Tubes and structures formed thereby

US4274621A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Jan Illakowicz · New Orleans, US
• Derek B. Enfield

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 20, 1978
• Grant date: Jun 23, 1981
• Expiry date: Apr 20, 1998

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B23K7/007
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for shaping an end of a tube in a configuration such that it may be joined to the surface of another body as by welding. The method disclosed involves profiling the end of a tube to conform to the surface of a body to which the tube end is to be joined, with a notional line on the end face that corresponds to the theoretical line of contact of the tube and body, cutting the tube wall at the profiled end to provide a beveled surface over the face of the end to the outer peripheral surface of the tube, and controlling the cutting so that the bevel surface formed progresses inwardly through the tube wall thickness to form a transition line on the profiled end face that substantially follows the notional line of contact between the innermost and the outermost peripheral edges of the profiled end face. The apparatus disclosed for shaping the end of an elongate tube has a mount to hold the tube adjacent to a cutter with a mechanism rotating the tube about its longitudinal axis relative to the cutter in order to cut around the periphery of the tube wall. A mechanism is further provided to displace the tube with respect to the cutter to form an acute an…