Abstract: An apparatus for high-pressure bulge forming of tubular workpieces has an upper die plate facing generally downward and extending at an acute angle to the vertical and a lower die plate generally parallel to and confronting the upper die plate. One of the plates is movable along an axis generally perpendicular to the plates toward and away from the other die plate. Respective upper and lower die halves carried on the die plates can fit together to form a die cavity having open ends and are adapted to receive a one of the workpieces with ends of the workpiece exposed at the open ends of the die cavity. The one die plate and the respective die half are displaceable toward and away from the other die plate. Respective actuators on the upper die plate have heads engageable with the ends of the workpiece in the die cavity and one head is formed with a passage for internally pressurizing the workpiece in the die cavity for bulge-deforming the workpiece.

Abstract: In the internal pressure shaping of a tubular workpiece into a hollow body in a surrounding die, an opening can be formed in a wall of the workpiece by advancing a plunger while the maximum internal pressure is maintained to partially cutout a piece of the wall corresponding in shape to the plunger. That piece remains attached by a portion of the thickness of the wall. Their upon the internal pressure is reduced and the plunger is retracted until the cutout portion is pressed fully from the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for hydraulically shaping a hollow body has a stationary base, a die fixed on the base and formed with a cavity having an inner surface and axially oppositely open ends so that a tubular workpiece can be held in the cavity with ends of the workpiece exposed at the ends of the cavity, and a pair of pistons fittable with the workpiece ends. Respective actuators can displace the pistons toward each other and against the ends of the workpiece in the cavity. A hydraulic liquid is fed at high pressure through one of the pistons to an interior of the workpiece in the cavity to deform the workpiece. Respective first guides support the pistons on the base for vertical movement thereon, respective second guides support the pistons on the base for horizontal movement thereon, and respective third guides support the pistons on the base for pivotal movement about respective centers.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a plurality of an annular non-helical corrugations in a cylindrical tube has two generally parallel shafts that can be displaced toward and away from each other and that are driven oppositely and synchronously by a common main drive. A central roller disk is fixed on one of the shafts and a pair of axially displaceable outer disks flank this disk on the one shaft. A pair of axially displaceable roller disks are provided on the other shaft each lying between a respective one of the outer disks of the one shaft and the central disk. Respective threaded spindles adjacent the shafts threadedly engage the respective displaceable roller disks and these spindles are threaded such that when rotated in one rotational sense the respective disks move axially together and vice versa.

Abstract: A tube-making machine has a pair of axially spaced end supports between which upper and lower bending rollers extend axially. These rollers have ends journaled in the supports with the upper roller vertically limitedly displaceable in the support and the lower roller vertically nondisplaceable. A pair of axially extending side rollers horizontally flanking the upper and lower rollers have ends also journaled and vertically limitedly displaceable in the supports. A C-shaped rigid member lying generally in a plane between the supports and perpendicular to the axes of the rollers has rigid upper and lower arms respectively juxtaposed with the upper and lower bending rollers. Respective upper and lower support rollers are urged by respective upper and lower hydraulic cylinders respectively downwardly and upwardly into engagement with the upper and lower bending rollers at the plane to prevent deflection of these rollers during operation of the machine for bending or crimping.

Abstract: An apparatus for joining and cladding pipe sections has a cradle which holds two cylindrical pipe sections with their ends abutting axially and their axes coaxially horizontally aligned. A carriage is displaceable axially adjacent the cradle and carries a primary welding tool which can weld the ends of the pipe sections together as they are rotated in the cradle. Metal strip can be pulled of a supply of strip on the carriage, bent into a U-section, arced, and helically applied to the pipe sections as they rotate. Meanwhile a second welding tool on the carriage welds the arced U-section strip to the pipe sections as they rotate to form a helical passage therealong.