GB2076925A

GB2076925A - Joining tubular members

Info

Publication number: GB2076925A
Application number: GB8108311A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: STEPHENS and CARTER Ltd
Current assignee: STEPHENS and CARTER Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-21
Filing date: 1981-03-17
Publication date: 1981-12-09
Also published as: GB2076925B

Abstract

A method of joining together two tubular metal members (11 and 12) which includes forming opposed slots (13) in one end of one member (11) of the two members to form two prongs or fingers (15), and flattening and curling or otherwise shaping the prongs or fingers (15) to form an integral sleeve or socket having an axis at an angle with respect to the axis of the said one member (11) and receiving the other member (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Joining tubular members This invention relates to a method of joining together two tubular members with their axes at an angle (usually a right-angle) with respect to each other, and to a joint when formed by such a method.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for this purpose, by means of which a joint of appropriate strength may be produced with relative simplicity.

The present invention consists in a method of joining together two tubular metal members which includes forming opposed slots in one end of one of the members to form two prongs or fingers, and flattening and curling or otherwise shaping the prongs or fingers to form an integral sleeve or socket having an axis at an angle with respect to the axis of the said one member and receiving the other member.

The invention also consists in a tubular member joint when formed by the method as set forth in the preceding paragraph.

In the accompanying drawings: Figures 1 to 4 show four successive stages in forming a joint according to the present invention.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode by way of example, Figure 1 shows the first stage in joining together two tubular metal members 11 and 12 of the same diameter and wall thickness in which the end of one of the members, indicated as member 11, is bifurcated by the formation of two diametrically opposed slots 13 in the end of the member 11 thus leaving two prongs or fingers 15 of part-circular cross-section. The inner end of each slot 13 is enlarged as at 14to give the slot 13 a generally keyhole-shaped appearance.

In the next stage, as shown in Figure 2, the two prongs or fingers 15 are flattened so that their inner surfaces are spaced apart by a distance equal to the external diameter of other tubular member 12 and parallel to the plane passing through the centre lines 16 of both slots. The portion of the member 11 lying between the inner end of slot 13 and line 18 is also deformed by curling it outwardly as best seen in Figure 4 at 19.

Figure 3 shows one of the flattened prongs or fingers curled into part-cyiindrical form, and the other flattened prong or finger is then similarly curled until the ends of the two prongs or fingers abut or overlap and there is thus produced a cylindrical sleeve or socket integral with member 11 and having an internal diameter equal to the external diameter of the other member 12. The length of slot 13 is chosen so as to facilitate this result.

As shown in Figure 4, the other member 12 is then inserted into this sleeve and secured by welding or spot welding as at 17, the abutting or overlapping ends of the two prongs or fingers 15 also being welded together. Alternatively or additionally, the member 12 may be secured in the sleeve or socket by adhesive and/or rivets.

Although the two members 11 and 12 have been shown as having equal diameters and wall thicknesses and are joined at right angles, it will be appreciated that two members of different diameters and orthicknesses may be joined in similar manner at right angles or some other desired angle. Furthermore, one or both of the members 11 and 12 may be of non-circular cross-section. It will be appreciated that the shape of slot 13 must be chosen so as to lead to a socket or sleeve of suitable configuration.

When constructing a framework of tubular members, the members 11 and 12 may both constitute main members of the framework, but alternatively the member 11 and/or one or both ends of member 12 may each constitute a short spigot or sleeve intended to fit inside or outside a main member of the framework.

1. A method of joining together two tubular metal members which includes forming opposed slots in one end of one of the two members to form two prongs or fingers, and flattening and curling or otherwise shaping the prongs or fingers to form an integral sleeve or socket having an axis at an angle with respect to the axis of the said one member and receiving the other member.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the two members are joined together with their axes at right angles to each other.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the two members are of circular cross-section.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the two members have the same shape and size in cross-section.

5. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the two members are secured together by welding or spot welding.

6. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the ends of the prongs or fingers overlap after formation of the sleeve or socket.

7. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein portions of the said one member lying inwardly of the inner ends of the slots are deformed outwardly.

8. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the said one member and/or one or both ends of the other member is arranged to serve as a spigot or sleeve intended to fit a member of a framework.

9. A method of joining together two tubular metal members, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A tubular member joint when formed by a method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Joining tubular members This invention relates to a method of joining together two tubular members with their axes at an angle (usually a right-angle) with respect to each other, and to a joint when formed by such a method. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for this purpose, by means of which a joint of appropriate strength may be produced with relative simplicity. The present invention consists in a method of joining together two tubular metal members which includes forming opposed slots in one end of one of the members to form two prongs or fingers, and flattening and curling or otherwise shaping the prongs or fingers to form an integral sleeve or socket having an axis at an angle with respect to the axis of the said one member and receiving the other member. The invention also consists in a tubular member joint when formed by the method as set forth in the preceding paragraph. In the accompanying drawings: Figures 1 to 4 show four successive stages in forming a joint according to the present invention. In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode by way of example, Figure 1 shows the first stage in joining together two tubular metal members 11 and 12 of the same diameter and wall thickness in which the end of one of the members, indicated as member 11, is bifurcated by the formation of two diametrically opposed slots 13 in the end of the member 11 thus leaving two prongs or fingers 15 of part-circular cross-section. The inner end of each slot 13 is enlarged as at 14to give the slot 13 a generally keyhole-shaped appearance. In the next stage, as shown in Figure 2, the two prongs or fingers 15 are flattened so that their inner surfaces are spaced apart by a distance equal to the external diameter of other tubular member 12 and parallel to the plane passing through the centre lines 16 of both slots. The portion of the member 11 lying between the inner end of slot 13 and line 18 is also deformed by curling it outwardly as best seen in Figure 4 at 19. Figure 3 shows one of the flattened prongs or fingers curled into part-cyiindrical form, and the other flattened prong or finger is then similarly curled until the ends of the two prongs or fingers abut or overlap and there is thus produced a cylindrical sleeve or socket integral with member 11 and having an internal diameter equal to the external diameter of the other member 12. The length of slot 13 is chosen so as to facilitate this result. As shown in Figure 4, the other member 12 is then inserted into this sleeve and secured by welding or spot welding as at 17, the abutting or overlapping ends of the two prongs or fingers 15 also being welded together. Alternatively or additionally, the member 12 may be secured in the sleeve or socket by adhesive and/or rivets. Although the two members 11 and 12 have been shown as having equal diameters and wall thicknesses and are joined at right angles, it will be appreciated that two members of different diameters and orthicknesses may be joined in similar manner at right angles or some other desired angle. Furthermore, one or both of the members 11 and 12 may be of non-circular cross-section. It will be appreciated that the shape of slot 13 must be chosen so as to lead to a socket or sleeve of suitable configuration. When constructing a framework of tubular members, the members 11 and 12 may both constitute main members of the framework, but alternatively the member 11 and/or one or both ends of member 12 may each constitute a short spigot or sleeve intended to fit inside or outside a main member of the framework. CLAIMS