Patent ID: 7296457
Filing Date: 2007-11-20
Classification: B21D

Abstract:
1. A press brake tool holder and a press brake tool in combination, the press brake tool having generally opposed first and second ends, the first end of the press brake tool defining a workpiece-deforming surface configured for making a predetermined press-brake deformation in a workpiece when the workpiece-deforming surface is forced against the workpiece, the second end of the press brake tool having a tang mounted in a tool-mount channel defined by the tool holder, the tool-mount channel being bounded by two confronting walls of the tool holder, wherein at least one of the confronting walls is adapted to move selectively toward or away from the other confronting wall in response to delivery of heat selectively to or from a thermally-responsive actuator of the tool holder, the tool holder having two horizontal load-delivering surfaces respectively carried directly against two horizontal load-receiving surfaces of the press brake tool, the two horizontal load-delivering surfaces of the tool holder being adapted to deliver force to the two horizontal load-receiving surfaces of the tool, the two horizontal load-delivering surfaces of the tool holder being on opposite sides of the channel such that they are separated by an opening of the channel, the two horizontal load-delivering surfaces of the tool holder lying in a common horizontal plane, at least one of said confronting walls comprising a pivotable clamp, the clamp having a pivot point located at a distal end of the clamp, the clamp being adapted to pivot selectively into either an open position or a closed position in response to delivery of heat selectively to or from a thermally-responsive component of the actuator.