APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRE-FORMING A METAL STRIP FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ROLL FORMED AND WELDED TUBES

Abstract

An apparatus and method for pre-forming a metal strip, having an embossing tool and a strip edge chamfering tool, the embossing tool having an embossing roll having a cylindrical surface with a central embossing portion, and the strip edge chamfering tool having an edge chamfering roll having a recessed central section and side sections on each side of the central section, and an anvil roll, the edge chamfering roll and the anvil roll being configured to receive and pass the metal strip in a clearance formed between the rolls, the clearance having a reduced height in the side sections, which are located in a position where the longitudinal side edges of the metal strip will pass, so that the longitudinal side edges on each side of the metal strip, and on the embossed side of the metal strip become chamfered when being passed between the pair of rolls.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for pre-forming a metal strip for the manufacture of roll formed and welded tubes and a method of pre-forming a metal strip.

BACKGROUND ART

Welded pipes and tubes are typically manufactured by longitudinally forming flat metal strips into a nearly complete tube and then welding the two edges together. There are many areas of application for roll formed tubing, for example in the field of the HVAC&R market (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration). Within this technical field, environmental demands motivate a development toward air conditioning and refrigeration appliances with increased efficiency. In response to this, efforts have been made to supply smaller-diameter tubes with a wide range of inner surface enhancements, able to increase their heat transfer coefficient, in respect to standard smooth solutions. Methods of manufacture of advanced products such as small diameter welded tubes with inner surface patterning for heat exchange applications must result in products with minimal unwanted internal irregularities to obtain optimal flow properties and heat transfer. With increasing demands on cost reduction, there has been an interest in providing an alternative to copper tubing, which has traditionally been dominating for use in air conditioning and refrigeration appliances, in the form of aluminium tubing. It is therefore desirable to find a way to manufacture aluminium tubes with characteristics that are competitive for the purpose of applications such as within the field of HVAC&R.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for pre-forming a metal strip for the manufacture of roll formed and welded tubes, comprising an embossing tool and a strip edge chamfering tool. The embossing tool comprises an embossing roll having a cylindrical surface with a embossing central portion. The strip edge chamfering tool comprises an edge chamfering roll comprising a recessed central section and side sections on each side of the central section, and an anvil roll, which are configured to receive and pass the metal strip in a clearance formed between the rolls. The clearance has a reduced height in the side sections, which are located in a position where the longitudinal side edges of the metal strip will pass, so that the longitudinal side edges on each side of the metal strip, and on the embossed side of the metal strip become chamfered when being passed between the pair of rolls.

Preferably, the embossing tool comprises the cylindrical surface of the embossing roll and said surface comprises the central embossing portion and side portions arranged on each side of the central portion, said central portion being provided with an embossing pattern and said side portions being free from embossing pattern, and the central section of the strip edge chamfering tool is dimensioned such that an embossed pattern of a metal strip passing between the pair of rolls through the edge chamfering clearance is not affected by the rolls. The strip edge chamfering tool (30) is preferably separate from the embossing tool and arranged downstream of the embossing tool in a travel direction (T) of the strip to be pre-formed.

Alternatively, the embossing tool and the strip edge chamfering tool may be integrated so as to comprise one combined embossing and edge chamfering roll, whereby the central embossing portion is comprised in the central section of the edge chamfering clearance.

The first and second rolls are shaped such that the clearance comprises a central section dimensioned such that an embossed pattern of a metal strip passing between the pair of rolls is not affected by the rolls. The clearance further comprises side sections arranged on each side of the central section, in which the clearance has a reduced height. The side sections are located in a position where the longitudinal side edges of the metal strip will pass, so that the longitudinal side edges on each side of the metal strip, on the side of the metal strip directed toward the embossing roll, become chamfered when being passed between the pair of rolls. Thereby, the height of the weld bead of the finished roll formed and welded tube can be minimized.

Advantageously, when the strip edge chamfering tool is arranged downstream of the embossing tool in a travel direction (T) of the strip to be pre-formed, the embossing pattern on the central portion of the embossing roll preferably comprises a plurality of grooves arranged in the cylindrical surface of the central portion, and the cylindrical surface of each side portion is preferably level with the cylindrical surface of the central portion between the grooves, which further contributes to reducing the inner weld bead height. The embossing roll can be comprised of a central embossing pattern roll pack and side rolls, where the side rolls are arranged on each side of the central embossing pattern roll pack, and wherein the central embossing pattern roll pack has a cylindrical surface forming the central portion and the side rolls have cylindrical surfaces forming the side portions. This allows flexibility as to the choice of embossing pattern. The cylindrical surface of the embossing roll preferably has a total width of 15 mm or more, and the central portion of the embossing roll suitable has a width which is 85-99% of the total width.

The central section of the clearance between the first and second rolls of the strip edge chamfering tool, has a width which is equal to or greater than the width of the central portion of the embossing roll to ensure that the embossed pattern on the central portion of the strip is not affected by the passage through the edge chamfering tool. The first roll of the pair of rolls in the edge chamfering tool is preferably designed to comprise a recess having outwardly inclined side edges on each side of the recess, running along the circumference of the cylindrical surface of the first roll. The inclined side edges are suitably inclined at an angle of 30-60°, preferably 43-47°, to give a sufficient edge chamfering.

The side sections of the clearance between the first and second rolls each may suitably have a width which for each of the side sections is equal to or greater than half of the difference between the total width of embossing tool (W1) and the width of the central portion of embossing tool (W2).

The present disclosure further relates to a method of pre-forming a metal strip comprising embossing a pattern on the strip in a central portion in a longitudinal direction thereof, while side portions on each side of the central portion of the strip are rolled without embossing pattern, and chamfering the longitudinal side edges of the strip on the side of the strip which is provided with the embossed pattern. During the chamfering, the strip material at the longitudinal side edges of the strip are pressed down, up to 20-60% of the strip thickness, preferably 35-40%, thereby forming an inclined edge surface along the longitudinal side edges of the strip, in order to minimize the inner weld bead of the finished welded tube. The embossing pattern provided on the strip comprises protrusions, and the side portions of the strip are suitably rolled during the embossing step to a strip thickness which is approximately level with the strip thickness between the protrusions of the embossing pattern. Thereby, the side portions of the strip will have a lower thickness in respect to the thickness of original metal strip, which leads to a smaller inner weld bead in the tube. Chamfering of the side edges preferably follows in a subsequent step.

The present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given below. The detailed description and specific examples disclose preferred embodiments of the disclosure by way of illustration only. Those skilled in the art understand from guidance in the detailed description that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a preferred pre-forming set-up;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an example of an embossing roll according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view of the embossing roll of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view of the encircled detail shown in FIG. 3a;

FIG. 3c is a cross-sectional view of a detail of an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a detail of an embossing portion of an embossing roll of an example according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a detail of an embossing portion of an embossing roll of another example according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a partly cross-sectional view of a tube having an interior embossed pattern;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the edge of a strip which is pre-formed by an embossing roll according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8a shows a portion of an edge chamfering roll;

FIG. 8b shows a portion of an edge chamfering tool with a strip entering the tool;

FIG. 9a-c shows schematically the seam section of a roll formed strip during welding of the longitudinal side edges thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for pre-forming a metal strip for the manufacture of roll formed and welded tubes, comprising an embossing tool and a strip edge chamfering tool. The strip edge chamfering tool may preferably be arranged downstream of the embossing tool in a travel direction of the strip to be pre-formed. However, as an alternative, chamfering of the strip edges prior to the embossing may be contemplated, or integrating the embossing and the edge chamfering operation in one tool comprising a single combined embossing an edge chamfering roll and an anvil. In an apparatus with the edge chamfering tool arranged prior to the embossing tool in the strip travel direction, the embossing roll and the edge chamfering roll may include the same features and configuration as is described below for the embodiment in which the edge chamfering tool arranged subsequent to the embossing tool in the strip travel direction. In an apparatus comprising a combined embossing and edge chamfering tool with a single combined embossing an edge chamfering roll, the embossing and edge chamfering are performed simultaneously, which means that the embossing pattern is arranged within the recess of the strip receiving clearance, which is dimensioned so that the central portion of the strip receives the embossing pattern on its surface and the longitudinal side edges become chamfered, and that preferably a non-patterned portion is provided on each side of the embossed central portion of the strip.

Regardless of how the strip pre-forming apparatus is set up, the intended result is the production of a pre-formed metal strip having an embossed surface pattern on a central portion thereof, and chamfered longitudinal side edge portions, which allows for efficient manufacture of small diameter tubes by roll forming and welding the pre-formed strip. In the following, the apparatus is described basically based on the preferred embodiment in which the embossing tool and the edge chamfering tool are separate tools, which each comprises a strip pre-forming roll and an anvil. However, it should be understood that the details described below apply to all these embodiments, unless otherwise indicated.

By performing the embossing and the edge chamfering in separate subsequent steps, the strip pre-forming process is more flexible and the properties of the resulting pre-formed strip are easier to control. In this embodiment, the embossing tool comprises an embossing roll having a cylindrical surface with a central portion and side portions arranged on each side of the central portion, the central portion being provided with an embossing pattern and the side portions are free from embossing pattern. The strip edge chamfering tool comprises a pair of first and second rolls, wherein the first roll is an edge chamfering roll comprising a recessed central section and side sections on each side of the central section, and the second roll is an anvil roll. The edge chamfering roll and the anvil are configured to receive and pass the metal strip in a clearance formed between the rolls. The first and second rolls are shaped such that the clearance comprises a central section dimensioned such that an embossed pattern of a metal strip passing between the pair of rolls is not affected by the rolls. The clearance further comprises side sections arranged on each side of the central section, in which the clearance has a reduced height. The side sections are located in a position where the longitudinal side edges of the metal strip will pass, so that the longitudinal side edges on each side of the metal strip, on the side of the metal strip which was directed toward the embossing roll, become chamfered when being passed between the pair of rolls. Thereby, the height of the weld bead of the finished roll formed and welded tube can be minimized, as will be described in more detail below. Accordingly, by means for the apparatus a metal strip can be pre-formed so as to facilitate welding and result in a final tube product with improved weld quality.

The final tube products may suitably be advanced small diameter tube products made of aluminium or alloys thereof, having a diameter of 20 mm or less, preferably 5-10 mm. The tube products are preferably manufactured as continuous tube coils having a length of over 500 m, preferably over 1000 m. Such tube products find use for example within the field of heating, ventilation, air conditioning or refrigeration.

The process of welded tube roll forming involves roll forming a pre-formed strip into a tubular shape and welding the longitudinal edges of the strip together so as to obtain the tube by means of high frequency welding in an induction heating weld coil. To achieve this, the strip is fed into a forming mill or apparatus that shapes the strip through different consecutive forming steps, performed by as many forming rolls. As the strip passes through the weld coil, an electromagnetic field is induced around the weld coil, which induces a current to flow in the strip, mostly concentrated at the edges to be joined. The metals resistance to the electricity flow generates the necessary heat development at these edges, that rapidly reach the melting point. When the edges are still in molten state, they are forged together thanks to the interaction with side squeeze rolls, applying force on the strips and, therefore, generating the required pressure at the two edges' interface. When passing through the weld rolls, the oxidized metal and the molten metal are extruded out of the joint and the clean underlying metal is bonded. Following the welding, sizing rolls complete the process, giving desired final geometry to the tube.

Production of advanced tube products such as small diameter welded tubes with inner surface patterning for heat exchange applications from metal strips involves a two-stage process, including the stage of pre-forming the strip, and the stage of roll forming the strip into a tubular shape and welding it into a tube.

In the manufacture of roll formed and welded tube made from aluminium strips, it is important to mitigate problems that may arise due to characteristics of the aluminium material. In order to achieve desired heat transfer properties, the tubes have an interior embossed surface pattern. The variance in strip width should preferably be kept at a minimum to improve stability in the welding process and quality of the finished tube product.

The strip is typically provided in the form of a blank strip coil to the pre-forming stage, in which the strip is prepared to be ready for tube forming and welding in the next stage. The pre-forming stage involves the step of embossing the strip on the surface that will form the inside of the tube, to obtain the embossed pattern that will form the inner grooves of the tube. After the pre-forming stage, the strip can suitably be stored in the form of a coil, until it is to be roll formed and welded in the form of a tube.

The embossing procedure that is performed in an embossing station comprises a cold deformation process performed on strips with the aim of obtaining the surface pattern. The embossing pattern on the central portion of the embossing roll preferably comprises a plurality of elongated grooves having a certain depth and being arranged at an angle with respect to the direction of rotation of the embossing roll. The groove depth of the embossing roll pattern is preferably below 0.35 mm. Various embossing patterns can be applied, for example a helical pattern improves the performance in evaporation applications, and a herringbone pattern improves the performance in condensation applications.

Applying the desired pattern onto the strip surface by embossing is a cold roll-forming process, where the blank strip is fed into a system of coupled rolls, comprising an embossing roll and an anvil roll, applying the necessary forming pressure. The embossing roll has a cylindrical surface comprising a central portion having an embossing pattern and side portions arranged on each side of the central portion. The side portions are free from embossing pattern. The central portion of the embossing roll is provided with a negative of the desired strip pattern, and is pressed onto the strip, which is sustained by the anvil roll, thereby cold roll-forming and embossing the strip. The embossing pattern provided on the embossing roll causes impression of a corresponding embossed pattern on the strip surface, where the grooves of the embossing roll pattern correspond to protruding fins on the strip, so that a pattern of fins is created on the strip surface. The fin height corresponds to maximum the groove depth of the embossing roll pattern.

The anvil roll may be fixed in horizontal position, while the embossing roll may have the freedom to be adjusted in vertical direction, varying the gap between the rolls, thus allowing to tailor and optimally distribute forming pressure on the strip.

The central portion of the embossing roll may be comprised of a central embossing pattern roll pack, and the side portions may be comprised of side rolls, arranged on each side of the central embossing roll pack. The central embossing pattern roll pack has a cylindrical surface forming the central portion of the embossing roll and the side rolls have cylindrical surfaces forming the side portions of the embossing roll. In this way flexibility as to the embossing pattern is obtained. Alternatively, the embossing roll can be made in one piece.

The central embossing pattern roll pack can be comprised of a single embossing pattern disc, or two or more embossing pattern discs with or without spacer discs in between. The embossing pattern discs and the optionally included smooth spacer rings, may preferably have bevelled edges at the interface between them, so that circumferential channels are formed at said interfaces by the bevelled edges. This minimises locally stress in the material, and thus decreases the risk that the tool breaks.

The central embossing pattern roll pack takes care of the pattern formation, and the side rolls serve to provide non-patterned side portions on the strip, described below, by pressing on the outer side portions of the strip. The two side rolls can be bolted to the central embossing ring, which can be clamped to a central shaft and fixed in position in the embossing station.

As mentioned, the side portions of the embossing roll are free from embossing pattern. Thereby, the outer side portions along the cold roll-formed and embossed strip do not present any embossed pattern, but have a smooth surface. By providing these non-patterned side portions along the length of the strip during the pre-forming stage, the risk of variations in the strip edge thickness can be minimized and risk of uneven geometries at the strip edge being presented at welding point can be reduced, and the risk of embossed fins being welded together causing formation of a large inner weld bead can be avoided. Accordingly, the provision of the non-patterned side portions on the embossed strip allows for optimal control of the strip edge geometry, which is essential in ensuring optimal welding conditions, to improve process stability and post-welding tube quality.

The cylindrical surface of the embossing roll may suitably have a total width of 15 mm or more, and the central portion has a width, which is 85-99% of the total width. A strip width of 15 mm or more is suitable for the manufacture of heat exchanger tubes for HVAC&R applications, for example up to 64 mm.

The width of the non-patterned side portions of the embossing roll is determined based on considerations related to the welding ease and the heat transfer performances of finished tube. Wider non-patterned side portions will be easier to weld, since this will be closer to a standard procedure of smooth strip welding. However, too wide non-patterned side portions may adversely affect the final heat transfer performances, since in the ideal case a continuous pattern all around the inner circumference of the tube would be desired. Accordingly, the width of the non-patterned side portions should preferably be a small as possible, while still ensuring that no embossed fin would have been included in the inner weld bead. It has been found that the combined width of both non-patterned strip side portions should preferably be 1-15% of the total strip width when the strip has a total width of 15 mm or more.

The cylindrical surfaces of the side portions of the embossing roll are preferably level with the cylindrical surface of the central portion between the grooves of the embossing roll pattern. This is particularly beneficial in combination with the edge chamfering of the strip that takes place in the subsequent step of the pre-forming, described below, since it can further reduce the height of the inner weld bead of the finished welded tube. Accordingly, the strip in the area of the non-patterned side portions is preferably rolled down to nominal bottom wall thickness of the strip during the embossing stages, i.e. so as to be level with the bottom of the grooves between the fins of the embossed surface pattern. Therefore, the side portions are kept smooth but are still rolled to a thickness lower than the original one in blank form. This improves the performance of the final tube, since the inner weld bead height can be reduced, resulting in less disturbance to fluid dynamics within the final tube. The desired thickness of the non-patterned side portions can be obtained by selecting the outer diameter of the embossing roll at the side portions to be the same as the outer diameter of the embossing roll at the central portion.

During high frequency welding of roll formed tubes in an induction heating weld coil, a weld bead is normally formed on the inside of the tube. The high frequency welding process is a true hot forging process, during which a molten part of the tube edges is ejected out of the welding area both inside and outside the tube. The inner ejection forms, after solidification, the inner bead. For larger diameter tubes, the weld bead does rarely present a problem. However, internally enhanced tubes suitable for HVAC&R applications typically have a small diameter suitably 20 mm or less, and it is therefore important that the inner weld bead is as small as possible. To ensure minimum inner bead height, while maintaining tube burst pressure at required levels, the strip edges of the incoming embossed strip are modified in shape. The strip edges are chamfered on the side that will form the inside of the tube, in a cold roll forming process. By tailoring the chamfering angle and the length defining the slope and dimension of the chamfering, the height of the inner bead can be kept sufficiently low to be contained within the depth of the embossed surface pattern.

As mentioned, according to the preferred embodiment, the strip edge chamfering tool comprises a pair of first and second rolls, which are configured to receive and pass the metal strip in a clearance formed between the rolls. The first and second rolls are shaped such that the clearance comprises a central section dimensioned such that an embossed pattern of a metal strip passing between the pair of rolls is not affected by the rolls. This ensures that the embossed pattern is kept intact on a strip that has been embossed prior to entering the edge chamfering tool. The clearance further comprises side sections arranged on each side of the central section, in which the clearance has a reduced height. The side sections are located in a position where the longitudinal side edges of the metal strip will pass, so that the longitudinal side edges on each side of the metal strip, on the side of the metal strip which was directed toward the embossing roll, become chamfered when being passed between the pair of rolls. After roll forming of the strip into a nearly finished tube form, the edges of the strip will be welded together. Due to the edges chamfering, less material is present at the longitudinal edges of the strip. This is particularly pronounced when the non-patterned side portions of the strip have been rolled to be level with the bottom of the embossed pattern as described above. In this way, inner weld bead starts building up on the inner surface of the tube from a bottom wall thickness level, instead of the higher original strip thickness. Less material is ejected from the welding area and the chamfered edges form a space where a part of the molten material can be contained. Thereby, the height of the weld bead of the finished roll formed and welded tube can be minimized, while maintaining the capability of the finished products to meet the mechanical requirements.

The rolls of the edge chamfering tool can be designed in various ways. Preferably, the first roll of the pair of rolls in the edge chamfering tool is arranged such that the embossed side of the strip will face the first roll, and is designed to comprise a recess having outwardly inclined side edges on each side of the recess, running along the circumference of the cylindrical surface of the first roll. The inclined side edges are suitably inclined at an angle of 30-60°, preferably 43-47°, to give a sufficient edge chamfering. The side sections of the clearance between the first and second rolls each may suitably have a width which for each of the side sections is equal to or greater than half of the difference between the total width of embossing tool (W1) and the width of the central portion of embossing tool (W2). As the clearance between the rolls of the edge chamfering tool is dimensioned so as to not affect the embossing pattern, by having a height that exceeds the maximum strip thickness, an outer edge of the strip is chamfered by the inclined sides of chamfer roll side sections, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 7, which shows an edge chamfering operation in a step subsequent to the embossing step.

The present disclosure further relates to a method of pre-forming a metal strip comprising embossing a pattern on the strip in a central portion in a longitudinal direction thereof, while side portions on each side of the central portion of the strip are rolled without embossing pattern, and chamfering the longitudinal side edges of the strip on the side of the strip which is provided with the embossed pattern. As mentioned above, the embossing is preferably performed separately prior to edge chamfering, but can if desired be performed subsequent to, or simultaneously with, the edge chamfering. During the chamfering, the strip material at the longitudinal side edges of the strip are pressed down, up to 20-60% of the strip thickness, preferably 35-40%, thereby forming an inclined edge surface along the longitudinal side edges of the strip, in order to minimize the inner weld bead of the finished welded tube. The embossing pattern provided on the strip comprises protrusions, and the side portions of the strip are suitably rolled during the embossing step to a strip thickness which is approximately level with the strip thickness between the protrusions of the embossing pattern, which is particularly advantageous when the embossing is performed prior to edge chamfering. Thereby, the side portions of the strip will have a lower thickness which lead to a smaller inner weld bead in the tube.

Description of Example Embodiments

The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred example embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a set-up 20 for pre-forming a metal strip 40. The set-up includes an embossing station with an embossing roll 1 and an anvil 22, and an edge chamfering tool 30 comprising a pair of roll 31, 32. The strip 40 travels through the pre-forming tools in a travel direction T.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an example of an embossing roll, and FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view of the same roll, and FIG. 3b show details. The embossing roll 1 has a cylindrical surface 2, which comprises a central portion 3 having an embossing pattern 10 and side portions 4a, 4b arranged on each side of the central portion 3. The side portions 4a, 4b are free from embossing pattern as shown in FIG. 3b. The cylindrical surface of the embossing roll has a total width W1, and the central portion has a width W2, which is 85-99% of the total width W1.

In the shown example, the central portion 3 of the embossing roll 1 is comprised of a central embossing pattern roll 6, and the side portions 4a,4b are comprised of side rolls 7a,7b. The side rolls are arranged on each side of the central embossing roll. The embossing pattern 10 on the central portion of the embossing roll comprises a plurality of elongated grooves 11 having a depth D1 and being arranged at an angle with respect to the direction of rotation of the embossing roll, said groove depth D1 of the embossing pattern preferably being below 0.35 mm. As shown in FIGS. 3a-b, the cylindrical surfaces of the side portions 4a,4b are level with the cylindrical surface of the central portion 3 between the grooves.

FIG. 3c is a schematic cross-sectional view of a detail of a combined embossing and edge chamfering roll. In this case, the embossing portion 3′ is arranged in the central section 34′ of the recess 37′. The non-patterned side portion 4a′ is also included in the central section 34′. The side section 35′ includes the inclined edge chamfering side edges 36′.

The central embossing roll can be in the form of an embossing pattern roll pack, comprising multiple embossing pattern rolls. Thus, the central portion 3 of the embossing roll 1 can be comprised of an embossing pattern roll pack including one or more embossing pattern discs 13a, 13b with cylindrical embossing surfaces having the same or different embossing pattern provided thereon. FIG. 4 illustrates a detail of an embossing roll pack comprising two pattern rolls, the metal strip 40 to be embossed, and the anvil 22. In this case, the embossing pattern roll pack comprises two embossing pattern discs 13a, 13b each having an embossing pattern consisting of grooves arranged at an angle, but with mirroring patterns, which together form a herringbone pattern on the embossed strip. FIG. 5 illustrates a detail of an embossing roll pack comprising a smooth spacer ring 15 between the embossing pattern disc 13a,13b. In this case, the cylindrical surface of each spacer ring is level with the cylindrical surface of the central portion 3 between the grooves. As shown in FIG. 5, the embossing pattern discs 13a,13b and the smooth spacer ring 15 have bevelled edges 16,17 at the interface between them. FIG. 6 shows a partly cross-sectional view of a tube 18 having an interior embossed herringbone pattern 19.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of a portion of a finished pre-formed strip, which has been pre-formed by an embossing roll according to the present disclosure in a step subsequent to embossing. The contour of the recess provided in the edge chamfering roll 31 is indicated by means of a dashed line. The recess that comprises the central section 34 and the side sections 35 (of which only one is shown in FIG. 7) forms the strip receiving clearance 33 together with the anvil (not shown). The clearance 33 is dimensioned so that the fins 44 of embossed pattern in the central portion 41 of the strip are not affected, and in this example the side section 35 which comprises the outwardly inclined edge chamfering side edge 36 has a width which is greater than the non-patterned side portion 42 of the strip. The outermost edge of the strip is chamfered down to a thickness represented at the dashed line 43. The drawing also shows how the surface of the side portion 42 is level with the bottom of the grooves created between the fins 44 of the central portion 41 on which an embossing pattern is provided comprises a plurality of protruding fins 44 (only one fin is shown in this drawing). The fins 44 correspond to the grooves 11 of the embossing pattern 10 on the embossing roll (FIG. 3b).

FIG. 8a shows a portion of an edge chamfering roll 31 comprising a central section 34 dimensioned such that an embossed pattern of a metal strip passing between the pair of rolls is not affected by the rolls 31,32. Side sections 35 are arranged on each side of the central section, in which the clearance 33 has a reduced height. The central section 34 and the side sections 35 together form a recess 37 running along the circumference of the cylindrical surface of the first roll. The recess has outwardly inclined side edges 36 on each side formed at the side sections 35. FIG. 8b shows a portion of an edge chamfering tool configured to receive and pass the metal strip 40 in a clearance 33 formed between the rolls 31, 32. In this drawing, the upper roll 31 corresponds to the roll shown in FIG. 8a. the upper roll forms the edge chamfering on the side of the strip which is to be the inside of the finished tube. The roll 32 acts as an anvil.

FIG. 9a-c illustrates the welding principle and shows the seam section of a roll formed strip during welding of the longitudinal side edges thereof. After pre-forming in the apparatus comprising the embossing tool and the edge chamfering tool, the strip is roll formed until the chamfered edges have been brought close to one another (FIG. 9a). The nearly closed tube is subjected to high frequency welding by passing it through a welding coil, in which the strip material starts to melt due to the energy induced by the high frequency coil (FIG. 9b). During the welding, the molten material fills the space formed between the chamfered edges of the strip and forms the weld bead (FIG. 9c). because of this space and the low thickness of the strip at the welding area, the inner weld bead height can be kept at a minimum.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. The person skilled in the art further realizes that modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for pre-forming a metal strip (40) for the manufacture of roll formed and welded tubes, comprising an embossing tool (20) and a strip edge chamfering tool (30) wherein

the embossing tool comprises an embossing roll (1) having a cylindrical surface (2) with a central embossing portion (3, 3′), and

the strip edge chamfering tool comprises an edge chamfering roll (31) comprising a recessed central section (34) and side sections (35) on each side of the central section, and an anvil roll (32), wherein the edge chamfering roll (31) and the anvil roll (32) are configured to receive and pass the metal strip in a clearance (33) formed between the rolls, wherein the clearance (33) has a reduced height in the side sections, which are located in a position where the longitudinal side edges of the metal strip will pass, so that the longitudinal side edges on each side of the metal strip, and on the embossed side of the metal strip become chamfered when being passed between the pair of rolls (31, 32).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the embossing tool comprises the cylindrical surface (2) of the embossing roll (1), said cylindrical surface comprising the central embossing portion (3) and side portions (4a, 4b) arranged on each side of the central portion, said central portion being provided with an embossing pattern (10) and said side portions being free from embossing pattern, and

the central section (34) of the strip edge chamfering tool (30) is dimensioned such that an embossed pattern of a metal strip passing between the pair of rolls through the edge chamfering clearance (33) is not affected by the rolls (31, 32).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the embossing tool and the strip edge chamfering tool are integrated so as to comprise one combined embossing and edge chamfering roll, whereby the central embossing portion (3′) is comprised in the central section (34′) of the edge chamfering clearance (33).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the embossing pattern (10) on the central embossing portion comprises a plurality of grooves (11) arranged in the cylindrical surface of the central portion (3), and wherein the cylindrical surface of each side portion (4a, 4b) is level with the cylindrical surface of the central portion (3) between the grooves, and wherein the strip edge chamfering tool (30) is arranged downstream of the embossing tool in a travel direction (T) of the strip to be pre-formed.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the embossing roll (1) is comprised of a central embossing pattern roll pack (6) and side rolls (7a, 7b), said side rolls being arranged on each side of the central embossing pattern roll pack, and wherein the central embossing pattern roll pack has a cylindrical surface forming the central portion (3) and the side rolls have cylindrical surfaces forming the side portions (4a, 4b).

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical surface of the embossing roll has a total width (W1) of 15 mm or more, and the central portion of the embossing roll has a width (W2), which is 85-99% of the total width (W1).

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central section (34) of the clearance (33) between the first and second rolls (31, 32) of the strip edge chamfering tool (30), has a width (W3) which is equal to or greater than the width (W2) of the central portion (3) of the embossing roll (1).

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first roll (31) of the pair of rolls in the edge chamfering tool comprises a recess (37) having outwardly inclined side edges (36) on each side of the recess, running along the circumference of the cylindrical surface of the first roll.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inclined side edges (36) are inclined at an angle of 30-60°.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the side sections (35) of the clearance (33) between the first and second rolls (31, 32) each have a width which is equal to or greater than half of the difference between the total width of embossing tool (W1) and the width of the central portion of embossing tool (W2).

11. A method of pre-forming a metal strip (40) comprising

embossing a pattern on a central portion (41) of the strip, in a longitudinal direction thereof, while side portions (42) on each side of the central portion of the strip are rolled without embossing pattern, and

chamfering the longitudinal side edges (43) of the strip on the side of the strip which is provided with the embossed pattern.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, during the chamfering, the strip material at the longitudinal side edges (43) of the strip are pressed down, up to 20-60% of the strip thickness, thereby forming an inclined edge surface along the longitudinal side edges of the strip.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the embossing pattern comprises protrusions (44), and the side portions of the strip are rolled during the embossing step to a strip thickness which is approximately level with the strip thickness between the protrusions of the embossing pattern, followed by chamfering of the side edges in a subsequent step.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the embossing and edge chamfering are performed simultaneously in an integrated embossing and edge chamfering tool.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inclined side edges (36) are inclined at an angle of 43-47°.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein, during the chamfering, the strip material at the longitudinal side edges (43) of the strip are pressed down, up to 35-40% of the strip thickness, thereby forming an inclined edge surface along the longitudinal side edges of the strip.