Tube thread forming apparatus and method
AssigneeAries Engineering Company, Inc.
InventorsTodd Brieschke, David Copeman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tube partial thread forming apparatus and method is disclosed. A tube is placed on the apparatus around internal die sections, which are separated by a mandrel to cause the internal die sections to engage the tube. stripper pieces are moved into engagement around the outer surface of the tube to secure and support the tube. External die sections extend through the stripper pieces and engage the tube and form partial threads thereon.
Claims20
A partial thread forming apparatus for forming partial threads on a tube, the apparatus comprising:
- a base having a first arm and a second arm spaced from the first arm;
- a prime motive apparatus fixed relative to the base and having a controllable shaft extending therefrom;
- and
- a thread forming assembly located generally between the first arm and the second arm and including a first end plate connected to and movable by the controllable shaft, a second end plate affixed to the second arm, an internal die located between the first and second end plates and sized to be insertable within the tube, a first external die mounted to the first end plate and having a first flange with a first forming surface extending toward the internal die, a second external die mounted to the second end plate and having a second flange with a second forming surface extending toward the internal die, a first stripper piece elastically coupled to the first end plate and including a first securing surface extending adjacent to the first forming surface and adapted to support the tube, and a second stripper piece elastically coupled to the second end plate and including a second securing surface extending adjacent to the second forming surface and adapted to support the tube.
A partial thread forming apparatus for forming partial threads on a tube, the apparatus comprising:
- a base having a first arm and a second arm spaced from the first arm;
- a prime motive apparatus fixed relative to the base and having a controllable shaft extending therefrom;
- and
- a thread forming assembly located generally between the first arm and the second arm and including a first end plate connected to and movable by the controllable shaft;
- a second end plate affixed to the second arm;
- an internal die located between the first and second end plates and sized to be insertable within the tube, with the internal die including a first half and a separate second half;
- a mandrel located between the first half and the second half and adapted to be operable to move the first and second halves in opposed directions into contact with the tube;
- a first external die mounted to the first end plate and having a flange extending toward the internal die;
- a second external die mounted to the second end plate and having a flange extending toward the internal die;
- a first stripper piece coupled to the first end plate and including a first securing surface adapted to support the tube;
- and a second stripper piece coupled to the second end plate and including a second securing surface adapted to support the tube.
A method of forming partial threads in a tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising the steps of:
- locating a portion of the tube around an internal die having a first half and an opposed separate second half and partial teeth forming recesses located thereon;
- moving the first half and the second half apart and into contact with the inner surface of the portion of the tube;
- engaging the outer surface of the portion of the tube with support surfaces of a pair of opposed stripper pieces;
- engaging the outer surface of the portion of the tube, with a first and a second forming surface of a respective first and opposed second external die, adjacent to the corresponding support surfaces of the pair of stripper pieces to thereby form partial threads in the tube;
- and
- releasing the tube from the first and second external dies, the pair of stripper pieces and the internal die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.