in a first direction and then released from the holding device (6) from a first fixing position of the bending arm (7), in a second step, the feed device (4) and the bending arm (7) are moved relative to each other, that the feed device (4) and the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7) are passed to each other, and thereafter the tube (2) the holding device (6) is fixed in a second locking position on the bending arm (7), wherein the first locking position and the second locking position of the holding device (6) with respect to the longitudinal center axis (M) of the pivot arm (37) are provided opposite, and in a third step, the tube (2) is bent in a second direction. 40. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that displacement means (22) are provided for the feed device (4), wherein the displacement means (22) guide the feed device (4) past the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7). 41. The method according to claim 40, characterized in that the feed device (4) is brought by means of the displacement means (22) from a first feed position to a second feed position. 42. The method according to claim 41, characterized in that a plurality of feed positions for the feed device (4) is provided. 43. The method according to claim 41 or 42, characterized in that in the feed positions of the feed device (4), the heating device (5) and the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7) are arranged on a straight line. 44. Method according to one of claims 39 to 43, characterized in that displacement means are provided for the bending arm (7), wherein the displacement means displace the bending arm (7) such that the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7) abuts the feed device (4) is passed over. 45. The method according to claim 44, characterized in that the bending arm (7) is brought by means of the displacement means at least from a first bending position to a second bending position. 46. The method according to claim 45, characterized in that in the bending positions of the bending arm (7), the heating device (5) and the axis of rotation (D) of the bending arm (7) are arranged on a straight line. 47. The method according to claim 45 or 46, characterized in that a plurality of bending positions are provided for the bending arm (7). 48. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 47, characterized in that the holding device (6) is brought from a first locking position to a second locking position on the bending arm (7). 49. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 48, characterized in that the tube (2) by means of the feed device (4) from the holding device (6) and removed in the Holding device (6) is introduced. 50. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 49, characterized in that the heating device (5) along the tube (2) is moved.