Tool for making enhanced heat transfer surfaces
AssigneeWolverine Tube, Inc.
InventorsPetur Thors, Nikolai Zoubkov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved tool assembly for enhancing the surface of a heat transfer tube is provided. The tool assembly includes rods having cutting tips and positioned in rod guides which are slidably positioned in shafts provided in a tool holder. In an equilibrium state, the cutting tips do not extend from the tool holder. When a force is applied to the rod guides, the rod guides move in a first direction along the shafts in the tool holder, resulting in exposure of the cutting tips which enhance the tube surface. When the force is removed from the rod guides, the rod guides move along the shafts in a direction opposite the first direction to retract the cutting tips within the tool holder. In this way, the cutting tips are protected when not in use.
Claims22
A tool assembly for cutting metal comprising:
- a. a holder comprising a longitudinal axis, an exterior top wall, an exterior bottom wall, an exterior outer wall and at least one substantially hollow shaft, wherein the at least one shaft extends through the holder and comprises a first opening and a second opening;
- b. at least one rod assembly comprising:
- i. a rod guide having a head end and a tail end;
- ii. a rod having a tip shaped with a tip geometry and positioned in the rod guide, wherein the tip extends from the head end of the rod guide,
- wherein the at least one rod assembly is positioned in the at least one shaft of the holder and wherein the head end of the rod guide is capable of extending from the first opening of the at least one shaft and wherein the tail end of the rod guide is capable of extending from the second opening of the at least one shaft;
- c. a washer positioned substantially adjacent the exterior bottom wall of the holder and adapted to apply pressure to the tail end of the rod guide to cause the at least one rod assembly to move a distance along the at least one shaft and the tip to extend beyond the outer wall of the holder when a force is exerted on the washer;
- d. a spacer positioned substantially adjacent the exterior top wall of the holder and adapted to apply pressure to the head end of the rod guide to cause the at least one rod assembly to move along at least a portion of the at least one shaft to retract the tip within the outer wall of the holder;
- and
- e. a biasing element positioned substantially adjacent the spacer.
A method of enhancing the inner surface of a tube comprising:
- a. providing a tool assembly comprising:
- (i) a holder comprising a longitudinal axis, an exterior top wall, an exterior bottom wall, an exterior outer wall and at least one substantially hollow shaft, wherein the at least one shaft extends through the holder and comprises a first opening and a second opening;
- (ii) at least one rod assembly comprising:
- a rod guide having a head end and a tail end;
- a rod having a tip shaped with a tip geometry and positioned in the rod guide, wherein the tip extends from the head end of the rod guide,
- wherein the at least one rod assembly is positioned in the at least one shaft of the holder and wherein the head end of the rod guide is capable of extending from the first opening of the at least one shaft and wherein the tail end of the rod guide is capable of extending from the second opening of the at least one shaft;
- (iii) a washer positioned substantially adjacent the exterior bottom wall of the holder and adapted to apply pressure to the tail end of the rod guide to cause the at least one rod assembly to move a distance along the at least one shaft and the tip to extend beyond the outer wall of the holder when a force is exerted on the washer;
- (iv) a spacer positioned substantially adjacent the exterior top wall of the holder and adapted to apply pressure to the head end of the rod guide to cause the at least one rod assembly to move along at least a portion of the at least one shaft to retract the tip within the outer wall of the holder;
- and
- (v) a biasing element positioned substantially adjacent the spacer;
- b. positioning the tool assembly in the tube;
- c. causing relative rotation and relative axial movement between the tube and the tool assembly;
- and
- d. forming protrusions on the inner surface of the tube with the tip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.