Method and apparatus for rolling tubes
AssigneeL. & C. Steinmuller GmbH
InventorsUlrich Rottlander, Gustav Thones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for rolling tubes into tube plates, especially heat exchangers, with a tube roller. Prior to the rolling process, the desired holding expansion value is set, and during the rolling process the holding expansion is measured. When the preset expansion value is reached, the expansion is discontinued. The magnitude of the holding expansion is determined by ultrasonically measuring the changing thickness of the wall of the tube during the expansion. The apparatus includes a tube roller that is operated by a drive mechanism. Also provided is a roll controller that can be set to the desired holding expansion value. An ultrasonic measuring head is provided in the tube roller, and is connected with the roll controller.
Claims7
A method of rolling tubes into tube plates with a tube roller having expandable rollers, said method including the steps of:
- first setting a desired holding expansion value;
- rolling a tube;
- determining the magnitude of the holding expansion during said rolling step by ultrasonically measuring the changing thickness of the wall of said tube during the expansion;
- comparing the actual holding expansion value with the desired holding expansion value;
- and
- upon reading said desired holding expansion value, discontinuing expansion when said desired holding expansion value is reached.
An apparatus for rolling tubes into tube plates, comprising:
- a tube roller having expandable rollers;
- a drive mechanism for operating said tube roller;
- a roll controller that can be set to a desired holding expansion value;
- an ultrasonic measuring head provided in said tube roller and connected with said roll controller so that an actual holding expansion value is derived from an output signed of said ultrasonic measuring head;
- and
- means to compare and determine when the actual expansion value reaches or equals the desired expansion value to stop the roller drive mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.