# US 11,027,322 B2 · Tube product, tube bender and method for using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,322 B2 - Document ID: US11027322B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/165,461 - Filed: 2018-10-19 - Published: 2019-04-25 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-19 - Applicants: John P. Schwochert - Inventors: John P. Schwochert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027322B2 ## CPC - B21D 7/06: in press brakes or between rams and anvils or abutments; Pliers with forming dies - F01N 13/08: Other arrangements or adaptations of exhaust conduits {(pipes, joints or supports therefor in general F16L; collecting or removing exhaust gases of vehicle engines in workshops B08B15/00, on highways E01C1/005)} - F01N 13/1816: {the pipe sections being joined together by flexible tubular elements only, e.g. using bellows or strip-wound pipes} - F16L 9/22: Pipes composed of a plurality of segments - F16L 27/1004: {introduced in exhaust pipes for hot gases} - B21D 15/06: annularly {(with thinning B21C37/205)} - B60K 13/04: concerning exhaust - F01N 2470/12: Tubes being corrugated - F16L 51/03: comprising two or more bellows - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A system comprises a tube and a bender. The tube comprises a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion. An undulated portion is disposed between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion. Alternatively, the tube can comprise a plurality of cylindrical portions and undulated portions. The bender comprises a plurality of L-shaped brackets and a plurality of U-shaped brackets, and further includes a driving rod subassembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a tube, the tube comprising: a first cylindrical portion; a second cylindrical portion; and an undulated portion disposed between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion; and a bender, the bender further comprising: a plurality of L-shaped brackets; a plurality of U-shaped brackets; and a driving rod subassembly comprising: a driving rod; a coupling nut; a pair of thrust-bearing washers; and a pair of pivot joint balls. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the undulated portion of the tube is compressible to form a bellows portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the tube further comprises: a third cylindrical portion; and a second undulated portion disposed between the second cylindrical portion and the third cylindrical portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of L-shaped brackets further comprises: a substantially vertical member; a substantially horizontal member, wherein the horizontal member includes a bottom surface; an arcuate portion coupled to the bottom surface of the horizontal member; a first aperture defined in the substantially vertical member; and a pair of apertures defined in the substantially horizontal member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the arcuate portion has a circumferential arc matching a circumferential arc of the tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of U-shaped brackets further comprise: a U-shaped bracket comprising a pair of upwardly extending posts, wherein each post of the pair of upwardly extending posts is threaded; an arcuate member coupled to the U-shaped bracket; and a pair of threaded hex nuts to be received by each upwardly extending post of the pair of upwardly extending posts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the tube is received by the L-shaped bracket and a lower surface of the tube is received by the U-shaped bracket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each pivot joint ball of the pair of pivot joint balls is received by the first aperture of the L-shaped bracket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein: the first aperture of the L-shaped bracket has a first diameter; and the pivot joint ball has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter such that the pivot joint ball nests within the first aperture.