Portable electric power tool for bending elongate objects

Abstract

An electric power tool for bending elongate objects including an electric motor having a motor output shaft, a bend mechanism having a support portion and a bias portion which is operatively coupled to the motor output shaft via a transmission of the tool which in use causes linear relative movement between the bias portion and the support portion, wherein such linear relative movement in a first direction causes force to be applied by the bend mechanism to the elongate object at different locations along the length of the elongate object for bending the elongate object in a first direction, the bend mechanism configured such that linear relative movement in a second, opposite, direction between the bias portion and the support portion causes force to be applied by the bend mechanism to the elongate object for bending the elongate object in a second direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable electric power tool for bending elongate objects comprising an electric motor having a motor output shaft, a bend mechanism having a support portion and a bias portion and which is operatively coupled to the motor output shaft via a transmission of the tool which in use causes linear relative movement between the bias portion and the support portion, wherein such linear relative movement in a first direction between the bias portion and the support portion causes force to be applied by the bend mechanism to an elongate object in use at different locations along the length of the elongate object for bending the elongate object in a first direction, the bend mechanism configured such that linear relative movement in a second, opposite, direction between the bias portion and the support portion causes force to be applied by the bend mechanism to the elongate object at different locations along the length of the elongate object for bending the elongate object in a second direction. 
     
     
         2 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 1 , wherein first and second abutment portions provided by the support portion are separated by a space between them through which a third abutment portion provided by the bias portion can be moved upon occurrence of linear relative movement in the first direction between the bias portion and the support portion such that force is applied by the first, second and third abutment portions to the elongate object in use at different locations along the length of the elongate object for bending the elongate object in the first direction, furthermore wherein fourth and fifth abutment portions provided by the support portion are separated by a space between them towards which a sixth abutment portion provided by the bias portion can be moved upon occurrence of linear relative movement in the second direction between the bias portion and the support portion such that force is applied by the fourth, fifth and sixth abutment portions to the elongate object in use at different locations along the length of the elongate object for bending the elongate object in the second direction. 
     
     
         3 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 2 , wherein a notional plane extends between the fourth and fifth abutment portions which are configurable between a first configuration in which the notional plane extends across the axis along which the bias portion is configured to linearly move in use and a second configuration in which the notional plane does not extend across the axis along which the bias portion is configured to linearly move in use. 
     
     
         4 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 3 , wherein the fourth and fifth abutment portions are linearly moved between the first and second configurations. 
     
     
         5 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 3 , wherein releasable gripping means retains the fourth and fifth abutment portions in the first and second configurations. 
     
     
         6 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 5 , wherein first parts of the releasable gripping means are provided on the fourth and fifth abutment portions and second parts of the releasable gripping means are provided on the support portion, optionally wherein the releasable gripping means is a mechancial mechanism or a magnetic retaining means. 
     
     
         7 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission comprises a conversion mechanism for converting torque into a linear force for causing said linear relative movement between the bias portion and the support portion, optionally wherein the conversion mechanism is a ball screw mechanism or a roller screw mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 7 , wherein the electric motor is arranged at least partially within the handle of the tool such that the motor output shaft extends along a first axis extending along the length of the handle; the tool is configured such that said relative movement of the bias portion and the support portion occurs linearly along a second axis; and the transmission comprises a bevel gear arrangement for redirecting torque flowing along the first axis and input to the bevel gear arrangement in use so that torque output from the bevel gear arrangement flows along the second axis and into the conversion mechanism, optionally wherein the angle between the first axis and the second axis is between 45 degrees to 145 degress for example 90 degress, further optionally wherein the electric motor is located entirely within the handle of the tool. 
     
     
         9 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 8 , wherein the transmission comprises at least one planetary gear stage for transferring torque from the electric motor along the first axis in use. 
     
     
         10 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 8 , further comprising a battery attachment portion on the handle so that a notional line extending between the battery attachment portion and the motor output shaft extends along the first axis. 
     
     
         11 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 7 , wherein the electric motor, the transmission and the bend mechanism are arranged along an axis in axial sequence one after the other. 
     
     
         12 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 11 , further comprising a battery attachment portion located on the same said axis. 
     
     
         13 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is a brushless DC motor. 
     
     
         14 . The portable electric power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the power tool is a rebar bending tool. 
     
     
         15 . The portable electric power tool of any of  claim 1 , wherein the power tool is a linear conduit bending tool, optionally wherein the power tool is a pipe or tube bending tool.