GB1434520A - Method and apparatus for making fluted tubing - Google Patents

Abstract

1434520 Making fluted tubing; controlling shearing operations; welding PHELPS DODGE INDUSTRIES Inc 13 Dec 1974 [26 Dec 1973] 54050/74 Headings B3A B3E B3R and B3W [Also in Division F2] A method of making fluted tubing, having parts 102, Fig. 4, thereof unfluted, from flat strip stock 10, Fig. 1, comprises fluting predetermined sections 100 of the stock while leaving remaining sections of the stock unfluted, trimming the stock to a predetermined width, and forming the trimmed stock into a tube having fluted sections corresponding to the fluted sections of the strip stock. Apparatus for making fluted tubing comprises first and second fluting rolls 30, 32 disposed on opposite sides of the strip stock, means 38 for disengaging the rolls at predetermined intervals from the stock to leave sections of strip unfluted, a trimmer 40 for trimming the stock to a predetermined width, and a guiding mechanism for bringing opposite edges of the trimmed stock together to form a fluted tube having smooth sections at predetermined intervals. The guiding mechanism comprises breakdown rolls 50, cluster rolls 52 and forming rolls 54. The strip stock 10 is fed from an uncoiler 14 via an accumulator to drive rolls 20, 22. A guide roll 24 positions the strip horizontally before passage through the fluting rolls 30, 32. The strip is trimmed to a constant width by an edge trimmer 40 and the scrap is received on a scrap winder 42. The edges of the formed tube are seam-welded using welding apparatus 60 (e.g. high frequency induction, resistance welding, gas tungsten arc, gas metal arc). Weld pressure rolls 62 and inner and outer weld scraping tools 64 are provided adjacent the welding apparatus with a scrap winder 68. The welded tube then passes through a sizing and straightening mill 70 and is subsequently cut using a flying cutoff 80, e.g. a shear or saw. The cut-off device is controlled by a detector 84, e.g. a photoelectric device or electrical switch which senses the location of the end 82 of the tube emerging from the apparatus and passes signals to a cut-off controller 86. The cut-off 80 is synchronized with the operation of fluting roll 30 so that the tube is cut in a smooth section. Alternatively, controller 86 may be synchronized to operate with roll 30 by connecting it to a synchronizer 36 and taking into account the distance between the rolls 30, 32 and the cutoff 80. Finished lengths of tubing are ejected from the apparatus by ejector arms 90, 92 and roll down an inclined ramp 94. The strip stock 10 may be of copper, copper alloy, stainless steel or other suitable metallic material.