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 bending 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 method of bending a hollow structure, said method comprising:
- inserting a bending mandril of, or connected to, a bending machine into an interior of the hollow structure;
- and
- while the bending mandril remains within the interior of the hollow structure, operating the bending machine to bend the hollow structure;
- wherein the bending mandril comprises a body comprising an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) material and is shaped to fit within the interior of the hollow structure;
- wherein the bending mandril comprises kerf cuts spaced apart along a longitudinally extending surface of the body, said kerf cuts extending lateral relative to a longitudinal axis of the surface and extending part way, depth-wise, from the surface into an underlying portion of the body.
A bending machine comprising:
- a bending die;
- a follower block;
- a mandril rod;
- and
- a bending mandril comprising:
- a body comprising an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) material and shaped to fit within an interior of a hollow structure;
- and
- kerf cuts spaced apart along a longitudinally extending surface of the body, said kerf cuts extending lateral relative to a longitudinal axis of the surface, where said kerf cuts extend part way, depth-wise, from the surface into an underlying portion of the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.