DK201470745A1

DK201470745A1 - Method for final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up and an apparatus configured to carry out the method

Info

Publication number: DK201470745A1
Application number: DKPA201470745A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Paw Nedergaard
Original assignee: Værktøjsfabrikken Paw V/Helene Nedergaard
Priority date: 2014-11-28
Filing date: 2014-11-28
Publication date: 2016-06-06
Also published as: EP3223975A1; WO2016082839A1; EP3223975A4; DK178550B1

Abstract

Method for final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up, where the method comprises the following steps: The inner side of a pipe with a cross sectional form, a first end and a second end is slipped onto the outer side of a patrix with the same cross sectional form, the patrix is moved towards a matrix until the first end of the pipe hits the matrix and the second end of the pipe hits a detaching plate, the patrix is moved away from the matrix, the detaching plate is moved towards the matrix, and the patrix is moved and pressed towards the matrix giving an apparatus which is able to form a pipe end more efficiently than ever before.

Description

Method for final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up and an apparatus configured to carry out the method

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for forming an open end of a pipe in one setup.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus configured to carry out the method. Background of the Invention

Prior to the development of the present invention, it has been known to use several apparatus/machines and several matrixes, patrixes and detaching plates in the final forming of an open end of a pipe.

The disadvantage of prior art methods is the necessity of having to change the set-up by changing apparatus/machines or at least by changing matrixes, patrixes and detaching plates a number of times. The changes are time-consuming and thus expensive both in terms of manpower and in terms of apparatus downtime .

Object of the Invention

The object of this invention is therefore to provide a method for final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up of the type mentioned in the introduction which is faster, quicker, more productive and less demanding in terms of apparatus/machines, tools and where the end result is much better than prior art technology. In any case, it is an object of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus which enable the final forming of a pipe end more efficiently than ever before.

It is a further object of the invention to make it possible to form the pipe ends without heating the pipe using external heat source, which makes it easier and cheaper to carry out the forming of the pipe.

Description of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, the above object is achieved with a method forfinal forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up of the type mentioned in the introduction, where the method comprises the following steps: A. The inner side of a pipe having a cross sectional form, a first end and a second end is from the first end of the pipe slipped onto the outer side of a patrix with the same cross sectional form, B. The patrix is moved towards a matrix until the second end of the pipe hits the matrix, and the first end of the pipe hits a detaching plate, C. The patrix is moved away from the matrix, D. The detaching plate is moved towards the matrix, and E. The patrix is moved, pushed and pressed towards the matrix.

This enables the final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up, where the second end of the pipe is curving towards the inner side of the pipe, regardless whether the pipe has a cross section that is e.g. round, oval, ovoid or ellipse-shaped. It also makes it possible to form an open end of a pipe, whether the second end of the pipe is cut at an angle perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pipe or the second end of the pipe is cut at an angle different from 90 degrees to the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

An option is to cut the second end of a circular pipe at a degree different from 90 degrees to the longitudinal direction of the pipe, which results in an oval becoming more noticeable the more the degrees of the cut differ from the longitudinal direction of the pipe. A lot of other options combining cross sections with second end cuts at various degrees to the longitudinal direction of the pipe are available.

This makes it further possible to form an open end of a pipe into e.g. a slight curve, where the second end of the pipe is curving towards the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

Another embodiment is to slip the outer side of a pipe having a cross sectional form, a first end and a second end into the inner side of a patrix having the same cross sec tional form, which however is slightly larger, and where the detaching plate is moving inside the patrix.

This makes it possible to form an open end of a pipe into e.g. a slight curve, where the second end of the pipe is curving away from the inner side of the pipe.

This also makes it possible to form the pipe without using external heat source, the only heat is the heat generated in the material, when the patrix is pushed towards the matrix, and the second end of the pipe is squeezed between the patrix and the matrix.

In a further embodiment where the first end of the pipe is cut at an angle different from 90 degrees to the longitudinal direction of the pipe, the detaching plate needs to correspond to this angle e.g. by sloping the detaching plate itself, but where the detaching plate is still adjoining the patrix. Another option is to fasten a system of spacers on top of the detaching plate corresponding to the first end of the pipe.

The invention thus makes it possible to form e.g. a tailpipe, which is a pipe from which the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine are discharged, especially the terminal pipe of the exhaust system of a motor vehicle.

In a second aspect the present invention also relates to a method for forming an end of a pipe, where the method further comprises the following step after step E: F. The patrix is moved in the direction away from the matrix until the patrix is free of the pipe.

This makes it possible to remove the pipe from the apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the patrix. Where the patrix is moved below the surface of the detaching plate there is no restrictions as to removing the pipe, which will make the removing much easier for a person as well as a robot.

When starting a new process, the patrix is again moved into a position, where it is possible to slip the inner side of a new pipe onto the outer side of the patrix to carry out the method described step by step above.

In one embodiment the method is semiautomatic, so that a person e.g. slips the pipe onto the patrix, whereupon the person pushes one or two control buttons and the process starts, and when the process is finished, the person removes the pipe again.

In another embodiment the method is fully automatic, so that e.g. a robot slips the pipe onto the patrix, whereupon the process starts, and when the process is finished, the robot removes the pipe again.

In a third aspect the present invention also relates to a method for forming an end of a pipe, where step C further comprises that the patrix is moved 2 mm away from the matrix, and in a fourth aspect the present invention also relates to a method for forming an end of a pipe, where step D further comprises that the detaching plate is moved 1 mm towards the matrix.

Due to the space established by moving the patrix away from the matrix, it becomes possible to push the second end of the pipe further into the matrix, where it e.g. slides or rolls on the surface of the matrix, hence supplying material making it possible for the patrix and the matrix to form the pipe end.

In one example the surface could be rounded, in another example the surface could be sloped or inclined, but what is common for the examples is that it is possible to push the second end of the pipe a little bit further towards the matrix.

In one further embodiment the patrix is moved more than 2 mm away from the matrix, and the detaching plate is moved more than 1 mm towards the matrix. In another embodiment the patrix is moved less than 2 mm away from the matrix, and the detaching plate is moved less than 1 mm towards the matrix. The distances depend on the strength of the pipe material as well as the thickness of the wall of the pipe and the requirement to the final forming of the pipe.

In a fifth aspect the present invention also relates to a method for forming an end of a pipe, where the steps C and D are repeated a number of times.

This makes it possible to form the second end of the pipe in a number of smaller steps until the pipe end has exactly the right shape or desired form. This is also an option, if the pipe material is brittle or breakes or cracks easily.

In an embodiment where the patrix and the matrix have a surface structure which is not smooth, repeating of the steps could give the pipe end a special structure of surface finish.

In a sixth aspect the present invention also relates to a method for forming an end of a pipe, where all movements of at least the patrix and the detaching plate are perpendicular to the matrix and hence only movement towards or away from the matrix is possible..

This makes it possible to make all movements linear towards or away from the matrix - only forth and back movements are possible - hence avoiding all sliding and rotating movements. This also makes it possible to use control or steering rods to ensure the precision of the movements of e.g. the patrix in relation to e.g. the matrix.

In a seventh aspect the present invention also relates to an apparatus configured to carry out the method according to the previous description, where the apparatus comprises at least a patrix, a matrix and a detaching plate, and where the apparatus further comprises at least a cylinder for moving the patrix and at least a cylinder for moving the detaching plate, and in an eight aspect the present invention also relates to an apparatus, where the cylinders are e.g. pneumatically, hydraulically, mechanical or electrical.

This makes it possible, depending on the size of the pipe which has to be formed together with the thickness of the wall of the pipe, to vary or adapt the apparatus according to the actual need, size and forces required to form the pipe end.

In one embodiment the apparatus is ideally constructed to one specific kind of pipe which at all times has only one shape, one length and one size of wall thickness.

In another embodiment the apparatus is constructed such that it is possible to change at least one of the matrix, patrix or detaching plate, making the apparatus flexible, which makes switching to the production of another kind of pipe with another cross section, another size, another wall thickness or/and another degree according to the longitudinal direction of the pipe possible.. Hence one apparatus is able to cover many different demands.

Another option is to change the cylinders from one kind to another, again depending on the current need and production.

In a ninth aspect the present invention also relates to an apparatus, where the patrix is essentially complementary with the matrix.

In this context “essentially complementary” means that the matrix is slightly larger than the patrix, so that the pipe end is able to be formed between the matrix and the patrix.

This makes it possible to form the pipe wall in such a way that the wall thickness becomes uniform and essentially equally thick along the whole length of the pipe and also ensures a smooth surface of the end of the pipe.

In a tenth aspect the present invention also relates to an apparatus, where the patrix has a rounded male part along the outer side of the cross sectional form, and the matrix has an essentially complementary rounded female part.

As previously explained, “essentially complementary” in this context means that the matrix is slightly larger than the patrix, such that the pipe end can be formed between the matrix and the patrix.

This makes it possible to make the form of the pipe end round and smoothly curved with no sharp edges. However, other options regarding shapes and forms are many, both regarding to the curvature which does not need to be curved with one specific radius; it could also be formed by a number of different radii, with a combination of a radius and a flat surface with an angle or it could be formed with one or multiple edges.

Description of the Drawing

The invention will be described in further detail below by means of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus configured to carry out the method to form an open end of a pipe

Fig. 2 shows the first step of a method to form an open end of a pipe

Fig. 3 shows the second step of a method to form an open end of a pipe

Fig. 4 shows the third step of a method to form an open end of a pipe Fig. 5 shows the fourth step of a method to form an open end of a pipe Fig. 6 shows the fifth step of a method to form an open end of a pipe

In the drawing, the following reference numerals have been used for the designations used in the detailed part of the description: 1 Apparatus 2 First cylinder 3 Second cylinder 4 Patrix 5 Detaching plate 6 Matrix 7 Pipe 8 First end, pipe 9 Second end, pipe 10 Inner side, pipe 11 Outer side, patrix 12 Free end, patrix

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows an apparatus 1 configured to carry out the method, where the apparatus comprises a first cylinder 2 and a second cylinder 3.

Figure 2 shows the first step of a method for forming an open end of a pipe. The figure shows a patrix 4 which is connected to the first cylinder 2 and a detaching plate 5 which is connected to the second cylinder 3, where the patrix 4 and the detaching plate 5 are able to move independent of each other. The patrix 4 and the detaching plate 5 are advantageously complementary, such that the patrix 4 moves within the detaching plate 5 or at least part of the detaching plate 5 adjoins the patrix 4.

Figure 2 further shows a matrix 6, where the matrix 6 has a form/shape essentially corresponding to the form/shape of the patrix 4, where in the example shown the matrix 6 has a female part corresponding to the male part of the patrix 4.

Figure 2 also shows a pipe 7 with a first end 8, a second end 9 and an inner side 10, where the inner side 10 of the pipe 7 at the first end 8 is slipped onto the outer side 11 of the free end 12 of the patrix 4.

Figure 3 shows the second step of a method for forming an open end of a pipe, where the patrix 4 is moved towards the matrix 6, until the second end 9 of the pipe 7 touches the matrix 6, and the first end 8 of the pipe 7 is touching the detaching plate 5, and hence the pipe 7 covers the outer side 11 of the patrix 4.

Figure 4 shows the third step of a method for forming an open end of a pipe, where the patrix 4 is moved away from the matrix 6 depending on the thickness of the pipe 7, but the patrix 4 could e.g. be moved 2 mm away from the matrix 6, and then the detaching plate 5 is moved towards the matrix 6 and again depending on the thickness of the pipe 7, but the detaching plate 5 could e.g. be moved 1 mm towards the matrix 6 by which the second end 9 of the pipe 7 changes its form.

In the example shown the second end 9 of the pipe 7 changes form by rolling the second end 9 in a slight curve, and the second end 9 of the pipe 7 is curving towards the centre of the pipe 7.

Figure 5 shows the fourth step of a method for forming an open end of a pipe, where the patrix 4 is pushed towards the matrix 6 whereby the second end 9 of the pipe 7 is squeezed between the patrix 4, and the matrix 6 hence obtains the form of the matrix 6 and the patrix 4.

The steps shown in figure 4 and 5 can be repeated again and again, if necessary to obtain the desired form.

Figure 6 shows the fifth step of a method for forming an open end of a pipe 7, where the pipe 7 has obtained the desired form and where the patrix 4 is moved away from the matrix 6 until the patrix 4 is free of the pipe 7, and the pipe 7 can be removed from the apparatus 1.

Claims

1. Method for final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: A. The inner side of a pipe having a cross sectional form, a first end and a second end is from the first end of the pipe slipped onto the outer side of a patrix having the same cross sectional form, B. The patrix is moved towards a matrix until the second end of the pipe hits the matrix and the first end of the pipe hits a detaching plate, C. The patrix is moved away from the matrix, D. The detaching plate is moved towards the matrix, and E. The patrix is moved, pushed and pressed towards the matrix.

2. Method for final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises the following step after step E: F. The patrix is moved in the direction away from the matrix until the patrix is free of the pipe.

3. Method for final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that step C further comprises that the patrix is moved 2 mm away from the matrix.

4. Method for final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that step D further comprises that the detaching plate is moved 1 mm towards the matrix.

5. Method for final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the steps C and D are repeated a number of times.

6. Method for final forming of an open end of a pipe in one set-up according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that all movements of at least the patrix and the detaching plate are perpendicular to the matrix and hence only movement towards or away from the matrix is possible.

7. Apparatus configured to carry out the method according to claim 1 to 6, where the apparatus comprises at least a patrix, a matrix and a detaching plate characterized in that the apparatus further comprises at least a cylinder for moving the patrix and at least a cylinder for moving the detaching plate.

8. Apparatus for the forming of an end of a pipe according to claim 7 characterized in that the cylinders are e.g. pneumatically, hydraulically, mechanical or electrical.

9. Apparatus for the forming of an end of a pipe according to any of claim 7 to 8 characterized in that the patrix is essentially complementary with the matrix.

10. Apparatus for the forming of an end of a pipe according to claim 9 characterized in that the patrix has a rounded male part along the outer side of the cross sectional form and that the matrix has an essentially complementary rounded female part.