US2229639A - Method of producing annuli - Google Patents

Description

1941- E. s. CORNELL, JR 2,229,639

METHOD OF PRODUCING ANNULI Filed Oct. 22, 1938 TELEIE. T1? :1. E7

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INVENTOR Edward 5. Cornell, Jr:

5 VAT TORNEY Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,229,639 I METHOD or PRODUCING ANNULI Edward S. Cornell, J r., Larchmont, N. Y.

Application October 22, 1938, Serial No. 236,461

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of producing annuli.

In particular, the method is directed to the production of an annulus from a relatively short length of strip material, and to the production of annuli sequentially from a continuous length of strip material.

The method is especially advantageous for the production of solder annuli as used to considerable extent in the sweat jointing of copper pipe and fittings by the plumbing trade.

An object of the invention, therefore, is the production of an annulus from a relatively short strip of material of the nature of solder and the production of annuli sequentially from a continuous length of strip material of the nature of solder.

An object is to accomplish such production with -a minimum number of operations and with the assurance of desired predetermined confi uration for the resulting product.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of an annulus produced pursuant to the present method.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary top-plan view of a continuous length of strip material employed as the raw material of the method.

Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of a single relatively short length of strip material at an intermediate stage in the production of a single annulus.

Fig. 4 represents a top plan view of the partly processed length of Fig. 3 at a subsequent intermediate stage of processing.

Fig. 5 represents a top plan view of a completed annulus, the product of the present method.

Fig. 6 illustrates apparatus carrying out a step in the method which converts the strip material of Fig. 2 to the individual lengths of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 represents a vertical section taken on the line 'I'I, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 illustrates apparatus carrying out the final step in the method which converts the article of Fig. 4 to the finished product of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing: the annulus indicated by the reference character! in Figs. 1 and 5 represents the finished product resulting from the method here disclosed. It is formed from a material capable of being worked and fused cold under the influence of pressure, and may be .a solder annulus or a gasket of material having essentially similar characteristics.

The present method contemplates the production of annuli sequentially from a continuous length of material of the stated type, usually a metal such as lead, or an alloy such as solder. It may be equally applied to the production of a single annulus from a single relatively short blank of the ductile material. As will be noted from the drawing, the blank is of substantially uniform width and thickness throughout its length.

Where .a continuous length of strip is employed as the raw material, the method may comprise generally the steps of severing individual re1atively short lengths from the continuous length while slitting each of the so severed short lengths along its length to locations adjacent but short of the ends thereof; expanding each of the so slit short lengths to approximately the form of an annulus; and finally subjecting each of the so slit short lengths to the action of pressure within an annular die to flow the irregularities into the desired annular configuration.

As will be noted from the drawing, the continuous length of strip is substantially uniform, throughout its length. in width and thickness. Thus, the cubical contents of successive strip lengths of equal'length are equal.

Where single blanks are utilized, the same steps of slitting, expanding, and forming are applied to each blank.

According to preferred practice, a continuous length I I of the strip material, see Figs. 2 and 6, is passed through a jig, as at I2, and the particular portion of the strip being acted upon is firmly held thereby during the severing and slitting operation.

The jig I2, see Figs. 6 and '7, preferably comprises a bed I3 provided with a soft metal inlay strip I4 extending along the length of its upper surface approximately centrally thereof.

The two clamp pieces I5 and I6 are adjustably secured, as by means of screws II, to the upper surface of the bed I3, falling short of meeting above the inlay strip I4 by a short distance. The clamp pieces I5 and I6 may each be rabbeted along the bottom edge of those lateral sides thereof which are adjacent each other when the clamp pieces are in place, see the rabbet grooves I5a and I Go, respectively, Fig. '7. Such rabbet grooves I5a and I60 cooperate to form a receiving passage of dimension such that the strip Il may slip easily therethrough while being practically completely supported. The bed I3 may have an extension I3a of reduced height, such extension carrying an abutment post I8 adjacent its free end. A shear strip I9 may be secured, as by means of screws, to that end wall of bedI3 which 50 lies adjacent the extension I30. The distance between shear strip I9 and abutment post I8 defines the length of an individual length or blank III of the strip material II.

A slitting and severing head 20 is provided for 55 cooperation with the jig I2 in the severing of individual lengths III from the continuous strip II, and for, simultaneously therewith, slitting such individual lengths. The cutting head 20 may comprise a body portion 2| provided with a 60.

handle 21a for afiording manual manipulation with respect to the jig l2.

A longitudinal blade 22 is afiixed in the body portion Zia, .as by means of the set screws 23, and extends lengthwise substantially centrally thereof. A shear blade 24 is a'djusta'blysecured at one end of the body portion 21, as by means of screws 25. The shear blade preferably has a cutting edge 24:: defined between two depending guards 24b and 240.

The clamp pieces l5 and it of the jig l2 are spaced suffic'iently far apart, see '26, to admit the longitudinal blade 22 easily in the slitting of the strip H and to, in efiect, provide a guideway therefor. Manipulation or" the head 20 relative to thejig I2 will effect severing of a predetermined and already slit length. l |-l of strip by means of the shear blade 24, and Wi ll, -simultaneously, slit a second length of the strip H which lies on the bed is. 'The slit'will be accurately located because of the guideway 26 provided for the'longi'tud-inal blade 22, and because of the firm holding of the strip on the bed It by the clamp pieces i5 and IS.

The intermediate product; i. e. the length or blank H-I, resulting from the slitting and severing operation, is illustrated per se in Fig, 3. It will be noted that theslit 2"! extends substantially centrally longitudinally of the individual length or blank to locations adjacent but short of the ends thereof. Preferably; as is clear from the drawing, particularly Fig. 3, the slit 2? extends to locations adjacent, but'substantially equally short of the ends thereof, thus providing end portions which are similar. The exact length of the slit 21 maybe determined in the individual case by experiment. There should be sufficient material left between the ends otthe slit and the ends of the length to provide for adequate filling out of the annulus in the subsequent forming operation. I

Thextwo longitudinal portions of the slit-blank l1-l of Fig. 3 .are subjected'eto oppos-ite'outwardly directed forces, respectively,.to'produ'ce the approximate annularly configurated intermediate product 28hr" Fig. 4. The forces may be applied manually or byanyesuitable mechanical means.

' For completing ldrniationof the final product, indicated at iii in Figs. 1 and'5,.the intermediate product 28 of Fig. 4 is subjected to forming pressure within the enclosing confines of a die to flow irregularities of configuration into the symmetry of a perfect annulus.

As illustrated in Fig. .8, the die may comprise an open-mouthed diebox 29 having an internal recess 30 in which a coil spring is mounted. A tapered mandrel, .32 is positioned substantially centrally'of the recess 3i) and extends upwardly and out of the mouth of the die box' 33, defining, together-with the wallsof the die box, an annular forming chamber. The mandrel 32 is encircled by a plunger 33, nominally-held in raised position within the aforementioned forming chamber by the action of .thespringSi. The mouth of the forming chamber may flare outwardly, as at 34, in providing a gradual approach for the rough intermediate pno duct' ZSin-to the annular forming chamber proper.

The intermediate product 28 is I slipped over the snub nosed end 32a of the mandrel 32 and seats on the upper end of the'plungertil. A punch 35 having a tubular end of annular configuration, similar to that of the plunger 33, is forced down over the mandrel 32, carrying the intermediate product 28 downwardly into the annular form-ing recess of the die. Thus, the intermediate product is subjected to forming pressure substantially uniform-1y about its periphery. Upon withdrawal of the punch 35, the plunger 33 will rise by the upward urge of spring 3 I carrying the completely formed annulus l 0, as the final product of this method, upwardly, out of the die, for removal for use or for storage.

Where a single pre-cut length of strip is used as the raw material in the pro cess, the step of severing may be eliminated, but th'remaining steps of the process remain the same.

Whereas this invention been described with respect to preferred practice it is to be definitely understood that changes may be freely made therein without depanting from the spirit of the invention as set forth herein and intheclaims that follow.

I claim:

1. A method of producing an annulus from a blank of material of the n-ature of solder, said blank being substantially rectilinear and having substantially uniform thickness and substantially uniform width'throughout its lengthywhioh comprises slitting the blank along its length substantially centrally of its width to locations adjacent but substantially equally short of its ends, respectively; opening out thethus slit blank'into approximately annular form; and flowing the metal projections and irregularities of said approximate annular form into substantially perfec't annular form by subjecting the thus-opened outstrip to pressure within the enclosing confines of an annular die.

2. A method of producing 1 annuli of substantially uniform configuration and of substantially uniform cubical content substantially without waste from a material of the nature of, solder which comprises successively severing individual lengths of equal length from a continuous .strip of said materia-Lsaid strip having substantially "uniform thickness and substantially uniform Width throughoutits length; slitting said lengths of strip'along their'lengths-substantially centrally of their widths to locations adjacent-t'but substantially equally short of their en'dsprespectively; opening out the thus slit lengths to z'approximately annular form; and flowingthe metal projections and irregularities of. said approximate annular form into substantially perfect annular fom'n by subjecting the thus openedcut lengths to pressure within the-completely enclosingconfines of annular die means. 1

3.. A method of producing an annulus .fn'oni a. material of the nature of 'so-lderwhich' comprises preparing a substantially rectilinear blank-of said material, said blank having substantially'iuhiform thickness anduniform Width throughoutits length; slitting the said blank? along its :length substantially centrally of its Width to locations adjacent,- but substantially equally short 'of its ends, respectively; "opening out the thus sli-tf blank into rough and approximate annularrfomnation; and pre'ssingthe thus :op'ened ou t blank along a divergently tapered mandrel, in the I directionof its divergence, into-the enclosing confinesclan annular die by pressure exented substantially equally z'ibout theperipheryo-fsaid-blank and in the direction cf m-ovement thereof for liowing the metal projections and irregularities of saidapproximate annular liorm'into'substantially perfect annular formation.

EDWARD s. CORNELL, JR.

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