Apparatus for manufacturing deformable expansion bellows for pipe-work

Claim 2

Apparatus for the manufacture, by the technique of hydroforming, of deformable expansion bellows for pipe-work and similar assemblies, comprising means for supporting a deformable sheath from which the bellows is to be formed, means for supporting a sleeve within the sheath to define a generally annular space therebetween, means for introducing into the space a liquid under pressure to deform a portion of the sheath outwardly and to deform a portion of the sleeve inwardly, and means for applying axial thrust to the sheath and sleeve locally during application of pressure to said space by the liquid, the thrust compressing the sheath and sleeve.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for supporting the sheath and sleeve are annular plates against which the sheath and sleeve bear, one of the plates being acted on by said means for applying axial thrust, the other being axially immobilised and dismountable to permit the extraction of the bellows formed.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the supports for the sleeve are formed to the internal diameter of the sleeve and arranged to retain the ends of the sleeve axially.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising annular stiffening stays arranged to engage the inner wall of the sleeve, the location of the stays determining the inwardly deformed portion of the sleeve.

Claim 6

A process using a hydroforming technique for manufacturing a deformable expansion bellow from an axially-extending sheath, the process comprising: positioning an axially-extending deformable sleeve on a support with the axis of the sleeve being perpendicular to the support; positioning the sheath on the support coaxial with and surrounding the sleeve, the outer wall of the sleeve cooperating with the inner wall of the sheath to define an annular space; and axially compressing the sleeve and sheath while adding a fluid under pressure to the annular space so that the wall of the sheath is deformed locally outward by the fluid under pressure thereby forming the bellows, and the wall of the sleeve is deformed locally inward.

Claim 7

A process using a hydroforming technique for manufacturing a deformable expansion bellow from an axially-extending sheath, the process comprising: positioning an axially-extending deformable sleeve on a support with the axis of the sleeve being perpendicular to the support; positioning the sheath on the support coaxial with and surrounding the sleeve, the outer wall of the sleeve cooperating with the inner wall of the sheath to define an annular space; and axially compressing the sleeve and sheath while adding a fluid under pressure to the annular space so that the wall of the sheath is deformed locally outward by the fluid under pressure thereby forming the bellows, and the wall of the sleeve is deformed locally inward.

Claim 8

The process according to claim 5, wherein the sleeve and sheath have open ends, the process further comprising: positioning the open ends of the sleeve and sheath between two axially aligned annular plates, one of the plates being axially immobilized to form the support; and exerting an axial force on the other of the plates thereby axially compressing the sleeve and sheath.

Claim 9

The process according to claim 6, wherein the axially immobilized plate is dismountable to allow positioning and removal of the sheath.

Claim 10

The process according to claim 6, wherein the open ends of the sleeve are axially retained on the annular plates by means of annular supports disposed inside the said ends.

Claim 11

The process according to claim 6, wherein the plates are vertically aligned, and wherein the axial force is exerted by axial thrust means comprising a series of lower jacks supporting the lower annular plate, and vertical tie rods joining fixed parts of said jacks to the upper annular plate.

Claim 12

The process according to claim 5, wherein the inner wall of said sleeve is provided with stiffening stays adapted to determine inwardly extending corrugations on said sleeve.