METHOD FOR PRODUCING PIPE MATERIAL AND MANDREL

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a pipe material and to provide a mandrel with which resistance between a member to be processed and the mandrel during bending processing can be reduced and overall processing time can be shortened. The method for producing a pipe material includes: a step for inserting a mandrel, which is provided on the inside thereof with a flow path through which dry ice powder flows and spray holes at the tip thereof for spraying the dry ice powder, inside pipe material; a step for spraying the dry ice powder from the spray holes inside the pipe material; and a step for performing bending processing on the pipe material wherein the mandrel has been inserted.

Claims

1. A method for producing a pipe material, comprising: an insertion step of inserting a mandrel into a pipe material; an injection step of injecting dry ice powder into the pipe material; and a bending processing step of performing bending processing on the pipe material into which the mandrel is inserted.

2. The method for producing a pipe material according to claim 1, wherein in the bending processing step, the dry ice powder is continuously injected.

3. The method for producing a pipe material according to claim 1, further comprising: an injection stop step of stopping injection of the dry ice powder, wherein the insertion step includes a first insertion step of inserting the mandrel up to a portion positioned in front of a processing portion of the pipe material to be subjected to the bending processing, wherein the injection step includes a preceding injection step of injecting the dry ice powder to the processing portion inside the pipe material from the portion positioned in front of the processing portion after the first insertion step, wherein the injection stop step includes a step of stopping the injection of the dry ice powder after the preceding injection step, and wherein the insertion step includes a second insertion step of inserting the mandrel into the processing portion after the injection stop step.

4. The method for producing a pipe material according to claim 1, wherein the mandrel includes a flow path, through which the dry ice powder flows, inside the mandrel, and an injection hole, through which the dry ice powder is injected, on a tip of the mandrel.

5. A mandrel which is inserted into a pipe material when bending processing is performed on the pipe material, comprising: a flow path, through which the dry ice powder flows, inside the mandrel; and an injection hole, through which the dry ice powder is injected, on a tip of the mandrel.

6. The mandrel according to claim 5, wherein a coating portion having sliding properties better than those of a surface of the mandrel is formed on the surface of the mandrel.

7. The mandrel according to claim 5, wherein a porous coating portion is formed on the surface of the mandrel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a state where a mandrel according to a first embodiment of the present invention injects dry ice powder into a pipe material.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 3A is a view showing a state of bending processing of the pipe material in FIG. 1 and shows a state before the bending processing.

[0035] FIG. 3B is a view showing the state of the bending processing of the pipe material in FIG. 1 and shows a state after the bending processing.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a state where a mandrel according to a second embodiment of the present invention holds the dry ice powder inside the pipe material.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

[0038] Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3B.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a mandrel 2 to be inserted into a pipe material 1 is formed of aluminum, bronze, iron or the like and has a substantially cylindrical shape whose outer diameter is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the pipe material 1, and one end which becomes a tip of the mandrel 2 is formed in a hemispherical shape. A flow path 4, through which dry ice powder 3 stored in a dry ice powder storage portion (not shown) flows, is formed inside the mandrel 2. The flow path 4 includes a main flow path 5 which extends from the dry ice powder storage portion to the tip portion of the mandrel 2 approximately in parallel to a surface of the mandrel 2 and two split flow paths 6 which extend to be inclined by approximately 30 with respect to the main flow path 5 from a downstream end of the main flow path 5. Each of the split flow paths 6 linearly extends to the surface of the mandrel 2. An injection hole 7 is formed at a tip portion on the surface of the mandrel 2 which is a downstream end of each split flow path 6. Each injection hole 7 is positioned on a hemispherical portion of the tip of the mandrel 2. In addition, in the present embodiment, the angle between the main flow path 5 and each of the split flow paths 6 is approximately 30. However, the angle between the main flow path 5 and each of the split flow paths 6 is not limited to this. Any angle may be adopted as long as the dry ice powder 3 can be injected, and for example, the angle may be 90. In addition, in the present embodiment, the two injection holes 7 are formed. However, the number of the injection holes 7 may be one, or may be three or more. In addition, a position at which each injection hole 7 is provided may be a base portion side (a side opposite to the tip) from the hemispherical portion of the tip of the mandrel 2.

[0040] Next, a method for processing the pipe material 1 using the above-described mandrel 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3A, and 3B. In addition, for the sake of convenience of descriptions, in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the dry ice powder 3, the flow path 4 inside the mandrel 2, or the like are not shown.

[0041] First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, the mandrel 2 is inserted into the pipe material 1 and the insertion of the mandrel 2 is stopped if the mandrel 2 reaches the processing portion of the pipe material 1. In this case, a clearance of approximately 50 m to 100 m is generated between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 2). Next, the dry ice powder 3 stored in the dry ice powder storage portion flows in an arrow direction of FIG. 1 in the flow path 4 inside the mandrel 2, and the dry ice powder 3 is injected to a portion between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2 from each injection hole 7 formed on the surface of the mandrel 2.

[0042] In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, bending processing is performed on the pipe material 1, to which the mandrel 2 is inserted, using a processing device 9. In this case, the bending processing of the pipe material is performed along the tip portion of the mandrel 2 (refer to FIG. 3B). If the bending processing ends, the injection of the dry ice powder 3 stops, and the mandrel 2 is extracted from the inside of the pipe material 1. In addition, in the present embodiment, the clearance between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2 is set to approximately 50 m to 100 m. However, the length of the clearance between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2 is not limited to this. The length of the clearance may be any length as long as a resistance between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2 can be reduced by the dry ice powder 3, and may be smaller than 50 m or larger than 100 m.

[0043] In addition, in the embodiment, dry ice powder 3 is continuously injected during the bending processing. However, the injection of the dry ice powder 3 may be stopped before the bending processing is performed. That is, after the mandrel 2 is inserted up to the processing portion, the dry ice powder 3 is injected. In addition, after a predetermined amount of dry ice powder 3 is injected, the injection of the dry ice powder 3 stops, and the bending processing may be performed after the injection stops. In addition, the injection of the dry ice powder 3 may be intermittent injection in which the injection and the stop are repeated.

[0044] Next, operational effects of the first embodiment will be described.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the dry ice powder 3 is injected into the pipe material 1 and the bending processing is performed on the pipe material 1. If the dry ice powder 3 is injected into the pipe material 1, the dry ice powder 3 adheres to the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2, and a film of the dry ice powder 3 is formed. Accordingly, the resistance generated between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2 during the bending processing is reduced by the dry ice powder 3, and thus, it is possible to prevent distortion or cracking from occurring in the processing portion due to a friction between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2.

[0046] In addition, a bending processing portion of the pipe material 1 generates heat by plastic deformation of the pipe material 1 during the bending processing.

[0047] However, the film of the dry ice powder 3 is formed inside the pipe material 1, and thus, the dry ice powder 3 absorbs the generated heat to suppress an increase in temperature of the processing portion. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent burning of the inner surface of the pipe material 1 caused by the heat generated by the plastic deformation.

[0048] In addition, the dry ice powder 3 is easily vaporized, and thus, the dry ice powder 3 is vaporized inside the pipe material 1 after the bending processing. Accordingly, a liquid or solid residue is not generated in the pipe material 1, a step of removing a lubricant from the inside of the pipe material 1 after the bending processing can be omitted, and thus, overall processing time can be shortened.

[0049] In addition, the dry ice powder 3 is injected to the processing portion, and even in a case where foreign materials such as chips are present in the processing portion in the pipe material 1, the foreign materials can be removed from the processing portion by the injection of the dry ice powder 3. Accordingly, even in a case where the foreign materials or the like are mixed in the pipe material 1, it is not necessary to wash the inside of the pipe material 1, and a step of removing the foreign materials can be omitted.

[0050] In addition, the dry ice powder 3 is continuously injected during the bending processing, and thus, the dry ice powder 3 is always supplied to the bending processing portion during the bending processing. Accordingly, the heat of the bending processing portion generated during the bending processing is reliably absorbed by the dry ice powder 3, and thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the burning of the processing portion.

[0051] In addition, in the present embodiment, the mandrel has a function to inject the dry ice powder 3.

[0052] Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide means for injecting the dry ice powder 3 separately from the mandrel 2. Therefore, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the dry ice powder 3 is cheaply injected into the pipe material simply.

[0053] A modification example of the method for processing the pipe material 1 using the above-described mandrel 2 will be described. Compared to the first embodiment, in the present modification example, a timing when the mandrel 2 inserted into the pipe material 1 injects the dry ice powder 3 and a time when the injection of the dry ice powder 3 stops are different. Hereinafter, in the modification example, portions common to those of the first embodiment are not described.

[0054] First, if the mandrel 2 is inserted into the pipe material 1 and the mandrel 2 reaches a portion positioned in front of the processing portion of the pipe material 1, the insertion of the mandrel 2 stops. Next, the dry ice powder 3 is injected from the mandrel 2. If a predetermined amount of dry ice powder 3 is injected, the injection of the dry ice powder 3 stops. In addition, the insertion of the mandrel 2 starts, the mandrel 2 is inserted up to the processing portion of the pipe material 1, and the bending processing is performed on the pipe material 1. If the bending processing ends, the mandrel 2 is extracted from the inside of the pipe material 1.

[0055] Next, operation effects of the modification example will be described.

[0056] In the modification example, the insertion of the mandrel 2 is stopped in front of the processing portion, the dry ice powder 3 is injected to the processing portion, the injection of dry ice powder 3 is stopped, and thereafter, the mandrel 2 is inserted into the processing portion. Accordingly, after a layer of the dry ice powder is reliably formed on the inner surface of the pipe material 1 of the processing portion, the mandrel 2 can be inserted into the processing portion. Accordingly, the resistance generated between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2 during the bending processing is appropriately reduced by the dry ice powder 3, and thus, it is possible to prevent distortion or cracking from occurring in a processing portion due to the friction between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2.

[0057] In addition, the bending processing is performed after the injection of the dry ice powder 3 is stopped, and thus, a consumption amount of the dry ice powder 3 can be reduced.

Second Embodiment

[0058] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a porous coating portion 8 is formed on the surface of the mandrel 2. Hereinafter, in the second embodiment, portions common to those of the first embodiment are not described. In addition, in FIG. 4, the flow path (refer to FIG. 1) inside the mandrel 2 is not shown.

[0059] In the second embodiment, the coating portion 8 is formed by coating the surface of the mandrel 2 with hard chromium plating. The coating portion 8 has sliding properties better than those of the surface of the mandrel 2. A region in which the coating portion 8 is formed may be the entire region of the mandrel surface and may be a portion thereof. In a case where the coating portion 8 is formed on a portion of the entire region, if the coating portion 8 is formed in a region corresponding to the region of the pipe material 1 in which a surface pressure is generated during the bending processing, it is possible to appropriately reduce the resistance between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2. For example, as the region of the pipe material 1 in which the surface pressure is generated, there are an outer region of the processing portion which is deformed to elongate and an inner region of the processing portion which is deformed to shrink when the bending processing is performed. In addition, in FIG. 4, the coating portion 8 is formed with a recessed portion and a protruding portion in a porous manner, that is, is formed in a porous shape.

[0060] In addition, in the present embodiment, the coating portion 8 is formed by applying the hard chrome plating on the mandrel. However, it is not necessary to form the coating portion 8 by the hard chrome plating. For example, the coating portion 8 may be formed by chrome plating.

[0061] In addition to the plating film, the coating on the mandrel may be formed by using an individual lubrication film such as a fluororesin (PTFE, PFA, or the like), a nylon resin (MC nylon or the like), a phenolic resin, Diamond Like Carbon (DLC), MoS2, or the like.

[0062] Next, an operational effect of the second embodiment will be described.

[0063] The coating portion 8 having favorable sliding properties is formed on the surface of the mandrel 2, and thus, even when the dry ice powder 3 is not injected and the film of the dry ice powder 3 is not formed on the mandrel 2, the mandrel 2 can have favorable sliding properties. Accordingly, for example, even in situations in which a function for injecting the dry ice powder 3 of the mandrel 2 is failed and the dry ice powder 3 cannot be injected, it is possible to reduce the resistance generated between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2, and it is possible to prevent distortion or cracking from occurring in the processing portion due to the friction between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2.

[0064] The porous coating portion 8 is formed on the surface of the mandrel 2, and thus, the dry ice powder 3 injected from the mandrel 2 is reliably held by the porous coating portion 8 (refer to FIG. 4). Therefore, the film of the dry ice powder 3 is reliably formed on the surface of the mandrel 2, and thus, the resistance generated between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2 is reduced, and it is possible to prevent the distortion or cracking from occurring in the processing portion due to the friction between the inner surface of the pipe material 1 and the surface of the mandrel 2.

[0065] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the inventions according to the above-described first and second embodiments, and can be appropriately changed within a scope which does not depart from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the mandrel 2 inserted into the pipe material 1 and the injection means for injecting the dry ice powder 3 into the pipe material 1 are integrated with each other. However, the mandrel 2 and the injection means may be separately formed from each other.

[0066] In addition, the film of the dry ice powder 3 formed by the injection of the dry ice powder 3 may not be formed in the entire area of the inner surface of pipe material 1 and the surface of mandrel 2. The film of the dry ice powder 3 may be formed only in the region of the pipe material 1 in which the surface pressure is generated during the bending processing and in the region of the mandrel 2 corresponding to the region of the pipe material 1. As described above, for example, as the region in which the surface pressure is generated, there are the outer region of the processing portion which is deformed to elongate and the inner region of the processing portion which is deformed to shrink when the bending processing is performed.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0067] 1: pipe material [0068] 2: mandrel [0069] 3: dry ice powder [0070] 4: flow path [0071] 5: main flow path [0072] 6: split flow path [0073] 7: injection hole [0074] 8: coating portion [0075] 9: processing device