DE202023103350U1 - Machine for producing curved pipe products - Google Patents

Abstract

Machine (10) for producing a tubular product (T), comprising a fixed structure (11) with which both a bending group (12) which has at least one bending head (17) which is designed to be applied to the outer surface of the tubular product (T ) to act, as well as feed means (14) in order to advance said pipe product (T) to said bending group (12) along a feed axis (F), characterized in that said bending group (12) comprises a drilling device (33). , comprising a spindle (41) designed to support and rotate a tool (42) suitable for creating at least one hole (35) in said tubular product (T).

Description

FIELD OF USE

The present invention relates to a machine for the production of bent pipe products which, for example but without limiting the generality, can be used in the field of production of metallic pipes for fluid dynamic lines, pipelines, hydraulic or pneumatic systems or others.

STATE OF THE ART

It is known that for the production of pipelines, systems, lines or others, for example for the automotive sector or for the sector of household appliances, curved metallic pipes are used which have a complex final shape which is characterized by a sequence of curved sections.

It is also known that in some installations it is necessary to connect two metallic pipes together, for example when it is necessary to carry out a drainage.

Usually, the two pipes to be connected are perpendicular to each other at the point where they are in contact, and a drain hole is made on the side surface of a first pipe, while the end of a second pipe is fixed in accordance with the circumference of the drain hole.

Normally, the perimeter of the drain hole is processed by plastic deformation to form a collar protruding toward the exterior of the first pipe. The collar serves to facilitate the connection between the side surface of the first tube and the end of the second tube.

In this case, usually, the metallic pipe on which the drain hole is to be made is first bent in a numerically controlled automatic bending machine to give it the desired final shape, and then is brought into a drilling machine in which the drain hole is made .

The bent pipe with the drain hole is then placed in a plastic deformation machine, in which the collar is produced on the circumference of the drain hole.

Although this solution is widely used, it has some disadvantages.

A first disadvantage is that the transfer of the pipe to be processed between the bending machine, the drilling machine and the plastic deformation machine increases the time required to produce a pipe and, consequently, its manufacturing cost.

A second disadvantage is that the transfer of the pipe to be processed between the bending machine, the boring machine and the plastic deformation machine increases the probability of incorrectly positioning the pipe in one of the above-mentioned machines. This can lead to lower accuracy and final quality of the pipe, with an increase in the amount of production waste.

There is therefore a need to improve a machine for producing bent tube products which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a machine for producing bent pipe products with which it is possible to reduce the time required for producing a bent metallic pipe on which a drain hole is formed which is provided with a Bund is provided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for producing bent pipe products, which makes it possible to produce a bent metallic pipe on which a drain hole is formed which is provided with a collar and has a high final quality in a simple and repeatable manner way to produce.

The applicant has developed, studied and implemented the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to achieve these as well as other objects and advantages.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is expressed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims explain further features of the present invention or variants of the main solution idea.

In accordance with the above objectives and in order to solve the above technical problem in a new and original way, thereby also achieving significant advantages over the previous state of the art, a machine according to the present invention for producing tubular products comprises a fixed structure, with the both a bending group comprising at least one bending head designed to act on the outer surface of said tubular product to perform a bend, and feed means for advancing said tubular product to said bending group along a feed axis, are connected.

According to an aspect of the present invention, said bending assembly further comprises a drilling apparatus having a spindle adapted to support and rotate a tool adapted to create at least one hole in said tubular product.

According to another aspect of the present invention, said tool comprises both a cutting section adapted to remove material from said tubular product to create said hole and a deforming section having at least one deforming element positioned between a rest position, in which it is retracted with respect to said cutting portion, and a working position in which it is protruded with respect to said cutting portion, is selectively movable and is adapted to deform said tubular product at the periphery of said hole.

According to another aspect of the present invention, said bending group comprises a support arm connected to the fixed structure and to which said bending head is connected, and a counter device mounted on said support arm upstream of said bending head with respect to said feed axis and is designed to counteract the rotation of said tubular product.

According to another aspect of the present invention, said drilling device is operatively connected to said bending head.

According to another aspect of the present invention, said drilling device is operatively connected to said support arm.

According to another aspect of the present invention, said drilling device is operatively connected to said counter device.

• - einen Vorschubschritt, in dem das genannte Rohrprodukt zur genannten Biegegruppe entlang der genannten Vorschubachse vorgeschoben wird;
• - einen oder mehrere Biegeschritte, in dem bzw. denen der genannte Biegekopf auf die Außenfläche des genannten Rohrproduktes einwirkt, um eine Biegung durchzuführen; und
• - einen Bohrungsschritt, in dem die genannte Spindel das genannte Werkzeug in Rotation bringt und in dem das genannte Werkzeug zum genannten Rohrprodukt vorgeschoben wird, um ein Loch zu erzeugen.

The present description also relates to a method for producing tubular products, comprising at least the following:

• - a feeding step in which said pipe product is fed to said bending group along said feed axis;
• - one or more bending steps in which said bending head acts on the outer surface of said tubular product to carry out a bend; and
• - a drilling step in which said spindle rotates said tool and in which said tool is advanced to said tubular product to create a hole.

This method includes a deformation step in which said tool is removed from said pipe product to create a collar at said hole.

Said deformation step provides that, when said cutting section is located within said tubular product, said at least one deformation element is brought into said working position and, subsequently, said tool is rotated and removed from said tubular product, so that the said deformation element deforms the portion of said pipe product in accordance with the circumference of said hole.

Said drilling step can be carried out before said one or more bending steps.

Said drilling step can be carried out after at least one of said one or more bending steps.

EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS

• - 1, 2 und 3 schematische Draufsichten von jeweiligen Ausführungsformen einer Maschine zur Herstellung von gebogenen Rohrprodukten gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung sind;
• - 4, 5 und 6 vergrößerte Querschnittsansichten eines Teils der Maschine gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung sind.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of some embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

• - 1 , 2 and 3 are schematic top views of respective embodiments of a machine for producing bent tubular products according to the present invention;
• - 4 , 5 and 6 are enlarged cross-sectional views of a part of the machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

It should be specified that in the present description the phraseology and terminology used, as well as the figures of the accompanying drawings, as described, only have the function of better explaining and explaining the present invention, because they are a have an exemplary function that does not limit the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical common elements in the figures. It is to be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further explanation.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference to the 1 A machine 10 for producing tubular products T, according to the present invention, comprises a fixed structure 11 or foundation, with which a bending group 12 and feed means 14 designed to feed the tubular product T to the bending group 12 along a feed axis F , are connected.

The feed means 14 can be of any known type and will not be described in detail. Purely by way of example, the tubular product T can be supplied to the feed means 14 in the form of a roll or a rod.

In addition, the feed means 14 are controlled by a control unit 15 based on a predetermined bending program so that the pipe product T is automatically advanced along the feed axis F.

The bending group 12 includes a support arm 16 connected to the fixed structure 11 and at least one bending head 17 mounted to one end of the support arm 16.

The bending head 17 is designed to act on the outer surface of the pipe product T to perform a bend, and is also controlled by the control unit 15 to perform a sequence of bends based on the predetermined bending program.

In the example provided here, the bending head 17 comprises a first bending member 19, which is attached to the support arm 16 and is designed to serve as a die, or counter-roller, against which the tubular product T is bent, and a first movable carriage 20, on which a second bending member 21 is attached. In particular, the first carriage 20 is articulated at a projecting end of the support arm 16 in order to rotate with respect to the first bending member 19 about a bending axis X which is perpendicular to the feed axis F.

Alternatively, in another embodiment, not shown in the figures, the bending head 17 comprises two bending members, both mounted on a carriage articulated at the end of the support arm 16 and designed to rotate about a bending axis is perpendicular to the feed axis F, so that the two bending elements act on the outer surface of the tubular product T in order to carry out a bend.

In order to enable the movement of the first carriage 20 with respect to the support arm 16, the bending head 17 also comprises a first drive member (not shown) connected to suitable first feed means (also not shown).

These first supply means mentioned can be of any known type, depending on the type of first drive member. Purely by way of example, the first supply means can be electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or of another type.

Optionally, the bending group 12 also includes a counter device 23, which is also controlled by the control unit 15, which is arranged upstream of the bending head 17 along the feed axis F. The counter device 23 includes a guide 25 which defines an approach axis Y which is perpendicular to the bending axis X and the feed axis F.

A second carriage 26 is slidably mounted on the guide 25, to which a counter member 27 is attached, which defines a seat (not visible in the figures) in order to at least partially contain the tubular product T and to keep the latter aligned with the feed axis F. In particular, the seat is designed to counteract the rotation about the bending axis X of the section of the tubular product T upstream of the bending head 17 when the latter performs a bend.

In order to enable the movement of the second carriage 26 along the guide 25, the counter device 23 also includes a second drive member (not shown) which is connected to suitable second feed means (also not shown).

These second supply means mentioned can be of any known type, depending on the type of first drive member. Purely by way of example, the second supply means can be electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or of another type.

Optionally, the second carriage 26 also includes an actuator 30 which is connected to the counter member 27 and is designed to move the latter selectively along a direction which is parallel to the feed axis F. This allows the tubular product T to be supported in movement along the feed axis F as it is bent, while at the same time maintaining its pre-bend portion aligned with the feed axis F.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the bending group 12 also includes a drilling device 33, which is controlled by the control unit 15 and is designed to selectively perform at least one hole 35 on the tubular product T.

The drilling device 33 comprises a support body 37 which comprises at least a third drive member 39 which is connected by means of a gear 40 to a spindle 41 which is designed to support and rotate a tool 42.

Optionally, the support body 37 is slidably mounted on a guide 43 which defines a sliding axis Z which is perpendicular to the feed axis F and along which the support body 37 can selectively slide, for example pushed by a fourth drive member (not shown). Preferably, the tool 42 is designed to both create a hole 35 on the outer surface of the tubular product T and to deform the tubular product T on the circumference P of the hole 35 so that a collar 45 is created. It should be specified that here and hereinafter, “collar 45” is understood to mean a portion of the outer surface of the tubular product T, in accordance with the circumference P of a hole 35 protruding to the exterior of the tubular product T.

In this case, the tool 42 includes a cutting portion 46 provided with a helical cutting edge 47 suitable for removing material from the tubular product T to create the hole 35 when the spindle 41 is rotated and to the tubular product T is moved.

In addition, the tool 42 also includes a deformation section 49 designed to press the pipe product T in accordance with the circumference P of the hole 35 to produce the collar 45 when the spindle 41 is rotated and released from the pipe product T is removed.

The deformation section 49 comprises at least two deformation elements 50, which can be moved between a rest position ( 4 ) and a working position ( 5 ) are selectively mobile.

When in the rest position, the two deformation elements 50 are retracted with respect to the cutting section 46 and do not act during the passage of the hole 35.

When in the working position ( 5 ), the two deformation elements 50 are protruding with respect to the cutting section 46 so that during the extraction of the cutting section 46 from the interior of the tubular product T they act on the inner surface thereof in accordance with the circumference P of the hole 35, thereby forming the collar 45 is produced.

However, the person skilled in the art understands that the design of the tool can also be very different from the exemplary tool 42 described here. The tool 42 can in fact be of any other known, or future known, type which allows the creation of the hole 35 provided with the collar 45.

In one embodiment, which is shown schematically in 1 is shown, the drilling device 33 is effectively connected to the bending head 17. In particular, in this case the drilling device 33 is arranged on the first carriage 20.

Advantageously, in this embodiment, the drive members 39 of the drilling device 33 can be connected to the first feed means, thereby making it possible to simplify the structure of the machine 10.

In another embodiment, which is shown schematically in 2 is shown, the drilling device 33 is effectively connected to the counter device 23. In this case, the drilling device 33 is arranged on the second carriage 26.

Advantageously, in this embodiment, the drive members 39 of the drilling device 33 can be connected to the second feed means, thereby making it possible to simplify the structure of the machine 10.

In addition, this allows the hole 35 and the corresponding collar 45 to be carried out upstream of the bending head 17.

In a further embodiment, which is shown schematically in 3 is shown, the support arm 16 includes a side supporting section 52 on which the drilling device 33 is arranged.

The operation of the machine 10 described so far, which corresponds to the process for the production of bent tubular products, includes the following steps.

The method provides a feed step in which the control unit 15 controls the feed means 14 to feed a tubular product T along the feed axis F and advance it to the bending group 12.

The extent of the feed of the pipe product T is controlled by the control unit 15 based on the specified bending program.

The method then provides a bending step in which the control unit 15 controls the bending head 17 in order to carry out a bend of the pipe product T.

Optionally, during the bending step, the method also provides that the control unit 15 actuates the counter device 23 in order to counteract the rotation of the section of the tubular product T upstream of the bending head 17.

The method also provides a drilling step in which the control unit 15 controls the drilling device 33 to set the spindle 41 in rotation and to bring the tool 42 closer to the pipe product T.

In this step, the cutting portion 49 of the tool 42 removes material from the tubular product T to create a hole 35.

In the exemplary embodiments described here, during this step the deformation elements 50 are in the rest position and do not act on the tubular product T.

Thereafter, the method also provides a deformation step in which the tool 42 is removed from the pipe product T to produce the collar 45 in accordance with the hole 35.

In the exemplary embodiments described here, during the deformation step, the control unit 15 actuates the actuating members 51 of the deformation elements 50 in order to move the latter from the rest position ( 4 ) to the working position ( 5 ) bring to. In addition, during the deformation step, the control unit also actuates the drive member 39 of the drilling device 33 in order to rotate the spindle 41 and consequently also the tool 42 and the deformation elements 50.

The rotation of the spindle 41 during the deformation step may coincide with the rotation of the spindle 41 during the drilling step. Alternatively, the rotation of the spindle 41 during the deforming step may be opposite to the rotation of the spindle 41 during the drilling step.

During the deformation step, the control unit 15, the spindle 41 and also the tool 42 are moved far away from the pipe product T along the feed axis Z, so that the deformation elements 50 act against the inner surface of the pipe element T in accordance with the circumference P of the hole 35 to deform this and create a federal government 45.

It should be specified that the bending step can take place both before the drilling and deformation steps and after the drilling and deformation steps.

It should be noted that the machine 10 and the method described herein make it possible to produce bent pipe products T, on which one or more holes provided with a collar are created, in a single machine, thus making the transfer of the Pipe product T between different machines is avoided. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the time required for the production of the tubular product T. In addition, this reduces the likelihood of positioning errors of the tubular product T between the different machines, which always ensures the accurate mutual position between the bends of the tubular product T and the holes created therein.

Of course, changes can be made and/or parts added to the machine 10 described so far without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

It is also to be understood that although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, one skilled in the art will be able to readily realize many other equivalent forms of machine for producing bent tubular products having the features expressed in the claims and therefore all fall within the scope of protection defined by them.

In the following claims, the reference numerals in parentheses are only for convenience of reading and are not to be considered as limiting factors of the scope defined by the claims themselves.

Claims (6)

Machine (10) for producing a tubular product (T), comprising a fixed structure (11) with which both a bending group (12) which has at least one bending head (17) which is designed to be applied to the outer surface of the tubular product (T ) to act, as well as feed means (14) in order to advance said pipe product (T) to said bending group (12) along a feed axis (F), characterized in that said bending group (12) comprises a drilling device (33). , comprising a spindle (41) designed to support and rotate a tool (42) suitable for creating at least one hole (35) in said tubular product (T). machine (10). Claim 1 , characterized in that said tool (42) has both a cutting section (46) designed to remove material from said tubular product (T) to create said hole (35) and a deforming section (49) which has at least one deformation element (50) which selectively switches between a rest position in which it is retracted with respect to said cutting section (46) and a working position in which it is protruded with respect to said cutting section (46). is movable and is designed to deform said tubular product (T) at the periphery (P) of said hole (35). machine (10). Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that said bending group (12) has a support arm (16) connected to the fixed structure (11) and to which said bending head (17) is connected, and a counter device (23) connected to said support arm (16) is mounted upstream of said bending head (17) with respect to said feed axis (F) and is designed to counteract the rotation of said tubular product (T). machine (10). Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that said drilling device (33) is operatively connected to said bending head (17). machine (10). Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that said drilling device (33) is operatively connected to said support arm (16). machine (10). Claim 3 , characterized in that said drilling device (33) is operatively connected to said counter device (23).

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