Patent ID: 9375776
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: B21D

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for closing a Pittsburgh Seam associated with a duct section, the duct section having first and second end portions, the Pittsburgh Seam to be closed having a male portion, a female portion, and an overlapping edge portion, the apparatus comprising: a base member having a supporting surface for positioning a duct section in a vertical orientation thereon; a lower guide assembly for guiding the Pittsburgh Seam to be closed associated with the first end portion of the duct section into proper position on the supporting surface of the base member; an upper guide assembly for guiding the Pittsburgh Seam to be closed associated with the second end portion of the duct section into proper position on the apparatus; a lower clamping member positionable inside the first end portion of the duct section adjacent the inside portion of the Pittsburgh Seam to be closed; an upper clamping member positionable inside the second end portion of the duct section adjacent the inside portion of the Pittsburgh Seam to be closed; a vertical track mechanism extending upwardly from the base member; and a carriage assembly movable on said track mechanism between a first position located in the vicinity of said lower guide assembly and a second position located in the vicinity of said upper guide assembly, said carriage assembly including a seam forming assembly for engaging the outside portion of the Pittsburgh Seam to be closed; said seam forming assembly including a pair of members, an upper member and a lower member, mounted in vertical arrangement, the lower member being a roller member having a substantially V-shaped configuration and the upper member being shaped to initially bend the overhanging Pittsburgh Seam edge portion; said seam forming assembly traversing substantially the entire length of the duct section when the carriage assembly moves between its first and second positions, the upper seam forming member initially bending the overhanging Pittsburgh Seam edge portion while the lower seam forming member completes the closing of the Pittsburgh Seam regardless of the orientation of the male and female portions of the Pittsburgh Seam when the duct section is positioned within the lower and upper guide members.