# US 11,440,071 B2 · Device for bending hollow structural components

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- Number: US 11,440,071 B2
- Document ID: US11440071B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/929,566
- Filed: 2020-05-11
- Published: 2020-11-12
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-10
- Assignees: Ludwig Weber GmbH
- Applicants: Ludwig Weber GmbH
- Inventors: Jörg Bahlo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440071B2

## CPC

- B21D 9/03: and built-up from loose elements, e.g. series of balls
- 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)

## Abstract

A device (10) is disclosed for bending hollow structural components (100), in particular pipes, having a mandrel shaft (40) for receiving a receiving element (20), wherein a row of at least two ball joints (30, 30′) connected with each other can be inserted into the receiving element (20) at its end, wherein the row of ball joints (30, 30′) is preferably lockable by a ball-and-socket joint (70) at an end located opposite the receiving element (20), wherein each ball joint (30, 30′) of the row is circumferentially enclosed by a shingle (50, 50′) and the ball-and-socket joint (70) is circumferentially enclosed by an end shingle (60) and the shingles (50, 60) overlap each other at least in portions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device (10) for bending hollow structural components (100), comprising
a receiving element (20);
a mandrel shaft (40) for receiving the receiving element (20),
at least two ball joints (30, 30′) forming a row of at least two ball joints (30, 30′) wherein the ball joints (30, 30′) of the row of at least two ball joints (30, 30′) are connected with each other and the row of at least two ball joints (30, 30′) is inserted into the receiving element (20) at a first end of the row of at least two ball joints (30, 30′),
a ball-and-socket joint (70), wherein the row of ball joints (30, 30′) is lockable by the ball-and-socket joint (70) at a second end of the row of at least two ball joints (30, 30′) located opposite the receiving element (20),
at least two shingles (50, 50′), wherein each ball joint (30, 30′) of the row of ball joints (30, 30′) is circumferentially enclosed by one of the at least two shingles (50, 50′), and wherein one of the at least two shingles (50, 50′) and/or one of the ball joints (30, 30′) is rotatable and/or pivotable in all directions relative to each other, and
an end shingle (60), wherein the ball-and-socket joint (70) is circumferentially enclosed by the end shingle (60), and one of the at least two shingles (50, 50′) and the end shingle (60) overlap each other at least in portions
characterized in that one of the at least two shingles (50, 50′) and the end shingle (60) comprise a holding section (53, 63), wherein one of the ball joints (30, 30′) and the ball-and-socket joint (70) are insertable into the holding section (53, 63) in a positive locking manner and are pivotable in the holding section (53, 63).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least two shingles (50, 50′) and the end shingle (60) have a limiting section (52, 62) which is configured as a stop for one of the ball joints (30, 30′) or the ball-and-socket joint (70).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least two shingles (50, 50′) have a guiding section (54), wherein the guiding section (54) is configured for partially receiving and guiding an adjacent shingle (50′, 50″, 50′″) or end shingle (60).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1,
wherein one of the at least two shingles (50, 50′) and the end shingle (60) have a limiting section (52, 62) which is configured as a stop for the ball joints (30, 30′) or the ball-and-socket joint (70);
wherein one of the at least two shingles (50, 50′) have a guiding section (54), wherein the guiding section (54) is configured for partially receiving and guiding an adjacent shingle (50′, 50″, 50′″) or end shingle (60); and
wherein the holding section (53) is arranged between the limiting section (52) and the guiding section (54), and the holding section (53) comprises a spherical form with an inner diameter (B″) which corresponds to an outer diameter (B′) of a first end section (31) of one of the ball joints (30, 30′).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device according to claim 4, wherein the limiting section (52) is arranged offset to the holding section (53) and wherein the limiting section (52) has an inner diameter (B′″) which corresponds to an outer diameter (B′) of the first end section (31) of one of the ball joints (30, 30′), wherein the guiding section (54) has an inner diameter (C″) which corresponds to an outer diameter (C′) of a spherical skin surface (51) of one of the at least two shingles (50, 50′) or end shingle (60).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein a vacuity (80) is formed between each two shingles (50, 50′), wherein the vacuity (80) remains a constant volume, independent of a bending degree of the device (10).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (20) is connectable to the mandrel shaft (40) via a fastening means (90).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the ball joints (30, 30′) and/or the receiving element (20) is configured divisible.