Apparatus for producing composite cylinders

Apparatus for forming a cylindrical member from powdered metal material comprising:

• a molding tool having a mandrel and a pressurizable elastomeric member mounted circumferentially about said mandrel to form a single annular forming chamber;
• a rotatable table having a plurality of molding tool support positions spaced therearound for sequentially rotating through a molding tool filling station at which said molding tool is filled with said powdered metal material, a pressurization station at which said molding tool is pressurized to bond said powdered metal materials and thereby form said cylindrical member, a removal station at which said cylindrical member is removed from said molding tool for sintering thereof, and a cleaning station at which said molding tool is cleaned;
• a pressure vessel mounted in spaced relation above said table;
• first support means carried at each said molding tool support position for supporting a said molding tool thereon on said table;
• second support means mounted adjacent said table at said pressurization station to receive and support said molding tool thereon;
• first molding tool displacement means disposed for horizontal reciprocal movement to move said molding tool from said table to said second support means and back to said table;
• actuator means for reciprocal movement of said first molding tool displacement means;
• and
• second molding tool displacement means for vertical reciprocal movement of said molding tool at said pressurization station to raise said molding tool into said pressure vessel for pressurization of said molding tool and to lower said molding tool down from said pressure vessel, whereby said first molding tool displacement means moves said molding back onto said table so that said molding tool may be sequentially moved to said tool removal and cleaning stations.