Forming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12090542-B2
Application number	US-202117384379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2021
Priority date	Mar 27, 2019
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A forming system for forming a metal pipe having a hollow shape includes a forming apparatus including a gas supply portion that supplies gas into a heated metal pipe material when forming the metal pipe, and a discharge unit that discharges the gas into the formed metal pipe, in which an exhaust port of the discharge unit is positioned in an internal space of a structure including the internal space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A forming system for forming a metal pipe having a hollow shape, the system comprising:
a forming apparatus comprising:
a gas supply portion comprising a gas supply line connected to a gas source, wherein the gas supply portion is configured to supply gas into a heated metal pipe material when forming the metal pipe,
a discharge unit comprising an exhaust pipe and configured to discharge the gas in the formed metal pipe,
an electrode for heating the metal pipe material, and
a power supply line connected to the electrode,

a floor surface on which the forming apparatus is placed; and
an underground pit provided at a lower portion of the floor surface,
wherein
an exhaust port of the discharge unit is positioned in an internal space of a structure including the internal space,
the exhaust pipe is positioned in the underground pit as the structure and provided with the exhaust port, and
the power supply line is accommodated in the underground pit together with the exhaust pipe.

2. The forming system according to claim 1 , wherein
the power supply line includes a conductor accommodated in the underground pit, and
in the underground pit, the exhaust port faces the conductor.

3. The forming system according to claim 1 , wherein
the forming apparatus includes a forming die including an upper die and a lower die, a heating mechanism which energizes the metal pipe material to heat the metal pipe material, a pair of gas supply mechanisms for supplying the gas from the gas supply portion into the metal pipe material, and a water circulation mechanism which water-cools the forming die.

4. The forming system according to claim 2 , wherein
the upper die and the lower die of the forming die are formed of a steel block and an upper surface of the lower die and a lower surface of the upper die include a recessed portion,
the upper die and the lower die include a cooling water passage inside, and include spaces at left and right ends of the upper die and the lower die, and
the lower die includes a thermocouple inserted from below at a center.

5. The forming system according to claim 4 , wherein
the thermocouple is supported to be movable upward or downward by a spring, and
in the spaces, electrodes are disposed to be capable of advancing and retreating upward and downward.

6. The forming system according to claim 3 , wherein
each of the pair of gas supply mechanisms includes a cylinder unit, a cylinder rod that advances and retreats in accordance with an operation of the cylinder unit, and a seal member connected to a tip of the cylinder rod.

7. The forming system according to claim 6 , wherein
at the seal member, a tapered surface is formed such that a tip is tapered, and
the seal member is provided with a gas passage through which gas flows.

8. The forming system according to claim 6 , wherein
the gas supply portion further comprises the gas source, an accumulator in which gas supplied by the gas source is collected, a first tube which extends from the accumulator to the cylinder unit of the pair of gas supply mechanisms, a pressure control valve and a switching valve which are provided in the first tube, a second tube which extends from the accumulator to a gas passage formed in the seal member, and a pressure control valve and a check valve which are provided in the second tube.

9. The forming system according to claim 8 , wherein
the second tube is branched from the check valve into two, and includes gas supply lines that extend to the pair of gas supply mechanisms.

10. The forming system according to claim 3 , wherein
the water circulation mechanism includes a water tank which collects water, a water pump which pumps up the water collected in the water tank and sends the water to the lower die and the upper die, and a pipe.

11. The forming system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first placing unit on which the metal pipe material is placed;
a second placing unit on which the formed metal pipe is placed; and
a metal transporter configured to transport the metal pipe material or the metal pipe,
wherein
the first placing unit is positioned on one side of a center of the forming apparatus in a horizontal direction, and is positioned on one side of the center of the forming apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, and
the second placing unit is positioned on the other side of the center of the forming apparatus in the horizontal direction, and is positioned on one side of the center of the forming apparatus in the direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction.

12. The forming system according to claim 11 , wherein
the metal transporter is positioned between the first placing unit and the second placing unit and includes a main body and a robot arm.

13. The forming system according to claim 12 , wherein
the main body is further separated from the forming apparatus than the first placing unit and the second placing unit.

Assignees

• Sumitomo Heavy Industries

Inventors

• Ishizuka Masayuki
• NOGIWA Kimihiro
• Ide Akihiro

Classifications

• B21D37/16

  Heating or cooling · CPC title

• B21D37/10

  Die sets; Pillar guides · CPC title

• B21D26/045

  Closing or sealing means · CPC title

• B21D26/041 Primary

  Means for controlling fluid parameters, e.g. pressure or temperature · CPC title

• B21D39/203

  expandable by fluid or elastic material · CPC title