Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a method of press-forming a steel pipe having a
heavy wall thickness and a method of manufacturing a steel pipe by press bending.
Background Art
[0002] As a method of forming a steel pipe having a heavy wall thickness, there has been
known a press forming method which uses upper and lower dies shown in Fig. 3 (also
referred to as "bending press" hereinafter).
[0003] This forming method is for forming a steel plate having a predetermined width and
a predetermined length into a steel pipe having a length direction thereof set as
a pipe axis direction. In the forming method, bending is applied to width edge portions
of the steel plate (hereinafter referred to as "edge crimping") and, subsequently,
bending is applied to the steel plate a plurality of times in the width direction
of the steel plate, thereby forming the steel plate into a cylinder.
[0004] In a main forming step which follows the edge crimping, as shown in Fig. 3, two dies
1a, 1b are adjusted to have a predetermined distance therebetween, a steel plate S
is placed on the dies 1a, 1b, a punch leading end portion 22 which is a leading end
portion of a punch 2 of the upper die is pressed down to a position between two dies
la, 1b, thereby applying bending deformation to the steel plate S. Next, the steel
plate S is moved by a predetermined length in the width direction, and the upper die
is pressed again. This pressing operation is repeated a plurality of times.
[0005] Usually, the steel plate is sequentially formed toward a center portion of the steel
plate in the width direction (C in the drawing) from an edge portion of the steel
plate on one side in the width direction (A in the drawing) thus forming the steel
plate S from the edge portion of the steel plate on one side to a position immediately
in front of the center portion of the steel plate in the width direction (first half
of the step). Thereafter, the steel plate S is sequentially formed from an edge portion
of the steel plate on the other side opposite to one side in the width direction (B
in the drawing), thereby forming the steel plate S from the edge portion of the steel
plate on the other side to the center portion of the steel plate in the width direction
(C in the drawing) (second half of the step). Lastly, the center portion of the steel
plate S in the width direction (C in the drawing) is pressed down (final step). In
this manner, an open seam pipe is manufactured. The open seam pipe is a pipe body
in a state where the plate material is formed into a cylindrical shape, and open seam
edges which face each other in an opposed manner are not welded to each other. In
Fig. 3, a dotted line indicates a position of the steel plate S in a state where the
punch 2 is not brought into contact with the steel plate S. In Fig. 3, table rollers
not shown in the drawing are arranged on left and right sides of the dies 1a, 1b.
The table rollers can support the steel plate S at a point B or a point C as indicated
by a dotted line in a left upper view in Fig. 3, for example, and also can convey
the steel plate S in the left and right directions in the drawing.
[0006] Fig. 4 is a schematic view of an open seam pipe. As shown in Fig. 4, the open seam
pipe 3 is a pipe in a state where a plate material used as a raw material is formed
into a cylindrical shape, and open seam edges 31a, 31b which face each other in an
opposed manner are not welded to each other. A gap g between the open seam edges which
face each other in an opposed manner is a seam gap. The pipe axis direction L of the
open seam pipe 3 is same as the longitudinal direction of a punch.
[0007] Thereafter, the open seam pipe is conveyed in a longitudinal direction of the steel
pipe (the direction perpendicular to a surface of paper on which Fig. 3 is drawn)
so that the open seam pipe is transferred to a next step. To enable such conveyance
of the open seam pipe, after the final pass forming which is the bending of the final
time is finished, the seam gap g of the open seam pipe 3 is required to have a width
larger than a thickness of a punch beam 21 which supports the punch leading end portion
22 of the upper die.
[0008] Then, the open seam pipe 3 is constrained by a pressing-down device such that the
seam gap g of the open seam pipe 3 is closed. The open seam edges which are made to
butt each other are welded to each other by a welder in such a state thus manufacturing
a straight seam welded steel pipe. A cylindrical shape of the welded steel pipe is
modified by applying diameter expanding forming or a diameter shrinking forming to
the welded steel pipe when necessary.
[0009] Adjustment and setting of such press conditions can be performed using a press die
provided with a mechanism for adjusting a gap between dies of a lower die disclosed
in patent literature 1.
Citation List
Patent Literature
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0011] In constraining an open seam pipe by a pressing-down device such that a seam gap
of the open seam pipe is closed and welding open seam edges which are made to butt
each other in such a state by a welder, a constraining force of the pressing-down
device has an upper limit. Accordingly, there is a case that it is impossible to make
open seam edges butt each other by constraining an open seam pipe having an amount
of seam gap equal to or more than a fixed amount determined corresponding to a size
of a steel pipe. As a result, there is a possibility that the open seam edges which
are made to butt each other cannot be also welded to each other.
[0012] Accordingly, at the time of performing the final press in bending press, there has
been a demand for making an amount of seam gap as small as possible.
[0013] An amount of seam gap of an open seam pipe is adjusted by gradually increasing a
punch pressing-down amount in the final press. When the punch pressing-down amount
in the final press is increased, the amount of seam gap is decreased. To the contrary,
when the punch pressing-down amount in the final press is decreased, the amount of
seam gap is increased.
[0014] When the punch pressing-down is released, since a spring back occurs, a seam gap
of an open seam pipe becomes larger after releasing the punch pressing-down than the
seam gap of the open seam pipe during the punch pressing-down. Aiming at the decrease
of the spring back after releasing the punch pressing-down, there has been proposed
a technique where a punch pressing-down amount is increased in a final press such
that the punch pressing-down amount is further increased even after open seam edges
are brought into contact with a punch support portion thus applying bending to the
open seam pipe.
[0015] Here, when a punch pressing-down amount is excessively large, there exists a possibility
that a drawback occurs where open seam edges of an open seam pipe strongly clamp a
punch support portion so that it is necessary to cut the pipe over the whole length
to remove the pipe.
[0016] To overcome such a drawback, usually, an attention has been paid to prevent a punch
pressing-down amount from becoming excessively large. As a result, a seam gap is liable
to become large.
[0017] In addition to the above-mentioned drawbacks, a yield strength of a steel plate also
influences the seam gap. This is because when bending deformation is applied to the
steel plate, a spring back amount after bending deformation is generated differs depending
on the yield strength of the steel plate. For example, to take the case where press
forming of a final pass is performed under the same press condition and, thereafter,
a press load is completely removed as an example, a seam gap becomes small when the
yield strength of the steel plate S is low, and the seam gap becomes large when the
yield strength of the steel plate S is high.
[0018] As described previously, usually, since an attention has been paid so as to prevent
a punch pressing-down amount from becoming excessively large, a seam gap is liable
to become large. The influence of a yield strength of a steel plate overlaps with
this tendency and hence, a variation in a seam gap is also increased. When the seam
gap is excessively large, a constraining force necessary for constraining an open
seam pipe by closing the seam gap at the time of welding becomes large so that a pressing-down
device becomes large-sized. Further, to cope with the variation in the seam gap, it
takes a considerable time when a pressing-down amount of the pressing-down device
is manually adjusted in the welder.
[0019] In view of the above, to suppress a variation in a seam gap after pressing, there
has been proposed a technique where a press condition is adjusted for each steel plate
and a technique where a table which shows the relationship between yield strengths
and press conditions of steel plates is prepared in advance and a press condition
is determined based on the table.
[0020] In the technique disclosed in PTL 1, a bent shape of the steel plate can be adjusted
by adjusting a distance between dies of a lower die. With respect to a variation in
a spring back amount, a shape of a steel pipe is measured after the steel pipe is
formed from a steel plate in a first step and, thereafter, modification forming is
performed in a second step by adjusting the distance between the dies of the lower
die. In other words, according to the technique described in PTL 1, the bent shape
of the steel pipe is measured in a state where a load is removed after forming in
the first step is finished, that is, in a state where a spring back occurs and, thereafter,
modification forming in the second step is performed by adjusting a press condition
such as a pressing-down amount, a load, a distance between the dies of the lower die
or the like in accordance with a result of measurement. Accordingly, in resetting
the distance between the dies of the lower die, it is necessary to ensure a time for
such resetting. Particularly when modification forming is performed a plurality of
times to form one steel pipe, the number of times of shape measurement becomes also
a plurality of times and hence, there arises a drawback that productivity is largely
lowered. Further, it is necessary to set conditions for performing such modification
forming for each steel plate and hence, the large lowering of the productivity is
unavoidable in the manufacture of steel pipes from a large number of steel plates
having a variation in a spring back amount.
[0021] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of press-forming
a steel pipe with a small variation in a seam gap.
Solution to Problem
[0022] The gist of the present invention is as follows.
- [1] A method of press-forming a steel pipe by forming a steel plate by applying press
bending to the steel plate a plurality of times, wherein, in accordance with a relationship
obtained in advance between an additional pressing-down amount which is required further
after a state that a predetermined seam gap is formed during applying press bending
of a final time to an open seam pipe which is a material to be formed and the predetermined
seam gap, forming with the additional pressing-down amount based on the relationship
is applied to the open seam pipe after the state that the predetermined seam gap is
formed during applying press bending of the final time to the open seam pipe which
is the material to be formed.
- [2] The method of press-forming a steel pipe according to [1], wherein the predetermined
seam gap is a seam gap at a point of time that open seam edges of the steel plate
are brought into contact with a punch beam of an upper die.
- [3] A method of manufacturing a steel pipe, wherein the open seam edges of the open
seam pipe formed by the method of press-forming a steel pipe according to [1] or [2]
are made to butt each other and are welded to each other.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0023] According to the present invention, pressing is performed under a condition set in
advance and hence, a press material having a small variation in a seam gap can be
acquired whereby it is unnecessary to perform modification forming or to set and adjust
a gap between dies of a lower die thus remarkably enhancing productivity.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0024]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 shows a view showing the relationship between the difference in yield
strength and a seam gap according to the present invention.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 shows a view showing the relationship between the difference in yield
strength and a seam gap according to the prior art.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 shows a schematic view for explaining a forming step in steel pipe
manufacturing steps.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of an open seam pipe.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 shows schematic views for explaining an edge crimping step, wherein
Fig. 5A shows a set state at the time of edge crimping, Fig. 5B shows a state at the
time of finishing applying an edge crimping load, and Fig. 5C shows a state after
removing an edge crimping load.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 shows schematic views for explaining a press forming step, wherein
Fig. 6A shows a load applying state, Fig. 6B shows a state after the load is removed,
and Fig.6C shows a cross-sectional shape of a pipe after press forming.
Description of Embodiments
[0025] API standards are the general standards for line pipes where straight seam welded
steel pipes are mainly used. According to the API standards, a range from an upper
limit to a lower limit of an yield strength of a welded steel pipe of grade X80 is
138 MPa. A steel plate used as a raw material of a welded steel pipe also has a yield
strength which substantially falls in the same range as that of the welded steel pipe.
Particularly, in manufacturing a steel pipe having high yield strength, a steel plate
which becomes a raw material of the welded steel pipe is manufactured by a TMCP method.
Accordingly, an yield strength of the steel plate is also liable to vary because of
a variation in chemical components condition, a rolling condition and a cooling condition.
[0026] Hereinafter, the explanation is made with respect to the case where a steel pipe
at a grade of API X80 having an outer diameter of 1219 mm and a pipe thickness of
31.8 mm is formed. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment
described hereinafter.
[0027] In the forming method, firstly, edge crimping is performed as shown in Fig. 5. In
Fig. 5, symbol 41 indicates an edge crimping lower die, and symbol 42 indicates an
edge crimping upper die. Edge crimping is performed such that a crimp edge angle j
(Fig. 5B) becomes 28 degrees at the time of applying a press load within a range h
(Fig. 5A) having a width of 240 mm at an edge portion of a steel plate in the width
direction. A bent angle k (Fig. 5C) of an edge portion of the steel plate in the width
direction after removing the press load is 23 degrees.
[0028] Next, bending is applied to the steel plate sequentially 11 times in the steel plate
width direction from edge portions of the steel plate in the width direction by a
punch 2 (upper die) where a radius R of the punch leading end portion 22 shown in
Fig. 6A is 415 mm. The forming method at this point of time is explained by reference
to Fig. 6. In Fig. 6A, the punch 2 (upper die) is constituted of a punch beam 21 and
a punch leading end portion 22, and a lower die is constituted of dies 1a, 1b. An
entire bent angle of the steel plate excluding a seam gap of edge crimping (f in Fig.
6C) is obtained by combining a total value of bent angles of from eleven times of
bending and a bent angle of edge crimping. To be more specific, bending is applied
to a steel plate having a yield strength of 640 MPa with a bent angle (d in Fig. 6A)
at the time of applying a load per one bending being set to 35 degrees such that a
bent angle after removing a load (e in Fig., 6B) becomes 29 degrees. With respect
to bending ranges of the steel plate S, a range "a" shown in Fig. 6A indicates a preceding-time
bending range, a range "b" shown in Fig. 6A indicates a this-time bending range, and
a range "c" shown in Fig. 6A indicates a next-time and succeeding bending ranges.
In such bending, the adjustment of a bending amount is performed in general such that
a moving amount of the punch 2 is directly controlled by a press device. Here, forming
is performed by setting an amount that the punch 2 is lowered from a state where the
punch leading end portion 22 is brought into contact with an upper surface position
of the steel plate (hereinafter, a lowering amount of the punch 2 from a reference
point being referred to as a pressing-down amount and the upper surface position of
the steel plate being taken as a reference unless otherwise specified) to a fixed
value.
[0029] Fig. 2 shows the relationship between the yield strength difference which is the
difference in yield strength of a steel plate with respect to 640 MPa which is a reference
value of yield strength of the steel plate and a seam gap in a state where a load
is removed after pressing is finished.
[0030] Even when steel plates have the same bent shape at the time of applying a bending
load to the steel plates, that is, in a pressing-down state of the steel plates, a
spring back amount of the steel plate becomes large, when a raw material of a steel
plate has a high yield strength. Accordingly, a bent angle of the steel plate after
forming becomes small so that a seam gap after removing a load becomes large. As shown
in Fig. 2, when the yield strengths of the raw material steel plates differ from each
other by 160 MPa, the difference in seam gap in a state where a load is removed after
pressing becomes 170 mm. This amount corresponds to 14% of an outer diameter of the
open seam pipe and is an extremely large value.
[0031] Accordingly, Fig. 1 shows the relationship between the yield strength difference
and a seam gap in a state where a load is removed after pressing when bending in an
intermediate step is performed by a conventional forming method and a pressing-down
amount in the final forming pass (eleventh pass) is changed. In Fig. 1, as a reference,
a result of the prior art shown in Fig. 2 (graph b) is also described.
[0032] A graph c indicates the present invention example where open seam edges are brought
into contact with the punch beam 21 of the upper die and, thereafter, the steel plate
is further pressed down by 9 mm to ensure the same deformation amount in the final
forming pass (eleventh pass). The difference in seam gap in a state where a load is
removed after pressing is small, that is, 20 mm. Accordingly, it is understood that
the substantially uniform seam gaps can be obtained regardless of a yield strength
of the steel plate.
[0033] A graph a indicates an example where pressing-down is performed until the open seam
edges are brought into contact with the punch beam portion of the upper die. To compare
with the prior art (graph b, pressing-down amount being fixed), a deviation in the
seam gap in a state where a load is removed after pressing is small. However, the
seam gap in a state where a load is removed is large compared to the seam gap of the
above-mentioned present invention example.
[0034] The reason pressing-down is further performed by 9 mm after the open seam edges are
brought into contact with the punch beam 21 of the upper die is based on the following
technical concept.
[0035] When a plurality of steel pipes having the same size are manufactured, firstly, a
plurality of open seam pipes having the same size are formed. Here, the press condition
is basically fixed and hence, a deformation mode from a steel plate which is a raw
material to an open seam pipe is basically the same. Accordingly, by setting a pressing-down
amount to be further added from such a state as a fixed value with reference to a
predetermined shape in the course of a final press, a seam gap in a state where a
load is removed after the final press also becomes a fixed value.
[0036] As described previously, when an open seam pipe is formed from a steel plate using
two dies 1a, 1b and one punch 2, the use of a seam gap as an index of a predetermined
shape in the course of the final press where a pressing-down amount to be further
added is set to a fixed value is simple and effective.
[0037] In the above-mentioned example, as the seam gap which is an index of a predetermined
shape in the course of the final press where the pressing-down amount to be added
is set to a fixed value, the seam gap at a point of time that the open seam edges
on both sides are brought into contact with the punch beam 21 of the punch 2 is adopted.
Here, a pressing-down amount to be further added from a point of time that both open
seam edges on both sides are brought into contact with the punch beam 21 of the upper
die 2 is grasped and determined by performing a preparatory forming in advance or
by referencing the past manufacturing records.
[0038] With respect to the reference of the seam gap which is an index of a shape by which
a pressing-down amount to be further added becomes a fixed value, the explanation
has been made with respect to the case where both open seam edges on both sides are
brought into contact with the punch beam 21 of the punch 2, that is, with respect
to the case where the seam gap agrees with a thickness of the punch beam 21. However,
the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the determination
that the seam gap reaches a predetermined value, for example, can be performed by
using a detector of a type by which a position of a plate end can be measured any
time or a simplified detector of a type which determines that a plate end arrives
at a certain position.
[0039] To be more specific, for example, a light projector and a light receiver are mounted
on the punch beam 21. An amount of received light which the light receiver receives
changes when the open seam edge of the open seam pipe blocks an optical path to the
light receiver from the light projector. The position of the open seam edge can be
detected based on such a change in amount of light by the light receiver. On the other
hand, when it is sufficient to detect a point of time that the open seam edges are
brought into contact with the punch beam 21 of the upper die 2, it is not always necessary
to constantly measure the position of the plate end portion. For example, the determination
that the seam gap reaches a predetermined value can be realized by a change in an
electrical conduction state which is brought about by a contact between the open seam
edges and the punch beam 21 or the confirmation of the presence or the non-presence
of the contact by mounting a piezoelectric element on a contact expected portion.
[0040] As a control method of applying forming with a further required pressing-down amount
from a state where the open seam pipe has a predetermined seam gap in the course of
pressing-down in the final press, for example, a signal may be transmitted to a pressing-down
device of a press forming device at a point of time that the seam gap becomes the
predetermined seam gap amount, and forming with an additional pressing-down amount
which is decided in advance separately may be performed using such a signal as a trigger.
An additional pressing-down amount can be measured by measuring a moving amount of
the punch 2. In the case where the seam gap when the predetermined seam gap becomes
equal to the thickness of the punch beam 21 or the seam gap at the point of time that
the open seam edges are brought into contact with the punch beam 21 is used as the
reference, an amount that the open seam edges which are brought into contact with
the punch beam 21 slide upward along the punch beam 21 may be detected and an additional
pressing-down amount may be controlled with reference to this slide-up amount of the
open seam edges.
[0041] In manufacturing a steel pipe using an open seam pipe manufactured by the above-mentioned
press forming method, open seam gaps of an open seam pipe are continuously tack welded
to each other by the continuous tack welder and, thereafter, main welding may be performed
in order of inside welding and outside welding. It is preferable to increase circularity
of a steel pipe to which main welding is applied by expanding the steel pipe using
a pipe expanding device. A pipe expanding step is performed while usually setting
a pipe expanding ratio (a ratio of an amount of change in an outer diameter of the
pipe after expanding the pipe with respect to the outer diameter of the pipe before
expanding the pipe) to a value which falls within a range from 0.3% to 1.5%. From
a viewpoint of a balance between a circularity enhancing effect and ability which
the pipe expanding device is required to possess, the pipe expanding ratio may preferably
be set to a value which falls within a range from 0.5% to 1.2%.
Example 1
[0042] To manufacture a steel pipe having an outer diameter of 1219 mm, a pipe thickness
of 31.8 mm and a length of 12 m, 10 pieces of steel plates of AP1 X80 grade having
a length of 24 m are prepared. Each steel plate is divided in three in the longitudinal
direction thus preparing three sets of specimens where each set is constituted of
10 pieces of specimens. A plate width of these steel plates is set to 3693 mm by machining,
and edge crimping is applied to both respective edge portions of each steel plate
in the width direction within a range of width of 180 mm using a die having a radius
of R380 mm and, thereafter, press forming is performed.
[0043] In performing press forming, a punch whose punch leading end portion 22 has a radius
of R415 mm is used as a punch 2 of an upper die. As a lower die, dies 1 having a radius
of R100 mm are set in a spaced-apart manner with a gap of 540 mm (the gap being a
distance between peak points of two dies 1a, 1b of the lower die). The press forming
is performed 11 times in a divided manner. A thickness of the punch beam 21 is 100
mm.
[0044] Set positions in the width direction from the first pass to tenth pass (distance
from the center between two dies of the lower die to the center of the steel plate
in the width direction) and pressing-down amounts are shown in Table 1. The pressing-down
amounts are determined such that the approximately whole circumference of the open
seam pipe is bent except for the seam gap portion as a result of edge crimping and
press forming performed eleven times in total under a condition that a yield strength
of the steel plate is 615 MPa.
[Table 1]
Pass |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
Position in widthwise direction of steel plate (mm) |
1515 |
1212 |
909 |
606 |
303 |
-1515 |
-1212 |
-909 |
-606 |
-303 |
Pressing-down amount (mm) |
78.0 |
75.2 |
73.5 |
73.5 |
73.5 |
78.0 |
75.2 |
73.5 |
73.5 |
73.5 |
[0045] As the order of forming in the forming step of the method according to the example,
as shown in Fig. 3 which is a press step view, a first half step is constituted of
passes 1 to 5, and a second half step is constituted of passes 6 to 10. In the passes
1 to 5 which constitute the first half step, the steel plate is sequentially formed
from an edge portion on one side of the steel plate in the width direction to a center
portion of the steel plate in the width direction. The forming is performed from the
edge portion on one side of the steel plate to the position in front of the center
portion of the steel plate in the width direction by an amount corresponding to a
press of one time. Next, in the passes 6 to 10 which constitute the second half step,
the steel plate is sequentially formed from an edge portion on the other side of the
steel plate in the width direction from the edge portion on the other side of the
steel plate to the center portion of the steel plate in the width direction. Lastly
(in the eleventh pass), a pressing force is applied to the center portion of the steel
plate in the width direction.
[0046] Using ten pieces of steel plates (steel plates No. A to J) having different yield
strengths, pressing is performed ten passes for each steel plate at steel plate widthwise
positions indicated in Table 1 (in Table, the steel plate widthwise position being
expressed by distance with "+" in the direction toward A from the width center C of
the steel plate and being expressed by distance with "-" in the direction toward B
from the width center C of the steel plate). Thereafter, the eleventh path is performed,
and the seam gap in a state where a load is removed after pressing is measured. The
result of measurement (the relationship between the yield strength of the steel plate
and the seam gap after pressing) is shown in Table 2.
[Table 2]
Steel plate No. |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
Variation in seam gap (mm) |
Required time (min) |
Evaluation |
Remarks |
Yield strength (MPa) |
679 |
657 |
638 |
615 |
611 |
609 |
605 |
598 |
581 |
560 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Seam gap (mm) |
139 |
142 |
123 |
118 |
126 |
120 |
125 |
114 |
119 |
107 |
35 |
59 |
Good |
Present invention example |
219 |
232 |
157 |
141 |
170 |
149 |
166 |
126 |
140 |
- |
92 |
56 |
Bad |
Comparison example 1 |
125 |
112 |
123 |
130 |
131 |
108 |
107 |
139 |
119 |
122 |
31 |
83 |
Fair |
Comparison example 2 |
[0047] In the final pass (eleventh pass), a steel plate is set such that the center of the
steel plate in the width direction is disposed at the center of the lower die. In
the present invention example, to allow the steel plate having a yield strength of
615 MPa to have a seam gap of 125 mm after pressing, edge portions of the steel plate
in the width direction, that is, open seam edges of an open seam pipe are brought
into contact with the punch beam 21 and, thereafter, the steel plate is further pressed
down by 9 mm. In the comparison example 1, to allow a steel plate having the lowest
yield strength of 560 MPa to have a seam gap of 100 mm in a state where a load is
removed after pressing, a pressing-down amount which is an amount that the punch 2
is lowered from an upper surface position of the steel plate is set to 48.6 mm. In
the comparison example 2, firstly, a steel plate is pressed down until open seam edges
of an open seam pipe are brought into contact with the punch beam 21, and a seam gap
is confirmed in a state where a load is removed after pressing, a distance between
the dies 1a, 1b of the lower die is adjusted and, thereafter, the pressing-down is
repeated.
[0048] According to the present invention examples, a variation (= a maximum value - a minimum
value) in the seam gap after 10 pieces of steel pipes are pressed is small, a required
time for press forming is also short so that both a favorable steel pipe shape and
a high operation efficiency can be acquired.
[0049] To the contrary, although a required time for press forming is slightly short in
the comparison example 1, in the steel plate J having the lowest yield strength, a
state is brought about where the open seam edges clamp the punch beam 21. Accordingly,
it is necessary to stop a line for taking out a formed member (open seam pipe) and
hence, it is difficult to adopt the comparison example 1 for industrial production
thereof. Further, in the comparison example 2, a required time is 1.4 times as long
as that of the present invention example thus lowering the productivity, although
the open seam pipe has a stable shape.
Industrial Applicability
[0050] The method for press-forming a steel pipe and a method of manufacturing a steel pipe
according to the present invention are not limited to the manufacture of a steel pipe
having a large diameter and a heavy wall thickness, and are applicable to all methods
of manufacturing a steel pipe by performing the three point bending press.
Reference Sign List
[0051]
la, 1b: dies
2: punch
21: punch beam
22: punch leading end portion
3: open seam pipe
31a, 31b: plate end portion
41: lower die for edge crimping
42: upper die for edge crimping