Patent ID: 6935152
Filing Date: 2005-08-30
Classification: B21D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for forming a circumferential groove in a pipe, said apparatus comprising: an expandible die having a plurality of segments positioned around a center axis, said segments being movable radially outwardly to engage an inner surface of said pipe for holding said pipe, said segments being movable radially inwardly away from said inner surface to release said pipe; a grooving roller having a circumferential groove forming surface engageable with said pipe, said grooving roller being rotatable about an axis of rotation oriented substantially parallel to said long axis of said pipe and being movable around the circumference of said pipe, said segments of said expandible die each have a groove therein facing the inner surface of said pipe, said grooves being aligned with one another circumferentially around said die, said grooves being further substantially aligned with said groove forming surface of said grooving roller and receiving material displaced from said pipe when said circumferential groove is formed therein; an actuator linked with said grooving roller for forcibly engaging said groove forming surface with said pipe when said grooving roller moves around the circumference of said pipe; a carriage mounted on said expandible die and rotatable about said center axis; an arm having one end pivotally attached to said carriage and extending outwardly therefrom transversely to said center axis, said grooving roller being rotatably mounted on said arm, said arm being pivotally movable toward and away from said expandible die, said actuator being mounted on said carriage and engaging another end of said arm for pivotally moving said arm toward and away from said expandible die, said actuator being adapted to forcibly move said circumferential groove forming surface into engagement with said pipe when said pipe is held by said expandible die, said carriage, arm, actuator and grooving roller being rotatable about said pipe to form said circumferential groove therein; and means for moving said grooving roller around said pipe.