Tube processing machine

A machine for shaping segments of tubing into flares, said machine comprising:

• a plurality of holding means, each of said holding means for holding a tube, and being pivotally connected to two adjacent holding means of said plurality of holding means to thereby form a first endless loop of holding means mounted so as to travel in a first endless path, said first endless path including a first side portion, a second side portion, a first curved portion, and a second curved portion;
• means for continuously moving said endless loop of holding means in said first endless path;
• means for heating an end of the tubes, said heating means being positioned adjacent to the first side portion of said first endless path;
• a plurality of tube flaring means, each of said tube flaring means for flaring the heated end of a tube, said plurality of tube flaring means being mounted so as to travel in a second endless path, said second endless path being smaller than the first endless path, a portion of said second endless path coinciding with the first curved portion of the first endless path of the holding means, the plurality of tube flaring means being of sufficient number and appropriate spacing so that each of said tube flaring means lines up with one of said holding means in said first curved portion of the first endless path and completes the flaring of a tube while said one holding means travels in the first curved portion of the first endless path;
• and
• means for continuously moving said plurality of tube flaring means through the second endless path at a velocity selected so as to match the velocity of the holding means traveling through the first curved portion of the first endless path.

A machine for shaping and cutting elongate tubes to thereby create flares, said machine comprising:

• a plurality of holding means, each of said holding means for holding a tube in a generally horizontal position, and being pivotally connected to two adjacent holding means of said plurality of holding means to thereby form a first endless loop of holding means mounted so as to travel in a first endless path, which first endless path includes a first side wherein the holding means are moved generally upward, a second side wherein the holding means are moved generally downward, a curved top portion, and a bottom portion;
• means for continuously moving said endless loop of said holding means in said first endless path;
• means for heating an end of the tubes, said heating means being position adjacent to at least a portion of said upward moving first side of the first endless path;
• a plurality of flaring means, each of said flaring means for flaring the heated end of a tube, said plurality of flaring means being mounted so as to travel in a second endless path, said second endless path being smaller than said first endless path, a top portion of said second endless path coinciding with the top portion of the first endless path of the holding means, said plurality of flaring means being of sufficient number and appropriate spacing so that each of said flaring means lines up with one of said holding means in the top portion of the first endless path and completes the flaring of a tube while said one holding means travels in the top portion of the first endless path;
• means for continuously moving said plurality of flaring means through the second endless path at a velocity selected so as to match the velocity of the holding means traveling through the top portion of the first endless path;
• a plurality of cutting means, each of said cutting means for severing a preselected length of the flared end of a tube, said plurality of cutting means being mounted so as to travel in a third endless path, a bottom portion of said third endless path coinciding with the bottom portion of the first endless path of the holding means, said plurality of cutting means being of sufficient number and appropriate spacing so that each of said cutting means lines up with one of said holding means in the bottom portion of the first endless path and completes the cutting of a tube while said one holding means travels in the bottom portion of the first endless path;
• and
• means for continuously moving said plurality of cutting means through the third endless path at a velocity selected so as to match the velocity of the holding means traveling through the bottom portion of the first endless path.

A machine for shaping and cutting elongate tubes to thereby create flares, said machine comprising:

• a plurality of holding means, each of said holding means for holding a tube in a generally horizontal position, and being pivotally connected to two adjacent holding means of said plurality of holding means to thereby form an endless loop of holding means mounted so as to travel in a generally obround-shaped endless path, which path includes a generally linear first side wherein the holding means are moved upward, a generally downward, a generally semi-circular top potion, and a generally semi-circular bottom portion;
• means for continuously moving said endless loop of holding means in said obround-shaped path;
• means for heating an end of the tubes, said heating means being positioned adjacent to at least a portion of said upward moving first side of the obround-shaped path;
• a plurality of flaring means, each of said flaring means for flaring the heated end of a tube, said plurality of flaring means being mounted so as to travel in a generally circular path, the top half of said generally circular path coinciding with the generally semi-circular top portion of the obround-shaped path of the holding means, said plurality of flaring means being of sufficient number and appropriate spacing so that each of said flaring means lines up with one of said holding means in the top portion of the obround-shaped path, and completes the flaring of a tube while said one holding means travels in the to portion of the obround-shaped path;
• means for continuously moving said plurality of flaring means through the generally circular path at a velocity selected so as to match the velocity of the holding means traveling through the top portion of the obround-shaped path;
• a plurality of cutting means, each of said cutting means for severing a preselected length of the flared end of a tube, said plurality of cutting means being mounted so as to travel in a generally circular path, the bottom half of said generally circular path coinciding with the generally semi-circular bottom portion of the obround-shaped path of the holding means, said plurality of cutting means being of sufficient number and appropriate spacing so that each of said cutting means lines up with one of said holding means in the bottom portion of the obround-shaped path and completes the severing of a tube while said one holding means travels in the bottom portion of the obround-shaped path;
• and
• means for continuously moving said plurality of cutting means through the generally circular path at a velocity selected so as to match the velocity of the holding means traveling through the bottom portion of the obround-shaped path.