Method and apparatus for forming the profile of deformable materials and deformable tubular sections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9676018-B2
Application number	US-201113805084-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2011
Priority date	Jun 18, 2010
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for forming the profile of deformable materials including tubular sections. The apparatus ( 1 ) includes at least two sets ( 4, 5 ) of die elements ( 6 ), each set ( 4,5 ) including a plurality of die elements ( 6 ) respectively arranged to travel along corresponding endless path. The paths each include a forming portion ( 9,10 ) in which die elements ( 6 ) of each set ( 4. 5 ) are opposed to define a forming space ( 11 ) therebetween. The forming portion ( 9, 10 ) of each path is configured so that one or more dimensions of the forming space ( 11 ) reduce along the length of the forming portion ( 9,10 ) to simultaneously apply lateral forces to material progressing through the forming portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming the profile of deformable materials, said apparatus comprising:
at least two sets of die elements arranged for synchronized movement with respect to each other, each set including a plurality of die elements respectively arranged to travel along corresponding endless paths;
said paths each including a forming portion in which die elements of each set are opposed to define a forming space therebetween; and
the forming portion of each path being configured so that one or more dimensions of the forming space reduce along a length of the forming portion to simultaneously apply lateral forces to material progressing through the forming portion to shape said material to a determined profile and so that at least one of the forming portions of the paths is formed as a large radius curve,
wherein a ratio of a pitch between each die in the forming portion of the path and the radius of the path is over 1:500, and
wherein each die element has a base and a forming surface spaced from the base, the dies being configured so that any section taken perpendicular to the base of the die has along the longitudinal axis a constant depth from the base to the longitudinal axis and a constant depth from the forming surface to the longitudinal axis so that in each respective section the depth is the same along the forming surface of the die element, such that each of the opposing die elements define flat, planar forming surfaces.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the opposed forming portions are formed as a large curvature radius.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein curvature centres of radii of the opposed forming portions are on respectively opposite sides of the corresponding forming portions.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein respective curvature centres of radii of the opposed forming portions are on a same side of the forming portions.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the radius of at least one large radius curve is variable over the forming portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the die elements are arranged in a form of an endless chain with each die element forming or attached to a link connected to one or more adjacent links.

7. An apparatus for forming the profile of deformable materials, said apparatus comprising:
at least one set of die elements including a plurality of die elements arranged to travel along an endless path;
a moving forming surface arranged to travel about a corresponding endless path, the dies and the forming surface being arranged for synchronized movement with respect to each other;
said paths each including a forming portion in which die elements are to opposed to said forming surface to define a forming space therebetween;
the forming portion of each path being configured so that one or more dimensions of the forming space reduce along a length of the forming portion to simultaneously apply lateral forces to material progressing through the forming portion to shape said material to a determined profile and so that at least one of the forming portions of the paths is formed as a large radius curve,
wherein a ratio of a pitch between each die in the forming portion of the path and the radius of the path is over 1:500, and
wherein each die element has a base and a forming surface spaced from the base, the dies being configured so that any section taken perpendicular to the base of the die has along the longitudinal axis a constant depth from the base to the longitudinal axis and a constant depth from the forming surface to the longitudinal axis so that in each respective section the depth is the same along the forming surface of the die element, such that each of the opposing die elements define flat, planar forming surfaces.

8. A method of forming the profile of deformable materials, said method comprising:
passing the material through a forming space between moving die elements;
the die elements being configured in at least two sets, each set including a plurality of die elements respectively arranged to travel along corresponding endless paths;
said paths each including a forming portion in which die elements of each set are opposed to define said forming space therebetween;
the forming portion of each path being configured so that one or more dimensions of the space reduce along a length of the forming portion to simultaneously apply lateral forces to material progressing through the forming portion to shape said material to a determined profile,
wherein each of the opposed forming portions are formed as a large radius curve and a ratio of a pitch between each die in the forming portion of the path and the radius of the path is over 1:500, and
wherein each die element has a base and a forming surface spaced from the base, the dies being configured so that any section taken perpendicular to the base of the die has along a longitudinal axis a constant depth from the base to the longitudinal axis and a constant depth from the forming surface to the longitudinal axis so that in each respective section the depth is the same along the forming surface of the die element, such that each of the opposing die elements define flat, planar forming surfaces.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein curvature centres of radii of each of the large radius curves are on respectively opposite sides of the corresponding forming portions.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the respective curvature centres of radii are on a same side of the forming portions.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the radii of the large radius curves is variable over the forming portion.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the deformable material is a tubular section.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the forming portions are arranged such that the die elements of the at least two sets act substantially directly opposite each other against respective sides of the tubular section.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising four sets of die elements arranged to form two substantially directly opposed pairs in the forming portion.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the deformable material is a tubular section.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein there are four sets of die elements arranged to form two substantially directly opposed pairs in the forming portion.

17. An apparatus according to claim 7 , comprising three sets of die elements, the die elements configured to cooperate with the moving forming surface to progressively form the deformable material into the determined profile.

18. An apparatus for forming the profile of deformable materials, said apparatus comprising:
at least two sets of die elements arranged for synchronized movement with respect to each other, each set including a plurality of die elements respectively arranged to travel along corresponding endless paths;
said paths each including a forming portion in which die elements of each set are opposed to define a forming space therebetween; and
the forming portion of each path being configured so that one or more dimensions of the forming space reduce along a length of the forming portion to simultaneously apply lateral forces to material progressing through the forming portion to shape said material to a determined profile and so that at least one of the forming portions of the paths is formed as a large radius curve,
wherein a ratio of a pitch between each die in the forming portion of the path and the radius of the

Assignees

• Ding Shichao
• Univ Queensland

Inventors

• Ding Shichao

Classifications

• B21D37/02

  Die constructions enabling assembly of the die parts in different ways (B21D37/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B21D7/08

  by passing between rollers or through a curved die · CPC title

• B21C37/155

  Making tubes with non-circular section (B21C37/151, B21C37/154 take precedence) · CPC title

• B21D5/12

  making use of forming-rollers · CPC title

• B21D5/10 Primary

  for making tubes · CPC title