The disclosed embodiments includes apparatuses, devices, and methods for inserting a male component of a first sheet metal portion into a female component of a second sheet metal portion, placing the longitudinal straight seam closing tool over the male and female components, and applying pressure to the longitudinal straight seam closing tool. The longitudinal straight seam closing tool includes an interior block portion, an exterior block portion, and a closing channel formed between the interior block portion and the exterior block portion, the interior block portion being configured to contact the first sheet metal portion and the closing channel being configured to extend over a protrusional tab of the female component when the interior block portion is in contact with the first sheet metal portion.

A tool system including a tool and a powered driver, and the associated method of operation is provided for opening a Pittsburgh lock seam channel formed in a work piece, such as a ductwork component, or otherwise for separating folded sheet material layers. The tool includes a rotatable spreader wheel and a fixed guide respectively supported on a frame in a common plane. The powered driver can rotate the spreader wheel within the lock seam channel or between sheet material layers, separating the adjacent layers and advancing along a length of the work piece.

A motorized crimping mechanism to impart substantially 90 degree crimps to adjacent roof and/or wall panel seams of a fabricated edifice is provided. Such a crimping device allows for substantially uniform seaming along the target contact line of two adjacent panels with substantially similar pressures and torque applied thereto at the selected locations of crimp application. The motorized device itself includes a rotary drive shaft to apply sufficient pressures for 90 degree crimps in two adjacent metal panels, as well as an optional guide to ensure proper placement and direction along the entire contact line between such panels. The invention thus encompasses the device as well as the method of using such a motorized crimper for connecting standing seams of adjacent side edges of two building panels.

Hemming finishing pliers press and thereby bring a folded portion of a panel into close contact with an inner surface side of the panel facing the folded portion, by a clamping action of first and second holding arms. A pressure receiving plate for supporting an outer surface of the panel is provided in a tip end portion of the first holding arm. A pressing claw for pressing the folded portion against the panel supported by the plate is provided in a tip end portion of the second holding arm. A pressure receiving surface of the plate facing the outer surface of the panel is set wider than a pressing surface of the claw facing the folded portion. A supporting wall for supporting a flexed part of the folded portion is formed in the plate. Accordingly, the pliers enable efficient hemming finishing without requiring a skill.

A panel flange bending tool is disclosed, which includes a head coupled to an arm. The head includes a panel engaging portion, first and second bending corners, and an abutment. The panel engaging portion includes a flange slot having a slot plane extending in a proximal direction from a distal slot opening to a proximal slot end, the slot opening sized to receive a panel flange. The first bending corner is aligned with the flange slot, and the first and second bending corners define a first bending plane. The abutment extends proximal of the first and second bending corners. The second bending corner and the abutment define a second bending plane. The slot plane, the first bending plane, and the second bending plane intersect each other triangularly at first and second internal bending angles. The first and second internal bending angles are less than or equal to 90 degrees.

A panel flange bending tool is disclosed, which includes a head coupled to an arm. The head includes a panel engaging portion, first and second bending corners, and an abutment. The panel engaging portion includes a flange slot having a slot plane extending in a proximal direction from a distal slot opening to a proximal slot end, the slot opening sized to receive a panel flange. The first bending corner is aligned with the flange slot, and the first and second bending corners define a first bending plane. The abutment extends proximal of the first and second bending corners. The second bending corner and the abutment define a second bending plane. The slot plane, the first bending plane, and the second bending plane intersect each other triangularly at first and second internal bending angles. The first and second internal bending angles are less than or equal to 90 degrees.

Bending pliers include first and second plier bodies connected together relatively turnably in mutually intersecting intermediate portions thereof by a pivot shaft, the bodies including first and second holding arms formed on one-end sides of the bodies, respectively, the arms respectively having plate-shaped first and second claw portions formed in their respective tip end portions and configured to hold a panel to be bent, and first and second handles formed on opposite-end sides of the bodies, respectively, and configured to open and close the arms, wherein a columnar bending fulcrum portion extending parallel to the shaft and projecting toward the second claw portion is formed at a tip end of the first claw portion, and a tip end of the second claw portion faces the fulcrum portion with a gap therebetween. The pliers form the bead portion in a smooth tubular shape in a folded portion of the panel.

A tool system including a tool and a powered driver, and the associated method of operation is provided for opening a Pittsburgh lock seam channel formed in a work piece, such as a ductwork component, or otherwise for separating folded sheet material layers. The tool includes a rotatable spreader wheel and a fixed guide respectively supported on a frame in a common plane. The powered driver can rotate the spreader wheel within the lock seam channel or between sheet material layers, separating the adjacent layers and advancing along a length of the work piece.

This disclosure enables various tools for folding pieces of sheet metal and methods of manufacture and use thereof. For example, some of such tools include a first pair of jaws spaced apart from each other at a first distance, a second pair of jaws spaced apart from each other at a second distance greater than the first distance, and a body spanning between the first pair of jaws and the second pair of jaws. By having the second distance being greater than the first distance, a user may use the body to form a primary bend (e.g., a hem) on a piece of sheet metal via bending the piece of sheet metal via the first pair of jaws, or vice versa, and then a secondary bend of the primary bend to form a desired shape (e.g., an S-shape) on the piece of sheet metal via the second pair of jaws, or vice versa.

Portable machine tools for machining an annular flange comprise a frame, a tool head operatively supported by the frame and positioned to operatively machine the outer annular surface of the annular flange, and a plurality of rollers operatively supported by the frame and positioned to operatively engage and roll along one of the inward face or the outward face of the annular flange. The portable machine tool is configured to be operatively installed to rotate relative to the annular flange for machining the outer annular surface of the annular flange with the tool head. Methods of machining annular flanges also are disclosed.