Internal Roller Tool for Tube Bending with Pivoting Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal shaping tools for bending metal strips into tubes lack adaptability, leading to inadequate contact between rollers and the workpiece, resulting in surface damage due to edge bearing and inability to adjust for changes in pipe geometry or material properties.
Innovation Solution
An internal roller tool with pivotable rollers positioned at the midpoint, synchronized by toothed sector gears and an extensible actuator, allowing for precise adjustment to ensure full-width contact and optimal shaping, along with a nonpivoting center roller for additional adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed rollers are used in the internal shaping tool, then the structure is simple and stable, but the adaptability to changes in pipe geometry or material properties is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the rollers pivotable about holder pivot axes instead of being fixed. This allows the rollers to dynamically adjust their position and orientation to accommodate different pipe geometries and material properties. The pivotable holders enable the rollers to adapt to varying shaping requirements while maintaining structural simplicity through a straightforward mechanical linkage system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rollers are made pivotal via holders with arbitrarily selected pivot points, then some adjustability is provided, but the pivot point cannot be compensated for to achieve desired pipe geometry configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by positioning the holder pivot axes at specific locations relative to the roller contact points with the metal strip. The pivot axes are arranged so that each roller can pivot about an axis that is optimally positioned to maintain full-width contact during the shaping process. This localized positioning of pivot points ensures both adjustability and manufacturing precision for the desired pipe geometry.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If rollers do not bear on the workpiece over their full width due to inadequate adaptability, then the device complexity is reduced, but surface damage occurs due to edge bearing
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable holder mechanism allows the rollers to dynamically adjust their contact position with the metal strip. As the shaping process progresses and the strip geometry changes, the rollers can pivot to maintain optimal contact across their full width, preventing edge bearing and the associated surface damage while using a relatively simple adjustment mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
An internal tool for bending a strip passing in a strip-travel direction into a tube has a support juxtaposable with a face of the passing strip, at least two roller holders pivotal on the support about respective offset holder pivot axes generally parallel to the strip-travel direction, and respective rollers carried in the holders and rotatable about respective roller axes generally perpendicular to the respective holder axes.