Apparatus for producing a corrugated tube

Abstract

Apparatus for forming a corrugated tube from a smooth walled starting tube comprises a pair of receiving mandrels aligned spaced from each other along a preferably vertical axis and movable toward and away from each other to be engaged in opposite end portions of a starting tube. The halves of split corrugation forming discs and the halves of an end member above the uppermost of the discs, coupled together for limited movement in axial direction, are respectively carried and guided for movement in axial direction by a pair of clamping jaws tiltable between an open position permitting to align a starting tube with the mandrels and a closed position closing the split discs and the split end member and fluid tightly clamping opposite end portions of the starting tube located about said mandrels respectively between one of the mandrels and the closed end member and between the other mandrel and the clamping jaws. A channel for introducing pressure fluid into the interior of the starting tube leads through the other mandrel, while a ventilating channel in which a ventilating valve is arranged serves to discharge air from the starting tube during introduction of pressure fluid thereinto. A fluid operated cylinder and piston unit cooperates with the end member and the receiving mandrel engaged thereby for moving both elements in axial direction towards the other mandrel to thereby offset the starting tube and to deform the same into a corrugated tube.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.