Abstract: A manufacturing assembly for manufacturing a metal part comprises a flattening module having a trolley and at least one pressing roller. The flattening module is movable along a hemming of the metal part. The flattening module comprises at least one pressing actuator that is arranged to move the at least one pressing roller in a determined pressing direction relative to the trolley and to place the pressure roller bearing against the free surface such that the at least one pressing roller exerts pressure on the free surface in said determined pressing direction. The pressure increases auto-adaptively with an altitude of the free surface in a direction opposite the determined pressing direction.

Abstract: A system for automatically forming sheet metal tubes from blanks cut to size. The system having a mechanism for positioning a blank for processing. A lifting arrangement having a wrap strap and pressure pad to raise the blank to a forming station having a mandrel is positioned so that the wrap strap extends on either side of said mandrel and underneath the blank before a side wiper on each side of said mandrel forces the overlap of opposite edges of the blank along a length of the mandrel. The mandrel includes a clinching die bar along its length. A sealing mechanism with a vertically movable row of clinching prongs is lowered to attach the overlapping edges of the blank by clinching at multiple positions to form a tube around the mandrel before being removed by a gag bar and a stripper plate.

Abstract: A method of making a composite fabrication member having a shape selected from the group consisting of C-shape, U-shape, or Z-shape by providing first and third planar members suitable to form bases of a composite fabrication member, providing a second planar member suitable to form a web of a composite fabrication member, uncoiling and passing through accumulators the planar members, aligning the planar members, attaching the first, second, and third planar members together at respective side portions by induction welding to form a composite intermediate product to form a composite fabrication member having a shape selected from the group consisting of C-shape, lipped C-shape, U-shape, lipped U-shape, Z-shape or lipped Z-shape.

Abstract: A method of making a composite fabrication member having a shape selected from the group consisting of C-shape, U-shape, or Z-shape by providing first and third planar members suitable to form bases of a composite fabrication member, providing a second planar member suitable to form a web of a composite fabrication member, uncoiling and passing through accumulators the planar members, aligning the planar members, attaching the first, second, and third planar members together at respective side portions by induction welding to form a composite intermediate product to form a composite fabrication member having a shape selected from the group consisting of C-shape, lipped C-shape, U-shape, lipped U-shape, Z-shape or lipped Z-shape.

Abstract: A square pipe manufacturing method includes: a first processing step of forming a first intermediate formed product 13 by bending both widthwise end portions of a rectangular metal plate 1; a second processing step of forming a second intermediate formed product 21 by bending both widthwise sides of a bottom surface 11 of the first intermediate formed product 13; a third processing step of obtaining a third intermediate formed product 23 by curving the side wall surfaces 17 to be convex outward in the width direction by pressing the flange parts 7, 7 toward the bottom wall surface 19 and then pressing the curved side wall surfaces 17 inward in the width direction; and a fourth processing step of crush-deforming corners 31, 31, 33, 33 of the third intermediate formed product 23.

Abstract: A method of making a composite tube-shaped fabrication member by providing in coils a first planar member suitable to form a flange of a tube-shaped fabrication member, two second planar members suitable to form web portions of a tube-shaped frame member, and two third planar members suitable to form a portion of a flange of the tube-shaped member, uncoiling the coils for first, second, and third planar members and passing them through accumulators, aligning the first, second, and third planar members adjacent respective side portions and attaching side portions of each planar member to respective side portions of adjacent planar members to form a composite intermediate product, and cold-forming to form a composite fabrication member of a desired shape.

Abstract: A method for the production of a hollow section from a blank, wherein the blank is introduced between two coreless halves of a die which have a desired section shape and can be displaced relative to one another and the blank is formed into a slotted hollow section by a closing movement of the halves of the die, includes preventing edges of the blank from sliding ahead during the closing movement of the die. A device for the production of hollow sections, which device has two coreless halves of a die which are positioned displaceably relative to one another and optionally a base plate, the halves of the die having the desired section shape of the hollow section which is to be formed includes means which, when the coreless halves are closing, prevent edges of a blank from sliding ahead to produce a slotted hollow section.

Abstract: A method of making a composite tube-shaped fabrication member by providing in coils a first planar member suitable to form a flange of a tube-shaped fabrication member, two second planar members suitable to form web portions of a tube-shaped frame member, and two third planar members suitable to form a portion of a flange of the tube-shaped member, uncoiling the coils fo first, second, and third planar members and passing them through accumulators, aligning the first, second, and third planar members adjacent respective side portions and attaching side portions of each planar member to respective side portions of adjacent planar members to form a composite intermediate product, and cold-forming to form a composite fabrication member of a desired shape.

Abstract: A supporting core for using in a device for forming plates into a structured hollow profile and a method for producing structured hollow profiles from a plate, which on the one hand ensures an all-over support of the plate, and still enables the production of hollow profiles with a variable cross-section or a curved course, is provided by including individual supporting members, which when pushed together at least in part form as a surface an inner contour of the hollow profile to be produced and are interconnected by means of coupling elements, wherein the coupling elements allow the supporting members to be pulled-apart, and wherein the supporting members are interconnected in a hinged manner in the pulled-apart position.

Abstract: A machine-plate manufacturing device 30 includes a cylinder section 32 having an outer circumferential portion. A groove into which an engagement portion of the sheet is removably inserted is formed in the outer circumferential portion of the cylinder section 32. On the inner side of the outer circumferential portion of the cylinder section 32, magnetic attraction members 51 formed of a magnetic material are provided, and permanent magnets 53 are provided in such a manner that their orientation can be switched. Permanent-magnet switching means is provided to switch the orientation of the permanent magnets 53 between a magnetization position for magnetizing the magnetic attraction members 51 and a demagnetization position for demagnetizing the magnetic attraction members 51.

Abstract: The number of sub-parts of a closed structure part and the number of steps for manufacturing the closed structure part can be reduced and, therefore, the closed structure part can be efficiently manufactured. In a hemming press step, a punch is further lowered, and a pair of flange portions is inserted into a slit clearance. Hemming prongs are bent and each of the hemming prongs sandwiches the flange portion. The flange portion, which is one of the two flange portions, is joined to the other flange portion. At the same time, a pair of press forming surfaces of the punch presses a metal plate and performs press-forming on a pair of shoulder portions of a blank into a predetermined shape. The flange portion can be fixed to the other flange portion using the hemming prongs. The pair of shoulder portions of the blank can be press-formed into the predetermined shape.

Abstract: A guiding and shaping system for producing welded pipes made from metallic strip material. The guiding and shaping system comprises several pairs of rolls that are disposed one behind another in the direction of travel of the workpiece and are used for increasingly cold-working and bending the edges of the workpiece as the workpiece advances. First pairs of rolls grip the top side and bottom side of the workpiece while pairs of rolls that grip the external faces of the bent edges and form the shape of a pipe are provided in the region where the bent edges form undercuts. The guiding and shaping system further comprises a welding device. The workpiece is supported by floatingly mounted lateral rolls until cooling off following the welding process.

Abstract: A method for producing slit hollow profiles from a cut blank is provided, in which the hollow profile is produced from the essentially flat blank using rolling-up technology or using U-O-forming, so that the hollow profile has a slit in the axial direction along the abutting edges of the formed blank. Highly dimensionally stable, slit hollow profiles can be produced which can be easily joined to form closed hollow profiles, is achieved by the cut blank providing a circumferential length in the locally provided cross-sectional areas which is greater than the required forming length, so that when the cut blank is formed into a closed hollow profile the opposite edges of the formed cut blank abut on one another and when it is formed into the final shape at least the areas of the hollow profile abutting on the edge joint are at least partly compressed in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a porous metal foam cone assembly. The metal foam cone assembly according to the present invention includes providing a porous metal foam sheet; cutting the porous metal foam sheet to be in a predetermined shape using a cutting press that is provided with a knife tool; disposing the cut metal foam sheet on a base plate of a forming die and then primarily forming the metal foam sheet using a mandrel of a cone shape; secondarily forming the metal foam sheet using a left slider and a right slider of the forming die; and pressing an overlapping portion of the metal foam sheet using a stamping jig of the forming die after the forming using the left and right sliders.

Abstract: The machine for the formation of tubes includes at least, in series with each other, forming stations including pairs of idle rollers which make rototranslational movements of the same amplitude but in opposite directions, and at least one finishing station including four idle rollers having a concave profile with a constant curvature and able to perform rototranslational movements of the same amplitude and direction according to 90° axes. The lower rollers of each forming station have an elliptical profile with a curvature decreasing form the outer edge to the inner edge of the roller. The upper rollers of the first forming station have an elliptical profile with a curvature increasing from the outer edge to the inner edge of the roller; the upper rollers of the forming stations subsequent to the first have a circular profile.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hollow profile-members having a longitudinal flange, wherein a plate which is arranged between the stamp and the first die being preshaped by introducing a stamp into a first die to form an U-shaped profile-member having a first member and a second member, and wherein the U-shaped profile-member being shaped with a second die to form an O-shaped profile-member having a longitudinal flange. In one aspect, the plate is preshaped to form the U-shaped profile-member, a longitudinal flange member portion is shaped in at least the first member and the longitudinal flange member portion is constructed during the shaping of the U-shaped profile-member to form an O-shaped profile-member substantially in a shape-retaining manner to form a portion of the longitudinal flange.

Abstract: A duct making apparatus bends a metal web to form a duct blank having a lock tab at a forward end and having a Z-fold at a rearward end. Prior to shearing off the duct blank from the metal web, the apparatus bends the duct blank to insert the lock tab into the Z-fold, and further bends the Z-fold to form a clinch tab holding the lock tab into the Z-fold. After shearing off the duct blank from the metal web, the apparatus clinches the clinch tab over the lock tab to form a completed duct blank.

Abstract: A device for producing at least partly closed profiles from a blank includes at least one first die and at least one second die which can be positioned opposite the first die. The first die has a cavity and two side walls, wherein the side walls and the cavity of the first die can be raised and lowered relative to one another. A U-punch is provided to produce a U-shaped cross-sectional shape of the blank with the first die. The second die of the device has a cavity for producing an at least partly closed cross-sectional shape from a U-shaped blank. The device also has at least one supporting core. The cavity of the second die has elongated side walls in the direction of the first die, with which, the side walls of the first die can be lowered relative to the cavity of the first die.

Abstract: A vertical Pittsburgh Seam closing apparatus having a base supporting surface, a track mechanism for moving a carriage assembly which holds seam forming members used to close a Pittsburgh Seam, a pair of upper and lower guide members for guiding the duct section into a proper vertical position, and upper and lower clamping members positioned inside the duct section and adjacent the inside portion of the Pittsburgh Seam to be closed, the upper guide members and clamping member being selectively movable and adjustable for accommodating different duct section lengths. In one embodiment, the seam forming assembly includes three roller members mounted in vertical arrangement to each other, one roller member being V-shaped in configuration and the other two roller members being substantially cylindrical in shape. The V-shaped roller member may also include one or more projecting members for forming dimples in the closing process to prevent shifting and/or slipping of the closed seam.

Abstract: A tube forming apparatus performs a forwardly rotating step in which a main roll is rotated forwardly with a pair of subsidiary rolls in a forming position during a move of a contact position between the main roll and a work from a first end of the work to a central portion of the work, a feeding step in which the main roll is rotated forwardly with the pair of subsidiary rolls in a retracted position during a move of the contact position between the main roll and the work from the central portion of the work to a second end of the work, and a reversely rotating step in which the main roll is rotated reversely during a move of the contact position between the main roll and the work from the second end of the work to the central portion of the work.

Abstract: A method of producing a ring member includes a cutting process in which a rectangular sheet is formed by cutting a strip-shaped material pulled out from a coiled material; a joining process in which opposite edges of the sheet are butted, and a cylindrical member is formed by joining the edges to each other; and a ring formation process in which a ring member is formed by cutting the cylindrical member in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the cylindrical member. In the cutting process, the strip-shaped material is i) cut along one of a first section line parallel to an edge of the strip-shaped material facing a direction in which the strip-shaped material is pulled, or a second section line perpendicular to the edge, and then ii) cut along the other of the first or second section line, that is perpendicular to the line previously cut.

Abstract: A ductmaking apparatus bends a metal web to form a duct blank having a lock seam with male and female portions. Prior to shearing off the duct blank, the apparatus bends the web to form a lock tab that secures the lock seam during subsequent handling of the duct blank.

Abstract: A fintube includes a body having a first fin, a second fin and a tube section. A first overlap fold is provided between the first fin and the tube section. The first overlap fold includes an open groove. A second overlap fold is provided between the second fin and the tube section. A seam includes a second overlap fold received and held in the groove of the first overlap fold. Methods for making a fintube are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vertical Pittsburgh seam closing apparatus having a base supporting surface for positioning a duct section thereon in a vertical orientation, a track mechanism for moving a carriage assembly which holds seam forming members used to close a Pittsburgh seam, a pair of upper and lower guide members for guiding the duct section into a proper position, and upper and lower clamping members movable between an unclamped position and a clamped position wherein each clamping member is positioned inside the duct section and adjacent the inside portion of the Pittsburgh seam to be closed, the upper guide members and clamping member being selectively movable and adjustable for accommodating different duct section lengths. In one embodiment, the seam forming assembly includes a pair of roller members mounted in vertical arrangement to each other, one roller member being V-shaped in configuration and the other roller member being substantially cylindrical in shape.

Abstract: A toothed rack has hollow sections and a longitudinal axis that extends parallel to a longitudinal direction and which in the hollow region includes a wall encompassing the longitudinal axis of the toothed rack in a circumferential direction and in at least a subregion comprises a toothing. In the circumferential direction spaced apart from the toothing, at least one local attenuation and/or holding edge is developed in the wall, which, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the toothed rack, extends at least over a portion of the length of the toothing next to the attenuation.

Abstract: A method for producing metallic sealing and stopper elements for flat gaskets by winding or rolling at least one metallic, sheet metal- or foil-like base body to obtain a tube as an intermediate product, bringing the mutually opposing end regions or parts, or the entire contact surface of the tube, into operative connection with each other by way of bonding, non-positive or positive joining techniques, or combinations thereof, contouring the tube or tube sections generated therefrom at least in some regions, and severing at least one annular or disk-shaped component in order to generate a sealing or stopper element in the contoured region of the tube or tube section.

Abstract: A machine for continuously forming square tubes includes, in sequence, forming stations suitable for progressively bending a sheet strip, at least one finishing station suitable for further approaching the edges of the bent sheet strip for the final welding and at least one station for closing the square tube. In a forming station, the axes of rotation of the lower rolls of each pair of forming rolls are horizontal and aligned to each other. Each finishing station includes an idle forming roll placed below the square tube being formed; two idle forming rolls, placed at the sides of the square tube being formed, performing movements in opposite directions, parallel to the plane of the sheet strip and two idle forming rolls placed above the square tube being formed, performing movements orthogonal to the plane of the sheet strip.

Abstract: A method for producing a rear crossmember for a vehicle seat that includes the steps of providing metal plate stock having a first edge and a second edge as well as performing a simultaneous punching and clinching operation to locate and secure a plurality of threaded fasteners into the plate stock at predetermined points. This operation causes an opening to be punched through the plate stock and the fasteners to be permanently retained in the plate stock at the openings. The plurality of fasteners provide threaded connection points that are employed in the further construction of the vehicle seat. A rolling operation is employed to cause the first edge of the plate stock to come into close proximity with the second edge of the plate stock in such a manner as to form the desired cross-sectional shape for the rear crossmember and a welding operation used to secure the first edge to the second edge thereby forming the rolled plate stock into the desired rear crossmember.

Abstract: To produce hollow profiles from sheet-metal blanks, the invention uses at least two process steps to form said blanks into a slit profile which is subsequently welded to produce the finished welded profile. For this purpose a mandrel is used which cooperates with a first tool part in the first step, and with a second tool part in the second step, such as to form a gap with the recess of each tool part into which a portion of the sheet-metal blank is guided. Shaping the sheet-metal blank in at least two steps means that a mandrel that is a self-contained component and can therefore be moved by a simple control device can be used to support the sheet-metal blank while the slit profile is being created. This considerably reduces the equipment needed to produce the hollow profile. Moreover, forming the sheet-metal blank into the slit profile in at least two steps also considerably improves the reliability with which this shaping takes place.

Abstract: A process of forming a shaped composite material is provided which includes the steps of providing a composite strip having a substantially rigid substrate with a major surface and a polymer overlying the major surface of the substantially rigid substrate. The process further includes shaping the composite strip with a mandrel to form a shaped composite piece having a shape substantially defined by the shape of the mandrel, wherein during the shaping step the major surface of the composite strip is substantially maintained in one plane.

Abstract: A bending press for making tubing from a substantially planar and longitudinally extending metal sheet has a support extending transversely generally parallel to the sheet vertically offset from the sheet, and a bender at one of the edges of the sheet and slidable transversely generally parallel to the sheet on the support. The bender has a pair of bending tools, a tie rod extending transversely in the direction adjacent the pair of tools, and an actuator braced transversely in the direction between the tie rod and the tools and extensible in the direction to tension the rod and press the tools against opposite faces of the sheets at the one edge to deform the one edge. A clamp is engageable between the bender and the support for releasably locking the bender to the support at any of a plurality of positions offset transversely therealong generally parallel to the sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for production of a tube (2) with a polygonal, preferably rectangular cross-section, comprising a tube welding unit (3), in which the tube (2) is formed from a sheet metal strip and welded at the resulting jointing position and a rolling unit (4), connected to the tube welding unit (3) in the transport direction (R) of the tube (2), which essentially rolls the tube (2) into the desired polygonal cross-sectional contour. According to the invention, right-angled tubes may be produced with the optimal geometry, whereby a camber rolling unit (5) is arranged in series with the rolling unit (4) in the transport direction (R) of the tube (2), by means of which at least two opposing tube sides (6, 7) may be rolled with a pair of crowned convex rollers (8, 9).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a bending press for bending the boundary edge of a planar sheet for shaping into an open seam tube, with an upper tool shaped to correspond to the bend radius to be achieved and an opposed lower tool which may be displaced vertically, between which the boundary edges of the sheet which is clamped in place in the press frame may be bent into the desired boundary contour. The lower tool is provided with a straight working surface and mounted to pivot about a rotational axis whereby the pivot range is at least so large that a permanent planar contact between the working surface of the lower tool and the bottom face of the boundary edge is possible during the bending.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a thin wall sheet with first and second edge portions into a shell with a predetermined body configuration and a lockseam in which the edge portions are folded over each other. The apparatus includes a mandrel, a means for at least partially wrapping the sheet around the mandrel into the predetermined body configuration, and a number of gathering bars for engaging the sheet to configure the first and second edge portions according to a predetermined design. The apparatus also includes a number of forming bars for forming the first and second edge portions into respective preselected shapes extending above the top side of the mandrel, and a number of lockseaming rollers for folding the first and second edge portions over each other to form the lockseam.

Abstract: A method for producing hollow profiles provided with different cross sections along the length thereof includes shaping the profiles in a die from one piece of cut metal sheet. According to said method, a convex or concave rounding produced on the edges of a longitudinal section results in material excess or material shortage in the transition regions, thereby preventing the material thinning or thickening in said transition regions during forming.

Abstract: A process of producing profiles whose cross-section is variable in the longitudinal direction, characterised by the process stages of cutting a blank 31 with a substantially constant width along a longitudinal direction, deforming the blank 31 by deep-drawing to form an open profile whose cross-section is variable along the longitudinal direction, and cutting the flanges projecting from the open profile.

Abstract: In a method of making a tube, a sheet metal blank is placed in a U-shaped cavity of a lower mold of a shaping tool, and pressed into the cavity by a ram to shape the blank into a U-shaped configuration. In a next process step, the U-shaped blank is formed between an upper mold and a lower mold of a molding press into a tubular configuration. The upper and lower molds of the molding press with accommodated tubular profile are then clamped together and the clamped upper and lower molds are then removed from the molding press. Subsequently, the confronting longitudinal edges of the tubular profile are welded together via an opening that provides access to the longitudinal edges. After separation of the upper mold from the lower mold, another shaping cycle may begin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pipe body of which the edge sections contact with each other stably and which can be formed only by means of only a press processing without performing a welding in mass-producing, wherein separation-prevented engagement due to deformation of at least one of the engagement sections absorbs the spring back in the press processing. Also, the present invention provides a pipe body, a metal plate for the pipe body and a forming method of the pipe body using the sheet metal for the pipe body.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for forming thin-walled material from an essentially flat piece of material (2) into a sleeve-like body (20), with two forming dies (3, 4), at least one of which is configured to be able to move into position against the other one and at least one of the forming dies (3, 4) is pivoted, while the clearance between the two forming dies (3, 4) when they are open is so large that the flat piece of material (2) can be placed between the two forming dies.

Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing UOE steel pipes, wherein, when an opening width of the U-can obtained by U-ing press is larger than the die-diameter in an O-press of later step, while said opening is narrowed from the front end by the closing rolls disposed before said O-press and/or at least at the entrance portion of the O-press to be smaller than the die-diameter of said O-press, the U-can is simultaneously conveyed into the O-press, and then, after charging into the O-press, undergoes O-ing press to yield an O-can. The device is preferably configured to have the closing rolls disposed in a roll stand and consisted of multiple pairs, to have a mechanism to prevent the U-can from moving upward during narrowing the opening width, and to have the function of conveying the U-can. Thus, UOE steel pipes for high-strength application corresponding to X80 grade can be efficiently manufactured.

Abstract: The present invention provides seam-welded, air hardenable steel tubes, methods of manufacturing seam-welded air hardenable steel tubes, tube mills for practicing such methods and applications for using seam-welded, air hardenable steel tubing of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pipe body having a rectangular cross section, including preparing a metal plate having edges parallel to each other and bending lines parallel to the edges, forming malleable portions extending perpendicular to the bending lines, forming the metal plate into an intermediate product by bending at the bending lines such that the intermediate product includes a center bottom wall, adjoining walls, and two upper walls, applying external forces to the adjoining walls so as to expand and curve the center bottom wall outward, thereby bringing the edges in the upper walls into intimate contact, and applying external force to the curved center bottom wall so as to flatten the center bottom wall and maintain the edges in close contacted condition with a spring back force in the center bottom wall, wherein the malleable portions are formed in the adjoining walls.

Abstract: A small diameter metal tube whose inner surface is smooth and its production method are provided. The metal tube has an inner diameter of up to 1.0 mm and its inner surface has a maximum height difference (Rf) in the surface roughness of up to 3 ?m.

Abstract: A small diameter metal tube having at least two inner diameters is provided. A method for producing this metal tube is also provided. In this method, a plate member having a development shape of the metal tube is blanked from a metal thin plate so that the plate member is left partly tied to the metal thin plate, the plate member is press formed into a tubular body having the at least two inner diameters, and the plate member partly tied to the metal thin plate is cut apart to produce the metal tube having at least two inner diameters.

Abstract: A method of forming a tubular workpiece which consists in pre-bending a metal plate along at least two longitudinal lines of bend (12–13) then in bending the plate along at least one of the lines of bend (12–13) using a bending member (103–104) that exerts an external clamping force (F7, F8) along a part (23, 24) of the plate towards the at least one of the lines of bend (12, 13). Thereby preventing any sliding of part (23, 24) of the plate along the bending member (103–104) as the bending member bends the part. The bending member is articulated about a virtual geometrical axis (a, c) located inside a tubular section of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing pipe body by which pipe body with precise quality and closely contacted seam can be made stably by pressing process, and pipe body manufactured by the method are provided. To manufacture a pipe body 1 made of metal with circular or polygonal cross section comprising a seam 5e and a wall 2 or plurality of walls 2, 3 and 4, a pipe-like intermediate product 14 is made by bending a metal plate 6 of which edges to be seam 5e have not yet contacted together. In case for prism pipe, the intermediate product comprises walls 5a, 5b to be contacted and be a wall including seam, and other walls, and both angles of both ends of one specified wall 15 of the intermediate product are larger than those of completed pipe.

Abstract: A pontoon including a substantially cylindrical member having a length in excess of about 14 feet and having no external circumferential welds intermediate the ends of the member and being substantially linear along its length axis.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a tubular end product, wherein an aluminum plate is formed into a generally cylindrical body such that opposite end sections of the cylindrical body are flattened and butted together along a joint region extending parallel to an axis of the cylindrical body, and such that each of the opposite flattened end sections has a predetermined width L as measured normal to the joint region, and the opposite flattened end sections are joined together at the joint region, by a friction stir butt welding operation wherein a rotary tool having a circular shoulder surface and a probe extending from the shoulder surface is moved relative to the cylindrical body while the shoulder surface is in rubbing contact with the flattened end sections, with the probe being rotated with the rotary tool and inserted in the joint region.

Abstract: A method for producing longitudinally welded helically corrugated metal tubing, wherein a metal strip pulled from a strip supply is formed into tubing with a longitudinal slit, the longitudinal slit is sealed by welding and the corrugation is produced by a corrugation tool that is supported eccentrically and at an angle to the tubing axis, is freely rotatable in a rotationally driven corrugator head, and rolls off the surface of the tubing. The metal strip as well as the uncorrugated metal tubing are advanced by a feed device that is provided between the welding point and the corrugation unit. A second feed device (8) engages the corrugated tubing (7) directly behind the corrugation unit (6), and the feed rate of the second feed device is slower than the forward feed rate of the corrugated tubing (7) which results from the pitch of the corrugator disk and the rotational speed of the corrugator head.

Abstract: A rolled tube fabrication method of making a rolled tube by: cutting a surface-treated metal sheet material subject to the desired size, and then bending the two opposite lateral side edges of the surface-treated metal sheet material into a respective hooked portion, and then forcing the two hooked portions of the surface-treated metal sheet material to hook each other, and then roller-ramming the hooked area of the surface-treated metal sheet material so as to obtain a finished rolled tube.