Metal forming tool for hand beading

Abstract

A portable hand beading tool having a pair of handles pivoted together for relative rotation about a pivot axis. The tool has a pair of spindles each mounted on a respective handle and rotatable about spindle axes parallel to the pivot axis. The spindles have adjacent circumferential surfaces separated by a variable width gap controlled by relative rotation of the handles about the pivot axis so that a workpiece may be clamped between the spindles. The circumferential surfaces of both spindles have mating profiles that are formed on a workpiece clamped between the spindles. A multi-position lock holds the handles in position during workpiece deformation. The tool is positioned parallel to the edge of the workpiece so that on passage of an edge of said workpiece between the counter-rotating spindles, the workpiece is deformed by the spindles to form a continuous bead profile.

1 . A portable hand beading tool comprising; 
 a pair of handles pivoted together for relative rotation about a pivot axis,    a pair of spindles each mounted on a respective handle and rotatable about spindle axes parallel to said pivot axis, the spindles having adjacent circumferential surfaces separated by a gap, the width of the gap being variable by relative rotation of the handles about the pivot axis so that a workpiece may be clamped between the pair of spindles,    the circumferential surfaces of the pair of spindles further comprising at least one mating profile formed onto said workpiece clamped between the pair of spindles,    a multi-position lock for holding said handles in position during workpiece deformation,    said tool positioned parallel to the edge of said workpiece so that, on passage of said workpiece between counter-rotating spindles, a continuous mating profile is formed on said workpiece while said handles maintain a fixed gap width.    
   
   
       2 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein said handles are steel forged material.  
   
   
       3 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein said at least one profile is selected from the group consisting of half-round, quarter-round, triangular, and frusto-conical.  
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein said workpiece material is selected from the group consisting of sheet metal and aluminum.