US3704978A — Apparatus for mandrel collapsing and reassembling…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 357 words

In an apparatus for locally widening the end of a thermoplastic tube, the apparatus having a mandrel, the mandrel having an axially displaceable core and a segmented collar positionable on the core for support thereon when inserted in the end of the tube to be widened, the collar when assembled and on the core, defining the inner contour of the widened tube end, there being means connected for independently driving the core and the collar axially, a mandrel collar segment positioning device in the apparatus independently from the core and comprising: the segments of the collar including first segments having relatively small dimensions along the periphery of the mandrel and surfaces tapering in radial outward direction, and second segments alternating with the first segments along the periphery and engaging them at the surfaces for constituting therewith a closed collar on the core to establish an assembled mandrel, each segment axial a first axitl end, leading upon insertion into a tube in which the assembled mandrel is to be inserted, and a second axial trailing end that remains outside of the tube; a plurality of actuator rods respectively connected to the segments at the respective second axial ends thereof that remain outside of a tube, the rods respectively extending radially outwardly and provided for displacing the segments radially; first and second coaxially disposed control means rotating on the axis of and being radially displaced from the mandrel collar, the first control means including a first rotatable intermediate member with plural drive elements respectively connected to all the actuator rods of the first segments for translating rotation of the intermediate member into radial displacement of the actuator rods for the first segments, the second control means including a second rotatable intermediate member with plural drive elements connected to all the actuator rods for the second segments for translating rotation of the second intermediate member into radial displacement of the actuator rods for the second segments; and first and second drive means connected respectively to the first and second members for drivingly rotating the first and second members for respectively obtaining the radial displacement of the first and second segments.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 357 words

In an apparatus for locally widening the end of a thermoplastic tube, the apparatus having a mandrel, the mandrel having an axially displaceable core and a segmented collar positionable on the core for support thereon when inserted in the end of the tube to be widened, the collar when assembled and on the core, defining the inner contour of the widened tube end, there being means connected for independently driving the core and the collar axially, a mandrel collar segment positioning device in the apparatus independently from the core and comprising: the segments of the collar including first segments having relatively small dimensions along the periphery of the mandrel and surfaces tapering in radial outward direction, and second segments alternating with the first segments along the periphery and engaging them at the surfaces for constituting therewith a closed collar on the core to establish an assembled mandrel, each segment axial a first axitl end, leading upon insertion into a tube in which the assembled mandrel is to be inserted, and a second axial trailing end that remains outside of the tube; a plurality of actuator rods respectively connected to the segments at the respective second axial ends thereof that remain outside of a tube, the rods respectively extending radially outwardly and provided for displacing the segments radially; first and second coaxially disposed control means rotating on the axis of and being radially displaced from the mandrel collar, the first control means including a first rotatable intermediate member with plural drive elements respectively connected to all the actuator rods of the first segments for translating rotation of the intermediate member into radial displacement of the actuator rods for the first segments, the second control means including a second rotatable intermediate member with plural drive elements connected to all the actuator rods for the second segments for translating rotation of the second intermediate member into radial displacement of the actuator rods for the second segments; and first and second drive means connected respectively to the first and second members for drivingly rotating the first and second members for respectively obtaining the radial displacement of the first and second segments.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 297 words

In an apparatus for locally widening the end of a thermoplastic tube the apparatus having a mandrel, the mandrel having an axially displaceable core and a segmented collar positionable on the core for support thereon when inserted in the end of the tube to be widened, the collar when assembled and on the core, defining the inner contour of the widened tube end, there being means connected for independently driving the core and the collar axially, a mandrel collar segment positioning device in the apparatus independently from the core and comprising: the segments of the collar including first segments having relatively small dimensions along the periphery of the mandrel and surfaces tapering in radial outward direction, and second segments alternating with the first segments along the periphery and engaging them at the surfaces for constituting therewith a closed collar on the core to establish an assembled mandrel, each segment having a first axial end, leading upon insertion into a tube in which the assembled mandrel is to be inserted, and a second axial trailing end that remains outside of the tube; a plurality of actuator rods respectively connected to the segments at the respective second axial ends thereof that remains outside of a tube, the rods respectively extending radially outwardly and provided for displacing the segments radially; a common control member disposed in radially displaced relation to said collar and provided for rotation on the axis; plural drive elements on the control member and individually coupled to the rods for translating rotational displacement of the single control member into radial displacement of the rods and respectively of the segments thereon; and a single drive connected to the common control member for drivingly rotating the control member so that the control member causes radial displacement of the rods.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 297 words

In an apparatus for locally widening the end of a thermoplastic tube the apparatus having a mandrel, the mandrel having an axially displaceable core and a segmented collar positionable on the core for support thereon when inserted in the end of the tube to be widened, the collar when assembled and on the core, defining the inner contour of the widened tube end, there being means connected for independently driving the core and the collar axially, a mandrel collar segment positioning device in the apparatus independently from the core and comprising: the segments of the collar including first segments having relatively small dimensions along the periphery of the mandrel and surfaces tapering in radial outward direction, and second segments alternating with the first segments along the periphery and engaging them at the surfaces for constituting therewith a closed collar on the core to establish an assembled mandrel, each segment having a first axial end, leading upon insertion into a tube in which the assembled mandrel is to be inserted, and a second axial trailing end that remains outside of the tube; a plurality of actuator rods respectively connected to the segments at the respective second axial ends thereof that remains outside of a tube, the rods respectively extending radially outwardly and provided for displacing the segments radially; a common control member disposed in radially displaced relation to said collar and provided for rotation on the axis; plural drive elements on the control member and individually coupled to the rods for translating rotational displacement of the single control member into radial displacement of the rods and respectively of the segments thereon; and a single drive connected to the common control member for drivingly rotating the control member so that the control member causes radial displacement of the rods.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 99 words

In an apparatus as in claim 2, the common control member including a common control ring, having larger diameter than the collar and the core, cams and cam tracks respectively connected between the actuator rods and the control ring, one cam and one cam track per rod and segment, and constructed so that cam action for the rod actuators of the segments of the first group differs from cam action for the segments of the second group upon rotation of the control ring, to obtain sequential radial displacement of the segments of the first and of the second group.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 87 words

In an apparatus as in claim 3, the ends of the rods respectively constructed as cams, the cam tracks provided as a first group of similarly contoured guide ways and a second group of similarly contoured guide ways different from the guide ways of the first group; the guide ways of the second group each having a section of reducing radius and a section of constant radius so that upon said rotation of the control ring the segments of the second group are immediately displaced radially inwardly.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 116 words

In an apparatus as in claim 1, the first and second intermediate members comprising respectively first and second, independently rotatable, coaxially disposed control rings, having diameter larger than the core and the collar, the drive elements on the control rings being rotational-radial displacement translating elements, the translator elements on the first ring coupled to the actuator rods, the segments of the first group and being drivingly connected to the first control ring therewith, the actuator rods of the segments of the second group drivingly connected to the translator elements on the second control ring; and first and second drive means connected to the first and second control rings for turning them independently on the same axis.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

In an apparatus as in claim 5, the two control rings provided in axial spaced relation to each other; the translator elements being levers on the rings and respectively linked to the radial outer ends of the actuator rods.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 38 words

In an apparatus as in claim 5, the two control rings each provided with a spiral cam groove, the translator elements being cams on the radially outer ends of the actuator rods, the cams riding in the grooves.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

In an apparatus as in claim 5, the control rings provided with spur gearing, translator elements being pinions, the actuator rods drivingly coupled to pinions and meshing the spur gearing.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

In an apparatus as in claim 8, the pinions being bevel gears, there being a worm gear on each bevel gear, the actuator rods geared respectively to the worm gears.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

In an apparatus as in claim 8, the control rings provided in concentric relation each having spur gearing along its respective inner periphery meshing with the pinions, the actuator rods provided as racks riding on the pinions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

In an apparatus as in claim 10, the first and second drive means each including rack, each meshing with one pinion each per control ring for driving same.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

In an apparatus as in claim 5, the first and second drive means respectively including piston rods, and motor means for linearly moving the piston rods for turning the control rings in one or the opposite direction.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-12-05	1976-06-05	1976-12-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-12-05	1980-06-05	1980-12-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-12-05	1984-06-05	1984-12-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for mandrel collapsing and reassembling in tube widening equipment

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