Spiral Pipe Fitting Height Adjustment Without Inner Limiters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pipe-making apparatuses are increased in size due to the use of annular and radial inner periphery limiters, making it difficult to adjust the diameter or cross-sectional configuration of spiral pipes, and they struggle to cope with changes in existing pipe dimensions.

Innovation Solution

A pipe-making apparatus that includes a fitting height adjuster allowing for variable adjustment of the fitting position in the machine height direction or pipe inside-outside direction, enabling the production of spiral pipes with enlarged or reduced diameters without an inner periphery limiter, using a non-inner-periphery-limited structure and an operating lever for angle adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If an annular inner periphery limiter is used to prevent reduction in diameter, then the diameter can be maintained, but the apparatus size increases and adaptability to different pipe dimensions decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediameter maintenanceVSAvoidadaptability to different pipe dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the inner periphery limiter from the pipe-making apparatus, replacing it with a guide roller system that allows the strip member to be guided without constraining the inner diameter. This extraction of the limiting component enables both diameter maintenance through guide rollers and adaptability to different pipe dimensions by adjusting the guide roller positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If an annular inner periphery limiter is used to limit cross-section, then the cross-sectional shape is controlled, but the apparatus becomes larger and more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-sectional controlVSAvoidapparatus structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The annular inner periphery limiter is removed and replaced with multiple guide rollers positioned around the forming area. These guide rollers control the cross-sectional shape through their positioning and arrangement, while the overall apparatus structure becomes simpler without the complex annular limiter mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If a radial inner periphery limiter is used to prevent diameter reduction, then the diameter is maintained, but the apparatus size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediameter maintenanceVSAvoidapparatus structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single radial inner periphery limiter, the invention employs multiple guide rollers distributed around the forming area. Each guide roller independently guides the strip member at different positions, collectively maintaining the diameter without requiring a large radial limiter structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Manufacturing precision

If inner periphery limiters are used to control pipe formation, then the pipe diameter is maintained, but the fitting position adjustment flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediameter controlVSAvoidfitting position adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces fixed inner periphery limiters with adjustable guide rollers that can be positioned dynamically. The fitting position adjuster enables the guide rollers to be moved along the strip member width direction, allowing flexible adjustment of the fitting position while maintaining diameter control through the guide roller positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3437836B1Pipe-making apparatus and pipe-making method
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP3437836B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3437836B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3437836B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a pipe-making apparatus and a pipe-making method capable of making a spiral pipe variably adjusting a diameter or a perimeter of the pipe without an inner periphery limiter. An edge 94 of a following strip portion 92 of a strip member 90 is fitted with a corresponding edge 93 of a preceding pipe portion 91 preceding by one turn by a pipe-making part 3a of a pipe-making apparatus 3, the following strip portion 92 following the preceding pipe portion 91 precedingly made into the spiral pipe, the following strip portion not yet made into the pipe. The pipe-making apparatus 3a is propelled along a spiral winding direction accompanying the fitting. A position 9q of the fitting is variably adjusted by a fitting height adjuster such as an operating lever 30 in a machine height direction HD or a pipe inside-outside direction VD.