Process and apparatus for bending thin-wall plastic tubing
US6309588A · kind A · utility
11Cited by
1References
42Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29C53/083
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Process and apparatus for bending thin-wall thermoplastic tubing utilizing pressure inside the tube portion being bent to thereby maintain the shape of the tube during bending, and applying heat only in the zone of the tube that is stretched by pulling it axially during continuous incremental bending around a rotatable bend die to thereby maintain the original cross-sectional shape of the tubing. The tube inside radius surface is continuously supported during application of bending-induced tensile stress by causing the tube to track or wrap partially around a rotatable bend die in a generally linear (minimum slip) tracking mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.