Patent ID: 7600406

Claim:
Apparatus for adjusting the dimensions of a tube by rolling comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rollers, each roller comprising a first end and a second end; a supporting cylinder comprising a first end flange and a second end flange, at least one of the end flanges being rotationally displaceable in the supporting cylinder; the first end flange and second end flange defining a plurality of support apertures, the ends of the rollers supported in the support apertures; the first ends of the rollers positioned on a pitch circle and the second ends of the rollers positioned on a pitch circle of equal diameter, so that the plurality of rollers form a parallel-cylindrical array; the first end flange defining a first tube-pass aperture and the second end flange defining a second tube-pass aperture, so that the first and second tube-pass apertures permit the tube to advance through the parallel-cylindrical array of rollers; means for adjusting the position of at least one of the end flanges of the supporting cylinder, so that the parallel-cylindrical array is skewed; a motor to rotate the supporting cylinder, so that the rollers apply force to the external surface of the tube; a mounting flange comprising a mounting flange bearing, the mounting flange bearing holding the supporting cylinder, wherein the mounting flange and motor are attached to a moving frame; means for sensing at least one of a straightness of the tube and a finished diameter of the tube; and means for controlling the speed of rotation of the rollers in relation to the linear speed of the advancing tube.