Pittsburgh lock seam opening tool and method
AssigneeHurst Sheet Metal, LLC
InventorRonnie Hurst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool system including a tool and a powered driver, and the associated method of operation is provided for opening a Pittsburgh lock seam channel formed in a work piece, such as a ductwork component, or otherwise for separating folded sheet material layers. The tool includes a rotatable spreader wheel and a fixed guide respectively supported on a frame in a common plane. The powered driver can rotate the spreader wheel within the lock seam channel or between sheet material layers, separating the adjacent layers and advancing along a length of the work piece.
Claims20
A tool for opening a Pittsburgh lock seam channel formed in a ductwork component, the tool comprising:
- a frame;
- a spreader wheel supported on the frame for rotation relative thereto;
- the spreader wheel being coupled to a shaft for imparting rotational motion to the spreader wheel;
- the spreader wheel having a peripheral edge;
- and
- a guide fixedly supported on the frame;
- the guide being spaced apart from the spreader wheel;
- the guide having a retaining edge;
- the retaining edge of the guide being co-planar with the peripheral edge of the spreader wheel.
A tool system for opening a Pittsburgh lock seam channel formed in a ductwork component, the tool system comprising:
- a tool comprising:
- a frame;
- a spreader wheel supported on the frame for rotation relative thereto;
- the spreader wheel being coupled to a shaft for imparting rotational motion to the spreader wheel;
- the spreader wheel having a peripheral edge;
- and
- a guide fixedly supported on the frame;
- the guide being spaced apart from the spreader wheel;
- the guide having a retaining edge;
- the retaining edge of the guide being co-planar with the peripheral edge of the spreader wheel;
- and
- a powered driver comprising:
- a motor in electronic communication with a power source;
- and
- wherein the motor is coupled to the shaft for driving rotation of the spreader wheel.
A method for opening a Pittsburgh lock seam channel in a ductwork component, the Pittsburgh lock seam channel having a mouth at a first end, and a base opposite the mouth, the method using a tool, the tool comprising a frame;
- a spreader wheel supported on the frame for rotation relative thereto;
- the spreader wheel being coupled to a shaft for imparting rotational motion to the spreader wheel, the spreader wheel having a peripheral edge;
- and a guide supported on the frame, the guide being spaced apart from the spreader wheel and the guide having a retaining edge, the retaining edge of the guide being co-planar with the peripheral edge of the spreader wheel;
- the method comprising:
- placing the peripheral edge of the spreader wheel in contact with a Pittsburgh lock seam channel mouth;
- rotating the frame relative to the Pittsburgh lock seam channel to engage the retaining edge against the Pittsburgh lock seam channel base;
- applying rotation to the shaft;
- and
- advancing the tool along the Pittsburgh lock seam channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.