Apparatus for in-line surface finishing of cylindrical tubing such as stainless steel tubing with supporting mandrel and method

A surface finishing apparatus for in-line outer surface finishing of elongate cylindrical tubing, comprising:

• (a) feed means for feeding a length of tubing through the finishing apparatus from an infeed end to an outfeed end;
• (b) elongate mandrel means for being positioned within the tubing and supporting said tubing along the length of the tubing during passage of the tubing from the infeed position to the outfeed position;
• (c) rotating means for rotating the tubing around the longitudinal axis of the mandrel means as the tubing is fed through the finishing apparatus;
• (d) finishing means for finish-treating the outer surface of the tubing as the tubing is fed through the apparatus, said finishing means comprising:
• (i) a rotatable finishing wheel having a finish-treating peripheral surface for being applied in an in-line orientation against the outer surface of the tubing as the tubing is simultaneously fed and rotated through the finishing apparatus, said wheel being mounted on an axis of rotation which is variable within a predetermined range of motion from one side to the other of the longitudinal axis of the tubing;
• and
• (ii) oscillating means cooperating with the finishing wheel for oscillating the finishing wheel back and forth within the predetermined range of motion while in continuous contact with the tubing, said oscillating means including pivot means for pivoting said finishing wheel about a single vertical pivot axis which extends from beyond one side of the longitudinal axis of the tubing to beyond the other side of the longitudinal axis of the tubing.