US2925116A - Method of and apparatus for producing flexible boot flashing - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1960 w. J. EBERLE 2,925,115

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE BOOT FLASHING Filed June 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mlhl.

. W////0m d fber/e INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1960 w. J. EBERLE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE BOOT FLASHING Filed June 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet ATTORA/f KS Feb. 16, 1960 w. J. EBERLE 2,925,116

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE BOOT FLASHING Filed June 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 T 5 5 mm M i i L m, 42

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W////am d. fiber/e INVENT .fluvi Feb. 16, 1960 w. J. EB l ERLE 2,925,116

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE BOOT FLASHING Filed June 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Eber/e INVENTOR.

ATTOR/V'VJ United States Patent METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE BOOT FLASHING William J. Eberle, Houston, Tex.

Application June 25, 1956, Serial No. 593,559

10 Claims. c1. 153-73 This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for producing a flexible boot flashing.

In my co-pending application No. 490,652 filed January 25, 1955 for Variable Pitch Flashing there is disclosed and claimed a variable pitch flashing of malleable material adapted to be fitted over a conduit portion extending from a surface, said flashing including a plate having a hole therein, a tube secured to the plate in alignment with the hole and a cylindrical bellowed portion in the tube adjacent the plate permitting angular adjustment of the tube with respect to the plate.

It is a general purpose of the present invention to provide a method of and apparatus for producing such flexible flashing quickly and economically.

As the tube of the variable pitch flashing must fit over a conduit it is important that the inside diameter of the tubing is not reduced by the bellowing operation and it is therefore a purpose of the present invention to provide a method of and apparatus for forming such flexible flashing in which the internal diameter of the bellowed portion of the tube is the same as the internal diameter of the unbellowed portions of the tube.

It is desirable during the bellowing operation to insure that the peaks and valleys of the bellowed portion of the tube are not stretched thin and it is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a method of and apparatus for forming the bellowed portion in the tubing without diminishing the thickness of the tube in the bellowed portion.

It is yet another further and important object of the invention to provide a rugged apparatus and a method and apparatus which are simple and dependable in operation.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description of the preferred example of the invention proceeds, which is given for the purposes of disclosure and which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like character references designate like parts througout the several views, and where,

Figure 1 is a front view, partially diagrammatic and partially in section, of an apparatus for making flexible flashing constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a flexible flashing produced by the method and apparatus of the present invention,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a flexible flashing produced by the apparatus and method of the present invention with the plate being bent upwardly for shipment,

Fig. 5 is an end view, partially diagrammatic, partially cut away, of the left end of the apparatus of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a partially diagrammatic view of the right end of the apparatus of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the bellows forming portion of the apparatus of the present invention,

and l Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the cutting unit holder of the present invention.

"ice Referring now to Figures 1 and 3 the apparatus 10 of the present invention includes as a whole the support table 12 having mounted thereon the plate cutting assembly 14, the bellows forming assembly 16, and the tube and plate joining assembly 18. For convenience the accessory equipment of a tube expander assembly 20 and a plate bending clamp 22 are also located on the support table 12. l

In the manufacture of the flexible flashing, soft metal plates, usually lead, are cut to the desired size and then have a hole .cut through them by the plate cutting assembly 14 over which hole the tube is later fastened. The plate cuttingassembly 14 includes a standard drill press 24, modified as heinafter explained, and a plate holding platform 26 under the vertical moving parts of drill press 24. The plate holding platform 26 is provided with a pair ofparallel guides 28 which are adjustable toward and away from one another by any conventional means such as pins 30 near each end of each guide 28 and a series of holes 32 in the platform 26 into which these pins may be inserted so that plates of different size may be positioned between these parallel guides 28.

To control the extent to which the plates-are slid under the descending portions of the plate cutting assembly 14 there is provided a plurality of stop pins 3-4 in the plat? form 26 and a second series of holes 36 into which the stop pins 34 maybe placed. Thus by placing the stop pins 34 in the proper holes 36 the extent to which the plates pass under the descending portions of the plate cutting assembly 14 is both controlled and limited. Of course, other means for securing the plates in position could be utilized. With this plate cutting assembly 14 several plates may be cut simultaneously as several thicknesses of such plates may be placed on the platform 26.

As best shown in Figure 5, the drill press 24 includes a supporting shaft 38 located a sufficient distance from the descending portions that there is suflicient room for plates of large sizes to be cut. As shown in Figure 8 the drill press 24 is modified from a conventional press in that a novel cutting unit 40 is placed in the cutting unit holder or chuck 42. This cutting unit 40 includes a shaft 44 adapted to be fitted into the chuck 42 and a cutter bar holder 46 secured on the shaft 44 in alignment with the chuck 42. Passing centrally and radially through the cutter bar holder 46 is the cutter bar 48 from near one end of which depends the cutter blade 50. The cutter bar 48 is horizontally adjustable such as by the set screw 49 so that the circle circumscribed by the cutter blade 50 is variable in size.

Located on the lower end of the cutter bar holder 46 is a compression spring 52 secured to the lower end of which is a thrust plate 54 having an aperture 56 through the center thereof. This thrust plate 54 is rotatably secured to the compression spring 52 by the bearing and race assembly 58. Secured axially to the lower surface of the cutter bar holder 46 is a pointed holding pin 60 which extends downwardly a slight distance more than the cutter blade 50, so that it contacts and penetrates the lead plates before the cutter blade 50 does.

In operation, the plates in which the holes are to be out are loosely fitted between the parallel guides 28. This loose fit is desirable for ease of insertion of the plates. The electric motor 62 rotating the chuck 42 by means of a power chain such as the pulley and belt drive 64 is started. The chuck 42 is then moved downwardly by turning the conventional hand wheel 66 on. drill press 24. As the chuck 42 and the cutting unit 40 descend the thrust plate 54 first contacts the flashing plates and immediately thereafter the pointed holding pin 52 contacts the top plate and bites into it because of the softness of the metal of the flashing plate thereby preventing any lateral movement of the flashing plate. Thus, while there is only a loose fit of'the flashing plate between the parallel guides 28 this pointed holding pin 60 prevents any lateral movement of the flashing plates allowing a true circle to be cutby the following cutter blade 50. As the cutting unit 40 continues to descend the pointed holding pin'60 continues to precede indownward'rnovement the cutter blade 50 thus holding each flashing plate inposition prior to the time the cutter blade 50' reaches it. An aperture in the platform 26 in line with the sharp pointed pin 60 allows the cutting unit 40 todescend sufliciently that thecutter blade 50 may completely out the lowermost flashingpl'ate. After cutting through the lowermost flashing plate the hand Wheel 66 is reversed-raising the cut-tin'g unit 40' and upon such upward movement the compression spring 52 actingthrough the thrust plate 54 prevents the flashing plates "from hanging onto the pointed holding pin 60 so the cutting unit 40 iseasily and completelyfreed from the flashing plates.

After the cutting unit 40 has'been raised the perforated flashing plates may then he slid from the platform 26 with the plugs cut. by the cutter blade 50 falling from them, The holed flashing plates are then stacked for further use as will be described later.

As previously stated above the cutter bar 48' passes through the axis of the chuck 42 and the cutter bar holder 46. This has been found necessary because when the cut ting'unit 40 is rotated at the high speeds desirable a cutter bar 48 which does not pass through the axis of the chuck 42 causes grabbing and tearing of the flashing plate by the cutter blade 50. While the cutter blade 50 may be adjusted to properly cut a limited range of diameters of holes in;theflashing" plate with a cutter bar 48 which does not pass through the axis of chuck 42, upon art-increase inthe range of diameter of holes cutby horizontal sliding of the cutting bar 48 the damage mentioned above is oftentimes caused to the flashing plate. Surprising enough, by making the cutter bar 48 pass through the-axis ofthe chuck- 42 no damage is caused to the flashing plates by the cutter blade 50 in the entire operating range of diameter of holes cut in the flashing plates.

If the tubes available for use in the flexible flashings-are slightly smaller in diameter than desired they may be enlarged by the tube expander 20 best illustrated in Figures 1' and 3-. This tube expander 20' includes an expander mandrel 63 driven by an electric motor 65 through a power chain and gear system 67 at the desired speed. Near the free end 68 of expander mandrel 63 this expander mandrel diameter is increased at-the-bev'el surface 69. The expander mandrel 63 is rotated at high speed and tubing-of the flexible flashing cut to the proper length is then slid by hand over the. free end 68 of the expander mandrel 63 and as it reaches the beveled portion 69 continued axial pressure on the tubing forces thetubingover the beveled portion 69 resulting in an increase iii-diameter ofthe tube. If the tube length is greater than-the length of'thel increased diameter portion of the-expander mandrel the tube is withdrawn, reversed, and the other end of the tube expanded in a similar manner. A supply of different size expander mandrels 63 is kept on hand to meet the various requirements of diameter of tubing.

The flexible flashing tubing, having been expanded if necessary, next has one end of it bellowed inthe bellows forming assembly 16 best illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 7.

A face plate 70 supported'and rotated about a'horizontal axis by a drive shaft 72'connected to-a motor 74 through various gearing 76 is providedat the lef t end'of the bellows forming assembly asthe apparatus is viewed in Figure l.

The particular arrangement of power supply, gearing, and

shafts. necessary to-support androtate-the face plate70 is no part of the present invention and need not bedescribed in greater. detail. Deta'chably secured to the face plate 70in axial'alignment therewith and for rotation therewith issthe bellows'forrning mandrel 78. As various-sizes of forming mandrels 78 will beused with the varying in size of diameter of the tubes, each of these mandrels is quickly secured to and released from the face plate 70. This may bedone-by a threaded stud 80 (Figure 1) projecting along the axis of rotation of the face plate 70 into a complementary threaded recess 82 in the end of mandrel 78, best illustrated in the spare mandrels 78 shown in Figure 1 stacked in the support table 12. Also as shown in the illustration of these spare mandrels, the end of mandrel 78 which will abut the face plate-70-is slightly concave as at 84 so that'upon threading the mandrel 78 onto the stud 80 of face plate 70only the outer portion of that end of mandrel 78 adjacent face plate 70 will come in contact with face plate 70 thus aiding in obtaining true alignment of the mandrel 78 with: the axis of rotation of the face plate 70. Of course, other means for quick attachment and release of the mandrels 78 to the face plate 70 and means of insuring true alignment of the mandrel 78 with the face plate 70 may be utilized.

Parallel to and under the mandrel 78 are a pair of guides 86 to provide support for and permit horizontal movement of the forming-roller platform 88 with respect to the axis of mandrel 78. Thesehorizontal guides 86 are secured to the support table 12 by any conventional method and the details ofthisneed not be described.

Teeth 90 (Figure 1) on the underside of the guides 86 mesh-withapinion 92 operated by a-crank 94in platform support 96 to provide ease ofhorizontal movement of the platform 88. A thumb screw 98 holds the platform- 96 fimly at the desired position. 7

Vertical movement of the platform 88 is accomplished and controlledby a pair of vertical rack members 100 (Figure 7) secured to the underside'of platform 88 and slidably secured in the platform support 96.where they are engaged'by a pair of pinions 102 rotated by crank handle 104 so that the elevation of platform-88' is easily adjusted through manipulation of crank handle'104; A thumb screw 106 in platform support 96 securely holds theplatform 88-at desired elevation.

The bellows are formed in the end portion of the tube extending from mandrel 78 (see Figure l)- by an outside corrugated forming roller 108 and an inside corrugated forming r'oller 110 so connected to-the platform 88 that they may be quickly brought into and out of contact with the tube and quickly removed from the working area so the tube may be easily'placed on and removed from the mandrel 80.

Referring now to Figure 7, the outside forming roller 108 is held freely rotatable within a yoke 111 on the rocking arm 112 pivotally-supported above the platform 88 by double post 114'. Any conventional pivotal connection 116-may be used to permit a perpendicular'move ment'of therocking arm'112 with respect to theaxis of the mandrel 78 such as a pair of set screws 118 in the double post 114 projecting into depressions in the bar 112.

On the rocking arm 112 on the opposite side of the pivotal connection 116 from the outside forming roller 108'is a counterbalance 120 tending to depress that end of the rocking arm 112 and raise the forming roller 108.

'To quickly bring the forming roller 108 into andout of engagement with the tube an arcuate guide surface 122 is provided on the under surface of rocking arm 112 on the opposite side of pivot-116 from the forming roller 108 in which arcuate guide surface 122 a latch bar 124 rides. Near the upper end of this arcuate guide surface 122 and formed in the lower side of the rocking arm 112 is provided a catch means such as the notch 126 into which the latch bar 124 fits when the rocking arm 112 is in the desired position for contact of the outside roller 10.8With the free. end'of the tube'on the mandrel 78. Thelatch bar 124 is pivoted vertically into-andout of; the notch 126 by means of the connection ofthesl'atch ba; 124 to a handle 128' piyotallymounted in the post 11 A' s: thus constructed, when the bellowed portion has been formed in the free end of the tube an upward flip of the' handle .128 by the i operatorremoves" the latch bar 124 from the notch 126 permitting the counter-balance 120 to raise the outside forming roller 108. To quickly move the forming roller 108 back into the position shown in Figures 1 and 7 the operator merely depresses the handle 128 bringing the free end of the latch bar 124 in contact with the arcuate guide 122 raising the counter-balance 120 until the latch bar 124 and the notch 126 are again engaged and the rocking arm 112 releasably locked in position.

The inside forming roller 110 is likewise rotatably secured to a rocking arm 130 for movement perpendicular to the axis of mandrel 78. As it is necessary that the peaks and valleys of the forming rollers 108 and 110 properly complement each other one of the forming rollers 108 and 110 is movable along its axis with respect to the other and in this instance this adjustment is performed by the connection of the inside forming roller 110 to its rocking arm 130. A shaft 132 axially through the inside forming roller 110 is clamped across the rocking arm 130 between a pair of plates 134; the lower of which is secured to the rocking arm 130 such'as by welding. These plates 134 are held together by bolts 136 so that upon loosening of the bolts 136 the shaft 132 can be moved to make the desired adjustment and the inside forming roller 110 then relocked in position by tightening of the bolts 136. Of course other means of making this adjustable connection between the inside forming roller 110 and its rocking arm 130 may be used.

Not only is the inside forming roller 110 brought into contact with the inner wall of the tube opposite the outside forming roller 108 but this inside forming roller 110 must also be moved out of the way of tube being placed on and removed from the mandrel 78. This operation is quickly accomplished by the structure best illustrated in Figure 7. As shown in that figure, a bushing 138 is secured to the platform 88 parallel to the axis of mandrel 78 and through this bushing 138 extends an axle 140 of sufiicient length that it may move axially within the bushing 138 a distance at least equal to the axial length of the inside forming roller 110 for a purpose which will be made clear later. A stop head 142 is provided on one end of this axle 140 to prevent its withdrawal from the bushing 138 and on the other end of this axle 140 is secured the support arm 144 which is in turn pivotally secured to the rocking arm 130 by the pivot 146 between the inside forming roller 110 and the handle 148 on rocking arm 130. As thus constructed, the inside forming roller 110 is movable into and out of engagement with the inner wall of the tube by means of the handle 148 and is movable longitudinally with respect to the axis of the tube and mandrel 78 by forcing sideways on the handle 148 because of the excess length of the axle 140 over its bushing 138.

To further aid in the removal of the inside forming roller 110 from the area of the mandrel 78 when the tube is placed on or removed from the mandrel 78 and to hold the support arm 144 steady when engaging the inside forming roller 110, the support arm 144 has a support means including a curved dog 150 secured to the support arm 144 and supporting it in an upright position by resting on a lug 152 projection from the platform 88 when the inside forming roller 110 is inside of the free portion of the tube on mandrel 78. When the rocking arm 130 is moved to the right by handle 148 the dog 150 is freed from its lug 152 allowing the support arm 144 to pivot forward and downwardly carrying with it and out of the way of the mandrel 78 and the tube all of the rocking arm 130 and the parts attached to it so that the bellowed tube may be removed from the mandrel 78 and a new one placed thereon. In the particular form here illustrated the do; 150 is curved to allow it to pass around a guide 86 when the dog 150 moves downwardly. r

In forming the bellowed portion in the free end of the tube the platform 88 is adjusted horizontallyto' bring the forming rollers 108 and into proper position v along the axis of the mandrel 78 to be ableto form the bellows at the free end of the tube. Upon reaching such position the platform support 96 is locked in position by the clamp 98 as no further longitudinal movement of the platform 88 is necessary for uniform lengths of tube. Next the handle 128 is moved downwardly into the position shown in Figure 7 and by means of crank handle 104 the platform 88 is adjusted vertically so that the peaks on the outside forming roller 108 lightly contact the exterior of'the free portion of the tube extending from the mandrel 78. The platform 88 is then secured in this vertical position by the thumb screw 106 as no further vertical adjustment is necessary for tubes of the same diameter. The inside roller 110 is then moved into position inside the free end of the tube by handle 148 and movement downward on handle 148 forces the inside forming roller 110 against the inner wall of the tube complementary to the outside roller 108 whereby the rotation of the mandrel 78 causing rotation of the tube results in the formation of the bellowed portion in the tube. Upon formation of the bellowed portion, the handle 128 is flipped upwardly releasing the latch 124 from the notch 126 causing the outside forming roller 108 to move upwardly and free from the tubing. The handle 148 is then lifted slightly freeing the inside forming roller 110 from the tube and is then knocked to the right clearing the dog 150 from lug 152 thereby causing the inside roller 110 and its rocking arm 130 to fall downwardly and free of the end of mandrel 78.

The bellowed tube is then slid from the end of th still rotating mandrel 78 and a new unbellowed tube placed on mandrel 78. As the longitudinal and elevational adjustment of platform 88 for this particular size of tube has already been made the operator merely pulls down on handle 128 which causes the outside forming roller 108 to contact the tube. Next the operator pulls upwardly and backwardly on handle 148 until dog 150 is above lug 152 and then forces to the left on handle 148 moving the forming roller 110 into the end of the tube whereupon downward movement on handle 148 causes pivoting of rocking arm 130 bringing the inside forming roller 110 into contact with the tubing and another bellowed portion is formed.

With this apparatus and mode of operation one operator can consistently form bellowed portions in the tube at the rate of ten per minute. t

The outside roller 108 ispermitted to contact the exterior of the tubing as distinguished from depressing'it so that when the inside roller 110 is forced against the inner wall of the tubing the peaks of the bellows are formed on the exterior of the tube as increased diameter portions and the valleys of the bellows are the original outside diameter of the tube thus preventing any reduced diameter in the tubing at the bellowed portion which would result if the outside forming roller 108 was moved inwardly against the inside forming roller 110.

It is also noted that there is a drag fit. between the mandrel 78 and the tube so that while rotation of the mandrel 78 imparts rotation to the tube still the tube can contract longitudinally along the mandrel 78 from the face plate 70 and also along its free end during the formation of the bellowed portion without any stretching and resulting thinning of the tube in the bellowed portion.

As best shown in Figure l, the inside roller 110 has an end plate or larger diameter peak 154 which cooperates with the free end of the tube on mandrel 78 to form an outwardly turned lip which is larger in diameter than the other external peaks on the bellowed portion of the tube and this peak is the portion of the tube which is secured .to the plate of the flexible flashing as will be explained later.

' Plates from the plate cutting assembly 14 and bellowed tubes from the bellows forming assembly 16 are joined and. sealed together. in thefor'rn shown inFigure. 2 by the tube-and plate joining assembly18, located'in'supporttable' 12. Referring new to Figii'res 3 and 5. it can be seen-that" the tube aiidpl'ate joining assembly 18'incl'udes a turntable 156 having a mandrel 158 perpendicularly secured to the' axis of rotation of the table with. both being rotated at slovt speed by an electric motor 157 connected to a shaft 1'59throu'gh a drive assembly 161. This'turritable 156 and mandrel1158 are normally kept. rotating during the entire. operation at joining the tube-to the plate. The holed plates arefls'lipped downwardly over the mandrel 1.58 so" that theyrest hat on. the turntable 156 and then a tube is placed: on. the. mandrel with the bellowed portion down into the. position shown in Figure 5. Thereafter, while thetube and'p'late are rotatedas a unit'by the mandreli158 and'l turntable, 156. a11. operator. soldersthe lip formed on theend' of the tube to the plate by the use of. solder. and. aheat source. such as an oxygentorch. Ofcourse other means of. soldering or joihihgthe tube to the plate could be used. Afoot switch 153 coiitrollingr'not'o'r' 157 is usedto stop-the turntable 156'during the soldering operation whenever the operator desires such. as when it ap pears that a perfect seal has not been made at a certain point.

Preferably theturntable.1'56"ha's a woodenfsur'fa'ce and the mandrel 15S-is likewise made of wood to prevent too rapid dissipation of. heat. at. the sealing line. duri'ngithe soldering. operation. A. supply o'fimandre'ls. 158' of" different.internaldiameter are kept onIhan'd to accommodate the different inside'diametersofthe. tubes. sealed to the plates. After each tube is sealed to its plate the completed. flashing is then lifted from tube. and plate joining assemblyv 18 while the turntable156. isstill rotating and another plate. and tubethen slipped over. this mandrel. 158 and likewisejoined. I

Also. located on. the support table 12 is thee-lamp 22 which receives the fiexibleflashing in'the form illustrated in Figure 2 and .bends the edges ofthe plates. at right angles to the position shownrirrFigure 4.for ease of packaging. This clamp 22 is best illustrated in Figures 1:, 3 and 6 and includes an upright centerblocklfil) containingtherein a vertical passageldlof sufficient.internaldiameter and length to receive the tubing, portion. of. the. flexible flash.- ing. The top surface 1640f block lbtliis rectangular in shape with its longer dimensionbeinggreater. than the lengthof any side of the. plate and with its width being slightly greater than. thesize of. the. passage. 162 so that opposite sides of the plate of the flexible flashing extend over. thewidth of this; block..160 whenthe tube of the flexible flashing is inserted in the passage 162'.

Pivotally secured at one end of the block 160' is a channel shaped. clampedlid'166 having parallel depending sides 168 so that when. this clamp lid 166 is swung closed by its handle 170' these depending sides ids-pass closely to the sides of block 160 and bend the sideslof the plate of. the flexible flashing downwardly. The clamp lid 166 is then raised and the flexible flashing in .the form shown in Figure 4 is removed from the clamp 22 and another flashing inserted therein for forming for packaging.

his thought that the methodv of inventionis apparent from the descriptionof the apparatus. The method, however, comprisessliding a portionof the length .of. the tube on the rotating mandrel 78 While the mandrel continues to rotate so. thatthe tube. is both supported and rotated by the mandrel anda free end of the tube projects beyond the mandrel 78. A bellowed portion is formed in the free end' of. the tube projecting from the mandrel by freely rotatable. forming rollers. withthe. outside. roller. 108. being first brought.into contact withthe exterior of. the tubing and .With the. pressure being appliedito thev inside crime tubing by the inside forming roller 110; The forming rollers" are then quickly removedfror'n the tube and area adjacent the mandrel 78. andthe bellowedtube removedirremz the I still rotating 1 mandre'ms. Thereafter a holed plate is placed onthe slowly rotating table 156 and a bellowed tube with the bellowed portion down'is slid over'the mandrel .158 and both the plate and tubing rotated as-a unit while being sealingly joined, preferably by solder and an acetylene torch. I

The present invention, therefore,- is well suited to carry out theobjects and attain the advantages mentioned as well asjothers inherent herein.

Whileonly a single example of the apparatus has been given for the purpose of illustration,- changes in many details and rearrangementof parts will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art such as means of mounting the various mandrels; the'loca'tion of power supplies and other matters. Accordingly, it is desired to be limited only by the spirit of the" invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An' apparatus for forming a bellowed portion on a tube of malleable material, said apparatus comprising a rotatable mandrel of sufiicient length and diameter to receive a portion of and rotate the tube and leave a free end'of" the tube'extending from an end of themandrel, a platform proximate the mandrel, means to move the platform perpendicular with respect to the axis of the mandrel, a first rotatable forming roller, a rocking support for said first roller connected to the platform so constructedand-arranged'to move the first roller into and out of contact with the outer surface of the free end of the tube, releasable means for locking the first roller in position against the tube, a' second rotatable forming roller; a rocking support for said second roller connected to'the platform so' constructed and arranged to'rnove the roller into and out of contact with" the inner surface of the free endot the tube opposite the first roller and away from themandrel to permit insertion on and removal of the tube from the mandrel;

2. The-apparatus'of claim 1 in which the-rocking-support for the second roller includes a support arm pivotally-and slidably connected to the platform for pivotal movement at right angles to the axis of the mandrel and sliding movement parallel to the axis of the mandrel, a rocking arm pivotally secured to the support arm for pivotal movement at right angles to the axis of the mandrel and supporting the second roller thereon spaced from the support arm, and support means cooperating with'the support arm preventing its rotation when the second roller is opposite the first roller, whereby the support arm and rocking arm maybe moved parallel to the axis of them'an'drel to insert and remove thesecond rollerfrom the freeend of the tube and the rocking'arm may'be' pivoted to a positionaway from the mandrel to permit insertion on and removal of the tube from the mandrel;

3. The .apparatus' of claim 2' in which the support means cooperating with" the support arm preventing its rotation when the secondroller' is opposite the first roller permits rotation of the support arm when the second roller-is in positions other than opposite the first roller whereby both the'support arm and rocking arm'may'be pivoted to a position away from the mandrelto permit insertion'andremoval of the tube from the mandrel.

.4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the rockingsupportif'or the first roller includes a post mountedon the platform; a rocking arm pivotally; secured to the post for rocking movement perpendicular to the axis of the mandrel and" supporting the first roller thereon spaced from'the post,- means on the rocking arm tending to movethe roller away fromthe mandrel, and-latch means cooperating withtherock'ing'arm releasably locking the arm" in position adjacentthe'tube:

5; The apparatus of claim l in'which the second roller has-an increased" diameter portiorrwhich cooperates with the freeend ofthe tubewhe'n' in' contact with the tube and with the. first roller to forman outwardly turned lip o'n-thetube.

6. An apparatus for forming a bellowed portion on a tube of malleable material, said apparatus comprising a rotatable mandrel of sutficient length and diameter to form a drag fit with and receive a portion of and rotate the tube and leave a free end of the tube extending from an end of the mandrel, a platform proximate the mandrel, means to move the platform parallel to and perpendicular with respect to the axis of the mandrel, a first corrugated rotatable forming roller, a rocking support for said first roller including a post mounted on the platform, a rocking arm pivotally secured to the post for rocking movement perpendicular to the axis of the mandrel and supporting the first roller thereon spaced from the post, means on the rocking arm tending to move the roller away from the mandrel, and latch means cooperating with the rocking arm releasably locking the arm in position adjacent the tube, a second corrugated rotatable forming roller, a rocking support for said second roller connected to the platform including a support arm pivotally and slidably connected to the platform for pivotal movement perpendicular to the axis of the mandrel and sliding movement parallel to the axis of the mandrel, a rocking arm pivotally secured to the support arm for pivotal movement at right angles to the axis of the mandrel and supporting the second roller thereon spaced from its support arm, and support means cooperating with the support arm preventing its rotation when the second roller is opposite the first roller whereby the support arm and rocking arm may be moved parallel to the axis of the mandrel to insert and remove the second roller from the free end of the tube and the rocking arm may be pivoted to a position away from the mandrel to permit insertion on and removal of the tube from the mandrel.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the support means cooperating with the support arm preventing its rotation when the second roller is opposite the first roller permits rotation of the support arm when the second roller is in positions other than opposite the first roller whereby both the support arm and rocking arm may be pivoted to a position away from the mandrel to permit insertion and removal of the tube from the mandrel.

8. In an apparatus for forming a bellowed portion on .a tube of malleable material while said tube is rotating on a mandrel sized for a drag fit with the tube, said apthe post, means on the rocking arm tending to move the roller away from the mandrel, and latch means cooperating with the rocking arm releasably locking the arm in position adjacent the tube, a second forming roller, a rocking support for said second roller connected to the platform, said rocking support including a support arm pivotally and slidably connected to the platform for pivotal movement at right angles to the axis of the tube and sliding movement parallel to the axis of the tube, a rocking arm pivotally secured to the support'arm for pivotal movement at right angles to the axis of the tube and supporting the second roller thereon spaced from its support arm, and support means cooperating with the support arm preventing its rotation when the second roller is opposite the first roller whereby the support arm and rocking arm may be moved parallel to the axis of the tube toinsert and remove the second roller from the end of the tube and the rocking arm may be pivoted to a position away from the mandrel to permit insertion on and removal of the tube from the mandrel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the support means cooperating with the support arm preventing its rotation when the second roller is opposite the first roller permits rotation of the support arm when the second roller is in other positions than opposite the first roller whereby both the support arm and the rocking arm may be pivoted to a position away from the mandrel to permit insertion and removal of the tube from the mandrel.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein the tube is maintained longitudinally on the mandrel with a drag fit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 150,241 Howell Apr. 28, 1874 362,471 Verdel May 3, 1887 971,838 Fulton Oct. 4, 1910 1,870,904 Giesler Aug. 9, 1932 2,239,696 Bohm Apr. 29, 1941 2,324,026 Riemenschneider July 13, 1943 2,406,442 Smith Aug. 27, 1946 2,427,026 Smith Sept. 9, 1947 2,445,303 Fisher July 13, 1948 2,505,236 Dooley Apr. 25, 1950 2,506,657 Webster May 9, 1950 2,739,376 Peet Mar. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,905 Great Britain Sept. 11, 1897 903,151 France Jan. 8, 1945

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