Cam Grooving Rollers for One-Pass Pipe Groove Forming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roll grooving machines face challenges in producing circumferential grooves in pipe elements with the required precision and efficiency, often requiring complex devices and significant operator involvement, with low production rates and difficulties in achieving the desired groove radius within tolerance ranges.
Innovation Solution
A cam-based system with a cam body having regions of increasing and reduced radius, along with traction surfaces and gears, is used to cold work pipe elements, allowing for simultaneous engagement with the pipe element to form a groove with reduced operator intervention and increased production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If roll grooving machines are used to cold work pipe elements, then circumferential grooves can be formed, but the production rate is low and many revolutions are required to achieve a finished groove
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism converts rotational motion into controlled linear motion of the grooving roller, enabling dynamic adjustment of roller position and pressure during a single pipe rotation. This dynamic action allows the groove to be formed in one revolution rather than requiring multiple revolutions, thereby increasing production rate and reducing cycle time
Solution Approach 2:
The cam profile is pre-designed with the exact groove geometry required, so that during the single rotation of the pipe, the grooving roller follows the predetermined cam path to automatically form the complete groove in one pass. This preliminary design of the cam profile eliminates the need for multiple adjustment cycles and revolutions
2Ease of manufacture
If prior art roll grooving machines are used, then grooves can be formed, but complicated devices with actuators and adjustment mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex actuator systems, adjustable mechanisms, and control devices from the grooving machine. By using a fixed cam profile that inherently defines the groove geometry and roller motion, all complicated adjustment mechanisms are removed, leaving a simple device that requires no operators or actuators
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism is designed to automatically perform the grooving function through its fixed geometric profile. The cam's shape itself provides the groove template, and the mechanical linkage automatically translates cam rotation into the precise roller motion needed. The system serves itself without requiring external actuators, adjustments, or operator intervention
3Manufacturing precision
If roll grooving machines are used, then grooves can be formed, but achieving the desired groove radius within tolerance range is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cam profile is designed with locally optimized geometry at each point of contact with the pipe, ensuring that the groove radius is precisely controlled throughout the entire groove formation process. The cam surface incorporates the exact radius requirements in its local geometry, guaranteeing that every point of the groove meets the specified tolerance range
Solution Approach 2:
The desired groove radius and tolerance specifications are pre-baked into the cam profile design. Before the grooving operation begins, the cam is manufactured with the precise geometric information needed to achieve the target groove dimensions. This preliminary encoding of precision requirements into the cam's physical form ensures consistent tolerance achievement without requiring measurement or adjustment during operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cam-based system enables precise and efficient cold working of pipe elements, achieving the desired groove radius within tight tolerances with fewer operator interactions and higher production rates, simplifying the process while maintaining precision.
Implementation Method 1
cold working of pipe elements, for example, impressing a circumferential groove in a pipe element
Implementation Method 2
the outer roller is progressively forced toward the inner roller. The rollers have surface profiles which are impressed onto the pipe element circumference as it rotates, thereby forming a circumferential groove
Implementation Method 3
The traction surface comprises a plurality of projections extending transversely to the axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A device for cold working pipe elements has two or more cams, each having a gear which meshes with a pinion to turn all of the cams. Each cam has a cam surface with a region of increasing radius and may have a region of constant radius extending around a cam body. Each cam also has a traction surface extending around a cam body. A region of reduced radius in each cam surface is aligned with a gap in the traction surface of each cam. The regions of reduced radius and gaps provide clearance for insertion and removal of the pipe element between the cams to form a circumferential groove when the cams are rotated.