Method and device for separating wound tubes having welded parts

Abstract

A method and a device for separating a wound tube (1) which includes interlocking windings (11, 12, 13, 14) of a metal strip (2) are provided, the wound tube (1) is welded in a predetermined axial region (10) and is then severed within the region (10) in a radial plane (6). The method furthermore defines that the wound tube (1) is axially compressed in the predetermined region prior to welding, such that the windings (11, 12, 13, 14) bear against one another in the region (10), and the welding is carried out along a predetermined number of turns (11, 12) in the region (10).

Claims

1. A method for severing a wound tube (1) comprising mutually engaging windings (11, 12, 13, 14) of a metal strip (2), axially compressing the wound tube (1) to be welded in a defined axial region (10) prior to welding, welding the wound tube in the defined axial region that is axially compressed, and then severing the wound tube within the defined axial region (10) in a radial plane (6), wherein the wound tube (1) is axially compressed in the defined axial region prior to welding so that in the defined axial region (10) a contacting of the windings (11, 12, 13, 14) with each other occurs, and the welding is performed along a defined number of the windings (11, 12) in the defined axial region (10).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defined number is greater than or equal to 2.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the welding occurs as a temporary connection or as a continuous welding seam next to a groove or fillet (5) formed in an area of the windings (11, 12, 13, 14).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the welding is performed with the use of a first laser beam.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the severing is performed with the use of a second laser beam or via a mechanical cutter.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising moving the wound tube (1) in reference to at least one of the first laser beam or the second laser beam.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising moving at least one of the first laser beam or the second laser beam in reference to the wound tube (1).

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising positioning at least one of the first laser beam or the second laser beam or the wound tube (1) automatically in reference to each other, using an optic device.

9. The method according to claim 5, further comprising at least one of the first laser beam or the second laser beam automatically follows the windings (11, 12) to be welded using geometric information concerning a winding profile of the wound tube (1).

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising determining the geometric information using at least one of a camera, a touch sensor, or based on specification data of the wound tube (1).

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising clamping the wound tube at two edges of the predetermined axial region (10) in order to be compressed.

12. A wound tube (1) produced according to the method of claim 1.

13. A device for severing a wound tube (1), comprising mutually engaging windings (11, 12, 13, 14) of a metal strip (2), including: a laser welder configured to weld the wound tube (1) in a defined axial region (10) along a defined number of the windings (11, 12) and a laser or mechanical cutter that is adapted to sever the wound tube (1) within the defined axial region (10) in a radial plane (6), a clamp that is adapted to axially compress the wound tube (1) in the defined axial region (10) such that the windings (11, 12, 13, 14) come to contact each other in the region (10).

14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising at least one of a sensor or camera that guides the welding laser to follow in reference to the wound tube (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Additional features and advantages of the present invention are discernible from the following description of exemplary embodiments based on the drawing; shown are:

(2) FIG. 1 the use of the method according to the invention based on the example of a wound tube with a hooked profile (LIH-liner); and

(3) FIG. 2 the use of the method according to the invention based on the example of a wound tube with a crimped profile (Agrafe-profile, so-called LIS-liner).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) FIG. 1 shows the use of the method according to the invention based on the example of a wound tube 1, with its casing 3 being formed by a spirally wound metal strip 2. In the following, a single complete rotation of the metal strip 2 about the axis 4 of the wound tube 1 is called a winding. FIG. 1 shows the windings 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Here, the first winding 11 (virtually) begins at the point 7 and ends at the point 8. The second winding 12 begins at the point 8 and ends at the point 9, etc. The metal strip 2 and/or the windings define a fillet 5 (in the present case also called groove), which also extends spirally on and/or in the casing 3. The connection of the metal strip 2 at its edges is realized by a loose interlocking of the neighboring windings with each other (so-called LIH-liner). Due to the fact that the connection is relatively loosely, the groove 5 is variable in its width over the casing 2.

(5) For severing the wound tube 1 to a desired length, according to the invention the wound tube 1 is clamped at both sides of the axial point 6 at which the severing shall occur. Then the axial region 10 between the points, at which the wound tube 1 is clamped, is impinged with an axially acting force F and compressed to block so that in this region 10 a defined contacting of the individual windings 11, 12, 13, 14 with each other occurs, resulting in the helically extending groove 5 to be minimal and constant with regards to its width and subsequently it can be easily welded with good quality.

(6) A welding laser is appropriately positioned for the welding process, namely manually or preferably automatically, for example with the use of a camera or the like. Then, following the pitch of the helical groove 5 in the compressed region 10 of the wound tube 1, the laser follows this path and here welds it (temporarily). Here a relative motion occurs between the wound tube and the laser. Thus, either the tube can be moved in reference to the stationary laser or the laser can be moved in reference to the stationary wound tube. Of course, both the laser as well as the wound tube 1 may be moved.

(7) Due to the fact that the tubular geometry is known, a theoretic angle of the pitch can be assumed for the relative motion of the wound tube and the laser and considered by the control technology. The data of the wound tube 1 can respectively be obtained from an electronically saved database. It is also possible to detect the progression of the groove 5 via a camera or the like, optically or via tactile sensors, in order to ensure that the welding seam precisely develops in the groove (in the fillet), as shown in FIG. 1.

(8) It has shown particularly beneficial and sufficient to weld the groove 5 over two windings 11, 12, and to sever the wound tube 1 in the middle 6 of the two windings 11, 12 (in reference to the axial direction). Then a sufficiently long region 10 develops with a precisely defined and homogenous groove 5, and a clean subsequent severing is possible without any projecting ends. At both ends of the severing line securely fixed tubular ends remain, which cannot unwind.

(9) The welding of the two windings 11, 12 is advantageously performed via two laser beams, arranged axially off-set in reference to each other, so that every laser beam only travels on the length of one winding 11 and/or 12 and welds, which speeds up the processing.

(10) Based on the compression of the wound tube 1 that has occurred, it results that relatively much material is available for the welding process in the groove 5 in the region 10. This relates particularly to the hooked profile; the crimped profile (Agrafe profile) cannot be completely nested, for geometric reasons. However, the above-mentioned effect still develops here, as well.

(11) Finally, the wound tube 1 is severed at the predetermined point in the radial plane extending through the center 6 (thus perpendicular in reference to the casing 3 and also perpendicular in reference to the axis 4 of the wound tube 1). The severing occurs advantageously via a laser. Advantageously a second laser beam is used for this purpose. However, the scope of the invention also includes using the very same laser or laser beam (with an appropriate adjustment of the power) first for welding together the windings and subsequently for severing the tube.

(12) With regards to the type of welding seam, this may be embodied as a punctual connection, as already mentioned, or also as a continuous welding seam.

(13) FIG. 2 shows the use of the method according to the invention based on the example of a winding tube 1 with a crimped profile (Agrafe-profile, so-called US-liner). The method is similar to the one described in connection with FIG. 1, with the difference here being the fact that the welding variant next to the flute was used.

(14) The device according to the invention for severing a wound tube according to the method described here is equipped as follows. Means are provided for welding the wound tube in a predetermined axial region along a predetermined number of windings. These means include preferably two lasers. These lasers are arranged axially off set from each other (in reference to the wound tube to be severed), namely by the difference of one convolution of one winding of the wound tube 1 to be severed. However the scope of the invention also includes using only one laser, which then welds successively preferably two windings of the wound tube 1 to each other, after they had been compressed to block.

(15) Further, means are provided for severing the wound tube within the predetermined region in a radial plane. These means include another laser device, which may represent the same laser device which was used for welding the windings. Here, clamping means are provided for the axial compression of the wound tube in the above-mentioned region, which engage this wound tube and compress it to block such that in this region the individual windings come to contact each other.

(16) Furthermore, means are provided for moving the wound tube in reference to the welding means. Alternatively these means may also be embodied such that they move the welding means in reference to the wound tube.

(17) Furthermore, other means are provided which are embodied for positioning the welding means in reference to the wound tube. These means serve to find the starting position on the wound tube, from which point on the welding of the groove is being performed. The means may comprise one or more cameras or the like, which provide images of the wound tube to an evaluation and control unit, which controls and monitors the function of the entire equipment.

(18) The cameras may support the guidance of the welding means along the groove to be welded. From the images of the camera then information is determined regarding the progression of the groove on the circumference of the wound tube. If necessary, information may also be determined regarding the type of connection, thus the winding profile.

(19) Alternatively or additionally, here tactile sensors may also be provided by which the progression of the groove is scanned. These sensors may also forward the determined data to the evaluation and control unit.

(20) Also alternatively or additionally, the information regarding the type and progression of the groove may be obtained by accessing an electronically saved data collection which includes the specifications of the wound tube to be severed. This data collection may be provided in the form of a database, for example provided by the manufacturer of the wound tube and accessed by the evaluation and control unit. Then the control of the welding means can occur in a purely calculated fashion, thus without any optic or mechanical scanning of the actual wound tube to be severed. The entire device acts in the manner described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(21) 1 Wound tube 2 Metal strip 3 Casing 4 Axis of the wound tube 5 Fillet, groove 6 Center of the region, severing site, radial plane 7 Point (start/end of the winding) 8 Point (start/end of the winding) 9 Point (start/end of the winding) 10 Axial region of the wound tube 11 Winding 12 Winding 13 Winding 14 Winding F Force