Method and apparatus for manufacturing joined tubes
US5932166A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 3, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29L2031/7158
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A device and method is provided for manufacturing at least two curved, joined tubes. The method includes extruding, without clamping, a blank in a modifiable-geometry mold cavity and placing the blank in the cavity by means of an entraining air stream, and then modifying the geometry of the mold cavity to clamp the blank and injecting a gas to shape the blank to the mold cavity geometry thus modified to obtain at least two curved, joined tubes. The device includes a mold cavity and at least one moving part for modifying a geometry of the mold cavity. The moving part is displaceable between a retracted position in which a blank can be placed in the mold cavity under the action of an air stream and a blank clamping position to allow formation of at least two curved, joined tubes upon blowing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.