Method and apparatus for bending an elongated member to a target angle
US5836188A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 9, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 9, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S72/702
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Both a method and apparatus are disclosed for forming a bend in an elongated member, such as a tube, at a predetermined target angle. The elongated member is first bent to an angle equal to the target angle plus a predetermined increment. The elongated member is then returned to the target angle and a value representative of the force necessary to maintain the elongated member at the target angle is inputted into a central processor. This inputted value is then compared with a threshold value and, in the event that the inputted value exceeds the threshold value, the predetermined increment is incremented and the above steps are repeated until the inputted value is less than the threshold value. An apparatus for performing the method of the present invention is also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.