Crimping device
AssigneeWinton Machine Company
InventorGeorge R. Winton, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine used in tube fabrication, wherein the machine imparts a locating feature near an end of a tube when the tube is located between a clamp die and a bend die of the machine by using a crimp die to form detents and bulges in the tube. The locating feature enables the tube to be located in a larger tube.
Claims17
A machine to put a locating feature in a tube, comprising:
- a bend die having a first recess;
- a clamp die having a second recess, wherein the first and second recesses are adjacent to each other to form a cavity which enables the tube to pass through the cavity in a Z direction and be held in place;
- and
- a crimp die movable in an X direction perpendicular to the Y and Z directions, the crimp die having a first crimp die edge angled relative to the X direction and which puts a first detent in the tube as the crimp die moves in a positive X direction to create a bulge in the tube.
A method of putting a locating feature in a tube to create a bulge in a circumference of the tube using a machine including a bend die having a first recess, a clamp die having a second recess, wherein the first and second cavities are adjacent to each other to form a cavity, and a crimp die movable in an X direction perpendicular to the Y direction, the crimp die having an opening with a first crimp die edge angled relative to the X direction, the method comprising:
- moving the tube in a Z direction perpendicular to the X direction through the cavity formed by the bend die and the clamp die and the opening of the crimp die;
- and
- moving the crimp die in a positive X direction so that the crimp die edge pushes against the tube to form a bulge in the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.