To Form Helically Seamed Tube Patents (Class 228/145)
  • Patent number: 11724339
    Abstract: A method for producing a drill shaft for a wet drill bit includes forming N, where N?1, strip materials into a tubular body where the tubular body is integrally joined at strip edges of the strip materials by N connection welds. At least one strip material of the strip materials is provided with at least one recess before the integral joining of the strip edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Schroeder, Christoph Weber, Roland Schneider
  • Patent number: 11213872
    Abstract: Spiral forming methods can be used to join edges of a rolled material along a spiral joint to form conical and/or cylindrical structures. Alignment of the edges of the rolled material can be controlled in a wrapping direction as the material is being joined along the spiral joint to form the structure. By controlling alignment of the edges of the material as the edges of the material are being joined, small corrections can be made over the course of forming the structure facilitating control over geometric tolerances of the resulting spiral formed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Smith, Rosalind K. Takata, Daniel Ainge, Loren Daniel Bridgers
  • Patent number: 10850470
    Abstract: A mandrel designed for use in the construction of a custom-sized box includes a common platform on which a plurality of peripheral members is independently mounted. Each peripheral member comprises a disc-shaped base rotatably mounted on the common platform, a tongue slidably mounted within a channel formed in the base, and a vertical upright rotatably mounted at one end of the tongue. To construct a box, an elongated continuous strip of material is helically wrapped around the vertical uprights to form a main box body with a plurality of bands. Cutting mechanisms in each upright are actuated to create slots in the main box body that define flaps used to selectively enclose the open top and bottom ends of the box body. By reconfiguring the vertical uprights in the mandrel, a customized box can be constructed that is dimensioned to receive a consumer product with limited wasted space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: DOME ZERO INC.
    Inventor: Yildiray Sager
  • Patent number: 10395794
    Abstract: An electric cable (10) includes at least one composite reinforcement element (1) including one or more reinforcement element(s) at least partially embedded in an organic matrix. A coating (2) surrounds the composite reinforcing element(s) (1). The coating (2) is sealed all around the composite reinforcing element(s) (1). At least one conducting element (3) surrounds the coating (2), where the thickness of the sealed coating (2) does not exceed 3000 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Michael Meyer, Daniel Guery, Michel Martin, Sophie Barbeau, Claus-Friedrich Theune, Corinne Poulard
  • Patent number: 10246211
    Abstract: A container is produced from a single-layered, helically bent sheet metal strip. In the strip's upper or lower border region a first helically running border portion of the strip is bent out via a helically running outwardly bent edge with a curved region toward the outside of the container as a protruding flange. A second helically running border portion is in the lower/upper border region. The border regions each border one another adjacently height-wise and are connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner via a continuous, helically running welded joint. The second border portion runs rectilinearly in the plane of the strip and the welded joint has a first and a second weld seam. The first and second weld seams are applied from the outside and the inside of the container, respectively, and the two weld seams are fused to each other in the weld route thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Inventor: Xaver Lipp
  • Patent number: 10189064
    Abstract: A control system for forming a tapered structure includes a sensor providing feedback for a machine for forming a tapered structure including at least three rolls having at least one bend roll and at least two guide rolls. The guide rolls may include rollette banks having a plurality of rollettes. The machine may also include an adjustment mechanism to position at least one of the rolls, where a diameter of the tapered structure being formed is controlled by relative positions of the rolls. The machine may also include a joining element to join edges of a stock of material together as it is rolled through the rolls to form the tapered structure. The control system may also include a controller to receive feedback from the sensor and to send a control signal based on the feedback to the adjustment mechanism for positioning at least one of the rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosalind K. Takata, Eric D. Smith, Loren Daniel Bridgers, Daniel Ainge, Alexander H. Slocum
  • Patent number: 9952000
    Abstract: A heat pipe assembly that includes at least one axial groove heat pipe and at least one porous media heat pipe. The porous media heat pipe may be embedded into a flange of the axial groove heat pipe, or embedded into a wall of the axial groove heat pipe, or embedded into another bore of the axial groove heat pipe. The evaporator of the at least one porous media heat pipe may be located remotely and can accept a high heat flux, while a condenser of the at least one porous media heat pipe is attached to the axial groove heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jens E. Weyant, Michael Dechristopher, William G. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9099857
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tubular helical support (1) for the radial support of resiliently expanded tubing (27), a process and a device (18) for the production thereof, and a tubing arrangement (26) comprising a helical support (1) according to the invention, the helical support (1) being made of at least one extruded element (2), which is wound to form a plurality of windings (11, 12, 13) and the connection portions (7, 8) of which are connected to one another at least in portions by a connection seam (15), preferably formed as a laser weld seam. To produce a helical support (1) which reliably withstands the compression forces of the tubing (27), can easily be removed from the expanded tubing (27), and is easy and cheap to produce, it is provided in accordance with the invention that at least the interconnected connection surfaces (9, 10) of the connection portions (7, 8) of the extruded element (2) are not transparent to laser beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem GmbH
    Inventor: Thilo Simonsohn
  • Patent number: 8941023
    Abstract: In a method for producing welded helical seam tubes having optimized tube geometry a metal strip is helically formed into an open seam tube by means of a forming unit and the converging strip edges are welded together, wherein an actual diameter determined on the welded tube is compared with a specific target diameter and a possible deviation lying outside a tolerance threshold is used to correct the actual tube diameter, wherein the strip edges are completely welded in a two stage step, including tack welding as a first step immediately after the shaping to form an open seam tube and thereafter final welding as a second step. The tube diameter is measured after the complete shaping to form an open seam tube and before the final welding. For this purpose, the diameter measuring device is arranged in such a way that either the completely shaped open seam tube or the only tack-welded tube is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Salzgitter Mannesmann Grossrohr GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Holste, Franz Martin Knoop
  • Publication number: 20140360718
    Abstract: Cylindrical screens and screen assemblies for use with perforated base pipe or casing for sand control in wellbores have generally longitudinally extending slots punched in the screen. The outer surface of the screen material is deformed below the inner surface causing apertures to form along the longitudinal edges of the slot. The slots are generally longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical screens whether butt-welded or spiral-rolled and welded by determining the angle at which the slots need to be punched to result in such alignment. End caps which connect between the screen and the casing extend over the ends of the cylindrical screen and are welded thereto to minimize sand entry. At least one of the end caps may include an expansion joint to permit relative expansion and contraction between the screen and the casing particularly when used in thermal recovery operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: ANTON ENERGY SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jian (James) MA, Yonghua ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8636196
    Abstract: A separator with a helix assembly that includes a plurality of segments disposed end to end and forming an intermediate casing. Each of the segments has a tubular portion with a first circumferential edge and a second circumferential edge and a helical portion extending from the second circumferential edge. The tubular portions of the segments form an intermediate casing, while the helical portions of the segments form a spiral helix. The helix assembly further includes an inner casing concentrically disposed within the intermediate casing and coupled to the spiral helix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald J. Hill
  • Patent number: 8328072
    Abstract: A method for forming a wave form for a stent. The wave form includes a plurality of substantially straight portions and a plurality of curved portions. Each curved portion connects adjacent substantially straight portions. The method includes feeding a formable material between a first die and a second die, the first die having a protruding surface in the shape of the wave form, and the second die having a recessed surface in the shape of the wave form complementing the protruding surface of the first die, pressing the formable material with the protruding surface of the first die into contact with the recessed surface of the second die, and shearing the wave form from the formable material with shearing forces created by the pressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Goshgarian, Erik Griswold
  • Patent number: 8118210
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a helical cladding bead to the interior surface of a pipe elbow has a rotor mounted to an elbow carriage so as to be rotatable about a primary axis. The elbow carriage is longitudinally movable parallel to the rotor's rotational axis. A radially-movable elbow collar is mounted to the rotor, and has means for mounting a first end of a pipe elbow. The second end of the elbow passes through a stationary frame with centering means for keeping the elbow's curved centerline tangential to the primary axis. A weld arm, extending from a weld arm carriage into the second end of the elbow, is sinuously configured so that it will not interfere with the elbow. The weld arm is rotatable about the primary axis in coordination with the rotor. A weld head is mounted at the extending end of the weld arm so as to remain spatially fixed regardless of rotation of the weld arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: 1272507 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventor: Norman Alexander Greenwall
  • Patent number: 7942307
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a helical cladding bead to the interior surface of a pipe elbow has a rotor mounted to an elbow carriage so as to be rotatable about a primary axis. The elbow carriage is longitudinally movable parallel to the rotor's rotational axis. A radially-movable elbow collar is mounted to the rotor, and has means for mounting a first end of a pipe elbow. The second end of the elbow passes through a stationary frame with centering means for keeping the elbow's curved centerline tangential to the primary axis. A weld arm, extending from a weld arm carriage into the second end of the elbow, is sinuously configured so that it will not interfere with the elbow. The weld arm is rotatable about the primary axis in coordination with the rotor. A weld head is mounted at the extending end of the weld arm so as to remain spatially fixed regardless of rotation of the weld arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: 1272507 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventor: Norman Alexander Greenwall
  • Publication number: 20100288822
    Abstract: A tube, which is especially employed for making the main frame tube of a bicycle, is fabricated by means of a 6-4Ti alloy sheet being fed to the forming mold with a feed device, being cold-rolled with the stamping block, winding the circumferential side of the forming mold as a tube blank with a spiral clearance extending along the tube blank, and welding the tube blank at the spiral clearance as a seam of the finished tube. In this way, the fabricated tube has an advantage of providing a high strength to resist being deformed easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: CHING-CHI CHUNG, HSIU-CHEN YANG
  • Patent number: 7757928
    Abstract: A system and method of forming a continuous strip from a plurality of strips, each strip having a leading end and a trailing end. Embodiments can include a forming apparatus that chamfers at least one of the leading and trailing ends of each strip. The chamfered trailing ends may then be positioned against chamfered leading ends of successive ones of the plurality of strips. Once a leading end and a trailing end are positioned against one another, a first welding apparatus may weld on a first side, from above, the trailing and leading ends positioned against each other to form weld joints. Once at least two strips have been welded together, the strips can constitute the continuous strip. An inverting apparatus can then invert the continuous strip and weld joints. The inversion of the weld joints can be done so as not to create a reverse bend in the continuous strip. A second welding apparatus can then weld on a second side opposite the first side, from above, the inverted weld joints to form weld junctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren, Ltd.
    Inventors: Balkrishan Goenka, Braja Mishra, Prasantakumar Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 7645313
    Abstract: A filter element (1) wound from a plurality of filter layers in which the circumferential contour (5, 5?) of a cross-sectional area (4) of the filter element (1) has at least one circumferential contour section (5?) undercutting the envelope contour (6, 6?) of the cross-sectional filter element area (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Lampert, Andreas Pelz, Josef Rohrmeier, Thomas Sieber, Mario Rieger
  • Patent number: 7434718
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for cutting or welding tubes (3) or similar workpieces, said device comprising a guiding mechanism which is used to control the cutting or welding torch (17) along a pre-determined line and is provided with a stand-type portal (7). Said portal comprises a through opening (8) into which the workpiece (3) to be machined can be guided in the axial direction. A rotary part (14) can be rotated about the axis of the through opening (8) in a motor-driven manner, guiding a holding arm (16) therewith, which carries the cutting or welding torch (17) on the free end thereof. Said holding arm (16) is fixed to the rotary part (14) and embodied in such a way that the cutting or welding torch (17) moves radially in relation to the axis of the through opening (8) and can be brought into various angular positions in relation to the surface of the workpiece (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Eisenmann Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Wirth
  • Patent number: 7287684
    Abstract: An apparatus for filtering well fluids and method of manufacture is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an inner support, a filter spirally wrapped around the inner support, and an outer support wrapped around the filter enclosing the filter between the inner and outer supports. The filter has longitudinal edges which overlap and the filter is held in place by friction with the inner and outer supports. The method of manufacturing the apparatus comprises continuously and simultaneously wrapping a filter and outer support around an inner support and disposing the filter between the outer and inner supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Tubular Perforating Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventor: Edward F. Blackburne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7117702
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for forming pipe from helical convulsions of elongated sheet metal. A decoiler, rolling portion and pivot are mounted on a trailer, with a rigid frame extending from pivot and being laterally pivotable at the pivot in relation to the trailer. A forming head, cutoff saw, and dump table are mounted on the frame and pivotable therewith so that various diameters of pipe can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: James Nyssen
  • Patent number: 7111770
    Abstract: Connecting ends on a hose piece comprising several metal layers, in particular a strip wound metal hose piece, are produced by fixing the overlapping metal layers of a hose of larger length or of an endless hose in the region of the point of separation through welding and subsequently cutting off the hose piece from the longer hose or the endless hose. For simple and inexpensive fixing of the metal layers in the region of the point of separation, a welding seam is generated which extends through at least part of the periphery of the hose or about its entire periphery, using roller seam welding. The hose piece can subsequently be separated along the welding seam obtained in this manner, e.g. along its central line, thereby ensuring permanent and reliable fixing of the metal layers in the region of the connecting end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: IWKA Balg- u. Kompensatoren-Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Edward Kern, Marc Pontzen, Stephen Goley
  • Patent number: 6993841
    Abstract: A ribbon of color A metal is combined with a thin layer of soldering alloy, bent and soldered to form a tube, it is then filled with a core of color B metal. The compound is then drawn and/or laminated until it is transformed into a long ribbon or into a wire, externally of color A and internally of color B. The filled ribbon or wire is wrapped like a solenoid around a deformable support, like a metal mesh and stamped into the desired shape. The resulting two faced element is then ground in order to remove, all along a strip and following a line or in dots, the superficial part of color A until the core of color B is revealed. The bi-colored long element is then treated like a single body and allows the realization of precious bi-colored ornamental items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Orocinque S.p.A.
    Inventor: Rodolfo Grotti
  • Patent number: 6884305
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high strength ?+? titanium alloy pipe not requiring a large amount of cutting and enabling full use to be made of the features of titanium alloy of light weight and high strength and a method for production of the same. Specifically, a high strength ?+? titanium alloy pipe having an outside diameter of at least 150 mm and a wall thickness of at least 6 mm, the ?+? titanium alloy pipe characterized by having a welded seam running in the longitudinal direction of pipe at one location and by having a ratio of the minimum wall thickness to the maximum wall thickness of the portions excluding the weld zone of 0.95 to 0.99. Also, a method of production of a high strength ?+? titanium alloy pipe comprising cold forming a high strength ?+? titanium alloy plate of a wall thickness of at least 6 mm into a tubular shape by the U-O method or press-bending method and welding together the abutted plate edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Fujii, Masatoshi Murayama
  • Patent number: 6732906
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for the manufacture of large-diameter, elongated, generally conical members in a continuous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: John I. Andersen
  • Publication number: 20030234273
    Abstract: A ribbon of colour A metal is combined with a thin layer of soldering alloy, bent and soldered to form a tube, it is then filled with a core of colour B metal. The compound is then drawn and/or laminated until it is transformed into a long ribbon or into a wire, externally of colour A and internally of colour B. The filled ribbon or wire is wrapped like a solenoid around a deformable support, like a metal mesh and stamped into the desired shape. The resulting two faced element is then ground in order to remove, all along a strip and following a line or in dots, the superficial part of colour A until the core of colour B is revealed. The bi-coloured long element is then treated like a single body and allows the realisation of precious bi-coloured ornamental items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: OROCINQUE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Rodolfo Grotti
  • Patent number: 6612481
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a wellscreen for subterranean use in oil, gas, and water wells, incorporating numerous automated processes, whereby layers of mesh are continuously sintered to a perforated strip, formed into a tube, placed over a perforated base pipe, and sealed with end rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Bode
  • Patent number: 6279813
    Abstract: A cylindrical helical seamed metal tube wherein the seam thereof is at an angle of between 1 and 25 degrees with respect to the axis of the tube. A method of making the tube comprises the steps of continuously feeding the metal strip into a tubing former to form the metal strip into a helical tube with the leading and trailing edges juxtaposed, the feeding such that the strip longitudinal axis is at a substantially constant acute angle with respect to the tube longitudinal axis of between 1 and 25 degrees. After the tube is substantially formed, applying pressure on at least the leading edge, leading portion, trailing edge and trailing portion in the direction of the cylindrical wall such that same substantially conform to the cylindrical wall. The juxtaposed leading and trailing edges are fused together to form a fused seam, and maintained in a juxtaposed position until the seam cools sufficiently to maintain the juxtaposed position. An apparatus for making the tube is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventors: Edward A. Akins, George Harms
  • Patent number: 6145732
    Abstract: A cylindrical helical seamed metal tube wherein the seam thereof is at an angle of between 1 and 25 degrees with respect to the axis of the tube. A method of making the tube comprises the steps of continuously feeding the metal strip into a tubing former to form the metal strip into a helical tube with the leading and trailing edges juxtaposed, the feeding such that the strip longitudinal axis is at a substantially constant acute angle with respect to the tube longitudinal axis of between 1 and 25 degrees. After the tube is substantially formed, applying pressure on at least the leading edge, leading portion, trailing edge and trailing portion in the direction of the cylindrical wall such that same substantially conform to the cylindrical wall. The juxtaposed leading and trailing edges are fused together to form a fused seam, and maintained in a juxtaposed position until the seam cools sufficiently to maintain the juxtaposed position. An apparatus for making the tube is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Edward A. Akins
    Inventors: Edward A. Akins, George Harms
  • Patent number: 6135343
    Abstract: Method for the fabrication of cones of sheet material where the blank includes two curved edges that are circular and have the radius R and r respectively and a common center C. The blank further has two straight lateral edges which are angled in relation to the circular edges. An angle .alpha. between the radius, through a corner and a first straight edge is as great as an angle .beta. between the radius through a second straight edge. A frustum of a cone is obtained from the blank after rolling the cone such that the lateral edges have been united to make a joint that runs helically around the cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: AB Ribea Engineering
    Inventors: Jan Thorngren, Herman Thuswaldner
  • Patent number: 5957366
    Abstract: A helical weld servo controller for controlling the diameter of helically formed welded pipes adjusts the auxiliary hold down wheel position and the helix angle based on information provided by transducers regarding outgoing pipe diameter and by a laser vision device which generates weld gap and offset information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Ameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph S. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 4993805
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composite overhead cable structure having high seal properties, comprising a metallic pipe, at least one layer of stranded metallic elongated conductor surrounding the outer periphery of the pipe, and an optical fiber cable disposed within and extending throughout the length of the pipe, wherein the metallic pipe comprises at least two metallic pipe sections which are arranged in alignment and connected at their respective confronting terminals having contours complementary to each other and wherein the metallic pipe has a specific structure of connection between the mutually adjacent pipe sections, such that a longitudinal through-weld extends along the entire length of the metallic pipe and such that a connecting turning weld extends between first and second different points on the longitudinal through-weld of the metallic pipe so as to turn around the axis of said metallic pipe, the first and second points being positioned at a distance which satisfies a specific relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Abe, Toshiya Shinozaki, Masaru Akinaga
  • Patent number: 4763830
    Abstract: A method is described for manufacturing helically formed pipe from strip material. One side of the strip material is formed to provide a first side flange that projects substantially 90.degree. relative to the plane of the strip. The opposite side of the strip is formed with a channel that includes a second side flange that also projects substantially 90.degree. relative to the plane of the strip but in the opposite direction from the first side flange. The strip material is then helically coiled while the first and second side flanges are moved into abutting contact. Pressure is then applied radially of the pipe axis, forcing the contacting edges of the flanges together while the flanges are welded, thus forming a rib with a helical weld seam located at or near the line of neutral forces in the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Pacific Roller Die Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Paul K. Davis
  • Patent number: 4664307
    Abstract: Railroad tank cars are provided with spirally wound cylindrical tanks spanning and supported on wheeled trucks with a continuous weld extending the full length of the tank. A steel plate ribbon or strip is spirally wound in the form of a right circular cylinder with a continuous weld bonding the edges of the strip in abutted relation to provide the tank side wall. The open ends of the resulting cylinder tube are closed by welded-on end caps and suitable openings are provided in the tube for manways, vents, valves and the like. A heating coil may be provided on the inside or outside of the tank in intimate contact with the spirally wound ribbon and conventional insulation and jacketing may be provided around the tank. Drop center and center sump tank are provided by cutting the spirally wound tube along a diagonal plane, rotating adjoining sections 180.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: General American Transportation Corporation
    Inventors: Jay M. Curry, Edward R. Gray, Edward L. Davis, Edward J. Rollo, Jr., Paul D. Long, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4640453
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating multi-layer spiral tubes including first drive means for performing rotation of an inner cylinder around which a web is to be wrapped spirally a slide base moveable along the longitudinal direction of the inner cylinder, the slide base being disposed on a bed so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the inner cylinder, a plurality of pairs of cradles mounted on the slide base for placing the inner cylinder thereon, first depressing rolls for wrapping the web, second depressing rolls for constraining a weld portion of the web, an automatic gap detector for detecting a gap between adjacent edge portions of the wrapped web, an automatic welding machine for welding edge portions of the wrapped web, an automatic grinding machine for grinding excess metal of welding, an automatic defect hunter for detecting defects in the weld portion, a web feed table for feeding the web, second drive means for moving the web feed table, and a central control unit is provided and couple
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Oe, Shigeaki Kimura, Yoshinori Yuzaki, Tadao Ozaki
  • Patent number: 4569386
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cylindrical billet having a predetermined length useable as raw material for producing a pipe. This method is practiced by way of the steps of drawing a cast slab from a casting mold on a continuous casting stand, spirally winding or cylindrically bending it around a rotating mandrel, joining together both end faces of the wound or bent cast slab to a cylindrical body and cutting it to a predetermined length. Two or more cast slabs may be used for forming the cylindrical body. Two rectangular cast slabs may be used as starting material which are subjected to roll forming and thereafter are cut to the predetermined length. They are then press worked to form a recess having a semi-circular cross-sectional configuration whereby a cylindrical body is constituted by assembly thereof in a superimposed relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventor: Hisanobu Mine
  • Patent number: 4485756
    Abstract: A structural vessel includes helically curved inner and outer spaced strips of material each having a plurality of helical turns, with contiguous edges of each two successive turns of the inner and outer strips being seamed together, and a helically curved structural beam disposed between the strips and secured thereto along their turns. A floatable work housing is provided for vessel fabrication, the housing having a sealed opening through which the completed portion of the vessel progressively extends and is floated on a body of water to avoid a need for external supports and bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Universal Spiralweld Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard H. Smith, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4436239
    Abstract: In the manufacturing of a spiral pipe, there is first determined a maximum curvature which should be imparted to a strip of pipe forming material in order that a desired residual moment will be imparted to the finished pipe after the strip bent to the maximum curvature is allowed to spring back from the bent condition, which maximum curvature is determined based on the thickness, Young's modulus and yield stress of the strip, the desired curvature of the finished pipe, and the residual moment to be imparted to the finished pipe. By adjusting the position of three rows of forming rolls positioned at the apexes of a triangle, the flat strip is continuously bent into a spiral that has the thus determined maximum curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshito Tsuyama, Yasumi Shimazaki, Kazutoshi Kakita, Toshio Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 4305460
    Abstract: A spirally fluted metallic heat transfer tube is disclosed wherein the finished tube has improved heat transfer performance through the provision of a predetermined number range of multiple start continuous helical flutes formed along its longitudinal length, the flutes having specific helix angle relation and flute height to tube hydraulic diameter ratio so as to establish a ratio of thermal diffusivity to momentum diffusivity greater than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: General Atomic Company
    Inventor: Jack S. Yampolsky
  • Patent number: 4247033
    Abstract: A method of and device for producing multi-layer pipes by helically winding a plurality of bands loosely arranged one above the other, which are individually withdrawn from a supply, straightened out, trimmed, and in the form of a band loop are conveyed to the forming station at the respective angle of lead-in corresponding to the respective pipe diameter, whereupon the layers are together welded to form a pipe strand which is subsequently cut into individual pipes. All bands are supplied and advanced independently of the irregularities of the respective longitudinal band edge shape in steadily straight lead-in directions, and all band edges are machined together to a possible maximum width in coordination with each other whereupon the bands are driven together while the welding gap is controlled in conformity with their band edge shape merely by pivoting the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Assignee: Hoesch Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl Dahmen, Jurgen Engel, Heinz Gross, Martin Henning, Werner Wennemann
  • Patent number: 4141481
    Abstract: A thin perforate, helically wound welded edge tubing is used as a filter core for a roving wound filter. The slightly roughened external edges of the spirally formed welded joint greatly adds to the ability of securing the fiber roving to the tube and prevents relative slippage therebetween. Also, the invention comprehends an apparatus for, and a method of making the helically seamed tube by first drawing a sheet metal from a supply and raising two lateral edges thereof to form flanges. The material can be guided in a helical path by engaging the inside of the flanges so that the trailing edge abuts the leading edge. The abutted edges are heated so that the flanges themselves provide the filler for a weld on the exterior surface thereof. Drive rollers are provided to move the welded tube from the welding area and to torque the tube to prevent edge separation prior to the cooling of the weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Louis B. Van Petten
  • Patent number: 4112251
    Abstract: A method of joining the stripped ends of electrical wires and screw-on connectors for performing the method. The method includes bunching the stripped ends of wire, inserting the bunched wires into a distortable relatively nonexpandable wire retainer having an inwardly tapered thread, rotating the wires and wire retainer relative to one another to feed the bunched wires into the wire retainer, applying torque to the bunched wires and the wire retainer to cause the wire retainer to compress the wires into contact with one another and form a thread thereon, supporting the wire retainer during application of the torque in a manner which permits the wire retainer to freely distort without substantial expansion to thereby accommodate the wires as the wires are forced into the small end of the tapered thread, and covering the wire retainer and retained wire with an insulator. A screw-on wire connector which includes an insulating cap with a bore open at one end for the reception of the stripped ends of the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Assignee: Ideal Industrie, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Scott
  • Patent number: 4082211
    Abstract: Tapered spiral tube in continuous lengths is fabricated with an alternating increasing and decreasing diameter, the length being severed at the locus of change. The taper may be straight, convex or concave, the tube being produced from strip-stock which is squeezed between biassing rollers whereby one or other edge is thinned, and as a consequence lengthened and convexly curved. The entire fabricating process is automatic, being predetermined by templet means and monitored by feed-back measures felt by the tube while being fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Inventor: Lloyd Elliott Embury
  • Patent number: 4074847
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a large diameter storage tank from strip metal. The strip is fed to a support assembly arranged circularly on a base and which supports the strip vertically in a helical path. The upper edge of the strip is bent into a right-angled bend which is aligned with the unbent lower edge of the helical turn immediately thereabove. The two aligned edges are welded together. The right-angled bend produces a helical outwardly extending structural fin on the outside of the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: Anchortank, Inc.
    Inventor: Myron L. McFatter
  • Patent number: 4061264
    Abstract: In winding a continuous strip of sheet metal having chamfered edges into a helical seam pipe, the chamfered edges define an inside seam and an outside seam in the pipe. Initially, after forming the pipe, a tack weld is formed in the outside seam and then a finish weld is provided in the inside seam. Next, the pipe is cut into lengths and finally a finish weld is made in the previously tack welded outside seam. The cross sectional area of the inside seam is kept to a minimum and though different thicknesses of strip can be used for forming the pipe, the cross sectional area of the inside seam is maintained a constant over the range of strip thicknesses used to assure that the inside seam is finish welded in as short a time as possible with the pipe moving axially at the highest possible speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Blohm & Voss AG
    Inventors: Werner Bartels, Heinz Krakow
  • Patent number: 3991597
    Abstract: In forming a metal plate or the like into a helical seam pipe, the plate is deformed by bending rolls each made up of individual forming rolls. The forming rolls are exposed to shearing forces if the plate varies its direction of travel toward the forming rolls. To prevent the continued presence of shearing forces, the forming rolls are pivotally mounted on a support which is displaceably guided within a holder and an adjusting mechanism is connected to the support and the forming rolls to adjust the setting angle of the forming rolls in accordance with the direction of travel of the plate toward the forming rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1974
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: Blohm & Voss AG
    Inventor: Heinz Krakow
  • Patent number: 3961741
    Abstract: Heat transfer tubes are provided internally with extended surfaces to improve heat transfer between a fluid within the tube and a fluid outside of and in contact with the tube. A flat sheet of metal is provided with extended surfaces which are welded to one side of the sheet, so that a tube with internal extended surfaces can be formed by bending the sheet so that it envelopes the surfaces and welding sides of the sheets together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1976
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Klein
  • Patent number: 3942702
    Abstract: A method of producing a corrugated flexible tube wherein a corrugated profiled strip having multiple corrugations is wound in a helical path such that its edges overlap and then the overlapped edges are tight welded together, preferably by electrical resistance welding, such that every welded corrugation of the resultant corrugated flexible tube is followed by at least one unwelded corrugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Assignee: Boa AG Luzern
    Inventor: Marco Dreyer