Bending mandril comprising ultra high molecular weight material, related bending machines, systems, and methods
AssigneeManufacturing Resources International, Inc.
InventorWilliam Dunn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Bending mandrils and related bending machines and methods are disclosed, which include at least one ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) material. The mandril, which may comprise or consist of the UHMW material, is placed within an interior of a structure to be bent before the structure is bent about a pending die of the bending machine. Kerf cuts may be provided at the mandril for added flexibility. Other components of the bending machine, such as the following block and/or the bending die may also include panels of surfaces comprising a same or different UHMW material.
Claims17
A bending mandril comprising:
- a body comprising an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) material configured to fit within an interior of a hollow structure comprising metal during bending of said hollow structure;
- and
- kerf cuts spaced apart along a longitudinally extending surface of the mandril, wherein said kerf cuts extend lateral relative to a longitudinal axis of the surface, and wherein each of said kerf cuts extend part way, depth-wise, from the surface into an underlying portion of the bending mandril;
- wherein the body has a cuboid shape configured to snugly fit within a cuboid shaped interior hollow structure.
A bending machine comprising:
- a bending die;
- a follower block;
- a mandril rod;
- and
- a mandril located at a distal end of the mandril rod and comprising kerf cuts located along a longitudinally extending surface thereof, wherein each of said kerf cuts extend lateral relative to a longitudinal axis of the surface and are spaced apart from one another along the surface, and wherein each of said kerf cuts extend part way, depth-wise, through an underlying portion of the mandril;
- wherein the mandril and at least one of the bending die and the follower block each comprise an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) material.
A method for bending a hollow structure comprising:
- providing a bending machine comprising:
- a bending die;
- a follower block;
- a mandril rod;
- and
- a mandril located at a distal end of the mandril rod, wherein the mandril comprises a body having a cuboid shape, a tapered end, and kerf cuts spaced apart along a longitudinally extending surface of the body, wherein each of said kerf cuts extend lateral relative to a longitudinal axis of the surface, extend an entirety of a lateral dimension of the surface, and extend not more than part way, depth-wise, through an underlying portion of the body;
- wherein the mandril, the bending die, and the follower block, comprise an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) material;
- placing the mandril within an interior of the structure, wherein the interior of the structure comprises a square or rectangular cross section, and wherein the structure at least substantially comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy;
- and
- bending the structure about the bending die.
A bending mandril comprising:
- a body comprising an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) material configured to fit within an interior of a hollow structure comprising metal during bending of said hollow structure;
- and
- kerf cuts spaced apart along a longitudinally extending surface of the mandril, wherein said kerf cuts extend lateral relative to a longitudinal axis of the surface, and wherein each of said kerf cuts extend part way, depth-wise, from the surface into an underlying portion of the bending mandril;
- wherein a forward portion of the body comprises one or more tapered edges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.