Cam Stop Surface Mechanism for Precise Pipe Roll Grooving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roll grooving machines face challenges in producing a circumferential groove with precise radius tolerances and have low production rates, requiring complex devices and significant operator involvement.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a housing with rotatable gears, cam bodies with increasing radius and discontinuity cam surfaces, traction surfaces, and a pinion system that allows for precise engagement and rotation of cam bodies to form a circumferential groove on a pipe element with reduced operator intervention and increased efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If roll grooving machines are used to cold work pipe elements, then circumferential grooves can be formed, but the groove radius precision and production rate are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cam body is segmented into multiple cam surfaces (first cam surface, second cam surface, third cam surface) with different radius profiles. Each cam surface engages the pipe element at different stages of rotation, allowing progressive formation of the groove with precise radius control at each stage, thereby achieving both precision and high production rate
Solution Approach 2:
The cam bodies are designed to rotate periodically with specific discontinuities that engage and disengage from the pipe element in a cyclic manner. This periodic engagement allows the groove to be formed rapidly through repeated precise impressions during rotation, increasing production rate while maintaining groove radius precision through the controlled periodic action
2Manufacturing precision
If actuators and adjustable roller travel are used to achieve desired groove radius, then groove precision can be improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam bodies are designed with self-contained radius control through their geometric profiles. The cam surfaces inherently provide the desired groove radius through their fixed geometric relationship to the pipe element, eliminating the need for external actuators or adjustable mechanisms. The device serves itself by using the cam geometry to automatically maintain precision
Solution Approach 2:
The desired groove radius is pre-determined by the cam body geometry during manufacturing. The cam surfaces are precisely engineered with the required radius profiles before operation, so no adjustment is needed during operation. This preliminary preparation of the geometric relationship eliminates complex adjustment mechanisms
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple revolutions of the pipe element are required to achieve a finished groove, then groove quality can be improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam bodies are designed to continuously engage the pipe element throughout rotation, with multiple cam surfaces operating simultaneously or in sequence during a single rotation cycle. This continuous engagement allows the groove to be fully formed in one or few revolutions rather than requiring many separate passes, maintaining quality while dramatically increasing production rate
Solution Approach 2:
The discontinuities in the cam bodies create periodic engagement cycles that efficiently form the groove through repeated precise impressions during rotation. This periodic action allows rapid groove formation through cyclic engagement and disengagement, achieving finished grooves in fewer revolutions while maintaining quality through controlled periodic impressions
Data Source
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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 discontinuity in each cam surface is aligned with a gap in the traction surface of each cam. The discontinuities 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. A cup adjacent the pinion is movable along the pinion axis to engage and disengage from a stop surface on one of the cams. Engagement between the cup and a stop surface prevents rotation of the cam.