Device and method for manufacturing soft metal tube

Abstract

Firstly, a heat transfer tube, in which grooves are formed on its inside surface in groove working step ( 1 ) and then its forming is applied in forming step ( 2 ), is softened in annealing step ( 3 ). Then, the tube is coiled in line in coiling in-line step ( 4 ). Here, while supplied in the length direction, the heat transfer tube is heated and cooled in the annealing step ( 3 ). Further, in the coiling in-line step ( 4 ), the heat transfer tube is coiled in line on a body of bobbin, so that works of installing the heat transfer tube to the bobbin can be simplified.

1 . A method for manufacturing a soft metal tube, comprising: 
 working step ( 1 ) of working a soft metal plate with hardening of the soft metal plate;    forming step ( 2 ) of forming the metal plate worked in said working step ( 1 ) into a metal tube (B);    annealing step ( 3 ) of annealing and softening the metal tube (B) that is hardened in said working step ( 1 ) and formed in said forming step ( 2 ); and    coiling in-line step ( 4 ) of coiling the metal tube (B) softened in said annealing step ( 3 ) in line.    
     
     
         2 . The method for manufacturing a soft metal tube of  claim 1 , wherein said working step ( 1 ) comprises rolling to harden the metal plate.  
     
     
         3 . The method for manufacturing a soft metal tube of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said annealing step ( 3 ) comprises step of annealing every portions of the metal tube (B) one by one and continuously while the metal tube (B) is supplied in the length direction; and    said coiling in-line step ( 4 ) comprises step of coiling the metal tube (B) in line successively while the metal tube (B) is carried out form said annealing step ( 3 ).    
     
     
         4 . The method for manufacturing a soft metal tube of  claim 1 , wherein said metal tube (B) is carried out in a state where it is coiled in line on a bobbin for carrying out (C), and the metal tube (B) is coiled in line on the bobbin for carrying out (C) in said coiling in-line step ( 4 ).  
     
     
         5 . The method for manufacturing a soft metal tube of  claim 4 , wherein said bobbin for carrying out (C) comprises a body (C 1 ) on which the metal tube (B) is coiled and a flange (C 2 ) which is attached to at least one end of the body (C 1 ), and the metal tube (B) is coiled in line on the body (C 1 ) and the flange (C 2 ) is attached to the body (C 1 ) with the metal tube (B) coiled in line in said coiling in-line step ( 4 ).  
     
     
         6 . The method for manufacturing a soft metal tube of any of claims  1 - 5 , wherein said metal tube (B) is a heat transfer tube with its inside surface having plural lines of grooves for a heat exchanger and said metal plate is a copper plate, said woring step ( 1 ) comprises step of forming plural lines of grooves on one surface of the copper plate by rolling, and said forming step ( 2 ) comprises step of forming the copper plate into the heat transfer tube (B) for the heat exchanger in such a manner that the grooves are located on an inside surface of the tube.  
     
     
         7 . A device for manufacturing a soft metal tube, comprising: 
 working means ( 11 ) for working a soft metal plate with hardening of the soft metal plate;    forming means ( 12 ) for forming the metal plate worked in said working means ( 11 ) into a metal tube (B);    annealing means ( 13 ) for annealing and softening the metal tube (B) that is hardened in said working means ( 11 ) and formed in said forming means ( 12 ); and    coiling in-line means ( 14 ) for coiling the metal tube (B) softened in said annealing means ( 13 ) in line.    
     
     
         8 . The device for manufacturing a soft metal tube of  claim 7 , wherein said working means ( 11 ) rolls the metal plate accompanying hardening of the metal plate.  
     
     
         9 . The device for manufacturing a soft metal tube of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said annealing means ( 13 ) comprises means for annealing every portions of the metal tube (B) one by one and continuously while the metal tube (B) is supplied in the length direction; and    said coiling in-line means ( 14 ) comprises means for coiling the metal tube (B) in line successively while the metal tube (B) is carried out from said annealing means ( 13 ).    
     
     
         10 . The device for manufacturing a soft metal tube of  claim 9 , wherein said annealing means ( 13 ) comprises a heating furnace ( 13   a ), through which the metal tube (B) can pass in the length direction, and a cooling furnace ( 13   b ) coupled to the heating furnace ( 13   a ) at its exit side, through which the metal tube (B) coming out from the heating furnace ( 13   a ) can pass in the length direction, and every portions of the metal tube (B) in the length direction passing through are heated in the heating furnace ( 13   a ) and then cooled in the cooling furnace ( 13   b ), one by one and continuously, respectively.  
     
     
         11 . The device for manufacturing a soft metal tube of  claim 7 , wherein said metal tube (B) is carried out in a state where it is coiled in line on a bobbin for carrying out (C), and said coiling in-line means ( 14 ) coils the metal tube (B) in line on the bobbin for carrying out (C).  
     
     
         12 . The device for manufacturing a soft metal tube of any of claims  7 - 11 , wherein said metal tube (B) is a heat transfer tube with its inside surface having plural lines of grooves for a heat exchanger and said metal plate is a copper plate, said working means ( 11 ) forms plural lines of grooves on one surface of the copper plate by rolling, and said forming means ( 12 ) forms the copper plate into the heat transfer tube (B) for the heat exchanger in such a manner that the grooves are located on an inside surface of the tube.