US2616156A - Apparatus for forming tubing or the like into coils - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1952 A. w. PAYNE 2,616,156

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBING 0R THE LIKE INT0 coILs Filed April 16, 1948 1 sheets-sheet 2 26 INVENToR.

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- Thetrailingend of the tube, accordingly,

Patented Nov. 4, 1952 -UNITE'D STATES PATEN l5I,

APPARATUS FORFORMING TUBING() LIKE .INTO COILS Y Arthur Payne, Detroit, MichQ'- Bundy Tubing Company, Detroit poration of Michigan Application April 1c, 194s, senin,l

9 claims. (01.29433) 1 `This invention relates to an. apparatus for shaping llong Work pieces into coilsof serpentine form and it has to do particularly with .the lfashioning of tubing .into serpentine coils.

An apparatus Whichembodies .bending mecha- 5 nism and other vrelated. parts for bending Work pieces .such as tube into the shape of serpentine coils,'is 'fully disclosed vand claimed in co-pendingv application Serial No. 687,668 filed August 1, 1946, and now patent No. 2,454,290. Such coils .of tubing are useful as heat exchange devices and are admirablyadapted -for .use `in .the refrigerateE ing industry. A manufacturer of heat exchange.: equipment and particularly one which manuf'ac---gtures such equipment more or less on the production basis, sometimes requires that thel.di=, mensions of the coil and Athe locations ofthe; ends .of the tubing be accurately maintained?? Where -a length lof tube is fed hto a bending,`v chine, the position of the leading end ca` accurately maintained relative to the jsev ral;y bends of the coil. But as the tubing fed; o. the machine, ina step by step manner, Withffsllf cessive bends made therein, it Will b e appreciated that certain variations unavoidably -lke,-...fl3lace.. with the result that these variations V.are add" and all accumulate at the trailing.y @11d Qi-the tube. One length of tube may be slightl or .more tough than another and .diff-ere tions along the length of a single tube-.Inria machine.fiseshownnas having a.;

aszto metal hardness `or toughness:..lfsnltingv4 n, g, some variation as to the position` ots-thatrailingg. suipablgbase mmwhichlgendvsimamupward; end of the 1Sube .as the coil'has beenforned.; direction. @mam-...bending psci11atmg-fshafu@2.,

igable a.

Whileetheitable orflsupportiisshownV at 3;,- Afpostv to be misplaced considerablyiieventtheughffthe-. 4.mayextenupwardiyffromthetabieandmaya Work Piece W as a'cu'atew'cut, Q-:CSIQ lllghf: be provided with an-.overhangingw.arm..5 :Which-f-` before beine rbent inw the Serpentneicol- 'l may.support.fmechanismfffor.:stabilizing,thereon The present inventicn'ams to?. royidesan m-f 'ss'.swungfvzin.amfbsciliatingwfashionson:.then proved apparatus which ern-bodied .,mechanisrnk,

for bending tube into a serpentine considerable -automaticitmgt topltheginachine; near the .end of its operation 'nl arming-fthe; coil y.and cut off the trailing..en .th-.fl.1be.=.at.. an accurate location, treat. t1, e1to.;removef, burrs .incident to thev cutting opl ration and 1.3.0,. then start the bendingInachirnto-xslalse:tlziefflnal operations on the tube so that the trailing .endi. of .the tube is accuratelyylocated;with-frespect o theremaining portionfqfnthe coil .An apparatus fongcarrying.:.outwthenn en tio disclosedin the accompanyingidravtings': :-fy e e Fig. 1 is a side feleva'tional- .viewi ofrrfa :ma-chine.; for.' bending, tubing into serpentine .coilsfshowingi the cutoifmecharsmeapplied thereto."-

Figi.' :2;.is an enlarged@ cross'fsectionalf l'Viewtaken -15 applicable to tne tube and is normally yieldably urged toward the bending rollers by a spring I8,

the action of the spring being limited by a suit-` able stop I9.

In the operation of the bending machine the tube is fed into the machine, as shown in Fig. 4, the desired distance and then the feeding action is stopped and the clamp I1 applied. Starting from the Fig. 4 position, the shaft 2 oscillates to an extreme position, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the roller 9 forms or bends the tube as at B around the forming roller 8. Inasmuch as, in this action, the roller 8 is seated in its recess I5 and swung around the axis of the shaft 2, the bar I3 and the support for the feeding rolls are caused to oscillate which is permitted by the spring I 8. From the position shown in Fig. 5, the shaft 2 oscillates back to the position shown in Fig. 4,

and the tubing is again fed forwardly a deter-I mined amount. The clamp I1 is again applied to the tube and the shaft 2 now oscillates in the reverse direction to a position just opposite that shown in Fig. to make the next succeeding bend in the length of the tube. `In this action, the roller 9 seats in its recess I5 and the roller 8 fashions or forms the tube about the roll 9. Upon the making of this second bend, the shaft 2 oscillates back to the Fig. 4 position, the tube is fed forwardly again and one complete cycle of operation of the bending rollers is thus completed with two bends being formed. In this action, it will be appreciated that the coil, as shown in Fig. 3, is swung back and forth on the table 3. The leading end of the tube is the end shown at L with the series of bends at B made therein, while the trailing end of the tube is shown at T.

The cut 01T and burring mechanism are positioned just upstream from the propelling rollers I2 and may be disposed on a suitable base 25. There is a xed central standard 26. This standard has an arm 21 for supporting a controlling electric switch operable by the tube. As shown in Fig. 11, the switch has a housing 28 and a bell crank member 29 pivotally mounted as indicatedwith anupper inclined end 30 which cooperates `with an inclined surface 3| vof a fixed recessed member, the bell crank being acted upon by a coil spring 33. A length of tube may be positioned by'being pushed between the converging elements 30 and 3 I and situated in a recess 32. When the end of the tube rims out of the recess the spring 33 actuates the bell crank to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 11, and this actuates the controlling switch 25 as will presently be' seen. Asr

will be noted by reference to Fig. 6, this switch and its operating arm is positioned upstream relative to the bending machine.

The central fixed member also carries a rather hook-shaped tube support 35 having a notch for receiving the tube as shown in Fig. 2. The spport 35 is mounted on an arm 36 which is pivoted as at 31 and held normally against a ystop 38 by a spring 39. The spring 39 reacts against a frame 40 and extending through the spring is a link 48 with a nut 49 adjusted against the side of the' frame 40 opposite the spring. This support, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 3, is at the end opposite the switch 28 and adjacent the advancing rolls I 2. I

The frame 40 pivoted as at 4I andY carries a cutting saw 42 pivotedY as at 43 and driven by a belt 44. The belt runs over a pulley 45 which is driven by a motor 46 mounted on the pivoted support 40.Y

A second pivoted support 50, mounted as at 5|, carries a driving motor 52 for operating a rotary 4 burr removing tool 53. Between the motor 52 and the burring tool 53 is a housing 54 which contains mechanism known to those versed in the art which causes the burring tool 53 to advance axially when the motor 52 is set into operation.

An air cylinder 56 with ports 51 and 58 into opposite ends is pivotally mounted on the frame 50 as at 59 and in the cylinder is a piston 60 whichY has a piston rod 6| pivotally connected to the xed standard 26 as at 66.

There is a thrust connection between the pivoted supports and 50, shown herein as in the form of a sleeve 62 pivotally connected to the. frame 40 as at 63 with a rod 64 telescoping into the member 62 and pivotally mounted to the frame as at 65. The member 62, as mentioned, is hollow but has a determined depth so that the end of the rod 64 may strike the bottom` of the hollow portion. There are cooperating stops between the xed frame 26 and the pivoted support 50 as shown respectively at 68 and 69. There is a controlling switch 10 having an actu, ating arm with a roller thereon, as shown at 1|, arranged to be contacted and actuated by an actuator or stud 12 on the support 50.

The support 40 is yieldably acted upon by a coil spring 15 mounted on a rod 16 which is pivotally mounted to the support 40 as at 11. The rod extends through the fixed support 26 and through the support 50 with one end ofthe spring reacting against the support 26 and the other end acting upon the washer 18. This, as will be appreciated byreference to Fig. 2places a load on the support 40 tending to swing it clockwise asN Fig. 2 is viewed.

In the lnormal inactive position, the support 40 cannot swing under the action of the spring 15 because of a pivotally mounted blocker element pivoted to the yiixed standard as at 8| and having a roller 82 positioned to be abutted by a stop screw 83 on the frame 40. This blocker or detent 80 is acted upon by a spring 84 (Figs. 2,

and 9) to hold it in normally blocked position as shown in'Fig. 2. An actuating link 90'pivoted to the support 50 as at 9| (Fig. 9) is arranged' to pass through an aperture 92 in the center standard 26 and the blocker 80 has an or detent 93 to be acted upon by the link 90.

The burring tool, which may be covered by a protector |00, is arranged to eifect certain controlling operations and, as shown in Fig. 12, it is provided witha collar IDI for acting upon a yoke of a lever |02 pivotally mounted at |03. This lever is acted upon by a coil spring |04- which keeps the yoke applied to the collar |0 I Mounted on the fulcrum |03 to move with the lever |02 is an arm |09 having a finger detent |06 acted upon by a spring |01. The spring holds the detent againsty a shoulder |05. This arm is arranged to actuate the switch arm |08 of a controlling electric switch I I0. With the arrangement shown, it will be appreciated that the linger |06 will actuate the switch arm |08 as the lever |02 swings in one direction but is ineffective thereon when the lever swings in the opposite direction. This mechanical operation of the switch to accomplish the desired function as will presently be seen.

In the operation ofthe mechanism, andparticularly during the time the bending mechanism is in operation making the bends in the work piece, as above pointed out, the tubing W lies in the recess 32 (Fig. 11) and thus the switch 28 is conditioned to maintain the operation of the' bending machine. This switch is connected by suitable wiring toV control mechanism (notshown) abutment,

||0 is but Oneway,

for .this purpose. The matter of electrical wiring is-zwithinthe skill of anyone skilled in the art ofelectrical controls. The tubing may be fed forwardly with step by step movement-with the bending head oscillating back and forth as above described in ,order to make the several bends in the. tube. 1

The tubingr also lies in the notch of the `support 3 5. so that it is adequately supported adjacent the cutter blade l42. At this time, the mechanism is inthe 4position shown in Fig. 2 with air under pressure v.maintained in the cylinder through the port 51. The spring 15 is under compression tendingto pull the support 40 to the right but the support is blocked by the element 80. As soon as the trailing vend of the tube moves out of the notch 32 ,the switch arm 30 swings under the action of the spring 3| and the controlling `switch v28 is thereby actuated. This serves, through suitable control means (not shown) to stop the operation ofl thebending machine with the coil Acompletely formed except for the last bend. More specically,r the trailing end of the tube will run out from under the arm 30 in the next to the last feeding action and then the bending machine will complete the next to the last bend and will come to rest -in the position shown in Fig. 3. The actuation of the switch 28 also energizes the motor 45 for the operation of the saw and initiates ventering air under pressure into the cylinder through port 58 with the port 51 connected to exhaust.

The machine has come to -rest with the trailing end of the tube in approximately the position as indicated at T in Fig. 3 with the tube'adjacent its end supported because it lies in the notch of the-support 35. The introduction of air into the cylinder through port 58 causes the pivoted support 5|] start to move counter-clockwise on its pivotal mounting, due to the fact that the cylinder 56 iscaused to move while the piston remains stationary because of its attachment to the center standard 26. This movement is a relatively steady constant movement as distinguished from a quick action and the link 90 engages the detent 93 and trips the blocker 80 to the position shown in Fig. 9. The frame 40 is thereby quickly released'and the spring 15, which is under compression, quickly swings the frame 40 a few degrees clockwise on its pivotal mounting so that the saw 42, which is now rotating cuts through the tube. The tube is adequately supported on the bottom of the groove of the support 35 for this purpose. During the cutting action, it will be remembered that the'frame 50 continues to swing `counterclockwise, as Fig. 2 is viewed. The frame 40 is so pulled by the spring until the frame strikes the stop'95 on the center standard 2B. In this action, the support 36 remains in position although the spring 39 is compressed as the frame 40 shifts. This is because the support 36 is held against the stop 38. This movement of the frame 40, and the resultant sawing off of the end of the tube is veryquickly accomplished. The relative position ofthe-elements with severed end of the tube falling away is indicated in Fig. 8.

The frame 50 continues swinging counterclockwise, as Fig. 2 is viewed, and the rod 64 ultimately seats in the bottom of the sleeve 62 and continued movement `of the frame member 50 counter-clockwise pushes the frame 40 counterclockwise on itsl mounting to a position `as indicated in Fig. 1. In .this action, the link 48 pulls the supporting arm 36 and the support 35 out of the -way sothat thezburr removing-tool may be positioned on gthe-center .of the work. 'In this 6; position the Stop 68 strikes the stop 6.9 and the applied air pressure hold the parts in the lposition shown in Fig. 7 with the burring tool ready to operate.

As the support 50 approached a position where the burring tool is on the center of the tube the actuator 12 engages the larm 1| of the switch` 10 to thus energize themotor 52 for the burr removing tool. The motor starts Voperating to rotate the burring tool 52 and it is advanced axially of the` tube by the mechanism in housing :5.4 to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 12, thus burring the 4tube and then vthe tool retracts .auto-l matically. As the` b-urr removing tool shifts'to the right, as Fig. l2 is viewed, the finger |06. does not actuate the switch varm. |88.. Asthe burr removing. tool moves back to the `position shownin Fig. 12, the finger |06 momentarily` actuates, the swinging arm |08 which momem. tarily energizes switch IIB. This has theeiect of reversing the air in the cylinder 5G. Air .is now entered through the port 51. and the port 58 connected to the exhaust so that the swinging support l50 .starts to swing clockwise from one position shown in Fig. 7 fback to the at rest. position shown in Fig. 2. One of the iirst thingsy that happens is that the switch arm 1| is .re-1

the iroller .82 of the blocker element 80, the blocker element having been returned to blocking position by its spring :84. At this time the support 35 is again positioned to receive va tube.v

The operator now places another tube in position by moving it downwardly between the relatively inclined parts 3|) and 3| thus throwing the switch arm ,3D and setting the machine into operation and discontinuing operation of the motor 46 which operates the saw. The new tu-be is positioned preferably so that its leading end abuts the sawed off and burred trailing end of the previous tube and as the switch28 is thus energized, the bending machine is again conditioned for operation. The next bending operation will be that of swinging the coil (Fig. .3). clockwise to the dotted line position thus making the last bend of the coil. At the completion of the lastv bend the trailing end of the completed coil is in a position as indicated at T in Fig. 3. leading end of the next inserted length of tube which is shown at L' in Fig. 3. The completed.

coil is released from the clamp |1 and is removed from the machine as the new tube is yadvanced into position so that the rst bend can be made thereon. 'Ihis completes the cycle of operation and the bending machine continues to `operate until the trailing end of the tube being operated on runs out from under the switch arm 39 which initiates the action of sawing off the trailing end and burring the same.

Thus, in reiteration, it will be observed that whenever the trailing end of a length of tube being operated on cornes into position andreleases theswitch arm 3l), that the bendingoperation ceases, the trailing end of the tube is cut off and thenburred with the cut off saw and burring tool moving back to idle position, and the machine is set again into operation by the placement Vof the next length of tube to Vbe worked.

It was pushed into this position by the- I claim:

1. Apparatus for cutting and removing the burr from the end of a long Work piece, such as tube, comprising, a rst movably mounted support having a cutting tool normally positioned at one side of the work piece, a second vmovably mounted support having a burr removing tool positioned at one side of the Work piece, means yieldably biasing the first support in a direction tending to cause the cutting tool to move into the work piece, a blocking element for preventing such movement of the said rst support, operating means for moving the second support with the burr removing tool moving toward an axial position relative to the work piece, means operable by movement of the second support to release the blocking means for movement of the rst supportfto cause the tool to cut 01T the trailing end of the work piece, means interassociated with the first and second supports so that continued movement of the second support moves the first support to position the cutting tool to one side of the Work piece, means operable to actuate the burr removing tool to act upon the severed end of the work piece, and control means for causing the operating means to move the second support back to its initial position leaving the iirst support in its blocked position.

2. Apparatus for cutting and removing the burr from the end of a long work piece, such as tube, comprising, a rst movably mounted support having a cutting tool normally positioned at one side of the Work piece, a second movably mounted support having a burr removing tool positioned at one side of the work piece, means yieldably biasing the rst support in a direction tending to cause the cutting tool to move into the work piece, a blocking element for preventing such movement of the said rst support, operating means for moving the second support with the burr removing tool moving toward an axial position relative to the work piece, means operable by movement of the second support to release the blocking means for movement of the rst support to cause the tool to cut 01T the trailing end of the work piece, means interassociated with the rst and second supports so that continued movement of the second support moves the rst support to position the cutting tool to one side of the work piece, means operable to actuate the burr removing tool to act upon the severed end of the work piece, and control means for causing the operating means to move the second support back to its initial position, said blocking means being restored to blocking conf dition as the second support moves to its initial position so as to block the rst support in its initial position.

3. Apparatus for cutting and removing the burr from the trailing end of a long work piece, such as tube, which is being fed lengthwise comprising., a fixed standard positioned substantially on the center line of the work piece, a rst pivoted support on one side of the standard having a cutting tool thereon, a spring acting upon the support and reacting against the standard tending to move the support in a direction so that the cutting tool moves toward the work piece, a movable blocking element on the standard for blocking the rst support and preventing such movement, a second support pivotally mounted on the other side of the standard, a burr removing tool carried by the second support, operating means for swinging the second support tc shift the burr removing tool toward the Work piece, a movable controlling element carried by the standard and actuated as the trailing end of the tube`moves therefrom to set the last mentioned means into operation, a trip member on the second Support for trippingthe said blocking means for movement of the cutting element into the work piece to sever the trailing end thereof as the second element is moving toward the work piece, interengaging means on the two supports for causing the second support to shift the rst support thereby moving the cutting tool away from the work piece so that the burr removing tool may be positioned on the axis of the work piece, control means operated by the second support to set the burr removing tool into operation substantially when the said tool is on the axial center of the work piece, control means actuated by the movement of the burr removing tool to cause the operating means to move the second support back to its original position, and a spring operative upon the blocking means to position the same to block the first support in its initial position as the second support moves back to its initial position.

4. Apparatus for cutting and removing the burr from the trailing end of a long- Work piece, such as tube, which is being fed lengthwise comprising, a xed standard positioned substantially on the center line of the work piece, a rst pivoted support on one side of the standard having a cutting tool thereon, a spring acting upon the support and reacting against the standard tending to move the support in a direction so that the cutting tool moves toward the Work piece, a movable blocking element on the standard for blocking the rst support and preventing such movement, a second support pivotally mounted on the other side of the standard, a burr removing tool carried by the second support, operating means for swinging the second support to shift the burr removing tool toward the work piece, a movable controlling element carried by the standard and actuated as the trailing end of the tube moves therefrom to set the last mentioned means into operation, a trip member on the second support for tripping the said blocking means for movement of the cutting element into the Work piece to sever the trailing end thereof as the sec-A ond element is moving toward the workpiece, interengaging means on the two supports for causing the second support to shift the rst support thereby moving the cutting tool away from the work piece so that the burr removing tool may be positioned on the axis of the Work piece, control means operated by the second support to set the burr removing tool into operation substantially when the said tool is on the axial center or the work piece, control means actuated by the movement of the burr removing tool to cause the operating means to move the secondv support back to its original position, a spring operative upon the blocking means to position the same to block the rst support in its initial position as the second support moves back to its initial position, a, supporting element for the work piece pivotally mounted to the standard and positioned adjacent the cutting tool, a spring for holding the supporting element in position to support the' work piece as the cutting tool acts thereon, and means interconnecting the supporting element and the first named support for shifting the supporting element away from the work piece as the second support shifts the rst support.

5. An apparatus for performing operations -on long work pieces, such as tube, comprising, means for feeding a Work piece lengthwise with step by step action, mechanism for performing operations on the work piece between each feeding step, control means actuated by the presence of a work piece for continued operation of the feeding means and mechanism, said control means being actuated as the trailing end of the work piece passes the same to thereby discontinue operation of the said feeding means and said mechanism, a cutting tool, a movable support for the tool, and means set into operation by said control means, upon said actuation thereof, for moving the support while the work piece is at rest for causing the tool to cut off the trailing end of the work piece.

6. An apparatus for performing operations on long work pieces, such as tube, comprising, means for feeding a work piece lengthwise with step by step action, mechanism for performing operations on the work piece between each feeding step, control means actuated by the presence of a work piece for continued operation of the feeding means and mechanism, said control means being actuated as the trailing end of the work piece passes the same to thereby discontinue operation of the said feeding means and said mechanism, a cutting tool, a support for the tool mounted for back and forth movement, the tool being normally spaced from the work piece, and means set into operation by said control means, upon said actuation thereof, and operable while the work piece is at rest, for movingl the support to cause the cutting tool to cut across the work and thereby sever its trailing end, and then to move back to a position with the cutting tool spaced from the work piece.

7. An apparatus for performing operations on long work pieces, such as tube, comprising, means for feeding a work piece lengthwise with step by step action, mechanism for performing operations on the work piece between each feedingstep, control means actuated by the presence of a work piece for continued operation of the feeding means and mechanism, said control means being actuated as the trailing end of the work piece passes the same to thereby discontinue operation of the said feeding means and said mechanism, a cutting tool, a movable support therefor, a burr removing tool, a movable support therefor, and means set into operation by said control means, upon said actuation thereof, and operable to move said supports in timed relationship to cause the cutting tool to sever the work piece and to move back from the work piece and to move the burr removing tool onto the axis of the work piece for acting upon the trailingI end thereof and then for moving the burr removing tool off the axis of the work piece.

8. An apparatus for performing operations on long work pieces, such as tube, comprising', means for feeding a work piece lengthwise with step by step action, mechanism for performing operations on the work piece between each feeding step, control means actuated by the presence of a Work piece for continued operation of the feeding means and mechanism, said control means having an element which is actuated as the trailing end of the work piece passes the same to thereby discontinue operation of the said feeding means and said mechanism, a movably mounted cutting tool, a movably mounted burr removing tool, means set into operation by said control means, upon said actuation thereof, for moving the cutting tool to cause the same to sever the trailing end of the work piece and then to move away from the work piece, and for moving the burr removing tool onto the axis of the work piece for acting upon the severed trailing end to remove the burrs therefrom, and for shifting the burr removing tool 01T the axis of the work piece, said element of said control means being actuated upon the placing of another work piece in position, for resumption of operation of the said feeding means and said mechanism.

9. An apparatus for performing operations on longwork pieces, such as tube, comprising, means for feeding a work piece lengthwise with step by step action, mechanism for performing operations on the work piece between each feeding step, control means actuated by the presence of a work piece for continued operation of the feeding means and mechanism, said control means having an element which is actuated as the trailing end of the work piece passes the same to thereby discontinue operation of the said feeding means and said mechanism, a cutting tool, a pivotally mounted support therefor, a burr removing tool, a pivotally mounted support for the burr removing tool, means set into operation by said control means, upon said actuation thereof, and operable while the work piece is at rest, for oscillating the support for the cutting tool to cause the same to sever the trailing end of the work piece and for oscillating the support for the burr removing tool, to place the burr removing tool on the axis of the work piece for acting upon the same to remove burrs therefrom, and for shifting the burr removingl tool away from the axis of the work piece, said element of the said control means being actuated upon the insertion of another work piece for the resumption of the operation of the feeding means and mechanism.

ARTHUR W. PAYNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,851,276 Gordon Mar. 29, 1932 1,911,186 Gordon et a1 May 30, 1933 2,225,127 Oppenheim Dec. 17, 1940 2,454,290 Payne Nov. 23, 1948

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