U.S. patent application number 12/011849 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-30 for powered conduit bender.
This patent application is currently assigned to Huskie Tools, Inc.. Invention is credited to Todd J. Itrich, Joseph S. Latoria, Daniel S. Voss.
Application Number | 20090188291 12/011849 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40897855 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090188291 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Itrich; Todd J. ; et
al. |
July 30, 2009 |
Powered conduit bender
Abstract
A portable powered conduit bender comprises a housing including
a gripping handle. A battery powered drive in the housing has a
drive gear. A conduit guide is secured to the housing. A bracket is
secured to the housing defining a pivot connection. A head is
pivotally connected to the bracket at the pivot connection. The
head comprises a shoe defining a downwardly opening arcuate channel
selectively positionable proximate the guide. A hook is proximate
one end of the shoe for engaging a conduit received in the channel.
A driven gear operatively engages the drive gear to controllably
pivot the head. In use, the guide supports a conduit engaged by the
hook and pivotal movement of the shoe driven by the powered drive
deforms the conduit as it passes by the guide.
Inventors: |
Itrich; Todd J.; (Bartlett,
IL) ; Voss; Daniel S.; (Elgin, IL) ; Latoria;
Joseph S.; (West Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, PHILLIPS, KATZ, CLARK & MORTIMER
500 W. MADISON STREET, SUITE 3800
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Assignee: |
Huskie Tools, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
40897855 |
Appl. No.: |
12/011849 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
72/149 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D 7/063 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
72/149 |
International
Class: |
B21D 7/04 20060101
B21D007/04; B21D 7/00 20060101 B21D007/00; B21D 7/06 20060101
B21D007/06 |
Claims
1. A powered conduit bender comprising: a housing including a
handle; a powered drive in the housing having a drive gear; a
conduit guide secured to the housing; a bracket secured to the
housing defining a pivot connection; and a head pivotally connected
to the bracket at the pivot connection, the head comprising a shoe
defining a downwardly opening arcuate channel selectively
positionable proximate the guide, a hook proximate one end of the
shoe for engaging a conduit received in the channel, and a driven
gear operatively engaging the drive gear to controllably pivot the
head, wherein, in use, the guide supports a conduit engaged by the
hook and pivotal movement of the shoe driven by the powered drive
deforms the conduit as it passes by the guide.
2. The powered conduit bender of claim 1 wherein the driven gear
comprises gear teeth disposed in a path adjacent the shoe.
3. The powered conduit bender of claim 2 wherein the driven gear
comprise an arcuate rack.
4. The powered conduit bender of claim 1 wherein the head comprises
a plate pivotally connected to the bracket and supporting the
shoe.
5. The powered conduit bender of claim 4 wherein the driven gear
comprises an arcuate rack on the plate.
6. The powered conduit bender of claim 1 wherein the guide
comprises a roller.
7. The powered conduit bender of claim 1 wherein the powered drive
comprises a battery operated drive.
8. The powered conduit bender of claim 7 wherein the battery
operated drive comprises a battery removably connected to the
handle.
9. A portable powered conduit bender comprising: a housing
including a gripping handle; a battery powered drive in the housing
having a drive gear; a conduit guide secured to the housing; a
bracket secured to the housing defining a pivot connection; and a
head pivotally connected to the bracket at the pivot connection,
the head comprising a shoe defining a downwardly opening arcuate
channel selectively positionable proximate the guide, a hook
proximate one end of the shoe for engaging a conduit received in
the channel, and a driven gear operatively engaging the drive gear
to controllably pivot the head, wherein, in use, the guide supports
a conduit engaged by the hook and pivotal movement of the shoe
driven by the powered drive deforms the conduit as it passes by the
guide.
10. The portable powered conduit bender of claim 9 wherein the
driven gear comprises gear teeth disposed in a path adjacent the
shoe.
11. The portable powered conduit bender of claim 10 wherein the
driven gear comprise an arcuate rack.
12. The portable powered conduit bender of claim 9 wherein the head
comprises a plate pivotally connected to the bracket and supporting
the shoe.
13. The portable powered conduit bender of claim 12 wherein the
driven gear comprises an arcuate rack on the plate.
14. The portable powered conduit bender of claim 9 wherein the
guide comprises a roller.
15. The portable powered conduit bender of claim 9 wherein the
battery powered drive comprises a battery removably connected to
the handle.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] There are no related applications.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a conduit bender and more
particularly, to a powered conduit bender.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Tubing, such as electrical conduit, is conventionally
supplied as a straight, elongate tube. Prior to installation, it is
often necessary to provide a bend in the conduit. This is often
accomplished with a manually operated tool known as a conduit
bender which provides a desired bend in the conduit without
collapsing of the conduit walls.
[0004] A typical conduit bender includes a handle and a head. The
head is of one piece construction including an arcuate shoe with a
laterally concave groove for supporting the conduit. A hook is
proximate one end of the shoe for engaging a conduit received in
the channel. The handle is secured to the head and is generally
positioned in a radial line relative to the arcuate shoe. The
conduit rests on a support surface with the hook engaging the
conduit. The handle is forced downwardly to roll the shoe onto the
conduit with the hook pulling the conduit upwardly to form a
bend.
[0005] Such a conduit bender requires the presence of a support
surface for the conduit and the strength to force the handle to
produce the bend. Also, it is necessary for the person using the
conduit bender to frequently start and stop the bending operation
to observe the bender relative to the conduit to see if the
appropriate bending angle has been achieved.
[0006] The present invention is directed to further facilitating
the operation of bending a conduit or similar tube.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the invention, there is provided a
portable powered conduit bender which can be used with one handed
operation.
[0008] Broadly, in accordance with one aspect of the invention,
there is disclosed a powered conduit bender comprising a housing
including a handle. A powered drive in the housing has a drive
gear. A conduit guide is secured to the housing. A bracket is
secured to the housing defining a pivot connection. A head is
pivotally connected to the bracket at the pivot connection. The
head comprises a shoe defining a downwardly opening arcuate channel
selectively positionable proximate the guide. A hook is proximate
one end of the shoe for engaging a conduit received in the channel.
A driven gear operatively engages the drive gear to controllably
pivot the head. In use, the guide supports a conduit engaged by the
hook and pivotal movement of the shoe driven by the powered drive
deforms the conduit as it passes by the guide.
[0009] It is a feature of the invention that the driven gear
comprises gear teeth disposed in a path adjacent the shoe. The
driven gear may comprise an arcuate rack.
[0010] It is another feature of the invention that the head
comprises a plate pivotally connected to the bracket and supporting
the shoe. The driven gear may comprise an arcuate rack on the
plate. It is still another feature of the invention that the guide
comprises a roller.
[0011] It is a further feature of the invention that the power
drive comprises a battery operated drive. The battery operated
drive may comprise a battery removably connected to the handle.
[0012] There is disclosed in accordance with another aspect of the
invention, a portable powered conduit bender comprising a housing
including a gripping handle. A battery powered drive in the housing
has a drive gear. A conduit guide is secured to the housing. A
bracket is secured to the housing defining a pivot connection. A
head is pivotally connected to the bracket at the pivot connection.
The head comprises a shoe defining a downwardly opening arcuate
channel selectively positionable proximate the guide. A hook is
proximate one end of the shoe for engaging a conduit received in
the channel. A driven gear operatively engages the drive gear to
controllably pivot the head. In use, the guide supports a conduit
engaged by the hook and pivotal movement of the shoe driven by the
powered drive deforms the conduit as it passes by the guide.
[0013] Further features and advantages of the invention will be
readily apparent from the specification and from the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a powered conduit bender
in accordance with the invention, with a part of the housing
removed to illustrate internal components;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the powered conduit
bender of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, with a straight conduit
in the conduit bender;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, with the conduit
including a partial bend;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, illustrating a
further bend in the conduit;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conduit after completion
of a bending operation;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a detailed view illustrating a gearing arrangement
of the powered conduit bender in accordance with the invention;
and
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the powered conduit bender
of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, a powered conduit bender 10
in accordance with the invention is illustrated. The powered
conduit bender comprises a battery powered device which enables a
user using only one hand to accurately and simply bend a conduit to
a desired angle.
[0023] The powered conduit bender 10 includes a housing 12
including a gripping handle 14. The housing 12 is generally similar
to a conventional portable tool, such as a drill. A battery 16 is
removably mounted to the housing 12, in a conventional manner, and
powers a battery operated powered drive 18 having a drive gear 20,
see FIG. 7. The drive 18 is in the housing 12. The drive 18
converts electrical power to drive the drive gear 20 in a
conventional manner using a switch 22. For example, the drive 18
may be generally similar to a conventional cordless drill, except
that a chuck is replaced with the drive gear 20. Alternatively, the
drive 18 could be operated off of a 120 Vac supply and include a
power cord, as will be apparent. The switch 22 is movable between a
center off position and up and down positions for forward and
reverse rotational movement of the drive gear 20, as described
below.
[0024] A first, elongate, bracket 24 is secured to the housing 12
opposite a generally triangular second bracket 32. The brackets 24
and 32 support a guide 26. The guide 26 may comprise a roller 28
supported on a shaft 30. The second bracket 32 is also mounted to
the housing 12 and provides a pivot connection 34. A head 36 is
pivotally connected to the bracket 32 at the pivot connection
34.
[0025] The head 36 comprises a wedge shaped plate 38
pivotally-connected to the pivot connection 34. A conduit bender
body 40 is secured to the plate 38 using fasteners 42. An arcuate
rack 44 is secured to the plate 38 using fasteners 46.
[0026] The body 40 may comprise a conventional conduit bender body.
Examples of conduit bender bodies are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,452,064 and 5,927,141. The body 40 includes a shoe 48 defining a
downwardly opening arcuate channel of a cross section to receive a
conduit. Particularly, the size of the shoe depends on the size of
the conduit to be bent. The groove is concave and the shoe defines
a convex arc, as is known. A hook 50 is proximate one end of the
shoe 48 for engaging a conduit received in the channel, as is
known. The rack 44 is arcuate and includes a toothed outer edge 52
generally coaxial with the shoe 48. The body 40 is mounted to the
plate 38 so that the pivot connection 34 is in a radial line of the
shoe 48 and the arcuate rack 44. The arcuate rack 44 is operatively
positioned so that it defines a driven gear driven by the drive
gear 20, as shown in FIG. 7. As is apparent, rotation of the drive
gear 20 pivots the head 36 about the pivot connection 34.
[0027] In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a
conventional conduit bender body 40 is secured to the plate 32. As
is apparent, the head 36 could alternatively be formed of one piece
construction.
[0028] The use of the powered conduit bender 10 is accordance with
the invention for bending a conduit C is illustrated in FIGS.
3-5.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, the head 36 is initially pivoted away
from the drive gear 20 so that it does not engage the arcuate rack
44 and the head 36 is freely rotatable. A conduit C, which is
initially straight, is positioned in the head 36 in a conventional
manner with the hook 50 engaging the conduit C. With the conduit C
seated in the hook 50, the head 36 can be released and the head 36
pivots until the conduit C engages the guide 26, as is generally
illustrated in FIG. 4. Incident to the conduit C engaging the guide
26, the arcuate rack 44 engages the drive gear 20. The user can
then actuate the switch 22 in a forward direction to begin rotating
the head 36 in a counterclockwise direction, with respect to FIGS.
3-5. The hook 50 maintains the conduit C in the shoe 48. The guide
26 acts as a support surface which supports and guides the conduit
C. The bending force exerted on the head 36 by the powered drive 18
is transmitted to the conduit C by the hook 50 which bends the
conduit C around the shoe 38. FIG. 5 illustrates the conduit C bent
with the arcuate rack 44 in the fully extended position. To release
the conduit, the powered drive 18 is operated in the reverse
direction, by oppositely actuating the switch 22 to return the head
36 to the position shown in FIG. 3. The conduit C can then be
simply removed and is as shown in FIG. 6.
[0030] Although the powered conduit bender 10 is described in
connection with bending conduit C, the device can be more generally
thought of as a powered tube bender for bending any thin walled
tube intended to be formed in this manner. Thus, use of the term
conduit herein is intended to refer to any such tubing element, as
will be apparent.
[0031] In operating the powered conduit bender 10, the housing 12
can be held up so that it is easily visible to the user to
determine if the proper angle has been satisfied. As such, the shoe
48 may include conventional markers or other indicators indicating
the angle. Moreover, the gearing relationship provided between the
drive gear 20 and the driven arcuate rack 44 is such that the drive
18 can be started and stopped as necessary to provide the desired
bend.
[0032] Thus, in accordance with their invention, there is provided
a portable, powered conduit bender of the size of a conventional
portable power tool enabling a conduit to be bent with a one handed
operation.
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