Portable tube coiler

A portable tube coiler comprising:

• a spool assembly having a rotation axis, the spool assembly including a spool configured to rotate about the rotation axis, the spool having an axial slot beginning at an open outer end of the spool and terminating at a predetermined length along the spool, and the axial slot configured to receive an end of a metal tube, and
• a removable end cap configured to releasably engage in the outer end of the spool to lock the metal tube in the axial slot for coiling;
• a pneumatic motor coupled to the spool assembly, the pneumatic motor configured to rotate the spool;
• an anchor fixed to the pneumatic motor, the anchor configured to provide a counter-rotation force to the pneumatic motor;
• wherein the anchor includes an anchor handle extending from the pneumatic motor along the rotation axis, an anchor arm extending from the anchor handle in a direction non-parallel to the rotation axis, and an anchor brace attached to the anchor arm, the anchor brace located distal to the anchor handle, the anchor arm including a pressurized air conduit extending through the anchor arm, and the pressurized air conduit coupled to the pneumatic motor;
• a pneumatic power supply interface configured to transmit power to the pneumatic motor, the pneumatic power supply interface pneumatically coupled to the pressurized air conduit;
• and
• a trigger coupled to the anchor handle and configured to initiate rotation of the spool.

A method for coiling metal tubing, the method comprising:

• pneumatically coupling a pressurized air supply to a portable tube coiler, the portable tube coiler including a spool configured to rotate about a rotation axis, the spool having axial slot beginning at an open outer end of the spool and terminating at a predetermined length along the spool;
• securing the metal tubing to the portable tube coiler by inserting an end of the metal tubing into the axial slot, the axial slot at least partially closed off by a removable end cap;
• engaging an anchor of the portable tube coiler with an operator, the anchor including an anchor handle extending from a pneumatic motor along the rotation axis, an anchor arm extending from the anchor handle in a direction non-parallel to the rotation axis, and an anchor brace attached to the anchor arm, the anchor brace located distal to the anchor handle, the anchor brace configured to transmit a reaction force from the pneumatic motor against an upper side of an arm of the operator, the anchor arm including a pressurized air conduit extending through the anchor arm, and the pressurized air conduit coupled to the pneumatic motor;
• activating a trigger, the trigger configured to begin operation of the pneumatic motor of the portable tube coiler and forming a coiled portion of the metal tubing;
• and
• removing the formed coiled portion of the metal tubing from the portable tube coiler.