Apparatus and method for automated production of adjustable duct member
AssigneeCleveland Tool & Machine, Inc.
InventorVictor Bota
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for forming a duct member having a plurality of adjustable sections which are rotatable relative to one another. The apparatus and method causes relative rotation between individual sections during the manufacturing process, to form a completed duct member in an automated process utilizing a rotating head assembly comprising a plurality of engagement members extendable radially outward of the rotating head body in an engagement position and retractable radially inward to a disengagement position. Accordingly, a 90 degree adjustable elbow can be produced in its 90 degree elbow configuration without requiring the machine operator to manually adjust the adjustable sections.
Claims18
An apparatus for forming a duct member from a work piece for use in an air handling system comprising:
- a housing including a work station formed therein adapted to accommodate the work piece;
- a means for clamping the bottom of the work piece to prevent rotation of the bottom of the work piece;
- a die associated with the work station which is selectively positioned at a predetermined location relative to the work piece positioned in the work station;
- a rotating head associated with the work station comprising a cutting and forming assembly, and a means for selectively coupling a portion of the work piece to the rotating head;
- wherein the cutting and forming assembly cooperates with the die to selectively cut the work piece to form first and second work piece members;
- wherein the means for selectively coupling a portion of the work piece to the rotating head engages the first work piece member and rotates the member 180 degrees with respect to the second work piece member;
- wherein the cutting and forming assembly cooperates with the die to form a coupling bead in the first and second work piece members which cooperate to reconnect the first and second work piece members together at a predetermined angle;
- a means to rotate the reconnected work piece 180 degrees for subsequent cuts;
- a means to axially move the reconnected work piece with respect to the die to move the work piece to a predetermined location for a subsequent cut.
A rotating head assembly for an automatic adjustable duct machine comprising:
- a rotating head body;
- a slide block having a cutting wheel and a beading wheel thereon, wherein the slide block is moveable within the head body to selectively extend one of the cutting wheel and the beading wheel radially outward from the rotating head body;
- a plurality of engagement members extendable radially outward of the rotating body in an engagement position and retractable radially inward to a disengagement position.
A method for forming a duct member for use in an air handling system comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a tubular work piece;
- b) inserting the tubular work piece into an automatic adjustable duct machine
- c) clamping the bottom of the work piece
- d) cutting and preforming the tubular work piece into a first work piece portion and a second work piece along a plane at an angle to a radial plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the work piece;
- e) rotating the first work piece portion 180 degrees relative to the second work piece portion;
- f) adjustably connecting the first work piece member to the second work piece member;
- g) rotating the reconnected work piece 180 degrees;
- h) moving the work piece longitudinally to a second position;
- i) repeating steps d-f;
- j) releasing the clamped bottom of the work piece such that the work piece can be removed from the automatic adjustable duct machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.