Tool for Pipe Bending and Former for Use in Such a Tool

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tool for pipe bending comprising at least two branches ( 1, 3 ), at least one link arm ( 8 ), at least one former ( 7 ), and at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ), said at least one former ( 7 ) and said at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ) being intended to be placed on either side of a pipe ( 12 ) to be bent, and said at least one former ( 7 ) being fitted to, or constituting a part of, a first branch ( 1 ) of said at least two branches ( 1, 3 ) at the same time as said at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ) being fitted to, or constituting a part of, a second branch ( 3 ) of said at least two branches ( 1, 3 ). At least one of said at least one former ( 7 ) has at least one pipe-positioning index ( 18, 19 ), one of which is intended to be placed as close as possible to a corresponding bending-measure index on the pipe ( 12 ) when the pipe ( 12 ) is placed in the tool in order to be bent. The present invention also relates to a former ( 7 ) for use as a part of a tool for pipe bending.

1 . Tool for pipe bending comprising at least two branches ( 1 ,  3 ), intended to be gripped and pressed together by an operator upon pipe bending, at least one link arm ( 8 ), at least one former ( 7 ), and at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ), said at least one former ( 7 ) and said at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ) being intended to be placed on either side of a pipe ( 12 ) to be bent, and said at least one former ( 7 ) being fitted to, or constituting a part of, a first branch ( 1 ) of said at least two branches ( 1 ,  3 ) at the same time as said at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ) being fitted to, or constituting a part of, a second branch ( 3 ) of said at least two branches ( 1 ,  3 ), wherein at least one of said at least one former ( 7 ) has at least one pipe-positioning index ( 18 ,  19 ), one of which is intended to be placed as close as possible to a corresponding bending-measure index on the pipe ( 12 ) when the pipe ( 12 ) is placed in the tool in order to be bent. 
   
   
       2 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the pipe ( 12 ) has been placed in the tool in order to be bent, the substancially perpendicular distance, before bending, between, on one hand, a plane through said pipe-positioning index ( 19 ) as well as through said bending-measure index and simultaneously substancially perpendicular to the substancial direction of extension of the pipe ( 12 ) and, on the other hand, a first end of the pipe ( 12 ) is substancially equal to the substancially perpendicular distance, after bending, between, on one hand, a plane substancially coincident with a substancially straight centre line in a first part of the pipe ( 12 ) and simultaneously substancially perpendicular to the substancial direction of extension of a second part of the pipe ( 12 ) and, on the other hand, said first end of the pipe ( 12 ). 
   
   
       3 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the pipe ( 12 ) has been placed in the tool in order to be bent, the substancially perpendicular distance, before bending, between, on one hand, a plane through said pipe-positioning index ( 18 ) as well as through said bending-measure index and simultaneously substancially perpendicular to the substancial direction of extension of the pipe ( 12 ) and, on the other hand, a second end of the pipe ( 12 ) is substancially equal to the substancially perpendicular distance, after bending, between, on one hand, a plane substancially coincident with a substancially straight centre line in a second part of the pipe ( 12 ) and simultaneously substancially perpendicular to the substancial direction of extension of a first part of the pipe ( 12 ) and, on the other hand, said second end of the pipe ( 12 ). 
   
   
       4 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one former ( 7 ) has at least one start index ( 17   a ). 
   
   
       5 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one start index ( 17   a ) constitutes a part of at least one scale ( 17 ) graduated in angular degrees. 
   
   
       6 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein said former ( 7 ) has at least one finely graduated overbending index ( 20 ). 
   
   
       7 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one overbending index ( 20 ) corresponds to a pipe bending of approximately 91-93°, preferably approximately 93°. 
   
   
       8 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ) has at least one start index ( 22 ). 
   
   
       9 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ) has at least one pipe-positioning index ( 23 ,  24 ). 
   
   
       10 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein said first branch ( 1 ) has at least one holder-on ( 5 ) for pipes ( 12 ) that are being bent. 
   
   
       11 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein said first branch ( 1 ) has at least one part ( 6 ) protruding from the tool and respectively provided with at least two substancially plane-parallel sides ( 13 ,  14 ) suitable for vice attachment. 
   
   
       12 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one former ( 7 ) has the shape of a modified cylinder segment, the periphery of which shows at least one groove ( 15 ) for the receipt of said pipe ( 12 ) to be bent, and the centre of which shows at least a first shaft ( 10 ) having a direction of extension that is substancially perpendicular to a substancial plane of extension of said modified cylinder segment. 
   
   
       13 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one groove ( 15 ) extends alongside said periphery along at least one semicircle in a substancial plane of extension of said modified cylinder segment. 
   
   
       14 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one first shaft ( 10 ), in at least one corresponding first mounting, pivotably unites said at least one former ( 7 ) and said at least one link arm ( 8 ). 
   
   
       15 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one second shaft ( 11 ), in at least one corresponding second mounting, pivotably unites said at least one link arm ( 8 ) and said second branch ( 3 ). 
   
   
       16 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one former ( 7 ), in a part that is situated between said at least one groove ( 15 ) and said at least one first shaft ( 10 ), has at least one clearance ( 16 ) in the form of at least one through hole ( 16 ). 
   
   
       17 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two branches ( 1 ,  3 ) are curved in the ends thereof being most distant from said at least one former ( 7 ). 
   
   
       18 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least two branches ( 1 ,  3 ) are curved in different directions. 
   
   
       19 . Tool for pipe bending according  claim 17 , wherein said at least two branches ( 1 ,  3 ) are curved inwards towards each other. 
   
   
       20 . Tool for pipe bending according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least two branches ( 1 ,  3 ) has at least one transport locking device ( 2   a ) in the form of at least one strap ( 2   a ) that forms at least one loop. 
   
   
       21 . A former ( 7 ) for use as a part of a tool for pipe bending, said tool, in addition to at least one former ( 7 ), comprising at least two branches ( 1 ,  3 ), intended to be gripped and pressed together by an operator upon pipe bending, at least one link arm ( 8 ), and at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ), said at least one former ( 7 ) and said at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ) being intended to be placed on either side of a pipe ( 12 ) to be bent, and said at least one former ( 7 ) being fitted to, or constituting a part of, a first branch ( 1 ) of said at least two branches ( 1 ,  3 ) at the same time as said at least one sliding jaw ( 9 ) being fitted to, or constituting a part of, a second branch ( 3 ) of said at least two branches ( 1 ,  3 ), and at least one pipe-positioning index ( 18 ,  19 ), one of which is intended to be placed as close as possible to a corresponding bending-measure index on the pipe ( 12 ) when the pipe ( 12 ) is placed in the tool in order to be bent. 
   
   
       22 . Former according to  claim 21 , wherein, when the pipe ( 12 ) has been placed in the tool in order to be bent, the substancially perpendicular distance, before bending, between, on one hand, a plane through said pipe-positioning index ( 19 ) as well as through said bending-measure index and simultaneously substancially perpendicular to the substancial direction of extension of the pipe ( 12 ) and, on the other hand, a first end of the pipe ( 12 ) is substancially equal to the substancially perpendicular distance, after bending, between, on one hand, a plane substancially coincident with a substancially straight centre line in a first part of the pipe ( 12 ) and simultaneously substancially perpendicular to the substancial direction of extension of a second part of the pipe ( 12 ) and, on the other hand, said first end of the pipe ( 12 ). 
   
   
       23 . Former according to  claim 21 , wherein, when the pipe ( 12 ) has been placed in the tool in order to be bent, the substancially perpendicular distance, before bending, between, on one hand, a plane through said pipe-positioning index ( 18 ) as well as through said bending-measure index and simultaneously substancially perpendicular to the substancial direction of extension of the pipe ( 12 ) and, on the other hand, a second end of the pipe ( 12 ) is substancially equal to the substancially perpendicular distance, after bending, between, on one hand, a plane substancially coincident with a substancially straight centre line in a second part of the pipe ( 12 ) and simultaneously substancially perpendicular to the substancial direction of extension of a first part of the pipe ( 12 ) and, on the other hand, said second end of the pipe ( 12 ). 
   
   
       24 . Former according to  claim 21 , which has at least one start index ( 17   a ). 
   
   
       25 . Former according to  claim 24 , wherein said at least one start index ( 17   a ) constitutes a part of at least one scale ( 17 ) graduated in angular degrees. 
   
   
       26 . Former according to  claim 21 , which has at least one finely graduated overbending index ( 20 ). 
   
   
       27 . Former according to  claim 26 , wherein said at least one overbending index ( 20 ) corresponds to a pipe bending of approximately 91-93°, preferably approximately 93°.