Metal deforming – By relatively receding work-engaging tool-faces
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-26
2003-08-26
Tolan, Ed (Department: 3725)
Metal deforming
By relatively receding work-engaging tool-faces
C072S105000, C072S110000, C072S705000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06609404
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of forming or re-rounding metal cans and shells and in particular to a new and useful hydraulic re-forming tool for providing a cylinder with a round shape.
Relatively large metal shells and cans are used as coverings to protect mechanical and electrical devices and provide a uniform appearance, and as components of thick-walled pressure vessels. Often, these shells and cans must have a perfectly round, or circular, shape in order to fit as intended.
For a general description of methods of making pressure vessels, the reader is referred to Chapters 38 and 52 of
Steam/Its Generation and Use
, 40th Edition, The Babcock and Wilcox Company, Barberton, Ohio, U.S.A., ©1992, the text of which is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
In addition, metal shells and cans can become deformed due to contact with heavy objects or from damage that occurs during manufacturing or shipping. As a result, it is necessary to re-form the shells and cans into a perfectly round cylinder again.
Prior methods for forming or re-rounding metal shells and cans include hitting the cans with an uncontrolled hammer, re-rolling the cans in a rolling machine and pressing the shell or can from the inside curvature with a single post and ram device.
The prior methods and devices are unsatisfactory because they are inaccurate and can affect other regions of the cans and shells besides those being formed or re-rounded. Flexing of the entire can, including areas not being formed or re-rounded, can occur as a result of using each of the prior devices, since a small area cannot be worked in isolation. As a result, one can end up chasing a deformation around the can in what is known as “radial chasing.” (So-called “axial chasing”, along the length of the can, tends to be minimal.) Further, prior devices require significant mechanical force, especially to form or re-round large, thick-walled cans. As a result, the prior devices are somewhat unsafe due to the nature of the forces being applied to the cans and shells.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a forming or re-rounding machine which is safer to use than known machines.
A further object of the invention is to provide a forming or re-rounding machine which does not adversely affect other sections of a can or shell being formed or re-rounded.
Accordingly, a forming or re-rounding machine is provided having opposed inner and outer hydraulic ram sets each carried in a housing with rollers. The ram set housings are movably mounted onto an I-beam frame connected by hydraulic cylinders. The frame supports a can or shell for rotation of the surface to position a region for forming or re-forming between the hydraulic ram sets. Each ram set has a hydraulic cylinder for advancing a forming or re-forming tool on either the inside or outside of the can or shell to reform the selected region. The I-beam hydraulic cylinders are allowed to compress when the can or shell is positioned for forming or re-forming and help prevent flexing of the can or shell outside the region being formed or re-formed.
The safety of the device is increased over known forming or re-forming machines, since once the can or shell is positioned properly, the frame hydraulic cylinders are compressed to hold the can, followed by expanding either the inner or outer ram set hydraulic cylinder.
In one embodiment the invention is a machine for forming a workpiece, comprising a pair of upper I-beams and a pair of lower I-beams. The machine includes at least a pair of connecting plates, at least one of the pair of connecting plates rigidly securing the pair of upper I-beams together, and at least the other of the pair of connecting plates rigidly securing the lower I-beams together. At least two frame hydraulic cylinders are connected between the at least a pair of connecting plates to movably join the pair of upper I-beams and pair of lower I-beams together adjacent one end to form a frame having the other end open for receiving the workpiece, the at least two frame hydraulic cylinders for moving the upper and lower I-beams closer together or farther apart. The machine further includes an upper housing movably mounted on the pair of upper I-beams and a lower housing movably mounted on the pair of lower I-beams. A pair of hydraulic ram sets, with one hydraulic ram set mounted in each of the upper and lower housings, are positioned over a selected section of the workpiece and arranged to contact the respective outer or inner side of the workpiece at the selected section.
In another embodiment the invention is a machine for providing a cylindrical workpiece with a round circumference, comprising a pair of upper I-beams and a pair of lower I-beams. The machine includes at least a pair of connecting plates at least one of the pair of connecting plates rigidly securing the pair of upper I-beams together, and at least the other of the pair of connecting plates rigidly securing the lower I-beams together. At least two frame hydraulic cylinders are connected between the at least a pair of connecting plates to movably join the pair of upper I-beams and pair of lower I-beams together adjacent one end to form a frame having the other end open for receiving the workpiece, the at least two frame hydraulic cylinders for moving the upper and lower I-beams closer together or farther apart. The machine further includes an upper housing movably mounted on the pair of upper I-beams, and a lower housing movably mounted on the pair of lower I-beams. A pair of hydraulic ram sets, with one hydraulic ram set mounted in each of the upper and lower housings, are positioned over a selected section of the workpiece and arranged to contact the respective outer or inner side of the workpiece at the selected section. Positioning rollers mounted in each of the upper and lower housings permit movement of the upper and lower housings along the upper and lower pairs of I-beams from the open end to the at least a pair of connecting plates. Contact rollers are mounted to each of the upper and lower pairs of I-beams for contacting the workpiece when the I-beams are moved together.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3817079 (1974-06-01), Priester
patent: 3961516 (1976-06-01), Priester
patent: 4400968 (1983-08-01), Barbieri
patent: 4415021 (1983-11-01), Bayless et al.
patent: 4571980 (1986-02-01), Goodwin
patent: 4756644 (1988-07-01), Williams
patent: 4803881 (1989-02-01), Dudley
patent: 4949569 (1990-08-01), Young et al.
patent: 4974440 (1990-12-01), Brinegar
patent: 5676009 (1997-10-01), Bright et al.
patent: 5946965 (1999-09-01), Leone
Steam, Its Generation and Use, 40th Edition, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, ©1992, pp. 38-1 to 38-11 and pp. 52-1 to 52-9.
Babcock & Wilcox Canada Ltd.
Grant Kathryn W.
Marich Eric
Tolan Ed
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