Method of forming a header assembly
US4043015A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 1976 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49389
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method is disclosed of forming a header assembly in which a plurality of tubes transition into a single header passage. The method includes forming a blank extrusion comprised of a plurality of juxtaposed tube elements interconnected by web sections of a thickness approximately double the wall thickness of the individual tube members in the blank. The blank is placed in a female die and a wedge-shaped male forming tool is advanced into the blank for a portion of the length of the blank, the male forming tool being configured to split the interior of the blank along the center of the web sections as the tool advances thereinto, forcing the web sections and connected tube portions apart and into contact with the wall of the female die cavity to form the header section. Further forming steps are disclosed including a severing of the web sections interconnecting the tubes along the remainder of the length of the blank, as well as appropriate reshaping of the header section subsequent to the initial forming operation in order to configure the same to the particular application for which the header assembly is to be used.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.