Method and apparatus for manufacturing a t-branch sleeve in a tube

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a T-branch collar in a pipe by bending the edge of a hole of a pipe (17) into a ring hole collar (16). The forming die (3) of the collar device is moved radially outwards from the inside of the pipe in relation to the pipe to shape the collar. On both sides of the collar (16) to be formed, the pipe (17) is squeezed between the inside support means (6) and the outer die (10) by pushing the support means (6) towards the outer die (10).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a T-branch collar in a pipe by bending the rim of the pipe hole into a ring hole collar, in which method a forming die of a collar device inserted inside the pipe is moved radially outwards from the inside of the pipe by means of an actuator guided by a space formed in the cylindrical outer surface of the body of the collar device to shape the collar, an outer die having a cylindrical inner surface is placed around the pipe to be collared, and the outer die has a hole for moving the forming die outwards from the space of the body.

[0002] The invention also relates to a device for manufacturing a T-branch collar in a pipe by bending the rim of the pipe hole into a ring hole collar, which T-branch device comprises a body having a cylindrical outer surface and being insertable into the pipe to be collared, a forming die having an outer diameter substantially equal to the predetermined inner diameter of the collar, a space in the body dimensioned to receive the forming die, whereafter the forming die is movable guided by said space, an outer die having a cylindrical inner surface and being placeable around the pipe to be collared, a hole in the outer die in which the forming die is movable up and down, and an actuator connectable to a power unit for moving the forming die outwards from the space in the body. BACKGROUND

[0003] A method and a device of this type are known from the publication EP 1332807 B1. When manufacturing a collar for a T-branch joint in a pipe by stretching the material, the elasticity of the pipe and the internal stresses created in the material have an adverse effect on the shape and dimensions of the standard pipe and the formed collar. The collar formed in this known solution is calibrated so that the collar is as round as possible. The forming of a T-branch collar by means of a forming die is also known from the publication JP H0747430 A.

[0004] The problem that still remains is the dimensional error caused by the deformation in the standard pipe. On both sides of the collar to be formed, the pipe material tends to retreat towards the collar (arrow A in Figure 2A ), which shortens the length of the pipe on the side of the collar. In addition, the pipe material buckles inwards on the pipe adjacent to the base of the collar due to the beam effect (arrow B in Figure 2A ).

[0005] It is known from the publication JP 2010094725 A to manufacture a hole in a tube by means of punching. The tube is supported from the inside by means of an inner die of two parts surrounding the hole and the tube is supported from the inside opposite the hole, preventing the tube from flattening due to the punching force. The die part supporting the ring hole tube is provided with a punching hole which receives a punch and receives the workpiece to be punched out of the tube hole. The aim is to provide a true-to-size hole which is achieved when the edge of the punching hole of the die part is pressed against the inner surface of the tube. The tube is supported by an outer die of the device which is positioned on the opposite side of the tube relative to the hole to be formed. When manufacturing the hole, the above-mentioned problems associated with manufacturing a T-branch cuff are not present, nor is a T-branch cuff being manufactured. SUMMARY

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for solving the above-mentioned problems. This object is achieved by a method according to the appended claim 1 and a device according to claim 4. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] The invention is described below by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] Figure 1 a diagonal top view of the device according to the invention is shown without the outer die and the forming die,

[0009] Figure 1A a side view and to a larger scale alone is shown the lifting lever included in the device according to claim 1,

[0010] Figure 2 a side view of the device according to Figure 1 with the forming die 3 is shown,

[0011] Figure 2A a side view of a tube provided with a T-branch cuff is shown,

[0012] Figure 3 a top view of the device according to Figure 1 is shown,

[0013] Figure 4 a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3 is shown to a larger scale,

[0014] Figure 5 a diagonal top view of the outer die is shown,

[0015] Figure 6 a side view of the body of the device is shown,

[0016] Figure 7 a top view of the body of the device is shown,

[0017] Figure 8 a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7 a diagonal top view of the body of the device is shown.

[0018] Figure 9 a diagonal top view of the body of the device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The device comprises a body 1 having a cylindrical outer surface. The diameter of the cylinder corresponds to the inner diameter of the tube to be shrunk with a sliding fit, which means that the body 1 can be inserted inside the tube 17 to be shrunk. A main radial body space 5 passes through the cylindrical surface of the body 1, which main radial body space 5 receives a forming die 3, the outer diameter of which forming die 3 mainly corresponds to the predetermined inner diameter of the shrinkage 16. The space 5 in the body is dimensioned so that the forming die 3 is movable under the guidance of the body space 5.

[0020] The outer die 10 Figure 5 has a cylindrical space 20 in which the body 1 and its support means 6 fit. The inner surface 21 of the outer die 10 is thus cylindrical, and the diameter of the cylinder corresponds to the outer diameter of the tube 17 when the halves 22, 23 of the outer die 10 are closed against each other. The half 22 under the parting line 24 of the outer die is attached to the lower body of the device (not shown). The upper half 23 has a hole 25 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical space 20, in which hole 25 the forming die 3 can be moved up and down. The upper half 23 has a threaded hole 26 with which a threaded rod of a lifting device (not shown) engages. The outer die 10 can be placed around the tube 17 to be shrunk by first placing the body 1 and its tube 17 in a recess in the lower half 22 of the outer die 10 and then by lowering the upper part 23 to close the outer die 10. The end of the outer die 10 can rest against the body flange 11.

[0021] The power unit 14 Figure 1) is an actuator 2 for moving the forming mould 3 outwards from the space 5 in the body. In the shown embodiment the actuator to be connected to the power unit 14 comprises a cuff wedge 2 which has been received in an axial recess 4 of the body 1. The wedge surface 2a of the cuff wedge 2 is positioned in the space 5 in the forming mould and the base of the forming mould 3 is in contact with the wedge surface 2a of the cuff wedge 2. When the cuff wedge 2 is moved in the axial direction of the body the wedge surface 2a of the cuff wedge 2 then pushes the forming mould 3 outwards from the body 1. Alternatively the actuator can be implemented by means of a rotatable eccentric or a low hydraulic cylinder positioned at the bottom of the space 5. In the shown embodiment the pushing end 12 of the cuff wedge 2 is arranged to be pushed towards the body 1 during cuffing by means of the power unit 14 connected to the pushing end 12 of the cuff wedge 2.

[0022] On both sides of the space 5 in the forming mould the support means 6 are positioned in a cut-out or recess 6a in the cylindrical surface of the body 1. The support means 6 have a cylindrical surface which is complementary to the cylindrical outer surface of the body 1. The support means 6 are arranged to be lifted outwards from the body 1 towards the outer mould 10 by means of a further power unit 15, 7, 8.

[0023] In the shown embodiment the other power units 15, 7, 8 are manufactured as follows. A lifting rod 7 fits in an axial bore 7a of the body 1, the wedge surface 9 of the lifting rod 7 being arranged to lift the support means 6 outwards from the body when the lifting rod 7 is moved in the axial direction of the body by means of the power unit 15. Between the wedge surface 9 of the lifting rod 7 and the support means 6 a lifting pin 8 is positioned in a bore 8a of the body 1 which is perpendicular to the axial bore 7a.

[0024] In the shown embodiment two parallel lifting rods 7 extend over the body 1 a distance which is longer than the length of the wedge surface 9 of the lifting rod. The outer ends of the lifting rods 7 are joined by a flange 13 to which the power unit 15 moving the lifting rods 7 can be connected.

[0025] The power units 14, 15 can be hydraulic cylinders which are on the same side of the body 1 and which act in the same direction, i.e. during cuffing the hydraulic cylinders are directed towards the body 1. The body 1 is attached to a body (not shown) having the same outer standard as the power units 14, 15 by means of a body flange 11 attached to the body.

[0026] The lifting pins 8 are preferably closer to the ends of the support means 6 which are directed towards each other and at the same time towards the space 5 in the forming mould 3. The compression force of the support means 6 then increases towards the base of the cuff 16 to minimize deformation.

[0027] The device described above can be used in the method according to the application in such a way that the forming mould 3 is moved by pushing the sleeve wedge 2 between the forming mould 3 and the body 1 of the sleeve device. When the pushing point 12 of the sleeve wedge 2 approaches the body 1 of the sleeve device, the wedge surface 2a pushes the forming mould 3 through the starting hole in the tube 17, whereupon the edges of the hole stretch, bend and form to the sleeve 16 around the hole. The shape and orientation of the sleeve correspond to the shape and orientation of the protruding forming mould.

[0028] On both sides of the sleeve 16 to be formed, the tube 17 is pressed between the inner support means 6 and the outer mould 10 by pushing the support means 6 towards the outer mould 10, which prevents the tube 17 wall from bending inwards towards the base of the sleeve in the direction of arrow B shown in Fig. 1. Figure 2A The support means 6 are preferably arranged to be pushed towards the outer mould 10 by the sleeve wedge 2.

[0029] It is preferable to adjust the compression force between the support means 6 and the outer mould 10 so that it prevents the tube material pressed between the support means 6 and the outer mould 10 from moving towards the sleeve 16 during the forming of the sleeve 16. This prevents the length of the tube from shortening on the sleeve side (arrow A). Figure 2A The support means 6 are preferably arranged to be pushed towards the outer mould 10 by the sleeve wedge 2.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a T-branch sleeve by bending the edge of a hole of a pipe (17) into a ring-hole sleeve (16) in a pipe fitting, in which method a forming die (3) of a sleeve device inserted inside the pipe (17) is moved radially outwards from inside the pipe relative to the pipe by an actuator (2) under the guidance of a space (5) formed in the cylindrical outer surface of the body (1) of the sleeve device to shape the sleeve, an outer die (10) having a cylindrical inner surface is placed around the pipe (17) to be sleeved, and the outer die (10) has a hole (25) for moving the forming die (3) outwards from the space (5) of the body (1), characterized in that, On both sides of the cuff (16) to be formed, the support means (6) is pushed out from the body (1) towards the outer mould (10) on the same side of the tube as the cuff to be formed by means of another power unit (15, 7, 8) to press the tube (17) between the support means (6) inside the cut-out or recess (6a) positioned in the cylindrical outer surface of the body (1) with a cylindrical surface complementary to the cylindrical outer surface of the body (1) and the outer mould (10) on both sides of the hole (25) in the outer mould (10).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The compression force between the support means (6) and the outer mould (10) is adjusted to be high so that the compression force prevents tube material from moving towards the cuff (16) during the shaping of the cuff (16), the tube material being pressed between the support means (6) and the outer mould (10).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The forming mould (3) is moved by pushing a cuff wedge (2) between the forming mould (3) and the body (1) of the cuff device in such a way that the pushing point (12) of the cuff wedge (2) approaches the body (1) of the cuff device.

4. A device for manufacturing a T-branch collar in a pipe by bending the edge of the hole of the pipe (17) into a ring hole collar (16), which device comprises a body (1), a forming die (3), an outer die (10), a hole (25), an actuator (2) and a space (5) in the body (1), the body (1) having a cylindrical outer surface and being insertable inside the pipe (17) to be collared, the forming die (3) having an outer diameter substantially equal to the predetermined inner diameter of the collar (16), the space (5) in the body (1) being dimensioned to receive the forming die (3), which forming die (3) is subsequently movable under the guidance of the space (5) in the body (1), the outer die (10) having a cylindrical inner surface and being placeable around the pipe (17) to be collared, the hole (25) being in the outer die (10), the forming die (3) being movable up and down in the hole (25), the actuator (2) being connectable to a power unit (14) for moving the forming die (3) out of the space (5) of the body (1), characterized in that Support means (6) on both sides of the space (5), the support means (6) being positioned in a cut-out or recess (6a) in the cylindrical outer surface of the body (1), the support means (6) having a cylindrical surface complementary to the cylindrical outer surface of the body (1) and being arranged to be lifted outwards from the body (1) towards the outer mould (10) by means of another power unit (15, 7, 8) and thus to press the tube (17) between the inner surface of the outer mould (10) and the support means (6) on both sides of the hole (25) in the outer mould (10).

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein, A lifting rod (7) is fitted in an axial bore (7a) of the body (1), the wedge surface (9) of the lifting rod (7) being arranged to lift the support means (6) outwards from the body when the lifting rod (7) is moved in the axial direction of the body (1).

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein, A lifting pin (8) is between the wedge surface (9) of the lifting rod (7) and the support means (6), the lifting pin (8) being positioned in a bore (8a) of the body (1), the bore (8a) being perpendicular to the axial bore (7a).

7. The apparatus of claim 5 or 6, wherein, Two parallel lifting rods (7) extend over the body (1) by a distance longer than the length of the wedge surface (9) of the lifting rod (7), and the outer ends of the lifting rods (7) are joined by a flange (13) to which the power unit (15) moving the lifting rods (7) can be connected.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein, The lifting pin (8) is closer to the ends of the support means (6) which point towards each other and at the same time towards the space (5) in the forming mould (3).

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein, The actuator to be connected to the power unit (14) comprises a cuff wedge (2) which has been received in an axial recess (4) of the body (1) and a wedge surface (2a) of which is positioned in the space (5) in the forming die (3), whereupon the wedge surface (2a) of the cuff wedge (2) is adapted to push the forming die (3) outwards from the body (1) when the cuff wedge (2) is moved in the axial direction of the body (1).

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein, The pushing end (12) of the cuff wedge (2) connected to the power unit (14) is arranged to push towards the body (1) by means of the power unit (14) during cuffing.

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