US20090272164A1 - Tube making machine with diameter control and method - Google Patents
Tube making machine with diameter control and method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090272164A1 US20090272164A1 US12/321,370 US32137009A US2009272164A1 US 20090272164 A1 US20090272164 A1 US 20090272164A1 US 32137009 A US32137009 A US 32137009A US 2009272164 A1 US2009272164 A1 US 2009272164A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- diameter
- spirally wound
- pipe
- wound sheet
- forming
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21C—MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES OR PROFILES, OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL
- B21C37/00—Manufacture of metal sheets, bars, wire, tubes or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided for; Manufacture of tubes of special shape
- B21C37/06—Manufacture of metal sheets, bars, wire, tubes or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided for; Manufacture of tubes of special shape of tubes or metal hoses; Combined procedures for making tubes, e.g. for making multi-wall tubes
- B21C37/12—Making tubes or metal hoses with helically arranged seams
- B21C37/121—Making tubes or metal hoses with helically arranged seams with non-welded and non-soldered seams
Definitions
- the present invention relates to machines and methods for making spiral pipe from strips of sheet metal and, in particular, to machines and methods for accurately monitoring and controlling the diameter of such pipe.
- pipe tube
- conduit conduit
- the '962 patent also discloses the feasibility of making the adjustment automatic, by including means for monitoring the diameter, such as a belt or loop detector, which, when it senses a given diameter deviation would activate a servomechanism which in turn lowered or raised the lock rolls to correct the deviation.
- means for monitoring the diameter such as a belt or loop detector, which, when it senses a given diameter deviation would activate a servomechanism which in turn lowered or raised the lock rolls to correct the deviation.
- the present invention is embodied in a mill for forming a spiral pipe, comprising: apparatus for forming a spirally wound sheet, the apparatus including inner and outer pressure rolls engaging and crimping together adjacent edges of the spirally wound sheet; a sensing system for monitoring changes in the diameter of the spirally wound sheet as it is formed and responsively generating signals including information regarding changes in diameter; and a system responsive to the output signals for moving the inner and outer pressure rolls in unison radially inward or outward relative to the axis of the pipe to offset change in diameter.
- the present invention is embodied in a method of forming a spiral pipe with diameter control, comprising: forming a spirally wound sheet having adjacent edges; crimping adjacent edges of the sheet together; monitoring the diameter of the spirally wound sheet for changes therein; responsive to change in the diameter, generating signals including information regarding changes in diameter; and responsive to the signals, moving the adjacent edges of the spirally wound sheet together radially inward or outward relative to the axis of the spirally wound sheet to offset the change in diameter.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a three roll pipe-forming mill.
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the mill of FIG. 1 , depicting an automatic diameter sensing system.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic of an automatic diameter sensing and control system.
- FIG. 1 depicts a three-roll pipe forming mill 10 by Pacific Roller Die Company, Inc.
- the system includes a roll former system 12 for feeding a metal strip 1 to a three roll system 14 , which forms the strip into a helical pipe 3 .
- Diameter sensing and control system 16 FIGS. 2 and 3 , monitor the diameter of the formed pipe 3 and responsively controls the diameter of the pipe as it is formed, as indicated by reference numeral 2 .
- the roll former 12 comprises a carriage 22 which is supported by casters 24 so that the oblique angle formed between the roll former and the three roll system can be varied.
- the carriage 22 is an elongated frame which mounts a plurality of corrugating rolls 10 , arranged in a plurality of stands of matched pairs of upper and lower rolls. The rolls are horizontally aligned so that a strip 1 which is input to the roll former 12 passes through the upper and lower rolls of each stand and is deformed thereby into a corrugated profile, then exits the roll former and enters the three roll system 14 .
- the diameter sensing mechanism 15 includes a support 26 comprising a horizontal base member 28 , legs 30 and 32 and a horizontal top member 34 .
- the legs 30 and 32 are bolted to the floor or other stationary base.
- a pivot arm 36 is pivotally mounted at one of a plurality of mounting holes 38 spaced along the lengthwise dimension of leg 30 .
- a tension spring 42 is pivotally mounted at one end to the pivot arm 36 and is pivotally mounted at the other end to bottom leg 28 .
- a wire (or rope or cable, etc.) 40 is mounted at one end to winch 44 , is wrapped one full loop around formed pipe 3 , and is attached at the opposite end to the pivot arm 36 .
- Winch 44 and tension spring 42 bias or pull the pivot arm 36 in opposite directions, such that the winch can be used to orient the pivot arm in a desired orientation and the tension spring tends to maintain the pivot arm in the selected orientation.
- a sensor 46 such as an ultrasonic sensor is mounted on top member 34 and is focused or directed onto the pivot arm 36 and provides an output signal containing information regarding the distance between the sensor and the pivot arm.
- the diameter or dimension control system 16 for the pipe forming mill 10 is depicted in FIG. 2 and, in particular, in FIG. 3 .
- the three-roll forming arrangement 14 of Pacific Roller Die Company includes lead rolls 52 , which engage the lower surface of sheet 1 entering the three roll system 14 , mandrel rolls 56 and interior pressure roll 54 on the upper side of the sheet, i.e., the interior of the forming pipe 2 , and buttress rolls 58 which shape the sheet helically into the pipe 2 .
- Exterior pressure roll 62 engages the exterior surface of the pipe 2 opposite the interior pressure roll 54 and the two rolls cooperatively crimp the mating adjacent edges of the spirally formed sheet and thereby join the pipe along the adjacent sheet edges.
- the internal pressure roll 54 and the external pressure roll 62 are mounted to positioning devices which cooperatively move the internal pressure roll and the external pressure roll radially inward and outward together relative to the axis of the pipe for effecting the crimping action.
- the positioning device for the internal pressure roll 54 comprises a wedge 64 and mandrel 66 arrangement and a hydraulic cylinder 68 .
- the internal pressure roll 54 is connected to the mandrel 66 which in turn is mounted to piston/shaft 72 of the hydraulic cylinder 68 .
- the external pressure roll 62 is mounted to shaft or piston 76 of hydraulic jack 78 . Bidirectional movement of the jack piston 76 , as indicated by arrow 82 , moves the external pressure roll 62 radially inward (up) or outward (down). Synchronized inward or outward movement of the external pressure roll 62 and the internal pressure roll 54 shifts the position of the crimped edges of the pipe inward and outward relative to the pipe axis.
- control box 84 which can be a separate device or part of the programmable logic device or computer which controls the system 10 .
- the control box is connected to a directional control valve and check valve arrangement 86 and to an air operated hydraulic pump unit 88 .
- the directional control valve and check valve 86 is connected to the hydraulic cylinder 68 for providing electronic control of the hydraulic fluid which operates the hydraulic cylinder so that the piston thereof is translated bidirectionally, as discussed above, for camming the wedge 64 along mandrel 66 and moving the internal pressure roll 54 radially in and out.
- the air-operated hydraulic pump unit 88 is connected to the external pressure roll jack 78 for providing electronic signal controlled, air-operated hydraulic flow to that jack, for moving the piston 76 thereof bidirectionally, as discussed above, and thereby moving the external pressure roll 62 radially in and out.
Abstract
A spiral pipe forming system which includes automatic diameter or dimension sensing and control.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/011677, titled “Tube Making Machine with Diameter Control and Method,” filed Jan. 18, 2008, inventor William J. Kephart, which application is hereby incorporated by reference.
- A. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to machines and methods for making spiral pipe from strips of sheet metal and, in particular, to machines and methods for accurately monitoring and controlling the diameter of such pipe. As used here, “pipe,” tube” and “conduit” are used interchangeably.
- B. Description of the Related Art
- Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,962 describes a three-roll conduit forming mill and diameter control of Pacific Roller Die Company, Inc. The '962 patent is incorporated by reference in its entirety. As described in the '962 patent, the adjacent spiral edges of a strip which forms a spiral conduit are joined by interlocked edge flanges which are pinched or crimped tightly together by upper and lower lock-up rolls. The radial positioning of this pair of rolls relative to the conduit axis controls the diameter of the conduit. Thus, when the rolls are simultaneously raised, i.e., moved radially inward relative to the axis of the conduit, the diameter of the conduit increases When the rolls are simultaneously lowered, i.e., moved radially outward relative to the conduit axis, the diameter of the conduit decreases. The position of the lock-up rolls is changed by control screws which are manually turned using wrenches. The '962 patent indicates the diameter changes effected by such movement are minor and occur gradually. For instance, in a machine for making 1 to 36 inch conduit, such adjustments may be used to effect diameter changes of approximately ±¼ (one-fourth) inch.
- The '962 patent also discloses the feasibility of making the adjustment automatic, by including means for monitoring the diameter, such as a belt or loop detector, which, when it senses a given diameter deviation would activate a servomechanism which in turn lowered or raised the lock rolls to correct the deviation.
- In one aspect, the present invention is embodied in a mill for forming a spiral pipe, comprising: apparatus for forming a spirally wound sheet, the apparatus including inner and outer pressure rolls engaging and crimping together adjacent edges of the spirally wound sheet; a sensing system for monitoring changes in the diameter of the spirally wound sheet as it is formed and responsively generating signals including information regarding changes in diameter; and a system responsive to the output signals for moving the inner and outer pressure rolls in unison radially inward or outward relative to the axis of the pipe to offset change in diameter.
- In another aspect, the present invention is embodied in a method of forming a spiral pipe with diameter control, comprising: forming a spirally wound sheet having adjacent edges; crimping adjacent edges of the sheet together; monitoring the diameter of the spirally wound sheet for changes therein; responsive to change in the diameter, generating signals including information regarding changes in diameter; and responsive to the signals, moving the adjacent edges of the spirally wound sheet together radially inward or outward relative to the axis of the spirally wound sheet to offset the change in diameter.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a three roll pipe-forming mill. -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the mill ofFIG. 1 , depicting an automatic diameter sensing system. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic of an automatic diameter sensing and control system. -
FIG. 1 depicts a three-roll pipe forming mill 10 by Pacific Roller Die Company, Inc. The system includes a rollformer system 12 for feeding a metal strip 1 to a threeroll system 14, which forms the strip into ahelical pipe 3. Diameter sensing and control system 16,FIGS. 2 and 3 , monitor the diameter of the formedpipe 3 and responsively controls the diameter of the pipe as it is formed, as indicated byreference numeral 2. - As is well known and as described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,962, the roll former 12 comprises a
carriage 22 which is supported bycasters 24 so that the oblique angle formed between the roll former and the three roll system can be varied. Thecarriage 22 is an elongated frame which mounts a plurality of corrugating rolls 10, arranged in a plurality of stands of matched pairs of upper and lower rolls. The rolls are horizontally aligned so that a strip 1 which is input to the roll former 12 passes through the upper and lower rolls of each stand and is deformed thereby into a corrugated profile, then exits the roll former and enters the threeroll system 14. - The operation of the three
roll system 14 is also well known and thus is described in conjunction with the construction and operation of the diameter (or dimension) sensing and control unit 16 and the diameter or dimension sensor ormonitor 15 of system 16. Referring toFIG. 2 , thediameter sensing mechanism 15 includes asupport 26 comprising ahorizontal base member 28,legs horizontal top member 34. Thelegs pivot arm 36 is pivotally mounted at one of a plurality of mounting holes 38 spaced along the lengthwise dimension ofleg 30. Atension spring 42 is pivotally mounted at one end to thepivot arm 36 and is pivotally mounted at the other end tobottom leg 28. A wire (or rope or cable, etc.) 40 is mounted at one end to winch 44, is wrapped one full loop around formedpipe 3, and is attached at the opposite end to thepivot arm 36.Winch 44 andtension spring 42 bias or pull thepivot arm 36 in opposite directions, such that the winch can be used to orient the pivot arm in a desired orientation and the tension spring tends to maintain the pivot arm in the selected orientation. Asensor 46 such as an ultrasonic sensor is mounted ontop member 34 and is focused or directed onto thepivot arm 36 and provides an output signal containing information regarding the distance between the sensor and the pivot arm. During operation of the threeroll system 14, changes in the diameter of thepipe 3 effect movement of thecable 40 and thepivot arm 36, causing variations in the output signal which are representative of the changes in the diameter, radius, perimeter or other dimension which is being monitored. - The diameter or dimension control system 16 for the pipe forming mill 10 is depicted in
FIG. 2 and, in particular, inFIG. 3 . The three-roll forming arrangement 14 of Pacific Roller Die Company includeslead rolls 52, which engage the lower surface of sheet 1 entering the threeroll system 14,mandrel rolls 56 andinterior pressure roll 54 on the upper side of the sheet, i.e., the interior of the formingpipe 2, and buttress rolls 58 which shape the sheet helically into thepipe 2.Exterior pressure roll 62 engages the exterior surface of thepipe 2 opposite theinterior pressure roll 54 and the two rolls cooperatively crimp the mating adjacent edges of the spirally formed sheet and thereby join the pipe along the adjacent sheet edges. Theinternal pressure roll 54 and theexternal pressure roll 62 are mounted to positioning devices which cooperatively move the internal pressure roll and the external pressure roll radially inward and outward together relative to the axis of the pipe for effecting the crimping action. The positioning device for theinternal pressure roll 54 comprises awedge 64 andmandrel 66 arrangement and a hydraulic cylinder 68. Theinternal pressure roll 54 is connected to themandrel 66 which in turn is mounted to piston/shaft 72 of the hydraulic cylinder 68. When the hydraulic cylinder 68 is operated to move the shaft thereof bidirectionally, in opposite directions shown byarrow 74, themandrel 66 cams thewedge 64 along mandrel and moves theinternal pressure roll 54 radially outward (down) or radially inward (up). - The
external pressure roll 62 is mounted to shaft or piston 76 of hydraulic jack 78. Bidirectional movement of the jack piston 76, as indicated by arrow 82, moves theexternal pressure roll 62 radially inward (up) or outward (down). Synchronized inward or outward movement of theexternal pressure roll 62 and theinternal pressure roll 54 shifts the position of the crimped edges of the pipe inward and outward relative to the pipe axis. - Referring further to
FIG. 3 , the output side ofsensor 46 is connected tocontrol box 84, which can be a separate device or part of the programmable logic device or computer which controls the system 10. The control box is connected to a directional control valve and check valve arrangement 86 and to an air operatedhydraulic pump unit 88. The directional control valve and check valve 86 is connected to the hydraulic cylinder 68 for providing electronic control of the hydraulic fluid which operates the hydraulic cylinder so that the piston thereof is translated bidirectionally, as discussed above, for camming thewedge 64 alongmandrel 66 and moving theinternal pressure roll 54 radially in and out. The air-operatedhydraulic pump unit 88 is connected to the external pressure roll jack 78 for providing electronic signal controlled, air-operated hydraulic flow to that jack, for moving the piston 76 thereof bidirectionally, as discussed above, and thereby moving theexternal pressure roll 62 radially in and out. - When the size of the
pipe 3 changes, downward or counterclockwise pivoting of thepivot arm 36 is associated with decreases in pipe size, whereas upward or clockwise pivoting of the pivot arm is associated with increases in pipe size. The output fromultrasonic sensor 46 causescontrol box 84 to operate the internal and external pressure roll positioning devices in unison, and simultaneously move theinternal pressure roll 54 and theexternal pressure roll 62 inward or outward relative to the pipe axis and thereby respectively increase or decrease the diameter of the pipe. - The present invention has been described in terms of preferred and other embodiments. The invention, however, is not limited to the embodiments described and depicted. Adaptation to other embodiments will be readily done by those of usual skill in the art, limited only by the claims appended hereto.
Claims (2)
1. Apparatus for forming a spiral pipe, comprising: apparatus for forming a spirally wound sheet, the apparatus including inner and outer pressure rolls engaging and crimping together adjacent edges of the spirally wound sheet; a sensing system for monitoring changes in the diameter of the spirally wound sheet as it is formed and responsively generating signals including information regarding changes; and a system responsive to the output signals for moving the inner and outer pressure rolls in unison radially inward or outward relative to the axis of the pipe to offset change in diameter.
2. A method of forming a spiral pipe having controlled diameter, comprising: forming a spirally wound sheet having adjacent edges; crimping adjacent edges of the sheet together; monitoring the diameter of the spirally wound sheet for changes therein; responsive to change in the diameter, generating signals including information regarding the change; and responsive to the signals, moving the adjacent edges of the spirally wound sheet together radially inward or outward relative to the axis of the spirally wound sheet to offset the change in diameter.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/321,370 US20090272164A1 (en) | 2008-01-18 | 2009-01-16 | Tube making machine with diameter control and method |
US12/380,580 US20090320542A1 (en) | 2008-01-18 | 2009-02-26 | Tube making machine with diameter control and method |
CA2659953A CA2659953A1 (en) | 2009-01-16 | 2009-03-25 | Tube making machine with diameter control and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US1167708P | 2008-01-18 | 2008-01-18 | |
US12/321,370 US20090272164A1 (en) | 2008-01-18 | 2009-01-16 | Tube making machine with diameter control and method |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/380,580 Continuation-In-Part US20090320542A1 (en) | 2008-01-18 | 2009-02-26 | Tube making machine with diameter control and method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090272164A1 true US20090272164A1 (en) | 2009-11-05 |
Family
ID=41256225
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/321,370 Abandoned US20090272164A1 (en) | 2008-01-18 | 2009-01-16 | Tube making machine with diameter control and method |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090272164A1 (en) |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3256724A (en) * | 1963-05-07 | 1966-06-21 | Armco Steel Corp | Method and apparatus for forming helical, lock seam or welded pipe |
US3851376A (en) * | 1972-05-04 | 1974-12-03 | H Gross | Method for producing helical seam welded steel pipe |
US3882706A (en) * | 1972-05-04 | 1975-05-13 | Heinz Gross | Method and apparatus for producing helical seam welded steel |
US4287739A (en) * | 1979-03-26 | 1981-09-08 | Syracuse Tank & Manufacturing | Method for producing a helically wound pipe having a predetermined diameter |
US20070245789A1 (en) * | 2006-04-21 | 2007-10-25 | Zepp William L | Method of producing helically corrugated metal pipe and related pipe construction |
US20090320542A1 (en) * | 2008-01-18 | 2009-12-31 | William James Kephart | Tube making machine with diameter control and method |
-
2009
- 2009-01-16 US US12/321,370 patent/US20090272164A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3256724A (en) * | 1963-05-07 | 1966-06-21 | Armco Steel Corp | Method and apparatus for forming helical, lock seam or welded pipe |
US3851376A (en) * | 1972-05-04 | 1974-12-03 | H Gross | Method for producing helical seam welded steel pipe |
US3882706A (en) * | 1972-05-04 | 1975-05-13 | Heinz Gross | Method and apparatus for producing helical seam welded steel |
US4287739A (en) * | 1979-03-26 | 1981-09-08 | Syracuse Tank & Manufacturing | Method for producing a helically wound pipe having a predetermined diameter |
US4287739B1 (en) * | 1979-03-26 | 1984-05-22 | ||
US20070245789A1 (en) * | 2006-04-21 | 2007-10-25 | Zepp William L | Method of producing helically corrugated metal pipe and related pipe construction |
US20090320542A1 (en) * | 2008-01-18 | 2009-12-31 | William James Kephart | Tube making machine with diameter control and method |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20090320542A1 (en) | Tube making machine with diameter control and method | |
EP3050641B1 (en) | Method and device for forming grooves in pipe elements | |
US3940962A (en) | Conduit making machine with diameter control and method | |
AU2021212066B2 (en) | Control System and Method for Tapered Structure Construction | |
TWI466813B (en) | Method and apparatus for stabilising strip during winding | |
US20070245789A1 (en) | Method of producing helically corrugated metal pipe and related pipe construction | |
CA2495918A1 (en) | Method and a device for automatic control of coil pipe operations | |
CN102036763B (en) | Manufacturing apparatus and method of spiral duct including elbow | |
JP2008126261A (en) | Rectangular wire bending apparatus | |
JP2008277606A (en) | Coupled coil winding device for rectangular wire | |
JP5226033B2 (en) | Sheet material position adjustment device | |
CN117182500A (en) | A system for flange fitting of a tubular structure; method of assembling flange to tubular section | |
US20090272164A1 (en) | Tube making machine with diameter control and method | |
CN106956137B (en) | Apparatus for manufacturing cylindrical container having large diameter | |
CN106925625B (en) | A kind of automatic calibration method of hot-strip reels reel | |
CA2659953A1 (en) | Tube making machine with diameter control and method | |
CN104144754A (en) | Method and device for winding a material web | |
US9968985B2 (en) | Bead ring winding device | |
US4436239A (en) | Method and apparatus for manufacturing spiral pipe | |
TWI654038B (en) | Coil spring winding device and method for winding coil spring | |
JPH07185671A (en) | Roll bender | |
CN216503416U (en) | Automatic multi-groove steel pipe manufacturing system | |
CN208680216U (en) | A kind of helix tube production equipment | |
CN208814015U (en) | A kind of helix tube conveying device for helix tube production | |
JP2006334796A (en) | Wire winding method of rubber hose and wire winding apparatus of rubber hose |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |