Method and apparatus for forming tubes
OwnerRobert P. Martin, Sr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine and method for shaping a workpiece into a cylindrical tube includes a mandrel, a forming roll, a guide roll, and a continuous forming belt extending partially around the mandrel and partially around the forming roll and guide roll. The workpiece is inserted between the belt and the mandrel at an entry opening. An actuator device causes the mandrel to simultaneously tighten the belt and squeeze the workpiece between the mandrel and the forming roll during the forming operation.
Claims14
A tube forming machine for shaping a sheet metal blank having a predetermined thickness into a cylindrical tube comprising a frame, an elongated mandrel having a cylindrical outer surface, first bearing means supporting said mandrel, a forming roll having a cylindrical outer surface adjacent said cylindrical outer surface of said mandrel, second bearing means supporting said forming roll, a continuous forming belt extending along a path first around a predetermined circumferential extent of said forming roll and then between said cylindrical outer surfaces of said forming roll and said mandrel and then around a predetermined circumferential extent of said mandrel, said forming belt having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said first and second bearing means holding said forming roll and said mandrel sufficiently close as to define an entry opening therebetween for receiving said workpiece when said mandrel is in an operating position, the width of said opening being no greater than the sum of said thickness of said forming belt plus said thickness of said sheet metal blank when said mandrel is in said operating position, and actuator means moving said mandrel and said first bearing means relative to said frame and relative to said forming roll and said second bearing means in a direction toward said operating position to simultaneously tighten said belt and squeeze said belt against said forming roll.
A tube forming machine for shaping a sheet metal blank having a predetermined thickness into a cylindrical tube comprising an elongated mandrel having a cylindrical outer surface, a forming roll having a cylindrical outer surface adjacent said cylindrical outer surface of said mandrel, a guide roll having a cylindrical outer surface, a continuous forming belt extending along an S-shaped path first around said cylindrical outer surface of said forming roll and then between said forming roll and said mandrel and then around said cylindrical outer surface of said mandrel and then between said mandrel and said guide roll and then around said cylindrical outer surface of said guide roll, said forming belt having a predetermined thickness, said forming roll and said mandrel cooperatively defining an entry opening for receiving said sheet metal blank, the width of said entry opening being no greater than the sum of said thickness of said forming belt plus said thickness of said sheet metal blank, said guide roll and said mandrel cooperatively defining an exit opening for said sheet metal blank, and the width of said exit opening being substantially greater than said sum of said thickness of said forming belt plus said thickness of said sheet metal blank.
A tube forming machine for shaping a sheet metal blank having a predetermined thickness into a cylindrical tube comprising a frame, an elongated mandrel having a cylindrical outer surface, a forming roll having a cylindrical outer surface adjacent said cylindrical outer surface of said mandrel, a guide roll having a cylindrical outer surface, a continuous forming belt extending along a path first around a predetermined circumferential extent of said forming roll and then between said cylindrical outer surface of said forming roll and said mandrel and then around a predetermined circumferential extent of said mandrel and then between said mandrel and said guide roll and then around a predetermined circumferential extent of said guide roll, means holding said forming roll and said mandrel sufficiently close as to define an entry opening therebetween for receiving said sheet metal blank when said mandrel is in an operating position, the width of said entry opening being no greater than the sum of said thickness of said forming belt plus said thickness of said sheet metal blank, means holding said guide roll and said mandrel sufficiently close as to define an exit opening therebetween for said sheet metal blank, the width of said exit opening being substantially greater than said sum of said thickness of said forming belt plus said thickness of said sheet metal blank, and actuator means for moving said mandrel relative to said frame and relative to said forming roll and said guide roll in a direction toward said operating position to simultaneously tighten said belt and squeeze said belt against said forming roll.
A tube forming machine for shaping a sheet metal blank having a predetermined thickness into a cylindrical tube comprising a frame, a forming roll and a guide roll each having a cylindrical outer surface, bearing means rotatably mounting said forming roll and said guide roll in spaced apart positions on said frame, a continuous forming belt extending around and engaging said outer surfaces of said forming roll and said guide roll for predetermined angular extents, power means for moving said forming belt, a mandrel having a first end and a second end and a cylindrical outer surface, a first mandrel bearing at said first end and a second mandrel bearing at said second end, first mounting means mounting said first mandrel bearing for movement along a first path relative to said frame between an operating position and an open position, second mounting means mounting said second mandrel bearing for movement along a path relative to said frame and relative to said mandrel between an operating position and an open position, and said forming belt extending around said outer surface of said mandrel for another predetermined angular extent when said mandrel is in said operating position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.