US3824668A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous stroke tube insertion and expanding device
Assignee: Emerson Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-01-26
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1993-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A continuous stroke tube insertion and expanding device is provided for automatic and continuous tube insertion and expansion, useful in the manufacture of electronic air filter cells. The apparatus of this invention includes a tube magazine and a plurality of pusher rods which travel longitudinally of the apparatus, engaging the ends of a plurality of metal tubes during travel. The pusher rods have expanding means attached at their ends which engage the tubes. The pusher rods and expanding means drive the tubes through the plates of a cell assembly for an electronic air filter cell until the leading ends of the tubes engage a stop at one end of the apparatus. Tube stop engagement prevents further tube travel. However, pusher rod movement continues, driving the expanding means through the tubes in one continuous operation. Expansion of the tubes combines the tubes and plates into an integral unit. After the tube expanding means has joined a predetermined number of tubes and plates, the tube stop is removed. Tube expansion thereafter is accomplished with the tubes being held only by the expansion joint made between tubes and plates previously combined in the expansion process. Because tube expansion is progressing toward the free end of the tubes, the tubes remain in tension. Maintaining the tubes in tension during expansion enables the apparatus of this invention to prevent undesireable tube bending and distortion.
Inventors
- 👤 L Wightman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:15
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03C; B03C3/00; B03C3/34; B03C3/86; B21; B21D; B21D39/00; B21D39/08; B21D39/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53113; Y10T29/53122; Y10T29/53478
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
An insertion apparatus for inserting and expanding tubular bodies comprising: a supporting structure; an insertion mechanism mounted on said supporting structure and movable longitudinally along said supporting structure between at least a first position and a second position; and a tube magazine for storing a plurality of tubes mounted to said supporting structure and aligned axially with said insertion mechanism whereby said insertion mechanism drives at least one tube from said tube magazine to a second area longitudinally removed from said tube magazine as said insertion mechanism moves from said first position to said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
An insertion apparatus for inserting and expanding tubular bodies comprising: a supporting structure; an insertion mechanism mounted on said supporting structure and movable longitudinally along said supporting structure between at least a first position and a second position; and a tube magazine for storing a plurality of tubes mounted to said supporting structure and aligned axially with said insertion mechanism whereby said insertion mechanism drives at least one tube from said tube magazine to a second area longitudinally removed from said tube magazine as said insertion mechanism moves from said first position to said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The insertion apparatus of claim 1 wherein said insertion mechanism includes a plurality of pusher rods having first and second ends, said first end being attached to a movable part of said insertion mechanism and movable therewith, and further characterized by expanding means mounted to said second end of said pusher rods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
The insertion apparatus of claim 2 wherein said insertion mechanism is further characterized by a load cell operatively connected to said pusher rods, said load cell comprising a body defining a chamber, an electrical conductor carried in said chamber, means for operatively connecting at least one pusher rod to said electrical conductor, means for biasing said connecting means so that said connecting means and said electrical conductor are disconnected electrically in normal operation of said pusher rod and connected electrically in abnormal operation of said pusher rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The insertion apparatus of claim 3 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring arranged so as to exert a force acting to disconnect electrically said connecting means and said electrical conductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said tube magazine includes at least a first plate mounted to said supporting structure, a second plAte mounted to said supporting structure and spaced from said first plate, each of said first and said second plates having a plurality of slots in them adapted for storing a plurality of tubes, said slots having bottoms aligned with said pusher rods, said slot bottoms adapted to permit axial passage of said expanding means and said pusher rods as said insertion mechanism moves from said first position to said second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said slots extend through respective ones of said first and said second plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said first and said second plates are rectangular in plan, said tube magazine being further characterized by a cover part enclosing three sides of said plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said tube magazine is further characterized by a base plate, a pair of rails mounted on said base plate, said rails being parallel to and spaced from one another; a first cross brace slidably mounted on said rails, and a second cross brace slidably mounted on said rails, said cross braces having respective ones of said first and said second plates mounted thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said first and said second plates are movably mounted on respective ones of said first and said second cross braces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second area axially removed from said tube magazine comprises a cell assembly area along said supporting structure, said cell assembly area having a first end and a second end, said first end being adjacent said tube magazine and said second end being longitudinally remote therefrom, said apparatus being further characterized by at least one tube stop mounted along said second end of said cell assembly area, said tube stop being movable between at least a first and a second position, and drive means for moving said tube stops, mounted to said supporting structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said tube stop includes a tubular structure having a flaired end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
In an insertion device for inserting a plurality of tubular structures into a plurality of cell plates for a cell assembly including drive means and at least one pusher rod operatively connected to said drive means the improvement which comprises safety shut off means including a load cell connected to said drive means, said load cell including an electrical switch and bias means adapted for opening said switch, and an electrical conductor carrying electrical energy to said switch, said bias means being responsive to forces exerted by said drive means such that excessive force overcomes said bias means, closing said switch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
In an insertion device for inserting a plurality of tubular structures into a plurality of cell plates for a cell assembly including drive means and at least one pusher rod operatively connected to said drive means the improvement which comprises safety shut off means including a load cell connected to said drive means, said load cell including an electrical switch and bias means adapted for opening said switch, and an electrical conductor carrying electrical energy to said switch, said bias means being responsive to forces exerted by said drive means such that excessive force overcomes said bias means, closing said switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 12 wherein each of said load cells have a pair of pusher rods operatively connected to it.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
In an insertion device for inserting a plurality of tubular structures into a plurality of parallel plates having openings in them for receiving said tubular structures, the improvement which comprises means for sequentially and continuously pushing said tubular structures through said openings in said plates and expanding said tubular structures into fixed contact with alternate ones of said plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
In an insertion device for inserting a plurality of tubular structures into a plurality of parallel plates having openings in them for receiving said tubular structures, the improvement which comprises means for sequentially and continuously pushing said tubular structures through said openings in said plates and expanding said tubular structures into fixed contact with alternate ones of said plates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
173 words
In an insertion device for inserting a plurality of tubular structure into a plurality of plates having openings in them for receiving said tubular structures including means for inserting a plurality of tubular structures through said openings, each of said tubular structures having a first end and a second end, and means for expanding said tubular structures so as to interconnect said plurality of plates with said tubular structures, said expanding means being inserted through said tubular structures from said first end of said tubular structures, the improvement which comprises movable stop means at the second end of said tubular structures, said stop means being movable between at least a first and a second position, one of said first and said second positions being adapted to prevent further tubular strUcture travel by engaging said tubular structures at said second end, and means for repositioning said stop means to the other of said first and said second position after tubular structure expansion progresses a predetermined distance along said first end of said tubular structures.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
173 words
In an insertion device for inserting a plurality of tubular structure into a plurality of plates having openings in them for receiving said tubular structures including means for inserting a plurality of tubular structures through said openings, each of said tubular structures having a first end and a second end, and means for expanding said tubular structures so as to interconnect said plurality of plates with said tubular structures, said expanding means being inserted through said tubular structures from said first end of said tubular structures, the improvement which comprises movable stop means at the second end of said tubular structures, said stop means being movable between at least a first and a second position, one of said first and said second positions being adapted to prevent further tubular strUcture travel by engaging said tubular structures at said second end, and means for repositioning said stop means to the other of said first and said second position after tubular structure expansion progresses a predetermined distance along said first end of said tubular structures.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
128 words
An insertion apparatus for inserting and expanding tubular structures in a cell assembly including a plurality of plates having openings in them for receiving said tubular structures comprising: a supporting structure having a first end and a second end, said second end defining a cell assembly area; an insertion mechanism mounted to said supporting structure near said first end and movable reciprocally between at least a first position and a second position; and a magazine for loading a plurality of said tubular structures mounted to said supporting structure and aligned axially with said insertion mechanism, said tube magazine having at least one opening in it permitting passage of at least a portion of said insertion mechanism as said insertion mechanism moves between said first and said second position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
128 words
An insertion apparatus for inserting and expanding tubular structures in a cell assembly including a plurality of plates having openings in them for receiving said tubular structures comprising: a supporting structure having a first end and a second end, said second end defining a cell assembly area; an insertion mechanism mounted to said supporting structure near said first end and movable reciprocally between at least a first position and a second position; and a magazine for loading a plurality of said tubular structures mounted to said supporting structure and aligned axially with said insertion mechanism, said tube magazine having at least one opening in it permitting passage of at least a portion of said insertion mechanism as said insertion mechanism moves between said first and said second position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said insertion mechanism comprises: a first stationary plate mounted to said supporting structure near said first end; a second stationary plate mounted to said supporting structure and spaced axially from said first plate; a first guide rod mounted between said first and said second stationary plates; a third plate movably mounted on said first guide rod; a fourth plate movably mounted to said third plate and supported by said fourth and said second plates; first drive means operatively connected to said fourth plate; and second drive means operatively connected to said third plate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further characterized by tube stop means mounted near said second end of said supporting structure, said tube stop means including a tube stop and means for defining a first and a second position for said tube stop.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
133 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said magazine comprises a first guide means mounted to said supporting structure, a second guide means mounted to said supporting structure spaced axially from said first guide means, said first and said second guide means including at least one plate respectively which extends upwardly from said supporting structure, each of said respective plates having at least one opening through them which openings may be aligned axially, and a groove in each of said respective plates extending from the opening in each of said respective plates and sized to permit insertion of tubular structures in said groove so that said tubular structure extends between said first and said second plates, whereby said tubular structures may gravity feed into position between the opening in each of said respective plates.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said magazine is further characterized by a base mounted to said support structure, said base having a pair of spaced rails disposed axially along an upper surface thereof, and a pair of cross braces movably mounted to said base and slidable along said rails, said first and said second guide means being mounted to respective ones of said cross braces.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first and said second guide means are movably mounted on said cross braces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
80 words
A stopping means comprising: a holder structure, said structure having at least one opening in it; a tube stop having a first and a second end movably mounted to said holder structure along said first end of said tube stop, through said opening; a mounting structure mounted to said second end of said tube stop; a spacer operatively connected to said tube stop through said mounting structure; and means for biasing said spacer toward at least one direction of movement.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
80 words
A stopping means comprising: a holder structure, said structure having at least one opening in it; a tube stop having a first and a second end movably mounted to said holder structure along said first end of said tube stop, through said opening; a mounting structure mounted to said second end of said tube stop; a spacer operatively connected to said tube stop through said mounting structure; and means for biasing said spacer toward at least one direction of movement.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 22 wherein said tube stop is a tubular structure having a flaired opening along its first end.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
63 words
In an insertion device for inserting a plurality of tubular structure into a plurality of arranged plates, said plates having openings in them for receiving said tubular structures, the improvement which comprises means for sequentially and continuously pushing said tubular structures through said openings of said plates and expanding said tubular structure into fixed contact with at least alternate ones of said plates.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
63 words
In an insertion device for inserting a plurality of tubular structure into a plurality of arranged plates, said plates having openings in them for receiving said tubular structures, the improvement which comprises means for sequentially and continuously pushing said tubular structures through said openings of said plates and expanding said tubular structure into fixed contact with at least alternate ones of said plates.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
159 words
An insertion apparatus for inserting and expanding a tubular body, comprising: a supporting structure; an insertion mechanism mounted on said supporting structure movable between at least a first position and a second position, said inserting mechanism including at least one pusher rod having a first end and a second end, one of said first and said second ends being attached to a movable part of said insertion mechanism and being movable therewith; means for detecting abnormal operation of said pusher rod operatively connected to said pusher rod and a source of power for said apparatus; and means for stopping movement of said tubular body as said insertion mechanism moves between said first and said second position, said stopping means being movable between a first stopping position abutting said tubular body and a second disengaged position remote from said tubular body, movement of said stopping means occuring predeterminedly as said insertion mechanism moves between said first and said second positions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
159 words
An insertion apparatus for inserting and expanding a tubular body, comprising: a supporting structure; an insertion mechanism mounted on said supporting structure movable between at least a first position and a second position, said inserting mechanism including at least one pusher rod having a first end and a second end, one of said first and said second ends being attached to a movable part of said insertion mechanism and being movable therewith; means for detecting abnormal operation of said pusher rod operatively connected to said pusher rod and a source of power for said apparatus; and means for stopping movement of said tubular body as said insertion mechanism moves between said first and said second position, said stopping means being movable between a first stopping position abutting said tubular body and a second disengaged position remote from said tubular body, movement of said stopping means occuring predeterminedly as said insertion mechanism moves between said first and said second positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |