Method of separating heat exchanger tubes and an apparatus for same

A method of producing individual tubes for use in a heat exchanger from at least one continuous strip of material, the method comprising:

• providing predetermined breaking points in the at least one continuous strip of material;
• forming at least a portion of a continuous tube from the continuous strip of material;
• moving the continuous tube along a production line in a direction;
• and
• severing the continuous tube at one of the predetermined breaking points to form one of the individual tubes with a tearing-off device having a first clamp and a second clamp, wherein severing the continuous tube includes;
• reciprocating the first clamp along the direction;
• moving the continuous tube substantially continuously along the production line in the direction through the tearing-off device;
• reciprocating the second clamp along the direction substantially simultaneously with the first clamp;
• rotating an eccentric;
• reciprocating a first strut that couples the first clamp and the eccentric;
• reciprocating a second strut that couples the second clamp and the eccentric to move the first clamp a first distance and to move the second clamp a second distance;
• opening the first clamp using a first cam coupled to the first strut adjacent the first clamp;
• closing the first clamp using the first cam to apply a compressive force to the endless continuous tube via the first clamp;
• opening the second clamp using a second cam coupled to the second strut adjacent the second clamp;
• and
• closing the second clamp using the second cam to apply a compressive force to the endless continuous tube via the second clamp.

A method of producing individual tubes for use in a heat exchanger from at least one continuous strip of material, the method comprising:

• providing predetermined breaking points in the at least one continuous strip of material;
• forming at least a portion of a continuous tube from the continuous strip of material;
• moving the continuous tube along a production line in a direction;
• and
• severing the continuous tube at one of the predetermined breaking points to form one of the individual tubes with a tearing-off device having a first clamp and a second clamp, wherein severing the continuous tube includes;
• rotating an eccentric to substantially simultaneously reciprocate the first clamp and the second clamp along the direction by reciprocating a first strut that couples the first clamp and the eccentric and a second strut that couples the second clamp and the eccentric;
• moving the continuous tube substantially continuously along the production line in the direction through the tearing-off device;
• closing the first clamp to apply a compressive force to the continuous tube via the first clamp using a first cam coupled to the first strut adjacent the first clamp;
• closing the second clamp to apply a compressive force to the continuous tube via the second clamp using a second cam coupled to the second strut adjacent to the second clamp;
• moving the first strut such that the first clamp moves in the direction a first distance;
• moving a second strut such that the second clamp moves in the direction a second distance;
• opening the first clamp using the first cam;
• and
• opening the second clamp using the second cam.