Means for flaring openings in cylindrical bodies

• US 4,059,979 A
• Filed: 06/23/1976
• Issued: 11/29/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Energy Incorporated (Archer Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Energy Incorporated (Archer Ltd.)
• Inventors: Morris, Peter A., Mackie, Gordon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Lowell A.
• Application Number:
  US05/698,831
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 72/342, 113/116 UT, 29/157 T
• US Class Current: 72/342.94
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 37/292 Forming collars by drawing or pushing a rigid forming tool through an opening in the tube wall
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 51/40 Making outlet openings, e.g. bung holes

Abstract

A stationary pulling unit with a movable workpiece provides for an on center locating point under the operating unit for coupling a flaring tool to the stationary pulling unit and heating the area to be flared with torches in a heat cycle and in a pulling cycle as the flaring tool is pulled through the opening in the workpiece.

Claims

1. An apparatus for flaring the edge of an opening formed in a cylindrical workpiece comprising:

a stationary frame having a work station;

a flaring tool in said work station engageable in the opening formed in the cylindrical workpiece;

a ram movably supported by said frame in said work station for vertical movement into and out of coupled engagement with said flaring tool;

power means operable to effect coupling engagement of said ram with said flaring tool and to forcefully engage the flaring tool with the edge of the opening in the cylindrical workpiece to form a circular collar portion around the opening;

clamping means carried by said frame for securing the workpiece in the work station;

heat applying means carried for movement into a position to heat an area of the cylindrical workpiece adjacent the opening to be flared to a plastic state;

a second heat applying means operably disposed to apply heat to the cylindrical workpiece on a side thereof which is diametrically opposite to the side which said first heating means applies its heat; and

,

control means operably connected to effect a predetermined movement of the heat applying means in a path of travel which is parallel to the contour of the cylindrical workpiece from a point of rest to a point short of a vertical plane which passes through the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical workpiece.

2. An apparatus for flaring the edge of an opening formed in a cylindrical workpiece comprising:

a stationary frame having a work station;

a flaring tool in said work station engageable in the opening formed in the cylindrical workpiece;

a ram movably supported by said frame in said work station for vertical movement into and out of coupled engagement with said flaring tool;

power means operable to effect coupling engagement of said ram with said flaring tool and to forcefully engage the flaring tool with the edge of the opening in the cylindrical workpiece to form a circular collar portion around the opening;

clamping means carried by said frame for securing the workpiece in the work station;

heat applying means carried for movement into a position to heat an area of the cylindrical workpiece adjacent the opening to be flared to a plastic state;

control means operably connected to effect a predetermined movement of the heat applying means in a path of travel which is parallel to the contour of the cylindrical workpiece from a point of rest to a point short of a vertical plane which passes through the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical workpiece; and

,

means operably connected to selectively modify the operation of said control means to establish a path of travel in a first mode and a path of travel in a second mode;

where said first mode is utilized in a heating cycle and said path of travel of said second mode is shorter in length than the path of travel of said first mode and is utilized during the engagement of the flaring tool with the edge of the opening to thereby maintain the body of the cylindrical workpiece adjacent the opening in a plastic state during the flaring operation.

3. An apparatus for flaring the edge of an opening formed in a cylindrical workpiece comprising:

a stationary frame having a work station;

a flaring tool in said work station engageable in the opening formed in the cylindrical workpiece;

a ram movably supported by said frame in said work station for vertical movement into and out of coupled engagement with said flaring tool;

power means operable to effect coupling engagement of said ram with said flaring tool and to forcefully engage the flaring tool with the edge of the opening in the cylindrical workpiece to form a circular collar portion around the opening;

clamping means carried by said frame for securing the workpiece in the work station;

heat applying means carried for movement into a position to heat an area of the cylindrical workpiece adjacent the opening to be flared to a plastic state;

a bridge movably supported by said frame for vertical movement;

supports for said clamping means carried by said bridge;

actuating means carried by said frame and operably connected to effect movement of said bridge selectively in a first direction to engage the clamping means with a cylindrical workpiece in the work station or in a second direction to disengage said clamping means from the workpiece;

means movable carrying said supports for positioning movement along said bridge; and

,

locking means to secure said supports to said bridge in selected adjusted position.