Machine and method for manufacturing crossover fittings
AssigneeMueller Industries, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Bartholomew, John J. DeRuiter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for forming a metallic tubular section in which the tubular section is located, retained, has at least one end formed, filled with fluid that is then pressurized within the tube section, and bend formed into a predetermined shape, all at a single station of the machine. A second station, either coupled with or independent from the first station functions to locate a tube section, retain it, cut off a portion of the tube section, form at least one end of the tube section, and provide for removal of the tube section therefrom. The tube sections are preferably crossover fittings. The present invention further comprises a method of manufacturing a full crossover fitting and a method of manufacturing a half crossover fitting.
Claims30
A machine for forming a metallic tubular section, said machine comprising:
- first means for locating said tubular section thereupon,
- first means for retaining said tubular section therewithin,
- means for filling said tubular section with fluid and for then applying pressure to said fluid,
- first end forming means for expanding an end of said tubular section,
- means for forming at least one centrally located bend within said tubular section;
- and
- said first locating means, said first retaining means, said first end forming means, said fluid filling and pressurizing means, and said bending means, all being located proximate to one another such that said tubular section is generally at one location at a first station.
A machine for forming a metallic tubular section in a first station comprising:
- a lower die which is horizontally movable along a shuttle mechanism, said lower die having a cavity extending toward a side thereof and having a channel with a semi-circular cross sectional shape centrally located thereacross,
- an upper die being vertically movable, said upper die having a cavity extending toward a side thereof and having a channel with a semi-circular cross sectional shape centrally located thereacross,
- said upper die and said lower die being operable to locate and retain a tubular section cooperatively therebetween,
- at least one first punch located at an end of said tubular section, said first punch being insertable within said end of said tubular section, said first punch having a means for filling fluid into said end of said tubular section and for pressurizing said fluid,
- a bend forming die having a forwardmost edge with a generally semi-circular shape, whereby when said bend forming die is forcibly inserted into said cavities of said upper and said lower dies, said bend forming die compressibly bends a portion of said tubular section against said channel of said upper and said lower dies;
- whereby said lower die, said upper die, said first punch, said means for filling and pressurizing said fluid, and said bend forming die, all cooperatively acting in a single station to produce a full crossover fitting.
A machine for producing a metallic tubular section, said machine comprising:
- means for locating said tubular section thereupon,
- means for retaining said tubular section therewithin,
- means for forming an end of said tubular section,
- said locating means, said retention means, and said end forming means, all being located proximate to one another such that said tubular section is generally at one location on said machine throughout these processes;
- and
- means for cutting off a portion of said tubular section therefrom, said cutting means comprising means for notching a portion of said tubular section at a predetermined location and means for shearing the portion of said tubular section previously notched.
A method of producing a crossover fitting which comprises:
- (a) locating said tubular section, within a die at a single station, said tubular section having been precut from a continuous tube,
- (b) retaining said tubular section within a die set at said single station,
- (c) filling said tubular section with fluid at said single station,
- (d) pressurizing said fluid within said tubular section at said single station;
- (e) bending a portion of said tubular section with a bend forming die at said single station;
- and
- (f) expanding at least one end of said tubular section at said single station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.