Raymond P Ward

US Patent:

57751625, Jul 7, 1998

Filed:

May 30, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/865990

Inventors:

Raymond L. Ward - Oxford MA

International Classification:

B21D 502

US Classification:

723893

Abstract:

A closed tube forming apparatus including a base having spaced apart first and second support members; an elongated first die having one end supported by the first support member and an opposite end supported by the second support member, the one end being detachable from the first support member so as to permit separating movement therebetween; and an elongated second die supported by the base and extending parallel to the first die. One of the first and second dies has a transverse V-shaped cross section forming a knife edge and the other die defines a longitudinally extending V-shaped groove conforming substantially to the V-shaped cross section. Also included in the apparatus are a drive mechanism for producing relative movement between the first and second dies into forming positions with the knife edge received by the groove and a release mechanism operable to effect the detachment of the one end from the first support member and thereby permit the separating movement therebetween into positions substantially spaced apart.