Abstract: A die assembly for machines used to bend lengths of pipe for pipeline applications. The die assembly includes three major components, an exterior housing, a flexible die, and an eggcrate assembly. The exterior housing encompasses the flexible die and eggcrate assembly and pins into conventional bending machines. The flexible die includes a plurality of narrow plate segments positioned along a pair of tie rods. The plate segments are free floating and spaced so as to converge or diverge with respect to the direction of flex of the tie rods. The eggcrate assembly provides support for a plurality of spring plates. Each spring plate has a radius of curvature consistent with the amount of desired bend in the length of pipe.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 26, 2001
Date of Patent:
April 22, 2003
Assignee:
Dieco Manufacturing, Inc.
Inventors:
John Allen Rogers, Robert W. Buchanan, John Alfred Schrawger, Jr., Danny Eugene Ford
Abstract: A die assembly for machines used to bend lengths of pipe for pipeline applications. The die assembly includes three major components, an exterior housing, a flexible die, and an eggcrate assembly. The exterior housing encompasses the flexible die and eggcrate assembly and pins into conventional bending machines. The flexible die includes a plurality of narrow plate segments positioned along a pair of tie rods. The plate segments are free floating and spaced so as to converge or diverge with respect to the direction of flex of the tie rods. The eggcrate assembly provides support for a plurality of spring plates. Each spring plate has a radius of curvature consistent with the amount of desired bend in the length of pipe.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 26, 2001
Publication date:
October 25, 2001
Applicant:
Dieco Manufacturing, Inc.
Inventors:
John Allen Rogers, Robert W. Buchanan, John Alfred Schrawger, Danny Eugene Ford