Reshaping tool for polymeric tubing
AssigneesMercury Plastics, Inc., Masco Corporation
InventorsWilliam Rowley, William Blue, Thomas K'Meyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reshaping tool incorporates a tool head and clamp for reshaping the cross section of a tube constructed from one or more polymer materials. The clamp holds the tube in place while the head portion of the tool, which is moveable with respect to the clamp, engages the tube for reshaping its profile cross section.
Claims9
A polymeric tubing reshaping apparatus which comprises:
- a base;
- a tubing clamping means positioned on one side of said base;
- said tubing clamping means having a longitudinally disposed channel therein for positioning said tubing therein and minimizing movement of said tubing;
- a longitudinally axially movable tubing reshaping tool positioned at an opposed side of said base, where the tubing reshaping tool is an outer diameter reshaping member having a tube-receiving aperture with an initial interior diameter at a tubing insertion end of said aperture which decreases in size to a smaller interior diameter interior of said end, the initial interior diameter and said smaller interior diameter of the reshaping member defining the range of tube outer diameters for which the reshaping member may be used, the tube-receiving aperture operable to conform a tube end to the shape of the tube-receiving aperture by axially-forced contact only.
A polymeric profile reshaping apparatus for reshaping said polymeric profile from an initial profile in cross-section to a final profile in cross-section, said initial and final profiles differing in at least one dimension, which comprises:
- a base;
- a two portion profile clamping means positioned on one side of said base, said profile clamping means having a longitudinally disposed channel therein for positioning said profile therein and minimizing movement of said profile by at least partial inward compression on said profile;
- a longitudinally axially movable member having a tube-receiving aperture disposed therein, said tube-receiving aperture matching said final profile in outer diameter, the tube-receiving aperture having an initial interior diameter at a tubing insertion end of said aperture which decreases in size to a smaller interior diameter interior of said end, the initial interior diameter and said smaller interior diameter of the tube-receiving aperture defining the range of tube outer diameters for which the reshaping member may be used, the tube-receiving aperture operable to conform a tube end to the shape of the tube-receiving aperture by axially-forced contact only.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.