US2930265A - Lubricating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 29, 1960 F. J. FUCHS. JR.. ETA'- LUBRICATING APPARATUS original Filed Feb. 29, 1956 INVENTORS FRANCIS J.FucHs,Jr. cHARLEs .sAuNnERs,

ATroRNEY f' 2,930,265 1 'Patented Mar. 29, 1960 2,930,365' Y LURIcA'mIG APPARATUS Francis I. Fuchs, Jr., and Charles L. Saunders, Winston- Salem, N.C., assignors to Western Electric Company, IYncol'porated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Original application February 29, 1956,1Serial No. 568,573, now Patent No. 2,871,734, dated February 3, 1959. Divided and this application March 27, 1958, Serial No. 729,045

VThe present invention relates to a lubricating system and more particularly to a mandrel lubricating system.

This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 568,573, filed February 29, 1956, now U.S. Patent 2,871,734.

An object of the present invention is to provide system for lubricating a mandrel only at such time as the mandrel is being inserted into a tube. i i

A lubricating system embodying certain features of this invention may include a hollow mandrel having radial ports near one end. The mandrel is connected to a source of lubricant and is designed to be inserted hydraulically into a tube to be formed. Lubricant is caused to flow through the radial ports only when the mandrel meets a predetermined resistance as reflected by the hydraulic pressure required to insert the mandrel into the tube.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which is represented a schematic of a lubricating system for supplying lubricant to a mandrel.

In the single embodiment shown a mandrel 39 is depicted being advanced into a tubular member 35 desired to be formed, and which is supported by suitable means not shown.

The mandrel 39 may be constructed of polished steel of slightly larger dimensions than the normal inside dimension of the tubular member 35, and has a rounded end section to avoid marking and scoring the inside surface of the tube 35. It has been found that by, applying a lubricant to the mandrel 39, during the insertion thereof into the tube 35, that the mandrel 39 is more readily inserted and scoring of the inside surface of the tube 35 is avoided. The mandrel 39 has a recess 46 around the periphery adjacent the rounded end thereof which communicates with a hollow bore 45 by means of ports or radial outlets 47 so that a suitable lubricant from a reservoir 297 may be delivered through a flexible hose 298 to the bore 45 and ports 47 to the inner surface of the tubular member 35. Force is applied to the mandrel 39 by a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly, designated generally by the numeral 48, to insert the mandrel 39 into the tube 35. The piston cylinder assembly 48 is secured to a support, not shown. A piston 52 is mounted within the assembly and connected by a rod 54 to one end of the mandrel 39.

A fluid pump 202 which is driven by an electric motor 203 receives fluid from a supply tank 201 and pumps it through a line having a pressure relief valve 204 to return the fluid to the tank 201. A portion of the fluid is directed from the pump 202 through the hydraulic cylinder assembly 48 to actuate the piston 52 and then is returned to the tank 201 through the valve 204.

The fluid pressure which actuates the hydraulic cylinder assembly 48 associated with the mandrel 39 will also operate a high pressure switch 259 and the fluid escaping from the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder assembly 48 will actuate a low pressure 'switch 261. Switches 259 and 261 are connected in series to close a circuit containing avoltage soul-e217 and energize a solenoid 262 to operate a pilot valve 295 which in turn controls a threeway valve 296. The valve 296 directs lubricating fluid from the lubricant reservoir ,201 to the mandrel 39 to lubricate the same during the insertion thereof into the tube 35.v Thus, as the mandrel 39 advances into the tube 35 and meets an increasing resistance the fluid pressure on both the high and low pressure side of the hydraulic cylinder assembly 48 will change accordingly. When the mandrel meets a predetermined resistance as determined by the sensitivity of the high pressure switch 259 and the low pressure switch 261, the valve 296 will be actuated, causing lubricant to flow from the reservoir 297 throughrthe radial ports 47 onto the mandrel and the inner walls of the tube 35. The mandrel 39 may be withdrawn from the tube 35 by simply reversing the flow of fluid in the hydraulic cylinder assembly 48, and associated hydraulic circuitry cylinder 68 for the stop members will actuate at a lower pressure than the flange pressure member cylinder 141, the stop members 57 and 58 will be retracted prior to any movement of the llange pressure member 139. At the completion of this operation, the fluid pressure in the hydraulic system is further increased to actuate a fourth sequence valve 247 to direct the fluid pressure to the heading cylinder 178 to actuate the heading punch 168 and swage the tube 35 to secure the flange 138 on the end of the tube 35. Cylinder-178 simultaneously moves the flange retainer 196 to the proper position to prevent expansion of the flange 138. The heading punch 168 travels a predetermined distance and actuates normally open spring-actuated switch 266 which connects the voltage source 217 to the solenoid 258, which actuates the slide member of the valve 233 to the left to cause a portion of the fluid coming from the four-way valve 211 to be directed through port 267 to the hydraulic cylinder 248 to move the slide of the valve 234 to the right to allow the remaining fluid from the four-way valve 211 to pass through the port 268 of the valve 234, to reverse pressure sequence valves 269, 271, 272, and 273, and through the check valve 274, the normally open remotely-controlled valve 276, the pressure reducer 264 to the flange pressure member cylinder 141 to apply force to the flange 138 during a portion of the reversing cycle. Any fluid in the hydraulic cylinder 241 will be exhausted through port 277 of the pilot valve 233 to the tank 201. A reverse cycle may be started at any desired time by the application of force on the reverse button 278 which is in parallel with the main limit switch 266 (Fig. 13) associated with the heading punch 168, which switch 266 and button 278 are in series with the reverse solenoid 258 connected to the voltage source 217.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangement is simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is: t

An automatic mandrel lubricating system comprising a fluid pressure source, a source of lubricant, means to direct the lubricant from the source to the mandrel, a fluid motor for actuating the mandrel, a fluid operated high pressure switch connected to the fluid pressure source actuating said fluid motor, a fluid operated low pressure switch connected to the exhaust of said fluid motor, said high pressure switch and said low pressure switch being connected in series so as to require both switches to be in the actuated position simultaneously which results from the fluid pressure moving said motor and escaping from 4 Engelbertz May 21, 1935 Novzuzlc July 25, 1939 Meeks Feb. 18, 1941 Kelso Nov. 11, 1941 Haller Feb. 26, 1952 Forbes Oct. 22, 1957

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