Cooper Industries, Inc.

Pilot Industries, Inc.

Ralph E Westerburg

Clifford L Galloup

Roger M Bula

Clark D Mahan

Robert W Klemm

Alan W Bass

Both a method and apparatus are disclosed for forming a bend in an elongated member, such as a tube, at a predetermined target angle. The elongated member is first bent to an angle equal to the target angle plus a predetermined increment. The elongated member is then returned to the target angle and a value representative of the force necessary to maintain the elongated member at the target angle is inputted into a central processor. This inputted value is then compared with a threshold value and, in the event that the inputted value exceeds the threshold value, the predetermined increment is incremented and the above steps are repeated until the inputted value is less than the threshold value. An apparatus for performing the method of the present invention is also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for bending an elongated member to a target angle

A combination bit for cutting and stripping insulation from a solid flexible conductor wire and wrapping a stripped end portion of the wire on a terminal in a series of helical convolutions includes a cooperable sleeve having a wall portion forming a guide surface for permitting insertion of the wire into a groove formed on the periphery of the bit. A cutting blade disposed in the groove includes opposed straight cutting edge portions one of which is proportioned such that it engages the insulation of the conductor wire initially in a position which places said edge parallel to a cooperative flat surface portion on said sleeve and tangent to the circumference of the wire insulation. The bit and sleeve are proportioned so as to provide for initial engagement of the insulation by the conductor wire within approximately five degrees of angular rotation of the bit from its starting point.

Cutting, stripping and wrapping bit

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Reed City, MI, United States of America

Ralph E Westerburg