The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 19, 2007
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2005
Wenwu Zhang, Schenectady, NY (US);
Marshall Gordon Jones, Scotia, NY (US);
David Peter Mika, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Brian Harlow Farrell, Amsterdam, NY (US);
Michael Evans Graham, Slingerlands, NY (US);
Judson Sloan Marte, Wynantskill, NY (US);
Magdi Naim Azer, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Wenwu Zhang, Schenectady, NY (US);
Marshall Gordon Jones, Scotia, NY (US);
David Peter Mika, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Brian Harlow Farrell, Amsterdam, NY (US);
Michael Evans Graham, Slingerlands, NY (US);
Judson Sloan Marte, Wynantskill, NY (US);
Magdi Naim Azer, Niskayuna, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Abstract
A method for bending a tube in a pre-selected geometry includes deriving at least one processing parameter from the geometry, applying a thermal source circumferentially to the tube to heat the tube along at least one circumferentially directed path in accordance with the parameter and actively cooling the tube to a pre-selected temperature. The applying and active cooling steps are alternately performed a number of times. A system for bending the tube includes a thermal source for heating at least one region along the path on the tube, a tube advancing module for advancing the tube, an active cooling module for cooling the tube to a pre-selected temperature, a processing module to derive at least one processing parameter from the geometry and a control module configured to control the thermal source and active cooling module in accordance with the parameter. The alternate heating and cooling are performed a number of times.