GB1146200A - Corrugating of metal hose - Google Patents

Abstract

1,146,200. Corrugating tubing. CALUMET & HECLA, Inc. 20 Nov., 1967, No. 52732/67. Heading B3E. A method of helically corrugating metal hose comprises drawing the tube through a plurality of die rings which rotate relative to the tube and indent it to form corrugations and then compressing the sides of the corrugations by rotating a plurality of rollers about the hose, each roller comprising a pair of axially spaced wheels and the spacing of the wheels decreasing in successive rollers. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises first and second die forming stations 10 and 12 respectively and a third stage 14 at which the tube is acted on by compression rollers 40. The first and second stages are similar and each comprises a rotatable carrier 26, driven by a motor 16 and supporting two die rings 22, 24. Each die ring is freely rotatable in the carrier and is mounted in a pivotable holder 64, 70 so that the angle which it makes with the tube axis is adjustable. The holder 70 is also adjustable along the tube axis by a screw 76. The die rings 22, 24 engage opposite sides of the tube to form a partial corrugation and the tube is supported by guide bushes 56 secured to the end plates of the carrier. The second stage die rings deepen the corrugations formed in the first stage. The third stage comprises three equi-angularly spaced rollers 40 mounted for radial adjustment in a carrier 80. Each roller comprises two axially spaced wheels formed integrally with a hub which is freely rotatable on a spindle in the carrier 80. Assuming clockwise rotation, as seen in Fig. 4, of the carrier 80, the wheels A, B, C engage the tube in alphabetical order. The axial distance between the pair of wheels of each roller decreases in the same order, so that the side walls of the corrugations are successively compressed and the depth of the corrugations is increased. The die ring carrier and the compression roller carrier are driven synchronously or the compression roller carrier may be connected to the preceding die ring carrier. The tube is mounted on trucks 36, 38 by which it is drawn through the machine. Alternatively the tube may be rotated and the forming tools remain stationary.