Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Overedge assembling means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-04
2001-09-25
Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Overedge assembling means
C029S243570, C029S509000, C029S513000, C029S809000, C029S816000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292991
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for inserting corner members in channel-shaped flanges of a duct.
A typical sheet metal duct section of the type used in heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems (HVAC systems) is usually square or rectangular in cross-sectional shape. Such a duct section usually has channel-shaped flanges extending outwardly from its end edges for end-to-end attachment to another duct section. Corner members (or angle plates) having first and second legs are inserted into adjacent flanges of the duct in a manner so that the first leg is in one flange and the second leg is in the other flange. The flanges are then crimped to secure the corner members in the flanges. Each corner member has at least one aperture therethrough. When duct sections are positioned end-to-end, then the corner member apertures of one duct section align with the corner member apertures of the other duct section. The aligned apertures are sized and configured for receiving threaded fasteners (e.g., bolts and nuts) to clamp the duct sections together.
Insertion of the corner members into the flanges is typically performed manually. A technician places a corner member on the flanges, forces the corner members into the channel-shaped flanges with a hammer or other suitable tool such as pliers, and then manually crimps the flanges. The primary problems associated with such manual insertion are that this operation is labor intensive and time consuming.
Machines have been used to automatically remove a corner member from a stack of corner members and insert it into duct flanges. With such machines, the duct is first clamped in a fixed position on the machine. A corner member is then removed from the stack, brought into engagement with the duct, and pressed into the duct flanges. After the corner member is pressed into the duct flanges, the machine crimps the flanges to retain the corner member in the flanges. A problem associated with such machines is that a user cannot determine whether a corner member is mis-fed from the stack (or not fed from the stack at all) until after the duct-crimping step is completed. This may result in damage to the duct and delays in the insertion process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of improved apparatus and method for inserting corner members in channel-shaped flanges of a duct; the provision of such apparatus and method which enables a user to minimize the chances that the flanges of the duct will be crimped without first properly positioning the duct and corner members relative to one another, the provision of such apparatus and method which enables a user to visually verify that a corner member and duct have been properly positioned relative to one another before attempting to press the corner member into the duct flanges; and the provision of such apparatus which is of relatively simple construction.
Generally, apparatus of the present invention is configured for inserting a corner member into channel-shaped flanges of a duct. The corner member has first and second legs. The duct includes longitudinally extending duct panels. The channel-shaped flanges of the duct extend laterally from at least one end of the duct panels. The apparatus comprises a corner member support mechanism, a duct moving mechanism, and a pressing mechanism. The corner member support mechanism is adapted for supporting the corner member. The duct moving mechanism has a duct pusher moveable between a first position and a second position. The duct pusher is adapted to impart a moving force against the duct upon movement of the duct pusher from its first position to its second position. The duct moving mechanism is adapted to move the duct toward the corner member and to a position in which adjacent flanges of the duct are in registration with the legs of the corner member upon movement of the duct pusher from its first position to its second position when the corner member is being supported by the corner member support mechanism and when the duct pusher is imparting the moving force against the duct. The pressing mechanism has at least one pressing member moveable between a non-pressing position and a pressing position. The pressing mechanism is adapted to press the corner member into the duct flanges upon movement of the pressing member from its non-pressing position to its pressing position when the flanges of the duct are in registration with the legs of the corner member.
Another aspect of the present invention is a method of inserting a corner member into channel-shaped flanges of a duct. The corner member has first and second legs. The duct includes longitudinally extending duct panels, the channel-shaped flanges of the duct extending laterally from at least one end of the duct panels. The method comprises supporting the corner member, moving the duct toward the corner member and to a position in which adjacent flanges of the duct are in registration with the legs of the corner member, and pressing the corner member into the duct flanges.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1600570 (1926-09-01), Wenn
patent: 1726209 (1929-08-01), Bersenbrugge
patent: 2895214 (1959-07-01), Erdmann
patent: 2906433 (1959-09-01), Erdmann
patent: 2973108 (1961-02-01), Gable
patent: 3023493 (1962-03-01), Mittermaier
patent: 3687168 (1972-08-01), Sherman et al.
patent: 4038128 (1977-07-01), Mueller
patent: 4261098 (1981-04-01), Lincoln
patent: 4332203 (1982-06-01), Flowers
patent: 4410206 (1983-10-01), Mez
patent: 4466641 (1984-08-01), Heilman et al.
patent: 4497189 (1985-02-01), Larson
patent: 4507836 (1985-04-01), Hiromitsu
patent: 4564227 (1986-01-01), Murck
patent: 4572553 (1986-02-01), Geldner
patent: 4579375 (1986-04-01), Fischer et al.
patent: 4713959 (1987-12-01), Bennett
patent: 4870749 (1989-10-01), Roy et al.
patent: 4989438 (1991-02-01), Simon
patent: 5086638 (1992-02-01), David
patent: 5090101 (1992-02-01), Welty
patent: 5103549 (1992-04-01), Meinig et al.
patent: 5189784 (1993-03-01), Welty
patent: 5275449 (1994-01-01), Hunter
patent: 5283944 (1994-02-01), Goodhue
patent: 5321880 (1994-06-01), Goodhue
patent: 5342100 (1994-08-01), Goodhue
patent: 5353616 (1994-10-01), Fischer et al.
patent: 5358013 (1994-10-01), McClain
patent: 5375312 (1994-12-01), Sakurai et al.
patent: 5448815 (1995-09-01), Kolesar
patent: 5462089 (1995-10-01), McClain
patent: 5465652 (1995-11-01), Kiamura et al.
patent: 5495652 (1996-03-01), Kitamura et al.
patent: 5621956 (1997-04-01), Kolesar
patent: 5649347 (1997-07-01), Cattadoris
patent: 5673947 (1997-10-01), De Waal
patent: 5850687 (1998-12-01), Ito
patent: 5906041 (1999-05-01), Ito et al.
patent: 5926937 (1999-07-01), Goodhue
patent: 5954373 (1999-09-01), Sorkin
patent: 6047466 (2000-04-01), Karpman et al.
patent: 6056021 (2000-05-01), Iizuka
patent: 6081985 (2000-07-01), Fischer et al.
patent: 6134775 (2000-10-01), Castillo
patent: 6158114 (2000-12-01), Kaczorowski
Fischer Herbert J.
Satterfield Michael E.
Engel Industries, Inc.
Howell & Haferkamp LC
Hughes S. Thomas
Omgba Essama
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for inserting corner members in... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for inserting corner members in..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for inserting corner members in... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2477259