CA2462357A1 - Method and apparatus for joining tubes - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for joining tubes Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2462357A1
CA2462357A1 CA 2462357 CA2462357A CA2462357A1 CA 2462357 A1 CA2462357 A1 CA 2462357A1 CA 2462357 CA2462357 CA 2462357 CA 2462357 A CA2462357 A CA 2462357A CA 2462357 A1 CA2462357 A1 CA 2462357A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
diameter tube
smaller
larger
tube
joint
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2462357
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Andrew Skrepnek
Franz Schlichte
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SUMMO STEEL Corp
Original Assignee
SUMMO STEEL CORPORATION
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SUMMO STEEL CORPORATION filed Critical SUMMO STEEL CORPORATION
Priority to CA 2462357 priority Critical patent/CA2462357A1/en
Publication of CA2462357A1 publication Critical patent/CA2462357A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16LPIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L13/00Non-disconnectible pipe-joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints
    • F16L13/14Non-disconnectible pipe-joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints made by plastically deforming the material of the pipe, e.g. by flanging, rolling
    • F16L13/16Non-disconnectible pipe-joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints made by plastically deforming the material of the pipe, e.g. by flanging, rolling the pipe joint consisting of overlapping extremities having mutually co-operating collars
    • F16L13/161Non-disconnectible pipe-joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints made by plastically deforming the material of the pipe, e.g. by flanging, rolling the pipe joint consisting of overlapping extremities having mutually co-operating collars the pipe or collar being deformed by crimping or rolling
    • F16L13/163Non-disconnectible pipe-joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints made by plastically deforming the material of the pipe, e.g. by flanging, rolling the pipe joint consisting of overlapping extremities having mutually co-operating collars the pipe or collar being deformed by crimping or rolling one collar being bent over the other
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21DWORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D39/00Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders
    • B21D39/04Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders of tubes with tubes; of tubes with rods

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Non-Disconnectible Joints And Screw-Threaded Joints (AREA)

Abstract

A method and apparatus for joining a first tubular member having an end with a first diameter is interlocked with a second tubular member having an end with a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. The tubes are positioned in overlapping relation, and the joint edge of the larger-diameter tube is curled inwardly while the joint edge of the smaller-diameter tube is curled outwardly so that the joint edges interlock. In the preferred embodiment, the invention forms a bead about the smaller-diameter tube by retracting a spacer ring at the end of the compression stroke, and clinches the curled edge of the larger-diameter tube between the bead and the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR JOTNING TUBES
Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method and apparatus for joining tubes. In particular, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for joining metal tubes end-to-end without welding.
Background of the Invention Metal tubes are used in many applications. A tubular member or frame can be used to form a support or frame for myriad types of materials, fox example springs, cushions, straps, fabric ete. For example, many components of an automobile are to constructed from steel tubes. In some cases, the design of the part requires that tubes of different diameters be joined end-to-end.
The conventional method of joining metal tubes is by welding. However, welding is a slow, labour-intensive, inconsistent and dirty process. Further, the welding of parts creates quality control concerns, even when welding is effected by a 15 skilled welder. The effectiveness of a weld is typically assessed visually, and problems such as burn-through, metal fatigue in the material surrounding the weld, incomplete adhesion due to contaminants on the tubular components and so on, are not always avoidable. In applications such as automobile parts, these types of problems can cause serious safety concerns.
2o It would accordingly be advantageous to provide a method for joining metal tubes end-to-end without the need for welding, preferably in a single-step process, while increasing the strength and consistency of the joints by removing the element of judgment and other variables inherent in the welding process.
Summary of the Invention 25 The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a method and apparatus for joining tubes that is especially suitable for metal tubes.
According to the method of the invention, a first tubular member having an end with a first diameter is interlocked with a second tubular member having an end with a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. In the preferred embodiment this is accomplished in a single operation, thus saving considerable time and cost relative to conventional welding operations, while providing a much stronger connection between the interlocked components.
The invention accomplishes this by curling the joint edge of the larger-diameter (outer) tube inwardly while curling the joint edge of the smaller-diameter (inner) tube outwardly so that the joint edges interlock. In the preferred embodiment, the same compression stroke forms a bead about the smaller-diameter tube so that the curled edge of the larger-diameter tube is sandwiched between the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube and the bead. In the preferred embodiment the completion of 1o the stroke clinches the curled edge of the larger-diameter tube between the bead and the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube, forming a secure joint that prevents both axial dislodgement and rotation.
In the preferred embodiment the larger-diameter tube is loaded onto a mandrel for supporting the interior of the larger-diameter tube wall, having an outer tube seat at one end for abutting the free end of the larger-diameter tube; an inner tube seat at the other end for abutting the j oint end of the smaller-diameter tube in overlapping relation to the joint end of the larger-diameter tube; and a constricted mandrel tip projecting from the inner tube seat for supporting the interior of the joint end of the smaller-diameter tube and guiding the formation of the curled edge. The smaller-diameter tube is disposed through a first collar for supporting the outside wall of the smaller-diameter tube, and the larger-diameter tube is disposed through a second collar for supporting the outside wall of the larger-diameter tube.
Thus, when axially compressed, the joint edges flow into a clearance about the constricted mandrel tip. In the preferred embodiment the second collar is provided with an axial spacer, and as the compression stroke nears completion the spacer is retracted to allow material from the smaller-diameter tube wall to form a bead spaced from the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube and clinching the curled edge of the larger-diameter tube between the bead and the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube.
_2_ The invention thus provides a method of joining an end of a larger-diameter tube to and end of a smaller-diameter tube, comprising the steps of: a.
supporting;
inner and outer walls of a joint end of the larger-diameter tube and of the smaller-diameter tube, b. positioning the joint ends of the larger-diameter tube and the smaller-diameter tube in overlapping relation, and c. in any order, or substantially simultaneously, curling the joint edge of the larger-diameter tube inwardly and curling the joint edge of the smaller-diameter tube outwardly so that the joint edges interlock.
Other aspects of the method comprise, after or simultaneously with step c;., the step of d. forming a bead about the smaller-diameter tube so that the curled edge of l0 the larger-diameter tube is sandwiched between the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube and the bead; and optionally, after or simultaneously with step d., the step of e. clinching the curled edge of the larger-diameter tube between the bead and the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube.
The present invention further provides tooling for joining an end of a larger-15 diameter tube to and end of a smaller-diameter tube, comprising: a collar for supporting an outer wall of a joint end of the larger-diameter tube, a collar for supporting an outer wall of a joint end of the smaller-diameter tube comprising a tube seat for curling an edge of the joint end of the smaller-diameter tube outwardly, and a mandrel for supporting an imier wall of a j oint end of the larger-diameter tube 2o comprising a tip for supporting an inner wall of a joint end of the smaller-diameter tube overlapping relation with the larger-diameter tube and a tube seat for curling an edge of the joint end of the smaller-diameter tube, whereby axial compression of the tubes causes the edge of the joint end of the smaller-diameter tube to curl outwardly and causes the edge of the joint end of the larger-diameter tube to curl inwardly, 25 thereby interlocking the joint ends of the tubes.
In other aspects the tooling of the invention further comprises a spacer ring disposed between the collars, whereby removal of the spacer ring while continuing that axial compression after the joint ends of the tube are interlocked causes a bead to form about the smaller-diameter tube.

Brief Description of the Drawings In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of two tubes before the joining process.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tubes of Figure 1 with the smaller-diameter tube loaded into the first collar and the larger-diameter tube loaded onto the mandrel.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tubes being compressed during the joining process.
to Figure 4 is a cutaway elevation showing the tubes after the joining process.
Figures SA to SF are schematic views showing the steps in the preferred embodiment of the method of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention Figures 1 to 3 illustrate the components of an apparatus for joining two tubes 15 10, 20. The invention will be described in relation to two tubes 10, 20 having difi:erent diameters; however, it will be appreciated that only the joint ends 12, 22 of the tubes 10, 20 need to be of different diameters, and the invention can be implemented between any two metal tubes that fit together in overlapping relation.
In the preferred embodiment the tooling for the invention, preferably formed 2o from steel or any other material suitable for tooling, comprises a mandrel 30 for supporting the interior of the wall of the larger-diameter tube 10. The mandrel 30 has an outer tube seat 32 at one end for abutting the free end 14 of the larger-diameter tube 10; an inner tube seat 34 at the other end preferably having a concave annulus for abutting the joint end 22 of the smaller-diameter tube 20 and guiding the formation of 25 the curled edge; and a constricted mandrel tip 36 projecting from the inner tube scat 34 for supporting the interior of the joint end 22 of the smaller-diameter tube 20 when the joint is formed.

The smaller-diameter tube 20 is disposed through a first collar 40 for supporting the outside wall of the smaller-diameter tube 20. In the preferred embodiment a retractable spacer ring 60 is also provided, preferably formed from separable halves 62, 64 in order to allow for retraction of the spacer ring 60 during the s compression stroke, as described in detail below, and providing a tube seat preferably having a concave annulus for curling the joint end 12 of the larger-diameter tube 10, as explained below. The larger-diameter tube 10 is disposed through a second collar 50 for supporting the outside wall of the larger-diameter tube 10. The collars 40, 50 may be formed from halves for easy manufacture and maintenance. The larger-l0 diameter tube 10 may be limited in length, because the mandrel 30 must be retracted from the tube 10 after joining and there is a practical limit to the length of a mandrel 30 that will permit retraction. The smaller-diameter tube 20 may be of any desired length.
Figures SA to SF illustrate the steps in the preferred embodiment of the 15 method in order to create the joint illustrated in Figure 4. The components are loaded into a press (not shown), with the smaller-diameter tube 20 on one side and the larger-diameter tube 10 on the other. The mandrel 30 is aligned with the larger-diameter tube 10, which is in turn aligned with the collar 50. The smaller-diameter tube 20 is aligned with the collar 40.
2o As shown in Figure SA, as the compression stroke begins the mandrel 30 is inserted into the larger-diameter tube 10 and the smaller-diameter tube 20 is inserted into the collar 50. Figure Sfi shows the mandrel 30 fully inserted into the larger-diameter tube 10 and the smaller-diameter tube 20 fully inserted into the collar '.i0, and Figure SC shows the mandrel 30 being inserted through the collar 40. As the 25 compression stroke continues, the larger-diameter tube 10 overlaps the smaller-diameter tube 20 and the mandrel tip 36 projects into the smaller-diameter tube 20.
The joint end 12 of the larger-diameter tube then 10 bottoms out on the tube seat 66 formed in the spacer ring 6C1 and the smaller-diameter tube 20 bottoms out on the inner tube seat 34 of the mandrel 30. As shown in Figure SD, when the joint end 12 of 3o the larger-diameter tube 10 is compressed against the tube seat 66, the edge of the joint end 12 of the tube 10 curls inwardly; likewise, when the joint end 22 of the smaller-diameter tube 20 is compressed against the tube seat 34, the edge of the joint end 22 of the tube 20 curls outwardly. The tube ends 12., 22 thus interlock.
This portion of the method of the invention itself interlocks the tubes 10, 20, and if no resistance to rotation or axial compression of the two tubes 10, 20 (i.e. the srnaller-diameter tube 20 sliding into the larger-diameter tube 10) is required, the tubes 10, 20 are effectively joined. For this type of joint the retractable spacer 60 is not required, and the tube seat 66 for curling the joint end 12 of the larger-diameter tube 10 can be formed directly into the collar 40.
1 o However, in the preferred embodiment the tubes 10, 20 are further restrained against axial slippage and rotation by forming a bead 24 about the smaller-diameter tube 20 and compressing the bead 24 against the interlocked edges of the tubes 10, 20.
As shown in Figure SE, as the compression stroke nears completion the halves 62, 64 of the spacer ring 60 are retracted to allow the smaller-diameter tube 20 to collapse 15 outwardly between the collars 40, 50 to form a bead 24 spaced from the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube 20 (the inside wall of the tube 20 where the bead 24 forms is supported by the mandrel tip 36, so the tube wall must buckle outwardly).
Figure SE shows the bead 24 beginning to form. As the compression stroke ends the collar 40 closes on the bead 24, clinching the curled edge of the larger-diameter tube 2o between the bead 24 and the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube 20, as shown in Figure SF. The press is then released and the mandrel 30 retracted to release the joined tubes 10, 20 having the joint configuration shown in Figure 4.
It will be appreciated that the compression of the parts is a relative motion, and it does not matter whether the smaller-diameter tube 20 is held stationary while the 25 other components move or the larger-diameter tube 10 is held stationary while the other components move, or all parts move in the press.
In the embodiment shown and described, the face of the collar 40 that squeezes the bead 24 after the spacer ring 60 has been retracted is shown as planar. It is possible to provide a concave annulus in the face of the collar 40 that squeezes the bead 24 after the spacer ring 60 is retracted, and this may be desirable if the shape of the bead 24 is important.
Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A method of joining an end of a larger-diameter tube to and end of a smaller-diameter tube, comprising the steps of:
a. supporting inner and outer walls of a joint end of the larger-diameter tube and of the smaller-diameter tube, b. positioning the joint ends of the larger-diameter tube and the smaller-diameter tube in overlapping relation, and c. in any order, or substantially simultaneously, curling the joint edge of the larger-diameter tube inwardly and curling the joint edge of the smaller-diameter tube outwardly so that the joint edges interlock.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising, after or simultaneously with step c., the step of:
d. forming a bead about the smaller-diameter tube so that the curled edge of the larger-diameter tube is sandwiched between the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube and the bead.
3. The method of claim 2 comprising, after or simultaneously with step d., the step of:
e. clinching the curled edge of the larger-diameter tube between the bead and the curled edge of the smaller-diameter tube.
4. Tooling for joining an end of a larger-diameter tube to and end of a smaller-diameter tube, comprising:
a collar for supporting an outer wall of a joint end of the larger-diameter tube, a collar for supporting an outer wall of a joint end of the smaller-diameter tube comprising a tube seat for curling an edge of the joint end of the smaller-diameter tube outwardly, and a mandrel for supporting an inner wall of a joint end of the larger-diameter tube comprising a tip for supporting an inner wall of a joint end of the smaller-diameter tube overlapping relation with the larger-diameter tube and a tube seat for curling an edge of the joint end of the smaller-diameter tube, whereby axial compression of the tubes causes the edge of the joint end of the smaller-diameter tube to curl outwardly and causes the edge of the joint end of the larger-diameter tube to curl inwardly, thereby interlocking the joint ends of the tubes.
5. Tooling of claim 4 further comprising a spacer ring disposed between the collars, whereby removal of the spacer ring while continuing that axial compression after the joint ends of the tube are interlocked causes a bead to form about the smaller-diameter tube.
CA 2462357 2004-03-24 2004-03-24 Method and apparatus for joining tubes Abandoned CA2462357A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2462357 CA2462357A1 (en) 2004-03-24 2004-03-24 Method and apparatus for joining tubes

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2462357 CA2462357A1 (en) 2004-03-24 2004-03-24 Method and apparatus for joining tubes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2462357A1 true CA2462357A1 (en) 2005-09-24

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2462357 Abandoned CA2462357A1 (en) 2004-03-24 2004-03-24 Method and apparatus for joining tubes

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2462357A1 (en)

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