Abstract: A tool including a front housing and an expander head ring that is readily attachable and detachable from the front housing. The front housing may be coupled to the tool body, or can be integral with the tool body. The front housing may have a mating end that has one or more locking tabs that are configured to be engaged by the expander head ring. The expander head ring may carry one or more functional elements such as a die set that may be expanded by insertion of an expander extending from the tool such as by manual actuation of the tool. A plurality of expander head rings, each with a different size die set, can be alternatively attached to the front housing, depending on the desired extent of expanding of the pipe or the like with the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: (a) a mandrel; (b) an internal guide spaced apart from the mandrel; (c) an external guide extending around all or a portion of the internal guide and being spaced apart from the mandrel; wherein a pipe extends between the internal guide and the external guide and then over the mandrel so that the mandrel changes one or more dimensions of the pipe.

Abstract: A drawing machine (1) for drawing a tube (2), defining a longitudinal axis (Y), comprising a first die (3) for carrying out the drawing of the tube by means of the use of a mandrel (4); a device for varying the inclination (5) of the tube inlet into said first die (3); a second die (6) for carrying out a skin pass operation on the tube, arranged downstream of said first die (3); an in-line system for detecting the eccentricity of the tube; a data processing system (7) for processing signals originating from said detection system and sending input data to said device for varying the inclination (5) of the tube to vary the inclination of the tube so as to correct the eccentricity of the tube in-line; wherein said in-line system for detecting the eccentricity of the tube comprises a first detection head comprising at least three first transducers (8) arranged downstream of said first die (3).

Abstract: A method of incremental autofrettage is taught herein, whereby the cycle life of a metal liner in a pressure vessel is increased. This method serves to increase the yield strength of the metal liner through sequential work hardening due to repeated autofrettage at increasing pressures. By incrementally increasing the internal pressure used in the autofrettage process, the compressive stresses at an inner surface of the metal liner may be controlled so that post-pressurization buckling does not occur, yet the yield strength of the metal liner is substantially increased. The higher compressive stresses in the metal liner mean that higher Maximum Expected Operating Pressures (MEOPs) may be used without detracting from the cycle life of the metal liner, or alternatively, for lower pressures, a longer metal liner cycle life may be obtained. Either internal or external pressures may be used, generated by a pressure source, or a suitable die.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for the expansion of pipes for heat exchangers, including a machine frame equipped with a drive unit for pressing or pulling an expansion mandrel through a pipe as well as an expansion mandrel. In at least one embodiment, the machine includes at least one drive unit with at least one motor-driven drum as well as a band or wire guide which extends horizontally from an outlet of the drum and forwardly to the pipe, the drive unit including a set of lateral plates. In at least one embodiment, the drum is disposed between the lateral plates of the drive unit and is equipped with a band or a wire and is additionally adapted to press or pull a band or a wire with an expansion mandrel through a pipe, wherein the expansion mandrel is expandable.

Abstract: An apparatus has a corrugating device through which a pipe is moved producing corrugation in the circumferential direction of the pipe by rotation. The corrugating device has a corrugator head which is rotatable about its axis, and a hollow shaft on which the corrugator head is firmly fitted and via which the corrugator head is driveable in rotation. A vibration measuring means is connected mechanically to the corrugating device for automatically detecting mechanical vibrations of the rotating corrugating device. The vibration measuring means simultaneously detects measured values for vibrations of the hollow shaft which are characteristic of the state of the hollow shaft bearings and measured values for vibrations of the corrugator head which are characteristic of the balancing thereof. A display apparatus displays the measured values detected thereby and/or evaluation results based on the measured values is furthermore provided.

Abstract: For aging deformation of a reaction vessel used for production of titanium sponge by the Kroll method, the deformation of the reaction vessel can be corrected to a desired deformation. The apparatus for correcting the deformation corrects by being inserted inside of the cylindrical deformation of the reaction vessel, the apparatus has multiple cylinder arms radially extendable to a circumference, a deformation-correcting head arranged on a top part of the cylinder arm, a hydraulic power unit connected to the cylinder arm and driving the deformation-correcting head, a detecting means for the stroke of the deformation-correcting head, and a measuring means for the pressing force against the reaction vessel. Furthermore, the method for correcting the deformation of the reaction vessel using the apparatus has a step of pressing the reaction vessel while adjusting stroke of the deformation-correcting head depending on an amount of deformation of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a crimping process is disclosed, which determines whether an actual force stroke progression (Fa)/force-time progression is, a) above, or, b) below an ideal force stroke progression (Fi)/force-time progression in at least one point. The method shifts an upper border (Bu) and/or the lower border (Bl) of a tolerance band upwards in case a) and downwards in case b), utilizing four zones (Z1-Z4) of determined force progression. Additionally, there are is an absolute upper limit (Lu), at which an upward shifting of the upper border (Bu) is inhibited, and an absolute lower limit (Ll), at which a downward shifting of the lower border (Bl) is inhibited. Moreover, a crimping press and a computer program product embodying the method are disclosed.

Abstract: The forming recesses of a lower die and an upper die are formed to have a semi-oval profile so as to provide a forming space almost oval in section with the dies closed. The parting line between the lower die and the upper die is deviated as much as h from the major axis of the forming space toward the upper die side, and the opening width of the forming recess of the lower die is set to be slightly larger than the opening width of the forming recess of the upper die. A metal bent tube is plastic-deformed into an almost oval shape in section by closing the dies while being compressed in a peripheral direction by the lower and upper dies to eliminate spring-back caused by bending, whereby the buckling and pinching toward the outer side of the tube wall is prevented by the expanded portion of the lower die and buckling toward the inner side of the tube wall is prevented by a step difference formed by the difference in opening width between the lower die and the upper die.

Abstract: There is provided a foreign pipe or tube determining method capable of accurately determining a foreign pipe or tube. The foreign pipe or tube determining method in accordance with the present invention includes a step for determining the presence of a foreign pipe or tube by comparing the length of each pipe or tube in a size measuring step with the length of each pipe or tube measured in an actual weighing and length measuring step, which is associated with each pipe or tube in the size measuring step, a step for determining the presence of a foreign pipe or tube by comparing the weight of each pipe or tube calculated in a weight calculating step with the weight of each pipe or tube measured in the actual weighing and length measuring step, which is associated with each pipe or tube in a weight calculating step, and a step for determining the presence of a foreign pipe or tube based on the material of each pipe or tube determined in a material determining step.

Abstract: A complex Fourier transform is performed on measured values of wall thickness at points in a cross section of a pipe in an axial direction, types of thickness deviation are classified, thickness deviation amount is calculated from the absolute value of the complex Fourier component, the position of a thick or thin portion of thickness deviation is calculated from the phase of the complex Fourier component, and manufacturing conditions of the pipe are adjusted based on these variables. The relationship r·exp(j?) between the thickness deviation amount r and phase ? of a first-order thickness deviation obtained for cross sections in the axial direction is subjected to a complex Fourier transform as a function of pipe longitudinal direction, the thickness deviation is further classified by the frequency of twist of the thickness deviation, and an action is taken to prevent the thickness deviation according to the classified thickness deviation.

Abstract: A method for determining the wall thickness of a metal tube is described. This method has the following features: (a) preparation of a metal tube of a determined length; (b) arrangement of two clamp contacts on the metal tube with an exactly defined distance of separation; (c) connection of the ends of the metal tube with a power source; and (d) measurement of the voltage drop in the metal tube between the clamp contacts.

Abstract: A complex Fourier transform is performed on measured values of wall thickness at points in a cross section of a pipe in an axial direction, types of thickness deviation are classified, thickness deviation amount is calculated from the absolute value of the complex Fourier component, the position of a thick or thin portion of thickness deviation is calculated from the phase of the complex Fourier component, and manufacturing conditions of the pipe are adjusted based on these variables. The relationship r·exp(j?) between the thickness deviation amount r and phase ? of a first-order thickness deviation obtained for cross sections in the axial direction is subjected to a complex Fourier transform as a function of pipe longitudinal direction, the thickness deviation is further classified by the frequency of twist of the thickness deviation, and an action is taken to prevent the thickness deviation according to the classified thickness deviation.

Abstract: The eccentricity of a hollow billet is measured at the outlet of an inclined-roll rolling mill by launching an ultrasonic pulse into the billet from a laser of a measuring device and measuring the transit time of an echo pulse also utilizing a laser and an optical analyzer. The measuring device is moved, during travel of the hollow billet along a path from the rolling mill linearly into the direction of travel or angularly around the hollow billet to eliminate the effect of the internal helical formation of the eccentricity on the measurements. The wall thickness measurements are evaluated by a computer and subjected to Fourier analysis.

Abstract: A selectively heat treated canister for use in a vehicle airbag deployment system is configured to contain combustion materials and to contain gases produced from the combustion thereof. The canister includes a tubular body having a length and a longitudinal axis. The body is formed as at least three drawn sections. Each prior section is drawn one more time than a successive adjacent section. The canister defines a closed end and an open end. The closed end is at a least drawn section and the open end is at a most drawn section. The canister defines a heat treated region and is selectively heat treated at least one transition zone between adjacent drawn sections to reduce crack propagation observed during testing. A method for making the canister is also disclosed.