Work On Tubes Patents (Class 29/33T)
  • Patent number: 5003690
    Abstract: A finning and thread rolling machine capable of producing an integral finned tube, an extended finned tube or a wrap-on finned tube, whichever is desired, the tubing to be used for extended surface heat transfer. Types of tubes produced are integral low finned tube, bi-metal fin tube with extruded high finned tube on the outer portion, and extruded integral/high finned tube and spiral strip helical wrap-on finned tube. The apparatus also provides a two and three die thread rolling machine for thru-feed threading and form rolling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventor: Ray C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4998337
    Abstract: Method for the permanent mutual connection of the ends of at least two already finished metal tubes (1,2,3), consisting in placing the ends of said tubes in a mould, particularly an injection moulding mould, whereby one tube end or several tube ends is or are arranged around a tubulous part of a metal body (4), closing the mould and filling the mould with liquid plastics material, so that after the setting of the plastics material and the opening of the mould the ends of the tubes (1,2,3) are joined together, whereby before closing the mould the or each of said tube ends (1,2,3) as well as the tubulous part of the metal body (4) present therein is locally depressed over a certain distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Reynolds Aluminium Holland B.V.
    Inventor: Jozef J. Tiekink
  • Patent number: 4945619
    Abstract: Apparatus for converting tubular blanks of ductile material into substantially L-shaped bodies which can constitute parts of spacer frames for use between the panes of multiple-pane windows has a clamping unit which can engage a first portion of a blank so as to locate the blank in a predetermined position in which an intermediate portion of the blank is located between the first portion and a second portion. At such time, one side of the intermediate portion is adjacent a roller and the other side of the intermediate portion is adjacent an anvil. A moving unit is then caused to bend the intermediate portion about the anvil while the distance between the roller and the anvil decreases so that those walls of the intermediate portion which are adjacent the roller and the anvil move nearer to each other during transformation of the intermediate portion into an elbow of the thus obtained L-shaped blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Franz Xaver Bayer Isolierglasfabrik KG
    Inventor: Franz Bayer
  • Patent number: 4912837
    Abstract: Successive hollow polygonal bodies which are made of a ductile material and each of which has three corners and two straight open-ended terminal portions are converted into rectangular spacer frames for use between the panes of multiple pane windows by orienting the polygonal bodies in such a way that the terminal portions extend downwardly from their open ends, by admitting metered quantities of a flowable desiccant into selected parts of the two terminal portions, by converting one of the terminal portions into an L-shaped frame member with a section which is in register with the other terminal portion, and by inserting sealing plugs into the open ends of the two terminal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Franz Xaver Bayer Isolierglasfabrik KG
    Inventor: Franz Bayer
  • Patent number: 4907326
    Abstract: In order to simplify, and to render easier, and to avoid manipulating difficulties of small-diameter pipes, which have to be separated and singled in the processing at a separating distance (6) and which have to be transported after the processing either within a factory or to different manufacturing or treatment stations or between factories, and in particular of pipes (1) with the bulges present or to be applied at their ends, such as pipe-connection nuts (26), protective caps (27), it is disclosed that the pipes (1) are separated continuously with a fixed distance (6, 6a) in between the pipes and are disposed at such a distance in a direction parallel to their axis, and are further separated on a moving support (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Dietzel, Gernot Dolch, Walter Muffke
  • Patent number: 4813114
    Abstract: Elongate round workpieces W (e.g. bar or tube) are loaded singly from a rack (252) on to a supporting cradle formed by four ball castors (38). At each end of the cradle is an upper operating unit (20) and (22) comprising a machining unit having a chamfering tool (34) and a workpiece-driving unit having a driving wheel (32) in frictional engagement with the workpiece. The wheels (32) are rotated about their axes to rotate the workpiece, and further can be pivoted to each side of a neutral position in order to drive the workpiece along its length into engagement with first one chamfering tool and then the other. The operating units are mounted on upper guide rails (16) and (18) for adjustment of the distance between them. Lower operating units mounted on lower guide rails (24) and (26) comprise deburring tools (36) which also operate on the workpiece ends, adjacent to the chamfering tools (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Derek W. R. Walker
  • Patent number: 4803764
    Abstract: A process is disclosed in which a rectangular spacer frame (16) for insulating glass is automatically manufactured in that a tubular bar is repeatedly bent in a common bending plane (5) and its free ends (19, 20) are joined. One or both end portions of the tubular bar are deflected out of the bending plane (5) during the final bending operation so that the free ends (19, 20) are moved to such positions that said extremities are laterally spaced apart and extend alongside each other. The end portions (17, 18) of the tubular bar are then gripped and moved to positions in which they are axially aligned and spaced apart. The free ends of said end portions are subsequently joined to each other to form the spacer frame (16), which is subsequently transferred to an overhead conveyor (69) in an automatic operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Lenhardt Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Lenhardt, Uwe Bogner
  • Patent number: 4794684
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting a tube, preferably provided with a hard surface, into pieces which involves first subjecting the coated tube to the grinding action of a disk to remove a narrow band of coating and to effect a shallow groove in the tube prior to contacting the bottom of the groove with a cutting knife to slice the tube into pieces having ends which are essentially planar and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pieces. The knife and grinding disc may be mounted on reciprocally movable carriages. The movable carriage supporting the grinding disc is preferably mounted on an adjustment rod so as to permit precise spacing relative to the exterior surface of the tube. The grinding disc is controlled to prevent it from contacting a mandrel supporting the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Lhomme, SA
    Inventor: Pierre Vanlauwe
  • Patent number: 4785512
    Abstract: The invention in question is a repairing machine, which is suited to repairing damaged conduits which are inaccessible for repair work. This repairing machine is remote-controlled and monitored with television cameras. At the head of the driving carriage, various devices, which are necessary for the repairs, can be attached to a motor-driven rotatable toolhead. A simple construction of the movable head has made it possible to accomplish all of the necessary movements with uncomplicated mechanics, and at the same time, to forego a tedious slide coupling for the control lines without letting them get tangled with the device. Therefore, with this invention, the production costs for the whole device could be lowered and, likewise, the proneness to repairs could be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: Alwin Sigel
  • Patent number: 4752994
    Abstract: A scarfing apparatus for removing a weld bead from a tube being produced by a continuous method wherein the tube enters one end of a rotatable hollow spindle which supports a tool bit. The tool bit has an arcuate shape having a segment which extends 180.degree. or less about the periphery of the tube. The spindle oscillates rotationally causing the tool bit to rock back and forth across the surface of the moving tube to remove the weld bead. The tool bit is formed of carbide steel containing tantalum, titanium and cobalt. The tool bit has a forward face portion and a bottom face portion which define a tooling edge at their intersection. The bottom face portion slopes upwardly at an angle of approximately 3.degree. to reduce friction on the tube. For use with carbon steel tubing, a bit is used having a forward face portion angled approximately 15.degree. from the vertical. For use with stainless steel or aluminized material, a bit is used having a forward face portion angled back approximately 21.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Addison Machine Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter R. Brunken, William J. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 4749116
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a pipe frame for use in a vehicle seat is disclosed in which spring clamps are welded to a rectilinear pipe material of a predetermined length at the predetermined positions thereof, the pipe material is then bent into a required configuration, one of two ends of the pipe material is then compressed to form such a smaller diameter portion as to be insertable into the inside diameter portion of the other end, and the compressed smaller diameter portion of the one end is forcibly inserted into the other end so that the inserted portion of the pipe material is welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Yajima
  • Patent number: 4741081
    Abstract: A T-fitting is formed from two precut lengths of tubing of the same, relatively small, inner and outer diameter. One length of tubing is formed with a reduced diameter neck section at one end whose outer diameter is approximately equal to its normal undeformed inner diameter. The second length of tubing is placed in a clamp which is advanced to successive work stations where a sidewall is punched and then drilled through to form a radial hole in one side of a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the tubing. At a subsequent work station, the neck section of the first length of tubing is driven into a force fit into the drilled hole in second length of tubing. The assembled tubing is then removed from the clamp, brazed into a permanent T-tube assembly. The portion of the neck section which projects into the passage of the second length of tubing is then trimmed off by a drilling or reaming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Tube Fab of Afton Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Redman
  • Patent number: 4738013
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for attaching a ring-like part to the outer periphery of a columnar material, as, for example, in the assembling of a catalytic converter. The columnar material is positioned and supported with its axis oriented horizontally. A guide member is supported from the side to position it adjacent to the columnar material on the same axis as the columnar material. The guide member has an outer inclined surface enlarged towards the columnar material. The guide member is then supported in the axial direction and at the same time, has the side support thereof released. The ring-like part is then pushed while guiding it on the outer inclined surface of the guide member to fit it over a portion of the columnar material. The pushing of the ring-like part is released and then the guide member is again supported from the sides, while at the same time, the support thereof from the axial direction is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sachihiro Yamashita, Masayuki Enomoto, Ichiro Ishibashi, Kiyohiro Ichinose, Mitsuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4729502
    Abstract: A large-diameter welded steel pipe having a straight seam and tab plates attached to its ends as extensions of the seam is laid along a setting line with the seam upward. An apparatus for treating the ends of such a pipe has a tab plate cutting unit and a bead removing unit. The tab plate cutting unit cuts the tab plates off with a torch. The bead removing unit removes the weld beads on the inner surface of the ends of the pipe by cutting them with a rotary cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignees: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd., Kashiwara Machine Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitsuga Fukukawa, Atsushi Nishida, Mamoru Nishioka, Akio Takemori
  • Patent number: 4707912
    Abstract: A crash protection apparatus for a pulling device having a hollow piston cylinder and a pulling claw for pulling a tube out of a tube sheet of a heat exchanger chamber in which the pulling device is disposed, the crash protection apparatus includes another cylinder without a piston rod having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the hollow-piston cylinder and being fixed relative to the tube sheet in the chamber, a piston of the other cylinder, a bracket extending from the piston substantially at a right angle to the axis of the other cylinder for supporting the pulling device with a supporting force provided by the other cylinder, and a device for controlling the supporting force for compensating only the weight of the pulling device in each position of the pulling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Brown Boveri Reaktor GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Haller
  • Patent number: 4701988
    Abstract: The invention describes a cutter which is for positioning in an underground pipe which is too small for man entry. The cutter is for cutting holes in previously applied pipe lining which cover lateral connections. The cutting must be controlled from above ground. Flexibility and positionability is achieved by mounting the cutter head at the free end of a boom body, the other end of which is mounted through a universal joint to a mounting so that the boom can swing in any direction. The cutter is controlled in its movement by coupling it to a master unit located and controlled above ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Insituform International N.V.
    Inventor: Eric Wood
  • Patent number: 4700444
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making engine cylinders comprising the steps of punching cylindrical tubes with openings from the inside to the outside and then surrounding the thus formed tubes with a different body of material. In accordance with the method, the punching apparatus includes a mandrel that slidably supports the dies and a backup die that includes a slug ejecting punch which serves the dual function of ejecting the slugs from the backup die and also retracting the punches. In one embodiment of the invention, the port openings are formed smaller than the final configuration and the surrounding material is cast in place and extends into the liner opening for interlocking the surrounding material to the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamagata
  • Patent number: 4700439
    Abstract: A driveshaft fabricating apparatus is disclosed which achieves the functions of straightening, welding, straightening and balancing of a driveshaft workpiece without necessitating workpiece removal, reloading or otherwise disturbing the original set-up of the workpiece in the machine. The driveshaft fabricating apparatus includes a two-speed drive system, welding apparatus and electronic sensing apparatus for use in the balancing operation and the runout measurement operation. The driveshaft fabricating apparatus also includes a press assembly positioned for use in the straightening operation. During the straightening operation the workpiece is supported solely by the press assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Hines Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon E. Hines
  • Patent number: 4689863
    Abstract: Fixture for machining the cutting line of a pipe, including a centering device insertible into an end section of the pipe, the centering device including a clamping system having pressure pieces with pressure surfaces formed thereon, the pressure pieces being disposed about the longitudinal axis of the centering device, and a pressure motor for driving the pressure pieces in radial direction of the pipe, for maintaining an equal distance between each of the pressure surfaces and the longitudinal axis of the centering device and for holding the centering device in the pipe with the clamping system, and a coupling device disposed at an end of the centering device along the longitudinal axis thereof for mounting an accessory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Weber, Roland Bieselt, Siegfried Forner, Helmut Mechtold
  • Patent number: 4685205
    Abstract: Apparatus for expanding a tube into a bore formed in a tube sheet in which a tubular force-transmitting member extends within the tube coextensive with the portion of the tube to be expanded. An explosive is disposed in the bore of the force-transmitting member, so that the forces resulting from the explosion of the explosive are uniformly transferred by the force-transmitting member to expand the tube into the bore. A tubular barrier member extends between the force-transmitting member and the tube and has a portion projecting from the tube sheet, and a plug is disposed in the end of the projecting portion of the barrier member to contain the debris and gases resulting from the explosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Development Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph W. Schroeder, Kawaljit S. Ahluwalia
  • Patent number: 4679289
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming intruded sleeves in extrudable metal tubing thereby to receive branch tubes which are brazed in place. The apparatus comprises a split mandrel and a punch which drives a punch head through the tube wall section and into a pocket in the upper section of the mandrel to form the intruded sleeve structure. Removal of the mandrel is accomplished by removing a lower section, dropping the upper section off of the intruded sleeves, and thereafter removing the upper section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Brazeway, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Miller
  • Patent number: 4674163
    Abstract: Apparatus useful in the manufacture and repair of automotive drive shafts which includes a frame and an elongate support bed rotatably mounting a multiple jaw chuck for rotary movement, a generally cylindrical workpiece passage extending through the chuck and its bearings and a pedestal remote from the frame and mounting an additional workpiece support axially aligned with the chuck. Stringers rigidly connect the remote workpiece support to the frame and a plurality of devices are mounted and movable relative to the support bed for selectively effecting operations on one end of a tubular workpiece supported by the multiple jaw chuck with the other end of said tubular workpiece supported by the remote workpiece support mounted to the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: John G. Nugier
  • Patent number: 4631813
    Abstract: Apparatus for assembling plate and tube heat exchangers of the type having tube end portions joined to end plates includes a carriage for longitudinally carrying an assembled but unjoined heat exchanger. An upright stationary frame supports a tool holder for movement transversely of the heat exchanger longitudinal axis. The tool holder is movable so that tools carried thereby are located in facing relationship to an end plate for joining tube end portions thereto. The tool holder is also transversely movable to a clearance position for providing longitudinal movement of the heat exchanger and carriage therepast. A clamping device at the opposite end portion of the heat exchanger clamps the opposite tube end portions for holding the tubes against longitudinal and rotational movement while the other tube end portions are joined to an end plate. The clamping device is also movable transversely of the heat exchanger longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Th. Kieserling & Albrecht GmbH and Co.
    Inventors: Manfred Daniels, Helmut Trimborn
  • Patent number: 4622729
    Abstract: A scarfing apparatus for removing a weld bead from a tube being produced by a continuous method, wherein the tube enters one end of a hollow spindle which rotatably supports a scarfing tool holder on which is mounted a tool bit. The tool bit has an arcuate shape having a segment which extends 180.degree. or less about the periphery of the tube. The other end of the spindle is provided with a sensing device which, in conjunction with a power unit and control means, applies oscillatory rotational movement to the spindle to thereby cause the tool bit to rock back and forth across the surface of the moving tube to remove the weld bead. The tool holder is provided with an undercut section adapted to receive securing means for mounting the tool bit in a manner to facilitate rapid removal thereof for installing a new tool bit without ceasing the operation of the continuous tube-forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Addison Machine Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Dempsey, Walter R. Brunken, Alfred F. Mailhiot, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4620463
    Abstract: Production of a substantially constant wall thickness in every cross section on cylindrical tubular parts produced for example by extrusion and rolling. The process of the invention comprises determining, by means of a suitable apparatus, the position of the center of the internal contour of a cross section of the tubular part, then rotating one with respect to the other a machining tool and the part about the axis of said internal contour and moving the machining tool towards the part until, over the periphery of said cross section, a constant wall thickness which is equal at most to the minimum thickness is obtained, and then repeating those operations on the successive desired sections of the tube, which are parallel to the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Compagnie Europeenne du Zirconium Cezus
    Inventors: Laurent Horn, Jerome Hautdidier, Christian Soulet
  • Patent number: 4593451
    Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning each threaded marginal end portion of large pipe. The apparatus has a cleaning head assembly which includes a rotatable member having circumferentially spaced cleaning brushes adjustably mounted thereon so that the cleaning brushes can engage and clean the opposed pipe surface at the opposed marginal terminal ends of a joint of pipe. Spaced plate-like members are axially arranged along a common shaft, and the opposed faces of the plate members have the cleaning brushes adjustably mounted thereto and arranged so that the common shaft can be rotated in a horizontal plane, thereby bringing the brushes of one of the plate members into cleaning engagement respective to the pipe threads, and thereafter the assembly is rotated 180.degree.0 in a horizontal plane, thereby bringing the other set of brushes into cleaning relationship respective to the opposed pipe end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Inventor: Royce G. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4587698
    Abstract: Cutters for removing excess weld material from elongated welds are moved by hydraulic cylinders into precise positions in proximity to the article having the welds to maintain the desired uniform thickness of the welds. The movement of the hydraulic cylinders is controlled by tracer control valves having operating elements engaged by members connected to sensing rollers which engage the article as the article is moved past the sensing rollers. The positions of the rollers and the cutter are adjustable to accommodate articles of various sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley V. Bonner, Frederic F. Baumann
  • Patent number: 4574443
    Abstract: A rotary threaded penetrator bolt means having a tubular hollow pin therein is employed to contact against a hardened cylindrical punch means to linearly advance the punch without rotation thereof through the wall thickness of the fluid containing member desired to be pierced. In such arrangement, if the wall thickness of the fluid containing member is sufficiently great, it may be desirable to pre-drill a punch receiving cylindrical recess therein prior to operation of the penetrator bolt means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Steven R. Persak, John Hudak, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4555833
    Abstract: A device for removing plugs from plugged tubes in a steam generator including a frame having a substantially flat plate, with a hollow drill bit mounted thereon and movable generally perpendicularly with respect thereto from a storage position to an operating position. An elongated retaining pin extends through the hollow drill bit and therebeyond having threads on one end thereof for attachment to the plug to be drilled. Actuating means moves the drill bit between the storage position thereof and the operating position thereof, motor means is mounted on the frame for rotating the drill bit. An air-water mixture is introduced near where the drill bit meets the plug to be drilled, the water being present in an amount of about one-half volume percent, and a vacuum is used to collect and remove the air-water mixture and any debris entrained therewith due to drilling the associated plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Phillip J. Hawkins, Edward J. Choby
  • Patent number: 4527319
    Abstract: A sleeve of plastic material from an extruder is molded by a blow molding apparatus into a tubular structure which includes two top walls longitudinally connected at base ends and apex ends. A splitting apparatus splits the longitudinally connected base ends apart to form two top walls. The top walls are oriented with their base ends upward. An extruder extrudes a flow of softened plastic which is divided by a manifold into four flows. Four applicators connected with the manifold apply beads of softened plastic along each top wall base end. A ribbed roller presses flexible strips against the plastic beads on each of the top walls. The flexible strips are fed from rolls of finite length mounted on a stand. The stand holds operating rolls and back up rolls. A splicing apparatus splices the trailing end of each operating roll with a leading end of the corresponding back up roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Hancor, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Rosenbaum, H. John Sidaway
  • Patent number: 4519125
    Abstract: A sucker rod coupling manufacturing system providing precision squareness of ends with through rolled thread axis characterized by O. D. clamping of the workpiece coupling at all machining operations involving the critical relationship of square shoulders to thread axis and through piloted boring of I. D. to be roll threaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: Cargill Detroit Corp.
    Inventors: Ray E. Colonius, Edward Early
  • Patent number: 4516306
    Abstract: A semi-automated plant for threading pipe, including oil and gas well casing and tubing, is disclosed. A particular sequencing of equipment activation and movement is utilized in order to have normal operations of the plant, from loading of unthreaded pipe to the unloading of pipe having threads on each end, and a coupling applied to at least one of the ends, performed without requiring manual handling of the pipe. One particularly important portion of the apparatus in the plant is the lifting device for raising the pipe to the height which is proper for the threading machine, or lathe, and a clamping device for clamping the pipe during the threading operation. By use of the disclosed apparatus, the pipe is accurately raised to the proper height, and pipe over a considerable range of size can be securely clamped during the threading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Tubular Threading Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert J. Albert
  • Patent number: 4486929
    Abstract: A tile perforating unit wherein tile is continuously advanced through a frame by advancing means. Moveably mounted on the frame and directed toward the tile is at least one perforating tool. From an initial position, the tool extends and engages a point along the wall of the tile at which perforation is desired. As the tool moves to maintain engagement with the advancing tile a harpoon is extended from the tool to perforate the tile wall. Once perforation is completed, the harpon is withdrawn and the tool retracts and returns to the initial position for repeated perforation of the tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: Cullom Machine Tool & Die, Inc.
    Inventors: Heinrich Dickhut, Alfred Lilienthal
  • Patent number: 4470193
    Abstract: Electric fusion pipe fittings for use in connecting plastics pipes may be manufactured by forming a groove (6) in a surface (2) of a filling (1) and laying a wire (8) in groove (6). Preferably groove (6) is formed by incision and the wire layed by groove cutting tool (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Esdan Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Soumar Karel, Earl Erling
  • Patent number: 4467508
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for cutting of armoured or reinforced hose (3) and particularly steel armoured hydraulic hose (3). The machine is characterized by, that a frame part (13) is firmed attached to a rotable center part (9). The frame part (13) supports a movable cutting device (15), which includes a cutting wheel (17) and a motor (16). The position of the cutting device in relation to a hose, which is intended to be cut, is regulated by means of a motor (24) via a screw (25). Furthermore a movable sensor device or element (21) is arranged, which indicates the position and the wear of the cutting wheel (17) during a cutting operation. The frame part (13) also supports a movable guillotine knife (26). During a cutting operation the center part (9) and the frame part (13) are brought in rotation by means of a cog wheel transmission (10), a cog wheel (12) and a motor (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Inventor: Bengt G. Fjallstrom
  • Patent number: 4455726
    Abstract: A chamfering apparatus for opposing end faces of a tubular member. The apparatus includes an abutment member capable of advancing toward or being retracted from a line of extension of the longitudinal axis of the tubular material so as to collide with the end face when advanced, a conveyor for transporting the tubular member toward the abutment member, a chuck provided between the abutment member and conveyor for releasably holding the tubular member on the conveyor, and a cutting tool displaceable relative to the end face of the tubular member received by the abutment member and held by the chuck. The cutting tool is capable of rotating around the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Teruaki Kawamura, Yukihiko Komatsu, Hiroshi Yamane
  • Patent number: 4442577
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for performing conditioning operations including cutting operations such as beveling for welding, chamfering to aid in starting thread cutting, thread cutting and lead cutting and inspecting operations such as bevel or chamfer inspection and threads inspection on the ends of seamless steel pipes or round bars transferred from the preceding forming stage such as the rolling stage. The apparatus comprises a plurality of end processing multifunction machines each capable of performing by itself the above-mentioned processing operations and a plurality of end inspecting multifunction machines each capable of performing by itself the above-mentioned inspecting operations and these machines are arranged on one side or both sides of a single-line transverse transfer system. Each steel pipe or round bar to be processed is subjected to the end processing operations at a single fixed position and to the end inspecting operations also at a single fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masachik Numano, Minoru Morita
  • Patent number: 4429445
    Abstract: A cast-iron pipe having an end socket is rotated about its axis by a driven first roller applied against the outside of the socket and a driven second roller applied against the inside of the socket and pressing the latter against the first roller. The rollers can be rotated at differing speeds, and as the socket revolves they rub off or crush burrs or other irregularities on the outside and inside of the socket. A cutting tool on a pivoted lever arm is applied by motor power to an outer face of an end flange of the rotating socket to trim burrs therefrom. The second roller supported on an articulated arrangement can be swung into and out of the socket by operation of a first hydraulic jack. Another hydraulic jack arrangement presses the second roller against the inside of the socket and increases the pressure suddenly when the roller encounters a large irregularity and decreases the pressure to normal when that irregularity has passed the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Pont-a-Mousson S.A.
    Inventor: Claude B. Fuminier
  • Patent number: 4429719
    Abstract: A pipe thread protector is provided which includes two members, one slidably constrained within the other. The interior member has a guide section which includes internal ridges adapted to engage the threads of a pipe section. When placed in one position within the outer member, this upper section is expanded to allow insertion over the end of a pipe. The resistance of the pipe section pushes the interior member further into the second member to assume a second position whereby the guide section is radially contracted. This places the ridges in sealing engagement with the threads of the pipe. Simultaneously, air is forced out from between the interior and exterior members through a valve in the base of the outer member so that a partial vacuum is formed between the inner and outer members. Surrounding air pressure secures the interior member in its second position and the pipe thread protector mounted on the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Inventor: Donald E. Mosing
  • Patent number: 4425062
    Abstract: A cutting and chamfering apparatus for opposite ends of a tubular member including a cutting and chamfering support for holding horizontally the member, two tables provided respectively at opposite ends of the support, and a cutting machine and chamfering machine mounted in combination on each of the tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Teruaki Kawamura, Tadashi Nishimura, Kazuo Akagi, Ryujiro Shitamatsu
  • Patent number: 4424616
    Abstract: A conditioning line for steel pipes in which steel pipes are transversely transferred to effect the end processing thread cutting, thread inspection, hydrostatic testing, etc., on the steel pipes. With a view to increasing the efficiency of the conditioning operations, a reprocessing line is arranged to run parallel to a main line such that the steel pipes rejected on the main line are automatically transferred to the reprocessing line where the rejected steel pipes are reprocessed and automatically transferred back to the main line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masachika Numano, Shinji Akita, Minoru Morita
  • Patent number: 4419798
    Abstract: An automatic-cutting apparatus arranged to selectively cut a given length of flexible tubing, or ducting, without interruption while the tubing is being produced in a continuous manner. The apparatus comprises a cutting member having a cutting blade, and a wire-cutting tool, both being activated by a combination of electrical and pneumatic elements operated in a sequential manner, to cause the blade to engage and cut the shell or skin wall of the tubing, a sensing arm being provided to subsequently cause the wire-cutting tool to be activated so as to cut the reinforcing wire of the flexible tubing as the tube is being continuously formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Inventor: Wayne K. Fairchild
  • Patent number: 4404721
    Abstract: A thread cutting machine for pipes which comprises a machine base on which pipe holding chucks, a pipe rotation drive mechanism, a thread cutting mechanism and a threaded coupling holding chuck mechanism adapted to hold a threaded coupling such as socket, elbow or the like in position are provided. The machine is capable of fastening the threaded coupling to the pipe after the pipe threads have been formed as well as the inherent pipe cutting-off and thread cutting functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: MCC Corporation
    Inventor: Taketomo Ohyama
  • Patent number: 4385426
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting a flexible hose which has an axially extending helically wound reinforcing wire during continuous forming of the hose around a mandrel are provided wherein the apparatus comprises, means for determining length increments of the formed hose, a pair of cooperating cutters for cutting the formed hose based on each determined length increment with the cutters comprising a rotary cutter for cutting the flexible portion of the hose and a chisel cutter for cutting the wire of the hose and with the cutters being operatively connected to the determining means, a first and a second fluid powered cylinder for operating the cutters, first connecting means operatively connecting the first cylinder to the rotary cutter, second connecting means operatively connecting the second cylinder to the chisel cutter, and control means for sequentially actuating the cylinders in response to each determined length increment of the formed hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1983
    Assignee: Dayco Corporation
    Inventor: Frank A. Vitellaro
  • Patent number: 4339857
    Abstract: A system for finishing the cylindrical interior of a workpiece on a single machine is disclosed. The workpiece is mounted to allow access to its cylindrical interior from each end. A skiving tool is advanced into and through the cylindrical interior of the workpiece from one end to machine the cylindrical interior. As the skiving tool is operating, cutting oil is introduced into the cylindrical interior of the workpiece to entrain the chips generated by the skiving tool and flush the chips out through the second end of the workpiece. The cutting oil and entrained chips are deflected at the second end of the workpiece into a collector during operation of the skiving tool. The deflector is moveable to expose the second end of the workpiece when operation of the skiving tool is completed. A honing tool is advanced into and through the cylindrical interior of the workpiece from the second end thereof after the deflector has been moved and skiving completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Inventor: Lawrence C. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 4337558
    Abstract: A device for production rate finishing and deburring of the ends of lengths of pipe with minimum loss of time, utilizing the finishing tool as a sensor to control the feed rate, whereby the end finishing and deburring is accomplished in a single pass and the tools are driven to the workpiece at a high feed rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Inventor: James D. Moore
  • Patent number: 4300672
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for automatically processing the end portions of a plurality of pieces of tubing of a constant predetermined length, comprising two separate processing modules the distance between which may be quickly changed for processing tubing of a different constant predetermined length, each module being independently powered and having its own transport means for moving the tubing in "hand-to-hand" fashion to and from all of the processing stations thereon, the transport means being designed to handle only the ends of the tubing disposed in the vicinity of the module. Means for synchronizing the transport means on the two modules is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: Bundy Corporation
    Inventors: Barry C. Millar, Keith W. Little
  • Patent number: 4285460
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for double jointing pipe, wherein a first pipe section is moved onto a pipe support roller assembly and moved lengthwise over a boom which carries a pipe clamp and internal welder at its end. A second section of pipe is then moved onto the pipe support roller assembly and moved lengthwise into engagement with the first pipe section. After the first and second pipe sections have been properly aligned and the clamps expanded to hold the pipe sections in welding positions, the pipe sections are rotated simultaneously while both internal and external welds are made simultaneously. A cap weld may also be formed with the pipes clamped as described, or the pipes may be moved to another support roller assembly and the cap weld made while the connected pipe sections are on the second support roller assembly. The methods and apparatus disclosed result in considerable savings as to both the cost of equipment and operating costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Midcon Pipeline Equipment Co.
    Inventor: Edward A. Clavin
  • Patent number: 4262408
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for assembling a hose unit consisting of a given length of hose having end couplings inserted respectively in each of its ends. The given length is measured and cut off, being inserted freely, longitudinally in a rigid tube without endwise restraint. The couplings are inserted simultaneously, the thrust applied being balanced as well as sufficient to compress the hose longitudinally, while the dimensions of the tube relative to the hose are such as to prevent buckling. The rigid tube moves perpendicularly of the length of hose, preferably about a common axis, stepwise to a series of stations. In one station the inserted couplings are secured to the respective ends by a commercial crimper-expander. The hose unit is then dropped or ejected to a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Ernest D. Johnson, David L. Braun
  • Patent number: 4262402
    Abstract: A servicing machine for a steam generator is accurately set up in the generator channel head with a pivoted arm mounted for rotation in a plane parallel to the tubesheet. The angular position of the arm, the longitudinal position of a carriage mounted on the arm and the vertical position of a platform on the carriage are remotely controlled to maneuver a probe used in mapping the precise location of the thousands of holes in the tubesheet. Various operations are then performed at each precise hole location by tools carried by the arm mounted carriage to prepare for installation of new tubing. The operation of a pair of remotely controlled pivoted arms, one on each side of the channel head divider plate, is coordinated to automatically position the ends of U-shaped tubes in corresponding holes in the tubesheet on opposite sides of the divider plate and to secure the same in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Frank W. Cooper, Jr., Raymond P. Castner