US 5,400,636 A · Fluting machine and method of producing a fluted pole

Abstract

A fluting machine and method produce fluted poles. The fluting machine has an aperture means, a carriage, and a track configured so that the carriage can travel on the track toward the aperture means. The carriage has a fluted mandrel for holding a pipe to be fluted. The carriage carries the fluted mandrel and pipe parallel to the track to and from the aperture means at a constant speed irrespective of any fluctuations in driving resistance. The aperture means has a stationary inner part, a rotatable outer head, and a set of rotatory dies. The rotatory dies are circumferentially situated about and perpendicularly extendable within an aperture opening defined by the stationary inner part. The aperture opening is for accepting the fluted mandrel and pipe therethrough. The rotatable outer head causes extension of the rotatory dies within the aperture opening and against the pipe when the rotatable outer head is rotated. The rotatory dies roll along the length of the pipe on the fluted mandrel at constant pressure to thereby produce flutes in the pipe.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method for producing fluted poles in a fluting machine having a track, a carriage adapted to ride on said track, and an aperture means, said carriage for driving a fluted mandrel parallel to said track, said fluted mandrel for holding a pipe to be fluted, and said aperture means having rotary dies circumferentially situated about an aperture opening for accepting said fluted mandrel therethrough, said rotatory dies movable perpendicular to said fluted mandrel, each of said rotatory dies configured to produce a flute in said pipe, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning said pipe about said fluted mandrel;
driving said pipe toward said aperture means;
projecting said rotatory dies against said pipe thereby producing flutes in said pipe;
and
said aperture means further comprising a rotatable outer head and a stationary inner part defining said aperture opening, said rotatable outer head having cam means including curvilinear tracks disposed about said aperture opening and rollers driven by said curvilinear tracks, said rollers being in a one to one correspondence with said rotary dies, the method further comprising the step of rotating said rotatable outer head to thereby extend said rotatory dies within said aperture opening and against said pipe.

2 more elements

A method of producing a fluted pole from an elongated hollow tubular pole, comprising the steps of:

(a) supporting a fluted circular elongated mandrel from one end in a generally horizontal position in cantilever fashion on a carriage;
said mandrel having a central axis;
(b) inserting said hollow elongated pole onto said mandrel so that said hollow elongated pole is received over and surrounding said mandrel and is supported thereby;
(c) progressively moving said carriage carrying said mandrel in an axial path in a direction toward a central aperture of an aperture means so that said mandrel carries said pole progressively through said central aperture;
(d) supporting a plurality of equally spaced inwardly protruding rotary dies by said aperture means so that said rotary dies surround said mandrel and progressively engage the outer surface of said pipe as said pipe is moved along said axial path by said mandrel;
(e) simultaneously moving all of said dies radially inwardly and outwardly by the same amount so that they exert uniform pressure from said dies sufficient to progressively deform said pipe inwardly to produce parallel flutes as said pipe is moved into said aperture;
(f) moving said carriage in said path away from said aperture means;
(g) engaging the end of said pipe as said pipe is being withdrawn from said aperture for arresting the movement of said pipe by said mandrel so that said pipe is stripped from said mandrel in a fluted condition as said mandrel is withdrawn from said aperture means;
and
(h) wherein the step of moving said dies inwardly and outwardly includes rotating a movable head on said aperture means about said axis and translating the rotary movement of said head into radial movement for moving all of said dies simultaneously and by the same amount toward and away from said axis.

7 more elements

A method of producing a fluted pole from an elongated hollow tubular pole, comprising the steps of:

(a) supporting a fluted circular mandrel from one end in a generally horizontal position in cantilever fashion on a carriage;
said mandrel having an axis;
(b) inserting said hollow elongated pole onto said mandrel so that said hollow elongated pole is received over and surrounding said mandrel and is supported thereby;
(c) progessively moving said carriage carrying said mandrel in an axial path in a direction toward a central aperture of an aperture means so that said mandrel carries said pole progressively through said central aperture;
(d) supporting a plurality of at least four equally circumferentially spaced inwardly protruding rotary dies by said aperture means so that said rotary dies surround said mandrel and progressively engage the outer surface of said pipe as said pipe is moved along said axial path by said mandrel;
(e) simultaneously moving all of said dies by the same amount radially inwardly and outwardly so that they exert uniform pressure from said dies sufficient to progressively deform said pipe inwardly as said pipe is moved into said aperture;
(f) moving said carriage in said path away from said aperture means after said flutes have been formed;
and
(g) the step of moving said dies inwardly and outwardly including rotating a movable head on said aperture means about said axis and translating the rotary movement of said head into radial movement for moving all of said dies by an equal amount with respect to said axis.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluting machine and method of producing a fluted pole

Life of this patent

Fluting machine and method of producing a fluted pole

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11