Tube bending machines with alignment systems
AssigneeRogue Fabrication, LLC
InventorJoseph Gambino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tube bending machines configured to bend a tube at a target bend location. The tube bending machines include a frame, a bending die assembly, and an alignment stem. The bending die assembly is supported on the frame and configured to bend the tube. The bending die assembly includes a bending die, a wheel frame, and a clamp. The wheel frame is coaxially mounted to the bending die. The clamp is configured to secure the tube to the wheel frame. The bending die, the wheel frame, and the clamp cooperate to define an actual bend location where the tube will be bent by the bending die assembly. The alignment system is operatively supported on the frame and configured to align the target bend location with the actual bend location.
Claims15
A tube bending machine for bending a tube at a target bend location, the tube bending machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a bending die assembly supported on the frame and configured to bend the tube, the bending die assembly including:
- a bending die;
- a wheel frame coaxially mounted to the bending die;
- and
- a clamp configured to secure the tube to the wheel frame;
- wherein the bending die, the wheel frame, and the clamp cooperate to define an actual bend location where the tube will be bent by the bending die assembly;
- and
- an alignment system operatively supported on the frame and configured to align the target bend location with the actual bend location;
- wherein:
- the alignment system includes a slot defined in the frame;
- the slot is aligned with the actual bend location;
- the tube is visible through the slot from a position outside the bending die assembly when the tube is disposed in the bending die assembly;
- the actual bend location corresponds to a substantially vertical plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube;
- and
- the slot defines a vertical edge aligned with the actual bend location.
A tube bending machine for bending a tube at a target bend location, the tube bending machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a bending die assembly supported on the frame and configured to bend the tube, the bending die assembly including:
- a bending die;
- a wheel frame coaxially mounted to the bending die;
- and
- a clamp configured to secure the tube to the wheel frame;
- wherein the bending die, the wheel frame, and the clamp cooperate to define an actual bend location where the tube will be bent by the bending die assembly;
- and
- an alignment system operatively supported on the frame and configured to align the target bend location with the actual bend location;
- wherein:
- the wheel frame includes:
- a first wheel frame member on a first lateral side of the bending die;
- and
- a second wheel frame member on a second lateral side of the bending die opposite the first lateral side;
- the alignment system includes a slot defined in the frame;
- the slot is aligned with the actual bend location;
- and
- the first wheel frame member defines an opening aligned with the slot to enable the tube to be visible through the slot from a position outside the bending die assembly when the tube is disposed in the bending die assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.