Elbow rotator
AssigneeMet-Coil Systems Corporation
InventorJairo Munoz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elbow rotator apparatus for rotating an integrally formed section of an elbow workpiece includes a pair of gripping arms which are selectively positionable in a first position displaced from the elbow workpiece, and a second position in which the gripping arms are in contact with the integral section of the elbow workpiece. A rotary actuator is operatively connected to the gripping arms to selectively rotate the gripping arms by a predetermined amount when the gripping arms are in the second position.
Claims19
An elbow rotator apparatus for rotating an integrally formed section of an elbow workpiece, said elbow rotator apparatus comprising:
- a pair of gripping arms which are selectively positionable in a first position displaced from said elbow workpiece, and a second position in which said gripping arms are in contact with said integral section of said elbow workpiece;
- a rotary actuator operatively connected to said gripping arms, said rotary actuator selectively rotating said gripping arms;
- a frame operatively connected to said gripping arms and said rotary actuator, said frame being pivotable about a pivot axis;
- a pivoting device for selectively pivoting said frame about said pivot axis;
- and
- wherein when said gripping arms are in said second position and secured about said integral section, said rotary actuator will rotate said gripping arms by a predetermined amount, thus rotating said integral section.
An elbow rotator apparatus for rotating integrally formed sections of an elbow workpiece, said elbow rotator apparatus comprising:
- a first gripping arm selectively rotatable about a rotational axis;
- a second gripping arm selectively rotatable about said rotational axis, said first gripping arm and said second gripping arm being selectively rotatable between a first position and a second position;
- a first pair of gripping fingers operatively connected to said first gripping arm;
- a second pair of gripping fingers operatively connected to said second gripping arm, said first pair of gripping fingers and said second pair of gripping fingers selectively clamping upon said integrally formed sections of said elbow workpiece;
- and
- wherein said integrally formed sections are simultaneously rotated by a predetermined amount when said first pair of gripping fingers and said second pair of gripping fingers are adapted to clamp about said integrally formed sections and said first and said second gripping arms are selectively rotated between said first and said second positions.
A method for simultaneously rotating integrally formed sections of a straight elbow workpiece, said method comprising the steps of:
- mounting a first gripping arm to be selectively rotatable about a rotational axis;
- mounting a second gripping arm to be selectively rotatable about said rotational axis, said first gripping arm and said second gripping arm being selectively rotatable between a first position and a second position;
- operatively connecting a first pair of gripping fingers to said first gripping arm;
- operatively connecting a second pair of gripping fingers to said second gripping arm;
- selectively clamping said first pair of gripping fingers and said second pair of gripping fingers about said integrally formed sections of said elbow workpiece;
- and
- rotating said first gripping arm and said second gripping arm about said rotational axis between said first position and said second position, thereby simultaneously rotating said clamped integrally formed sections by a predetermined amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.