US2313702A - Apparatus for splitting, spreading, and flattening pipe - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 19 3. A. c. ALLEN 2,313,702

APPARATUS FOR SPLITTING, SPREADING, AND FLATTENING PIPE Filed Feb. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet J.

OOOOOOO ME M v pTTORNEY Marsh 9,1943; A. c. ALLEN 5 3 APPARATUS FOR SPLIT'I'ING, SPREADING, AND FLATTENING PIPE Filed Feb. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 "OFFICE APPARATUS FOR smrrma, SPREADING,

AND mrrsmc PIPE Alexander 0. Allen, Monroe, one-half to Nathan Brac Mich, assignor, of hman, Detroit, Mich.

Application February 5, 1942, Serial No. 429,628

' 11 Claims. (01. 29-17) v This invention relates to an apparatus for splitting and spreading pipe, and more particularly to a-means for performing a series of steps for progressively slitting or cutting lengthwise a length of pipe, drawing the slit pipe over a suitable forming anvil, thereby spreading open the pipe into a fiat sheet, and further drawing said sheet through a series of leveling rolls to produce a flat length of metal stock.

The invention also relates to suitable apparatus for carrying out 'each of the steps in the above mentioned method.

Heretofore tubular goods that are rejected for mechanical failure, not physical stress, in failing to comeup to certain predetermined stand ards, are utilized where possible in the manufacture of 'omamental items such as poles, railings, vent pipes or non-pressure purposes. However, it is seen that their utilization is somewhat limited as compared to their possible utility it such rejected pipe could be opened up and fiattened into flat strips of stock, plates, or sheets.

The same is true of old and discarded pipes and tubing, for this source of pipe is equally available. It would appear that there is considerable tonnage of old pipe and tubes which would also come up to the specifications required of plates and sheets or strips produced from new rejected tubular goods.

It is therefore the object'of this invention to teach novel apparatus for reducing metallic tubular goods new or old to flat stock.

It is the object of this invention to teach an apparatus for slitting tubular stock, and thenforming or'spreading the same into flat sheets or strips.

It is the further object herein to provide also a means for leveling out such flattened stock for commercial use.

It is a further object herein -to provide an apparatus for rendering the tubular stock partially malleablebefore the forming operation; and also, if desired, rendering the flattened stock further malleable before leveling or reducing the gauge of the same through suitable rollers.

It is a still further object herein to provide a means for propelling a length of pipe over a delivery table and intothe conveying rollers which are adjacent a plurality ofrtandem set saws or cutters disposed therebeneath.

This invention relates to the various means hereinafter described in detail and also to the various arrangements of apparatus and their various combination as now more fully set out in the appended specification and drawings of which- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevational view of apparatus for carrying out the various methods taught by this invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary Fig. 2. a

Fig. 6 is a fragmentarypartial section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary partial section on line 1--1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on line 8-8 of section on line 5-5 of Fig. 9 is a fragmentary partial section on line 99ofFlg.2.

The above drawings illustrate merely preferable apparatus for carrying out the various methods" embodied herein, it being expressly understood that other apparatus within the scope sheets or strips of of the claims hereinafter might equally well carry out such methods.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 shows a partially broken away delivery table it upon which pipe P is placed before being slit. Shafts l2 and I3 rotatably journale'd within said table have sprocket wheels ll, I5, l6 and i1 secured thereon providing rotatable actuating means for the interconnecting sprocket chains l8 and IS.

A portable yoke 20 with its ends suitably secured to said chains is adapted to further push the pipe onto the conveying rollers 2|, after the same has been manually started on its wayover the delivery table II-. Said rollers journal'ed within table'l I and poweractuated by a motor 22 and a train of intermeshing gears 23 cooperates with the hold-down rollers 24 for conveying said pipe P into operative cutting engagement with a series of tandem disposed rotary saws or cutters 25. After said yoke has reached its full travel via the'propelling chains, the yoke gravitates out of position and is returned to the end of the delivery table II manually or by conveyor belt.

It is understood that a plurality of yokes may be v vertical adjustment within suitable slots 21 therein so as to accommodate various diameters of Pipe.

Rotary pipe cutting, saws or cutters 25 each able or slightly plastic cutting.

' conveying apparatus. I

' should now be had to the claims lating means onto which said pipe, rotatable cutting means by producing a malleable or partially plastic condition to the slit pipe prior to its being spread. This heater is advantageous but is not absolutely necessary to the-carrying out of the above described method. p As theforward end of the slit pipe proceeds over the nose or horn 28 of the anvil 29 it is further engaged by the powered rolls 30 actuated by motor 3| and the intermeshing train of gears 32 even before spreading or the pipe begins. Buckling of the pipe is thus prevented because at the moment spreading begins the pipe is firmly held between the top surface of the anvil 29' and the rollers 30.

Anvil 29 at its front portion as in Fig. 6 is relatively thin coinciding to the width of the out already made in the longitudinally progressing pipe. 'Anvil 29 however tapers outwardly progressing over its entire length as best seen in Eigs.

. 'l, 8 and 9 whereby the split' pipe is progressively spread apart until it tends to assume a substantially flattened out shape at the end of the anvil. Throughout the spreading operation the pipe is held down to the top surface of the anvil by the propelling rollers 30. 1

Pipe P as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 is then further translated through a plurality of leveling or gauge reducing rollers 33, each separately power operated in any convenient manner, and comes out ofv said rolls as a flat strip or sheet of stock. A second electric induction heater or any other type 34. may be interposed between rollers 30 and the leveling rollers 33 for the same reason above given in respect to the induction heater 21.

More particularly, in a case where the rollers 33 are gauge reducing it is desirable that the sheet or strip of material be first rendered malleto facilitate said reduction of gauge.

In this event it may be desirable to provide a suitable table or other conveying means for ca!- rying the stock toa quenching tank for cooling before the same is stored for future use or de- 1iver the pipe operable means for longitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into a substantially flat strip of stock, and

operating means above said anvil adapted to hold i said'pipe against the top surfacethereof as it progresses over the same.

2. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips of stock from pipe comprised of operable pipe translating-means onto which said pipe is adapted to be supported, means disposed above said operablemeans adapted'to exert a downward pressure on said pipe, rotatable cutting means adjacent said operable means for longitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped anvil over which said pipe is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into a substantially flat strip of stock, oper-' ating means above said anvil adapted to hold said pipe against the progresses over the same, and leveling rollers through which said pipe is further adapted to be translated for obtaining a fiat sheet of stock. 3. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips of stock from pipe comprised of operable pipe translating means onto which said pipe is adapted to be supported, means disposed above said operable means adapted to exert a downward pressure on said pipe, rotatable cutting means adjacent said operable means for longitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped anvil over which said pipe is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into a substantially flat strip of stock, operating means above said pipe against the top surface thereof as it progresses over the same; and pre-heatlng means through which said pipe is adapted to be translated disposed intermediate said anvil and said cutting means.

4. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips of stock from pipe comprised of operable pipe translating means onto which be supported, means disposed above saidoperable means adapted to exert a downward pressure on said pipe, rotatable cutting means adjacent said operable means for longitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped anvil over which said pipe It is contemplated, if desired, that a vacuum cleaner or blower or both could be employed for carrying out a further step in the above method for cleaning out dirt from the pipe before it reaches the cutters. And, or on the other hand a magnetizing coil could be employed for picking up ferrous metal particles in the pipe before It will be understood that any. desired number of rollers may be employed at any point in the It may be for instance,

that five rollers could be used to advantage at 7 points 2| and 24.-

described invention, reference which follow adjacent said thereof.

is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into a substantially erating means above said pipe against the progresses over the through which said pipe same, pre-heating means is adapted to be translated disposed intermediate said anvil and said v rollers through'.

cutting means, uge reducing which said spread pipe is further adapted to be translated tor obtaining a flat sheet of reduced gauge stock; and pro-heating means through which said flattened out-strip or material is adapted to be translated dispose intermediate said and said gauge reducing rollers. I

5. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips of stock from pipe comprised of a delivery table for longitudinally supporting pipe, operable pipe translating means onto which said pipe is adapted to be said operable means adapted ward pressure. on said pipe, means adjacent said operable tudinally slitting said pip a over which said pipe is adapted to be translated to exert a downrotatable cuttin means for long for spreading the same intoa substantially flat strip of stock; operating means above said anvil adapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof as it-pro over the same.

6. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips or anvil over which said pipe 1 top surface thereof as it.

said anvil adapted to hold said pipe is adapted tov flat strip of stock, P- said anvil adapted to hold top surface thereof as it.

means disposed above wedge shaped anvil stock from pip comprised of a delivery table for longitudinally supporting pipe, a plurality of transversely disposed power 7 which said pipe is adapted to be translated, a plurality of idler hold-down rollers transversely disposed above said power rollers, rotatable cutactuated rollers onto which said pipe is adapted to be translated for a substantially flat strip spreading the same into of stock, operating means above said anvil adapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof as it progresses over the same, and leveling rollers through which said pipe is further ting means for longitudinally slitting said pipe,

a wedge shaped anvil over which said pipe is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into a substantially flat strip of stock, and op erating means above said anvil adapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof as it progresses over the same. I

7. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips of stock from pipe comprised of operable pipe translating means, means disposed above said operable means adapted to exert a downward pres-' sure on said pipe, a plurality of rotatable cutting means disposed in a line for ngitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shap anvil over which said pipe is adapted to be translated for spreading the sam -into a substantially fiat strip of adapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof as it progresses over the same.

8. Apparatus for producing sheets of stockfrom pipe comprised of operable pipe translating means, means disposed above said operable means adapted toexert a downward pressure on said pipe, cuttingmeans for. longitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped anvil over which said pipe is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into a substantiallyflat strip of stock, and operating means above said anvil adapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof as it progressses over the same.

9. Apparatus for producing sheets of stock from pipe comprised of operable pip translating means, means disposed above said operable means adaptedto exert a downward pressure on said pipe, cutting means for longitudinally slitting said .stock, and operating means above said anvil from' pipe comprised of operable adapted to be' translated for obtaining a fiat sheet of stock.

10. Apparatus for producing sheets of stock from pipecomprised of operable pipe translating means, means disposed above said operable means adapted to exert a downward pressure on said pipe, cutting means for longitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped anvil over which said pipe is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into a substantially flat strip of stock, operating means above said anvil adapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof as it progresses over the same, and pre-heating thereof as-it progresses over the same, gauge reducing rollers through which said spread pipe strip of material pipe, 11 wedge shaped anvil over is further adapted to be translated for obtaining afiat sheet of reduced gauge stock, and preheating means through which said flattened out is adapted to be translated disposed intermediate said anvil and said gauge reducing rollers.

- ALEXANDER. C. ALLEN.

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