Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Maurice L Caudill

Dennis L Blunier

Phillip J Shankwitz

Paul D Andreson

Joel C Schweisberger

Richard R Kazmierzak

Richard E Couch

Ronald C Bowar

Kevin M Jacobs

Dwight E Aussieker

Merle D Lee

A zone heating device has first and second spaced burners for heating first and second spaced sides of a metal plate during forming of a thickened edge along the edge of the metal plate. The first and second burners are elevationally movable by an actuator between first and second spaced transverse positions relative to the sides of the metal plate. An actuator moves the zone heating device along a trackway in directions transverse the plate edge. A fixed guide under the bias of the actuator engages the edge of the metal plate and maintains the first and second burners at a predetermined location relative to the plate edge. A movable guide maintains the first and second burners at another preselected location relative to the plate edge. A control device controls movement of the first and second burners, the zone heating device, and the movable guide in response to preprogrammed instructions. The zone heating device is particularly suited for use on a forming apparatus.

Zone heating apparatus

In conventional fabrication manufacture the thickness of the steel plates are often determined by the metal section required at the weld joints. The subject apparatus and method overcomes this problem by selectively forming a thickened edge along the edge of a thinner steel plate which can now be limited to the thickness required to withstand the stresses on the fabrication. The thickened edge is produced by passing a plate supported on a table through a forming apparatus having a forming roller. The table is movable in an oblique direction relative to the plate so that the shape of the thickened edge may be varied. The forming apparatus and table are automatically controlled to produce a thickened edge of a desired shape intermittently or continuously along a linear or non-linear edge of the plate.

Apparatus and method for selectively forming a thickened edge on a plate

In conventional fabrication manufacture the thickness of the steel plates are often determined by the metal section required at the weld joints. The subject apparatus and method overcomes this problem by selectively forming a thickened edge along the edge of a thinner steel plate which can now be limited to the thickness required to withstand the stresses on the fabrication. The thickened edge is produced by forcing a plate supported by a table, by passing the plate through a forming apparatus comprised of a combination of rollers. The forming apparatus and table are automatically controlled to produce a thickened edge of constant shape along a non-linear edge of the plate.

A tube assembly is formed by placing a sleeve member over an end portion of a tube and then placing the tube and sleeve in a die. A movable punch is then pressed against a projecting end portion of the tube thereby forming a radially extending double upset flange integrally with the sleeve member. The sleeve member has contact surfaces against which a substantial portion of the radially extending double upset flange conforms. A portion of the outer surface of the tube, and the entire surface of a compound curved fillet extending from the outer surface of the tube to a radially outwardly extending surface of the flange also conform to the sleeve member.

Method of forming a double upset tube assembly

A method of joining a tube to a flange or wall member includes the steps of moving a plurality of circumferentially spaced workpiece contact surfaces into controlled pressure contact with the inner surface of a tube and maintaining a force against the inner tube surface sufficient to form an outer surface of the tube to a predetermined shape with respect to an opening surrounding the tube. The apparatus for expanding the tube has a plurality of radially movable segments, each of which have a pair of circumferentially offset and longitudinally spaced workpiece contact surfaces disposed thereon. The method and apparatus advantageously expands a tube by an amount sufficient to form a secure mechanical joint with a flange or wall member irrespective of nominal variations in the tube diameter and wall thickness. Furthermore, the method and apparatus form a uniformly smooth finish on the internal surface of the tube thereby eliminating the need for post-forming treatments to remove undesirable surface particles.

Method and apparatus for tube expansion

A vacuum induction furnace including a crucible, a gas-impervious vessel at least partially surrounding the crucible and including sealable means for obtaining access to the crucible, an electrical current-carrying coil assembly surrounding the remainder of the crucible and sealed to the vessel, the coil assembly having coolant-carrying passages and an interior surface confronting the crucible. The surface is defined by plural interfaces of electrically conducting coils and interposed electrical insulators spacing the coils and having irregularities therein. A seal seals the interior surface of the assembly and includes a layer of gas-impervious, elastomeric material reinforced by a nonelectrically conducting reinforcing matrix embedded in the layer, the elastomeric material of the layer being bonded to the coils and insulators and filling the irregularities therein. A layer of heat insulating material is interposed between the crucible and the seal. Also disclosed is a method of sealing the coil assembly.

Method of sealing a vacuum induction furnace

A foundry ladle including a ladle vessel having a cavity, a layer of crushable insulating material lining the cavity, the layer having perforations extending therethrough, and a layer of castable refractory material lining the insulating material, the refractory material extending through the perforations into load supporting contact with the vessel. Also disclosed is a method of forming a foundry ladle.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Maurice L Caudill