Automated tube tee forming and trimming system
Patent 6840079 Issued on January 11, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date: 
November 22, 2022. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
November 22, 2022. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 1813152 1892712 3064707 3365926 Method and apparatus for making t-tube fittings Method of manufacturing fins for heat exchangers Combined processing apparatus Apparatus and method for forming joints in tubing Patent #: 6044683 InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 10302378 filed on 11/22/2002US Classes:72/335, Pre-cutting (i.e., before metal-deforming)72/370.27, Forming holes in tube29/890.148, T-shaped fitting making29/33T, Work on tubes72/348, With additional metal-deforming72/294, With cutting72/283Including a mandrel inserted within a hollow workpieceExaminersPrimary: Crane, Daniel C.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesB21D 1900B21D 2828 AbstractAn automatic tube tee forming and trimming system uses a single apparatus for milling a hole in a tube, pulling a forming die through the milled hole, and face trimming the resulting pullout joint to the desired height. The forming die is pulled out through the hole via a universal driver which is simply attached to the drawbar without requiring any twisting to lock the assembly. The system may automatically conduct each of the steps once the tube is loaded into the apparatus. The apparatus completes the tube tee forming and trimming process in a relatively small cell, without the need to travel out to another factory area, within a relatively short period of time, and with minimal use of manual labor. | |
