Pipe Roll-Grooving Roller Set to Prevent End Flare
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Solution Overview
Problem
Roll grooving methods often result in unwanted pipe end flare when forming circumferential grooves, which can exceed critical diameter tolerances and compromise the fitment of mechanical fittings and fluid tight seals, and existing methods do not adequately improve the surface finish for effective sealing.
Innovation Solution
A roller set with specific raised features on the outer roller, such as conical and curved surfaces, and a ring with bearings, is used to form regions on the pipe element, controlling deformation and enhancing surface finish to prevent flare and ensure a fluid tight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If roll grooving is used to form circumferential grooves in pipe elements, then groove formation is achieved, but pipe end flare occurs causing diameter tolerance violations
Solution Approach 1:
The outer roller is segmented into multiple raised features (first raised feature for flare prevention, second raised feature for groove formation, third raised feature for surface finishing) that perform different functions sequentially during the roll grooving process, allowing groove formation while preventing pipe end flare and maintaining diameter tolerance
Solution Approach 2:
The first raised feature on the outer roller performs preliminary action by contacting and restraining the pipe end before the second raised feature forms the groove, preventing flare from occurring in the first place rather than correcting it afterward
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional roll grooving is used, then groove formation is achieved, but surface finish is insufficient for effective sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The roller set merges multiple functions into a single processing system: the outer roller combines groove formation (second raised feature) with surface finishing (third raised feature), allowing both groove creation and surface quality improvement to occur simultaneously during one pass through the pipe element
Solution Approach 2:
The third raised feature on the outer roller applies local quality by specifically targeting the surface finish in the region where sealing surfaces are required, providing enhanced surface quality only where needed for effective sealing rather than uniformly across the entire pipe element
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 solution effectively mitigates pipe end flare, maintains critical diameter tolerances, and improves the surface finish of pipe elements for better sealing performance, enhancing the reliability of mechanical connections and fluid tight joints.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of bearings positioned between the ring and the outer roller body
Implementation Method 2
incrementally compressing the sidewall of the pipe element between the rollers
Implementation Method 3
the material of the pipe is deformed to form the groove
Data Source
AI summary
A roller set for roll forming pipe elements has an outer roller that engages the pipe element at three points to prevent teetering of the pipe element. Inner and outer rollers cooperate to form pipe elements having a projection engageable by keys of mechanical couplings, the projection extending beyond the outer surface of the pipe element and increasing the pressure and bending performance of the combination pipe elements and coupling.