IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0833590
(1992-02-10)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
1 |
초록
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In a preferred embodiment, a method and apparatus for hydroforming thin-wall metal corrugated tubing which include first preforming the corrugated tubing in a conventional hydroforming operation of the type in which each convolution is formed separately. Semi-resilient spacers are then inserted betw
In a preferred embodiment, a method and apparatus for hydroforming thin-wall metal corrugated tubing which include first preforming the corrugated tubing in a conventional hydroforming operation of the type in which each convolution is formed separately. Semi-resilient spacers are then inserted between the sides of adjacent internal convolutions, while non-resilient washers are inserted between the sides of adjacent external convolutions. The corrugated tubing with the inserted spacers and washers is then highly compressed to the total thickness of the individual elements, with the spacers and washers controlling the radii formed at the crests and troughs of the convolutions. The resulting corrugated tubing has trough and crest radii on the order of 11/2 to 2 metal thicknesses, has an extension/compression ratio of 4 or greater, and can be compressed nearly flat. The sides of the convolutions are given a sine wave shape in cross-section to distribute stresses, so that they are not concentrated at the relatively sharp radii, and to eliminate noise when the corrugated tubing is flexed.
대표청구항
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1. A method of forming a flexible corrugated metal tubing comprising a plurality of corrugations, the transverse shape of each of said corrugations having generally a sine wave shape, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a preformed flexible corrugated metal tubing comprising a plurality of corr
1. A method of forming a flexible corrugated metal tubing comprising a plurality of corrugations, the transverse shape of each of said corrugations having generally a sine wave shape, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a preformed flexible corrugated metal tubing comprising a plurality of corrugations, the transverse shape of each of said corrugations having generally a sine wave shape, and the radii of said corrugations being substantially larger than the corresponding radii of said flexible corrugated tubing; (b) placing between the external faces of each external pair of adjacent convolutions of said flexible preformed corrugated metal tubing one of a plurality of nonresilient washers each having a sine wave shape approximating that of the corrugations of said flexible corrugated metal tubing; (c) placing between the internal faces of each internal pair of adjacent convolutions of said flexible preformed corrugated metal tubing one of a plurality of semi-resilient spacers, so as to control the radii between said internal faces and to thereby prevent the crushing of said radii when said flexible preformed corrugated metal tubing is subsequently compressed; and (d) compressing said preformed flexible corrugated metal tubing with said nonresilient washers and said semi-resilient spacers inserted therein to a length approximating the total of the wall thicknesses of said convolutions, said nonresilient washers, and said semi-resilient spacers, such that, when said nonresilient washers and said semi-resilient spacers are subsequently removed, said corrugations will have substantially the shape of said nonresilient washers. 2. A method, as defined in claim 1, wherein said preformed corrugated metal tubing is produced by a method which produces said preformed corrugated metal tubing with convolutions having crest and trough radii about 10 times the wall thickness of said preformed corrugated metal tubing. 3. A method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of compressing further comprises compressing said preformed corrugated metal tubing to such extent that the crest and trough radii of said corrugated metal tubing are about 11/2 to 2 times the wall thickness of said corrugated metal tubing when said corrugated metal tubing is relaxes after compressing. 4. An article of commerce produced by the method of claim 3. 5. A method, as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing said preformed tubing including a plurality of parallel corrugations orthogonal to the major axis of said tubing. 6. A method, as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing each of said nonresilient washers in the form of a pair of hemiannuli. 7. A method, as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing each of said semi-resilient spacers in the form of an annulus. 8. A method, as defined in claim 1, further comprising producing said corrugated tubing having an extension/compression ration of at least 4:1. 9. A method, as defined in claim 1, further comprising producing said corrugated tubing which can be reversibly compressed to almost the total thicknesses of the metal of which it is formed. 10. A method, as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing said nonresilient washers having a thickness about three times the wall thickness of said corrugated tubing. 11. A method, as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing said semi-resilient washers having a thickness about two times the wall thickness of said corrugated tubing. 12. An apparatus for forming a flexible corrugated metal tubing, having a plurality of corrugations the transverse shape of which is generally a sine wave, from a flexible preformed corrugated metal tubing, said preformed tubing comprising a plurality of corrugations the transverse shape of each of said corrugations having generally a sine wave, and the radii of said corrugations being substantially larger than the corresponding radii of said flexible corrugated tubing, said apparatus comprising: (a) a housing; (b) locating means to hold said flexible preformed corrugated metal tubing in said housing; (c) shaping means to be inserted between the external faces of each pair of external adjacent convolutions in said flexible preformed corrugated metal tubing, each said shaping means having a shape approximating said sine wave shape of the corrugations of said flexible corrugated metal tubing; (d) semi-resilient means to be inserted between the internal faces of each pair of internal adjacent convolutions in said flexible preformed corrugated metal tubing, so as to control the radii between said internal adjacent convolutions and thereby to prevent the crushing of said radii when said flexible preformed tubing is subsequently compressed; and (e) means to compress said flexible preformed corrugated metal tubing with said shaping means and said resilient means inserted therein to a total length approximating the thicknesses of the convolutions of said flexible preformed corrugated tubing, said shaping means, and said resilient means, such that, when said nonresilient washers and said semi-resilient spacers are subsequently removed, said corrugations will have substantially the shape of said nonresilient washers. 13. An apparatus, as defined in claim 12, wherein the convolutions of said preformed corrugated metal tubing have crest and trough radii about 10 times the wall thickness of said preformed corrugated metal tubing. 14. An apparatus, as defined in claim 12, wherein said means to compress can compress said preformed corrugated metal tubing to such extent that said corrugated metal tubing has crest and trough radii about 11/2 to 2 times the wall thickness of said corrugated metal tubing after said corrugated metal tubing is released from said means to compress. 15. An apparatus, as defined in claim 12, wherein said preformed tubing has a major axis and includes a plurality of parallel corrugations orthogonal to the major axis of said tubing. 16. An apparatus, as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said nonresilient washers is in the form of a pair of hemi-annuli. 17. An apparatus, as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said semi-resilient spacers is in the form of an annulus. 18. An apparatus, as defined in claim 12, further such that when said nonresilient washers and said semi-resilient spacers are subsequently removed, said corrugated tubing will have an extension/compression ratio of at least 4:1. 19. An apparatus, as defined in claim 12, further such that when said nonresilient washers and said semi-resilient spacers are subsequently removed, said corrugated tubing can be reversibly compressed to almost the total thicknesses of the metal of which it is formed. 20. An apparatus, as defined in claim 12, wherein said nonresilient washers have a thickness about three times the wall thickness of said corrugated tubing. 21. An apparatus, as defined in claim 12, wherein said semi-resilient washers have a thickness about two times the wall thickness of said corrugated tubing. 22. A flexible corrugated metal tubing, comprising: a plurality of corrugations the transverse shape of which is generally a sine wave, said corrugations having trough and crest radii on the order of from about 11/2 to about 2 times the wall thickness of said flexible corrugated metal tubing. 23. A flexible corrugated metal tubing, as defined in claim 22, wherein said flexible corrugated metal tubing has an extension/compression ratio of at least 4:1. 24. A flexible corrugated metal tubing, as defined in claim 22, wherein said flexible corrugated metal and can be reversibly compressed to almost the total thicknesses of the metal of which it is formed.
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