Apparatus for making an adaptor which is used in heating and ventilation systems

Abstract

Apparatus ( 120 ) for making an adaptor ( 2 ) which is used in heating and ventilation systems and which is used to connect ducting which is of a square cross sectional shape to ducting which is of a circular cross sectional shape, which apparatus ( 120 ) comprises: (i) a work area ( 24 ) for receiving sheet metal ( 127 ) to be made into the adaptor ( 2 ); (ii) a creasing member ( 28 ) which is for creasing the sheet metal ( 127 ) on the work area ( 24 ); (iii) a pivot member ( 122 ) about which the sheet metal ( 127 ) is pivoted on the work area such that the creasing member ( 28 ) is able to make a plurality of creases ( 146 ) which are in the sheet metal ( 127 ) and which extend from the pivot member ( 122 ) in order to produce a transition part of the adaptor ( 2 ) which is positioned between a first end of the adaptor ( 2 ) which is of the square cross sectional shape and a second end of the adaptor ( 2 ) which is of the circular cross sectional shape; (iv) operator means ( 32 ) for causing the creasing member ( 28 ) to operate and crease the sheet metal ( 127 ); and which apparatus ( 120 ) is characterised in that: (v) the pivot member ( 122 ) comprises a plate portion ( 124 ) which locates in use in a V-shaped slot ( 126 ) in the sheet metal ( 127 ), and a shank portion ( 128 ) which mounts the plate portion ( 124 ) on the apparatus ( 120 ); and (vi) the plate portion ( 124 ) is pivotable with respect to the work area ( 24 ) to enable the sheet metal ( 127 ) to pivot on the work area ( 24 ). (FIG. 16 )

1 . Apparatus for making an adaptor which is used in heating and ventilation systems and which is used to connect ducting which is of a square cross sectional shape to ducting which is of a circular cross sectional shape, which apparatus comprises:
 (i) a work area for receiving sheet metal to be made into the adaptor;   (ii) a creasing member which is for creasing the sheet metal on the work area;   (iii) a pivot member about which the sheet metal is pivoted on the work area such that the creasing member is able to make a plurality of creases which are in the sheet metal and which extend from the pivot member in order to produce a transition part of the adaptor which is positioned between a first end of the adaptor which is of the square cross sectional shape and a second end of the adaptor which is of the circular cross sectional shape; and   (iv) operator means for causing the creasing member to operate and crease the sheet metal;   and which apparatus is characterised in that:   (v) the pivot member comprises a plate portion which locates in use in a V-shaped slot in the sheet metal, and a shank portion which mounts the plate portion on the apparatus; and   (vi) the plate portion is pivotable with respect to the work area to enable the sheet metal to pivot on the work area.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the plate portion is fixed to the shank portion, and in which the shank portion pivots in a recess in the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the shank portion is fixed to the apparatus, and in which the plate portion pivots about the shank portion. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the creasing member has an offset blade. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the creasing member comprises an upper brace for preventing flexing of the creasing member when making the creases. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the creasing member comprises a creasing blade, and in which the creasing blade is removable from the remainder of the creasing member so that the creasing blade is replaceable when it becomes worn. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the work area includes a bed, in which the bed comprises two bed parts, in which the two bed parts form opposite sides of the bed, and in which the two bed parts are removable bed parts so that they are replaceable when they become worn. 
     
     
         8 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  and comprising a frame which is constructed to allow flat packaging for transportation, and self-assembly on site. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the creasing member is pivotally mounted with respect to the work surface, and in which the operator means causes the creasing member to operate such that the creasing member pivots with respect to the work area. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  and including depth indicator means for adjusting the amount of movement of the creasing member and thereby the depth of the creases made in the sheet metal. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the depth adjuster means comprises a screw bolt. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the work area has a receiving formation for receiving the creasing member as the creasing member creases the sheet metal, in which the receiving formation is a groove, and in which the groove is a V-groove. 
     
     
         15 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the creasing member comprises a creasing blade, and in which the creasing blade extends at a right angle to a body part of the creasing member. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the operator means is a foot-operated operator means. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  in which the foot-operated operator means is a pneumatic foot-operated operator means. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  and including a stand on which the work area is mounted, in which the operator means is pivotally mounted about the stand, in which the operator means is spring biased to a rest position by a coil spring which extends between the operator means and the stand, and in which the stand comprises a base and an upstanding formation which upstands from the base and which supports the work area. 
     
     
         22 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  in which the base comprises a pair of legs which define a T-shape, and in which the upstanding formation is a post. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  and including safety locking means for preventing unwanted operation of the creasing member. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 27  in which the safety locking means is a locking pin which extends into a hole in the creasing member, and in which the locking pin is spring biased to a position in which the locking pin is engaged in the hole in the creasing member, and in which the locking pin is holdable by holding means in a non-engaged position for operation of the creasing member. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 28  in which the holding means is a rotatable pin arrangement.