FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] This invention relates to a system and method of loading and
unloading tube required for fabrication at high pressure and high
temperature applications. In particular, the invention relates to the
loading and unloading of high pitch bent tubes of thickness ranging from
4 – 14 mm, having diameter ranging 32 – 76.1 mm size, with length of the
tube up to 25 meters and the distance between two legs of the bend,
depending upon the design, ranging between 01-03 m.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Tube of different material & sizes is bent for high pressure and high
temperature applications. For cold forming of tubes, bending machine is
used for handling tubes of length up to 25 metres. Normally the tubes are
loaded on to the bending machine stand for marking. After marking, the
tubes are bent as per the required dimension. Post bending, the bent parts
are taken out of the machine & thrown manually in the machine dump for
storing. In most of the cases the bending width (pitch) of the tube varies
from 01-03 m. It becomes extremely difficult & unsafe for the operators
when the width of the tube (pitch) increases as the operators have to carry
the entire width & weight of the tube for dumping.
[003] It is also to be noted that the weight of the tube increases
proportionally with the width & thickness of the bent tube. This method of
bending requires more man power & more cycle time resulting in reduction

in production target as each of the bent tubes are taken out of the bending
former by crane only.
[004] CN103232153A, titled “Unloading system of light tube bender”
discloses an unloading system that includes a light tube turnover device
and a light tube clamping device. The light tube turnover device includes
an underframe A, the top of which is rotatable connected to a turntable.
The light tube clamping device comprises an underframe B, the top of
which is movably connected to a clamp. The system provided in the
invention is used for unloading, after a light tube bend tube shapes, the
light tube is subjected to turnover unloading and collecting. In the whole
process, the light tube temperature drops to certain extent. Meanwhile,
the contact site of the unloading system and the light tube is provided
with a thermal insulation layer to prevent the light tube from rupturing
and breaking due to uneven cold and heat, thus avoiding unnecessary
losses and reducing the production cost of enterprises. In addition, the
whole process has no need for operators to contact the light tube, so that
the operators can avoid scalding by the high temperature light tube, and
their life safety can be ensured. Light tube unloading, turnover and
collecting processes are completed in one time, so that the work efficiency
is improved.
[005] US10370204B2 titled “Transportation System” discloses an off-shore
port system that includes a land-based port infrastructure area, an off-
shore cargo ship docking area located in a body of water, and a

transportation system having at least one tube connecting the land-based
port infrastructure area and the off-shore cargo ship docking area.
[006] CN103232153A titled “Spiral energy-saving tube leg bending
machine” discloses kind of electricity-saving lamp production unit, relate
in particular to a kind of helical energy saving lamp tube bending legs
machine. It related to glass bending and not for materials bending.
From the patent search no patent has provided any reference to the
process of tube unloading system.
[007] Hence, the present invention has been performed to facilitate the
system with technique ensuring the increased productivity in bending of
coils assemblies for boilers with ease and safe working.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[008] It is thus the basic object of the present invention to propose an
innovative process to ease out the efforts during loading and unloading
during bending process of tubes for high pressure and high temperature
applications.
[009] Another object of the present invention is directed to improve upon
the productivity using the modified process.
[010] Further object of the present invention to eliminate the difficulties in
removing the large and heavy tubes after bending from the former and
putting them in the machine dump in the absence of any automatic
mechanism.

[011] Further object of the present invention is to make the tube bending
operation safe & easy.
[012] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the ensuing description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[013] The present invention aims to develop a new system and method of
tube unloading mechanism in the existing tube bending machine which
would help to remove and unload the bent tube in the machine dump with
a width (pitch) in the ranges of 01 – 03 meters with thickness of 4 – 14 mm
from the former to enable the operators an easy and safe working condition
resulting in enhanced productivity, completely eliminating the use of crane
for unloading of the tubes.
[014] In an aspect, the present invention provides an arm stand positioned
between a support stand and a roller stand for easing the loading and
unloading of tubes during bending process.
[015] In an aspect, a straight tube is moved from the support stand to the
bending machine through the arm stand and the roller stand in between.
In an aspect, a pair of levers embedded within the arm stand facilitates the
movement of the tube before and after the bending process in a
reciprocating manner.
[016] In an aspect, the present invention reduces the production cycle time
from the present method of fabrication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[017] 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.
[018] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be
in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,
and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features
will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following
detailed description.
[019] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of
illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the
following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and
methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the
principles of the disclosure described herein with the figures, in which:
[020] Figure 1A: Isometric view of the arrangement of the system
[021] Figure 1B: Partial view of the arrangement of PART “C”
[022] Figure 2A: The front view of the arrangement “PART C” with
temporary storage space (S1, S2)
[023] Figure 2B: The top view of the arrangement “PART C”
[024] Figure 3A: Configuration of arm stand (1) with internal components
[025] Figure 3B: Side view of arrangement of Arm Stand (1) with lever
(18)

[026] Figure 3C: Side view of arrangement of Arm Stand (1) with lever
(18) and (19)
[027] Figure 4A: Arrangement of lever (18) and (19) connection
[028] Figure 4B: Internal components in the arrangement of lever (18)
and (19)
[029] Figure 5A: Placement of tube (5) and lever action (18) up, (19)
horizontal before bending
[030] Figure 5B: Placement of tube (5) and lever action (18) horizontal,
(19) up before bending
[031] Figure 6A: Placement of bent tube (5A) and lever action (18)
horizontal, (19) up after bending
[032] Figure 6B: Placement of bent tube (5A) and lever action (18) up,
(19) horizontal after bending
[033] Figure 7A: Unloading of bent tube in the Temporary storage area
(S1, S2) (partial view)
[034] Figure 7B: Unloading of bent tube in the Temporary storage area
(S1, S2) (full view)
[035] Figure 8A: Placement of tube (5) at bending machine (2)
[036] Figure 8B: Placement of bent tube (5A) at bending machine (2)
[037] With the detail as follows:
1. ARM STAND
2. BENDING MACHINE
3. SUPPORT STAND
4. ROLLER STAND
5. STRAIGHT TUBES
5A. BEND TUBE (CIRCUIT)
6. WOODEN PIECE
7. ADJUSTABLE MOVING UNIT
8. EYE BOLT
9. SCREW ROD
10. CHANNEL

11. ANGLE
12. CHANNEL
13. STRIP
14. RIB
15. SCREW ROD NUT
16. ARM SUPPORT
17. STOPPER PIECE
18. LONG ARM LEVER
19. SHORT ARM LEVER
20. PIN
21. WASHER
22. EXTERNAL CIRCLIP
23. CONNECTOR
24. PIN
25. SPLIT PIN
26. WASHER
27. CONNECTING ROD
28. HEXAGONAL NUT
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION WITH
REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
[038] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various
modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been
shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It
should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the
disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the
disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling
within the scope of the disclosure.

[039] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been
described in language specific to package features, it is to be understood
that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific
features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed
as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications
and adaptations of the system/device of the present invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the
appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which
fall within the scope of the present subject matter.
[040] In the existing art, while unloading the tubes from the machine,
more man power is used to lift the tube as the width (pitch) goes up to 2.8
meters which is indeed tiresome & take quite a long time due to the
operator’s fatigue. To avoid manual handling of the bent tube with higher
width, the crane is generally used to take the tube from the former that
requires extra man-power & consumes more time apart from confining the
crane working in a limited area and not allowing to engage in other work
stations.
[041] In the present invention a novel system has been developed in which
an arm stand unit (1) as shown in Figure1A is installed in bending
machine that is capable of supporting, guiding and sliding the tube of
different width or pitch. The arrangement of the arm stand unit (1) with
the bending machine (2) is referred as “PART C” which is separately
illustrated in Figure 1B.

[042] As shown in Figure 1A and 1B, a pile of straight tubes (5) of varied
length (03- 20 meters) that is to be bent are loaded on one or more support
stand (3) for adequate support and marking of the tubes for bending and
moved on to the arm stand (1). Further tubes (5) are loaded on bending
machine (2) by using a plurality of roller stand (4), for supporting the tube
(5) while bending. Here while tubes (5) are moved through the arm stand
(1), an adjustable moving unit (7) allows the tubes (5) to move towards
bending machine (2).
[043] After completion of bending operation, the bent circuit of the tube
(5A) moves back to the arm stand (1), here one end of the tube (5A) is
allowed to pass on the arm stand (1) which is supported by the adjustable
moving unit (7) and the other end is blocked by the moving type lever (18)
embedded in the arm stand (1). Once the bending operation is performed
in the bending machine (2), the bent tubes (5A) are temporarily stored in
the gap space (S1) between the stands (1), (3) and in the gap space (S2)
between the stands (4) and (1) (as shown in Figure 2A) before moving to
the next work station for further processing. A wooden block (6) supports
at the bottom of the unloaded tube (5A) while unloading. The front and top
view of the “PART C” arrangement is shown in Figure 2A and Figure 2B
respectively.
[044] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
arrangement of the arm stand (1) unit is illustrated in Figure 3A (front
view) and in Figure 3B, 3C (side view). The internal component of the arm
stand (1) is shown in the Figure 3A. A channel (12) is configured in the

arm stand (1) for placing the tube (5). The movement of the tube (5)
through the channel (12) is adjusted with the aid of a plurality of ribs (14)
embedded in a strip (13), a plurality of screw rod nut (15) and a pair of
arm supports (16) on both the ends of the channel (12). A stopper piece
(17) prevents the tube (5) from falling. A screw rod (9) as configured beside
the adjustable tube (7) is used for adjusting accommodation of different
pitch (width) of the tubes (5) of different length and a plurality of eye bolt
(8) are embedded at the angle (11) for handling the arm stand (1) (referring
Figure 3B).
[045] In an exemplary embodiment, at least a pair of lever units (18, 19)
embedded in the arm stand (1) act as reciprocating arrangement in
movement of the tubes (5) when placed on the stand (1) for infeed and
outfeed of the bending machine (2) (referring Figure 3C). The pair of levers
(18, 19) are connected through a connecting rod (27) with the aid of a pair
of connectors (23) connected at both ends of the rod (27) with a plurality
of hexagonal nuts (28).
[046] The connecting arrangement between the lever units (18, 19) is
shown in Figure 4A, 4B. The movement of long arm lever (18) is regulated
by the operation of one or more external circlips (22) and one or more pins
(20). The connectors (23) are functioning with the help of a plurality of pin
(24), split pin (25) and washer (26) each. The components (24, 25, 26)
help the connectors (23) move freely when attached with the levers (18,
19).

[047] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the tube
(5) moves from the support stand (3) to the arm stand (1), the lever (18) is
in upright position and the lever (19) is in horizontal position (Referring
Figure 5A). The lever (18) is pushed horizontal by the movement of tube
thus acts as a bridge between the stands (1) and (4) to allow the tube (5)
to move smoothly towards the bending machine (2) and prompting the
lever (19) to come up restricting back movement of the tube towards the
support stand (3) (referring Figure 5B).
[048] After bending, when the position of the lever (18) is horizontal and
the lever (19) is upright (referring Figure 6A), the bent tube (5A) is pushed
over the roller stand (4) and the arm stand (1) resulting pushing the lever
(19) horizontal. The first leg of the bent tube (5A) is unloaded in the gap
(S1) between the stands (1), (3). The horizontal movement of the lever (19)
results the lever (18) to reciprocate in upright position, stopping the
second leg of the bend tube (5A) to move beyond the roller stand (4) and
making a gap between the stands (4) and (1) thereby fall on to the dump
at the space (S2) (referring Figure 6B). Once the bending operation is
performed in the bending machine (2), the bent tubes are temporarily
stored in the gap space (S1) between the stands (1), (3) and in the gap
space (S2) between the stands (4) and (1). The unloading of the bent tube
(5A) in the temporary storage space (S1, S2) is shown in Figure 7A as a
partial view and in Figure 7B as a full view.

[049] The placement of the straight tube (5) before bending and the bent
tube (5A) after bending at the bending machine (2) is shown in Figure 8A,
8B.
[050] The exemplary embodiment provides an innovative unloading
mechanism configured with an intermediately positioned stands (1),
configured with a pair of reciprocating levers (18, 19) at both the sides,
between at least one main support stand (3) and at least one roller stand
(4), to facilitate guiding as well as stopper so as to dump the bent tube (5A)
effortlessly without physical effort by personnel. The mechanism is made
adjustable to cater for all kind of width of tube making it an ideal
arrangement.
[051] The tubes used for bending in the present invention disclosed herein
are having a wall thickness ranging from (4.00 - 14.00 mm) & diameter
ranging (32 - 76.1 mm). The preferred system enables unloading bent tube
(5A) in the temporary storage area (S) before moving to next work station.
Bent tubes with distance between legs (pitch) ranging 01- 03 meters of any
type of material specification and bending radius are being handled.
[052] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention
disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group
member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination
with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or
more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for
reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or
deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as

modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the
appended claims.
[053] 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.
[054] 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.
[055] 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.
[056] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms
used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the
appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term
“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the
term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term
“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.).
It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific
number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will
be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no
such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the
following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases
“at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However,
the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the
introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits
any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to
inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim
includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and
indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically
be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds
true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In
addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is

explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation
should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g.,
the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically
means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore,
in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B,
and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense
one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a
system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited
to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C
together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those
instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.”
is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having
skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at
least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that
have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and
C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood
by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase
presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description,
claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities
of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For
example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities
of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

[057] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a
plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component
or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be
split among plural steps or components. The present invention
contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise,
dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are
not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or
geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present
invention may have been described in the context of only one of the
illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more
other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also
be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures
herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance
with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses
intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods
herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates
embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.
Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for
infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the
various elements or limitations specified in the claims.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION
[058] The advantage of the present invention is that it provides the
mechanism totally independent of operation of the parent machine.
[059] Another advantage of the present invention is that it reduces the
fatigue of the operators.
[060] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides facility
of simultaneous operation of crane restored in other work stations.
[061] Further advantage of the present invention is that it reduces the
cycle time of operation giving rise to an increased output.
[062] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it saves man-
power giving scope to utilize it in other productivity area.
[063] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides the
bending mechanism by which the bending operation becomes much safer
compared to the earlier one done manually.

We Claim:
1. A system for loading and unloading high pitch tube during bending
operation at high pressure and high temperature, said system
comprises:
at least a pair of stands as a support stand (3) and a roller
stand (4) each for moving a straight tube (5) towards a bending
machine (2) and a bent tube (5A) after bending therefrom;
at least one wooden block (6) for providing support at the
bottom of the bent tube (5A) after unloading; and
at least one arm stand (1) intermediately positioned between
each pair of the support stand (3) and the roller stand (4), wherein
the arm stand (1) configured with at least a pair of reciprocating
levers (18, 19) at both sides facilitates guiding and stopping the tube
(5, 5A) of different pitch for infeed and outfeed of the bending
machine (2) and unloading the bent tube (5A) in a space (S1, S2)
between the pair of stands (3, 1) and (4, 1) respectively.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unloading stand (1)
further comprises a channel (12) for guiding the straight (5) or bent
(5A) tube through it with the aid of a plurality of ribs (14) embedded
in a strip (13), a plurality of screw rod nut (15) and a plurality of
arm supports (16) on both ends of the channel (12).
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm stand (1)
configures an adjustable moving unit (7) atop the channel (12) for

guiding the straight tube (5) towards the bending machine (2) and
the bent tube (5A) therefrom.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm stand (1)
configures a screw rod (9) adjacent to the adjustable moving unit (7)
for adjusting accommodation of the tube (5, 5A) of different length
and pitch.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, the pair of levers (18, 19)
connected through a connecting rod (27) with the aid of a pair of
connectors (23) connected at both ends of the rod (27) act in
reciprocating manner.
6. A method for loading and unloading high pitch tube during bending
operation at high pressure and high temperature, said method
comprises:
loading at least one straight tube (5) on one or more support
stands (3) for supporting and marking the tube (5) for bending with
a forward movement towards an arm stand (1);
forwarding the tube (5) from the arm stand (1) towards a
bending machine (2) through one or more roller stand (4) for
supporting the tube (5) while bending, wherein the movement of the
tube (5) pushes at least one long arm lever (18) embedded in the arm
stand (1) in horizontal position for bridging the gap between the
stand (1) and (4) and at least one short arm lever (19) upward

resulting restriction of back movement of the tube (5) towards the
support stand (3);
moving a bent tube (5A) back to the arm stand (1) after a
performance of bending, wherein a first leg of said tube (5A) is
pushes the short arm lever (19) in horizontal position resulting
movement of said first leg in a gap (S1) between the arm stand (1)
and the support stand (3) and a second leg of the bent tube (5A) gets
blocked by the long arm lever (18) with its upward position resulting
movement of said the second leg in a gap (S2) between the roller
stand (4) and the arm stand (1); and
unloading and storing the bent tubes (5A) in the gap (S1)
between the arm stand (1) and the support stand (3) and in the gap
(S2) between the roller stand (4) and the arm stand (1) before moving
to the next work station for further processing, wherein the unloaded
bent tubes (5A) are supported with at least one wooden block (6) at
the bottom.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arm stand (1)
handles tubes of length up to 25 m, thickness ranging 4.00 mm-
14.00 mm and diameter up to 76.1 mm for fabrication of bending.
8. The method as claimed in claims 6, wherein the arm stand (1)
enables unloading the bent tube (5A) in a machine dump in the
storage space (S1, S2) with a pitch ranging 01-03m irrespective of
material specification and bending radius.