IE60104B1

IE60104B1 - Process and apparatus for manufacturing pipe fittings

Info

Publication number: IE60104B1
Application number: IE113687A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Barrett James Fintan
Priority date: 1987-05-04
Filing date: 1987-05-04
Publication date: 1994-06-01
Also published as: GB8810175D0; IE871136L; GB2204520A

Abstract

A tool (7) for forming a pipe fitting sleeve (3) having a taper (14) at one end and a flange (15) at the other end from a hollow elongated cylindrical blank, comprises a die (25), a punch (26) and a slidable stop member (27). The die (25) comprises a circular block (28) with a hardened steel insert. Movement of the punch (26) forces the blank into a radiused fillet (37) of a bore (30) to abut the stop member (27). When the punch (26) completes its stroke, the flange (15) is formed in recess (38). The stop member (27) is slidable in the direction of the arrow A for ejection of the formed sleeve (3). Two further tools are used for forming a pipe fitting olive (5, Fig 5). The tools may be incorporated in a press apparatus (1, Fig. 1) having a rotatable table (96) for indexing a die (25) between loading, forming and ejecting stations. The tools may be used to manufacture sleeves of non-circular cross-section e.g. oval, hexagonal, octagonal or rectangular.

Description

The present invention relates to a tool, apparatus and r a method for forming a hollow sleeve-like component with an inwardly directed taper from a hollow sleeve-like blank. The invention also relates to the formed component.

Where it is desired to join a pipe of plastics material, in particular heavy gauge plastics material such as the type used for water supply pipes of the type up to 14’ diameter, in many cases it is desirable that such pipes should be joined using an instantor fitting. Instantor fittings, in general, comprise a spigot portion with an internal socket for receiving a pipe. An olive placed around the pipe is engaged between the spigot and a nut also around the pipe, and on tightening the nut onto the spigot the olive is deformed to sealingly engage the pipe. Further tightening of the nut forms a seal between the olive and the periphery of the socket in the spigot. In this way, a watertight joint is formed. Where the ρΐρθ is of a not easily deformed material, such as, for example, a copper or stainless steel pipe, instantor fittings work perfectly adequately. i However, where the pipe to be joined is relatively easily deformable, such as, for example a plastics pipe and even a heavy duty plastics pipe, it is not possible to obtain an adequate seal between the olive and the pipe, because the pipe deforms. To overcome this problem, special types of fittings are provided for the ends of pipes of plastics material to enable them to be joined by the use of instantor fittings.

In general, these additional fittings comprise a sleeve with a radially outwardly extending flange at one end, which is inserted into the pipe so that the flange abuts the end of the pipes. The end remote from the flanged end is slightly tapered inwardly to provide a lead-in so that sleeve can readily easily be inserted in the bore of the pipe. Such sleeves are generally of copper material and of sufficient strength to prevent the plastic pipe deforming or collapsing in on itself during tightening of the olive. For additional strength, the olive is normally of a relatively wide axial length, and considerably wider than conventional olives used in joining copper pipes. Usually, the olive is provided with two diameters stepped intermediate the axial ends of the olive.

Because of the relatively complex shapes of the sleeve and olive, their manufacture is relatively difficult and while tools and apparatus are available for manufacturing such sleeves and olives, unfortunately, they tend to be relatively inefficient in use, in that generally an individual tool is required for each forming operation. For example, in the case of the sleeve, it would be normal to form the lead-in taper in one tool and the flange in another tool.

Similarly, in the case of the olive, the various flanges and step diameters are each individually formed in separate tools. This, it will be appreciated, is a relatively inefficient process, and in many cases can be time-consuming. It is also relatively labour intensive, in that operatives have to be available for transferring the blanks and partially formed blanks from one tool to the next. Unfortunately, a tool which does not suffer from the above disadvantage has not been provided.

There is therefore a need for a tool, and also for apparatus, and a method for providing a sleeve and olive for use in joining plastic pipes in an instantor fitting which overcomes the problems of known devices. There is also a need for such a tool, apparatus and method for forming other hollow sleeve-like components.

The present invention ig directed towards providing such a tool, method and apparatus. It is also directed towards providing a hollow sleeve-like component, and/or components, such as for example a sleeve and olive for use in joining plastic pipes with instantor fittings made according to the method and using the tool of the invention.

According to the invention, there is provided a tool for forming a sleeve-like component with an inwardly directed taper from a hollow sleeve-like blank, the tool comprising a die having a bore extending therethrough, one end of the bore terminating in a receiving end for receiving the blank, portion of the bore being inwardly tapered intermediate the ends of the bore for forming the inwardly directed taper on the blank, the tapered portion of the bore being formed by a concave radiused fillet extending circumferentially around the bore, a stop member extending into the bore from the other end thereof, the stop member having an abutment portion of reduced cross sectional area at the end extending into the bore to act as an abutment for the edge of the tapered end of the blank when the taper is formed, the stop member being slidable in the bore for ejection of the component, and a punch to act on the receiving end of the blank to force the blank into the bore of the die. Advantageously, the die bore is of circular cross sectional area for forming a tapered cylindrical component. Preferably, the stop member is of circular cross sectional area, and the portion of reduced cross sectional area is also of circular cross section.

In one embodiment of the invention, the concave radiused fillet is adjacent the portion of the bore of the die of lesser cross sectional area.

Preferably, the stop member is adapted to extend into the bore so that the abutment portion aligns substantially with the radiused fillet in the bore.

In another embodiment of the invention, an annular recess is provided on the die extending round the bore at the receiving end thereof for forming a flange on the blank.

In another embodiment of the invention, the punch 10 comprises a plug portion which, in use, is adapted to be movable inwardly into the bore of the die, and a flange extends around the plug to abut the end of the blank.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the 15 punch is adapted to form an inwardly directed flange on the end of the blank, the punch terminating in a free end to abut the end of the blank, said free end having a recess, the side wall of the recess extending longitudinally of the punch and the base of said recess extending transversely of the punch, the side wall of the recess being joined to the base by a radiused concave fillet.

Additionally, the invention provides apparatus for forming a hollow sleeve-like component with an inwardly directed taper from a hollow sleeve-like blank using the tool of the invention, wherein the apparatus comprises a table for supporting the die, the die being mounted on the table, holding means for holding the punch, means for moving the punch holding means towards and away from the table, the punch being mounted in the holding means, mounting means beneath the table for mounting the stop member, the stop member being mounted in the mounting means, means for moving the mounting means for movement of the stop member for ejecting a blank from the die when the taper has been formed.

Further, the invention provides a method for forming a hollow sleeve-like component with an inwardly directed taper from a hollow sleeve-like blank, using the tool of the invention, and/or the apparatus of the invention, wherein the method comprises the steps of positioning the stop member in the die bore with the abutment portion of the stop member aligned with the inwardly tapered portion, placing a blank in the receiving end of the bore, moving the punch into engagement with the end of the blank extending out of the receiving end of the die bore, moving the punch further to force the blank into the tapered portion of the bore to form the taper, so that the tapered end of the blank abuts the abutment portion of the stop member, and moving the stop member further into the die bore to eject the component.

Further, the invention provides a hollow sleeve-like component having an inwardly directed taper formed according to the method of the invention, using the tool of the invention. Preferably, the component is of substantially circular cross-sectional area and terminates at one end thereof with the inwardly directed taper.

The invention also provides an instantor fitting for joining pipes of plastics material, the instantor fitting comprising the components according to the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a sleeve according to the invention, formed by the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sleeve of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a blank from which the sleeve of Fig. 2 is manufactured, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an olive according to the invention manufactured on the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a blank from which the olive of Fig. 5 is manufactured, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a tool according to the invention for use in the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of portion of the tool of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of the portion of the tool of Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is a sectional perspective view of portion of the tool of Fig. 7, Fig. 11 is a sectional perspective view of the tool of Fig. 7, Fig. 12 is a sectional view of portion of the tool 15 of Fig. 7, Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the tool of Fig. 7 in use, Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the tool of Fig. 7 in use but in a different position, Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the tool of Fig. 7 in use but in a still further different position, Fig. 16 is a sectional view of the tool of Fig. 7 in use but in a still further different position, Fig. 17 is a perspective view of portion of a tool for manufacturing the olive of Fig. 5, Fig. 18 is an elevational view of portion of the tool of Fig. 17, Fig. 19 is a sectional perspective view of portion 10 of the tool of Fig. 18, Fig. 20 is a sectional view of portion of the tool of Fig. 17, Fig. 21 is a sectional view of a detail of the tool of Fig. 17 in use, Fig. 22 is a sectional view of the tool of Fig. 17 Fig. 23 is a sectional view of the tool of Fig. 17 in use but in a still further different position, in use but in a different position, Fig. 24 is a sectional view of a detail of the tool of Fig. 17 in use but in a still further different position, Fig. 25 is a sectional perspective view of a tool 5 also for forming the olive of Fig. 5, Fig. 26 is a sectional perspective view of a detail of the tool of Fig. 25, Fig. 27 is a sectional elevational view of portion of the tool of Fig. 25, Fig. 28 is a sectional view of the tool of Fig. 25 in use, Fig. 29 is a sectional view of a detail of the tool of Fig. 25 in use but in a different position, and Fig. 30 is a sectional view of the tool of Fig. 25 in use but in a still further different position, Referring to the drawings, there is provided apparatus according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 (see Fig. 1) for forming hollow sleeve-like components also according to the invention, in this case a sleeve 3 and olive 5 (see Figs. 2 and 5) for use in joining a plastic pipe (not shown) with an instantor fitting (also not shown).

The sleeve 3 and olive 5 are formed from blanks 50 and respectively, see Figs. 4 and 6. The apparatus 1 5 is essentially a press, for mounting tools 7, 8 and 9, also according to the invention, for respectively forming the sleeve 3 and olive 5.

For convenience, it is intended to describe the components 3 and 5 first, the tools 7 and 8 are then described, and the apparatus 1 is described last.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 the sleeve 3 is illustrated. The sleeve 3 is of copper and comprises a cylindrical portion 12 which terminates at one end in an inwardly directed taper 14 to provide a lead-in for engaging a pipe bore. The other end of the cylindrical portion 12 terminates in a radially outwardly directed flange 15 for abutting the end of a pipe.

Referring to Fig. 5, the olive 5 is illustrated. The olive 5 is of copper material, and comprises a cylindrical portion 20 of stepped diameter stepped at 21. One end of the cylindrical portion 20 is tapered inwardly at 22 to engage the outer periphery of a pipe. The other end of the cylindrical portion 20 comprises a radially inwardly directed flange 24 also provided to engage the peripheral portion of a pipe 11 on deformation of the olive 5, as a nut of an instantor fitting is tightened.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 30, the tools 7, 8 and 9 are illustrated. Referring in particular to Figs. 7 to 16, the tool 7 is illustrated for forming the sleeve 3. The tool 7 is a three part tool comprising a die 25, a punch 26 and a stop member 27. The die 25 comprises a circular block 28 of mild steel. A hardened steel insert 29 is inserted in the block 28.

A bore 30 extends through the insert 29 and communicates with a bore 31 extending through the block 28. The sleeve 3 is formed in the bore 30, and in particular in an upper portion 34 of the bore 30.

A lower portion 35 of the bore 30 is provided to slidably engage the stop member 27, as will be described below. The upper portion of the bore 34 has a receiving end 36 to receive a blank 50 (see Fig. 4) of the sleeve 3. From the receiving end 36, the bore 34 tapers inwardly downwardly. The tapered portion 34 terminates in a concave radiused fillet 37, which connects the upper portion 34 of the bore 30 with the lower portion 35. It is mainly the radiused fillet 37 which forms the taper 14 on the sleeve 3.

An annular recess 38 extends round the bore 30 at the receiving end 36 for forming the flange 15 of the sleeve 3, as will be described below. A convex radiused fillet 49 joins the annular recess 38 with the bore 34. The radius further facilitates the formation of the flange 15 of the sleeve 3.

The stop member 27 is an elongated member of mild steel material of circular cross section, and slidable in the lower portion 35 of the bore 30. A flange 39 on the stop member 27 slidable engages the bore 31.

The other end of the stop member 27 terminates in a portion 40 of reduced cross sectional area, also of circular cross section. The portion 40 acts as an abutment member against which the tapered end 14 of the sleeve 3 abuts after the taper has been formed.

The stop member 27 is slidable in the bores 30 and 31 for ejecting a sleeve 3 on formation. By moving the stop member 27 further upwardly in the direction of the arrow A, see Fig. 16, a formed component is ejected. Suitable means, which will be briefly discussed below, are provided in the apparatus 1 for moving the stop member 27 upwardly and withdrawing it again.

The punch 26 also of hardened steel material is mounted on a shank 41 which is engaged in the apparatus 1 which will be briefly described below.

The punch 26 comprises a plug 43 of circular cross sectional area, which is inwardly tapered towards its tip 44. The taper of the plug 43, as can be seen in the drawings, is greater than the taper in the upper portion 34 of the bore 30 of the die 25. The tip portion 44 is also radiused. A flange 45 extends round the plug 43 to abut the end of the sleeve opposite the end on which the taper is to be formed.

On engaging the flange 45, the sleeve 3 is forced further into the upper portion 34 of the bore 30 in the die 25. A concave radiused fillet 47 extends round the plug 43 and joins the surface of the plug 43 to the surface of the flange 45. The radiused fillet 47 is provided to cause the copper of the sleeve 3 to be deformed outwardly to form the flange 15. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the flange 45 is less than the outer diameter of the annular recess 38.

In use, with the tool 7 set up in the apparatus 1 as will be described below, the stop member 27 is set so that the abutment portion 40 corresponds with the radiused fillet 37 of the bore 30, as can be seen in Figs. 10 and 11. A cylindrical blank 50 (see Fig. 4) of copper to form the sleeve 3 is inserted in the upper portion 34 of the bore 30 through the receiving end 36. The blank 50 has two ends 52 and 53 on which the taper 14 and flange 15 are to be respectively subsequently formed. A bore 51 extends through the blank 50. The punch 26 is brought downwardly, so that the plug 43 extends into the bore 51 of the sleeve blank 50, and the flange 45 engages the end 53 of the blank 50, see Fig. 13. As the punch 26 is moved further downwardly, the blank 50 is forced downwardly into the upper portion 34 of the bore 30, thereby causing the end 52 of the blank to begin to deform. Further movement of the punch 26 causes the end 52 of the blank 50 to be forced into the radiused fillet 37, so that the end 52 of the blank 50 engages the abutment portion 40 of the stop member 27, see Fig. 14. Further movement of the punch 26 downwardly causes the end 53 to be deformed outwardly by the radiused fillet 47, and further movement causes the flange 15 to be formed on the blank 50 between the flange 45 of the punch 26 and the annular recess 38. When the flange 15 has been fully formed in the annular recess 38, the sleeve 3 has been formed. The punch 26 is then removed upwardly and the stop pin 27 is also moved upwardly in the direction of the arrow A, thereby dislodging and ejecting the sleeve from the upper portion 24 of the bore 34 of the die 25.

Referring now to Figs. 17 to 30, the two tools 8 and 9 for forming the olive 5 are illustrated. Each tool 8 and 9 is a three part tool, the tool 8 comprising a die 58, a punch 59 and a stop member 60, and forms the taper 22 and stop 21 of the olive 5. While the tool 9 comprises a die 61, a punch 62 and a stop member 63 and forms the inwardly directed flange 24. Although of different shape, the actual operation of the dies, punch and stop members are substantially similar to the operation of the die 25, punch 26 and stop member 27.

Referring to Figs. 17 to 24, the die 58 of the tool 8 is of substantially similar construction to the die . Briefly, it comprises a circular block 64 of mild steel, with a hardened steel insert 65. A bore 66 through the insert 65 communicates with a bore 67 through the block 64. As can be seen the bore 66 in the insert 65 comprises four portions, namely an upper portion 68, which extends from a receiving end 69 of the bore to a sharply tapered step 70 for forming the step 21 of the olive 5. An intermediate portion 71 of reduced cross sectional area extends from the step 70 to an inwardly directed radiused fillet 72 for forming the taper 22 of the olive 5. The radiused fillet 72 terminates in a portion of further reduced cross sectional area 73 in which the stop member 60 is slidable. The stop member 60 comprises a flange 74 which slidably engages the bore 67. An abutment portion 75 of reduced cross sectional area at the end of the stop member 60 engages the tapered end 22 of the olive 5 when the taper 22 is formed. The stop member 60 is slidable upwardly in the direction of the arrow B for ejection of a formed blank.

The punch 59 comprises a plug 76 of circular cross sectional area of constant diameter between a flange 77 and a radiused fillet 78. The radiused portion is provided to form the step 21 in the olive 5 in combination with the step 70 in the bore 66. The radiused fillet 78 terminates in a taper 79 which is joined to the tip 80 by a further radius 81. The flange 77 abuts the end of a blank as will be described below for forcing the blank into the bore 66 of the die 58. A shank 91 extends from the flange 77.

In use, with the stop member 60 in the position illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20, a cylindrical sleeve blank 82 (see Fig. 6) of copper is inserted through the receiving end 69 into the bore 66 as illustrated in Fig. 21. The blank 82 has two ends 83 and 84 respectively on which the taper 22 and flange 24 are to be formed. The punch 59 is brought into engagement with the end 84 of the blank 82, so that the tapered portion 79 of the plug 76 engages the end 84, see Fig. 21. As the punch 59 is moved downwardly, the end 83 of the blank 82 is forced into the radiused fillet 72 to form the taper 22 of the olive 5. Further downward movement of the punch 59 causes the end 84 of the blank to be deformed, thus spreading outwardly to extend over the radiused fillet 78 and in turn over the plug 76. The punch 59 is moved further downwardly until the tip 80 of the punch 59 takes up the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to form the step 21. The punch 59 is withdrawn, and the stop member 60 is moved upwardly in the direction of the arrow B to eject the partly formed blank, see Fig. 24. The blank is then transferred into the tool 9, which will now be described, for forming the inwardly directed flange 24.

Referring to Figs. 25 to 30, the die 61 of this tool 9 is illustrated. The die 61 is substantially similar to the die 58 and similar components, bores and the like are identified by similar reference numerals.

The main difference between this die and that just described is that the upper portion 68 of the bore 66 is shorter, and the angle of the step 70 is not as sharp as the angle of the step 70 in the die 58. Otherwise, the die 61 and stop member 63 are substantially similar to the die and stop member 58 and 60, and it is not intended to describe them further.

The punch 62 (see Figs. 27 and 29) forms the flanges 24 of the olive 5. It comprises a plug 85 of circular cross sectional area extending from a shank 86. A circular recess 87 is formed in an end 88 of the plug 85. The recess 87 comprises a base 89 and a side wall 90. The side wall 90 is formed by a radiused portion which extends to join the base 89 and in effect forms a quadrant of a circle in section, see Figs. 27 and 29. Thus, as the end 84 of the blank 82 engages the side wall 90, the radius of the side wall 90 deforms the end 84 of the blank inwardly to begin to form the flange 24 of the olive 5. An abutment member 92 of circular cross section extends axially outwardly of the base 89 of the recess 87 to act as an abutment to engage the inner edge of the flange 24 when it is formed.

In use, the partly formed blank from the tool 8 is placed in the bore 66 of the die 61, see Fig. 28. As can be seen the portion of the end 84 of the blank 82 extends outwardly of the bore 66. The punch 62 is then brought into engagement with the end 84 of the blank 82, so that the radiused side wall 90 engages the end 84. As the punch 62 is moved downwardly, the partly formed blank is moved fully into the bore 66, so that the end 83 engages the portion 75 of the stop member 63. Further downward movement of the punch 62 causes the end 84 to begin to deform inwardly until the end 84 abuts the abutment member 92, at which stage the flange 24 of the olive 5 is fully formed, see Fig. 29. The punch 62 is then removed and the stop member 63 moving upwardly in the direction of the arrow B ejects the formed olive 5, see Fig. 30.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the apparatus in which the tools 7, 8 and 9 are mounted and operated is illustrated. For convenience, the operation of the apparatus 1 will now be described with reference to the formation of the sleeve 3. The apparatus 1 is essentially a press comprising a main framework 95 extending from a bed 97. A table 96 for supporting the dies is mounted on the bed 97. A punch holder 98 movable by a ram 110 supported in the framework 95 holds the punches 26, 59 and 62. In this case, the table 96 is an indexing table, the type of which will be well known to those skilled in the art, and it is not intended to describe it further here. It is a three positioned table, and accordingly has three stations 99, 100 and 101. A base 111 mounted on the bed 97 rotatably supports the table 96. Similar dies of the tool 7 are mounted in the table 96 at each station 99, 100 and 101. Needless to say, the table 96 is so arranged as to permit various dies to be replaced and mounted in the table 96 as desired. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the three operations carried out as the table indexes around are as follows: (1) a blank 50 is loaded in the die 25 at station 99, (2) the punch 26 is moved downwardly to form the sleeve 3 at station 100, (3) the formed sleeve is ejected by upward movement of the stop member 27, at station 101.

Needless to say, a table with more than three stations may be provided.

A cam member (not shown) is mounted beneath the table 96, so that as the table 96 rotates, the flanged end 39 of the stop member 27 engages the cam, which in turn raises the stop member 27 upwardly in the direction of the arrow A for ejecting the blank at station 101.

Needless to say, operation of the apparatus 1 for forming the olive, both the partly formed blank and the finished olive, will be similar to that for forming the sleeve 3.

While the invention has been described as comprising a tool mounted in apparatus, this is not essential to the invention. The apparatus could, if desired, be dispensed with. The essential aspect of the invention is the tool or tools. Similarly, it will be appreciated that while a particular sequence of steps have been described in the method according to the invention, the sequence may be altered slightly without departing from the scope of the invention.

It will, of course, be appreciated that while the tool, apparatus and method according to the invention have been described for forming a sleeve and olive for use in connecting a plastic pipe into an instantor fitting, they could be used for forming an internally directed taper on any other hollow sleeve-like component. Indeed, in certain cases, it is envisaged that the sleeve-like component may not be of circular cross section area, it may be of oval section, hexagonal, octagonal, rectangular section or the like.

It is also envisaged that, in cetain cases, instead of the die of each tool comprising a mild steel block with a hardened steel insert, the die may be provided by a single block, and the block may or may not hardened. Further, it will be appreciated that while particular shapes and construction of stop members have been described, any other suitable shape or construction could be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that bores of different tapers than those described could be provided. Indeed where a bore has been described as tapering over its entire length this, in certain cases, may not be necessary, and the bore may taper only over portion of its length. Furthermore, it is envisaged that in certain cases, radiused portions may be provided by tapered portions without departing from the scope of the invention.

It will of course be appreciated that punches of other shapes and construction could be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

Needless to say, while the tools have been described for use in a particular apparatus, they could be used in any other apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A tool for forming a sleeve-like component with an inwardly directed taper from a hollow sleeve-like blank, the tool comprising a die having a bore extending therethrough, one end of the bore terminating in a receiving end for receiving the blank, portion of the bore being inwardly tapered intermediate the ends of the bore for forming the inwardly directed taper on the blank, the tapered portion of the bore being formed by a concave radiused fillet extending circumferentially around the bore, a stop member extending into the bore from the other end thereof, the stop member having an abutment portion of reduced cross sectional area at the end extending into the bore to act as an abutment for the edge of the tapered end of the blank when the taper is formed, the stop member being slidable in the bore for ejection of the component, and a punch to act on the receiving end of the blank to force the blank into the bore of the die.

2. A tool as claimed in Claim 1 in which the bore of the die is of circular cross sectional area for forming a tapered cylindrical component.

3. A tool as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the stop member is of circular cross sectional area, and the portion of reduced cross sectional area is also of circular cross section.

4. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which the concave radiused fillet is adjacent the portion of 5. The bore of the die of lesser cross sectional area.

5. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which the bore of the die is tapered from the receiving end to the radiused fillet.

6. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which 10 the stop member is adapted to extend into the bore of the die so that the abutment portion aligns substantially with the radiused fillet in the bore.

7. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which the stop member is provided by an elongated member. 15

8. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which an annular recess is provided on the die extending round the bore at the receiving end thereof for forming a flange on the blank.

9. A tool as claimed in Claim 8 in which the surface 20 of the bore of the die at the receiving end thereof is radiused outwardly to meet the surface of the annular recess.

10. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which the punch comprises a plug portion which, in use, is adapted to be moveable inwardly into the bore of the die, and a flange extends around the plug to abut the 5 end of the blank.

11. A tool as claimed in Claim 10 in which the plug portion of the punch is of circular cross sectional area.

12. A tool as claimed in Claim 10 or 11 in which the 10 plug portion and flange are joined by a concave radiused fillet.

13. A tool as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 12 when dependent on Claim 8 in which the outer diameter of the flange of the punch is less than the outer 15 diameter of the annular recess at the receiving end of the bore of the die.

14. A tool as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 13 in which the free end of the plug which extends in use into the bore of the die is radiused. 20

15. A tool as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 14 in which the plug portion of the punch is tapered, the taper being greater than the taper in the bore of the die.

16. A tool as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 in which the punch is adapted to form an inwardly directed flange on the end of the blank, the punch terminating in a free end to abut the end of the blank, said free end having a recess, the side wall of the recess extending longitudinally of the punch and the base of said recess extending transversely of the punch, the side wall of the recess being joined to the base by a radiused concave fillet.

17. A tool as claimed in Claim 16 in which an abutment member extends axially outwardly of the central portion of the recess to form an abutment means for the free edge of the inwardly directed flange of the blank when formed.

18. A tool as claimed in Claim 16 or 17 in which the outer diameter of the recess is substantially similar to the bore diameter at the receiving end thereof.

19. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which a step change in diameter is provided in the die bore intermediate the ends thereof.

20. A tool as claimed in Claim 19 in which the step change in diameter is provided between the receiving end and the radiused fillet forming the taper.

21. A tool as claimed in Claim 19 or 20 in which the step is slightly inclined.

22. A tool for forming a sleeve-like component with an inwardly directed taper from a hollow sleeve-like blank, the tool being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

23. Apparatus for forming a hollow sleeve-like component with an inwardly directed taper from a hollow sleeve-like blank using a tool as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 22, in which the apparatus comprises a table for supporting the die, the die being mounted on the table, holding means for holding the punch, means for moving the punch holding means towards and away from the table, the punch being mounted in the holding means, mounting means beneath the table for mounting the stop member, the stop member being mounted in the mounting means, means for moving the mounting means for movement of the stop member for ejecting a blank from the die when the taper has been formed.

24. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 23 in which the table is an indexable table being rotatably moveable sequentially through a plurality of incremented positions.

25. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 23 or 24 in which a plurality of dies are provided equi-spaced around the table, a die corresponding to each position of the table.

26. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 23 to 25 in which the indexable table has three positions.

27. Apparatus for forming a hollow sleeve-like component with an inwardly directed taper from a hollow sleeve-like blank, the apparatus being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

28. A method for forming a hollow sleeve-like component with an inwardly directed taper from a hollow sleeve-like blank, using a tool as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 22 and/or apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 23 to 27 in which the method comprises the steps of positioning the stop member in the die bore with the abutment portion of the stop member aligned with the inwardly tapered portion, placing a blank in the receiving end of the bore, moving the punch into engagement with the end of the blank extending out of the receiving end of the die bore, moving the punch further to force the blank into the tapered portion of the bore to form the taper, so that the tapered end of the blank abuts the abutment portion of the stop member, and moving the stop member further into the die bore for ejecting the component.

29. A method as claimed in Claim 28 in which the method includes the step of moving the punch further 5 to form an outwardly extending flange on the blank at the end remote from the tapered end.

30. A method as claimed in Claim 28 or 29 in which the method comprises the step of transferring the blank from one die to the receiving end of the die bore of 10 another die, to form a further inwardly directed portion on the blank, bringing the punch into engagement with the end of the blank, and moving the punch further to force the blank into engagement with the tapered portion of the said other die. 15.

31. A method as claimed in any of Claims 28 or 30 in which the method includes the step of bringing the punch into engagement with the blank extending from the receiving end of the die bore, and moving the punch further to form an inwardly directed flange on 16. 20 the blank.

32. A method for forming a hollow sleeve-like component with an inwardly directed taper from a hollow sleeve-like blank, the method being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

33. A hollow sleeve-like component having an inwardly directed taper formed according to the method of any of Claims 28 to 32 using a tool as claimed in any of 5 Claims 1 to 22, the component being of substantially circular cross sectional area and terminating at one end thereof with the inwardly directed taper.

34. A component as claimed in Claim 33 in which the component terminates at the other end in a radially 10 outwardly extending flange.

35. A component as claimed in Claim 33 in which the end of the component remote from the tapered end terminates in a radially inwardly extending flange.

36. A component as claimed in Claim 35 in which the 15 diameter of the component is stepped intermediate the ends thereof, the diameter of one side of the step being greater than the diameter of the other side.

37. A component as claimed in Claim 36 in which the portion of stepped diameter is tapered inwardly from 20 the portion of large diameter to the portion of lesser diameter.

38. A component as claimed in Claim 33 or 34 in which the component is adapted for mounting inside a pipe of plastics material for use in joining the pipe with an instantor fitting.

39. A component as claimed in any of Claims 35 to 38 5 in which the component is adapted to form an olive for mounting on the outer surface of a pipe of plastics material for joining the pipe with an instantor fitting.

40. Hollow sleeve-like components substantially as 10 described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

41. An instantor fitting for joining pipes of plastics material comprising the components as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 40.