The disclosure relates to a method for pre-shaping sheet metal (1) in strip- or panel-form having a flat cross-sectional profile into a circular arc-shaped cross-sectional profile, in a pre-shaping section (3) of a plant for producing open-seam pipes. The circular arc-shaped cross-sectional profile is provided to the sheet metal (1) in the pre-shaping section (3) by means of roll profiling in a plurality of successive bending steps in a transport direction. The cross-sectional profile is created by step-by-step bending of individual circular arc portions (8) from an outer edge of the sheet metal (1) toward a center line (7) such that the individual circular arc portions (8) directly adjoin one another or at least partially overlap. The disclosure further relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Disclosed herein are systems and method for forming a final hollow body from a metal strip. A forming system may include a forming station, a joining station, an inline heater, and a hydroforming station. Forming the final hollow body from the metal strip may include receiving the metal strip at the forming station and bending the metal strip to a desired cross-section with the forming station and such that longitudinal edges of the metal strip are abutting. In some aspects, the forming station includes at least one roller. The method may include welding the abutting longitudinal edges together as a seam region via the joining station and to form an intermediate hollow body. The method may include heating the seam region of the intermediate hollow body with the inline heater and hydroforming the intermediate hollow body to the final hollow body with the hydroforming station.

Disclosed herein are systems and method for forming a final hollow body from a metal strip. A forming system may include a forming station, a joining station, an inline heater, and a hydroforming station. Forming the final hollow body from the metal strip may include receiving the metal strip at the forming station and bending the metal strip to a desired cross-section with the forming station and such that longitudinal edges of the metal strip are abutting. In some aspects, the forming station includes at least one roller. The method may include welding the abutting longitudinal edges together as a seam region via the joining station and to form an intermediate hollow body. The method may include heating the seam region of the intermediate hollow body with the inline heater and hydroforming the intermediate hollow body to the final hollow body with the hydroforming station.

The present invention relates to an air conditioner. The air conditioner according to the present embodiment has a refrigeration capacity of 7 kW to 11 kW, inclusive, and uses a refrigerant R134a as a refrigerant, and since a refrigerant pipe therein is made of a ductile stainless steel material having 1% or less of a delta-ferrite matrix structure with respect to the grain size area thereof, and includes a suction pipe guiding the suction of the refrigerant into a compressor and having an outer diameter of 15.88 mm, the refrigerant pipe can maintain strength and hardness as good as or better than those of a copper pipe, while also maintaining good processability.

To manufacture a high-quality welded pipe, there is provided a welded pipe manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a welded pipe by bending a metal plate and welding butting end portions of the metal plate. The welded pipe manufacturing apparatus includes a bending unit that bends the metal plate, a light emitter that emits directional light to an inner surface of the metal plate bent by the bending unit, an image capturing unit that captures light emitted by the light emitter and reflected by a surface of the metal plate, and an adjustment assistance unit that assists adjustment of the bending unit in accordance with a shape of the reflected light.

To manufacture a high-quality welded pipe, there is provided a welded pipe manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a welded pipe by bending a metal plate and welding butting end portions of the metal plate. The welded pipe manufacturing apparatus includes a bending unit that bends the metal plate, a light emitter that emits directional light to an inner surface of the metal plate bent by the bending unit, an image capturing unit that captures light emitted by the light emitter and reflected by a surface of the metal plate, and an adjustment assistance unit that assists adjustment of the bending unit in accordance with a shape of the reflected light.

The invention relates to a method for producing a spindle for a ball screw, including the following steps: introducing, at least in sections, a thread profile into a flat material section, shaping the material section to a hollow cylindrical case, two lateral edges of the hollow cylindrical case abutting each other and the thread profile being oriented radially outwards, connecting the two lateral edges of the hollow cylindrical case, and forming, at least in sections, a supporting structure on a radially inner face of the hollow cylindrical case to finish the spindle. A spindle for a ball screw in hybrid design can thus be manufactured in a simple manner. The spindle can be produced cost-effectively and yet has high wear resistance and excellent mechanical load-bearing capacity as well as light weight. The invention further relates to a spindle manufactured according to the invention, for use in a ball screw.

The invention relates to a method for producing a spindle for a ball screw, including the following steps: introducing, at least in sections, a thread profile into a flat material section, shaping the material section to a hollow cylindrical case, two lateral edges of the hollow cylindrical case abutting each other and the thread profile being oriented radially outwards, connecting the two lateral edges of the hollow cylindrical case, and forming, at least in sections, a supporting structure on a radially inner face of the hollow cylindrical case to finish the spindle. A spindle for a ball screw in hybrid design can thus be manufactured in a simple manner. The spindle can be produced cost-effectively and yet has high wear resistance and excellent mechanical load-bearing capacity as well as light weight. The invention further relates to a spindle manufactured according to the invention, for use in a ball screw.

A roll forming apparatus including a plurality of stations each including and an upper roll and a lower roller, wherein a first number of stations are configured to form a pipe blank into a standing seam, and a second number of stations are configured to angle the seam. At least one station includes elongated top and bottom rollers for clinching the pipe blank during the roll forming process. Each elongated top roller is mounted on a pivotable shaft configured to pivot the elongated top rollers away the pipe blank to allow passage of at least one seam formed in the pipe blank.

A roll forming apparatus including a plurality of stations each including and an upper roll and a lower roller, wherein a first number of stations are configured to form a pipe blank into a standing seam, and a second number of stations are configured to angle the seam. At least one station includes elongated top and bottom rollers for clinching the pipe blank during the roll forming process. Each elongated top roller is mounted on a pivotable shaft configured to pivot the elongated top rollers away the pipe blank to allow passage of at least one seam formed in the pipe blank.