Abstract:
Tightly-coiled helical ducts for centrifugal air separators may be formed with the tools and methods disclosed herein. A helical coil toolset includes a helically grooved mandrel and an entry block. The helical groove of the mandrel has a small helix inside diameter relative to a width of the helical groove. The entry block has a guide channel to guide a tube to the helical groove and a mandrel channel to receive the mandrel. Methods include forming tubing into a tightly-coiled helical duct by filling a tube with fine particles, positioning the tube in the helical groove of a helically grooved mandrel, fixing the tube relative to the mandrel, assembling an entry block around the tube and around the mandrel, and bending the filled tube around the helically grooved mandrel into the tightly-coiled helical duct by rotating the mandrel relative to the entry block.
Abstract:
In the proposed hydro ironing method, through an innovative arrangement of loads and using a novel configuration for the die components, the thickness reduction in one stage of ironing is almost equal to twice the common approaches.
Abstract:
An end plunger for end feeding during a hydroforming process (such as tube hydroforming) has at least one releasable seal. The effect of the releasable seal is that it avoids pressurizing the blank in a nip area, thereby reducing friction and wear, and allowing increased end feeding with a given end feeding force. The releasable seal may be actuable, for sealing or releasing. The plunger may be modular or monolithic. A kit and method may incorporate the end plunger.
Abstract:
A method and system for forming a part from a workpiece including a hollow portion, using a mandrel and a conventional press such as a stamping press includes filling the hollow portion of the workpiece with a mandrel material and transforming the mandrel material to form a mandrel. The mandrel material is removable from the formed part and may be recycled to form a mandrel for another workpiece.
Abstract:
A hydroform seal assembly includes a seal housing and an annular nozzle carried by the seal housing and sized to insert into a tube end. A first actuator moves the seal housing to insert the nozzle. A plurality of jaws are carried by the seal housing and are movable radially inward into clamping engagement with the tube to clamp the tube onto the annular nozzle. A cam bushing is movably mounted within the seal housing, surrounds the jaws, and has cam surfaces complimentary with cam surfaces provided on the jaws so that movement of the cam bushing relative the jaws will cam the jaws radially inward. A backup cam is movable within the seal housing. The cam bushing and backup cam have complimentary cam surfaces by which movement of the backup cam will forcibly move the cam bushing relative the seal housing. A second actuator moves the backup cam.
Abstract:
A method for twisting a hollow metal tube includes the steps of (a) filling a predetermined section of the hollow metal tube between two opposite end sections of the hollow metal tube with a solid reinforcing member, and (b) holding and turning the two opposite end sections of the hollow metal tube relative to each other so as to twist the predetermined section of the hollow metal tube.
Abstract:
For manufacturing a measuring tube from a tube section, first a solid forming core serving during the bending for stabilizing the cross section of the tube section is formed within the lumen of the tube section from a first fill substance and a second fill substance included therein. The first fill substance is a solidified liquid, especially wax, fat or water, having a melting temperature lower than a melting temperature of the tube section, while the second fill substance is, at least in a normal condition, an essentially pourable, especially grainy and/or powdered, loose material, especially granulated material, sand or the like, having a melting temperature which is higher than the melting temperature of the liquid. Following the creating of the forming core, the tube section is bent by the introduction of a bending force acting at least sectionally externally on the tube section. Finally, the forming core is desolidified within the lumen of the bent tube section by effecting the melting of the fill substance in the form of solidified liquid within the bent tube section.
Abstract:
A apparatus and method for forming a complex-shaped frame member from a blank tube having opposed ends is provided. The blank tube is placed in a first cavity on a lower die. An upper die is lowered from an open position to a close proximity to the lower die. The upper die has a second cavity aligned with the first cavity. A pair of sealing units seal the opposing ends of the blank tube, and a fluid delivery means for communicates a fluid into the tube. A fluid control means pressurizes the fluid in the tube to a low pressure level. A position determining means determines a distance separating the upper die in the closed position from said lower die in the lowered position. A lower die lifting means raises the lower die from the lowered position the determined distance to the lifted position. The fluid control means then pressurizes the fluid in the tube to expand the tube to conform to the forming cavity.
Abstract:
Methods for forming thin wall tubing into a tightly-coiled helical duct comprise selecting a thin wall tube with an outside tube diameter and a wall thickness that is less than 15% of the outside tube diameter; and bending the thin wall tube to form the tightly-coiled helical duct so that an outside duct diameter of the tightly-coiled helical duct is less than four times the outside tube diameter.