To Form Helically-seamed Tube Patents (Class 72/49)
  • Patent number: 11161207
    Abstract: A process of forming a turbine engine seal includes the steps of: providing a flat strip of material; roll forming the flat strip of material forming an asymmetric profile in the flat strip of material; coiling the formed asymmetric profile into an overlapping ring shape; cutting the circular shape to a predetermined length; and joining ends of the predetermined length forming the seal. The seal includes at least two peaks that are formed on opposing sides of a gap. The at least two peaks contact opposing sides of a U shaped profile at a zero radius. The asymmetric profile includes a circular shape and the ends are joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Dynamic Metals, LLC
    Inventors: Bill Buitenhuis, Jack Opielka
  • Patent number: 9302303
    Abstract: Feeding stock used to form a tapered structure into a curving device such that each point on the stock undergoes rotational motion about a peak location of the tapered structure; and the stock meets a predecessor portion of stock along one or more adjacent edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Smith, Rosalind K. Takata, Alexander H. Slocum, Samir A. Nayfeh
  • Patent number: 9283605
    Abstract: A conduit bender having a unitary frame is mounted to a wheeled base which provides for transportation of the bender. A braking assembly provides for simplified locking of the wheels to secure the bender in a location. The bender is mounted to the base through a pivoting assembly which allows for bending of conduit in either a horizontal or vertical plane. A circuit is provided for controlling the bending operation. An auto-sensing portion of the circuit receives information regarding the characteristics of the conduit to be bent upon placement of the conduit in the bender. A feed back portion of the circuit is used to provide a precise bending operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GREENLEE TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Plummer, Sean A. Daugherty
  • Patent number: 9266157
    Abstract: Feeding stock used to form a tapered structure into a curving device such that each point on the stock undergoes rotational motion about a peak location of the tapered structure; and the stock meets a predecessor portion of stock along one or more adjacent edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Smith, Rosalind K. Takata, Alexander H. Slocum, Samir A. Nayfeh
  • Patent number: 9236167
    Abstract: A DC superconducting coaxial transmission system provides electrical transmission of 5,000 megawatts of energy while simultaneously delivering liquid hydrogen. The transmission system includes a coaxial transmission segment including an inner superconductor, an outer superconductor disposed in surrounding relation to the inner conductor, and a dielectric insulator disposed between the inner superconductor and the outer superconductor. Liquid hydrogen surrounds the superconductors. Three phase transformers and poly phase rectifier/inverters provide a DC voltage source to the superconductors from the electrical grid. In one embodiment, a switching circuit connected between the voltage source and the superconductor injects a cancellation current component into the direct current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Lighthouse Energy Solutions LLC
    Inventors: William A. Carter, Scott C. Carter, Ilkka T. Pylkkanen
  • Patent number: 8955362
    Abstract: An apparatus (50) for and method of manufacturing helically wound tubular structures (116) includes a rotating faceplate (74) upon which are mounted a plurality of diameter defining rollers (78) which, in operation, cause a strip material (80) to be plastically deformed into a helical winding which may be lain down in abutting or self-overlapping relationship to form said tubular structure (116).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: ITI Scotland Limited
    Inventor: John Peter Booth
  • Publication number: 20140238094
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a carcass for encasing a tubular member including a driven rotor (20) having a front face rotatable about a pivot axis and a spool mandrel (38) positioned eccentrically on the driven rotor (20). The spool mandrel (38) is adapted to rotatably mount a roll of coiled strip material (32). The rotor (20) includes at least one counterweight (60) mounted on the front face that is dynamically movable to at least partially balance the changing weight of the roll of strip material as the strip material (32) is removed from the roll. At least one pusher roll assembly (75) is mounted on the front face and contacts a portion of the strip material (32) to partially deform the coiling of the strip material as the material is removed from the roll. An anti-kink roll assembly (90) prevents kink deformation of the strip material (32) during the formation of the carcass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: BARTELL MACHINERY SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Walter F. Thompson, Jerry L. Eisenhart, K. Brian Turvey
  • Patent number: 8793859
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flexible piping device for an exhaust gas system of a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps: a) forming a wound metal hose from at least one profiled metal strip, so that strip edges of adjacent strip windings movably interlock; b) exposing said wound metal hose to heat; and c) assembling the flexible piping device from said wound metal hose and from other components. In order to further reduce or eliminate an ageing function of the flexible piping device to allow the user of the flexible piping device to receive functionality and properties over lifetime at similar condition, the present invention provides that step b) includes subjecting the wound metal hose to quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: SJM Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8720067
    Abstract: A contoured roller set and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A male roller having a convex surface and a pair of female rollers each having a concave surface can receive a generally thin sheet of material and impart a doubly-curved shape to the sheet. The convex and concave surfaces of the male and female rollers can have a radius of curvature chosen to match a radius of curvature of the sheet of material. The rollers are positioned and shaped to urge the sheet between the female rollers to cause the sheet to curve toward the male roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Blue Origin, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher M. Gil
  • Publication number: 20130333431
    Abstract: “STRIP GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR MACHINES THAT FROM PIPES FROM CONTINUOUS PROFILED AND SPIRALLED STRIPS” for machines that produce spiraled tubes (1) or pipes from continuous strips (2) that are wound on a roll (3), forming first a profile of at least one continuous flat strip (2) of metal or any other type of smooth material, which after the profiling process are spiraled and interlocked to itself to form a continuous segment of spiraled pipe (1) or hose and that the strips (2) raw materials are usually provided and stored in the form of pancakes, rolls (3) or coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: BRASTEC TECHNOLOGIES LTDA.
    Inventor: Maurice Ferdinand Bernard Maria Russel
  • Publication number: 20130319722
    Abstract: Apparatus for use with two or more supplies of strip metal comprises, for each supply, a strip feeder and a bending head the feeder being adapted to receive metal from said each supply and deliver same to the head which is adapted to receive and curl metal from the feeder to produce a strip part encircling a central axis in a coiling manner. The heads and feeders are adapted such that the part axes are coincident and the parts are axially offset from one another, with axially adjacent parts being positioned relative to one another throughout their lengths to define a metal strip which encircles the coincident axes in a coiling manner, the metal strip defining a tubular arrangement which can be used at least for armor cable. The parts can have cross sections such that they interlock throughout their lengths and the strip interlocks with itself throughout its length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Paul McMillen
  • Publication number: 20130233433
    Abstract: A heat-insulated wound hose is formed by a process, in which a metal wound hose manufactured in the conventional manner is at first upset, such that turns, which are spaced apart by adjacent axial wall areas of individual turns, form at least one uninterrupted jacket wall surface. A ceramic-based coating is subsequently applied to the at least one uninterrupted jacket wall surface. The coating is then cured, and the wound hose thus formed is subsequently pulled apart, whereby adjacent axial wall areas of adjacent turns are detached from one another and thereby the coating is broken up at partitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Henrik Hof, Marc Pontzen, Jürgen Büchele
  • Patent number: 8522587
    Abstract: Provided is a joint jig of a spiral duct manufacturing apparatus including an uncoiler around which a metal plate member is wound; a wave bending device which cuts the metal plate member supplied from the uncoiler into a straight line and waves and forms a single folded portion and a double folded portion at both edges of the cut metal plate member; a ball caster which bends the projecting wave portions of the metal plate member supplied from the wave bending device upward; a pair of transfer rollers which transfer the metal plate member supplied through the ball caster; upper and lower pressing rollers which are installed adjacent to each other in the vertical direction and press the single folded portion and the double folded portion of the metal plate member; and upper and lower cutters which cut a spiral duct pressed by the upper and lower pressing rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Jinwoong Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyu-Seok Cha
  • Patent number: 8448486
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a long reinforcing material-attached profile strip (100) in which joint portions are formed at both side edge portions and to which a reinforcing material continuously formed in the longitudinal direction is attached is supplied, and mutually adjacent joint portions are joined to each other, thereby producing a spiral pipe (S). A curl-forming apparatus (3) includes a sending roller for the reinforcing material-attached profile strip (100) and a curl guide. Using the curl-forming apparatus (3), adjacent parts of the reinforcing material-attached profile strip (100) are subjected to plastic deformation to form spirals by being provided with arc-like curls having a radius of curvature substantially similar to or not greater than the radius of curvature of the spiral pipe (S). Accordingly, the spiral pipe (S) can be produced while suppressing the action of a restoring force that restores the reinforcing material-attached profile strip (100) to its original radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Nakagaki, Tomonori Yamaji, Toshio Yamane
  • Patent number: 8387426
    Abstract: A method of forming a flexible conduit including: providing an elongated flexible metallic strip having a central portion disposed between a first and a second end portion, wherein at least a portion of the central portion includes a cross-sectional thickness TC which is less than a maximum cross-sectional thickness TM of the elongated shaped strip; rolling the first end portion in a first direction and the second end portion in a second direction generally opposite the first direction to form a shaped flexible strip; and helically winding the shaped flexible strip upon itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Allan Stikeleather
  • Publication number: 20120273556
    Abstract: A tower production method, comprising a first production stage including the steps of unrolling and bringing into a planar state a sheet metal wound around a coil; bending the planar sheet metal at the lateral direction at varying bending radii; and winding the bent sheet metal into a conical coil, as well as a final production stage yielding the tower and including the steps of feeding the sheet metal unwound from the conical coil to at least one winding machine, and bending and winding the bent sheet metal in the winding machine around a central bending axis parallel to one surface thereof so that a defined initial winding radius and the angle between a longer edge thereof and the axis are kept constant and the longer edge of the sheet metal is joined over itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Cevdet Unan
  • Patent number: 8250891
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Ching-Chi Chung, Hsiu-Chen Yang
  • Publication number: 20120151978
    Abstract: A pipe production system includes a plurality of platform segments that are coupled together at a construction site to form a work platform. A helical pipe production system is mounted on the work platform. The work platform includes an integrated drive system that enables the platform to be moved around the terrain of the construction site so that pipe can be produced in-line with an intended or desire pipe laying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: William L. Zepp, Daniel W. Aberle, Darrell J. Sanders, Mark A. Dawson
  • Patent number: 7775076
    Abstract: Many types of stabilized lock-seam tubing are provided, as well as devices, apparatus and methods for producing such stabilized tubing. Advantageously, pinch-locked tubing according to the invention, which comprise interlocking, spaced pinched deformations of the lock-seam, greatly resists side-slip and other shape deformations, including those typically produced by cutting the tubing, and by ovalizing it. Many permutations of lock-seam pinching rollers and related devices for producing stabilized lock-seam tubing are provided. Pinch roller assemblies of the invention are suitable for use with conventional machines as well as machines adapted specifically for them. Apparatus of the invention are suitable producing helically wound or straight lock-seam tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventors: Trevor Dale Schultz, Steven Mark Schultz
  • Patent number: 7757720
    Abstract: Modified-profile metal strips, and annular and spiral metal pipes and other products formed from such strips. The strips comprise a plurality of spaced longitudinal ribs of size and transverse location selected to increase the strength of a given thickness or gauge of the strip and the associated strength of a product formed from the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Pacific Roller Die Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Miller
  • Patent number: 7669328
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a push rod from a length of tube having a first end and a second end. The tube is held in a first fixture and a first tool is brought into engagement with the first end while a force is applied to deform the first end into a cone. A disc is thereafter affixed to the cone through a welding process. The tube with the disc attached is moved to a second fixture and a threaded shaft is partially inserted into the tube adjacent the second end. A radial force is applied to the tube that causes the tube to be compressed into engagement with the threaded shaft. The threaded shaft is then rotated causing its translation within the tube to establish a desired length between a face on the disc and a head on the threaded shaft to complete the manufacture of the push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Masato Wake
  • Publication number: 20090320542
    Abstract: A spiral pipe forming system and method which include automatic diameter or dimension sensing and correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: William James Kephart
  • Publication number: 20090272164
    Abstract: A spiral pipe forming system which includes automatic diameter or dimension sensing and control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: William James Kephart
  • Patent number: 7574886
    Abstract: A pipe manufacturing system and method for producing helically corrugated metal pipe is provided. The system and method utilize controlled profile formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Contech Construction Products Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Zepp, James C. Schluter
  • Patent number: 7549310
    Abstract: A mandrel assembly for manufacturing a tubular product, including: a first plate, a cantilever drive roller extending from the first plate, at least one cantilever idler roller extending from the first plate, and mechanism for rotating the drive roller whereby, in use, a strip may be engaged and advanced by the driver roller to the at least one idler roller and thereby wound about the rollers to form a tubular product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Nova-Duct Technologies Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: William James Donnelly
  • Patent number: 7451631
    Abstract: A spiral pipe machine includes a feeding assembly for continuously feeding a web of material, and a forming assembly for accepting the web. The forming assembly bends the web to form a first section of a spiral pipe having a first predetermined diameter. A controller is employed for selectively instructing the forming means to change its configuration so as to give a second section of the spiral pipe a second predetermined diameter. The controller is capable of controlling the forming station to transition from the first predetermined diameter to the second predetermined diameter during the continuous feeding of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Formtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 7451629
    Abstract: A spiral pipe machine includes a feeding assembly for continuously feeding a web of material, and a forming assembly for accepting the web. The forming assembly bends the web to form a first section of a spiral pipe having a first predetermined diameter. A controller is employed for selectively instructing the forming means to change its configuration so as to give a second section of the spiral pipe a second predetermined diameter. The controller is capable of controlling the forming station to transition from the first predetermined diameter to the second predetermined diameter during the continuous feeding of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Formtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Dickinson
  • Publication number: 20080264509
    Abstract: A diaphragm bellows includes a spiral-wound, pre-profiled metal strip having neighboring turns which are connected by a continuous welding seam in an area of an outer diameter or inner diameter of the metal strip. Neighboring flanks of the metal strip enter a region of the welding seam at an angle of less than 60°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Westfalia Metallschlauchtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: MATTHIAS WEISS, Karl-Heinz Munker, Dietmar Baumhoff, Oliver Selter, Stefan Hauk, Andreas Gerhard, Karsten Schenk
  • Publication number: 20080264510
    Abstract: A pipe manufacturing system and method for producing helically corrugated metal pipe is provided. The system and method utilize controlled profile formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Contech Construction Products Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Zepp, James C. Schluter
  • Patent number: 7404308
    Abstract: A pipe manufacturing system and method for producing helically corrugated metal pipe is provided. The system and method utilize controlled profile formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Contech Construction Products Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Zepp, James C. Schluter
  • Publication number: 20080072642
    Abstract: A pipe manufacturing system and method for producing helically corrugated metal pipe is provided. The system and method utilize controlled profile formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: William L. Zepp, James C. Schluter
  • Patent number: 7225654
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the subject invention includes a frame 10 comprising a front plate, a rear plate, a generally circular passage which extends through the frame, and rollers arranged, circumferentially positioned about the passage. The rollers are suspended within the passage by an adjustable arm which is mounted to the frame on one end, and is rotatably coupled to a roller on an opposite end. The adjustable arm includes a threaded rod that is rotatably mounted to a plate by a mounting plate and extension 18 which engages the rod and which travels longitudinally along the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventor: Edgardo Xavier Diaz Coello
  • Patent number: 7137281
    Abstract: A process for forming oversized circular pipe has the steps of affixing an elliptically-shaped forming head onto a spiral pipe forming machine, driving a metal strip along the forming head such that the metal strip takes on a shape of the forming head, moving said metal strip out of the forming head into a spiral pattern such that edges of the metal strip engage with each other so as to form an elliptically-shaped spiral pipe, removing the spiral pipe from the forming machine, and forming the elliptically-shaped pipe into a circular shape. The circular pipe has a diameter of greater then forty-eight inches. The forming head has an adjustable diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Inventor: Robert L. McCorvey
  • 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: 7089772
    Abstract: An adjustable horn or mandrel for a spiral pipe forming machine. Such machines are made for continuously forming metal pipe from an elongated sheet of metal where the sheet is curled into adjacent helical convolutions in a multiple roll pipe forming head. The head includes a mandrel, and in accordance with the invention a mandrel mount is provided for vertical adjustment of the mandrel. The mandrel mount has opposite side supports sandwiching the mandrel and a motor mounted for raising and lowering the mandrel between the side supports. Raising and lowering is accomplished via a pair lead screws secured to the mandrel, each having a gear threadedly engaged thereon and which is driven by the motor. The mandrel is also horizontally adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: IMW Industries Limited
    Inventors: James Nyssen, Bradley Norman Miller
  • Publication number: 20040250583
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the subject invention includes a frame 10 comprising a front plate, a rear plate, a generally circular passage which extends through the frame, and rollers arranged, circumferentially positioned about the passage. The rollers are suspended within the passage by an adjustable arm which is mounted to the frame on one end, and is rotatably coupled to a roller on an opposite end. The adjustable arm includes a threaded rod that is rotatably mounted to a plate by a mounting plate and extension 18 which engages the rod and which travels longitudinally along the rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventor: Edgardo Xavier Diaz Coello
  • Patent number: 6701762
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the subject invention includes a frame 10 comprising a front plate, a rear plate, a generally circular passage which extends through the frame, and rollers arranged, circumferentially positioned about the passage. The rollers are suspended within the passage by an adjustable arm which is mounted to the frame on one end, and is rotatably coupled to a roller on an opposite end. The adjustable arm includes a threaded rod that is rotatably mounted to a plate by a mounting plate and extension 18 which engages the rod and which travels longitudinally along the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Amanco Holding Inc.
    Inventor: Edgardo Xavier Diaz Coello
  • Publication number: 20030230127
    Abstract: An improved filter pipe is disclosed, and also an improved apparatus is disclosed for making the improved filter pipe. The apparatus is meant for perforating, forming and cutting spirally formed pipe, particularly spiral pipes having a diameter of approximately one inch or more. The filter pipe has a unique corrugated or fluted configuration that adds section modulus to the pipe, potentially allowing for the use of thinner sheet metal in manufacturing such pipes and in filters made from such pipes. A machine for manufacturing the spiral pipe may include special machinery for forming the unique corrugated or fluted configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Helix International, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P.H. Castricum
  • Publication number: 20020194890
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the subject invention includes a frame 10 comprising a front plate, a rear plate, a generally circular passage which extends through the frame, and rollers arranged, circumferentially positioned about the passage. The rollers are suspended within the passage by an adjustable arm which is mounted to the frame on one end, and is rotatably coupled to a roller on an opposite end. The adjustable arm includes a threaded rod that is rotatably mounted to a plate by a mounting plate and extension 18 which engages the rod and which travels longitudinally along the rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventor: Edgardo Xavier Diaz Coello
  • Patent number: 6497633
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a band for use in a CVT transmission. The band is formed by spiral winding a thin strip into a continuous tube and then welding the thin strip along the spiral winding. The individual bands are cut off of the continuous tube as it is formed. The invention also includes the bands formed by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Butterfield, Mark S. Ingianni, Douglas S. Fornell
  • Publication number: 20020189310
    Abstract: This invention concerns a device for the manufacture of polygonal tubes, with a base frame (2) and an upright assembly wall (10) that is equipped with a rotating mandrel (7) having a polygonal cross-section and a drive system (6); a corrugated strip of foil (60) fed by feed rolls (29) is wound onto this mandrel; on both edges, the strip of foil (60) has a pre-formed fold; during the winding process, adjacent edges with such pre-formed folds can be inserted in each other and closed to form a fold; in the assembly wall (10), shafts (16) that are concentric to the axis of rotation of the mandrel (7) carry arms (20) with rolling tools (30) directed at the mandrel (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Waldemar Bauer, Bernd Schappler
  • Patent number: 6460236
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing wrapped slip tubes from ribbon material (3), which consists of metal at least in part, comprising a profiling device (4) for forming seam edges (3a, 3b) of the ribbon material (3), at least one guiding surface (6a) for guiding the ribbon material (3) provided with the seam edges (3a, 3b), a bending device for deforming the ribbon material (3) into a helical partial surface of a cylindrical shell by of a deforming surface (7), a seam closing device (12) for closing the seam edges (3a, 3b) when inserted into one another by pressing them together, and a cutting device (15) for cutting produced tube portions off. Since the deforming surface (7), and preferably the at least one guiding surface (6a) also, comprises a contact surface of plastic material, pollution and damages of the tube can be avoided when producing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Tormec AG
    Inventors: Klaus Müller, Juan Torre, Paul Kasper
  • Publication number: 20020139160
    Abstract: Apparatus and a corresponding method for forming from a strip of sheet metal stock material a length of spiral duct that includes an integral diffuser. A perforator forms perforations in the strip at at least selected intervals. A machine forms the strip, after perforation, into spiral seamed duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: OVALFORMER LLC
    Inventors: Miller S. Price, Mark A. Froning, Gregory C. Moyers
  • Patent number: 6453710
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a helically-wound lock-seam tube for a ventilation duct system, the tube is provided with a plurality of air nozzles through its wall. The method involves the steps of: feeding a strip of sheet metal from a supply to a punching and pressing unit; punching and pressing the strip in the punching/pressing unit to form two rows of spaced openings through the strip; feeding the punched strip to a roller unit, in which a longitudinal bead is formed in the strip; feeding the punched and beaded strip to a forming head in which the strip is helically-wound to form a tube having a helical lock seam; feeding the helically-wound lock-seam tube out of the forming head; and cutting the tube into desired lengths. The apparatus has components for carrying out the various method steps, and the finished tube is provided with a desired pattern of air nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Lindab AB
    Inventors: Werner J. Andresen, Rudolf Binggeli
  • Patent number: 6339945
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming tapered spiral tubes from strips, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a spiral tube forming system for forming a strip into a spiral tube; a strip infeed system adapted for feeding a strip to the pipe forming system; and computer-controlled means for continuously varying the angular orientation of the tube forming system relative to the strip infeed system to selectively vary the diameter of the forming tube. The selective variation of the diameter includes linearly tapered and curved profiles, as well as constant (unchanging) diameter profiles and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Pacific Roller Die Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Miller, James A. Marquis, Paul K. Davis
  • Patent number: 6295853
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting spiral pipe is disclosed. The pipe cutting apparatus includes a driving mechanism that imparts rotation to a knife located inside the spiral pipe via a drive element, such as a drive shaft. The method includes forming a spiral pipe from a strip of material received at a forming head of a spiral pipe former, engaging a driving mechanism attached to a first knife positioned substantially inside the inner circumference of the pipe forming head to impart rotation to the first knife, and cutting the spiral pipe with the first knife by bringing a second knife positioned substantially outside the outer circumference of the forming head into overlapping contact with the first knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Lindab AB
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P. H. Castricum
  • Publication number: 20010018839
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming tapered spiral tubes from strips, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a spiral tube forming system for forming a strip into a spiral tube; a strip infeed system adapted for feeding a strip to the pipe forming system; and computer-controlled means for continuously varying the angular orientation of the tube forming system relative to the strip infeed system to selectively vary the diameter of the forming tube. The selective variation of the diameter includes linearly tapered and curved profiles, as well as constant (unchanging) diameter profiles and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Robert E. Miller, James A. Marquis, Paul K. Davis
  • Patent number: 6282933
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a metal carcass for flexible pipe or umbilical comprising shaping a band of metal strip and then helically winding it to form the metal carcass which, in cardioid mode, has a given collapse strength, wherein the metal strip is work-hardened prior to shaping to give it at least a 15% higher elongation at rupture, and in that the said metal carcass which is made from the said work-hardened metal strip has, in cardioid mode, a collapse strength which is at least 15% higher than the given collapse strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Coflexip
    Inventor: François Dupoiron
  • Patent number: 6256851
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a helical tube (18), including a first stamping station for producing a flange on a metal strip (11), a forming tool (17) in which the flanged metal strip is formed to a helical configuration and adjacent side edges are crimped together to produce a tube, a cutting arrangement (19) which cuts the tube into predetermined lengths, and a mechanical-optoelectronic measuring arrangement (20) for determining the length of the helical tube (18) to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd Goedelmann, Hans-Michael Winter, Bernhard Staudenmayer, Lothar Keller
  • Patent number: 6192726
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming corrugated pipe is disclosed. The pipe forming apparatus includes a selectively operable corrugation module having an inner corrugation roller movably mounted relative to an outer corrugation roller via a cylinder assembly. The method includes forming a length of spiral pipe without corrugations, engaging a corrugation module to introduce a desired length of corrugated pipe, and retracting the corrugation unit to allow a second length of uncorrugated pipe to form. The uncorrugated portion of the pipe is then severed cleanly using overlapping inner and outer cutting knives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Lindab AB
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P. H. Castricum