Tube bender construction

In a tube bender having a mandrel defining a bending groove extending arcuately about a bend axis in a first direction from a bend start position which may vary with the type of tube to be bent, the diameter thereof, wear of the tube bender parts, and the like, an angle scale on said mandrel extending in said first direction from said bend start position, means for holding the tube at a holding position adjacent the bend start position in a second direction opposite said first direction, and forming means swingable about said bend axis for urging a tube to be bent progressively into the bending groove, the improvement comprising:

• indicator means movable with said forming means for cooperation with said angle scale for indicating the angular extent of a bend provided in the tube as a result of movement of said forming means from the bend start position about said bend axis;
• and
• adjusting means for angularly adjusting said angle scale to provide accurate correlation of the tube to be bent with the bend start position and between said scale and said indicator means in accurately indicating said angular extent including means for locking said angle scale in the adjusted disposition.

In a tube bender having a mandrel defining a bending groove extending arcuately about a bend axis in a first direction from a bend start position which may vary with the type of tube to be bent, the diameter thereof, wear of the tube bender parts, and the like, an angle scale on said mandrel extending in said first direction from said bend start position, means for holding the tube at a holding position adjacent the bend start position in a second direction opposite said first direction, and forming means swingable about said bend axis for urging a tube to be bent progressively into the bending groove, the improvement comprising:

• indicator means movable with said forming means for cooperation with said angle scale for indicating the angular extent of a bend provided in the tube as a result of movement of said forming means from the bend start position about said bend axis;
• and
• adjusting means for angularly adjusting said angle scale to provide accurate correlation of the tube to be bent with the bend start position and between said scale and said indicator means in accurately indicating said angular extent, said angle scale including a bend start indicator portion including a plurality of angularly spaced bend start position indications.

In a tube bender having a mandrel defining a bending groove extending arcuately about a bend axis in a first direction from a bend start position which may vary with the type of tube to be bent, the diameter thereof, wear of the tube bender parts, and the like, an angle scale on said mandrel extending in said first direction from said bend start position, means for holding the tube at a holding position adjacent the bend start position in a second direction opposite said first direction, and forming means swingable about said bend axis for urging a tube to be bent progressively into the bending groove, the improvement comprising:

• indicator means movable with said forming means for cooperation with said angle scale for indicating the angular extent of a bend provided in the tube as a result of movement of said forming means from the bend start position about said bend axis;
• and
• adjusting means for angularly adjusting said angle scale to provide accurate correlation of the tube to be bent with the bend start position and between said scale and said indicator means in accurately indicating said angular extent, said angle scale comprising an arcuate scale element and said adjusting means comprises a slot in said angle scale element and threaded securing means extending therethrough.

In a tube bender having a mandrel defining a bending groove extending arcuately about a bend axis in a first direction from a bend start position which may vary with the type of tube to be bent, the diameter thereof, wear of the tube bender parts, and the like, means for holding the tube at a holding position adjacent the bend start position in a second direction opposite said first direction, and forming means swingable about said bend axis for urging a tube to be bent progressively into the bending groove, the improvement comprising:

• cooperating first and second indicia means associated respectively with said mandrel and said forming means for indicating the angular extent of a bend provided in the tube as a result of movement of the forming means from the bend start position;
• adjusting means for angularly adjusting each of said first and second indicia means to provide accurate correlation of the tube to be bent with the bend start position in accurately indicating said angular extent;
• and locking means for locking each of said first and second indicia means in adjusted disposition.