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.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no related applications.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a conduit bender and more particularly, to a powered conduit bender.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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.

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.

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.

The present invention is directed to further facilitating the operation of bending a conduit or similar tube.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a portable powered conduit bender which can be used with one handed operation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the specification and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the powered conduit bender of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, with a straight conduit in the conduit bender;

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, with the conduit including a partial bend;

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, illustrating a further bend in the conduit;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conduit after completion of a bending operation;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view illustrating a gearing arrangement of the powered conduit bender in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the powered conduit bender of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The use of the powered conduit bender 10 is accordance with the invention for bending a conduit C is illustrated in FIGS. 3-5.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.