US3338082A

US3338082A - Machine for expanding and swaging tube ends

Info

Publication number: US3338082A
Application number: US447731A
Authority: US
Inventors: Luther R Steele; Persico George Joseph
Original assignee: Walker Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Walker Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1965-04-13
Filing date: 1965-04-13
Publication date: 1967-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-29

Description

g- 29}, 1967 L. R. S-"II'EELE ETAL 3,338,082

, MACHINE FOR EXPANDING AND SWAGING TUBE ENDS "Filed April 15, 1965 I Qua United States Patent 3,338,082 MACHINE FOR EXPANDING AND SWAGIN G TUBE ENDS Luther R. Steele and George Joseph Persico, Racine, Wis.,

assignors to Walker Manufacturing Company, Racine,

Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 447,731 Claims. (Cl. 72-306) Our invention relates to machines for performing operations on the end of a part such as a tube.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine that performs a plurality of difierent operations on the end of a tube upon a single insertion of the tube into the machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine in which reciprocating movement of an actuator, such as an hydraulic cylinder, is changed into radial movement of a plurality of devices for performing a plurality of different forming operations on a tube while it is in the same position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation of the machine taken from the end that receives the tube;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine; and

FIG. 3 is a cross section, with parts broken away, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

The machine 1 may be used to perform two operations, such as sizing and expanding, upon the end of a tube 3. The tube 3 is shown as a laminated tube of round cross section comprising spaced inner and outer layers 5 and 7 which are inserted into the machine so that the outer layer is radially reduced and the inner radially expanded until the two layers are in tight contact and of a desired inner and outer diameter.

The machine 1 has a stationary block or housing 9 which is anchored in place by bolting or other suitable means to a base such as the table top 11. Inside of the housing 9 and fixed to it in stationary position by transverse locating bars 13 is a longitudinal sleeve 15 which may have inner and outer bushings 17 and 19 mounted on it. The end of the sleeve 15 has a number (at least six) of radial bolts 21 with unthreaded ends 23 that fit in radial holes in flanges 25 at the inner ends of six expanding collets 27. The collets 27 have flanges 29 located longitudinally outwardly of flanges 25 and these define grooves 31 that act as collet holders for flanges 33 received therein which are formed on six sizing collets 35. Radial coil springs 37 in holes in flanges 29 urge the collets 27 and 35 radially apart and maintain an annular opening 39 to receive the end of the tube 3. It Will be seen that the engagement between the two sets of collets and the attachment of collets 27 to sleeve 15 fixes their longitudinal position but radial or transverse movement of each is permitted.

After a tube has been inserted the first stage in the operation of the machine is sizing or application of radial inward pressure to the outside of the tube by the collets 35. The collets 35 are forced radially inwardly by engagement of their tapered outer peripheries 41 with the tapered inner surface of a sizing head 43 that is arrived by sizing sleeve 45. The sleeve 45 is attached to and reciprocates with a slide sleeve 47 that slides on the bushing 19 and in bushing 49 inside of block 9. The slide 47 has slots 51 to pass the bars 13 and at its end 53 is attached to the outer, annular rod 55 of a double acting or two stage hydraulic cylinder 57. Thus, leftward movement of rod 55 acts through the parts described to force the collets 35 radially inwardly.

Fee

The second stage in the operation of the machine is expansion of the tube end by the application of radial outward pressure to it by collets 27. These collets are forced radially outwardly by engagement of their tapered inner peripheries 59 with the periphery of a tapered or conical bar 61 which is secured by cross pin 63 to slide bar 65 which reciprocates in bushing 17. The bar 65 is moved by the rod 67 of the hydraulic cylinder 57 which is attached at 69 to the end of the bar. Stop rings 71 threaded on the bar 65 may engage the end of the sleeve 15 to limit the stroke of the ram 67. Thus, leftward movement of rod 67 acts through the parts described to force the collets 27 radially outwardly to expand the end of the tube against the surfaces presented by the collets 35 which are themselves held against radial movement outwardly by the sizing head 43.

Other operations involving use of radial inward or outward forces may be used in place of the size and expand illustrated, for example, notching and slotting.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for performing at least two operations on the end of a tube comprising first forming tool means for applying an inward radial pressure to the tube end, second forming tool means for applying an outward radial pressure to the tube, means for fixing the longitudinal position of both tool means, longitudinally movable cam means for applying inward radial force to the first tool means and outward radial force to the second tool means, and means providing an opening between the first and second tool means to receive the end of a tube.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including means whereby said longitudinally movable cam means is sequentially operated to apply force first to one tool means and then to the other.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for fixing the longitudinal position of said tool means includes radially interconnecting portions of said tool means and a longitudinally fixed member, one of said tool means being longitudinally aflixed to said fixed member but being radially movable relative to it.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and second tool means include slidably interconnecting radial parts to fix the relative longitudinal positions of the two tool means but provide for relative radial movement.

5. A machine for performing two operations on the end of a tube comprising a housing having a fixed position, a first elongated slide mounted in the housing for longitudinal movement, a sleeve inside the first slide, means extending through the slide for attaching the sleeve to the housing to fix the longitudinal position of the bar, a second slide mounted inside the sleeve for longitudinal movement, collet guide means attached to the sleeve, a first set of tube forming collets mounted on the collet guide means for transverse movement but fixed thereby against longitudinal movement, a second set of tube forming collets mounted on the first set for transverse movement but fixed thereby against longitudinal movement cam means attached to the first slide engaging and moving one set of collets, and cam means attached to the second slide engaging and moving the second set of collets.

RICHARD J, HERBST, Primary Examiner. R. D. GREFE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A MACHINE FOR PERFORMING AT LEAST TWO OPERATIONS ON THE END OF A TUBE COMPRISING FIRST FORMING TOOL MEANS FOR APPLYING AN INWARD RADIAL PRESSURE TO THE TUNE END, SECOND FORMING TOOL MEANS FOR APPLYING AN OUTWARD RADIAL PRESSURE TO THE TUBE, MEANS FOR FIXING THE LONGITUDINAL POSITION OF BOTH TOOL MEANS, LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE CAM MEANS FOR APPLYING INWARD RADIAL FORCE TO THE FIRST TOOL MEANS AND OUTWARD RADIAL FORCE TO THE SECOND TOOL MEANS, AND MEANS PROVIDING AN OPENING BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND TOOL MEANS TO RECEIVE THE END OF A TUBE.