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US 12,257,618 B1Granted
Apparatus and method for closing duct seams and for inserting angle plates and closing duct seams
AssigneeHVAC Inventors/Systemation, Inc.
InventorsDavid E. Daw, John T. Ehling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described for automatically closing the seam of duct work and for automatically inserting angle plates into duct work and then closing the seam of the duct work. The seam closing apparatus includes a first seam closing members for closing the top and bottom portions of the seam and a second seam closing member for closing the remainder of the seam of the duct work.
Claims36
An apparatus for automatically inserting angle plates into a duct flange and for automatically closing a seam of a duct comprising
- (a) a dual head assembly having a lower head and an upper head wherein each head includes a platen for receiving a duct and an assembly for automatically inserting an angle plate into the duct flange;
- and
- (b) a seam closing assembly for automatically closing a seam of the duct comprising (1) a first bender at the lower head and a second bender at the upper head, the first and second benders adapted to first close the top and bottom portions of the seam;
- and (2) a carriage assembly comprising a pair of vertical support members constructed and arranged outside of the work area of the assembly for automatically inserting an angle plate, a seam closing carriage connected to the vertical support members and having a seam forming member, means for moving the seam closing carriage up and down the vertical support members, the seaming assembly adapted to close the remaining portion of the seam;
- wherein when a duct is positioned in the apparatus, the assembly for automatically inserting an angle plate will automatically insert an angle plate in the duct flange and the seam closing assembly will automatically close the duct seam.
2 more elements
An apparatus for automatically closing a seam of a duct comprising (1) a frame having a first end and a second end;
- (2) a means to hold the duct in the frame;
- (3) a first bender at the first end of the frame and a second bender at the second end of the frame, wherein the first and second benders are adapted to close first and second end portions of the seam of the duct;
- and (4) a seam closing carriage for closing the remainder of the seam and having a means for moving the seam closing carriage from one end of the frame to the other end of the frame and having a seam forming member for closing the remaining portion of the seam.
A method for automatically inserting angle plates into a duct flange and for automatically closing a seam of a duct comprising
- (a) inserting a duct having transverse flanges into an apparatus adapted to automatically insert angle plates into the duct flanges and to automatically close a seam of the duct;
- (b) the apparatus including a dual head assembly having a lower head and an upper head wherein each head includes a platen for receiving a duct and an assembly for automatically inserting an angle plate into a duct flange, the assembly for automatically inserting an angle plate into a duct flange including at least one clamping member for clamping the duct into position on the platen, a feed member for feeding an angle plate into place in the duct flange, at least one press member for pressing an angle plate into the duct flange, a supply hopper having a plurality of angle plates for supplying angle plates to the feed member, and at least one crimper member for crimping the flange of the duct over the angle plate after the angle plate has been inserted into the duct flange;
- (c) the apparatus further including a seam closing assembly for automatically closing a seam of a duct comprising (1) a first bender at the lower head and a second bender at the upper head, the first and second benders adapted to close the top and bottom portions of the seam;
- and (2) a carriage assembly comprising a pair of vertical support members constructed and arranged outside of the work area of the assembly for automatically inserting an angle plate, a seam closing carriage connected to the vertical support members and having a horizontal member with a seam forming member, and means for moving the seam closing carriage up and down the vertical support members for closing the remaining portion of the seam;
- (d) clamping the duct into the apparatus;
- (e) inserting angle plates into the duct flanges;
- and
- (f) closing the seam of the duct, wherein the first and second benders first close top and bottom portions of the seam and then the seam closing carriage moves vertically on the vertical support members and wherein the seam forming member closes the remainder of the seam of the duct.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.