Cam Roll Grooving for Precise Pipe Groove Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roll grooving machines face challenges in producing a circumferential groove with precise radius tolerances and require complex setups and high operator involvement, resulting in low production rates.
Innovation Solution
A cam-based system with a cam body having a surface with regions of increasing and constant radius, along with traction surfaces, is used to deform the pipe element, allowing for simultaneous engagement and synchronized rotation to form a groove with reduced operator intervention and increased precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If roll grooving machines with actuators and adjustable rollers are used, then groove radius precision can be achieved, but device complexity and operator involvement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the groove-forming function from complex adjustable roller systems and concentrates it into a specialized cam mechanism. The cam's predetermined profile directly imprints the groove geometry, eliminating the need for actuators and manual roller adjustments while maintaining precision through the cam's fixed geometric relationship with the pipe element.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism is designed to automatically maintain the correct groove radius through its inherent geometric properties. As the cam rotates, its profile self-regulates the groove depth and shape without requiring external actuators or operator intervention, making the system self-sufficient for precision groove formation.
2Manufacturing precision
If roll grooving machines with multiple revolutions are used, then groove formation can be achieved, but production rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism performs groove formation in a continuous single-pass operation. As the cam rotates once, it continuously deforms the pipe element along the groove path, completing the entire groove formation process in one continuous motion without requiring multiple revolutions or intermittent stopping, thereby significantly increasing production rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam profile is pre-designed with the exact groove geometry required, so that during a single rotation, the groove is formed in one continuous deformation process rather than requiring multiple passes. This preliminary design of the cam profile enables complete groove formation in a single operational cycle.
3Manufacturing precision
If roll grooving machines with operator adjustment are used, then groove radius tolerance can be controlled, but operator involvement and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism inherently maintains groove radius tolerance through its fixed geometric profile. The cam's predetermined shape automatically ensures consistent groove dimensions without requiring operator measurement, calculation, or adjustment, eliminating time-consuming manual intervention while preserving precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameter from manual roller position adjustment to fixed cam rotation. The cam's rotational motion automatically translates its profile geometry into precise groove dimensions, eliminating the need for operators to adjust roller positions and spend time on manual setup and calibration.
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 efficient and precise cold working of pipe elements, achieving desired groove radii with fewer operator steps and higher production rates while maintaining precision.
Implementation Method 1
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 2
Cold working of pipe elements, for example, impressing a circumferential groove in a pipe element to accept a mechanical pipe coupling
Implementation Method 3
The traction surface comprises a plurality of projections extending transversely to the axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for cold working pipe elements use 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 also have a region of constant radius extending around a cam body. Each cam may also have a traction surface extending around a cam body. The method includes contacting the pipe element with a plurality of cam surfaces simultaneously at a plurality of locations on the pipe element and rotating the pipe element, thereby simultaneously rotating the cam surfaces. Each cam surface engages the pipe element with an increasing radius and a region of constant radius if present to deform the pipe element and form the groove.