GB1237326A - Method and apparatus for corrugating tubes - Google Patents

Abstract

1,237,326. Making corrugated tubes. PHELPS DODGE COPPER PRODUCTS CORP. 24 Nov., 1969 [27 Nov., 1968], No. 57284/69. Headings B3A and B3E. Apparatus for continuously forming a tube with alternating corrugated and uncorrugated portions comprises a head, means for advancing the tube axially relative to the head, a corrugation forming tool mounted on the head for forcefully engaging the periphery of the tube and actuating means for selectively effecting engagement and disengagement of the tool with the tube while the tube advances axially relative to the head. A sleeve 13 supported by a housing 12 has expandible chuck fingers 15 for receiving different sizes of tubes 20 which are fed through the apparatus by a caterpillar device 22. A plurality of corrugating rollers 24 are supported for radial movement towards and away from the tube by tool holders 28 fixed to a rotatable face-plate 30 driven by a belt 40 or by the rollers 24. Each tool holder (Fig. 3) accommodates a slide 62 carrying a corrugating roller 72 which is rotatably adjustable in the slide so that longitudinal and helical corrugations can be formed. The radially outer end of the slide carries a roller 84 and is spring-loaded to another roller 98 to engage a partly tapered reciprocable wedge pin 108 inserted between the rollers. The wedge pin is actuated by a disc 110 slidably mounted on the face-plate sleeve 44 and guided by pins 112. The wedge pin which determines the depth of corrugation is also adjusted by screws 123 mounted on the face-plate rim 34 and engaging blocks 124 in the tool holders. The wedge pin is actuated by a pneumatically operated bell-crank 132 engaging a collar 126 on the disc sleeve 111. The apparatus is programmed so that predetermined lengths of tubing will be corrugated alternately with uncorrugated portions. The tube is hydraulically pressurized during the corrugating operation.