Articulated Pipe Bending Mandrel With One-Piece Link Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mandrels for pipe bending machines require precise manufacturing of link elements with multiple parts, leading to limited resistance and increased assembly complexity.
Innovation Solution
The mandrel features a flexible portion with one-piece male and female components, allowing for simpler assembly and higher mechanical strength, while reducing the number of parts and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If link elements are made in multiple parts to be assembled together, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the male and female components into a single integrated link element. The one-piece construction eliminates the need for separate male and female parts that need to be assembled, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of manufacture through single-piece fabrication processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The link element is designed as a segmented one-piece structure with integrated male and female portions that are formed as a single unit. This segmentation within unity allows the component to be manufactured as one piece while still having distinct functional zones for connection, reducing assembly complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If link elements are made in multiple parts, then ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the male and female components into a single link element, the patent eliminates the need for precise mating of separate threaded parts. The one-piece construction removes cumulative tolerance issues that would arise from assembling multiple precision-machined components, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while reducing precision requirements.
3Ease of operation
If link elements are made in multiple parts, then assembly is simplified, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges male and female components into a single link element, which eliminates the time-consuming assembly process of fitting together multiple parts. The one-piece design allows for quicker installation while maintaining the ease of operation benefits through simplified connection geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A mandrel for pipe bending machine has an elongated body (3) with a first end connected to a mandrel rod and a second end, opposite to the first, in which there is a spherical seat (8), several intermediate articulated elements (10) and a terminal articulated element (11). Each intermediate joint element (10) and the terminal joint element (11) have a peripheral part (12) configured so as to lean against the inner wall of a pipe (T) to be bent. Each intermediate articulated element (10) has a cup-shaped part (13) in one piece, and a stem (19) extending externally from it, and a spheroidal part (21) in one piece, configured so as to be introduced in a cup-shaped part (13) of a previous intermediate articulated element (10).