US3610863A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for preparing the edges of thin tubes for welding
Assignee: Tubest SA
•
Filing: 1969-11-20
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1989-11-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for the production of thin metal tubes comprises a forming device converting a strip of sheet metal into a split tubular blank having welding lips projecting outwardly from its meeting edges, and a welding device receiving and holding the blank and having a reciprocal welding electrode disposed above and movable along the adjoining welding lips, to produce a welding seam along the blank by step-by-step drawing of said strip from a supply roll through said forming and welding devices in succession and displacement of the welding electrode during its forward operating stroke along the blank and its intermittent stationary positions. The forming and welding devices are fitted with special forming dies and clamping means ensuring uniform welding lips and a consistent welding seam along the blank.
Inventors
- 👤 Noel Fernand Doublet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:57
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/02; B23K9/025; B23K9/0253; B21; B21C; B21C37/00; B21C37/06; B21C37/08; B21C37/0822; B23K10/00; B23K10/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for the production of thin metal tubes by edge welding of a split tubular blank formed from a strip of sheet metal, comprising in combination 1. a lip-forming device for said blank comprising a stationary, horizontal, hollow cylindrical die having an internal diameter corresponding approximately to the tubular product to be formed and a stationary forming tool cooperating with said die, 2. a welding device in line with said lip-forming device and, 3. means to draw said blank step-by-step through said blankforming device and into the region of said welding device, the hollow cylindrical die of the lip-forming device having a slit extending inwardly from the upstream end thereof and the stationary forming tool having a blade portion extending through said slit and a lower horizontal boot portion with outwardly flaring lateral faces, said hollow cylindrical die being constructed aNd arranged adjacent the region of said slit to cooperate with the stationary forming tool to form a pair of upwardly extending lips on a blank drawn through the lip-forming device, said welding device comprising a reciprocal welding electrode disposed above the lips of said blank, and aligning and clamping means for said blank disposed below the reciprocating region of said welding electrode to align the electrode path with the welding seam to be produced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for the production of thin metal tubes by edge welding of a split tubular blank formed from a strip of sheet metal, comprising in combination 1. a lip-forming device for said blank comprising a stationary, horizontal, hollow cylindrical die having an internal diameter corresponding approximately to the tubular product to be formed and a stationary forming tool cooperating with said die, 2. a welding device in line with said lip-forming device and, 3. means to draw said blank step-by-step through said blankforming device and into the region of said welding device, the hollow cylindrical die of the lip-forming device having a slit extending inwardly from the upstream end thereof and the stationary forming tool having a blade portion extending through said slit and a lower horizontal boot portion with outwardly flaring lateral faces, said hollow cylindrical die being constructed aNd arranged adjacent the region of said slit to cooperate with the stationary forming tool to form a pair of upwardly extending lips on a blank drawn through the lip-forming device, said welding device comprising a reciprocal welding electrode disposed above the lips of said blank, and aligning and clamping means for said blank disposed below the reciprocating region of said welding electrode to align the electrode path with the welding seam to be produced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
a welding device in line with said lip-forming device and,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
a welding device in line with said lip-forming device and,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said welding device includes a support conforming to and engaging the inside surface of said blank in the welding position and having a duct therethrough terminating below the welding seam, for injecting an inert gaseous medium beneath said seam through said duct.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said support is formed with additional ducts for passing therethrough a cooling circulating fluid during welding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
means to draw said blank step-by-step through said blank-forming device and into the region of said welding device, the hollow cylindrical die of the lip-forming device having a slit extending inwardly from the upstream end thereof and the stationary forming tool having a blade portion extending through said slit and a lower horizontal boot portion with outwardly flaring lateral faces, said hollow cylindrical die being constructed aNd arranged adjacent the region of said slit to cooperate with the stationary forming tool to form a pair of upwardly extending lips on a blank drawn through the lip-forming device, said welding device comprising a reciprocal welding electrode disposed above the lips of said blank, and aligning and clamping means for said blank disposed below the reciprocating region of said welding electrode to align the electrode path with the welding seam to be produced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
means to draw said blank step-by-step through said blank-forming device and into the region of said welding device, the hollow cylindrical die of the lip-forming device having a slit extending inwardly from the upstream end thereof and the stationary forming tool having a blade portion extending through said slit and a lower horizontal boot portion with outwardly flaring lateral faces, said hollow cylindrical die being constructed aNd arranged adjacent the region of said slit to cooperate with the stationary forming tool to form a pair of upwardly extending lips on a blank drawn through the lip-forming device, said welding device comprising a reciprocal welding electrode disposed above the lips of said blank, and aligning and clamping means for said blank disposed below the reciprocating region of said welding electrode to align the electrode path with the welding seam to be produced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said support has a groove in its upper part adjoining the welding seam, and means to supply an inert gaseous medium to said groove during welding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, including a rigid horizontal supporting tube in part housing said support said tube having a stationary ingress extremity connected to the frame of the device, and an inflatable expansible core within the lower part of said tube, to lock the blank to the welding device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, including a rigid horizontal supporting tube in part housing said support, said tube having a stationary ingress extremity connected to the frame of the device, and an inflatable expansible core within the lower part of said tube, to lock the blank to the welding device, said tube being perforated along its length by longitudinal openings, whereby said core, upon inflation, projects out of said tube and into contact with the internal wall of said blank for locking the same in the welding device, while allowing said blank to be drawn forward during deflation of said core
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aligning and clamping means includes a pair of stationary clamping jaws having wedges forming a gap for positioning the lips of the blank for welding and a lower clamping jaws whereby to closely envelop the outer cylindrical surface of said blank while welding the lips thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reciprocating stroke of the welding electrode exceeds the step-by-step advancing stroke of said blank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side walls of the slit cooperate with the boot of said forming tool to form the lips on said blank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said die adjacent said slit area is formed of metal having high wear resistance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said die comprises a pair of rollers mounted to rotate with their peripheries on opposite sides of said slot whereby said rollers cooperate with said stationary forming tool to form said lips.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |