EP1044078A1

EP1044078A1 - Pipe connection

Info

Publication number: EP1044078A1
Application number: EP98966970A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Krall
Original assignee: Saxonia Umformtechnik GmbH
Current assignee: Saxonia Umformtechnik GmbH
Priority date: 1997-12-24
Filing date: 1998-12-21
Publication date: 2000-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-21
Also published as: TR200001831T2; DE59803942D1; CN1284902A; ATE216640T1; JP2002508252A; EP1044078B1; DE19757962A1; DE19757962C2; KR20010015894A; WO1999033589A3; WO1999033589A2

Abstract

A packet of several adjacent, mostly flat, plate-like components fixed to one another is disclosed, as well as a process for producing the same in an easy and inexpensive manner, allowing the whole packet to be produced inexpensively and with adequate fit. A process for interconnecting into a packet (13) several adjacent components in the longitudinal direction (10), in particular plates (10), of which the main planes extend transversely to the longitudinal direction (10), is characterised in that at least one pipe (3) is pushed in the longitudinal direction (10) into at least one aligned passage (2) of the components, in particular plates (1a, 1b, 1c), the outer diameter (4) of the pipe (3) being only slightly smaller than the passage (2). The pipe (3) is then widened until the enlargement of the outer diameter (4) causes the components, in particular the plates (1a, 1b, 1c), to sit firmly on the pipe (3).

Description

Pipe connection

I. Field of application

The invention relates to a package of several, mostly flat, plate-shaped components lying side by side, which are firmly connected to one another, and a method for its production.

In industrial applications, many side-by-side, often very thin, plate-shaped components often have to be handled with one another, e.g. at the bed of a knitting machine. For this purpose, a large number of such components are connected to one another in a package, as a result of which handling, in particular replacement, is made considerably easier. This is particularly important if the components are wearing parts and, accordingly, they have to be replaced relatively frequently. A manufacture from the full material, e.g. using milling, especially with thin components, is no longer possible or not economical.

Various possibilities have hitherto been known for connecting these components, which usually consist of metal, in particular a carbon-containing hardenable steel, to one another.

Welding is rather uncommon since the necessary welding temperature can cause the components to warp, and especially during welding the relative position of the components can change very easily. Another possibility is gluing, which, however, results in a connection which can only be loaded to a limited extent, particularly in the case of components with only a small contact area, and is also a time-consuming method in the case of a large number of components per package.

It is also known to connect the components to form a package in that the components - for. B. at their free ends - be poured into another material. If the load-bearing capacity is low, it can be poured into plastic, with higher load-bearing capacity into a low-melting metal alloy, for example a lead alloy, or into nickel silver.

A disadvantage is that the weight of the package is drastically increased by the potting material, especially when pouring into metal. The cast-in package is often ten times as heavy as the package without the cast-in material, especially when the components are very thin and small workpieces, such as the blanks of a knitting machine.

Another disadvantage is that the pouring must preferably take place at the free ends of the components, since pouring in the middle area is much more complex and, moreover, the shrinkage of the potting material must be taken into account when cooling, which requires great experience. However, the free end areas of the components often serve as functional surfaces and must be freely accessible.

It is also known to thread the components onto dowel pins by providing holes which are aligned with one another in the components and through which the dowel pins are passed. The desired distance between the individual components can be achieved by inserting spacer sleeves. Another disadvantage is that the required dowel pins have to be manufactured with very small dimensional tolerances and are correspondingly expensive. In addition, the placement of spacers between the boards when threading is difficult and time consuming. In addition, there is the problem of the sum error in the spacer sleeves.

a) Technical task

It is therefore the object according to the present invention to create a package and a method for its production, the production being simple and inexpensive to carry out, and thus the entire package on the one hand being inexpensive and on the other hand being able to be produced with a precise fit.

b) solving the problem

This object is solved by the features of claims 1 and 19. Advantageous embodiments result from the subclaims.

The fact that a tube is inserted into the aligned passages of the components and this tube is then expanded to such an extent that the individual components are firmly seated on the tube results in clear advantages over the previous fastening methods:

The tube used for pushing through must be less precise than a dowel pin, since it is not the play between the outer diameter of the tube in the initial state and the inner diameter of the passage of the components that determines the later movement of the components within the package, as in the case of a dowel pin. Rather, the individual components only have to be arranged in the correct relative position to one another when connecting. On the one hand, the insertion of the pipe is easy, since there may be sufficient play, approx. One to two hundredths of a millimeter, between the outside diameter of the pipe and the inside diameter of the passage. On the other hand, the connection with the components is only made by widening the tube, and thus even slight positional or dimensional deviations of the passages in the components are compensated for. This simplifies and reduces the cost of manufacturing the individual components. In addition, the tube itself only has to meet requirements with regard to the outside diameter and also the wall thickness which are clearly below the narrow tolerances of a dowel pin.

For example, the wall thickness of the tube is between 0.1 and 0.4 mm, while the diameter of the tube will change relatively strongly with the size of the components. A common diameter for components that have a height of approximately 10 to 20 mm is 3 mm.

While the individual components usually consist of a carbon-containing, i.e. hardenable, but uncured connection, such as C80 or C100, chrome-nickel steel is usually used for the pipe.

The expansion of the tube is done either by means of a radially acting pressure, in that a fluid, such as hydraulic oil or air, is introduced into the tube and the pressure in the tube is increased to such an extent that the tube expands radially. For this purpose, the tube must preferably be sealed tightly at least at one end, and the pressure must be introduced from the other, open end.

However, the expansion is much easier in a mechanical way. For example, a mechanical element is introduced into the tube, which exerts a radially outward force against the inner wall of the tube and thereby radially stretches the tube. This does not have to be the whole Scope happen, but can only on z. B. only two radially opposite sides of the case. This does not have to be the same over the entire length of the tube, but can be carried out individually at the desired expansion locations, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the tube, that is to say in the case of components that are spaced apart from one another, in the area between two adjacent components. However, mechanisms are also known which cause an expansion at once over the entire length of the tube, for example an expansion rod consisting of two parts which are mounted against one another along the longitudinal axis. If, for example, one part is mounted eccentrically with respect to the other part, the expansion rod changes its outer diameter by rotating the two parts against each other, which can thus press against the inner wall of the tube when enlarged. Another possibility is two wedge-shaped parts which are pushed against each other in the longitudinal direction and thereby move radially outwards, diametrically opposite one another.

A particularly advantageous possibility of expansion, which is also possible above all with pipes of different lengths and with little wear on the components involved, is to push an expansion object longitudinally through the interior of the tube, the expansion object having a diameter which is larger than that Inner diameter of the tube, and the expansion object in particular qualitatively has the same shape of the outer contour as the inner contour of the tube. Such an expansion object can be an expansion mandrel, the thickest area of which lies in the front end. In particular, however, it is advantageous to push a ball with these properties through the tube, which can either be pushed mechanically by means of a push rod, or can also be moved through the tube by means of compressed air, etc. The pipe itself must be held in the opposite direction by a stop. As a result of this widening, in the area of the narrow passages through the components, the widening outside diameter of the tube fits closely to the inside circumference of the passage. In the case of very thin, unstable components, even a limited bending of these components out of their plane, but this bending nevertheless results in a firm fit of the component on the outside diameter of the tube due to the inherent elasticity of the component.

As a rule and / or in addition, however, the material of the tube will no longer find any space in the area of the components due to the widening within the passages, and flow in the longitudinal direction into the adjacent areas, for example into the spacing area between the individual components. This flow of the material results in bulges of the tube in the area between the components or between the passages of the components, which additionally cause the components to be positively fixed in the desired axial position on the tube.

Regardless of the type of expansion process, the expansion in the radial direction simultaneously leads to a shortening of the tube, which, in the size relationships described, is in the range of approximately 1% of the initial length of the tube. This automatic shortening also occurs in particular when expanding by pushing a ball through and is advantageous because in many applications the package resulting from the interconnected components must not exceed a certain maximum length. In such a case, if you choose the maximum length of the package as the starting length of the pipes, i.e. before expanding, you can be sure that the finished package does not exceed this specified maximum limit.

If the components lie directly behind one another in the longitudinal direction along the tube, expansions are preferably provided on at least one of the end faces of the passage, which are necessary in order to allow the tube material which is displaced during the expansion of the tube to flow into this expansion, and thereby a positive fit to achieve in the longitudinal direction. In the case of components which do not consist in one piece but, for example, subsequently, by welding etc., of at least two components or boards lying one behind the other in the longitudinal direction, only one of the two can be used for this purpose. parts of the component which are connected to one another, the passages are dimensioned for the connection to the expanded tube, while in the other parts of the component the passages are aligned but are chosen with a larger diameter, the enlarged diameter in turn serving to accommodate the displacing tube material during expansion .

c) working examples

An embodiment according to the invention is described in more detail below using the figures as an example. Show it:

1 is a view of the package, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the tubes 3,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a package along the line X-X;

3 shows another structure of the package in the same direction of view as FIG.

2 and

4 shows a modified package in the direction of view of FIG. 2 or

Third

Fig. 1 shows the package according to the invention, which consists of boards 1a and 1b lying one behind the other in the viewing direction and pipes 3 connecting these boards 1a, 1b. In the area in which the boards overlap, three tubes 3 are pushed parallel to one another through correspondingly aligned passages 2a, 2b, 2c of the boards 1a, 1b, on which the boards 1a, 1b are stuck.

The three passages 2a, 2b, 2c and the tubes 3 pushed through them do not lie on a line, but form a triangle. It would also be possible to push at least one of the tubes 3 through such a passage, which is located in the area above the dash-dotted line, that is to say extends exclusively through the circuit boards 1 a.

1 is a needle bed of a flat knitting machine.

The internal structure and cohesion of the package can be better seen from FIGS. 2 to 4, which show the state of the production of the connection between the tube 3 on the one hand and the plates 1a, 1b,... Or 1, 1 'on the other in the viewing direction X. - Show X.

Fig. 2 consists of juxtaposed boards 1a, 1b, ..., which lie directly against each other in the longitudinal direction 10. Each board 1 a, 1 b, ... consists of two sub-boards 1, 1 ', the z. B. via a spot weld, the welds 16 are connected to one another.

According to the representation in FIG. 1, the sub-board 1 'protrudes further upward, so that in a finished package the sub-boards V together form a guide for a component guided between them, the bottom of this guide being formed by the sub-boards 1.

If the package - as shown in Fig. 2 - must end at the end with the same type of sub-board, one of the boards consists of either three sub-boards 1, 1 ', 1, which are welded together, as shown at the left end of Fig. 2 , or only from a single sub-board 1.

Even before the sub-boards are welded to one another, passages 2, 2 'are present in aligned position with one another in each of the sub-boards 1, 1', but with different sizes. B. the sub-boards 1

Passages 2 have a size that is only a very small game 17, For example, 1 to 2/100 mm, larger than the outer diameter 4 of the tube 3 in the initial state, the passages 2 ', which in contrast are significantly larger in the circuit boards V, and aligned, ie concentric, with the passages 2 in the sub-circuit boards 1 , and connected to each other in this relative position via the weld 16

When the smaller passages 2 are aligned, a tube 3 can thus be pushed through each passage 2 of the entire package, that is to say according to FIG. 1 in this case through three passages 2a, 2b, 2c. The tube 3 has a certain initial length La, viewed in the longitudinal direction 10, as shown in FIG. 2.

The outer diameter of the tube 3 and also the inner diameter of the passages 2a, 2b, 2c have a round contour, but other contours can also be used.

Subsequently, the tube 3 is connected to the plates 1a, 1b,... By inserting a ball 7 into the tube 3 in the longitudinal direction 10 from an end face and pushing it completely through the tube, the outer diameter 9 of which is greater than the inner diameter 12 of the tube 3 in the initial state. The ball 7 is pushed forward by means of a push rod 8 and the tube 3 presses in the longitudinal direction 10 against a stop 18 on the end face, which, however, does not protrude into the interior of the tube 3.

In this case, the tube 3 is mechanically widened, with a cold flow, that is to say a plastic deformation of the material of the tube 3 at almost room temperature. In the area of the smaller passages 2, the material of the tube 3 is first pushed outward until it has reached the inner circumference of the passage 2. A further escape radially outwards is not possible, which is why the tube material moves in the longitudinal direction 10 and is pressed towards the larger passages 2 ', and in the area of which then moves radially outwards, thereby forming bulges 19, 19' to the outside . The larger passages 2 'should be chosen so large that these bulges 19 no longer reach the inner circumference of the larger recesses 2'.

Depending on the flowability of the material of the tube 3, there will be bulges 19 whose lateral rise in the flanks is only very flat, or bulges 19 'whose lateral flanks are relatively strongly inclined.

While the radial pressing of the pipe material in the area of the small passages 2 only holds the corresponding plates 1 in the axial direction in a force-fitting manner, the bulges 19, on the other hand, bring about a form-fitting axial fixing of the plates on the outer circumference of the tube 3, the bulges 19 ′ of course being steeper Side flanks offer the better form fit.

The displacement of the material of the tube 3 essentially radially outwards generally results in a shortening of the initial length La of the tube 3 to a length L that is approximately 0.5 to 2% shorter. Since the resulting length L represents the length of the package in the longitudinal direction 10, in that the tubes 3 generally protrude from the front over the first and last circuit board 1, it can thus be ensured that this is maintained for a predetermined upper limit of the total length of the package, provided that as the initial length La of the tubes 3, which is the same for all tubes of a package, the maximum length of the finished package is chosen.

If the sub-boards 1, 1 'are not connected to one another, ie the welding spots 16 are missing, the sub-boards V with the large passage can be swiveled around the tube 3 after the package has been completed.

Fig. 3 shows - in the same direction as Fig. 2 - a package with a different inner structure. 3 consists of identical, each one-piece, circuit boards 1a, 1b, 1c, ... which are arranged at a certain distance 20 parallel to each other. To manufacture the package, the boards 1a, 1b, 1c, ... are pre-positioned at the correct distance from one another and then the tube 3 is pushed through the passages 2, the passages 2 being the smaller passages 2 in the boards 1 of FIG. 2 in correspond to their relation to tube 3.

Here, too, the desired cold flow of the material of the tube 3 is obtained by widening the tube in the form of bulges 19 and 19 'between the plates 1a, 1b, 1c, ...

According to FIG. 3, the expansion is carried out here by means of an expansion mandrel 14 which, like the ball 7, is pushed through the tube in the longitudinal direction and widens the inside diameter of the tube 3 with its widest point, and thus also the outside diameter thereof, analogously to the procedure of FIG. 2 enlarged. Compared to a ball 3, such an expanding mandrel 14 has the disadvantage that the wear always takes place at the same point, namely the widest point of the expanding mandrel 14, which tapers to the rear as it progresses, while in the case of a ball 3 the wear is uniform over the entire length Spherical surface takes place. In addition, a much larger working stroke is required than when using a loose ball, since a mandrel either has to be withdrawn completely or has to be removed on the opposite side, i.e. after it has been pushed through. For an expanding mandrel 14, however, handling is easier due to a fixed connection to the push rod.

Fig. 4 shows a structure of a package, in which the boards 1a, 1b, 1c directly abut each other, but are each one-piece boards.

The passages 2 are usually produced as bores or punchings. In order to allow the material of the tube 3 to evade radially outwards and evenly distributed over the axial length, the passages are 2a, 2b, 2c, ... each from the end faces of the boards 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, equipped with an expansion 15 in the form of a countersink of the borehole. This widening can also only be present on one side of the board. Likewise, the expansion can only be present in certain angular ranges of the circumference of the passage.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

1a, 1b, 1c circuit boards

2 passage

3 tubes

4 outer diameters

6 wall thickness

7 bullet

8 push rod

9 outer diameter ball

10 longitudinal direction

11 transverse direction

12 inner diameter tube

13 package

L length package

LA output length pipe

14 Expanding form

15 expansion

16 welding

17 game

18 stop

19, 19 'bulge

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A method for connecting a plurality of adjacent components in the longitudinal direction (10) with one another, in particular of circuit boards (10), the main planes of which lie transversely to the longitudinal direction (10), to form a package (13), characterized in that a) is aligned in at least one Passage (2) of the components, in particular circuit boards (1a, 1b, 1c), at least one tube (3) is inserted in the longitudinal direction (10), b) the outside diameter (4) of the tube (3) being only slightly smaller than the passage (2), and c) expanding the tube (3) until the components, in particular the circuit boards (1a, 1b, 1c), are firmly seated on the tube (3) by increasing the outside diameter (4).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube (3) consists of metal, in particular of chromium-nickel steel.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall thickness (6) of the tube is between 0.1 and 0.4 mm.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the expansion takes place by pushing a ball (7) through the tube (3) in the position positioned in the boards, the ball (7) having a larger diameter (9) than has the inside diameter (12) of the tube (3) in the initial state.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the ball (7) is pushed by means of a push rod (8) through the tube and the opposite end of the tube is pressed against a stop.

6. The method according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the expansion takes place by introducing a fluid, in particular oil or air, into the tube (3) which is closed on at least one end face under excess pressure of in particular at least 2 bar.

7. The method according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the expansion of the tube takes place only in the area between the individual plates (1a, 1b, 1c).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the expansion takes place by means of an expansion dome (14) at the front end of a push rod (9).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the expansion takes place by means of an expansion rod which is inserted into the tube (3) and in turn is able to enlarge its outer diameter, and thereby the inner diameter of the tube (3) to push radially outward.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the expanding rod consists of several mutually movable parts, in particular either one of the parts over the entire length is pivotally mounted eccentrically in the longitudinal direction on the other part or two parts are pushed against each other in the longitudinal direction and thereby press each other outwards along inclined surfaces which are formed on the parts.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer diameter (9) of the ball (7) or the expansion dome is larger than the inner diameter (12) of the tube in the initial state, but smaller than the size of the passage (2) in the initial state.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components, in particular circuit boards, are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction (10).

13. The method according to claim 1 to 11, characterized in that the components, in particular circuit boards, directly adjoin one another in the longitudinal direction (10) and the passages (2a, 2b, 2c) are widened to such an extent at at least one end face that the widening for It is sufficient to take up the material which is displaced by means of flow when the tube (3) is expanded.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passages (2a, 2b, 2c) are widened on both end faces.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components or boards consist of a plurality of longitudinally adjoining, in particular firmly connected, in particular spot-welded, sub-boards (1, 1 '), and the corresponding passages (2, 2 ') aligned with one another are of different sizes and are concentric with one another, only the smaller passage (2) being dimensioned such that a firm connection to the pipe (3) takes place when the pipe (3) pushed through it is widened.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components, in particular circuit boards, have a plurality of passages (2a, 2b, 2c).

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that with more than two passages (2a, 2b, 2c, ...) the passages are not in one plane.

18. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more tubes (3) with a larger initial length (LA) are used to produce a package with a defined length (L) and the expansion of the tubes by continuous expansion along the Longitudinal happens.

19. Package of several adjacent, firmly connected components, in particular of circuit boards (1a, 1b, 1c), the main planes of which are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction (10), in particular produced by the method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjacent components are penetrated by at least one common tube (3) which runs in the direction (10), on which the adjacent components are firmly seated, and the outside diameter of the tube in the area between the passages (2) of the individual components or boards (1a, 1b, 1c) is larger than in the area of the passages in which the Outer migration of the pipe is tight against the inside diameter of the passage.

20. Use of several packages adjoining one another in the longitudinal direction as claimed in claim 19 as a bed in a knitting machine, in particular as a flat bed in a flat bed knitting machine, in particular as a segmented bed.