US3109479A - Flaring tool - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 5, 1963 s.w.wo| co1"r FLARING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1959 INVENTOR.

GLENN WWOLCOTT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,199,479 FLARINQ TUQL Glenn W. Wolcott, Dayton, Ghio, assignor to Penn Aircrgft Products, lino, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of 0 io Filed June 5, 1959, Ser. No. 818,333 1 Claim. (1. 153-79) This invention relates to tools for flaring tubing, and more particularly to tools for use selectively in forming either single or double flares on tubing.

Many occasions for the use of flared tubing are found in industry, a notable example being in the construction of aircraft and the like which employ great quantities of metal tubing of diflerent sizes and different materials in hydraulic control systems and similar installations. Furthermore, since it is important for such uses to obtain maximum strength in the connections embodying flared tubing, it is preferred in most cases that such tubing be double flared.

A double flare, in which the end of the tubing is folded inwardly to provide a double thickness in the flared portion, may be conveniently produced in two forming operations. In the first step, the end of the tubing is compressed axially to form a circular rib having the general configuration in cross-section of a reverse flare. In the second step, the end section of this rib is crimped or folded inwardly of the tubing to complete the double flare. However, separate forming operations are required for these two steps, and a difliculty in operations requiring double flaring of tubing of diiferent sizes is that although the second step in double flaring is readily performed by a simple conical flaring member such as is used to form single flares, '& separate double flaring member is required for the preliminary operation on each diflerent size of tubing.

(In the flaring tool of the present invention, double flaring is accomplished by the employment of a disk having flaring dies formed therein which may be selectively moved into operative registration with a firmly positioned hollow tubing for effecting the initial formation of a double flare on an end portion of the tubing. This disk is normally biased to a retracted position in spaced relation to the tube, and the tool incorporates a screw press for compressing the disk into a second or operating position against the end portion of the tube to effect the initial formation of the flare. The screw press preferably includes a flaring cone which is used for the dual purpose of operating the disk to produce the initial double flare, and also of finishing the flare.

it is accordingly one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a flaring tool as outlined above combining simplicity of construction, compactness and a capability of forming either the single or double flaring of hollow tube stock.

A further object of this invention is to provide a flaring tool as outlined above including a unitary member upon which is formed a plurality of double flaring dies for selective use with tubing of differing sizes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a flaring tool as outlined above wherein the unitary double flaring member comprises a disk which is rotatably and axially movably supported in a housing and within which is formed a plurality of dies each serially movable into alignment with the end of the tubing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claim.

In the drawings- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a flaring tool constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional :view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2 showing the arrangement of the blocks for clamping the tube to be flared;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional View longitudinally through the tool generally along line =55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through one of the clamping block pins along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 showing the arrangement for locking the cap nut to the pin;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the working face of the rotatable disk used for double flaring in the tool of FIGS. 1-6;

FIG. 8 is a detail view of the top surface of the disk of FIG. 7 showing the index markings;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section of one of the dies taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view of the die of FIG. 9 showing a modifled form of the disk;

FIGS. 11, 1 2 and 13 illustrate successive steps in forming a double flare with the tool of FIGS. 1-9;

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate successive steps in forming a single flare with the tool of FIGS. 19;

FIG. 16 is a broken fragmentary view showing one form of connection between the pressure pad and the clamping block compression screw in the tool of FIGS. 19;

FIG. 17 illustrates a modified form of double flaring disk member for use in the tool of FIGS. 1-9;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary section taken generally along line 1818 of FIG. 17; and

FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate successive steps in forming a double flare with the disk member ofFIG. 17.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, the housing of the hand tool includes an upper body plate 111 and a lower body plate 12. The plates 11 and 12 are similar in outer dimension one to the other and are fixed in spaced relation on body supporting bolts including a large stud bolt 13 at one end thereof. The bolt 13 has threaded opposite ends 14 and 15 of reduced diameter extended through the plates 11 and 12 to form a shoulder against which the plates are secured by cylindrical nuts 16.

A pair of shouldered side bolts 17 and a shouldered center bolt 18 shown as of smaller diameter compared to the bolt 13 are also employed for the spaced support of the plates 11 and 12, and each has opposite ends of reduced diameter extended through the plates 11 and 12. The lower plate 12 is secured against the shouldered bolts 17 and 18 by cylindrical nuts 19. The bolts 17 and 18, in turn, secure a cone housing 20 to the upper plate 11 and are extended through the upper plate for threaded engagement with the legs 23 of the: cone housing 20. A cone compression screw 24 having a handle 25 on the outer end thereof is threaded through the cone housing 20 for movement substantially normal to the plates 11 and 12. The inner end of the compression screw 24 is connected to the top of a flaring cone 26 by a snap ring 27. The flaring cone 26 is arranged for vertical movement in the housing 20 and through the upper plate 11 by means of an opening 29 provided in the plate 11 for the cone 26.

Means are provided for selectively holding tubes of different sizes in alignment with the cone 26 for flaring, including first and second substantially identical hexagonal tube clamping blocks 36 and 31. The clamping blocks 36 and 31 include a plurality of semi-cylindrical jaws 33 and are movable into clamping registration with each other to form tube clamps. The top of each of the jaws 33 is chamfered at 34. The first clamping block 30 is mounted on the bolt 18, and the bolt 18 thus forms a shaft supporting the block 30 for rotation and limited Vertical movement by lifting against the resistance of a compression spring 35. A detent pin 36 in the lower plate 12, which is disengaged by the lifting of the block 39, provides for the indexed positioning of the jaws 33 of the first clamping block 39 with respect to the plate 12.

The second clamping block 31 is mounted on a clamping block pin 38 between the plates 11 and 12. The pin 38 is extended through a longitudinal slot 39 formed in the upper plate 11 and a similar longitudinal slot 40 formed in the bottom plate 12 to provide for the rotational and longitudinal movement of the second clamping block 31. A cap nut 42, larger than the slot 40, is threaded on the pin 38 to form a sliding fit between the bottom of the block 31 and the bottom plate 12. The cap nut 42 may be conveniently secured to the pin 38 by internal threads 43 and a set screw 44, as shown in FIG. 6 just prior'to tightening. The threads 43 are only partially extended into the pin 38, and the set screw 44 is driven home to expand the pin 38 within the nut 42 and thereby to form a locking fit with the nut.

Means are included for effecting the longitudinal clamping movement of the second block 31 including a pressure pad 50 mounted on one end of a compression screw 51. The screw 51 includes an operators handle 52 and is threaded through the stud bolt 13 for longitudinal movement against the pad 50. The end of the screw 51 is secured to the block 50 by a snap ring 53. An index pin 54 is positioned under the nut 16 on the upper plate 11 for assuring the axial alignment of screw 51 in the stud bolt 13. A collar ring 56 is mounted on the pin 38 between the block 31 and the upper plate 11 and includes an eye 57 into which a block return spring 64) is connected. The other end of the spring 60 is fastened at a pin 61 on the underside of the plate 11 and is tensioned to urge the block 31 into engagement with the pad 50.

The blocks 31 and 31 include index information indicated generally at 64 for identifying the size of tubing to be held within the jaws 33, which index information is visible through a tube access opening 65 formed in the bottom plate 12. The first block 30 may be rotated to the desired position according to the size of the tube to be held thereby by rotating until the index information 64 is visible through the tube access opening 65. The second block 31 is adjusted by first withdrawing the pressure pad 50 and pulling the. block to disengage it from the pad against the resistance of the spring 60 and then rotating the block 31 to the desired position as viewed through the tube access opening 65.

Means are provided for effecting the initial double flare of an end portion 68 of tubing 69 within the clamping blocks including a generally circular disk 70. The disk 78 includes a centrally disposed opening 71 for mounting on the shaft portion of the center bolt 18 between the spring 35 and the upper plate 11. This arrangement provides for rotational and limited vertical movement of the disk 70 from a first position spaced from theclamping blocks 30 and 31 to a second position in abutment with the clamping blocks against the resistance of the compression spring 35.

Means are provided on the side bolts 17 for supplementing the action of the spring 35 in urging the disk 70 upward into the first position against the lower surface of the plate 11. Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, a spring 75 is positioned over each of the side bolts 17,

and a collar 77 is slidably mounted on each of the side bolts 17 between the disk 70 and the spring 75. The collars 77 engage the disk 70 substantially at the periphery of the disk and combine with the spring 35 to urge the disk 70 against the plate 11.

The disk 70 includes a plurality of annularly formed double flaring dies 80 formed on the side 81 adjacent the clamping blocks 30 and 31. Each of the dies 80 includes an annular frustoconical working face 82 bounded on the inside by a depending pilot portion 83.

disk 70 for the accurate angular indexing of the disk 70 in any one of its several rotary positions.

.A centrally disposed hole 88 is formed through each of the dies 89, andrthe disk 70 is also provided with a large through hole 9t] of proper size to receive the cone 26 therethrough. The hole 33 may be chamfered if desired, at the upper surface of the disk 70 as shown at 88 in FIG. 10 for the acceptance of the tip of the cone 26. A viewing opening 91 is provided in the plate 11 for alignment with index information 92 on the top of the disk 70. This index information 9.2 is provided for each of the dies 84 and the cone hole 90, and it is arranged diametrically opposite to the designated die or hole for alignment under the viewing opening 91 concurrently with the engagement of the detent pin 84 in the adjacent recess 85.

FIGS. 11-13 illustrate the operation of the invention in the formation of a double flare. The disk 74 is first positioned by depressing it against the springs 35 and 75 to release the detent pin 84 and rotating to bring the proper die 86' for the size of tube to be flared into operative alignment with the clamping blocks 3% and 31. The die is in the correct position when the fractional size corresponding to the size of the tube to be flared is visible through the viewing opening 91. The tube 69 to be double flared is inserted through the access opening 65 between the jaws 33 of the clamping blocks and into abutment with the frustoconical Working face 82 of the die 80. The tube is then clamped in position by the tightening of the screw 51 and is now in a gauged position for the formationof a double flare on the end portion 68 thereof. 1

The disk 70 is then caused to be moved against the tube by bringing the cone 2 6 into coacting engagement with the disk at the hole 83. The movement of the die '80 into a position in abutment with the blocks 3tl31 causes an initial outward flare to be formed in theend portion 68 between the working face 82 and the chainfer 34 as shown in FIG. 12. The cone 26 is then retracted, permitting the disk 70 to be raised by the springs 35 and 75 and then to be rotated to place the Cone hole in alignment with the tube, as indicated by the appearance of the word Cone within the viewing opening 91. The cone 26 may then be brought down into contact with the already flared end portion of the tubing to finish the flare as shown in FIG. 13. 7

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the steps in the formation of a single flare, and this operation requires proper initial positioning of the tube 69 in its clamping blocks. For this purpose the invention employs the under surface por tion of the disk 70 between the smallest die 8t) and the cone hole 90 as a stop gauge, and an indexing hole 95 for the cone 26 is provided in this portion of the disk 70. The first step in producing a single flare is to rotate the disk 70 to place the hole 26 in alignment with the cone 26. In this position, the legend Stop is visible through the viewing opening 91. The cone 26 is then brought down into contact with the disk 76' at the hole 95 to cause the disk '70 to move from its normal position in spaced relation to the clamping blocks to its second position in abutment thereto. In this position, the disk functions as 'a gauge for positioning the end portion 68 of the tube 69 for the single flare. The tube 69 may now be clamped within the clamping blocks 3il-31 with the end portion 63 in abutment with the disk 70 in this lowered position. The cone 26 is then raised, and the disk 7t) is rotated to place the Cone hole 90 into alignment with the tube, and the cone is then lowered to form the single fiare as shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 16 illustrates a modified arrangement for connect ing the compression screw 51 to the pressure pad 5%. A threaded end 1% of the screw 51' is provided with lefthand threads 161 which mate with similar internal threads 182 formed in the rear portion 163 of the pad 58'. The pad 59 is provided with an internal opening 1&5 into which the end 1% is received after passing through the threads 1%2. In operation, when the pad 58" is being pressed against the clamping block 31, there is no chance of the engagement of the threads 161 on the end 1% with the internal threads 1&2. When the pad 5% is withdrawn, as by the retraction of the screw 51', the counterclockwise turning is such as to disengage rather than to engage the threads 1011 on the end 100 with the internal threads 1812. By this means an effective operative connection is made bet-ween the screw 51 and the pad 58.

FIGS. 17 through 20 illustrate a modified form of the disk 11% which may be used in place of the disk 71 The disk 110 includes a plurality of annularly formed dies 111 and also includes a small Stop hole 113 and a Cone through hole 114. The holes 113 and 114 on the disk 111) correspond to the holes 95 and 9% on the disk 70'. However, the dies 111 are of different configuration and include a beveled bottom portion 115 against which the upper portion 68 of the tube 69 is to be initially flared, and further includes a beveled top portion 116- contiguous to the bottom portion 115 along a knife-like circular edge 117. The slope of the beveled top portion 116 is such as to accept the cone 26 with a tip portion of the cone extending through the disk 110 when the cone 26 is pressed down against the disk 110 so that this tip portion of the cone may be utilized as a pilot in the formation of the initial flare shown in FIG. 20.

In the operation of the disk shown in FIG. 17, the tube to be flared is positioned against the appropriate die 111, according to the size of the tube, as shown in FIG. 19. The cone 26 is then lowered into the opening formed by the edge 117 to cause the movement of the disk 11% from its first position normally spaced from the clamping blocks to its second position in abutment therewith. This movement against the tube 69 initially forms the outward flare in the upper portion thereof as defined by the chamfer 34 and the slope of the beveled bottom portion 115. The flare on the tubing may then be finished with the cone 26 operating through the hole 114 as already described in connection with the disk 70.

It is therefore seen that the present invention provides a flaring tool which is compact in construction, light in weight, and low in cost. It is readily adapted for the accommodation of a number of different sizes of tubing merely by the selection of the appropriate clamping block position and the rotation of the disk to the appropriate position as viewed through the opening 91. There are no parts which may be lost through disassociation from the body of the tool, and it is universally operable throughout its intended range without the addition of any accessory parts.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A flaring tool comprising a housing including a top plate and a bottom plate, a shaft secured between said housing plates, a first clamping block mounted for rotation on said shaft and including means defining a plurality of half tube clamps on the periphery thereof, a second clamping block supported for rotational and longitudinal movement in said housing and including a plurality of half tube clamps movable into selective registration with first block to support the end portion of a tube to be flared, a disk supported for rotational and axial movement on said shaft with respect to said first block, said disk including a plurality of double flaring dies which are rigid with respect thereto and arranged for concentric registry with said half clamps in said first block, a spring on said shaft biasing said disk to a first position spaced from said first block by a predetermined distance such that engagement with one of said dies by a tube of the corresponding size inserted through said blocks establishes such tube in properly gauged position for double flaring, a compression screw carried by said top plate for effecting axial movement of said disk against said spring from said first position to a second position in engagement with said first block while coacting with the end portion of a tube clamped by said blocks to shape the same for double flaring, a pair of bolts connecting said plates and located on either side of said screw in spaced relation therewith and with said shaft, and additional springs on said bolts supplementing the biasing action of said spring on said shaft to maintain said. disk substantially parallel with said plates during said axial movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,976,878 Eden Oct. 16, 1934 2,563,088 Wilks et a1 Aug. 7, 1951 2,595,036 Wolcott Apr. 29, 1952 2,662,575 Wolcott Dec. 15, 1953 2,711,772 Wilson June 28, 1955 2,774,408 Frank Dec. 18, 1956 2,852,839 Wilson Sept. 23, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 109,479 November- 5, 1963 Glenn W. Wolcott It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 51 for "2,711,772" read 2,7ll 773 Signed and sealed this 21st day of April 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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