US3079679A

US3079679A - Tubular covering

Info

Publication number: US3079679A
Application number: US756632A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tullis Lyell Chester
Original assignee: Parker Pen Co
Current assignee: Parker Pen Co
Priority date: 1958-08-22
Filing date: 1958-08-22
Publication date: 1963-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1980-03-05

Description

March 5, 1963 c. TULLIS TUBULAR COVERING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1958 40 Lia. I

INVENTOR. LYELL CHESTER TULLIS March 5, 1963 L. c. TULLIS TUBULAR COVERING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1958 'VIIYNVENTOR. STEIQ TU LLI S B MW LYELL ATTV.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,79,579 ?atented Mar. 5, 1983 3,079,679 TUBULAR CGVERHIG Lyell Chester Tuliis, Janesville, Wis, assignor to The flfkf Fen Company, Janesville, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Aug. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 756,632 6 Unitas. ((Il. 29-235) This invention relates to improvements in tubular covering, and in particular to an apparatus and method for covering a flare-ended rigid tube with an elastic tubular covering material such as polyvinyl chloride tubing, or tubing of other synthetic thermoplastics, or other tubular elastic materials.

The invention provides a simple, quick and eifective method of, and means for, placing a covering of elastic tubing completely over and extending beyond the ends of a length of rigid tubing which has one flared end. The elastic tubing has an internal diameter greater than the outside diameter of the rigid tube, except for the flared end portion of the rigid tube which has an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the elastic tube.

The invention provides means whereby the elastic tubing may be fed from one continuous length or coil of the elastic Lubng on to a consecutively positioned series of flared rigid tubes, the elastic tubing, after having been placed over each flared rigid tube, being cut off to the desired length.

The invention further provides means for covering a rigid tubular flare-ended piece with elastic tubing wherein said piece need be supported solely from one end thereof.

Other objects and advantages will become aparent upon considering the following description in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another part of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of still another part of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational View, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the part of the device shown in FIG. 4, showing the elastic tubing extending therethrough; and

FIG. 7 is a view, partially in section, taken along lines 7--7 in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the invention provides means for covering a flare-ended rigid tube A, having a flared end A, with a plastic tubular covering B, the covering B extending beyond each end of the piece A and terminating in a slanted end B forming an elliptical opening beyond the flared end of tube A, and terminating in a true end B forming a circular opening beyond the other end of tube A.

The covered item AB is useful as an electrical connector where-'n the piece A is a conductive copper tube, the tubing B is polyvinyl chloride insulation, and the true or circular end B of the tubing is pinched closed, as for example, by a heat seal. the slanted end B of the tubing B and the flared end A of the copper tube permit easy entrance of the ends of two electrical conductors to be connected together, as for example, by crimping the device AB on to the conductors at a point or points between A and B".

a The means for and method of covering piece A with tubing B is explained by reference to the drawings, wherein an arbor head 29 has an arbor 31 for receiving first the piece A thereon and then the tubing B thereover.

The piece A fits over the reduced portion 31a of the arbor with the flared part A seating against the shoulder joining the large portion of the arbor with the reduced portfon 31a. A bore 31b extending through the arbor provides an air path therethrough and is connected to a source 34 of air, via channels 32b in block 32 of arbor head 29. An air valve 33 having a control button 33a provides means for turning the air on and oil to controllably apply the air into the tubing B.

The arbor head 29 is slidably disposed in a guide member 39, which may be a continuous, closed-loop guideway if desired. An alignment pin 35, together with alignment holes 353m, provide means for positioning the arbor head 29 in the guideway 34) to align the arbor with the tubing for the covering operation. An arbor clamp 36, pivoted at 360, is provided for clamping the tubing B to the arbor during the operation as explained more fully hereinafter. A spring 37 urges the clamp 36 into clamping position and a button 361) is provided for releasing the clamp 36 from clamping position.

A frame 1%, including a bottom or base 11, a pair of upright side walls 32 and a rear piece 13, provides a slideway for a movable operating head 14, in that the main body 15 of movable head 14 has a pair of ribs 15b which slidably ride in channels 1% of frame It). A slot 12c in the base 11 of the frame permits the cut-out pieces 3" of tubing B to drop therethrough as more fully explained hereinbelow. Recesses 12a provide a transverse pasage for the arbor 31 when the arbor head 29 is moved along guideway 30 transversely of the movement of head 14. A bore 13b in rear piece 13 receives therethrough a push-pull actuating rod 27 for moving the movable head 14. A slot 13a is proivded in rear piece 13, and mounted therein is ar ear clamp 44), pivoted on a pin dila. A spring 41 urges the clamp 40 into engagement with the tubing B to clamp the tubing to the frame 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. A push button 4% on the clamp provides means for releasing the clamp 40 to thereby free the tubing B from the frame.

The movable head 14 has mounted thereon die

blocks

16, 17, 18, 19 disposed to form a triangular die passageway for a triangular shaped cutter 22 which is slidably mounted in head 14. A bore 15a in body 15 of the head 14 permits the cutter to pass up and down therethrough. A cutter rod 23 fixed to cutter 22 slides in a guide hearing 21 mounted on head 14, as by fasteners 21b through a flange 21a of the guide bearing 21. A cam stirrup 25 is pivoted to cutter rod 23, as at pivot 26, at a point laterally displaced from its vertical center to thereby provide camming means for slidably positioning the cutter in e'ther of two positions: i.e. either its upper or free of tube B position (FIG. 4); or its lower pinching tube B position (FIG. 1); by simply flipping the stirrup from one position to the other. A striker head 24 on the cutter rod is provided to permit, by a hammering actuation of the cutter While in its lower or pinching tube B position, cutting off the tube B thereby removing a cut-out piece 13" from the tubing B.

The

lower die blocks

17, 19 are fixed to

upper die blocks

16, 18, as for example, by

screws

17a, 19a. Bores 16a, 18a, extending through

blocks

16, 18, receive tubing B therethrough.

Block 17 has a shearing surface 17b disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of tubing B. Block 19 has a shearing surface 191; disposed transversely but not perpendicularly of said axis and forming together with surface 171') and a cover plate 2%, a triangular die passageway into which fits the triangular cutter 22. The cover plate 2%, covering the blocks 16, l7, l8, 19, may be mounted thereover, as at

holes

16d, 17d, 18d, 19a, by

- any suitable fastening means.

Block 16 has a guide surface 16b lying in the same 3 plane as shearing'surface 17b of block 17. Block 18 has a' guide surface 18b lying in the same plane as shearing surface 19b of block 19.

The cut-ter 22 is guidedby surfaces 16b, 18%;, as well as by cover plate 21 and the cutting is done by the cutter-22 and shearingsurfaces 17b, 19:), upon actuation of the 'cutter for this purpose, thereby removing a cut out piece B' from the tubing B. 7

surfaces 160 and 18c are parallel to the'surfaces 16b and 18b respectively, being recessed therefrom topermit bending of the tubing B to facilitate pinching the tube by the cutter 22 without cutting it, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

The movable head 14 may be moved, in the frame 10, either manually via handle 28 on rod 27, or autoniatically by any suitable means. The movement of head 14 is forward and rearward (left and right in FIGS. I-an'd'S) to effeotthe feeding oftubing B into the head (rearward movement) and to pull the tubing B on to the piece A and the arbor (forward movement).

'Ihe'tubing B may be fed from a roll or coil of said tubing. From this type of source or from any other suitable source, the tubing enters the frame 10 through slot 130, passes between

side walls

12, 12 of the frame, enters the head14 through-bore 18a, passes through the space between thedie blocks, and on into and through bore 16a to project forwardly of the head 14, in alignment with and ready to be'loaded on a piece A disposed on arbor 31. p

Clamp 40 provides means for clamping tubing B to frame 10 to secure the tubing to the frame while head 14'is' moved rearwardly (to the right in FIGS. 1 and *to thereby feed tubing into the head 14; the cutter 22 being held in its upper position (as shown in FIG. 4) by cam stirrup 25 during this movement.

The cutter 22, when lowered (as shown in FIGS. 1 and-5-),-by flipping stirrupZS, pinches the tubing B and thusclampingly secures it to the head '14 while moving the head forwardly (to the left in FIGS. 1 and 5) to thereby pull the tubing, from its coil, roll or other source, on --to'the piece A to cover the same. The clamp 40 is positioned to release the tubing B from the frame during this movement.

Because the tubing B is larger, in internal diameter, than the external diameter of the main portion of piece A, the tubing B slides easily thereover. As the forward end B of the tubing engages the flare portion A of piece A, air is supplied througharbor 31 into tubing -B. The elastic tubing, being pinched oil by cutter 22, thuse'xpa'nds and slides over the flare A permitting the tubing to be moved beyond the flared end to the desired distance. The clamp 36 is. positioned free of arbor 3 1 during the forward movement of the tubing to permit the 'tubing B to telescope over the arbor.

Arbor 31 supports the piece A only from one end. This'per'mits convenient alignment of and approach to the other end because it is a free, unsupported end. Because the end is free and unsupported, the "pinching off of the tubing B can be very near'the unsupported end thereby maintaininga minimum of volume of tubing B to be filled with air, which permits the air expansion of the tubing to be very quick.

Ihe cutter 22 performs multiple functions: (1) it clamps the tubing to pull the tubing forward; (2.) it pinches the tubing closed to form an air seal for allowing expansion of the tubing; and (3) it also cuts the tubing '05.

Assuming that the plastic tubing -B has just been cut off by the triangular cutter 22 after a flared piece A hasbeen covered with the plastic tubing, the operation for "completing another covering and cut-off cycle is follows':

- First, one raises cutter 22 up out of the dies 16, 17,

'18, 1-9 and moves head 14- back over the plastic tube B to thereby extend the plastic tube 13 through bores during this operation. When tubing B engages flare A, air is applied, via channels 32b and bore 31b, into the tubing B thereby expanding the tubing, allowing it to move over the flare A and on to'the arbor. The air is then turned off (using valve 33) and the tubing B is then clamped to the arbor with arbor clamp 36.

Next, thetubing B is again secured to the frame 10 with clamp 40. The cutter 22 is then actuated to remove piece B from the tubingB. This completes the cycle.

The above cycle is repeated for each new piece A that is to be covered. The operation of the cycle can, of course, be made automatic, with each step occurring in response to the prior step; the device is illustrated and described herein as manual merelyto more clearly disclose the means and method of the invention.

Various embodiments of the invention, not herein disclosed, may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for placing a resilient tubular cover on an article from a source length of cover material, comprising means for supporting said article, means for supporting an end portion of a length of tnbularcovei' material, means movable along the supported end portion of the tubular cover material toward said article and including means thereon selectively engageable with said tubular cover, said engageable means thereon including a knife edged member pressed against said cover by a force .sufiicient to secure said cover to said movable means and to pinch said cover sealingly closed but insufiicient to cut said cover, means for moving said movable means toward said article support means to remove a portion of said cover from said source and to move the end portion of said cover partly over said article with the end of said cover sealingly engaging said article, means for increasing the pressure in the portion of said cover between the pinched portion thereof and said end to expand said cover'in the vicinity of said article, means for further moving said movable means toward said article support'means to push said expanded portion of said cover over said article, and means for increasing the force on said knife edge to sever the portion of said cover on said articlefrom said source.

2. A device for covering a generally cylindrical object with elastic tubing, said device comprising: a frame; a head mounted for movement on said frame, saidheadincluding means defining a longitudinal passageway for receiving said tubing therethrough; support means adjacent a first end of said head for supporting'said object in coaxial alignment with saidhead passageway and the tubing received thereby; clamping means on' said frame adjacent a second end of said head to releasably clamp said tubing to said frame; pinching means on said head to releasably secure said tubing to said head; means'for selectively operating said clamping and pinching means; means for moving said head on said frame toward said clamping means while said tubing is clamped to said frame and while said pinching means is released, to move said passageway relative to said tubing; and means 'for moving said head toward said support means and away from said clamping means while said tubing is secured to said head by said pinching means and whilersaid clamping means is released, to move the end of said tubing'into covering relation with said object.

'3. The invention definedin claim 2 wherein said pinch ing means comprises: a die on said head adjacent said head passagewa a movable cutter; and means supporting said cutter for movement across said passageway from an initial position in spaced relation to said die, through an intermediate position proximate to said die in which tubing in said passageway is pinched between said cutter and said die to secure said tubing to said head, and to a final position in cutting association with said die to sever said tubing.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said cutter and die define cooperating first cutting surfaces transversely of the longitudinal axis of said tubing and cooperating second cutting surfaces disposed at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of said tubing, said surfaces, upon movement of said cutter to said final position, cooperating to respectively sever the portion of the tubing that is in covering relation with said object transversely of the longitudinal axis of said tubing and simultaneously to sever a second portion of said tubing at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of said tubing.

5. A device for covering a generally cylindrical relatively rigid tubular object having a small end and a large end with elastic tubing having an inside diameter larger than the diameter of said small end and smaller than the diameter of said large end, said device comprising: a frame; a head mounted for movement on said frame, said head including means defining a longitudinal passageway for receiving said tubing therethrough; support means including a tubular arbor adjacent a first end of said head to support thereon said tubular object in coaxial alignment with said passageway and the tubing received thereby, and with the small end of said object nearest said head; clamping means on said frame adjacent a second end of said head to releasably clamp said tubing to said frame; a die member on said head adjacent said passageway; a cutter mounted on said head, said cutter being movable across said passageway from a first position out of engagement with tubing in said passageway into a second position in which said tubing is pinched olf transversely between said cutter and said die to secure said tubing within said passageway and to temporarily seal a portion of the tubing, and being further movable from said second position to a third position to sever said tubing; means for selectively operating said clamping means and said cutter; means for moving said head on said frame toward said clamping means while said tubing is clamped to said frame and while said cutter is in said first position to move said passageway relative to said tubing; means for moving said head along the axis of said passageway toward said support means and away from said clamping means while said cutter is in said second position and while said clamping means is released, to slide the end of said tubing adjacent said object onto said object; a source of compressed gas; and means for introducing said compressed gas into said tubing through said tubular arbor as said tubing is slid onto said object to expand said tubing and allow the end thereof to slide freely over the large end of said object.

6. in an apparatus for covering a cylindrical article with a section of material from a source of elongate expandable imperforate tubing having an internal diameter less than the external diameter of an enlarged portion of said article, the combination comprising: means for inserting said article partly Within an open end of said tubing to abut said open end against said enlarged portion to seal old? said open end; a die member adjacent said tubing and intermediate the cylindrical article and the tubing source; a cutter member movable transversely of said tubing toward said die member; means for moving said cutter member when said tubing is between said cutter member and said die member to a position in which said cutter member pinches said tubing against said die member to completely seal olf the tubing at a point spaced from said sealed off open end without cutting said tubing to define a sealed chamber in said tubing; means for increasing the internal pressure Within said chamber in said tubing to greater than atmospheric pressure to expand the tubing between said sealed point and said open end; means for moving at least part of the expanded portion of said tubing over said enlarged portion of said article; and means for moving said cutter beyond said pinching position and into cutting engagement with said die to sever said tubing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 284,050 Nichols Aug. 28, 1883 942,184 Persons Dec. 7, 1909 1,037,159 Lorenz Aug. 27, 1912 2,366,359 Searle Jan. 2, 1945 2,498,357 Breisch Feb. 21, 1950 2,707,024 Neubronner Apr. 26, 1955 2,774,993 Hagen Dec. 25, 1956 2,794,758 Harper June 4, 1957 2,803,056 Brissey et a1. Aug. 20, 1957 2,824,362 Meyers Feb. 25, 1958 2,840,893 Peppercorn et a1. July 1, 1958

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR PLACING A RESILIENT TUBULAR COVER ON AN ARTICLE FROM A SOURCE LENGTH OF COVER MATERIAL, COMPRISING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID ARTICLE, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AN END PORTION OF A LENGTH OF TUBULAR COVER MATERIAL, MEANS MOVABLE ALONG THE SUPPORTED END PORTION OF THE TUBULAR COVER MATERIAL TOWARD SAID ARTICLE AND INCLUDING MEANS THEREON SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TUBULAR COVER, SAID ENGAGEABLE MEANS THEREON INCLUDING A KNIFE EDGED MEMBER PRESSED AGAINST SAID COVER BY A FORCE SUFFICIENT TO SECURE SAID COVER TO SAID MOVABLE MEANS AND TO PINCH SAID COVER SEALINGLY CLOSED BUT INSUFFICIENT TO CUT SAID COVER, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE MEANS TOWARD SAID ARTICLE SUPPORT MEANS TO REMOVE A PORTION OF SAID COVER FROM SAID SOURCE AND TO MOVE THE END PORTION OF SAID COVER PARTLY OVER SAID ARTICLE WITH THE END OF SAID COVER SEALINGLY ENGAGING SAID ARTICLE, MEANS FOR INCREASING THE PRESSURE IN THE PORTION OF SAID COVER BETWEEN THE PINCHED PORTION THEREOF AND SAID END TO EXPAND SAID COVER IN THE VICINITY OF SAID ARTICLE, MEANS FOR FURTHER MOVING SAID MOVABLE MEANS TOWARD SAID ARTICLE SUPPORT MEANS TO PUSH SAID EXPANDED PORTION OF SAID COVER OVER SAID ARTICLE, AND MEANS FOR INCREASING THE FORCE ON SAID KNIFE EDGE TO SEVER THE PORTION OF SAID COVER ON SAID ARTICLE FROM SAID SOURCE.