Swaging machine for swaging large tubes

Abstract

First and second gripping heads consisting of a manipulator and a holder-up, respectively, are disposed on opposite sides of a swaging box. First and second sleeves are rotatably mounted in said first and second gripping heads, respectively and aligned on a horizontal axis which extends through said swaging box. A mandrel is non-rotatably and axially immovably mounted in said first sleeve and adapted to carry a tubular workpiece surrounding said mandrel. First and second abutments are carried by said first and second gripping sleeves, respectively, and have first and second annular gripping surfaces, respectively. Axial drive means serve to move said first gripping head along said horizontal axis toward said swaging box and to simultaneously move said second gripping head in the same direction. Control means serve to sense the magnitude of said gripping force exerted by said abutments with said first and second annular gripping surfaces and to detect any deviation of said magnitude from a set value and for controlling the movement of said second gripping head relative to said first gripping head along said horizontal axis in dependence on such deviation as said first and second gripping heads are simultaneously moved along said horizontal axis in said direction.