Patent ID: 8528380
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: B21D

Abstract:
1. A bending apparatus for bending a hollow metal material while the hollow metal material is being fed in a feed direction of the hollow metal material, characterized by having: a first support mechanism disposed at a first position in said feed direction, a heating mechanism disposed at a second position downstream of the first position in said feed direction, a cooling mechanism disposed at a third position downstream of the second position in said feed direction, and a second support mechanism disposed at a fourth position downstream of the third position in said feed direction, further characterized in that the first support mechanism supports the hollow metal material while feeding it through the bending apparatus, the heating mechanism heats all or a portion of the metal material being fed when the metal material passes the heating mechanism after passing through the first support mechanism, the cooling mechanism forms a high strength portion in part of the metal material by cooling the portion of the metal material being fed which was heated by the heating mechanism, the second support mechanism imparts a bending moment to the high temperature portion and bends the metal material into a desired shape by moving two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting at least one location of the metal material being fed, the second support mechanism comprises a second chuck, the second chuck further comprising a tubular member having a circular, polygonal, or special transverse cross section and which grips the metal material.