FR2639853A1 - Device for machining a tube, or similar materials, by shearing or deformation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine enabling a tube, or similar materials (profiles or solid bars), to be cut, coped, punched or shaped. It consists of a frame 1 supporting a fixed tool holder 2 and two movable tool holders 3 at the end of hydraulic cylinders 4. The three tool holders are of the rapid-clamping type. The tools are composed of a lower shaped part 5 and of an upper shaped part 6 for compressing the material, and of a working part 7. All the parts are interchangeable and swivelling. The invention is intended for ironmongery, locksmithery, joinery and similar activities. Its purpose is to provide a complete working tool.

Description

 The subject of the present invention is a device intended for machining a tube or similar material, by shearing or deformation, namely the following operations: Cutting by shearing, Notching, Punching, Forming by shrinking, flaring, flattening, crimping and other forms various.

 These different operations currently require specific equipment. The description below highlights the most common means: - Cutting: Chainsaw or tool under press or hydraulic shears.

- Notching: Tool in press.

- Punching: Tool in press or hydraulic unit.

- Shrinking, Flaring: Hydraulic machine with tools.

- Crimping, various forms: specific tools in press or hydraulic unit.

Cutting the tube by cutting is the most used means. However, it has the following disadvantages:
High noise level, relatively long time, presence of sharp burrs.

 The tools in press consist of a fixed frame supporting the imprint of the tube (matrix) and a mobile part equipped with the cutting part (punch). A cam system on a steep ramp allows the tube to be tightened during machining. The moving part is generally raised by springs. This design involves significant adjustment and maintenance times. Each tool can only do a specific machining. The tube can only be inserted longitudinally.

 The hydraulic shear is formed by an arched frame supporting two blades between which slides a knife actuated by a hydraulic cylinder. The insertion of the tube can only be done longitudinally. The cut often presents deformations if the tube is not compressed during work.

 The hydraulic punching unit is in the form of a swan neck supporting in the lower part a matrix with the imprint of the tube, at its upper part a jack equipped with the punch, in the center of a stripper. To avoid deformation during perforation, a tube clamping system with springs is provided. These units are often limited in capacity.

The forming machine intended for shrinking, flaring or forming collars and various shapes works in the longitudinal direction of the tube: a set of jaws actuated by a hydraulic cylinder immobilizes the tube while the forming punch moved by another hydraulic cylinder perpendicular to the clamping attacks the tube from the end. It is still a specific machine.

 There are also crimping systems by peripheral approximation of multiple jaws (often 8 in number) on one or two cones. The use of such a machine is reserved for crimping. When used to shrink the tube, this results in longitudinal streaks due to the more or less large interstices between the jaws during their movement.

 The work of the tube and similar materials has so far so varied assortment of equipment, costly in investment and maintenance, cumbersome in the workshop. The means described above are therefore generally used only for fairly large series.

 The invention described below aims to allow the maximum of machining operations on the tube or similar materials, with a single machine and a minimum quantity of tools, by reusing the same tools as many times as possible. by a system of combinations.

 The basic machine according to PL.i comprises a frame l in "swan neck" with three bores: an upper vertical bore and a lower coaxial vertical bore, a horizontal bore at the bottom of the "swan neck" along an axis perpendicular to the vertical axis and cutting it at point O. This point O will be the center of the section of the machined tubes. (The terms "horizontal" and "vertical" are used for reading on the drawing but do not define the actual positions on the machine).

 The lower vertical bore supports a tool holder 2 firmly installed and immobilized in rotation. The upper end of the tool holder has a cylindrical bore surmounted by two perpendicular grooves. A semi-cylindrical key 3 is in contact with an eccentric inner groove in the crown 4. The rotation of this crown by the lever 5 causes the key to move towards the center to obtain a quick-clamping mandrel. Unclamping is done by reverse movement.

 The upper vertical bore receives a hydraulic cylinder whose rod 6 is strongly guided and immobilized in rotation by a finger 7. The end of this rod is machined in the same way and receives the same elements as the lower tool holder 2.

 The horizontal bore at the bottom of the "swan neck" is equipped with a hydraulic cylinder identical to that already described with the same machining and elements at the end of the rod.

 The two hydraulic cylinders operate in successive cycles: The supply of A (see PL2) by a hydraulic generator causes the vertical cylinder to exit and maintain it at the pressure set at the limiter 8, then the horizontal cylinder exit when the set pressure to the sequence valve 9 is reached. The work phase continues until the pressure switch 10. The supply of B by the hydraulic generator first causes the horizontal cylinder to retract, then the vertical cylinder to retract when the pressure set at the sequence valve is reached , and that the piloted valve 12 is released. The total cycle is interrupted by the triggering of the pressure switch 13.

 The installation of hydraulic regulation devices in the direct supply circuit of the cylinders allows the connection at A and B of a standard hydraulic generator with double effect distribution.

 The 2 working cylinders are equipped with a stroke reduction device by a screw coming into contact with the upper part of the piston, in order to reduce the working cycle time of the machine according to its use.

The tools are classified into four categories:
Shearing, Notching, Punching, Forming. Most of the tools are however reused once or several times in each or more of the categories mentioned, according to a system of combinations. Each tool has three parts: in general, two half-forms to ensure the clamping of the material, and a working part. The layout and the clamping zones of these three parts are identical, which allows them to be mounted indifferently in each of the three tool-holder chucks. Each of the three parts can be mounted in at least four different directions, using the two perpendicular grooves in the tool holders.

The shearing tool (see PL3) is composed of two vertical shapes, one lower 14, the other upper 15, responsible for compressing the material during cutting, thereby limiting deformations. A slot is provided in the center for the passage of the knife and leads to sides A and B. These two parts are also used in the "Forming"category; the faces C and D are then oriented towards the working cylinder to produce for example a flange or a bead. The part
Work consists of a blade 16 and a blade holder 17 with multiple positions, which again allows this piece to be reused in the "Punching" category by mounting a horizontal blade capable of performing a rectangular longi tudinal.

 The notching tool (see PL4) comprises two vertical shapes, one lower 18, the other upper 19, responsible for compressing the material during the notching. The shape of the notch is provided in the center for the passage of the punch and leads to the sides A and B; these two parts are also used in the "Forming" category; the sides C and D s # are then oriented towards the working cylinder to achieve, for example, a constriction or a flaring. The working part consists of a punch 20 positioned and clamped in a quick-clamping chuck at the end of a multi-position tool holder 21. The latter is reused in the "Punching" and "Forming" categories.

 The Punching tool (see PL5) consists of two vertical shapes, one lower 22, the other upper 23, responsible for compressing the material during punching. The shape of the punching is provided in the center for the passage of the punch and leads to the sides A and B. These two parts are also used in the "Forming" category, the sides C and D are then oriented towards the working cylinder to achieve various forming operations. The work part consists of a punch 24 mounted in the tool holder 21.

 The forming tool (see PL6) consists of two vertical forms recovered from the previous categories: one lower 14, 18 or 22, the other upper 15, 19 or 23, responsible for compressing and locking the tube during forming .

The sides C or D are oriented towards the working cylinder for one or other of the forming operations. It can be a constriction by the punch 25 mounted on the support 26, a flaring by the punch 27 mounted on the short support 28 or long 21. With other shapes drawn from blanks, and other orientations, it is possible to carry out numerous forming operations at the end or along the tube in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

 If the main application of the invention is intended for working the tube, the system also makes it possible to efficiently transform other materials, such as aluminum or PVC profiles, bars of full round, square or rectangular section, which gives it a universal.

The invention will therefore interest the ironwork industry, the locksmith and the metal and plastic joinery.

 The tool changes being very fast, the machine can be used without hesitation for small series, or even for individual parts, this being favored by the simplicity, therefore the reduced cost of tooling.

 The invention must therefore allow the development of the use of bar products, the tube in particular, a material which remains economical due to its excellent weight-rigidity ratio. It must also contribute to improving the quality of finished products by reducing deformation by compression of the material during its work. It can also improve working conditions by significantly reducing noise compared to a mechanical press or a chainsaw.

 As the machine is an autonomous element, it can be mounted either on a chassis of its own, or on an existing frame and connected to an ordinary hydraulic generator. Its use requires no special skills and can therefore be provided by a non-specialized worker.

Claims (8)

 1. Device intended for machining, by shearing or deformation, of tube or similar materials, characterized by a frame supporting at least three identical tool holders with quick-clamping mandrel, one of which is fixed between the two other mobiles on two perpendicular axes and moving towards the fixed, the final arrangement forming a T.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each tool holder is immobilized in rotation and equipped with two perpendicular machining operations to allow at least four positions for the tool that it receives.  3. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the mounting of the two movable tool holders at the end of hydraulic cylinders operating in sequences, the system maintaining an adjustable pressure between the fixed tool holder and the jack opposite it, during work and the return of the second cylinder.  4. Device according to claims 1 to 3 and characterized by a cutting tool by shearing comprising a set of two half-clamping material and a working part, these three elements being orientable and interchangeable to be reused for others machining.  5. Device according to claims 1 to 3 and characterized by a # notching tool comprising a set of two half-clamping forms of the material and a working part, these three elements being orientable and interchangeable to be reused for other machining .  6. Device according to claims 1 to 3 and characterized by a punching tool comprising a set of two half-forms for clamping the material and a working part, these three elements being orientable and interchangeable to be reused for other machining .  7. Device according to claims 1 to 3 and characterized by a forming tool comprising a set of two half-forms for clamping the material and a working part, these three elements being orientable and interchangeable to be reused for other machining .  8. Device according to claims i to 3 and characterized by a set of tools composed of half-clamping shapes of the material and of working parts allowing by their interchangeability and their different positions to cut by shearing, to notch, to punch, to form tube or similar materials in the transverse or longitudinal direction of the bar.