Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPIRAL PIPE FOR~lING ~CHINE WlTH
DEVICE FOR ALIGNING SPIRALLING_ROLLS
This application is a division of Canadian Serial No.
273,181, filed March 4, 1977.
Summary of the Invention
The Background
This invention relates to machines for continuously manu-
facturing spirally corrugated metal pipe, and more particularly
to a machine for manufacturing spirally corrugated metal pipe -
from an elongated sheet of metal having a novel apparatus for
adjusting each of the three forming rolls of the multiple roll
pipe forming device.
Machines for manufacturing spiral pipe are well known, as
exemplified by United States Patent No. 1,659,792, directed to
an apparatus for manufacturing spiral pipe having a smooth wall,
and United States Patent No. 3,247,692, directed to an apparatus
for manufacturing spiral pipe having helical corrugations impres-
sed in the wall thereof. In such machines, an elongated sheet
of metal is spiralled into helical convolutions in a three roll
forming device. Each of the rolls of the three roll forming
device is composed of a plurality of individual rollers and has
a composite roll axis generally parallel to the axis of the
formed pipe.
In any spiral pipe forming machine in which each of the
forming rolls is comprised of a plurality of individual rollers,
it is imperative that the rotational axis of each of the individ-
ual rollers be maintained perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
of the metal sheet at all times. Therefore, in the aforementioned
U. S. Patent No. 1,659,792, the individual rollers of each roll
are pivotally mounted so that this relationship continually
persists. Likewise, the individual rollers of the aforementioned
U. S. Patent No. 3,247,692 are mounted in individual, pivotal
yokes.
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Spiral pipe forming machines of the three roll type are used
to manufacture helical pipe in varying diameters. To do so, the
frame upon which the elongated sheet of metal is retained prior
to spiralling of the sheet into helical convolutions is pivoted
relative to the three roll forming device to alter the spacing
- between adjacent convolutions. One or more of the three rolls
in the forming device is also adjusted to change the diameter
of the helical convolutions so that as the elongated sheet is
spiralled into helical convolutions, adjacent edges of the s ~ al-
led sheet abut sufficiently for forming of a water-tight seam,
whether it be by welding or by forming a lock seam.
In a spiral pipe forming machine which forms corrugated
sheet metal in to a spiral pipe, it is important that the indivi-
dual rollers of each of the three rolls align with the valleys
of the corrugations or the undersides of the ridges of the -
corrugations, depending on whether the roll is located within
or without the helical convolutions as they are formed in the
metal sheet. If not, during formation of the spiral pipe, cor-
rugations may be marred and adjacent edges of helical convolutions
may not abut correctly for proper seam formation. Therefore, as
illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 3,247,692, adjacent yokes of
each roller of each roll of the three roll formlng device are
mounted in ways and interlocked with "keys" so that proper
spacing is maintained between adjacent yokes, yet each roller of
each roll may be shifted and aligned relative to the corrugations
of the elongated sheet so that the rolls constantly align with
valleys or undersides of ridges of the corrugated metal sheet.
A substantial disadvantage with apparatus of this nature is
that each time a different diameter of spirally corrugated pipe
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is desired, after the corrugatinq device has been pivoted, the
lead, horn and buttress rolls musit be manually shifted in their
respective guides and each of the individual rollers of each of
the three rolls manually pivoted so that there is proper align-
- ment in the valleys or undersides of ridges of the corrugations.
Unless a different wall thickness of metal is to be employed, the
corrugated metal sheet remains sandwiched between the three rolls
during shifting and pivoting, and therefore opposes movement of
the three rolls, necessitating that large forces be applied by
the machine operator to properly realign the three rolls.
Another disadvantage with apparatus of this nature is that
as the machine is operated, grit and metal filings tend to collect
in each of the keys and their keyways in each of the adjacent
roller yokes, inhibiting easy adjustment of the individual
rollers when the diameter of pipe being manufactured is changed.
Often, foreign matter which collects in the keys and keyways
tends to lock adjacent roller yokes together, necessitating
extreme force to be applied to each roll in order to change
the pivotal positions of each of the individual rollers or disas-
sembly of the three roll forming device to clean the foreign~atter from the keys and keyways.
The prior art has recognized the desirability of eliminating
the keys discussed above or any other means of interlocking ad-
jacent roller yokes. For example, U. S. Patent No. 3,606,783
discloses a three roll forming apparatus using segmented rolls
for forming spiral pipe which eliminates the need for keys or
keyways. Each individual roller of each roll is mounted in a
yoke, but the keys of the above-discussed U. S. Patent No.
3,247,692 are unnecessary. However, to maintain the horizontal
positions of each of the three forming rolls and assure that
the rollers of each roll properly align with valleys or under-
sides of ridges of the corrugated sheet, a spacer block or
wedge must be clamped against either end of each roll. For each
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different diameter of pipe to be produced, different wedges must
be substituted in the apparatus. Not only is this means of
maintaining the rolls in alignment clumsy, preciseness of align-
ment is sacrificed by the necessity of fixed-angle wedges, so
- that slight variations in thickness of the metal sheet or varia-
tions in the width of the sheet cannot be readily accommodated by
a slight pivoting of each individual roller yoke. In addition,
versatility of the apparatus is limited by the number of different
wedges available; an inflnite variety of pipe diameters is
unattainable.
A disadvantage of all prior art spiral pipe forming machines
is the requirement of trial-and-error testing each time the
angular position between the corrugating device and the pipe
forming device is changed to vary the diameter of pipe manufac-
tured. The three composite rolls must be properly shifted manu-
ally to align with corrugation ridges and valleys without marring
the corrugations and at the same time without transversely shift-
ing the sheet. Even when the rolls are properly shifted, prior
art apparatus often will nqt hold the diameter of the manufac-
tured pipe constant, allowing it to grow with each revolutionand consequently requiring an adjunct apparatus to maintain a
constant pipe diameter. Such an apparatus is disclosed in U. S.
Patent No. 3,256,724.
The Invention
The present invention overcomes the foregoing disabilities
of the prior art and others by providing an improved apparatus
for continuously forming spirally corrugated metal pipe from an
elongated sheet of metal which has no interlock between individual
rollers of each roll of the three roll forming device. As in the
prior art, the apparatus has a corrugating device to impress longi-
tudinal corrugations in the metal sheet, a three roll forming device
for accepting the corrugated sheet and spiralling it into successive,
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`adjacent helical convolutions, and a seaming device to join ad-
jacent helical convolutions.
The individual rollers of each roll of the three roll forming
device are unconnected. Those two rolls which are maintained in
contact with the exterior of the helical convolutions, termed
respectively the lead and buttress rolls, are automatically shift-
able on lines parallel to the central axis of the formed pipe by an
adjustment frame means attached to, and pivotal with, the corrugat-
ing device. The third roll, designated herein the horn roll, which
is located within the helical convolutions, is also attached to the
frame means by a vertical adjustment arm which is affixed to an out-
board roller yoke of the third roll and which slideably engages the
frame means.
The horn roll is mounted on a horizontally adjustable horn
member. The horn member also carries an upper seaming roll of a
pair of conforming seaming rolls for forming a lock seam in adja-
cent helical convolutions of the formed pipe. As the angle be-
tween the corrugating device and the three roll forming device is
varied when a larger or smaller pipe diameter is desired, the horn
member is adjusted horizontally to assure that the upper lock seam-
ing roll is always in proper registration with the adjoining adja-
cent edges of the helical convolutions. At the same time, the low-
er seaming roll is adjusted on a slide so that it always resides
beneath the upper roll, with lock seam elements of adjoining edges
of the convolutions sandwiched between the two rolls.
The horn roll forms a pivot axis at which the corrugated sheet
is spiralled into helical convolutions. To assure that the indi-
vidual rollers of the horn roll are always located in proper align-
ment to the corrugations in the metal sheet, a pair of elongated,
extensible contraction mechanisms straddle the rollers of the horn
roll. Each of the mechanisms is connected to the outboard roller
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yoke to which the vertically extending adjustment arm is
attached, and is also attached to the opposite outboard
roller yoke. As the first outboard roller yoke is either -~
pivoted or displaced, the remaining roller yokes slavishly
follow.
The buttress roll, which is the farthest downstream of
the two rolls which contact the outer periphery of the
elongated sheet, is adjustable on an angle to the vertical
to permit varying diameters of spiral pipe to be formed by
the spiral pipe forming machine. ~ slight displacement of
the buttress roll will allow for greatly varying diameters
of pipe to be manufactured, so that a small range of dis-
placement for the buttress roll will provide for manufacture
- of pipe from the minimum diameter accommodated by the apparatus
up to a maximum feasible diame-ter of pipe manufactured.
The first of the two outer rolls, the lead roll, is vertic-
ally adjustable in order to accommodate varying gauge thicknesses
of the metal sheet, and also to prestress the sheet as it enters
the three roll forming apparatus, if desired, to assure regular
; 20 and consistent diameters of pipe formed by the apparatus
Thus broadly, the invention contemplates an apparatus for
continuously forming corrugated metal pipe from an elongated
sheet of metal wherein the apparatus has:a corruga-ting device
to impress longitudinal corrugations in the sheet, a multiple
roll pipe forming device for accepting the corrugated sheet and
spiralling the sheet into successive, adjacent helical convolu-
tions having a central axis formed at an oblique angle to the
axis of the longitudinal corrugations in the sheet, and a
seaming device to join adjacent helical convolutions. The
improvement in the apparatus comprises at least one roll of
the multiple roll forming device comprising a plurality of
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adjacent, unconnected parallel roller elements with the periphery
of each of the roller elements engaging one surface of the sheet
at one point along a series of points generally parallel to the
central axis of the helical convolutions, and a means unattached
to the roller elements to automatically shift each of the
plurality of roller elements along a line parallel to the series
of points and change the spacing between adjacent points of
each of the series of points as the angle between the central
axis of the convolutions and the axis of the longitudinal
corrugations in the sheet is varied. The means to automatically
shift includes a pair of members fixed relative to one another
- with the members adjoining opposite ends of the one roll and
mounted for lateral movement relative to the one roll and with
the roller elements being continually confined between the
members.
A further embodiment contemplates an apparatus for
continuously forming corrugated metal pipe of multiple sizes
from an elongated sheet of metal, the apparatus having a
corrugating device which forms longitudinal corrugations in
the sheet, a three roll forming device having first, second
~- and third rolls for accepting the corrugated sheet and spiral-
ling the sheet into successive, adjacent helical convolutions
having a central axis formed at an oblique angle to the axis
: of the longitudinal corrugations in the sheet, and a seaming
device to join adjacent helical convolutions. The improvement
comprises each of the three rolls of the forming device
. .
comprising a plurality of ad~acent, unconnected parallel
~ roller elements with the peripheries of each of the plurality
; of roller elements engaging one surface of the sheet along a ~:~
series of points generally parallel to the central axis of the
. helical convolutions, a horizontally disposed horn member for
mounting the second roll of the three roll forming device with
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the second roll forming a pivot axis at which the corrugated
` sheet is spiralled into helical convolutions and with the second
roll being located within the helical convolutions and with the
other two rolls of the three roll forming device being located
without the helical convolutions, and frame means mounted on
the corrugating device and extending into the forming device
to automatically shift each of the three rolls along lines
parallel to the axis of the helical convolutions and change the
spacing between adjacent points of each of the series of
points as the angle between the central axis of the convolutions
and the axis of the longitudinal corrugations in the sheet is
varied. The frame means is unattached to the roller elements
and adjoins at least one end of each of the other two rolls
along a slidable interface, with the frame means being mounted
lS for lateral movement~relative to the other two rolls.
By reason of the various features of the invention as
; described in detail hereinafter, spiral pipe forming machines
according to the invention are extremely efficient and reliable
under all operative conditions.
Brief Description of the Drawings -
The invention is illustrated in the following drawings
in which~
Figure 1 is a top plan schematic illustration of an
- apparatus according to the invention,
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of
the apparatus of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is an enlarged schematic illustration of
the spiralling apparatus of the invention, with portions removed
for clarity of illustration,
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Figure 4 is a side elevational illustration of the apparatus
illustrated in Figure 3, with the upper seaming roll removed for
clarity,
Figure 5 is rear perspective illustration of the buttress roll
assembly of the three roll forming device and the means for adjust-
ing the buttress roll to provide for varying diameters of helical
convolutions of spiral pipe formed by the apparatus, and
Figure 6 is a top schematic illustration of the three roll
forming device, with a portion of the horn member removed for clar-
ity.
Detailed Description Of The Invention
One embodiment of a spiral pipe forming apparatus according tothe invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10
in Figure 1. The apparatus illustrated is composed of a corrugat-
ing or roll forming device 12 and a multiple roll pipe forming de-
vice 14. Apparatus not illustrated, but utilized in combination
with the illustrated apparatus, as one skilled in the art will ap-
preciate, is a decoiling apparatus for uncoiling the elongated met-
al sheet from a roll prior to its entry into the corrugating device
12, and a flying cut-off device, such as that described in appli-
cant's U. S. Patent No. 3,815,455, for sequentially severing pre-
` determined lengths of pipe emerglng from the multiple roll pipe
forming device 14 as the apparatus 10 is continuously operated.
The corrugating device 12 consists of a carriage 16 mountedfor pivoting relative to the multiple roll pipe forming device 14
on a plurality of wheels 18 (one illustrated). Although, alterna-
tively, the forming device 14 can be mounted on wheels for pivoting
relative to the corrugating device, due to stressive forces involv-
ed, it is preferred that the corrugating device be movable and the
forming device be stationary.
The corrugating device 12 carries a plurality of corrugating
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rolls 20 for successively forming longitudinal corrugations in a
sheet of metal as it passes through the corrugating device (from
left to right in Figure 1). As is well known in the art, each of
the corrugating rolls 20 comprises a complementary pair of rolls
designated a stand, composed of an upper roll having a shaft 22
with one or more impressing rollers 24 mounted thereon, and a low~
er roll (not illustrated) which complements the structure of the
upper roll to form longitudinal corrugations in the elongated sheet
of metal.
- 10 Each of the shafts 22 of the corrugating rolls 20 is provid-
ed motive power by a gear drive box 26. Each gear box 26 drives
a pair of roll stands, so that a corrugating device employing ten
- roll stands will employ five gear boxes.
Each of the gear boxes 26 has an input shaft 28 which, as
illustrated, is connected for direct drive by a preceeding gear
box, excepting the right-most gear box 26' which is driven by a
` motive source (not illustrated) through a drive pulley 30. The
motive source, normally an electric motor, is mounted in the in-
; terior of the carriage 16.
; 20 Each of the gear drive boxes 26 has a pair of output shafts
32. Each output shaft 32 is connected through a universal joint
34 to a corrugating roll 20 with which it is aligned. The univer-
sal joints permit varying thicknes~ metal sheets to be corrugated
without the need to relocate the output shaft 32.
As the elongated sheet of metal enters the corrugating device
12, it is properly aligned with the corrugating rolls 20 by an
edge guide member 36. The edge guide member 36 has a pair of hor-
izontally disposed guide wheels (not illustrated) adjoining oppo-
site marginal edges of the metal sheet as it enters the corrugat-
ing device. Screw adjustment members 38 and 40 provide for pre-
cise alignment of the edge guide rollers. Similarly, a second edge
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guide member 42 is located at the output end of the corrugating
device 12 to assure proper alignment of the now corrugated sheet
of metal as it enters the multiple roll pipe forming device 14.
The embodiment of the apparatus 10 illustrated is equipped
with seaming rolls to complete a lock seam to securely fasten ad-
jacent helical convolutions of pipe together. Although not illus-
- trated, the carriage 16 also carries means to partially form lock
seam elements in opposed marginal edges of the metal sheet just
prior to entering the pipe forming device 14. Such lock seam
elements, commonly termed "stove pipe" seam elements, and the for-
mation thereof are old in the art, as exemplified by British Patent
Specification 4513 (1894).
The multiple roll pipe forming device 14 curls a sheet of
corrugated metal emanating from the roll forming device 12 into a
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series of adjacent, helical convolutions. As illustrated in great-
er detail in Figures 2-6, the multiple roll pipe forming device 14
employs three forming rolls, a lead roll assembly 44, a buttress
roll assembly 46 and a horn roll assembly 48.
Each of the roll assemblies 44, 46 and 48 is composed of a ~ -
plurality of individual rollers 50. The number of individual
rollers 50 comprising each of the roll assemblies 44 through 48
will depend on the number of corrugations impressed in the elong-
;ated sheet of metal. Nine individual rollers of each of the roll
assemblies 44 through 48 are depicted in the drawings, correspond-
ing to those necessary for forming helical convolutions in a 27-
1/2 inch wide flat sheet of metal which is impressed with corru-
gations 1/2 inch deep and 2-2/3 inches apart.
As best illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, each of the individ-
ual rollers 50 is mounted for ~otation about its central axis 51
within a roller yoke 52. Although the yokes of the roll assem-
blies 44 through 48 vary somewhat in outward appearance, they are
functionally identical. Roller yokes 52 for the individual rol-
lers 50 of the buttress roll assembly 46 only will therefore be
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1~6~956
described in detail, it being understood that roller yokes for
the roll assemblies 44 and 48 vary in superficial detail only.
; ` Each roller yoke 52 is composed of a pair of upstanding plate
elements 54 and 56 which sandwich an individual roller 50 between
them. An individual central axis shaft 51 is journalled in a bear-
: ing in each individual roller 50 and is immovably secured within
apertures in the plate elements 54 and 56.
The plate elements 54 and 56 are securely fastened to a hori-
zontal yoke plate 58. As illustrated, although the plate elements
54 and 56 and yoke plates 58 of each of the yokes 52 are in direct
abutment, there is no interconnection between adjacent roller
- yokes. Rather, the individual roller yokes 52 adjoin one another
; at smooth interfaces generally parallel to planes encompassing ,
the peripheries of the individual rollers 50, thus allowing rel-
atively uninhibited sliding movement between adjacent roller
- yokes.
Each roller yoke 52 is pivotally and slideably positioned
within a guide 59 located in the multiple roll pipe forming de-
vice 14. For horizontal displacement of each yoke in the guide
and pivoting about an axis Z, each horizontal yoke plate 58 in-
cludes a cylindrical centered plug 60 attached to the horizontal
yoke plate directly beneath the shaft 51. The plugs 60 extend
between a pair of elongated parallel plate portions 62 and 64 of
the guide 59 which are firmly attached to opposed edge portions
of an adjustable buttress bearing block 66. Each cylindrical
plug 60 has an enlarged annular flange member 68 which underlies
overhanging portions of the elongated plates 62 and 64. There-
fore, the individual roller yokes 52 are irremovably mounted with-
in a channel 70 formed by the parallel plates 62 and 64, but are
allowed to pivot and move transversely along the channel 70.
The yoke plates 58 each have an integral horizontal parallel
plate extension 58' as illustrated (Figure 6). The extensions
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increase the interfacing surface between adjacent yokes 52 to
lessen wear of the yokes as their relative positions are changed
and to increase stability of the buttress roll assembly. Each of
the horn and lead roll assemblies is also similarly extended.
As illustrated, the entire buttress roll assembly is ad-
justable on an angle to the vertical, increasing the versatility
of the pipe forming device 14 by allowing varying diameter pipe
to be manufactured by the same apparatus. The adjustable buttress
bearing block is located between a pair of upstanding guide sup- -
port elements 72 and 74 which are immovably affixed to a horizon-
tal table portion 76 of the multiple roll pipe forming device 14. ;
As illustrated, the support element 74 is affixed to the table 76
by a plurality of bolts 78 threadedly secured in conforming aper-
tures in the support element 74. The element 72 is similarly
immobily attached to the pipe forming device 14.
.
A pair of angularly disposed parallel guide bars 80 and 82
are attached to the upstanding guide support element 72. A like
pair of parallel guide bars 84 and 86 are attached to the upstand-
ing guide support element 74. Sandwiched between the guide bars
80 and 82 is a slender slide member 88 which is firmly attached to
the adjustable buttress bearing block 66. Similarly, a slide mem-
ber 90 attached to the opposite end of the buttress bearlng block
66 is sandwiched between the guide bars 84 and 86. A close toler- ;
ance is maintained between each slide member and its respective
pair of guide bars to assure that the buttress roll assembly is
solidly maintained in place. Therefore, the buttress bearing
block is adjustable at a precise angle to the vertical depending
on the angular disposition of the guide bars 80 through 86 and the
slide members 88 and 90.
To retain the buttress bearing block 66 at a proper, pre-
selected location, and provide for convenient adjustment of the
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buttress roll assembly to allow variation in the diameter of pipe
being manufactured by the forming apparatus 10, two or more con-
trol rods 92 are employed. Each control rod 92 consists of a
threaded shaft 93 which has a flanged end (not illustrated) which
is disposed within a conforming aperture formed in a capture block
- 94 bolted to the buttress bearing block 66. The capture blocks
94 provide a solid, rotative connection between the shafts 93 and
the bearing blocks 66 as the vertical position of the buttress
roll is adjusted.
Each threaded shaft 93 also passes through an aperture 96 in
the horizontal table 76 and is threadedly secured within a re-
'; tention element 98 which is affixed to the horizontal table 76 by
a pair of bolts 100. Rotation of the control rods 92 is eased
by a wheel 102 coaxially affixed to each shaft 93.
Similar to the buttress roll assembly 46, the lead roll assem-
bly 44 is composed of a plurality of individual rollers 50 main-
tained within individual, extended roller yokes 52 which are mount-
ed for pivoting and horizontal sliding along a channel 104. The
lead roll assembly is mounted in a vertically adjustable lead roll
bearing block 106 which normally rests upon a pair of integral
supports 107 and an elongated support 108 which is attached to the
table 76 by a plurality of bolts 110. A close tolerance is main-
tained between the supports 107 and the support 108 to avoid any
horizontal movement of the bearing block 106. ~f desired, the
vertical position of the lead roll bearing block 106 can be alter-
ed by adjustment of one or both of a pair of vertical location
bolts 112 which are threadedly secured in the table 76 directly
beneath opposed vertical end legs 114 and 116 attached to the
lead roll bearing block 106.
Similar to the lead and buttress roll assemblies 44 and 46,
the horn roll assembly 48 is mounted in an elongated guide 118
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attached to a horn member 120. The horn roll, composed of a
plurality of individual rollers maintained within individual, ex-
tended roller yokes, is securely retained within the elongated -~
guide 118. Individual roller yokes are allowed longitudinal hor-
izontal displacement along the elongated guide and pivoting in the
same manner as the individual roller yokes of the lead and butt-
ress rolls.
The corrugated metal sheet entering the forming device 14
comprises a series of parallel undulating ridges and valleys.
10 Each individual roller of each of the roll assemblies 44, 46 and
48 contacts the elongated metal sheet at one point along a series ~ ;
of points disposed generally parallel to the axis of the pipe
formed by the apparatus. Since the helical convolutions are curl-
ed upward about the horn member 120, the individual rollers of
the horn roll assembly 48, being located within the pipe convo-
lutions as they are formed, engage the valleys of the corruga-
tions. The individual rollers of the lead and buttress roll
assemblies, being located outside of the pipe convolutions, en-
gage the undersides of the ridges of the corrugations.
In the emobodiment illustrated of the spiral pipe forming
apparatus 10, adjacent helical convolutions formed in the multiple
roll pipe forming device 14 are joined with a double lock seam,
although other means of joining marginal edges of curled convo-
lutions, such as welding, could alternatively be employed.
As best illustrated in Figures 3 and 6, partial lock seam
: .
elements formed by the corrugating device are joined and the com-
pleted lock seam formed between an upper lock seaming roll 122
and a lower lock seaming roll 124. The upper roll 122 is com-
posed of a roller 126 contained within an adjustable yoke 128.
30 The yoke 128 extends within an internal annular aperture 130 form-
ed in the horn member 120. A bolt 132, which has an irremovable,
' rotatable retention washer 134 secured about its shank adjacent
the head thereof, is threaded within an internal aperture in the
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- top of the adjustable yoke 128. The retention washer 134 lS
slightly larger in outer diameter than the internal angular ap-
erture 130, and is bottomed against a land 135 in an enlarged
annular aperture 136 formed coaxially with the annular aperture
130. A cap member 138, overlying the retention washer 134, re-
tains the retention washer and bolt 132 securely in place. The
cap member 138 is secured to the horn member 120 by a plurality
of bolts 140. Therefore, the adjustable yoke 128 may be raised
and lowered by simply turning the bolt 132.
The lower lock seaming roll 124 is composed of a roller 142
which complements the shape of the roller126 and which is mounted
within a slidable yoke 144. The yoke 144 has a lower carriage
portion 146 having flanges 147 which are positioned about a
flanged rail 148 securely attached to the table 76 by a plurality
of screws 150. The position of the yoke 144 along the flanged
rail 148 is controlled by a threaded rod 152 attached to the
lower carriage 146 and which passes through a vertical plate (not
illustrated) attached to the edge of the table 76.
The horn member 120 is horizontally adjustable in order to
properly position the upper lock seaming roIl 122 after reposition-
ing of the relative angle between the corrugating device 12 and
multiple roll pipe forming device 14 to enlarge or decrease the
diameter of the pipe being manufactured. To accomplish this end,
the horn member 120 is sandwiched between a pair of upright sup-
port plates 154 and 155. The plate 154 includes an integral
flange 156 which is secured to the frame of the pipe forming de-
vice 14 by a plurality of bolts 157. Similarly, the plate 155
includes an integral flange 158 which is secured to the frame of
the device 14 by a plurality of bolts 159. A top plate 160,
30 attached by a plurality of bolts 161 to the plates 154 and 155,
restrains vertical movement of the horn member 120. For
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. horizontal shifting of the horn member, threaded rod 162 extends
through a threaded aperture in a vertical plate 163 attached to
the plates 154, 155 and 160 into an attachment segment 164 append-
ed to a vertical section 166 formed in the horn member 120.
The end of the threaded rod 162 disposed in the attachment
segment 164 rotates freely therewithin. At this point, the thread-
ed rod includes an integral flange 168 disposed within a conforming
aperture 170~formed in the attachment segment so that the thread-
ed rod 162 is irremovably mounted within the attachment segment
164. The horn member 120 is locked in place by a locking nut 171
on the rod 162 which can be drawn against the vertical plate 163.
A locking plate 172 is located adjacent the top plate 160.
After the horn member 120 has been properly horizontally shifted
by adjustment of the threaded rod 162, bolts 173 passing through
. . .
the plate 172 and threaded within the support plates 154 and 155
are tightened, securely clamping the horn member 120 in place to
- prevent any vertical or horizontal displacement. Each time the
horn member 120 is to be shifted, the bolts 173 are first loosen- ~ -
ed to relieve the clamping pressure of the locking plate 172.
20 The corrugating device 12 and the multiple roll pipe form-
ing device 14 are connected by a horizontal stinger 174. One end
of the stinger 174 is firmly attached to the carriage 16. The
other end of the stinger extends into the pipe forming device 14
beneath the roll assemblies 44, 46 and 48 and is pivotally attach-
ed to an upstanding pedestal 176 which is secured to the frame of
the pipe forming device.
As the angular disposition between the corrugating device 12
and the multiple roll pipe forming device 14 is changed, not only
must the vertical position of the buttress roll assembly 46 be
changed in order that adjacent edges of curled convolutions of
pipe are in proper abutment, but also each of the roll assemblies
44, 46 and 48 must be shifted horizontally and each of the in-
dividual roller yokes pivoted so that the rollers 50 will properly
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66956
align with the valleys or undersides of ridges of the corrugations
in the sheet as it is curled into a pipe. Shifting and automatic
pivoting of each of the roller yokes is accomplished by a rigid
adjustment frame 178. The adjustment frame 178 slavishly follows
pivoting of the corrugating device 12 about the pedestal 176, so
- that each of the individual rollers of each of the rolls 44, 46
and 48 is always in perfect alignment with the corrugated sheet
- issuing from the corrugating device 12.
The adjustment frame 178 is pivotally attached to the carriage
16 of the corrugating device 12 by a vertical support 180. A
- pivot pin 182 is passed through the vertical support 180 and the
rigid adjustment frame 178 to allow raising and lowering of the
adjustment frame 178.
The adjustment frame 178 comprises a pair of elongated rec-
tangular elements 184 and 186, end elements 188 and 190, and one
or more cross-braces 192, if needed. The elements 184 and 186
firmly cage the roll assemblies 44 and 46 between them. As best
illustrated in Figure 6, outboard yokes 44' of the lead roll assem-
bly 44 and 46' of the buttress roll assembly 46 adjoin the elongat-
ed element 186. The opposite outboard yoke 44'' of the lead roll
assembly 44 includes an integral spacer b]ock extension 194 locat-
ed between it and the elongated element 184. Similarly, the op-
posite outboard yoke 46'' of the buttress roll assembly 46 includ-
es an integral spacer block extension 196 disposed between it and
~.,
the elongated element 184. The spacer blocks are employed to space
the elongated element 184 a sufficient distance from each of the
lead and buttress rolls so that the elongated element does not in-
terfere with free movement and positioning of the lower seaming
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1066956
.
oll 124. In the apparatus illustrated, with each of the roller
yokes being 2-2/3 inches wide, the applicant has found spacer
blocks of approximately two inches in width sufficient to space
the elongated element 184 a proper distance from the lower seaming
roll 124.
As can be seen in the drawings, the rigid adjustment frame 178
maintains proper alignment between the lead and buttress rolls and
a corrugated sheet issuing from the corrugating device 12 at all
times and under all operative conditions. The elongated elements
184 and 186 are always parallel to the marginal edge portions of
the corrugated sheet and are properly spaced directly below the
sheet so that the parallel individual rollers of the lead and
buttress roll align with undersides of corrugations in the sheet.
No matter what angular relationship is maintained between the
corrugating device 12 and the pipe forming device 14, the rigid
adjustment frame 178 always maintains precise alignment of the
individual rollers of the lead and buttress rolls.
The horn roll assembly 48 is also automatically adjusted by
the rigid adjustment frame 178 as the angular relationship between
the corrugating device 12 and the pipe forming device 14 is altered.
As best illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the left-most outboard
roller yoke 48' (as viewed in Fig. 3) of the horn roll assembly 48
has a downwardly depending adjustment arm 198 firmly attached
thereto. The arm 198 is secured to the top of a box member 200
disposed about the elongated element 186. A close tolerance is
maintained between vertical portions 202 and 204 of the box member
200 and the elongated element 186 to assure no lateral play between
the two. A pair of extensible contraction mechanisms 206 and 208
(as viewed in Fig. 3) straddle the horn member 120 and are attached
to opposite outboard yokes 48' and 48" of the horn roll assembly
48. The contraction mechanisms 206 and 208 constantly draw the
individual roller yokes of the horn roll assembly together
:~
..
,~ . . .
-` 10669S~
to prevent inadvertent spreading and assure that each of the rol-
lers of the horn roll assembly properly aligns with valleys of
corrugations in an elongated metal sheet as it is spiralled into
helical convolutions.
As the rigid adjustment frame 178 is horizontally shifted as
the corrugating device 12 is pivoted relative to the pipe form-
ing device 14, the box member 200 in combination with the down-
wardly depending adjustment arm 1~8 maintain proper alignment
of the outboard yoke 48' of the horn roll assembly 48. At the
same time, the extensible contraction mechanisms 206 and 208 cause
the remaining roller yokes of the horn roll assembly 48 to follow
the yoke 48'. Therefore, not only are the lead roll and buttress
roll assemblies always automatically properly aligned, but also
the horn roll assembly is properiy aligned each time the angular
position between the corrugating device 12 and the pipe forming
device 14 is changed. This occurs regardless of direction of
change of the angular position, and regardless of the size of the
change.
Various changes may be made to the invention without depart-
'4'~ 20 ing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the following claims.
,:
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