Tie bar tensioning system

A tie bar tensioning system for selectively coupling an upper end portion of a bend die post of a rotary draw bending machine to a tie bar mounting plate of the rotary draw bending machine, the tie bar tensioning system comprising:

• a tie bar having a first end portion removably couplable to the upper end portion of the bend die post and a second end portion couplable to the tie bar mounting plate;
• a stationary member having a stationary member tie bar passageway for receiving the second end portion of the tie bar and a stationary member engagement surface;
• and
• a rotatable member having a rotatable member tie bar passage for receiving the second end portion of the tie bar and a rotatable member engagement surface, the rotatable member being selectively rotatable relative to the stationary member, the rotation of the rotatable member relative to the stationary member with the rotatable member engagement surface in engagement with the stationary member engagement surface longitudinally displacing the rotatable member relative to the stationary member between a tensioned position whereat tension is applied to the tie bar and a released position with less tension being applied to the tie bar, the rotatable member being selectively lockable in the tensioned position;
• wherein the stationary member includes a sleeve portion extending outwardly from the stationary member tie bar passageway and defining an interior space dimensioned to receive the rotatable member at least partially therein, with the stationary member tie bar passageway and the rotatable member tie bar passageway in coaxial alignment.

A bending machine comprising:

• a stationary base;
• a bend die post extending upwardly from the stationary base and having an upper end portion;
• a support arm spaced away from the bend die post;
• a tie bar mounting plate attached to the support arm and having a tie bar aperture;
• a bracket attached to an upper end portion of the bend die post;
• a tie bar having a first end portion couplable to the bracket and a second end portion extending through the tie bar aperture of the tie bar mounting plate;
• a stationary member attached to the tie bar mounting plate and having a stationary member tie bar passageway in alignment with the tie bar aperture of the tie bar mounting plate and having the second end portion of the tie bar extending through the stationary member tie bar passageway, the stationary member having a stationary member engagement surface;
• and
• a rotatable member having a rotatable member tie bar passageway in alignment with the stationary member tie bar passageway and having the second end portion of the tie bar extending through the rotatable member tie bar passageway, the rotatable member having a rotatable member engagement surface, the rotatable member being selectively rotatable relative to the stationary member, the rotation of the rotatable member relative to the stationary member with the rotatable member engagement surface in engagement with the stationary member engagement surface longitudinally displacing the rotatable member relative to the stationary member between a tensioned position whereat tension is applied to the tie bar and a released position with less tension being applied to the tie bar;
• wherein the stationary member includes a sleeve portion extending outwardly from the stationary member tie bar passageway and defining an interior space dimensioned to receive the rotatable member at least partially therein with the stationary member tie bar passageway and the rotatable member tie bar passageway in coaxial alignment.