US2183329A - Rod bending apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1939. P. COTTER AL 2,183,329

ROD BENDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Bare/ck J. CUTTER Wear 5 v/va/ae/o INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Dec. 12, 1939. P. J. COTTER ET AL 2,183,329

ROD BENDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAECY fla/vax-ve/o INVENTORS rflazzk' M ATTORNEYS atented 12, 1939 puns!) STATES ROD BENDING APPARATUS rim-ion r. Cotter, Long mans city, and- Marcy iD'Onofrio, Richmond Hill,'N. Y.

Application February 15, 1939, Serial No. 256,45

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rod bending apparatus and morespecifically to apparatusfor manually bending rods for use in the reinforcement of concrete structures.

.In reinforced concrete construction, it is the practice to support reinforcing rods upon the i1 beams, and to form "drops in the length of the rod to be disposed between adjacent beams. It has been the general practice in the past to manually bend the rod by guesswork and which requires the services of a number of operators in the bending of a single red. It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide an apparatus, by the'use of which, a rod may be acl curately bent by a single operator.

Another important feature of the invention resides in rod bending apparatus which may be set up for use on the premises -of the concrete structure to be erected to bend the reinforcing 2o rods to meet the structural specifications of the particular job as the construction operationsprogress. I

Another feature of the invention is to provide a rod bending apparatus wherein the bends imparted to a reinforcing rod are uniform to assure the forming of the drops of uniform depths throughout the length of the rod.

A'further feature of the invention is the provision of'a rod bending apparatus which may be set to form different length bends in a reinforcing rod, whereby to vary the depth of the "drop" to meet the specifications called for on a particular job. A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a reinforcing rod bending apparatus which is simple and inexpensive of construction, which requires a minimum amount of effort on the part of an operator to effect a bending of a rod; and which-greatly speeds up the bending of the rods over past methods, thus saving time and labor costs. 1

With these and-other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential fea- 46 tures of which are hereinafter fully described in the following specification, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view broken away intermediate its ends, and illustrating the manner in which a hook is bent at one end'of a reinforcing Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the manner in which the first angular 55 bend is formed in a reinforcing rod.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view with the angular stop member placed in position with the first angular bend of the rodin abutting en- Easement therewith.

' Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the 5 final bend in the forming of the second p" a in a reinforcing rod.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the rod bending tool. p

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an adjustable bending tool which may be used in connection with the apparatus, the adjustable jaw being illustrated in separated position in full lines and in operative position in dot and dash lines.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view through the head of the tool shown in Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modified go form of bending tool.

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view through several I beams showing a bentreinforcing rod supported thereby.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary top plan view show-- g5 ing the use of the auxiliary rail for forming a shallow "drop in a rod.

Referring to the drawings by reference char acters, the numeral Iii designates a fiat table or work bench made of wood and which may be of any width within the limit of the maximum depth of the drop to be formed in the bending of a steel reinforcing rod-to be used on a particular reinforced concrete construction job. I The table II! is of a length approximating the length of the 3 rod to be bent so that the rod'may be bent at spaced distances throughout its length without disturbing the position of the rod upon the table. The table ill includes a fiat top il supported by legs l2 of a length to conveniently position the 40 top Ii relatively to the height of an average operator.

Flxedly supported upon the table top Hand extending lengthwise inwardly'of the front longitudinal edge thereof are a pair of spaced parallel angle rails i3 and H, which extend from the left end of the table to apoint short of the right end thereof. The rail I3 includes ayhorizontal base flange l5 which fits against the table top H and extends in a rearward direction, and an upstanding flange IS. The base flange l5 has spaced openings I1 therealong through which fastening screws l8 pass into the wood top H. The rail l3 may be termed afixed rail by reason of its screw fastening elements, whereas the sis rail Il may be termed an adjustable or removable rail by reason of its fastening elements now to be explained.

The rail It includes a horizontal base flange I! which extends toward the front of the table top and an upstanding flange 20. The base flange ll is provided with spaced openings 2| through which nails 22 pass into the table top II. .By reason of the nail fastening means for the rail ll, it is possible to-pry the same up and readjust it in parallel relation to the rail l3 when the depth of the drop to be bent into a rod exceeds the original adjusted relation of the rails. However, it is possible to employ auxiliary rail members in conjunction with the two fixed rails l3 and H to effect the bending of a shallower drop in the rod without disturbing the original maximum adjustment of the rails, as will be hereinafter explained.

Fixedly mounted in close spaced relation to the right end of the rail I3 is a relatively short angle rail member 23 which is secured to the table top H by screws 24. The space between the adjacent upstanding flanges of the rail I3 and rail member 23 is such as to freely receive the thickness or cross sectional diameter of the rod to be bent.

The rod bending apparatus also includes a bending tool 25 which comprises an elongated handle 26 having an inverted U shaped jaw 21 welded to one end thereof. The jaw 21 is of a length approximating the length of the bend to be formed in a reinforcing rod, and the channel or space between the walls of the jaw is such as to freely receive the cross sectional area of the rod to be bent. The free end of the handle has a tubular socket 28 welded thereto.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated the first step of a reinforcing rod bending. operation, wherein a straight reinforcing rod A is placed lengthwise on the table top ll fiat against the inner side of the upstanding flange ii of the rail lit. The right end of the rod A is shown extended beyond the right end of the rail [3 and rail member 23 to facilitate the bending of an anchor hook on one end of the rod. A row of guage markers 29 is provided on the table top beyond the outer end of the rail member 23 which are indicative of inches to facilitate the lining up of the end of the rod to measure the length of the bill of the hook to be formed. After lining up the right end of the rod A. the operator inserts the socket 28 of the tool 25 onto the said end of the rod with the jaw end of the tool open side up. The operator manually swings the tool 25 in a rearward direction as shown by the dotted position of the tool in Figure 1. The tool is swung until the bill of the hook B is substantially parallel to the length of the rod, and the rounded bend is formed by the rod being fulcrumed on the right end of the rail I3.

After the hook B has been formed, the rod A is turned forward a half turn to cause the hook B to hookingly engage the rail member 23 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The rod A is now in position to receive the first bend to form a drop" and arranged along the table top H adjacent the inner side of the rail l3 are spaced rows of guide markers 30 which may be in the form of nails driven into the table top H. The operator now applies the tool 25 to the intermediate portion of the rod A with the open side of the Jaw down over the rod. The end of the jaw 21 is lined up with a particular one of the guide markers of the right end group depending upon the distance at which the first "drop" is to be formed from the hook B. With the jaw 21 fitted over the rod A and the handle -26 extending forwardly, the operator turns the handle from left to right and the swinging movement of the tool is limited by reason of the ends of the jaw abutting the inner sides of the rails l3 and II as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The length of the jaw 21 is proportionate to the distance between the rails l3 and I4, so that when the tool reaches the limit of its turning movement, the bent portion forms an angular leg C which is approximately disposed at a forty-five degree angle with respect to the straight unbent portions of the rod. After the bending of the first leg of the first drop" in the rod, the operator removes the tool and places an angle rail stop member 3| upon the table against which the angular leg portion C abuts. The stop member 3| is removably secured by a pair of pins 32 which pass through openings in the base flange of the anglerail stop member and enter any corresponding pair of openings 33 provided in the table top II. The openings 33 are arranged in two rows to facilitate adjustment of the stop member 3| and when in anchored position, the stop member assumes an angular position corresponding to the angular position of the bent leg portion C so as to flatly engage said leg portion as best seen in Figure 3.

Having formed the first bend in the rod to form the leg portion C of the first drop and positioned the leg portion C against the stop member 3|, the operator may now proceed to successively make the other bends at spaced distances throughout the remaining length of the rod. To complete one "drop the operator applies the tool to the left the required measured distance from the lower bend in the leg portion C, it being noted that the portion of the rod to which the tool is applied is now disposed against the inner side of the front rail l4. Guide markers 34 are arranged in spaced relation on the table top adjacent the inner side of the rail H to enable the lining up of the jaw to the tool 25 when making up-bends now to be explained. With the tool 25 properly positioned over the rod with the rod in the jaw 21, and the handle 26 extending forward, the operator manually turns the handle toward the'left until the ends of the jaw abut the inner sides of the rails l3 and H whereupon the second angular leg portion D of the "drop is formed and which leg portion D is also disposed at an approximately forty-five degree angle relative to the length of the rod. The leg portions C and D are joined by a bridge portion E, and these portions combined form a "drop F of a particular width and depth, depending upon the specifications of a particular reinforced concrete construction job. Any number x of like drops F may be formed at spaced distances along the length of the rod A, but we have only illustrated two in the drawings.

After a rod A has been bent throughout its length to provide the desired number of drops F, it is supported by clips G (Figure 10) upon the I beams H of a structural steel framework, the hook end B being hookingly engaged with a reinforcing rod J disposed at right angle to the rod A. The two drops F are of uniform depth but in some instances it is desired that the "drops in a single rod be of different depths. We have therefore provided a means for bending a shallower "drop without disturbing the original adjusted position of the fixed rails ll right when making and H as shown in Figure ll of the drawings in full lines and in dotted lines in Figure 1.

To shorten the depth of the "drop, auxiliary rail members ll inwardly of and adjacent the rail I! at locations thereon where the bends are to be formed. The auxiliary rail members are held in position parallel to the rails l3 and I4 by removable pins holes 31 in the table top. The auxiliary railmembers 35 coact with the rail 13 instead of the rail l4, and the rail 13 and rail members are abutted by the ends of the jaw 21 of the tool 25, although a tool havinga shorter length jaw is used, for it is the length of the jaw which determines the depth of the drop and the angle of the bend.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that after the hook B is formed on one end of the rod A and the rod is turned to cause the hook B to engage the rail member 23, that the rod A is held against accidental shifting 'movement toward the left when making 36 which enter down-bends in the rod, the stop member 3| with which the first down-bend abuts, acts to prevent ac'cidental shifting of the rod toward the up-bends.

In Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, we have illustrated an adjustable tool 38 which may be used for bending rods of various cross sectional dimensions. The tool 38 includes a fiat head 39 which has a depending fixed jaw 40. The head 39 has an internally screw threaded socket 6| welded thereon which receives the threaded end of a tubular handle 42 made up of a plurality of different diameter pipe sections 42' which gradually diminish in diameter outwardly from the head 38. By separating or connecting the handle sections, the same may be selectively brought into use as a socket for bending the hook on the ends of rods of difierent cross sectional dimensions.

The head 39 has three spaced elongated slots d3 which respectively receive three guide pins d4 extending upwardly from the horizontal flange 45 of an adjustable angle jaw member 56. The standard cross sectional dimensions of reinforcing rods for concrete construction are standardized as A", and A", and We have provided for these three fixed adjustments by arranging two converging rows of unthreaded bolt openings 61 in the head 39, any corresponding two of which may be brought into registration with two related threaded openings of the six threaded openings 48 in the horizontal flange 45.

- A pair of bolts 49 pass through the pairs of alined openings i'l and 33 and have threading connection with openings 38 to secure the adjustable jaw member QB in a fixed position relative to the fixed jaw 50. After adjusting the jaw member lfB to a fixed position to accommodate a particular diameter of rod, the tool 38 is used in the same manner as the tool 25.

InFigure 9, a modified form of tool 50 is illustrated and which includes a fiat head 5i welded to one 'end of a handle 52. A socket 53 is welded to the upper side of the handle at the free end are placed upon'the table top pended claims The space between the'pins 64 determines the length of the bend to be formed in a rod.

While we have shown and described what we consider to be the preferred embodiments of our invention, we wish it to be understood that such changes as comewithin the scope of the apmay be resorted to if desired.

Having thus claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the'United States, is:

1. Apparatus for the bending of reinforcement rods for use in connection with concrete constructions comprising in combination, an elongated ta-- ble; a pair of spaced parallel rails fixed lengthwise to the table against the inner side of one of which a rod to be bent is adapted to be placed; means on said table adjacent the end of one of said rails adapted to cooperate therewith in holding a rod while one end thereof is beingbent, and said means also serving to engage the bent and of a rod for arresting shifting movement of the rod in one direction while making a second bend intermediate the ends thereof; a bending tool having a rod receiving jaw of greater length than the distance between the rails whereby an angular second bend may be made in a rod of a length approximating that of the jaw when a rod is gripped'in the jaw and the bending tool is turned until the ends of the jaw abut the rails and a removable stop member mounted on said table between said rails and extending angularly relative thereto at an angle corresponding to the angle of the second bend formed in a rod and against which the angular second bend is adapted to abut to arrest shifting movement of a rod in the opposite direction so as to hold a rod' described the invention, what we v against lengthwise shifting movement during the.

formation of subsequent bends inthe rod.'

2. Apparatus for the bending of reinforcement rods for use in connection with concrete constructions comprising in combination; an elongated table; a pair of spaced parallel rails fixed lengthwise to the table against the inner side of one of which a rod to be bent is adapted to be placed; means on said table adjacent the end of one of said rails adapted to cooperate therewith in holding a rod while one end thereof is being bent, and said means also serving to engage the bent end of a rod for arresting shifting movement of the rod in one direction while making a second bend intermediate the ends thereof; a bending tool including spaced coextensive jaw members providing a jaw receiving channel therebetween, the length of the jaw members being greater than the distance between the rails whereby an angular second bend may be made in a rod of a length approximating that of the jaw members when a rod is gripped in the channel between the jaws and the bending tool is turned until the ends of the jaw members abut the rails; and a removable stop member mounted on said table between said rails and extending angularly thereto at an angle corresponding to the angle of the second bend formed in a rod and against which the angular second bend is adapted to abut to arrest shifting movement of a rod in the opposite direction so as to hold a rod against lengthwise shifting movement during the formation of subsequent bends in the rod.

3. Apparatus for bending of reinforcement rods for use in connection with concrete constructions comprising in combination; an elongated table; a pair of spaced parallel rails fixed lengthwise to the table against the inner side of one of which a rod to be bent is adapted to be placed;

means on said table adjacent the end of one of said rails adapted tocooperate therewith in holding a rod while one end thereof is being bent, and said means also serving to engage the bent end of a rod for arresting shifting movement oi the rod in one direction while making a second bend intermediate the ends thereof; a bending tool having a rod receiving jaw of greater length than the distance between the rails whereby an angular second bend may be made in a rod of a length approximating that of the jaw when a rod is gripped in the jaw and the bending tool is turned until the ends 01 the jaw abut the rails;

an auxiliary rail member of less length than the rails and positioned between the rails in parallel spaced relation thereto adapted to form an abutment for a rod being bent in a Wimp that is shallower than the distance between the rails, means on the table coacting with the rail member for detachably supporting the auxiliary rail on the table; and a removable stop member mounted on said table between said rails and extending angularly relative thereto at an angle corresponding to the angle of the second bend formed in a rod and against which the angular second bend is adapted to abut to arrest shitting movement of a rod in the opposite direction so as to hold a rod against lengthwise shifting movement during the formation of subsequent bends in the rod.

PATRICK J. CO'I'IER.

MARCY DONOFRIO.

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