A method of making an annular component includes forming sheet feedstock into an annular shape disposed about a central axis; and bonding one portion of the feedstock to another portion of the feedstock using ultrasonic welding, so as to fix the annular shape.

Apparatus (10) for forming a spirally wound conduit (14) from a flat strip (2) comprising: a forming device (6) comprising a bending section (7) configured to spiralling bend the strip (2) and a joining section (8) configured to join opposite longitudinal sides (2A,2B) of the strip (2) each other; a feeding device (11) of the strip (2) along a feeding direction (F) parallel to the longitudinal edges (9) of the strip (2); a cutting device (1) arranged upstream the forming device (6) comprising a cutting head (3) for cutting the strip (2) and moving means configured to move said cutting head (3) along a plurality of moving axes (X,Y,Z) orthogonal to each other; a control unit (18) configured to command said moving means according to diameter (D) of the conduit (14) to be realized and to the width (B) of the strip (2) so that said cutting head (3) realizes on the strip (2) a plurality of arrays (12) of holes (13) each one tilted with respect to one of the longitudinal edges (9) of the strip (2) by an angle () function of the width (B) of the strip (2) and of the diameter (D) of the spiral conduit (14) to be realized. The present invention relates also to a air conduit (14), a perforated strip (2) and a coil (19) of a perforated strip (2) comprising a plurality of said arrays (12) of holes (13) wherein said holes (13) comprise at least two different shapes.

A method for creating a tapered spiral welded conical structure where the overall shape of the cone is first graphically slit axially and unwrapped, and then a series of construction arcs and lines are created to form the edge lines of a strip that can then be wrapped (rolled) to form a tapered conical structure. The edges of the spirally wound strip can be welded together, and a very large conical structure can thus be achieved. Various construction options are presented from a constant width strip to strip made from straight segments. Equations are given for the formation of the strips to enable those skilled in the art of spiral welded tubing to practice the invention.

A machine that includes a first feeder, able to unwind a first tape; a profiler comprising an upstream profiling stage able to profile the first tape to form a pre-profiled first tape; a second feeder, able to unwind a second tape, the second tape being a flat tape. A profiler that includes an intermediate joining stage able to receive the second tape as a flat tape from the second feeder and able to join the pre-formed first tape and the flat second tape; and at least a downstream profiling stage configured to jointly profile the first tape and the second tape received from the intermediate joining stage and form a combined profiled strip.

Apparatus (1) for forming in continuous a spiral seamed conduit (5) from a metallic strip (2) comprising a feeding plane (3) for said metallic strip (2); a forming head (4,4) rotating about a forming axis (A) substantially parallel to the feeding plane (3) and tilted by a forming angle (a) with respect to a direction orthogonal (0) to a feeding direction (F) of the metallic strip, wherein the forming head (4,4) is adapted to drive in rotation said metallic strip (2) for defining a spiral conduit (5); a lock-seaming device (6) configured to lock in continuous two portions of said metallic strip (2) along opposite profiles for forming said spiral seamed conduit (5); wherein said forming head (4,4) is provided with one or more forming elements (7,9) arranged and configured so to define a substantially polygonal shape for the section of said spiral conduit (5) during the drive in rotation of said metallic strip (2); wherein said lock-seaming device (6) is configured to move along a seaming direction (G) so to lock said two portions along a side of said conduit (5); and wherein said apparatus (1) further comprises means configured to move the forming head (4,4) according to a plurality of axes. The present invention also relates to a process for forming in continuous a spiral conduit (5) having a substantially polygonal section and a spiral conduit (5) having a substantially polygonal section and four flat sides.

Tube forming methods can be used for efficient transition in the production of tubes having varying thickness. Material used to form consecutive tubes may have the same thickness along a separation plane separating a first discrete section from a second discrete section of the material, and the first discrete section and the second discrete section may each have varying thickness in a feed direction of the material. With such a thickness profile, the first discrete section of the material may be formed into a first cylinder having varying thickness and separated from the second discrete portion as the second discrete section is formed into a second cylinder having varying thickness. In particular, the transition between the first cylinder and the second cylinder may be achieved without scrap and/or interruption, resulting in cost-savings and improvements in production throughput associated with forming tubes having varying thickness.

A process for winding a convolutely wound tubular structure having a machine direction, a cross-machine direction coplanar thereto, and a Z-direction orthogonal to both the machine- and cross-machine directions is disclosed.

A process for winding a convolutely wound tubular structure having a machine direction, a cross-machine direction coplanar thereto, and a Z-direction orthogonal to both the machine- and cross-machine directions is disclosed.

Apparatus (1) for forming in continuous a spiral seamed conduit (5) from a metallic strip (2) comprising a feeding plane (3) for said metallic strip (2); a forming head (4,4) rotating about a forming axis (A) substantially parallel to the feeding plane (3) and tilted by a forming angle (a) with respect to a direction orthogonal (0) to a feeding direction (F) of the metallic strip, wherein the forming head (4,4) is adapted to drive in rotation said metallic strip (2) for defining a spiral conduit (5); a lock-seaming device (6) configured to lock in continuous two portions of said metallic strip (2) along opposite profiles for forming said spiral seamed conduit (5); wherein said forming head (4,4) is provided with one or more forming elements (7,9) arranged and configured so to define a substantially polygonal shape for the section of said spiral conduit (5) during the drive in rotation of said metallic strip (2); wherein said lock-seaming device (6) is configured to move along a seaming direction (G) so to lock said two portions along a side of said conduit (5); and wherein said apparatus (1) further comprises means configured to move the forming head (4,4) according to a plurality of axes.

The present invention also relates to a process for forming in continuous a spiral conduit (5) having a substantially polygonal section and a spiral conduit (5) having a substantially polygonal section and four flat sides.

Tube forming methods can be used for efficient transition in the production of tubes having varying thickness. Material used to form consecutive tubes may have the same thickness along a separation plane separating a first discrete section from a second discrete section of the material, and the first discrete section and the second discrete section may each have varying thickness in a feed direction of the material. With such a thickness profile, the first discrete section of the material may be formed into a first cylinder having varying thickness and separated from the second discrete portion as the second discrete section is formed into a second cylinder having varying thickness. In particular, the transition between the first cylinder and the second cylinder may be achieved without scrap and/or interruption, resulting in cost-savings and improvements in production throughput associated with forming tubes having varying thickness.