Patent ID: 6572358
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: B21J,B29C,Y10S

Abstract:
A die assembly for forming a bead on a cylindrical tube comprising:a holder, which secures the tube against axial movement and so that a portion of the tube protrudes outwardly from said holder along a predetermined axis, said holder having a first forming surface circumscribing said tube; a first die part; a cylindrical mandrel mounted on said first die part, said mandrel having an outside diameter substantially the same as an inside diameter of the tube, said mandrel being aligned with said predetermined axis and slidably receivable into said outwardly protruding portion of the tube; a tubular cylindrical sleeve mounted to said first die part so that said sleeve is coaxial with said mandrel, said sleeve having an inside diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter of the tube and a predetermined outer periphery, said sleeve having a second forming surface coaxially formed around a free end of said sleeve, a second die part having a throughbore complementary in size and shape to said sleeve outer periphery, said second die part being slidably mounted to said first die part along said predetermined axis and movable between an extended position in which said sleeve is aligned with said second die part throughbore and a retracted position in which said sleeve extends at least partially into said second die part throughbore; a spring, which resiliently urges said second die part towards said extended position; and means for moving said holder relative to said first die part along said predetermined axis between a first position in which said second die part is in said extended position, and a second position in which said second die part is in said retracted position to thereby form the bead between said first forming surface and said second forming surface.