Claims:We claim:
1. A device (1) for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece (28), comprising:
a V-shaped block (2), at its central portion, assembled with a wooden handle (5) using a wooden handle screw (6), wherein the wooden handle (5) is to allow a user to hold the device during measurement of the angle for multiplane bend;
a screw rod (3), through its external threads, inserted into a bottom portion of the V-shaped block (2), wherein the screw rod (3) at its end, away from the V-shaped block (2), is provided with a screw rod handle (4), and wherein the screw rod handle (4), when operated, locks the workpiece (28) between the screw rod (3) and the V-shaped block (2) during formation of multiplane bend on the workpiece (28);
a y-axis secondary dial (7), using a washer (8) and two number of countersunk screws (9), fixed to an upper portion of the V-shaped block (2);
a swivel head clamp (10) position above and connected to the y-axis secondary dial (7) using a quick tight bolt (12) with washer (11) in between the swivel head clamp (10) and the quick tight bolt (12);
a swivel head (16) positioned inside the swivel head clamp (10) by placing a spacer tube (14) and inserting a carriage bolt (13), wherein one end of the carriage bolt (13) is locked with the swivel head clamp (10) using a wing nut (15); and
a gravity needle (24), using a screw (25), provided in the graduated front end of the swivel head (16).
2. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swivel head (16) is connected to swivel head claim (10) and the gravity needle (24) using a bearing shaft (17), and wherein the bearing shaft (17) is provided with a bearing house (18) and is concentrically fitted bearing (19) assembled with a bearing spacer (21) having internal circlip (20) for locking and tightened by a nut (22) and a screw (23), so as to allow the gravity needle (24) to be always vertical and free from the rotation of all assembled parts.
, Description:DEVICE FOR MEASURING AN ANGLE OF MULTIPLANE BEND IN A WORKPIECE

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to an apparatus for production of components with multiplane bends and, in particular, relates to a device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, such as a pipe, tube, or wire, in the manufacturing of high-pressure steam generators.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Pipe or tube benders of one type or another have been around for a long time. Some are quite simple, manually operated tools that do quite an adequate job especially when the various bends require no critical spacing therebetween and where only one or at most a few workpieces of a kind need be made.
[0004] For instance, while manufacturing of high-pressure steam generators superheaters, reheater’s back pass panels are having multiplane bends required to bend any degree up to a maximum of 180 degrees. Such multiplane bends are required to provide necessary openings in the respective workpieces. Normally, for measuring a required bend angle, an outer diameter of a workpiece is multiplied by pi (p) and the required bend angle, and the entire number is divided by 360 (degree) so as to obtain a distance to be marked on workpiece to get the desired bend angle. Say, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2 and 3, an outer diameter of a workpiece is 44.59 mm and a required bend angle is 30 degrees, then a distance, from a reference position, to be marked on the workpiece can be calculated as :
Distance to be marked = (44.59 x p x 30) / 360 = 11.65 mm
[0005] Such calculated distance is then marked on the workpiece by rotating the workpiece for the calculated distance from the reference/initial position, so as to make a 30-degree bend in another plane on the workpiece.
[0006] The problem arises when dozens of essentially identical workpieces need to be fabricated, especially complicated ones having several bends bearing a precise relationship to one another because the above mentioned manual process is time-consuming and has less accuracy.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a device or an apparatus that eliminates or replaces the process of manual calculation of bend angle and marking of the same for manufacturing multiplane bends on the workpieces.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0009] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, such as pipe, tube, or wire, in the manufacturing of high-pressure steam generators.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a device that facilitates the formation of multiplane bends on workpieces without manual marking on the workpieces to bend.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a device to make a multiplane bend on the workpieces in any direction.
[0012] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to a device to make a multiplane bend on the workpieces in any desired bend angle up to a maximum of 180 degrees.
SUMMARY
[0013] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to the architecture of a device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, such as a pipe, tube, or wire, in the manufacturing of high-pressure steam generators. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0014] In an embodiment, a device is disclosed for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece. The device includes a V-shaped block, at its central portion, assembled with a wooden handle using a wooden handle screw, where the wooden handle is to allow a user to hold the device during measurement of the angle for the multiplane bend. In the bottom portion of the V-shaped block, a screw rod is inserted through its external threads. The screw rod at its end, away from the V-shaped block, is provided with a screw rod handle. The screw rod handle, when operated, locks the workpiece between the screw rod and the V-shaped block during formation of multiplane bend on the workpiece. Further, on the upper portion of the V-shaped block, a y-axis secondary dial is fixed using a washer and two number of countersunk screws. Above the y-axis secondary dial, a swivel head clamp is connected using a quick tight bolt with the washer in between the swivel head clamp and the quick tight bolt. Inside the swivel head clamp, a swivel head is positioned by placing a spacer tube and inserting a carriage bolt. One end of the carriage bolt is locked with the swivel head clamp using a wing nut. Yet further, on the graduated front end of the swivel head; a gravity needle is provided using a screw.
[0015] In an aspect, the swivel head is connected to swivel head clamp and the gravity needle using a bearing shaft. The bearing shaft is provided with a bearing house and is concentrically fitted bearing assembled with a bearing spacer having internal circlip for locking and tightened by a nut and a screw, so as to allow the gravity needle to be always vertical and free from the rotation of all assembled parts.
[0016] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1A illustrates a typical workpiece (pipe) with a multiplane bend in an isometric view;
[0019] FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 1D illustrate a typical workpiece (pipe) with a multiplane bend in front view, side view, and top view, respectively;
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates an existing process of marking on the workpiece (pipe), in accordance with the state of the art;
[0021] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a manufacturing process of workpiece with bends using marking on the workpiece, in accordance with the state of the art;
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric front view of a device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric rear view in the rear view of the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed view of a swivel head clamp of the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 8 illustrates a detailed view of the swivel head of the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 9 illustrates a detailed view of y-axis dial of the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 10 illustrates a detailed view of x-axis gravity needle of the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 11 illustrates an isometric view of assembled swivel head in the x-axis of the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 12 illustrates an isometric view of the swivel head in the y-axis of the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 13 illustrates a first stage of the workpiece (pipe/tube) bending using the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 14 illustrates a second stage of the workpiece (pipe/tube) bending using the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 15 illustrates a third stage of the workpiece (pipe/tube) bending using the device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0035] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0036] Conventionally, manually operated approaches do a quite adequate job especially when various bends require no critical spacing therebetween and where only one or at most a few workpieces of a kind need be made. For example, as mentioned in the background section and as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2, 3A, and 3B, a manual marking on the workpiece (tube/pipe) has to be made based on some calculations so as to obtain the desired bending or bending angle on the workpiece. However, the problem arises when dozens of essentially identical workpieces need to be fabricated, especially complicated ones having several bends bearing a precise relationship to one another, as manual marking is more time consuming and less accurate.
[0037] To this, a device (1) a device for measuring an angle of multiplane bend in a workpiece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown in multiple views in FIGS 4-12. In FIGS 4 and 5, a V-shaped block (2) is assembled with wooden handle (5) by means of wooden handle screw (6). In the bottom of the V-shaped block (2), screw rod (3) is inserted by an internal thread made in the V-shaped block (2). Further, one end of the screw rod (3) is provided with screw rod handle (4). At the flat end of the V-shaped block (2), upper portion, a y-axis secondary dial (7) is fixed by means of a washer (8) and two numbers of the countersunk screw (9), so as to form a connection with swivel head clamp (10). The swivel head clamp (10) is fixed with a quick tight bolt (12) with washer (11) in between swivel head clamp (10) and quick tight bolt (12). The swivel head (16) is positioned inside the swivel head clamp (10) by placing a spacer tube (14) and inserting a carriage bolt (13). One end of the carriage bolt (13) is locked by means of a wing nut (15).
[0038] Further, in an implementation, the device (1) is provided with gravity needle (24) which is graduated in the front end of the swivel head (16) by a screw (25). Yet further, a bearing shaft (17) is provided with a bearing house (18) and a concentrically fitted bearing (19) assembled with a bearing spacer (21) having internal circlip (20) for locking and tightened by a nut (22) and a screw (23). With this arrangement, the gravity needle (24) is always vertical and free from the rotation of the all the assembled parts.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 13, during operation of manufacturing a workpiece with a bend, the device (1) is fitted, by locking the screw rod (3) using the screw rod handle (4), on one end of a workpiece (28) to be bend. Another end of the workpiece (28) is clamped in a former (27) of a bending machine (not shown). a typical 9o-degree bend is
[0040] In FIG. 14, a 90-degree bend made in the workpiece (28) is shown with the device (1) and the former (27). Accordingly, with the device (1) proposed herein, to make any desired angle of bending in the workpiece (28), one end of the workpiece (28) is clamped with the device (1) and the other end of the workpiece (28) is clamped in the former (27). Then, to get the desired bend angle, a clamp (not shown) in the former (27) is loosened and the whole workpiece (28) along with the device (1) is rotated by hand and stopped where the gravity needle (24) of the device (1) shows the required angle in the graduated dial of the swivel head (16). For further bending, the workpiece (28) is clamped in this position and the bending is made to a further desired angle from a different location, as shown in FIG. 15.
[0041] The above-mentioned process or operation of forming bends on the workpiece (28) can be repeated for any numbers of multiplane bends without marking on the workpiece (28). Accordingly, the device (1) proposed herein eliminates the drawbacks mentioned in the background section.
[0042] The above description does not provide specific details of manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art are capable of choosing suitable manufacturing and design details.
[0043] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0044] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0045] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.