US3078907A

US3078907A - Tube flaring means

Info

Publication number: US3078907A
Application number: US755026A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Franck
Original assignee: IMP Eastman Corp
Current assignee: IMP Eastman Corp
Priority date: 1958-08-14
Filing date: 1958-08-14
Publication date: 1963-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1980-02-26

Description

Feb. 26, 1963 G. E. FRANCK TUBE FLARING MEANS Filed Aug. 14, 1958 Geygelfia n/v,

States This invention relates to tube flaring means and in particular to flaring heads for use in tube flaring tools.

A conventional method of flaring the end of tubing, such as copper tubing, is to urge a conical flaring head rotatively into the tube end. To facilitate rotation of the flaring head and preclude tearing of the tube end during the flaring operation, certain flaring means have been developed, such as the flaring means disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 693,132, now Patent No. 2,861,623, filed October 29, 1957, wherein the flaring head is provided with a plurality of laterally projecting rollers which form the tube engaging surface means.

The instant invention comprehends a flaring head utilizing a tapered form of such rollers. While tapered rollers have heretofore been utilized in flaring head structures, the known devices have certain serious disadvantages such as susceptibility to breakage of the roller tips in normal use and necessity for extremely high accuracy in manufacture.

The principal object of the instant invention is to provide a new and improved roller type flaring means.

Another object is to provide such a flaring means having a new and improved conical flaring head structure provided with frusto-conical rollers.

A further object is to provide such a flaring means wherein the frusto-conical rollers are arranged in a novel disposition relative to the longitudinal axis of the flaring head.

Yet another object is to provide such a flaring means wherein each of the frusto-conical rollers thereof taper inwardly toward a point spaced a small distance from the head axis.

Still another object is to provide such a flaring means having a new and improved flaring head provided with a protective conical tip element narrowing coaxially from adjacent the narrow termination of the roller grooves.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a flaring means embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a tip end view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a shank end view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a diametric section taken approximately along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, as disclosed in the drawing, a flaring means generally designated includes a generally conical head 11 provided with a coaxial shank 12' adapted to be installed in a suitable flaring tool, such as shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 693,132. The generally conical head 11 includes frusto-conical portion 11a provided with a plurality of generally longitudinally extending tapered grooves 13 in which are received tapered rollers 14 which project laterally from the grooves to provide a plurality of rolling, tube engagement surfaces 14a. At the narrow end of head portion 11a and extending coaxially of shank 12 is a protective conical tip element 15 herein comprising an integral coaxial extension of the head 11. The rollers are retained in endwise abutment with tip element 15 by means of an overlying cap '16 carried on shank 12.

Head '11 is preferably formed of a strong, rigid maatent ice terial, such as steel, and may be case hardened and plated to provide improved resistance to wear. In the illustrated embodiment, three grooves 13 are provided in the head, the grooves being symmetrically related to the axis 17 of the head. Each groove is frusto-conical having its axis 18 extending in a plane of axis 17. As best seen in FIG. 4, groove 13 tapers inwardly toward a point 19 spaced a small distance from the axis 17 and from a point 15a at which the conical tip element 15 terminates. The narrow end of groove 13 is closed by an inclined inner end face 20 defining the rear end of conical tip element 15. Thus, as best seen in FIG. 4, the narrow termination of groove 13 and point 19 (which would comprise the tip point of the groove if the groove were truly conical rather than frusto-conical) lie on opposite sides of the head axis 17.

As best seen in FIG. 4, rollers 14 are complementary to grooves 13. The rollers may be formed of a wear resistant material, such as tool steel suitably hardened and smoothly polished to permit free rolling action in the grooves. As a result of the frusto-conical construction, the rollers 14 avoid the difliculty of breakage of fragile tips as in the fully conical rollers now found in the art. However, because of thenovel relationship of groove end 29 and taper point .19 relative to head axis 16, the narrow end 21 of the roller 14 may be closely juxtaposed to the head axis, thereby facilitating the flaring of small diameter tubes.

As the projected apexes 19 of the rollers 14 are spaced a small distance from the axis 17 of the conical head 11, the rollers have a small amount of sliding engagement with the inner surface of the flared portion of tube T. More specifically, assuming that the portion of the rollers 14 engaging the outer end of the flare of the tube T has a pure rolling engagement therewith, successively more and more sliding engagement of the rollers with the tube flare occurs as we move along the roller downwardly toward the apex 19. For example, the point on the roller half-way to the apex 19 from the portion of the roller engaging the outer end of the flare is closer to the axis of the head 11 than one-half the radius of the roller at the portion thereof engaging the end of the flare. Resultingly, some sliding must occur between the roller at the half-way point relative to the tube surface, although the roller has only rolling engagement with the tube surface at the point adjacent the outer end of the flare. As the portion of the roller having only rolling engagement with the tube flare is at only one point thereof, the burnishing action in effect occurs over substantially the entire surface engaging the flared portion of the tube. The amount of burnishing effected is controlled by the spacing of the apex 19 from the axis 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the burnishing action is made to be quite small by virtue of the small disclosed spacing of the apex 19 from the axis 17.

Conical tip element 15 provides additional protection against inadvertent breakage of roller ends 21. For this purpose, the large diameter end 22 of the tip element which is adjacent groove ends 20 is radially larger than the adjacent portion of the stem. Thus, roller ends 21 are disposed behind tip element portion 22 and elfectively protected thereby against chipping and similar damage. Further, the flare angle of tip element 15 is made similar to the flare angle of the head 11 (and, thus, to the surface of revolution defined by the outermost portion of the rollers as the head is rotated about axis 17) thereby directing undesired forces away from the roller ends 21 and further preventing damage of the roller ends. In illustrating the invention, the flare is shown to be 37, it being understood that the invention com- 3 prehends flaring means arranged for other flare angles as desired.

As conical tip element 15 is integral with head 11, it would have a sliding action against a tube being flared rather than a rolling action such as is had between the tube and rollers 14. Thus, it is desirable that the diameter of large portion 22 of the tip element be less than the internal diameter of the smallest tube normally intended to be flared by flaring means 10. Illustratively, where the smallest tube to be flared is one having a A2" internal diameter, the diameter of portion 22 may be approximately .107.

In utilizing flaring means 10, shank portion 12 is installed in a suitable tool device (not shown) for concurrently rotating and advancing the head 11 axially into a tube end T. Engagement of tube T is by rollers 14 only and, thus, a rolling, low friction flaring operation is effected. Upon completion of the flare, the flaling means is withdrawn in the conventional manner. As a result of the improved rolling engagement, the tube is uniformly and smoothly flared, thereby eliminating, in most instances, requirement of subsequent burnishing.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Tube flaring means comprising: a generally conical head having a conical tip portion terminating in a point on the axis of the head, said head further being provided with at least one frusto-conical groove having its axis extending in a plane of the axis of the head, the wall of said groove tapering inwardly toward an apex spaced a small distance from said head axis and the terminating point of said tip portion; and a complementary frustoconical roller in said groove and projecting transversely outwardly therefrom to provide a tube engagement surface having primarily rolling engagement and only a small amount of sliding engagement with a tube being flared thereby.

2. Tube flaring means comprising: a generally conical head having a conical tip portion terminating in a point on the axis of the head, said head further being provided with at least one fnlsto-conical groove having its axis extending in a plane of the axis of the head, the wall of said groove tapering inwardly toward an apex spaced from said head axis and opposite the portion of the head in which the groove is provided and from the terminating point of said tip portion; and a complementary frustoconical roller in said groove and projecting transversely outwardly therefrom to provide a tube engagement surface having primarily rolling engagement and only a small amount of sliding engagement with a tube being flared thereby.

3. Tube flaring means comprising: a generally conical head provided with a frusto-conical portion, a conical portion extending coaxially from a juncture with the frusto-conical portion at the small end of the frustoconical portion and having its tip spaced from the point toward which the frusto-conical portion tapers, and at least one frusto-conical groove in said frusto-conical portion having its axis extending in a plane of the axis of the head, said groove tapering inwardly toward an apex spaced from the axis of the conical head, said groove terminating short of said head axis at the juncture of the frusto-conical and conical portions of the head; and a complementary frusto-conical roller in said groove and projecting transversely outwardly therefrom to provide a tube engagement surface having primarily rolling engagement and only a small amount of sliding engagement with a tube being flared thereby.

4. The flaring means of claim 3 wherein the conical portion and the fiusto-conical portion are flared substantially equiangularly.

5. Tube flaring means comprising: a generally conical head provided with a frusto-conical portion, a conical portion extending coaxially from a juncture with the frusto-conical portion at the small end of the frustoconical portion and having its tip spaced from the point toward which the frusto-conical portion tapers, said conical portion of the head being integral with said frustoconical portion, and at least one frusto-conical groove in said frusto-conical portion having its axis extending in a plane of the axis of the head, said groove tapering inwardly toward an apex spaced from the axis of the conical head, said groove terminating short of said head axis at the juncture of the frusto-conical and conical portions of the head; and a complementary frusto-conical roller in said groove and projecting transversely outwardly therefrom to provide a tube engagement surface having primarily rolling engagement and only a small amount of sliding engagement with a tube being flared thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,561,418 Duda Nov. 10, 1925 1,615,306 Lorraine Ian. 25, 1927 1,680,798 Maupin Aug. 14, 1928 2,499,630 Clark Mar. 7, 1950 2,711,771 Wilson June 28, 1955 2,711,773 Wilson June 28, 1955 2,727,559 Franck Dec. 20, 1955 2,861,623 Franck Nov. 25, 1958 2,962,079 Wilson Nov. 29, 1960 o d" i