FR2492286A1 - Rotary punch forming radial flange on end of metal tube - uses bit sliding axially in diametric punch slot hole to form initial taper mouth - Google Patents

Abstract

The plumber's tool forms a radial flange (F) on an end of a metal tube (3), and includes a rotary punch (4) and deformer (5) which act together. The work locates between the jaws of matrix (2) and projects beyond a plane matrix surface (S), the projection being pressed back onto the surface to form the flange. A holder (1) locates the matrix and the workpiece together with part of the punch in which the deformer is mounted. The deformer slides relative to the punch (4) but cannot rotate relative to it. The deformer can also be locked or moved relative to the punch, and may comprise a laminar pointed plunger located by a diametric punch slot hole. The deformer leads the punch onto the workpiece, forming a conical lip (L) which is pressed onto the matrix surface by the punch.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing collars at the end of tubular elements, for example cylindrical, of the type used in the field of plumbing.

For the formation of collars, it is known to flare the end of the tube and to fold down the flaring perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.

For these operations it is known to use a matrix consisting of two jaws between which the end of the tube is clamped and punches of different shapes adapted to the different stages of the production of the collar.

The end of the tube blocked in the matrix is arranged in grooves in an arc of jaws forming when said jaws are attached a cylindrical orifice transverse to the matrix.

One of the two ends of this orifice is flared in a truncated cone to facilitate the production of the flaring using a punch in the shape of a conical top driven by hammering into the tube.

After this operation the position of the tube in the orifice of the matrix is reversed to arrange the said flaring of the tube on
a flat surface of the matrix, perpendicular to the orifice and in opposition to its flared orifice, against which the said flare of the tube is folded down using a flat punch by hammering.

The type of material which is not very flexible causes significant loss of time due to the change in position of the tube for each stage of the production of the collar.

Generally the collars cooperate with a union nut to ensure a tight connection between two tubes.

 The seal requires that the collar has a constant thickness.

The absence of guiding of the punches in the prior art results in a poor distribution of the pressure during striking, which makes it difficult to produce collars of constant thickness, which subsequently results in sealing defects. at the junction of two tubes.

In addition, the material used up to 7 percent can only work with ductible materials such as copper, which reduces its field of application.

In the case where a connection must be made between two mild steel tubes, those skilled in the art must consider other more expensive and more difficult solutions.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks stated above by using an apparatus making it possible to simplify the production of the collars and to reduce the manufacturing time.

Another object of the present invention is the implementation of an apparatus which allows the production of collars of constant thickness on tubes of ductile material and / or mild steel for example.

As such, the apparatus according to the invention for producing collars at the end of tubular elements, preferably cylindrical, mounted between the jaws of a matrix comprising a horizontal plane surface on which the upper section of the tube situated at the center must be folded down. above said surface is essentially characterized in that it consists of a carrier in which the matrix and the tubular element is engaged, of a rotary punch housed partly in the matrix holder capable of approaching or deviating of the matrix, of a repressor mounted in the punch and linked in rotation with the latter and capable of moving in translation relative to the latter, locking means allowing the immobilization in translation of the repressor relative to the punch or authorizing the retraction of said repressor in said punch.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the appended drawings in which - Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of the apparatus
according to the invention.

- Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus
during the folding of the evacuation on the matrix.

- Figure 3 is a sectional view along line AA of the fi
gure 2.

- Figure 4 is a view of the punch and the repressor.

As shown in the apparatus according to the invention for producing collars at the end of tubular elements, preferably cylindrical, consists of a die holder 1 in which is housed a die 2, the jaws of which enclose a tubular element 3, a rotary punch 4 housed in the die holder and capable of an up and down movement in the die holder 1 to approach or move away from the die 2, a repressor 5 mounted in the punch and linked in rotation relative to the latter, means 6 for locking or unlocking allowing the immobilization in translation of the repressor 5 relative to the punch or allowing 11 retraction of said repressor. 5 in said punch 4
The body 1 has substantially the shape of a stirrup box obtained for example by transverse cutting of a U-shaped profile and having two lateral passage openings and establishment of a matrix of the type in two articulated parts.

The die holder 1, preferably made of metal, is provided with support means 7 for the die 2 and with a threaded cylindrical orifice 8, transverse perpendicular to the plane defined by the support means, for engaging the punch 4 and the repressor. 5.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the mat holder # ce 1 comprises two parallel vertical sides 9 joined by a horizontal wall 10 above.

The free ends of the sides are folded at right angles towards the inside of the die holder 1 to form the support means 7 or bases.

The bases 7 are spaced apart from one another to allow the passage of the tube between the sides 9.

Advantageously, the threaded orifice a of the die holder is formed in a part 11 which is partly cylindrical so as to fit into a transverse cylindrical orifice formed in the wall 10 which allows the threaded length of said orifice to be increased without having to increase the thickness of said wall 10. In the orifice 8 is screwed the rotary punch 4.

This rotary punch is provided with a cylindrical shank 12 externally threaded to cooperate with Orifice 8 8 extended coaxially in the body of the die holder by a cylindrical part 13 of larger diameter having a lower circular surface parallel to the die 2 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular element 3.

Preferably, the part II comprising the thread 8 is provided with a recess 15 opening into the die holder, in which the cylindrical part 13 of the punch is arranged to facilitate the introduction of the die 2 and of the tubular element 3 .

Coaxially with the punch 4 its tail 12 is provided with a cylindrical orifice 16 opening into at least one vertical groove 17 formed in 13 cylindrical part 13 along a diametrical plane.

In the orifice 16 and in the groove 17 is mounted the repressor 5 coaxially with the punch 4.

The metal repressor 5 has a tail 18 housed in the orifice 16 of the punch 4 and has at least two opposite edges 19 inclined towards one another to form a point directed towards the matrix penetrating during the downward movement of the punch-back-up assembly in the tubular element 3. Advantageously the edges 19 are arranged along the sides of a triangle.

 According to a preferred embodiment as shown in Figures i to 3, the repressor 5 is obtained by cutting a flat metal sheet and has a preferably rectangular cross section.

The flat tail 18 is extended in the die holder 1 by a triangular triangular portion 20 whose apex is directed towards the die partly housed in the groove 17 which constitutes a connecting means 4 in rotation of the repressor 5 relative to the punch 4,
In a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the repressor the edges 19 of the planar triangular portion are rounded outwards, for example in an arc.

To limit the downward movement of the repressor relative to the punch 5, the latter comprises a stop 21,
This stop is for example constituted by an elastic O-ring, split transversely from being received in a groove formed in the cylindrical part 13 of the repressor.

Against this ring abut two opposite wings 22 of the triangular point formed in its widest part.

It is obvious that the stop can be formed by any other means known to those skilled in the art.

To guide the repressor in the punch 4, the tail 18 has a shoulder 23 formed beyond the triangular point 20.

The width of this-Xpaulement is substantially equal to the diameter of the orifice 16 of the punch and its edges in contact with the wall of said orifice are rounded in an arc of a circle of radius equal to the radius of said orifice.

Around the tail 18 of the repressor in the orifice 16 of the punch 4 is disposed an elastic member 24 such as a coil spring bearing by one of its ends on the shoulder 23 and secured by its other end to the punch 4.

The purpose of the elastic member is to firstly ensure contact between the wings 22 of the tip 20 and the stop 21 of the punch.

When the tip 20 comes into contact with the end of the tube protruding from the matrix by a certain value, the elastic member maintains 13 said tip in the tube, which makes it possible to ensure its centering.

To immobilize in translation the repressor 5 relative to the punch when its tip is in contact with the tube, the device is provided with a locking member secured to the punch.

According to a preferred embodiment, the locking member 6 is constituted by an eccentric disposed at the end of a lever 25 articulated by the said eccentric to an axis 26 in a yoke 27 comprising an axial threaded orifice for screwing at the end of the tail of the punch 4.

This threaded orifice opens out between the sides of the yoke 27 to allow the tail of the repressor to abut against the eccentric c.

The yoke 27 is linked in rotation relative to the punch 4 by a needle screw 28 or another member engaged in a threaded radial orifice of the yoke and coming to bear with the tail of the punch.

The purpose of this screw is also to ensure parallelism between the internal faces of the planes of the yoke and the tail of the repressor so that the latter can freely penetrate into the space comprised between said sides.

Advantageously, the eccentric 6 comprises a flat on which the end of the tail 18 of the repressor 4 rests in the locked position as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring first to Figure 1 we will explain the operation of the apparatus according to the invention.

First of all, the tube is placed in the matrix in such a way that it exceeds a certain value depending on its diameter.

After the die is placed in the die holder the eccentric is placed in the locking position.

By acting on the lever, the punch assembly is rotated and pushed back so that these penetrate into the die holder and therefore approach the tube 3.

At first the repressor comes to lock in translation against the end of the tube (fig.1) the punch always performing its downward movement so that the tail of the repressor comes to bear against the eccentric (fig.1).

In this position, the repressor is driven in translation and in rotation in order to flare the dutube by pushing back the metal.

 At the end of the stroke when the tip of the ram is blocked in translation and in rotation by the die, the user reverses the position of the lever and the eccentric by tilting around the axis, which makes it possible to release the ram.

 This is held in place by the elastic member which allows to center the tube during the downward movement of the punch to fold the flare against the die in view of the realization of the collar.

Advantageously, the lever may include several graduations indicating the value of the projection of the tube of the matrix as a function of the different diameters.

The device as described allows the production of collars on tubes without metal hardening.

The present invention can receive arrangements and variants in the field of technical equivalents without departing from the scope of this patent.

Claims (1)

 R1 / Apparatus for making collars at the end of a block  preferably cylindrical tubular elements mounted between the  jaws of a matrix with a flat horizontal surface  plate to which the upper section must be folded down  of the tube located above said surface characterized in  what it consists of a matrix holder (1) in which  is engaged the matrix (2) and the tubular element (3) of a  rotary punch (4) partially housed in the die holder (1)  likely to approach or depart from the matrix,  a repressor (5) mounted in the punch linked in rotation  with it and likely to move in translation  relative to it, means (6) for locking per  putting the immobilization in translation of the repressor by  report to the punch or authorizing the retraction of said refou  read in the said punch.  R2 / Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the  punch present opposite the matrix, a flat surface.  R3 / Apparatus according to claim t characterized in that the  matrix holder (1) consists of an E-shaped shoemaker  sort with at least one lateral opening for the pitch  wise and the placement of the matrix and the tubular element  laire, support means (7) of said matrix (2) and a  cylindrical threaded orifice (8) perpendicular to the plane  ends with the support means, cooperating with the hallmark ro  tative (4). R4 / Apparatus according to claim 1 provided with a punch (4)  comprising a cylindrical tail (12) extended coaxially  by a cylindrical part (13) of larger diameter charac  terized in that the tail (12) is provided with a thread  exterior cooperating with threaded opening (8) of the ma  and that the cylindrical part (13) located in the por  the matrix is provided with a diametrical groove (17)  edge in a longitudinal cylindrical orifice (16) of the tail  (12) to receive the repressor (5). R5 / Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the re  plugger (5) comprises a tail (18) housed in the orifice (16)  of the punch and has at least two opposite slices (19)  in extension of the tail (18) inclined towards one another  to form a point directed towards the matrix penetrating during  of the rotation and the descent of the punch towards the matrix  in the tubular element (3). R6 / Apparatus according to claims 1 and 4 characterized in that  the tail of the repressor is flat and has a shoulder of  guide in the orifice (16) extended by at least a portion  substantially triangular plane whose apex is directed towards  the matrix and coming to lodge partly or entirely in  the groove (17) for between linked in rotation relative to the  punch. R7 / Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the  punch has at least one stop to limit slack  vement outlet outlet under the effect of an elas organ  tick 24 housed in the orifice (16) in support by one of its ex  hoppers on the shoulder of the rammer tail and solidai  re by its other end of the punch.  RB / Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that ltor-  locking gane consists of an eccentric (6) dis  placed at the end of a lever 2.9 #) articulated by the said eccentric  to an axis 26) of a yoke (27) integral with the end of the point  and provided with a passage opening at the end of the  tail of the repressor so that it comes to bear against  the eccentric during the movement of rotation and descent  of the punch which causes the connection in translation of the said  repress with respect to said punch for the realization of  the flaring at the end of the tube by metal discharge