Circuit for conduit bender

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016303632-A1
Application number	US-201615193841-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2016
Priority date	May 5, 2010
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A conduit bender having a unitary frame is mounted to a wheeled base which provides for transportation of the bender. A braking assembly provides for simplified locking of the wheels to secure the bender in a location. The bender is mounted to the base through a pivoting assembly which allows for bending of conduit in either a horizontal or vertical plane. A circuit is provided for controlling the bending operation. An auto-sensing portion of the circuit receives information regarding the characteristics of the conduit to be bent upon placement of the conduit in the bender. A feedback portion of the circuit is used to provide a precise bending operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A circuit for controlling the bending operation performed by a bender on a conduit, the circuit comprising:
a microprocessor in communication with a motor used to rotate a shoe about which the conduit is to be bent, wherein the microprocessor is configured to provide a motor control signal to the motor to control the bending operation; wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine a stop position for rotation of the shoe to achieve the desired bend to the conduit; and wherein the motor control signal is configured to be ramped down prior to the shoe reaching the stop position to stop rotation of the shoe at the stop position without the use of a mechanical brake.

2 . The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a feedback circuit configured to determine information regarding the bending operation, the feedback circuit comprising:
a current sensing portion in communication with the motor and the microprocessor, wherein the current sensing portion is configured to provide a current consumption signal to the microprocessor, providing a measure of current consumed by the motor; a voltage sensing portion in communication with the motor and the microprocessor, wherein the voltage sensing portion is configured to provide a voltage consumption signal to the microprocessor, providing a measure of voltage consumed by the motor; wherein the microprocessor is configured to adjust the motor control signal in response to the current consumption signal and the voltage consumption signal.

3 . The circuit of claim 2 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to calculate the power consumption of the motor and to adjust the motor control signal in the event the power consumer exceeds a predetermined limit.

4 . The circuit of claim 2 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to adjust the stop position based upon the current consumption signal and the voltage consumption signal.

5 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the motor control signal is a pulse width modulation signal.

6 . A method of bending a conduit comprising the steps of:
providing a bender including
a frame,
a shoe rotatably mounted to the frame about which the conduit is to be bent, a motor for rotating the shoe,
a microprocessor for providing a motor control signal to the motor, and an auto sensing circuit in communication with the microprocessor; and
wherein responsive to engagement of the conduit with the bender, the auto sensing circuit provides a signal to the microprocessor, and the motor control signal is based upon the signal from the auto sensing circuit.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the auto sensing circuit includes a conduit size switch and a member moveably mounted proximate the conduit size switch, and further comprising moving the member and activating the conduit size switch.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the bender includes a roller assembly, and wherein the auto sensing circuit includes a roller assembly position switch, and wherein when the roller assembly is positioned in a predetermined position, the roller assembly position switch is activated.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the auto sensing circuit includes a shoe position sensor and upon initialization of the bender, data is provided by the shoe position sensor to the microprocessor regarding an initial position of the shoe.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the bender further comprises feedback circuit, and further including:
configuring the microprocessor to provide a motor control signal to the motor; and wherein the feedback circuit is configured to provide a feedback signal to the microprocessor, and the motor control signal provided to the motor is based upon the feedback signal.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the feedback signal provides a measure of current consumed by the motor.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the feedback signal provides a measure of voltage consumed by the motor.

13 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
calculating a shoe rotation stop point using the microprocessor; and ramping the motor control signal downward, prior to rotation of the shoe reaching the stop point, to stop the rotation of the shoe without the use of a mechanical brake.

14 . A method of bending a conduit comprising the steps of:
providing a bender including a frame, a shoe rotatably mounted on the frame, a motor, a microprocessor in communication with the motor, a member mounted on the frame and moveable relative to the frame, a switch in communication with the microprocessor and in communication with the member; and responsive to direct engagement of the conduit with the member, the member moves relative to the frame causing the member to engage the switch; in response to the movement of the member, sending a signal from the switch to the microprocessor providing information regarding a characteristic of the conduit to be bent to the microprocessor; and providing a motor control signal from the microprocessor to the motor to control the operation of the motor, and in response, bending the conduit.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing a shoe position sensor in communication with the microprocessor; wherein the shoe position sensor provides a shoe position signal to the microprocessor, providing information about the rotational position of the shoe relative to the shoe shaft.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein upon positioning the shoe for the bending operation, a conduit type signal providing information regarding the type of conduit to be bent, is provided by the shoe position sensor to the microprocessor, and the motor control signal provided to the motor is based upon the conduit type information.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing support rollers mounted on the frame and moveable relative to the frame, the conduit is capable of being directly engaged with the support rollers; providing a support roller position switch in communication with the microprocessor; and wherein upon positioning the support rollers for the bending operation, a roller position signal, providing information regarding the position of the support rollers, is provided by the roller position switch to the microprocessor, and the motor control signal provided to the motor is based upon the support roller position information.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing a feedback circuit in communication with the motor and the microprocessor, and further comprising:
providing a voltage consumption signal and a current consumption signal from the motor to the feedback circuit; and adjusting the motor control signal in response to the voltage consumption signal and current consumption signal.

19 . A method of bending a conduit comprising the steps of:
providing a bender having a shoe mounted on shoe shaft about which the conduit is to be bent, a microprocessor in communication with a motor used to perform the bending operation, a conduit size switch in communication with the microprocessor, a shoe position sensor in communication with the microprocessor; providing a shoe position signal from the shoe position sensor to the microprocessor, providing information about the rotational position of the shoe relative to the shoe shaft; providing a conduit size signal from the conduit size switch to the microprocessor in response to positioning the conduit for the bending operation, the conduit size signal providing information regarding the size of the co

Assignees

• Greenlee Textron Inc

Inventors

• Plummer Jeffrey J
• Daugherty Sean A

Classifications

• B21D7/024 Primary

  by a swinging forming member · CPC title

• B21D7/16

  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