Pivoting conduit bender

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016228933-A1
Application number	US-201615015395-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2016
Priority date	May 5, 2010
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bender and base assembly according to some embodiments of the disclosure is provided. The bender includes a frame having a pivot shaft extending therefrom, and a shoe shaft extending from the frame for receiving a shoe rotatably mounted thereon, the shoe shaft defining a shoe axis and a shoe plane perpendicular to the shoe axis. The base includes a pivot shaft receptacle, wherein the pivot shaft receptacle defines a pivot axis, wherein the pivot shaft of the bender is received by the pivot shaft receptacle of the base; wherein the pivot shaft rotates relative to the pivot shaft receptacle, to rotate the bender on the pivot axis between a horizontal bending position and a vertical bending position; and wherein the pivot axis intersects with the shoe plane. A lock is provided to lock the position of the bender relative to the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bender and base assembly, comprising:
a bender including;
a frame having a pivot shaft extending therefrom, and
a shoe shaft extending from the frame for receiving a shoe rotatably mounted thereon, the shoe shaft defining a shoe axis and a shoe plane perpendicular to the shoe axis;
a base including;
a pivot shaft receptacle, wherein the pivot shaft receptacle defines a pivot axis, wherein the pivot shaft of the bender is received by the pivot shaft receptacle of the base;
wherein the pivot shaft rotates relative to the pivot shaft receptacle, to rotate the bender on the pivot axis between a horizontal bending position and a vertical bending position; and wherein the pivot axis intersects with the shoe plane.

2 . The assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is provided at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the shoe plane.

3 . The assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the bender is rotated approximately 120 degrees about the pivot shaft to rotate the bender between the horizontal and vertical positions.

4 . The assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the bender is rotated approximately 180 degrees about the pivot shaft to rotate the bender between the horizontal and vertical positions.

5 . The assembly as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a lock capable of locking the position of the pivot shaft relative to the pivot shaft receptacle; and wherein the lock provides a first locking position capable of securing the bender in the vertical position and a second locking position capable of locking the bender in the horizontal position.

6 . The assembly as defined in claim 5 , wherein the lock is provided by an index plate including first and second locking holes and a locking pin selectively positioned within the first or second locking hole.

7 . The assembly as defined in claim 6 , wherein the first and second locking holes are approximately 120 degrees apart from each other.

8 . The assembly as defined in claim 6 , further comprising:
a detent bracket rotatably mounted to the pivot shaft receptacle, the detent bracket including a stop recess, wherein the locking pin is mounted to the detent bracket; and an adjustment stop extending from the pivot shaft receptacle and positioned within the stop recess, and rotation of the detent bracket is limited by the adjustment stop.

9 . The assembly as defined in claim 8 , further comprising a set screw capable of fixing the position of the detent bracket relative to the adjustment stop.

10 . The assembly as defined in claim 5 , wherein the lock comprises:
an index plate extending from the pivot shaft, the index plate including a first locking hole and a second locking hole; and a locking pin secured to the pivot shaft receptacle, the locking pin capable of extending through the first locking hole to secure the bender in the vertical position and the locking pin capable of extending through the second locking hole to secure the bender in the horizontal position.

11 . The assembly as defined in claim 10 , wherein the first and second locking holes are approximately 120 degrees apart from each other.

12 . The assembly as defined in claim 10 , further comprising:
a detent bracket rotatably mounted to the pivot shaft receptacle, the detent bracket including a stop recess, wherein the locking pin is mounted to the detent bracket; and an adjustment stop extending from the pivot shaft receptacle and positioned within the stop recess, and rotation of the detent bracket is limited by the adjustment stop.

13 . The assembly as defined in claim 12 , further comprising a set screw capable of fixing the position of the detent bracket relative to the adjustment stop.

14 . The assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the base is mounted on wheels.

Assignees

• Greenlee Textron Inc

Inventors

• Plummer Jeffrey J
• Daugherty Sean A

Classifications

• B21D7/16 Primary

  Auxiliary equipment, e.g. for heating or cooling of bends · CPC title

• B21D7/12 Primary

  with program control · CPC title

• B21D7/021

  Construction of forming members having more than one groove · CPC title

• B21D7/024 Primary

  by a swinging forming member · CPC title