Patent ID: 7047789

Claim:
A method of providing support for a pipe having a circumference during bending of said pipe in a pipe bending machine comprising a harness assembly including a belt having two ends, said method comprising: (a) extending the belt over approximately one half of the pipe's circumference; (b) affixing the two ends of the belt in a proximity of a diameter of the pipe; (c) supporting a pipe wall in a region of a minor radius of the bend with the belt; (d) including a plurality of belts, all the plurality of belts supporting the pipe wall in a region of a minor radius of the bend; the pipe bending machine also comprises a first framework and a second framework, the two ends of the belt comprising a first end and a second end, the method additionally comprising: (a) operatively affixing the first end of the belt to the first framework; (b) operatively affixing the second end of the belt to the second framework; and (c) operatively pivotally attaching the first and second frameworks to the pipe bending machine such that the first and second ends of the belt may move toward and away from the pipe.