US 5,879,723 AGranted

Automated tube reforming apparatus

AssigneeUnited States Brass Corporation

InventorRobert S. Stachowiak

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A tube reforming apparatus provides efficient mass production of reformed tube end portions. In a preferred embodiment, a tube reforming apparatus has a loading station, two heating stations, a forming station, and an unloading station. The loading station permits rapid loading of a series of laterally spaced apart tubes into clamping fixtures, and accurately meters a downwardly extending end portion of each tube. The heating stations permit accurate and evenly distributed heat to be applied to the end portions to make them pliable. The forming station reforms the end portions between a mating die pair, while compensating for any volume variation in the end portions. The unloading station automatically unloads the tubes from the clamping fixtures. Automation features of the apparatus permit these operations to be efficiently accomplished.

Claims33

Dependent claims

Apparatus for reforming an end portion of a tube, the apparatus comprising:

a first structure;
a second structure attached to said first structure such that the distance between said first and second structures is constant;
means for displacing said second structure in a parallel direction relative to said first structure;
a first die mounted to said second structure, said first die being capable of axially receiving the tube therein;
a clamping device mounted to said second structure, said clamping device being capable of axially securing the tube relative to said first die;
a loading station having a surface attached to said first structure, said surface being axially spaced apart from, and axially aligned with, said first die when said displacing means displaces said second structure so that said first die is at said loading station;
a first heating station having a means for heating the tube end portion attached to said first structure, said heating means being axially aligned with said first die when said displacing means displaces said second structure so that said first die is at said heating station;
and
a forming station having an axially displaceable second die attached to said first structure, said second die being axially aligned with said first die, and said second die being capable of cooperatively engaging said first die to reform the tube end portion therebetween, when said displacing means displaces said second structure so that said first die is at said forming station.

6 more elements

Apparatus for reforming respective end portions of a plurality of tubes, the apparatus comprising:

a first structure;
a second structure attached to said first structure;
a displacement device attached to said first and second structures, said displacement device being configured to displace said first structure equidistantly relative to said second structure;
a plurality of first dies mounted to said second structure, each of said first dies being capable of axially receiving one of the tubes therein;
a plurality of clamping devices mounted to said second structure, each of said clamping devices being capable of axially securing one of the tubes relative to a corresponding one of said first dies;
a loading station having a surface attached to said first structure, said surface being axially spaced apart from, and axially aligned with, said first dies when said displacement device displaces said second structure so that said first dies are at said loading station;
a first heating station having a heating device attached to said first structure, said heating device being axially aligned with said first dies when said displacement device displaces said second structure so that said first dies are at said heating station;
and
a forming station having an axially displaceable plurality of second dies attached to said first structure, each of said second dies being axially aligned with a corresponding one of said first dies, and each of said second dies being capable of cooperatively engaging said corresponding first die to reform a corresponding one of the tube end portions therebetween, when said displacement device displaces said second structure so that said first dies are at said forming station.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.