Tube bending appartus

Abstract

A tube bending apparatus has an elongate frame with a longitudinal slot in an upper surface thereof and removal rollers laterally spaced at each side of the slot above the upper surface. A rolling carriage and reciprocating ram are disposed beneath the upper surface. A vertical post secured to the carriage has an upper end extending through the slot and a reversible bending die is removably mounted on the upper end of the post above the upper surface of the frame. The bending die is advanced and retracted relative to the lateral rollers by the ram such that a section of a tubular workpiece held against said lateral rollers can be engaged by the bending die and bent into a curved configuration. The lateral rollers and bending die above the upper surface and the reciprocating axis beneath the upper surface provide a substantially unobstructed area around the rollers and bending die through which at least one free end of the workpiece may pass when being bent whereby a plurality of adjacent bends lying in the same plane or different planes may be made without a previously bent section striking the rollers, bending die, or ram. The bending die has a peripheral opening to receive a previously bent section for making transition bends, and in combination with a backup tool receives the nut and sleeve of a flared fitting for making bends very close to a flared fitting. An indicator disk may be installed on one roller to indicate springback.