EP3666412A1 - Improved expander for expanding metal pipes - Google Patents
Improved expander for expanding metal pipes Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3666412A1 EP3666412A1 EP19204024.4A EP19204024A EP3666412A1 EP 3666412 A1 EP3666412 A1 EP 3666412A1 EP 19204024 A EP19204024 A EP 19204024A EP 3666412 A1 EP3666412 A1 EP 3666412A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- expander
- flexible rods
- drum
- flexible
- rods
- 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.)
- Granted
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D53/00—Making other particular articles
- B21D53/02—Making other particular articles heat exchangers or parts thereof, e.g. radiators, condensers fins, headers
- B21D53/08—Making other particular articles heat exchangers or parts thereof, e.g. radiators, condensers fins, headers of both metal tubes and sheet metal
- B21D53/085—Making other particular articles heat exchangers or parts thereof, e.g. radiators, condensers fins, headers of both metal tubes and sheet metal with fins places on zig-zag tubes or parallel tubes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D41/00—Application of procedures in order to alter the diameter of tube ends
- B21D41/02—Enlarging
- B21D41/026—Enlarging by means of mandrels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D39/00—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders
- B21D39/08—Tube expanders
- B21D39/20—Tube expanders with mandrels, e.g. expandable
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an improved expander for expanding metal pipes.
- expander means a machine capable of performing transversal expansion or widening of the inner space of metal pipes used for various purposes, particularly but not exclusively for suppling refrigerant or heating fluid inside the fins of finned pack heat exchangers.
- An expander of this type is described in Italian patent No. 1426936 by the Applicant and comprises a plurality of flexible rods, which are fed in parallel towards a corresponding plurality of parallel pipes to axially engage therein the respective expander mandrels placed at the front end of the flexible rods.
- the flexible rods consist of a metal wire spring wound in a cylindrical helix in which a braided steel wire cord axially extends, the front end of which is fixed to the rear end of the expander mandrel.
- expander mandrels There may be two types of expander mandrels, one capable of expanding the pipe by means of axial pushing of a larger diameter mandrel head into the inner cavity of the pipe (push mandrel), the other capable of expanding by inserting a smaller diameter head into the inner cavity of the pipe, which head is then expanded and pulled back from its initial position (pull mandrel).
- the first type of mandrel has a rigid body with a rear end fixed to the front end of the braided wire cord, as mentioned, and a front end to which said larger diameter head is fixed.
- the second type of mandrel consists of two axially consecutive portions with an interposed spring, the rear portion of which is fixed to the front end of the braided wire cord and extends frontally with a further braided steel wire cord which ends in a flared front end towards a terminal head, while the front end can slide axially over said further cord and said flared front end and frontally carries an expandable nose which can abut axially against said terminal head.
- the terminal head of the mandrel can thus be inserted with compressed spring and non-expanded nose into the pipe to be expanded and then be pulled back to determine, by exploiting the extension of the spring, the sliding of the flared front end of the mandrel inside the nose with consequent expansion of the latter, and the progressive extraction of the nose itself for the desired expansion of the inner cavity of the pipe.
- WO 2010/115427 A1 describes a metal pipe expansion device which, similarly to that defined in the preamble of claim 1 of the present application, comprises a plurality of flexible rods which are fed in parallel towards a corresponding plurality of parallel pipes to axially insert therein respective expanding mandrels placed at the front end of the flexible rods.
- the type of flexible rods used is not defined.
- JP 2015 085383 A describes a pipe expansion unit, which has the same features as WO 2010/115427 A1 .
- the expander shown as a whole in figure 1 comprises a supporting frame 1 which supports a moving assembly 2 of flexible rods 3 from which expander mandrels 4 extend, which can be inserted into the axial cavities of the respective pipes 5 the transversal expansion of which is desired.
- the aforesaid pipes 5 are kept in position aligned with the expander mandrels 4 by a support 6 fixed to a front end of the frame 1.
- the expander mandrels 4 can be of two types, shown in figures 2-3 and 4-9 , respectively.
- the expander mandrel in figures 2-3 is of the push type, i.e. is able to operate the transverse expansion of pipe 5 by means of axial pushing.
- the mandrel comprises a rigid body 7 with a rear end fixed to the front end of a respective flexible rod 3 and a front end ending in a substantially truncated-cone-shaped expansion head 8 with a terminal front 9 of diameter smaller than that of the inner cavity of pipe 5 and a section 10 behind of a larger diameter than that of the aforesaid cavity.
- the mandrel in figures 2-3 may be inserted into the cavity itself and carry out the transverse expansion of the inner cavity of the pipe by means of the enlarged section 10 of the head 8.
- the expander mandrel in figures 4-9 is of the pulling type, instead, i.e. it is able to operate the transversal expansion of the inner cavity of pipe 5 by means of unforced insertion into the aforesaid cavity and subsequent expansion and extraction in an expanded state of the terminal head of the mandrel outside the cavity of the pipe.
- the mandrel is made of two axially aligned parts 11 and 12 with the interposition of a helical metal spring 13.
- the rear part 11 is fixed to the front end of a respective flexible rod 3 and has a front extension 14 ending with a truncated-cone-shaped flare 15 and finally with a terminal head 16.
- the front part 12 is mounted axially sliding on the aforesaid front extension 14 and ends in front with an expandable nose 17 with radial petals, which in non-expanded position has outer transverse dimensions smaller than the transverse dimensions of the inner cavity of the pipe 5, while in expanded position it may assume outer transverse dimensions larger than the transverse dimensions of said cavity.
- the mandrel in figures 4-9 initially outside the inner cavity of the pipe with the spring 13 in resting position, the front part 12 retracted with respect to the truncated-cone-shaped flare of the extension 14 and the non-expanded nose 17 ( figure 4 ), may be inserted with the terminal head 16 into the cavity of the pipe 5 and then pushed with the front part 12 along the extension 14 and its truncated-cone-shaped flare 15 ( figure 6 ) with consequent compression of the spring 13 and progressive expansion of the nose 17 up to a transversal dimension greater than the transversal dimension of the inner cavity of pipe 5.
- the corresponding flexible rods 3 consist of respective solid stems or harmonic steel cables with circular cross-section and smooth outer wall. Their movement for the insertion of the mandrels 4 in the cavities of the pipes 5 and their extraction from the pipes themselves is provided by the movement assembly 2, the details of which are shown in figures 10-14 .
- the movement assembly 2 comprises a plurality of driving elements (50) arranged side-by-side, one for each flexible rod 3 to be moved, each of which is formed by a set of pairs of slotted gears 21-22 superimposed in pairs ( figures 10 , 11 and 13 ), which define grooves 23 intended for the passage and driving of a flexible rod 3 ( figures 10 , 13 and 14 ).
- the lower gears 22 are rotationally supported fixed pins 24 taken to a fixed position by intermediate plates 25 placed between the various gear sets ( figures 10 , 11 , 12 and 14 ) and are motorized by means of a drive shaft (not shown) on which a drive gear 26 and an idle gear 27 are mounted ( figures 10 , 11 and 13 ), while the upper gears 21 are rotationally supported by pins 28 mounted on rectangular plates 29 ( figures 10 , 11 and 13 ), which are integral with trapezoidal plates 30 supported in vertically movable manner by the intermediate plates 25.
- the trapezoidal plates 30 are biased or in any case can be controlled to move upwards by elastic or hydraulic means 31 placed at the two ends ( figures 10 and 13 ) but can be kept in a lowered position, suited for the engagement of the upper gears 21 with the lower gears 22, by means of L-shaped levers 32 pivoted in 33 on the intermediate plates 25 and which can be actuated between engagement and disengagement positions with respect to the trapezoidal plates 30 by means of hydraulic cylinder-piston units 34 with rotating ends on pins 35 and 36 carried by the intermediate plates 25 and by the levers 32, respectively ( figures 10 , 11 and 13 ).
- the upper gears 21 are, in turn, lowered and mesh with the lower gears 22 and may receive motion from the latter and thus cause the movement (either forward or backward) of the flexible rods inserted in the grooves 23, while with the trapezoidal plates raised following the disengagement of the levers 32 by means of the cylinder-piston assemblies 34, the upper gears 21 are, in turn, raised and disengaged by the lower gears 22 with consequent cessation of movement of the flexible rods 3.
- By independently controlling the cylinder-piston assemblies 34 it is thus possible to control the advancement or retraction movement of the flexible rods 3 and the corresponding mandrels 4 in equally independent manner.
- the movement assembly 2 takes the flexible rods 3 from a coil wrapped in a large drum 41 and then returns them to the drum itself after expanding.
- the taking and the returning depend on the direction of rotation imparted to the slotted gears 21 and 22.
- the drum 41 is shown in more detail in figures 15-17 , where it is seen to comprise three circular perforated plates 42 which form the two sides and a middle separating wall of the drum itself.
- the lower parts of the two sides are fixed to frame 1 by means of brackets 43, as also shown in figure 1 .
- each side plate and the middle plate there are two spiral-shaped sequences of idle rolls 44 ( figure 16 ), each of which is provided with parallel radial fins 45 which form grooves 46 for the housing of respective flexible rods 3 which extend longitudinally along all or part of the overall extension of the sequences of rolls.
- the expander assembly 2 With the levers 32 in the operating position of figures 10 and 13 , progressively takes suitable lengths of the rods 3 from the drum 41 until the mandrel 4 is inserted into the pipes to be expanded. If the number of pipes to be expanded is lower than that of the available mandrels, by appropriately choosing the position of the levers 32 by virtue of the cylinder-piston assemblies 34, the engagement of only one part of the gear pairs 21-22 is determined and therefore the advancement of only one part of the flexible rods 3, more precisely of those the mandrels of which must engage the inner cavities of pipes 5 for their radial expansion.
- the forced advancement of the rods, and thus of the mandrels, is sufficient to perform the expansion of pipe 5, after which the motion of the grooved gears 21-22 is reversed and the withdrawn lengths of rods are rewound on the drum 41.
- the advancement of the flexible rods 3 is only used to insert the terminal head of the mandrel, with the nose 13 still not expanded, into pipe 5 in which then the expansion of the nose 13, determined by the further advancement of the rod 3, determines the expansion of the pipe.
- the successive retraction of the rods under the control of movement assembly 2 determines the radial expansion of the inner cavity of pipe 5 by virtue of the enlarged nose until the mandrel exits from the pipe, which is the end of the expansion operation.
- the rod lengths previously taken from drum 4 and the rod lengths previously taken from drum 41 are finally rewound into the drum itself.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an improved expander for expanding metal pipes.
- The term "expander" means a machine capable of performing transversal expansion or widening of the inner space of metal pipes used for various purposes, particularly but not exclusively for suppling refrigerant or heating fluid inside the fins of finned pack heat exchangers.
- An expander of this type is described in Italian patent No.
1426936 - The flexible rods consist of a metal wire spring wound in a cylindrical helix in which a braided steel wire cord axially extends, the front end of which is fixed to the rear end of the expander mandrel.
- There may be two types of expander mandrels, one capable of expanding the pipe by means of axial pushing of a larger diameter mandrel head into the inner cavity of the pipe (push mandrel), the other capable of expanding by inserting a smaller diameter head into the inner cavity of the pipe, which head is then expanded and pulled back from its initial position (pull mandrel).
- The first type of mandrel has a rigid body with a rear end fixed to the front end of the braided wire cord, as mentioned, and a front end to which said larger diameter head is fixed.
- The second type of mandrel consists of two axially consecutive portions with an interposed spring, the rear portion of which is fixed to the front end of the braided wire cord and extends frontally with a further braided steel wire cord which ends in a flared front end towards a terminal head, while the front end can slide axially over said further cord and said flared front end and frontally carries an expandable nose which can abut axially against said terminal head. The terminal head of the mandrel can thus be inserted with compressed spring and non-expanded nose into the pipe to be expanded and then be pulled back to determine, by exploiting the extension of the spring, the sliding of the flared front end of the mandrel inside the nose with consequent expansion of the latter, and the progressive extraction of the nose itself for the desired expansion of the inner cavity of the pipe.
- In the expanders thus formed, there may be a problem related to the conformation of the helical spring of the flexible rods, which does not ensure a correct and constant movement of the mandrel head and thus the desired expansion dimension.
-
WO 2010/115427 A1 describes a metal pipe expansion device which, similarly to that defined in the preamble ofclaim 1 of the present application, comprises a plurality of flexible rods which are fed in parallel towards a corresponding plurality of parallel pipes to axially insert therein respective expanding mandrels placed at the front end of the flexible rods. The type of flexible rods used is not defined. -
JP 2015 085383 A WO 2010/115427 A1 . - It is the object of the present invention to provide an improvement of the expander described above which solves the aforesaid problem, ensuring maximum expanding precision both in the case of a pushed mandrel and in the case of a pulled mandrel.
- The aforesaid object is achieved by means of an expander for expanding metal pipes, which further comprises the features defined in the characterizing part of
claim 1 of the present application. - In this manner, both in the case of push expansion and pull expansion, a correct and constant movement of the mandrel head, and thus the maximum precision of the desired expansion dimension, is ensured.
- These and other features of the expander according to the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of a practical embodiment example thereof which is illustrated in the attached drawings:
-
figure 1 shows an overall perspective view of an example of expander according to the present invention; -
figure 2 shows the enlarged detail of a push mandrel which can be used in the expander shown infigure 1 before it is inserted into the pipe to be expanded; -
figure 3 shows a cross-section view of the aforesaid push mandrel taken along line III-III infigure 2 ; -
figure 4 shows the enlarged detail of a pull mandrel which can be used in the expander shown infigure 1 , before it is inserted into the pipe to be expanded; -
figure 5 shows a cross-section view of the aforesaid mandrel taken along line IV-IV infigure 4 ; -
figure 6 shows the aforesaid pull mandrel in a step of inserting into the pipe to be expanded; -
figure 7 shows a cross-section view of the mandrel taken along line VII-VII infigure 6 ; -
figure 8 shows the same pull mandrel in a position suited for the pulling expansion movement of the pipe; -
figure 9 shows a cross-section view of the mandrel taken along line IX-IX infigure 8 ; -
figure 10 shows a first, partially section perspective view, of a flexible rod moving assembly in the expander shown infigure 1 ; -
figure 11 is a second exploded view of the moving assembly infigure 10 ; -
figure 12 shows a top plan view of the same moving assembly; -
figure 13 shows a longitudinal section of said moving assembly taken along line XIII-XIII infigure 12 ; -
figure 14 shows a section view of said moving assembly taken along line XIV-XIV infigure 13 ; -
figure 15 shows a top plan view of an unwinding and rewinding drum of the flexible rods in the expander shown infigure 1 ; -
figure 16 shows a section view of said drum taken along line XVI-XVI infigure 15 ; -
figure 17 shows a partial section view of said drum taken along line XVII-XVII infigure 16 . - The expander shown as a whole in
figure 1 comprises a supportingframe 1 which supports a movingassembly 2 offlexible rods 3 from which expandermandrels 4 extend, which can be inserted into the axial cavities of therespective pipes 5 the transversal expansion of which is desired. Theaforesaid pipes 5 are kept in position aligned with theexpander mandrels 4 by asupport 6 fixed to a front end of theframe 1. - The
expander mandrels 4 can be of two types, shown infigures 2-3 and4-9 , respectively. - The expander mandrel in
figures 2-3 is of the push type, i.e. is able to operate the transverse expansion ofpipe 5 by means of axial pushing. For such a purpose, the mandrel comprises arigid body 7 with a rear end fixed to the front end of a respectiveflexible rod 3 and a front end ending in a substantially truncated-cone-shaped expansion head 8 with a terminal front 9 of diameter smaller than that of the inner cavity ofpipe 5 and asection 10 behind of a larger diameter than that of the aforesaid cavity. - As a result, while processing, the mandrel in
figures 2-3 , initially outside the inner cavity of the pipe, may be inserted into the cavity itself and carry out the transverse expansion of the inner cavity of the pipe by means of the enlargedsection 10 of thehead 8. - The expander mandrel in
figures 4-9 is of the pulling type, instead, i.e. it is able to operate the transversal expansion of the inner cavity ofpipe 5 by means of unforced insertion into the aforesaid cavity and subsequent expansion and extraction in an expanded state of the terminal head of the mandrel outside the cavity of the pipe. For this purpose, the mandrel is made of two axially alignedparts helical metal spring 13. Therear part 11 is fixed to the front end of a respectiveflexible rod 3 and has afront extension 14 ending with a truncated-cone-shaped flare 15 and finally with aterminal head 16. Thefront part 12 is mounted axially sliding on theaforesaid front extension 14 and ends in front with anexpandable nose 17 with radial petals, which in non-expanded position has outer transverse dimensions smaller than the transverse dimensions of the inner cavity of thepipe 5, while in expanded position it may assume outer transverse dimensions larger than the transverse dimensions of said cavity. - As a result, while processing, the mandrel in
figures 4-9 , initially outside the inner cavity of the pipe with thespring 13 in resting position, thefront part 12 retracted with respect to the truncated-cone-shaped flare of theextension 14 and the non-expanded nose 17 (figure 4 ), may be inserted with theterminal head 16 into the cavity of thepipe 5 and then pushed with thefront part 12 along theextension 14 and its truncated-cone-shaped flare 15 (figure 6 ) with consequent compression of thespring 13 and progressive expansion of thenose 17 up to a transversal dimension greater than the transversal dimension of the inner cavity ofpipe 5. At this point, by pulling theflexible rod 3 backwards and exploiting the expansion of thespring 13, it is possible to completely extract the mandrel from the inner cavity of the pipe, which is expanded transversely by virtue of the action of the enlargednose 17, abutting frontally against arear stop front 18 of theterminal head 16. - Whatever the
mandrels 4 used, the correspondingflexible rods 3 consist of respective solid stems or harmonic steel cables with circular cross-section and smooth outer wall. Their movement for the insertion of themandrels 4 in the cavities of thepipes 5 and their extraction from the pipes themselves is provided by themovement assembly 2, the details of which are shown infigures 10-14 . - The
movement assembly 2 comprises a plurality of driving elements (50) arranged side-by-side, one for eachflexible rod 3 to be moved, each of which is formed by a set of pairs of slotted gears 21-22 superimposed in pairs (figures 10 ,11 and13 ), which definegrooves 23 intended for the passage and driving of a flexible rod 3 (figures 10 ,13 and14 ). - The
lower gears 22 are rotationally supportedfixed pins 24 taken to a fixed position byintermediate plates 25 placed between the various gear sets (figures 10 ,11 ,12 and14 ) and are motorized by means of a drive shaft (not shown) on which adrive gear 26 and anidle gear 27 are mounted (figures 10 ,11 and13 ), while theupper gears 21 are rotationally supported bypins 28 mounted on rectangular plates 29 (figures 10 ,11 and13 ), which are integral withtrapezoidal plates 30 supported in vertically movable manner by theintermediate plates 25. - The
trapezoidal plates 30 are biased or in any case can be controlled to move upwards by elastic orhydraulic means 31 placed at the two ends (figures 10 and13 ) but can be kept in a lowered position, suited for the engagement of theupper gears 21 with thelower gears 22, by means of L-shaped levers 32 pivoted in 33 on theintermediate plates 25 and which can be actuated between engagement and disengagement positions with respect to thetrapezoidal plates 30 by means of hydraulic cylinder-piston units 34 with rotating ends onpins intermediate plates 25 and by thelevers 32, respectively (figures 10 ,11 and13 ). - With the
trapezoidal plates 30 in position lowered by thelevers 32, as infigures 10 and13 , theupper gears 21 are, in turn, lowered and mesh with thelower gears 22 and may receive motion from the latter and thus cause the movement (either forward or backward) of the flexible rods inserted in thegrooves 23, while with the trapezoidal plates raised following the disengagement of thelevers 32 by means of the cylinder-piston assemblies 34, theupper gears 21 are, in turn, raised and disengaged by thelower gears 22 with consequent cessation of movement of theflexible rods 3. By independently controlling the cylinder-piston assemblies 34, it is thus possible to control the advancement or retraction movement of theflexible rods 3 and thecorresponding mandrels 4 in equally independent manner. - The
movement assembly 2 takes theflexible rods 3 from a coil wrapped in alarge drum 41 and then returns them to the drum itself after expanding. Of course, the taking and the returning depend on the direction of rotation imparted to theslotted gears - The
drum 41 is shown in more detail infigures 15-17 , where it is seen to comprise three circularperforated plates 42 which form the two sides and a middle separating wall of the drum itself. The lower parts of the two sides are fixed toframe 1 by means ofbrackets 43, as also shown infigure 1 . - Between each side plate and the middle plate there are two spiral-shaped sequences of idle rolls 44 (
figure 16 ), each of which is provided with parallelradial fins 45 which formgrooves 46 for the housing of respectiveflexible rods 3 which extend longitudinally along all or part of the overall extension of the sequences of rolls. - As a result of all the above, the
expander assembly 2, with thelevers 32 in the operating position offigures 10 and13 , progressively takes suitable lengths of therods 3 from thedrum 41 until themandrel 4 is inserted into the pipes to be expanded. If the number of pipes to be expanded is lower than that of the available mandrels, by appropriately choosing the position of thelevers 32 by virtue of the cylinder-piston assemblies 34, the engagement of only one part of the gear pairs 21-22 is determined and therefore the advancement of only one part of theflexible rods 3, more precisely of those the mandrels of which must engage the inner cavities ofpipes 5 for their radial expansion. - If the mandrel is of the push type in
figures 2 and 3 , the forced advancement of the rods, and thus of the mandrels, is sufficient to perform the expansion ofpipe 5, after which the motion of the grooved gears 21-22 is reversed and the withdrawn lengths of rods are rewound on thedrum 41. - Instead, if the mandrel is of the pull type in
figures 4-9 , the advancement of theflexible rods 3 is only used to insert the terminal head of the mandrel, with thenose 13 still not expanded, intopipe 5 in which then the expansion of thenose 13, determined by the further advancement of therod 3, determines the expansion of the pipe. The successive retraction of the rods under the control ofmovement assembly 2 determines the radial expansion of the inner cavity ofpipe 5 by virtue of the enlarged nose until the mandrel exits from the pipe, which is the end of the expansion operation. The rod lengths previously taken fromdrum 4 and the rod lengths previously taken fromdrum 41 are finally rewound into the drum itself.
Claims (5)
- An expander for expanding metal pipes, comprising a plurality of flexible rods (3), which are fed in parallel towards a corresponding plurality of parallel pipes (5) to axially insert respective expander mandrels (4) placed at the front end of the flexible rods (3) therein, characterized in that said flexible rods (3) are made in form of a harmonic steel stem with round section and smooth outer surface and wherein a moving assembly (2) for said flexible rods (3) is provided, which assembly comprises a plurality of driving elements (50) arranged side-by-side, one for each flexible rod (3), each of which is formed by a set of pairs of superimposed slotted gears (21-22) which define grooves (23) for the passage and driving of a flexible rod (3).
- An expander according to claim 1, characterized in that each driving element (50) comprises means (34, 32, 28, 29) for controlling the mutual movement of the coupled slotted gears (21-22) towards mutual engagement and disengagement positions with the rods (3) interposed.
- An expander according to claim 2, characterized in that said means (34, 32, 28, 29) present in each driving element (50) for controlling the mutual movement of the coupled slotted gears (21-22) towards mutual engagement and disengagement positions comprise a cylinder-piston assembly (34) which controls the rotation of a lever (32) which acts on movable supporting plates (28, 29) of said upper and lower slotted gears (21-22).
- An expander according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that said moving assembly (2) takes lengths of flexible rods (3) from a rod winding drum (41) during a step of executing of a pipe expansion operation and reinserts said lengths into the drum at the end of the expansion operation.
- An expander according to claim 4, characterized in that said drum (41) comprises circular-shaped perforated metal sheets (42) which form two sides and at least one intermediate separating wall of the drum itself, spiral-shaped successions of idle rolls (44) being placed between said metal sheets (42), each of which is provided with parallel radial fins (45) which form grooves (46) for housing respective flexible rods (3), which grooves extend longitudinally along all or a part of the total extension of the successions of rolls (44).
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT102018000010355A IT201800010355A1 (en) | 2018-11-15 | 2018-11-15 | "Enhanced tube expanding machine for expanding metal pipes" |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3666412A1 true EP3666412A1 (en) | 2020-06-17 |
EP3666412B1 EP3666412B1 (en) | 2021-08-04 |
Family
ID=65496892
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19204024.4A Active EP3666412B1 (en) | 2018-11-15 | 2019-10-18 | Improved expander for expanding metal pipes |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20200156138A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3666412B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3059310A1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT201800010355A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN117620016A (en) * | 2023-12-04 | 2024-03-01 | 广东博益空调配套设备有限公司 | Horizontal pipe expander |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3789648A (en) * | 1972-12-27 | 1974-02-05 | Tridan Tool & Machine | Portable tube expander |
US5916321A (en) * | 1998-09-04 | 1999-06-29 | Tridan International, Inc. | Rod driver gear for a tubing expander |
WO2010115427A1 (en) | 2009-04-06 | 2010-10-14 | Michael Davidsen | A machine for the expansion of pipes |
US20130186166A1 (en) * | 2012-01-20 | 2013-07-25 | Kaydon Corporation | Tube forming machine |
EP2786816A1 (en) * | 2013-04-05 | 2014-10-08 | CMS Costruzione Macchine Speciali S.r.l. | Tube expanding drum machine |
JP2015085383A (en) | 2013-11-01 | 2015-05-07 | 株式会社EBox研究所 | Draw-type tube expansion unit, device, method and heat exchanger |
-
2018
- 2018-11-15 IT IT102018000010355A patent/IT201800010355A1/en unknown
-
2019
- 2019-10-18 EP EP19204024.4A patent/EP3666412B1/en active Active
- 2019-10-21 CA CA3059310A patent/CA3059310A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2019-11-06 US US16/675,390 patent/US20200156138A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3789648A (en) * | 1972-12-27 | 1974-02-05 | Tridan Tool & Machine | Portable tube expander |
US5916321A (en) * | 1998-09-04 | 1999-06-29 | Tridan International, Inc. | Rod driver gear for a tubing expander |
WO2010115427A1 (en) | 2009-04-06 | 2010-10-14 | Michael Davidsen | A machine for the expansion of pipes |
US20130186166A1 (en) * | 2012-01-20 | 2013-07-25 | Kaydon Corporation | Tube forming machine |
EP2786816A1 (en) * | 2013-04-05 | 2014-10-08 | CMS Costruzione Macchine Speciali S.r.l. | Tube expanding drum machine |
JP2015085383A (en) | 2013-11-01 | 2015-05-07 | 株式会社EBox研究所 | Draw-type tube expansion unit, device, method and heat exchanger |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3666412B1 (en) | 2021-08-04 |
CA3059310A1 (en) | 2020-05-15 |
IT201800010355A1 (en) | 2020-05-15 |
US20200156138A1 (en) | 2020-05-21 |
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