GB1208097A - Apparatus for rolling fins on non-rotating tubes or rods - Google Patents

Abstract

1,208,097. Rolling tubes. CALUMET & HECLA CORP. 28 May, 1969 [26 Aug., 1968], No. 26966/69. Heading B3M. Apparatus for finning rod or tube comprises a rotatable finning head 76 having an elongated opening therethrough coincident with its axis of rotation, a plurality of finning rolls 90 on the head 76 for rotation thereon about an axis inclined to the axis of rotation of the head, and gearing connected to each of the finning rolls 90 to drive the rolls in rotation at a speed determined by the speed of rotation of the head to effect axial advance of an elongated rod or tube of circular cross-section through the head and formation of helical fin convolutions thereon without rotation of the rod or tube. The head 76 is rotated at a substantial speed via rotary members 36, 40, 44, 54, 56 and 58 by a belt driven pulley 32 and the finning rolls 90 are driven by planetary gearing 124, 130, 136 138 and 144, including a substantially stationary sun wheel 50, rotating a universal joint 94. The finning rolls 90 can be moved inwardly or outwardly by activating a piston and cylinder device 116 which moves a support 112 axially so that when ring 106 is moved from the left to the piston shown in Fig. 1B, a roller 100, acting against cam surface 98, will cam the tubular portion 86 inwardly to the forming position. In operation the workpiece is fed through the apparatus until the desired zone for the fins is reached whereupon the finning rolls 90 are cammed inwardly. If the workpiece progresses slowly in either direction as a result of a difference between the actual speed of rotation of the rolls and the theoretically correct speed of rotation, the drive means 30 is adjusted to effect a slow compensating rotation of the sun gear 50.