Patent Application
20110094284
The inability to quickly and effectively straighten a bent metal article contributes to the proliferation of metal waste in landfills around the world.
For example, metal articles are used in fence lines as well as support posts for signs. In maintaining fence lines, the property owner travels along the fence line to inspect the integrity of the fence. Upon finding a bent article, the property owner typically discards the article and replaces the article with a new unbent replacement in lieu of the physically-intensive and time-intensive manual straightening of the article, and the cost-intensive option of transporting and repairing the article at a separate location.
The prior art does not describe an apparatus or method that quickly and effectively straightens a metal article containing ridges or other variable surfaces. An apparatus or method of this type would contribute to the reduction of metal waste in the world's landfills.
The apparatus and method described herein provide a portable implement that can be used on-site to quickly and effectively straighten a metal article thereby extending the useful life of the article, conserving metal and fuel, reducing transportation costs, reducing costs associated with the destruction of property, as well as stymie the growth of metal waste in landfills worldwide. Embodiments of the inventive apparatus could be used in a variety of applications, including the farming and livestock industries as the costs with maintaining fencing lines is significant.
In one embodiment, an apparatus for straightening an article is provided. The apparatus comprises an actuator; an endpiece coupled to the actuator, the endpiece including two arms, the arms defining a space therebetween; a support member, the support member including two rails, the rails defining a space therebetween. Upon activation of the actuator, the arms will engage article portions disposed on the rails to straighten the article. The spaces defined between the arms and the rails are adapted to receive article portions to prevent contact with such portions if desired.
In another embodiment, an apparatus for straightening an article comprises an actuator; an endpiece coupled to the actuator, the endpiece including two arms, the arms defining a space therebetween, and the arms also define arm contact surfaces for contacting the article. The apparatus also includes a support member including two rails, the rails defining a space therebetween, and the rails also define rail contact surfaces for supporting the article. Also included is an elongated frame member, such that the actuator and the support member are coupled to the frame member and arranged such that the space between the arms is aligned with the space between the rails. Upon activation of the actuator, the actuator moves toward the support member causing the arm contact surfaces of the arms to engage the article. The space between the arms is adapted to receive article portions adjacent to those engaged by the arms and the space between the rails is adapted to receive article portions such that article portions within the spaces are not engaged.
In another embodiment, a method for straightening an article is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) placing an article on a pair of rails, the rails defining a first space therebetween; (b) moving an actuator with a pair of arms connected thereto toward the rails and into engagement with a portion of the article to straighten, the arms defining a second space therebetween; (c) moving the actuator with the pair of arms away from the article disposed on the rails; and (d) removing the article from the rails. The steps of (a)-(c) can be repeated one or more times at the same or a different portion of the article prior to performing step (d).
The objects, features and advantages of the apparatus and method will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the description of preferred embodiments which follows when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In one embodiment, an apparatus for straightening an article is provided. As depicted in
One embodiment of endpiece 150 is depicted in
In one aspect of this embodiment, arms 152a, 152b are arranged to form a generally inverted V-shape as depicted in the figures. Arms 152a, 152b define the generally inverted V-shape by serving as the sides which meet at an apex as depicted in
In one aspect, apparatus 100 includes a support member 170. Support member 170 is coupled to elongated frame member 190 at lower end 194 of elongated frame member 190 as illustrated in
Rails 172a, 172b are arranged such that rail contact surfaces 173a, 173b are parallel to each other. The distance between rail contact surfaces 173a, 173b is substantially similar to the distance between arm contact surfaces 153a, 153b such that arm contact surfaces 153a, 153b are aligned with rail contact surfaces 173a, 173b. In this embodiment, “aligned” does not require the arm contact surfaces 153a, 153b to be parallel to the rail contact surfaces 173a, 173b, but instead, the surfaces are sufficiently aligned as long as the arm contact surfaces 153a, 153b will contact article portions disposed on the rail contact surfaces 173a, 173b upon activation of the actuator. For example, in one embodiment, the distance between rail contact surfaces 173a, 173b is approximately 1.27 cm (0.5 in) and the distance between arm contact surfaces 153a, 153b is approximately 1.27 cm (0.5 in). In another embodiment, rails 172a, 172b of support member 170 have a length of about 101.6 cm (40 in), a width of about 1.27 cm (0.5 in), and a height of about 6.35 cm (2.5 in).
Arms 152a, 152b are arranged to allow the force exerted upon an article 110 to be applied evenly on engaged article portions 111a, 111b while avoiding contact with proximal portions, such as 112, 114 within spaces 154, 174, respectively. Arms 152a, 152b are arranged such that arm contact surfaces 153a, 153b engage article portions 111a, 111b of article 110 disposed on rails 172a, 172b. As previously discussed, the distance between rail contact surfaces 173a, 173b is substantially similar to the distance between arm contact surfaces 153a, 153b such that arm contact surfaces 153a, 153b are aligned with or overlie rail contact surfaces 173a, 173b for engaging article 110. It should be appreciated that arms 152a, 152b and rails 172a, 172b may be adapted and modified to accommodate the shape and dimensions of the article to be straightened.
In one embodiment, the endpiece 150 is caused to engage an article on the support member 170 through activation of an actuator 130. Actuator 130 can be anything that converts a source of energy into some kind of motion capable of producing a force. For example actuator 130 could be a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic or air cylinder, a vertical ram, or any other device known in the art capable of applying a sufficient force required to straighten article portions 111a, 111b disposed on support member 170, as depicted in
In one embodiment, actuator 130 is a double acting cylinder. Movement of actuator 130 is controlled by actuator valve 134 via lever 135 and lines 136 and 138 in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Lines 138 are connected to a reservoir not depicted in the drawings but known to those skilled in the art.
In one arrangement, actuator 130 and support member 170 are coupled to opposite ends of elongated frame member 190. As depicted in
Activation or engagement of actuator 130 causes endpiece 150 to move toward or be lowered to support member 170 thereby permitting arms 152a, 152b to engage article 110. Likewise, retracting or moving actuator 130 and endpiece 150 away from article 110 disposed on rails 172a, 172b ceases such engagement. In one embodiment, endpiece 150 is coupled to extendable portion 132 that is on one end of actuator 130. Activation of actuator 130 causes extendable portion 132 and endpiece 150 to move toward support member 170. Extendable portion 132 and endpiece 150 can be secured to each other by any means known in the art, for example, pins, weld, adhesive, clips, or threadable attachment, etc. In one embodiment, one end of actuator 130, for example extendable portion 132, is threaded to permit attachment with endpiece 150. The coupling between actuator 130 and endpiece 150 can be permanent or temporary.
Article 110 as depicted in
It should be appreciated that the configuration of article 110 is not limited to that depicted in
One advantage of apparatus 100 is that it is portable. In one embodiment, apparatus 100 may be attached, for example, to the three-point hitch on a tractor utilizing attachment portions 200. Additionally, apparatus 100 may be transported on a flat bed vehicle or towed for use on-site, for example when a property owner travels along a fence line for inspection and repair.
For example, in farming operations, the power required to operate actuator 130 can come from using the hydraulics and/or electrical source of a tractor or the bale spike hydraulics of a truck. Additionally, actuator 130 may be operably connected to an air compressor.
For example, apparatus 100 may be adapted as a self-contained unit for use with a 4-wheeler or off-road vehicle, such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). In such an arrangement, provisions are made for attachment or towing of apparatus 100 to the vehicle, as well having a self-contained reservoir and movable power source. The power source could also be the battery of the ATV in addition to a separate movable power source. It should be appreciated that a self-contained movable reservoir may be used in the embodiments described herein.
Although the figures depict elongated frame member 190 as oriented vertically, it should be appreciated that apparatus 100 may be oriented and operated horizontally provided provisions are made, for example, by adjusting location of attachment portions 200.
A method for straightening article 110 is disclosed. The method comprises placing article 110 on rails 172a, 172b and moving actuator 130 having arms 152a, 152b connected thereto toward rails 172a, 172b and into engagement with portions 111a, 111b of article 110 to straighten. First space 174 is defined between rails 172a, 172b and second space 154 is defined between arms 152a, 152b. First and second spaces, 174 and 154 are adapted to receive article portions 114, 112, respectively. The method also includes moving actuator 130 with arms 152a, 152b away from article 110 disposed on rails 172a, 172b. As previously discussed above, engaging and retracting actuator 130 are well known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, activating or engaging and retracting actuator 130 is performed by operating lever 135 operably coupled to actuator 130. The method also includes removing article 110 from rails 172a, 172b.
It should be appreciated that the steps of placing article 110 on rails 172a, 172b, and moving actuator 130 toward and away from article 110 can be repeated one or more times at the same portions of article 110 or at different portions along article 110 prior to removing article 110 from rails 172a, 172b.
Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While certain embodiments of the invention have been described for the purpose of this disclosure, numerous changes in the construction and arrangement of parts and the performance of steps can be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of this invention defined by the appended claims.
