GB1424853A - Appatatus for the production of a tube - Google Patents

Abstract

1424853 Making helically seamed tubing SILO VERFAHRENS AG 23 March 1973 [13 Oct 1972] 14249/73 Headings B3A B3E and B3J Apparatus for making a vertical helically seamed tube, e.g. for a silo, comprises an annular frame, rollers carried by the frame and disposed on a helix above the bottom of the frame to support the tube at a seam, a metal strip profiling station, and a seaming station providing a path matching the helix defined by the rollers. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the frame 1 comprising a lower dismountable segmental ring 3 and an upper similar ring 2 connected by vertical posts 4 (see also Fig. 6). Strip metal is fed from a reel in cradle 83 through a curving and flanging station 15 where it is rendered helical, to a seaming station 53 where adjacent edges are seamed together. The flanges on the strip and the seam flanges on the tube are supported by rollers 7, 8, Fig. 6, on struts 5 pivoted to the posts 4. The strip is driven at the profiling and seaming stations, and rollers 7 may also be driven, so that an ascending helically scanned tube is produced. Microswitches 10, 11 are actuatable by the strip to sense radial displacement and correct the relative speed of the drives of the profiling and seaming stations. When the tube is the required height, the bottom of the tube is cut off level, and the tube is allowed to rotate backwards until it rests on a base. The bending station is shown in cross-section in Fig. 3, and comprises eight pairs of shafts 22, 23 arranged in an arc so as to curve the strip (Fig. 2, not shown), each shaft pair having flanging rolls 18, 19 and meshing gears driven from a common motor 46. The shafts are supported between top and base plates 24, 25 connected by a structure including segmental portions 32, 33, 34, posts 30, and adjustable screws 31. Shaft 23 is adjustable by set-screws 28. The whole station can be moved when required on lowerable wheels 48. The seaming station is shown in cross-section in Fig. 5, and comprises four pairs of seaming rolls 56, 57 on shafts 65, 66 having meshing gears 67 and driven by chain and sprocket 62 from a common drive motor. The indication of shafts 65, 66 is adjustable by a set-screw 68. The outer wall of the tube near the seam is guided by rolls 74, 74a supported cantileverfashion from the base 54 of the station by arms 72. Each roll is adjustable radially of the apparatus by a set-screw 77.