Apparatus And Method For Placement Of Angle Plates In Transverse Duct Flanges
AssigneeHVAC Inventors/Systemation, Inc.
InventorsDavid E. Daw, Cody B. Umberger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method are described for inserting angle plates in transverse duct flanges. The apparatus is especially useful in inserting angle plates into transverse duct flanges of duct fittings. Packages for holding angle plates are also described.
Claims39
An apparatus for automatically assembling an angle plate in channel shaped flanges at ends of duct panels joined in a corner to form a duct section, said apparatus comprising:
- a platen adapted for engaging an end of a duct in a preselected position relative to said platen;
- clamping members adapted for locking a duct in a preselected position relative to said platen;
- a supply hopper for angle plates located underneath said platen adapted for advancing upwardly an angle plate for insertion into said duct;
- an angle plate advancing member adapted for advancing an angle plate into engagement with a corner of a clamped duct section;
- and
- pressing members adapted for pressing an angle plate into said corners of said duct.
A method of fabricating a duct fitting comprising:
- fabrication of a duct fitting at a work station and automatically inserting angle plates in said duct fitting at said work station, said work station comprising
- (a) an apparatus for automatically assembling an angle plate in channeled shaped flanges at ends of said duct fitting, said apparatus comprising:
- a platen for engaging an end of said duct fitting in a pre-selected position relative to said platen;
- clamping members for locking said duct fitting in a pre-selected position relative to said platen;
- a supply hopper for angle plates located underneath said platen for advancing upwardly an angle plate for insertion into said duct fitting;
- an angle plate advancing member for advancing an angle plate into engagement with a corner of said clamped duct fitting;
- and
- pressing members for pressing an angle plate into said corners of said duct fitting;
- and
- (b) a table adjacent said apparatus adapted for use by one or more workers.
A method of assembling angle plates at corners of ducts into channel shaped flanges at ends of duct panels joined at a corner, said method comprising positioning a plurality of angle plates within a supply hopper of an apparatus for automatically inserting angle plates, wherein said supply hopper is located underneath a platen of said apparatus and out of the work area;
- individually feeding an angle plate from the supply hopper;
- moving each angle plate into contact with a duct corner and generally adjacent to flanges of such duct, and pressing said angle plate into said flanges.
An apparatus for automatically assembling an angle plate in channel shaped flanges at ends of duct panels joined in a corner to form a duct section, said apparatus comprising an upper head and a lower head wherein said upper head and said lower head comprise:
- a platen adapted for engaging an end of a duct in a pre-selected position relative to said platen;
- at least two clamping members adapted for engaging a duct flange for locking a duct in a pre-selected position relative to said platen;
- a supply hopper for angle plates;
- an angle plate advancing member adapted for advancing an angle plate into engagement with a corner of a clamped duct section;
- and
- at least two pressing members for pressing an angle plate into corners of a duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.