Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21J—FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES
  • B21J5/00—Methods for forging, hammering, or pressing; Special equipment or accessories therefor
  • B21J5/06—Methods for forging, hammering, or pressing; Special equipment or accessories therefor for performing particular operations
  • B21J5/08—Upsetting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21C—MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES OR PROFILES, OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL
  • B21C37/00—Manufacture of metal sheets, bars, wire, tubes or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided for; Manufacture of tubes of special shape
  • B21C37/06—Manufacture of metal sheets, bars, wire, tubes or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided for; Manufacture of tubes of special shape of tubes or metal hoses; Combined procedures for making tubes, e.g. for making multi-wall tubes
  • B21C37/15—Making tubes of special shape; Making tube fittings
  • B21C37/16—Making tubes with varying diameter in longitudinal direction
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21J—FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES
  • B21J13/00—Details of machines for forging, pressing, or hammering
  • B21J13/02—Dies or mountings therefor
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21J—FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES
  • B21J13/00—Details of machines for forging, pressing, or hammering
  • B21J13/08—Accessories for handling work or tools
  • B21J13/14—Ejecting devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21K—MAKING FORGED OR PRESSED METAL PRODUCTS, e.g. HORSE-SHOES, RIVETS, BOLTS OR WHEELS
  • B21K21/00—Making hollow articles not covered by a single preceding sub-group
  • B21K21/16—Remodelling hollow bodies with respect to the shape of the cross-section

Definitions

• TITLE “AN APPARATUS FOR THICKENING A TUBE AT ITS INTERMEDIATE
• the present disclosure relates to the field of manufacturing technology. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for forming or thickening a tube. Further embodiments of the present disclosure disclose the apparatus and process for thickening the tube at its intermediate.
• a tube is a long hollow cylinder made of materials such as metal, plastic, or composites.
• the tubes may be used in various applications including domestic, medical, fuel gas distributions, automotive and other applications including air conditioning and refrigeration.
• tubes may be used in frames, seating systems, fuel delivery components and automotive link arms require tubes to be welded in series to create an integrated frame.
• Automotive assembly lines need tubes with extra thickness at its intermediate portion for various applications. This can be achieved with using tube with extra thickness for thorough length or through intermediate thickening of tube. The latter approach ensures overall weight reduction of the entire assembly.
• variable thickness tubes An axial force of tensile nature on one side and that of compressive nature on the other side of the die is applied. Variation of relative magnitude of these forces lead to production of variable wall thickness.
• the conventional process known in art for producing variable thickness tubes are flexible rolling, swage auto-frettage process, tube drawing using position-controlled mandrel methods, extrusion with special die setup and also internally and externally upsetting ends of the tube. Deployment of the processes mentioned above are limited either due to economic constraints such as higher investment in tooling and/or low productivity due to increased cycle time. Also, tube may buckle due to compressive forces involved.
• the present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above.
• an apparatus for thickening a tube at its intermediate portion includes a first support member, that is configured to support an outer surface of the tube. At least a portion of the first support member is defined with a profile to be featured on the intermediate portion of the tube.
• the apparatus further includes a mandrel configured to support the inner surface of the tube and a second support member is configured to support an end of the mandrel.
• the apparatus includes a punch structured to abut an end of the tube between a free end of the mandrel and the first support member. The punch is configured to exert axial force onto the tube. Application of axial force by the punch plastically deforms the tube resulting in thickening of the tube at the intermediate portion externally keeping internal diameter constant.
• the first support member is configured to exert radial force onto the outer surface of the tube from clamping the tube.
• the profile is defined at a substantially intermediate portion of the first support member.
• the mandrel is configured to radially support the inner surface of the tube.
• plastically deforming the tube results in accumulation of material in the profile defined by the first support member, thereby thickening the intermediate portion of the tube along the outer surface.
• the apparatus includes a retractor structured to abut another end of the tube between the fixed end of the mandrel and the first support member the retractor is configured to exert axial force in a direction opposite to the direction of axial force exerted by the punch.
• the punch is coupled to an actuator to exert axial force onto the tube.
• the retractor is coupled to the actuator to exert axial force onto the tube.
• the actuator is at least one of an electric actuator and a hydraulic actuator.
• a tube including a body portion defined with an inner surface and an outer surface is disclosed.
• the body portion is configured such that, thickness at an intermediate portion of the tube along the outer surface is greater than thickness of other portions of the outer surface of the tube.
• the inner surface of the tube is of uniform thickness.
• a process of thickening a tube at its intermediate portion through an apparatus includes positioning a first support member on an outer surface of the tube. Further, a mandrel is positioned with an inner surface of the tube such that an end of the mandrel is supported by a second support member. Further, an axial force is exerted by the punch onto the tube to plastically deform the tube resulting in thickening of the tube at the intermediate portion.
• the process includes exerting the axial force by a retractor in a direction opposite to the axial force exerted by the punch which plastically deform the intermediate portion of the outer surface of the tube.
• FIG.l illustrates a schematic view of an apparatus used for thickening a tube at its intermediate portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
• FIG.2 illustrates a schematic view of a section of apparatus including first support member, tube and a second support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
• FIG.3 illustrates the apparatus of FIG.1 depicting the tube being thickened at the intermediate portion, in accordance with an embodiment of present disclosure.
• FIG.4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a thickened tube, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
• FIG.5 illustrates a schematic view of a tube to be thickened by the apparatus of FIG.l.
• Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses an apparatus for thickening a tube at its intermediate portion, particularly tubes used in components of automobile.
• the apparatus includes a first support member, which is configured to rigidly support an outer surface of the tube.
• the first support member may be defined with a profile corresponding to a profile of the intermediate portion of the tube to be thickened.
• the first support member may be configured to exert radial force onto the outer surface of the tube for clamping the tube.
• the profile in the first support member may be defined at a substantially intermediate portion of the tube.
• a mandrel may be configured to support an inner surface of the tube, the mandrel may be configured to radially support the inner surface of the tube.
• the apparatus may further include a punch structured to abut an end of the tube between a free end of the mandrel and the first support member.
• the punch may be configured to exert axial force onto the tube.
• a retractor may be positioned on an opposite end of the punch.
• the retractor may be designed to abut another end of the tube between a fixed end of the mandrel and the first support member.
• the retractor may be configured to exert axial force in a direction opposite to the direction of axial force exerted by the punch.
• the punch and the retractor may be coupled to an actuator to exert axial force on the tube.
• the actuator may be a linear actuator including at least one of an electric actuator and a hydraulic actuator.
• the punch and the retractor in combination may be configured to apply compressive force on the tube and plastically deform the tube.
• Plastically deforming the tube may result in thickening of the tube at the intermediate portion.
• the tube formed by the apparatus of the present disclosure may include a body portion defined with the inner surface and the outer surface. The body portion may be configured such that thickness at the intermediate portion of the tube along the outer surface is greater than thickness of other portion of the tube.
• FIG.l is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating a pictorial view of an apparatus (10) used for thickening intermediate portions (I) of an outer surface (TO) of a tube (T).
• the tube (T) to be thickened is depicted in FIG.5
• the apparatus (10) may include a first support member (1), a mandrel (2) and a punch (5).
• the tube (T) may be held firmly between the first support member (1) and the mandrel (2), on the outer surface (TO) and inner surface (TI) of the tube (T) respectively.
• the first support member (1) may be configured to rigidly support and clamp the tube (T) on the outer surface (TO).
• the first support member (1) may include an outer surface that may be configured to receive clamping force from an actuator.
• the outer surface of the first support member (1) may be connected to the actuator.
• at least a portion of the first support member (1) may be defined with a profile corresponding to a profile of an intermediate portion (I) of the tube (T). That is the intermediate portion (I) of the first support member (1) may feature a profile that may be defined on an outer surface (TO) of the tube (T).
• the profile may be defined on the inner surface of the first support member (1).
• the mandrel (2) may be configured to rigidly support the tube (T) from inside i.e., the inner surface (TI).
• a second support member (4) as shown in the FIG.l may be configured to support the mandrel (2).
• the second support member (4) may be configured to firmly accommodate the mandrel (2).
• the first support member (1) may be driven by a first external power source which provides necessary force to firmly hold the tube (T) between the first support member (1) and the mandrel (2).
• the punch (5) may be designed to abut an end of the tube (T) between free end of the mandrel (2) and the first support member (1) and may be driven by an external power source [not shown].
• the dimension of the punch (5) may be similar to that of the tube (T) being thickened in the apparatus.
• the first external power source drives the first support member (1) in the radially inward direction.
• the radially inward force on the first support member (1) as said above imparts inward force on the first support member (1) which may rigidly support the tube (T).
• the mandrel (2) may be configured to radially support the inner surface (TI) of the tube (T) and may exert radially outward force on the tube (T).
• the punch (5) may exert axial force over an end portion of the tube (T) when driven by an actuator.
• the punch (5) may be displaced axially by an actuator to apply compressive load on the ends of the tube (T) to deform the tube (T).
• the apparatus (10) may include a retractor (3) that may be designed to abut another end of the tube between a fixed end of the mandrel (2) and the first support member (1).
• the retractor (3) may be fixed to the second support member (4) either rigidly or removably.
• the retractor (3) may be coupled to an actuator (not shown).
• the retractor (3) may be configured to support the tube (T) during compression.
• the retractor (3) may be designed to push the tube (T) out of the mandrel (2).
• the retractor (3) may be positioned adjacent to the second support member (4) [as shown in FIG.l].
• the retractor (3) may be configured to exert axial force in a direction opposite to the direction of the axial force exerted by the punch (5) [as depicted by arrows within the feature depicted by ref. numeral 5].
• the force imparted by the punch (5) acts as compressive force on the tube (T) and the retractor (3) imparts equal force opposite to the force of the punch (5) to hold the tube (T) in position.
• the compressive force plastically deforms the intermediate portion (I) into the profile defining the die formed in the first support member (1).
• the compressive force acting on the tube (T) deforms the tube (T) into the shape of the die formed by the profile in the first support member (1).
• the tube (T) may be plastically deformed due to the compressive forces due to which the material accumulates in the profile defined by the first support member (1).
• the result of plastic deformation of the tube (T) in the profile defined by the first support member (1) is as shown in FIG.3, the substantially intermediate portion (I) of the tube (T) may be thickened.
• the tube (T) is held firmly over the entire portion of the inner surface (TI) by the mandrel (2) and over the entire portion excluding substantially intermediate portion (I) on the outer surface by the first support member (1).
• the tube (T) on both ends may be subjected to compressive force by the punch (5) and the retractor (3) [as shown in FIG.3].
• the force imparted over the ends of the tube (T) plastically deforms the tube (T) into the shape of the die created by the profile of the first support members (1).
• the compressive force may be imparted by the punch (5) which may be driven by the actuator. As shown in FIG.l to 3, the tube (T) may be subjected to compressive force on one or both ends.
• the compressive force that is imparted on the ends of the tube (T) plastically deforms the substantially intermediate portion (I) of the tube (T).
• the thickness of the intermediate portion (I) of the tube (T) increases after the plastic deformation, as it takes the shape of the profile in of the first support member (1).
• the actuator may be any one of but not limiting to a hydraulic drive, pneumatic drive, and the like.
• the tube (T) formed using the said apparatus (10) and the said process may have the body portion (B) and the intermediate portion (I) as shown in FIG.4.
• the tube (T) includes of the body portion (B) and the intermediate portion (I).
• the inner surface (TI) of the body portion (B) of the tube (T) may be of uniform cross section.
• the intermediate portion (I) may be formed by the plastic deformation into the die formed in the first support member (1).
• the intermediate portion (I) may have a thickness greater than thickness of the body portion (B) of tube (T).
• the thickness of the intermediate portion (I) of the tube (T) may be about maximum of 30% greater than the thickness of the body portion (B).
• FIG.3 it picturizes a completely manufactured tube (T) held between first support member (1) and the mandrel (2) of the apparatus (10).
• the process of thickening may be carried out on variety of materials such as but not limiting to a mild steel with certain alloy elements.
• the apparatus (10) can thicken the tube (T) at the substantially intermediate portion (I) ensuring lower cycle time and improving the productivity of the apparatus (10).
• the process has low operation cost over the conventional device due use of less tonnage equipment.
• the tubes (T) undergo strain hardening during the process, facilitating in increase in strength of the tube (T).

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Forging (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=81384577

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (2)

Citations (8)

• 2022
  • 2022-03-24 WO PCT/IB2022/052682 patent/WO2022201078A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2022-03-24 JP JP2023534271A patent/JP2024512174A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-03-24 EP EP22718290.4A patent/EP4237168A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-03-24 BR BR112023010459A patent/BR112023010459A2/pt unknown
• 2023
  • 2023-07-13 CO CONC2023/0009280A patent/CO2023009280A2/es unknown

Patent Citations (8)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events