METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLATTENING CORRUGATED HEAT EXCHANGER PLATES

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to heat exchangers and more particularly to a method and apparatus for use in the formation of thin metal plates used in such heat exchangers by flattening corrugated sheets.

[0002] Primary surface recuperators have been developed which incorporate thin alloy metal sheets that have been corrugated or folded to produce passages on both sides of each sheet. These passages serve to direct the flow of air and hot gasses, and heat is transferred directly through the sheets which are suitably welded together to prevent the flow of air into the gas passages. The corrugations in the sheet surface also serve to support adjacent sheets in the assembly.

[0003] Before the sheets are assembled, edge portions of the sheets are crushed to provide flattened header sections which will facilitate the cross flow of fluid. These header sections at each end of the sheet receive or deliver the air or gas from or to the appropriate passages of the assembly.

[0004] A stacked plate heat exchanger of the type described is illustrated in US-A-3,759,323. In fabricating heat exchangers of this type, difficulties have been encountered in flattening the header sections. The header sections extend transversely to the corrugations, and as the corrugations in the header sections are flattened, the corrugations expand and often completely or partially block the fluid passages defined by adjacent corrugations. Attempts to alleviate this problem have not been satisfactory. For example, comb-like devices have been employed in an attempt to open the blocked passages following the crushing of the header section corrugations, but since the blockages are irregularly spaced, the regularly spaced comb-devices sometimes contribute to the blockage instead of removing it. Also the sheets have been staggered so that the transition blockage does not occur all at one zone and the fluid can pass over the blocked region, but this solution to the problem results in the use of excess heat exchanger material.

[0005] US-A-1,462,475, describes a method of crushing portions of a corrugated sheet which includes inserting spacing members into each of the passages on either side of a ridge in the sheet and thereafter crushing the ridge in the area between the spacing members which are then withdrawn.

[0006] According to the present invention a method for crushing a portion of a corrugated sheet in an area extending transversely to the corrugations thereof without blocking the passages between the ridges of the uncrushed portion of the corrugated sheet, the method including the steps of inserting a spacing member into the passages on either side of each ridge of the corrugated sheet in turn in a transition area located between the uncrushed area and the remainder of the area to be crushed, is characterized by progressively crushing each of the ridges in the transition area individually in a plurality of successive crushing operations until the ridges in the transition area are flattened, the ridges being crushed in each successive crushing operation to an extent greater than that accomplished in the preceding crushing operation; and thereafter flattening the remainder of the area to be crushed.

[0007] The present invention also includes apparatus for crushing a portion of a corrugated sheet in an area extending transversely to the corrugations without blocking the passages between the ridges of the uncrushed portion of the corrugated sheet, comprising die set means for crushing the ridges of the corrugated sheet in the area to be crushed, said die set means including an upper die and a lower die having opposed die faces, both the upper and lower dies having a plurality of spacing means projecting from the opposed die faces thereof and a plurality of slots separating adjacent spacing means for a distance sufficient to permit each of the spacing means to be freely inserted into a passage on a side of a ridge to be crushed, the depth of the root of the slot being less than the depth of the passage; and control means for causing said die set means to move the spacing means into the passages on each side of a ridge to be crushed to cause the root of the slot to contact and crush the ridge and subsequently to remove the spacing means from the passages, characterized in that the slots in each of the dies decrease progressively in depth from an entrant end of the die to an exit end.

[0008] The apparatus may include sensing means for sensing the position of the sheet relative to the die set means and operating to cause the control means to initiate movement of the die set means into engagement with the sheet when the sheet reaches predetermined positions, the sensing means including a switch in contact with the sheet.

[0009] One example of a method according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is plan view of a corrugated heat exchanger plate which is to be flattened to form header sections in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the die assembly of the present invention for receiving a moving heat exchanger plate;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the die set used for the die assembly of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of one die slot and one die blade of the die set of Figure 3 taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detailed illustration of the detent switches used for the die assembly of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a circuit diagram of the control circuit for the die assembly of Figure 2.

[0010] Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 discloses a corrugated heat exchanger plate, indicated generally at 10, formed from a thin metal or metal alloy sheet which has been corrugated to provide raised ridges having crowns or fins 12 which define intermediate passages 14. These crowns and passages are formed on both sides of the sheet 10 and when the sheet is assembled with similarly formed sheets, will define fluid passages on opposite sides of the sheet. The broken lines 16 and 18 in Figure 1 designate header zones 20 and 22 which must be formed on either side of a central corrugated section by flattening the corrugation in the header zones. It is this flattening process which, in the past, has resulted in blockage of the passages 14 in the vicinity of the lines 16 and 18 due to expansion or flaring of the crowns 12 as they are crushed.

[0011] The header zones 20 and 22 may be flattened without resulting in substantial blockage of the passages 14 by progressively crushing each individual crown 12 within transition zones 24 and 26 bordered by the lines 16 and 18 and broken lines 28 and 30 spaced therefrom. Each crown within a transition zone is subjected individually to a plurality of successive crushing steps during which the crown is progressively flattened. During each crushing step, die set support blades are inserted into the passages 14 on either side of the crown to act as spacers to prevent the crown from expanding outwardly to block the passages. Once the transition zones 24 and 26 are completely flattened, the remainder of the header zones outboard of the transition zones may easily be flattened in a conventional manner to form transversely extending headers on either side of a central corrugated section;

[0012] The preliminary progressive flattening of the corrugations in the transition zones 24 and 26 may be accomplished by feeding the corrugated heat exchanger plate 10 between opposed die members of a die set mechanism which closes once each time the plate moves for a distance equal to the distance between two adjacent crowns 12. As the crowns move beneath the die member they are progressively received in slots of ever decreasing depth as the die members close. At least one passage 14 between the first crown to be crushed and the next adjacent crown to be crushed receives a die support blade which extends into the passage for substantially the total depth thereof to act as a locator blade for following die set blades. This locator blade also stabilizes and reinforces the heat exchanger plate 10 during the flattening operation.

[0013] A novel die assembly 32 is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 2. This die assembly includes an upper die 34 and a lower die 36 having opposed die surfaces which are engaged and disengaged by the operation of upper and lower hydraulic cylinders 42 and 44 respectively. The upper and lower dies 34 and 36 are connected to hydraulic pistons in cylinders 42 and 44 by rods 38 and 40, although other suitable known driving units may be employed to engage and disengage the upper and lower dies.

[0014] The operation of the hydraulic cylinders 42 and 44 is controlled by a die control circuit 46 which controls a valve in each cylinder to cause the rods 38 and 40 to extend or retract. When the rods extend to bring the upper and lower dies 34 and 36 together, the crowns 12 on the heat exchanger plate 10 are crushed.

[0015] The heat exchanger plate 10 is fed between the upper and lower dies 34 and 36 by a suitable drive such as opposed driven rollers 48 and 50. Ideally, essentially a continuous feeding motion is imparted to the heat exchanger plate 10, and consequently, the operation of the upper and lower dies must be accurately timed. This timing sequence is accomplished in response to sensing switches 52, 54, 56A and 568.

[0016] To comprehend the manner in which the die assembly 32 operates, it is first necessary to consider the structure of the upper and lower dies 34 and 36 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The face of the upper die 34 is formed to provide a plurality of downwardly extending blades 58, 60, 62. 64 and 66 which are spaced by intervening slots 68, 70, 72, 74 and 76. Similarly, the face of the lower die 36 is formed to provide a plurality of upwardly extending blades 78, 80, 82, 84, 86 and 88 which are spaced by intervening slots 90, 92, 94, 96 and 98. When the upper and lower dies are engaged, the blades 80-88 enter the slots 68-76 respectively while the blades 58-66 enter the slots 90-98 respectively. It will be noted that some clearance is left between a slot and the blade received thereby to accommodate the heat exchanger plate 10.

[0017] The heat exchanger plate 10 is fed between the upper and lower dies 34 and 36 from the left in Figure 3. The blades 58, 78 and 80 constitute entrant blades and are the first blades to enter into passages 14 in a heat exchanger plate as the plate moves between the dies. The blade 58 enters a passage on the top side of the plate while the blades 78 and 80 enter individual passages on the bottom side of the plate. These entrant blades and the slots 68 and 90 which receive them are full size and receive and support the heat exchanger plate without crushing the crowns 12. If desirable, a second full sized slot and blade combination 60 and 92 may be provided so that the top and bottom passages 14 are supported by two blades on either side of the heat exchanger plate 10 at the entrant end of the die set.

[0018] The slots 70, 72, 74 and 76 in the top die 34 and the slots 94, 96 and 98 in the bottom die 36 decrease progressively in depth so that the slots 76 and 98 at the exit end of the die set are very shallow. Thus the crowns 12 of the heat exchanger plate are progressively crushed as they move into slots of decreasing depth. To aid in this crushing operation, a projection 100 extends from the root of each slot while the opposing blade has a scalloped end as indicated at 102 in Figure 4.

[0019] It is important to ensure that an individual passage 14 on the top of the heat exchanger plate 10 cleanly and sequentially receives the blades 58, 60, 62, 64 and 66 as the plate progresses from the entrant to the exit ends of the die set. Simultaneously, an adjacent passage on the bottom side of the heat exchanger plate sequentially receives the blades 78, 80, 82, 84, 86 and 88. This is accomplished under the control of the' detent switch 52 which causes the die control circuit 46 to trigger the die cylinders 42 and 44 to close the upper and lower dies 34 and 36 when the heat exchanger plate is in a precise location.

[0020] The structure of the detent switch 52 is shown in greater detail in Figure 5. The switch includes a detent ball 104 mounted on a spring arm 106 which spring biases the ball downwardly against the crowns 12 on the heat exchanger plate 10. The ball consists of two electrically conductive halves 108 and 110 which are electrically separated by a central insulating strip 112. Electrical conductors 114 and 116 are each connected to one of the conductive halves, so that when the ball is nested in a passage 14 as shown in Figure 5, an electrical circuit is completed between the conductors by the conductive halves 108 and 110 and the heat exchanger plate. When the ball is not in contact with the crowns 12 on both sides of a passage 145, no electrical circuit is completed between the conductors 114 and 116.

[0021] The die control circuit 46 is identical in structure and operation, for flattening both zones 24 and 26 and consequently will be described with reference to the structure of die control circuit 46 shown in Figure 6. This circuit includes input terminals 118 and 120 which supply current to control the operation of cylinder 42 (Figure 2), and input terminals 122 and 124 which supply power to a holding circuit. These input terminals may be connected to the same or separate power supplies, such as a battery power supply 140.

[0022] The contact 134 is part of a holding relay including a holding relay coil 136 which is kept energized from terminal 122 across normally closed switches 56A and 56B after the contacts 138 have been initially closed by a brief closure of switch 54 to energize the coil 136. Switches 56A and 56B open at the end of each die stroke.

[0023] The heat exchanger plate 10 is moved between the upper and lower dies 34 and 36 by the driving wheels 48 and 50. The switches 56A and 56B are normally closed and the switch 54 is open. Therefore, the holding relay coil 136 is normally energized with the contacts 134 and 138 closed. As the heat exchanger plate is located in the correct position for the crushing operation, the detent switch 52 momentarily closes to energize holding relay coil 126 and close contacts 128. Current now flows from terminal 118 across contacts 128 and through coil 126, control solenoids 130A, 130B and contacts 134 back to terminal 120. The energization of solenoids 130A and 130B causes cylinders 42 and 44 to expand die piston rods 38 and 40 driving the dies 34 and 36 together. As the rods 38 and 40 reach the outer extent of their travel, switches 56A and 568 are momentarily opened to deenergize holding relay coil 136. This opens contacts 134 and 138 causing the deenergization of control solenoids 130A, 130B and holding relay coil 126. Upon deenergization of the control solenoids, the rods 38 and 40 are retracted to disengage the upper and lower dies 34 and 36 and reclose the switches 56A and 56B. During movement of the sheet to the next passage a switch 54 is normally closed. The switch 54 is similar to switch 52 but is positioned to close during movement of the sheet and prior to closure of switch 52 to affect the next die stroke. Switch 54 is positioned approximately 1/2 passage pitch different from switch 52 so that movement of the sheet alternately engages switches 52 and 54. This assures that switch 54 will close prior to the point where the passage is in position for switch 52 to close and actuate the die stroke.

[0024] The detent switch 52 is located closely adjacent the blades 58 and 80 at the entrant end of the die set and is spaced relative to these blades so that these entrant blades serve as locators for the remaining blades in the die set. Each time a detent switch bridges two adjacent crowns 12, the die set comes together and the blades formed in the faces of the opposed dies enter the passages 14 which are aligned therewith. The slots 70-76 and 94-98 progressively crush the crowns 12 received thereby while the intervening blades prevent the crushed crowns from expanding to block the passages 14. Each crown is subjected to a plurality of separate successive crushing operations until it reaches either the slot 76 or the slot 98. These final exit slots are so shallow that full crushing of the transition zones 24 and 26 is completed thereby. After these transmition zones are completely crushed, the remainder of the header zones 20 and 22 is crushed in the conventional manner.

[0025] It is obvious that the blades in the faces of the upper and lower dies 34 and 36 will be formed to conform to the configuration of the passages 14 in the heat exchanger plate 10. Therefore, when the passages are wavy in configuration as shown in Figure 1, to enhance heat transfer, the blades will be similarly configured to conform therewith. Also, if the passages in one side of the plate vary in width from the passages on the opposite side, the width of the blades will also vary accordingly. Thus, as will be noted in Figure 3, the blades in the face of the lower die 36 are wider than those in the face of the upper die 34.

Claims

1. A method for crushing a portion (20) of a corrugated sheet (10) in an area extending transversely to the corrugations thereof without blocking the passages (14) between the ridges (12) of the uncrushed portion of the corrugated sheet, the method including the steps of inserting a spacing member (58, 60, 62, 64, 66; 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88) into the passages (14) on either side of each ridge (12) of the corrugated sheet in turn in a transition area (24) located between the uncrushed area and the remainder of the area to be crushed, characterized by progressively crushing each of the individual ridges (12) in the transition area (24) individually in a plurality of successive crushing operations until the ridges in the transition area are flattened, the ridges being crushed in each successive crushing operation to an extent greater than that accomplished in the preceding crushing operation; and thereafter flattening the remainder of the area (62) to be crushed.

2. A method according to claim 1, which includes the steps of creating relative movement between the sheet (10) and a plurality of sequentially arranged, spaced crushing stations to move the ridges (12) individually past each of the crushing stations in sequence.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, which includes simultaneously crushing a ridge (12) in the top surface of the corrugated sheet (10) and a ridge (12) on the bottom surface of the sheet at each of the crushing stations.

4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which the remainder of the area (20) to be crushed is subsequently crushed without using the spacing members.

5. Apparatus (32) for crushing a portion (24, 26) of a corrugated sheet (10) in an area (20, 22) extending transversely to the corrugations without blocking the passages (14) between the ridges (12) of the uncrushed portion of the corrugated sheet (10), comprising die set means (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) for crushing the ridges (12) of the corrugated sheet (10) in the area (24, 26) to be crushed, said die set means (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) including an upper die (34) and a lower die (36) having opposed die faces, both the upper and lower dies (34, 36) having a plurality of spacing means (60-66 and 80-88) projecting from the opposed die faces thereof and a plurality of slots (70-76 and 94-98) separating adjacent spacing means (60-66 and 80-88) for a distance sufficient to permit each of the spacing means to be freely inserted into a passage (14) on a side of a ridge (12) to be crushed, the depth of the root of the slots (70-76 and 94-98) being less than the depth of the passages (14); and control means (46, 52, 54, 56A, 56B) for causing said die set means (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) to move the spacing means (60-66) into the passages (14) on each side of a ridge (12) to be crushed to cause the root of the slot (70-76) to contact and crush the ridge (12) and subsequently to remove the spacing means (60-66) from the passages (14), characterized in that the slots (70-76 and 94-98) in each of the dies (34, 36) decrease progressively in depth from an entrant end of the die to an exit end.

6. Apparatus (32) according to claim 5, wherein the die set means (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) includes driving means (38, 40, 42, 44) to move the opposed faces of the upper and lower dies (34, 36) into and away from engagement with an intervening corrugated sheet (10), the upper and lower dies (34, 36) being secured to the driving means (38, 40, 42, 44) and relatively positioned to permit the slots (70-76) of the upper die (34) to receive the spacing means 80-88) of the lower die (36) and the slots (94-98) of the lower die (36) to receive the spacing means (60-66) of the upper die (34) when the opposed faces of the upper and lower dies (34, 36) move toward engagement.

7. Apparatus (32) according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the upper and lower dies (34, 36) include at least one entrant spacing means (58, 80) and adjacent slot (68, 90) which are equal in depth to the depth of the passages (14) in the corrugated sheet (10), the entrant slot (68, 90) being in use the first slot in the die (34, 36) to receive a ridge (12) to be crushed.

8. Apparatus (32) according to claim 7, wherein the control means (46, 52, 54, 56A, 56B) includes sensing means (52, 54) operative to trigger the control means each time a passage (14) in the corrugated sheet is aligned with the entrant spacing means (58, 80).

9. Apparatus (32) according to any of claims 5 to 8, including sensing means (52, 54) for sensing the position of the sheet (10) relative to the die set means (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) and operating to cause the control means (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) into engagement with the sheet (10) when the sheet (10) reaches predetermined positions, the sensing means (52, 54) including a switch (52, 54) in contact with the sheet (10).

10. Apparatus (32) according to claim 9, wherein the switch (52, 54) includes a bridging member (104) of sufficient size to span the distance between two adjacent ridges (12) in the corrugated electrically conductive sheet (10), the bridging member (104) including two sections of electrically conductive material (108, 110) and insulating means (112) electrically separating the sections (108, 110), and electrically connector means (114, 116) extending from each of the electrically conductive sections (108, 110).

11. Apparatus (32) according to claim 10, wherein the control means (46) includes a power source (118, 120), and die set activating means (130A, 1308) operative when energized to initiate movement of the die set means (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) into engagement with the sheet (10), the electrical connector means (114) for one conductive section (108) of the bridging member (104) being connected to receive power from the power source (118, 120) and the electrical connector means (116) for the remaining conductive section (110) of the bridging means (104) being connected to provide power to the die set activating means (130A, 130B).

Revendications

1. Procédé pour écraser une partie (20) d'une feuille ondulée (10), dans une région s'étendant traversalement aux ondulations de celle-ci, sans boucher les passages (14) entre les crêtes (12) de la partie non écrasée de la feuille ondulée, le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à insérer un organe d'espacement (58, 60, 62, 64, 66; 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88) dans les passages (14) de part et d'autre de chaque crête (12) de la feuille ondulée à tour de rôle dans une région de transition (24) située entre la région non écrasée et le reste de la région devant être écrasée, caractérisé en ce qu'on écrase progressivement chacune des crêtes individuelles (12) dans la région de transition (24) individuellement par plusieurs opérations successives d'écrasement jusqu'à ce que les crêtes dans la région de transition soient aplaties, les crêtes étant écrasées, à chaque opération successive d'écrasement, dans une mesure supérieure à celle accomplie au cours de l'opération d'écrasement précédente; et en ce qu'on aplatit ensuite le reste de la région (62) devant être écrasée.

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, qui comprend les étapes consistant à créer un mouvement relatif entre la feuille (10) et plusieurs stations d'écrasement espacées disposées l'une après l'autre, afin de faire passer les crêtes (12) individuellement dans chacune des stations d'écrasement se faisant suite.

3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, qui consiste à écraser simultanément une crête (12) dans la face supérieure de la feuille ondulée (10) et une crête (12) sur la face inférieure de la feuille, à chacune des stations d'écrasement.

4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le reste de la région (20) devant être écrasée est écrasée ultérieurement sans utiliser les organes d'espacement.

5. Appareil (32) poure écraser une partie (24, 26) d'une feuille ondulée (10) dans une région (20, 22) s'étendant transversalement aux ondulations, sans boucher les passages (14) entre les crêtes (12) de la partie non écrasée de la feuille" ondulée (10), comprenant une série de matrices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) pour écraser les crêtes (12) de la feuille ondulée (10) dans la région (24, 26) devant être écrasée, ladite-série de matrices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) comprenant une matrice supérieure (34) et une matrice inférieure (36) ayant des faces de matrice opposées, les matrices supérieure et inférieure (34, 36) comportant toutes les deux plusieurs moyens d'espacement (60-66 et 80-88) faisant saillie sur leurs faces de matrice opposées et plusieurs fentes (70-76 et 94-98) séparant les moyens d'espacement adjacents (60-66 et 80-88) sur une distance suffisante pour permettre à chacun des moyens d'espacement d'être inséré librement dans un passage (14) d'un côté d'une crête (12) devant être écrasée, la profondeur de la racine des fentes (70-76 et 94-98) étant inférieure à la profondeur des passages (14); et un moyen de commande (46, 52, 54, 56A, 56B) pour amener ladite série de matrices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) à faire avancer les moyens d'espacement (60-66) dans les passages (14) de chaque côté d'une crête (12) devant être écrasée afin d'amener la racine de la fente (70-76) à venir au contact de et à écraser la crête (12) et de retirer ensuite les moyens d'espacement (60-66) des passages (14), caractérisé en ce que les fentes (70-76 et 94-98) dans chacune des matrices (34, 36) ont une profondeur qui décroît progressivement d'une extrémité d'entrée de la matrice à une extrémité de sortie.

6. Appareil (32) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la série de matrices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) comprend des moyens d'entraînement (38, 40, 42, 44) pour amener les faces opposées des matrices supérieure et inférieure (34, 36) au contact et hors du contact d'une feuille ondulée (10) interposée, les matrices supérieure et inférieure (34, 36) étant fixées aux moyens d'entraînement (38, 40, 42, 44) et positionnées l'une par rapport à l'autre de façon à permettre aux fentes (70-76) de la matrice supérieure (34) de recevoir les moyens d'espacement (80-88) de la matrice inférieure (36) et aux fentes (94-98) de la matrice inférieure (36) de recevoir les moyens d'espacement (60-66) de la matrice supérieure (34) quand les faces opposées des matrices supérieure et inférieure (34, 36) s'avancent pour venir en contact.

7. Appareil (32) selon la revendication 5 ou la revendication 6, dans lequel les matrices supérieure et inférieure (34, 36) comprennent au moins un moyen d'espacement d'entrée (58, 80) et une fente adjacente (68-90) dont les profondeurs sont égales à la profondeur des passages (14) dans la feuille ondulée (10), la fente d'entrée (68, 90) étant, pendant l'utilisation, la première fente de la matrice (34, 36) à recevoir une crête (12) devant être écrasée.

8. Appareil (32) selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le moyen de commande (46, 52, 54, 56A, 56B) comprend des moyens de détection (52, 54) adaptés à déclencher le moyen de commande chaque fois qu'un passage (14) de la feuille ondulée est aligné avec le moyen d'espacement d'entrée (58, 80).

9. Appareil (32) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 8, comprenant des moyens de détection (52, 54) pour détecter la position de la feuille (10) par rapport à la série de matrices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) et fonctionnant pour amener le moyen de commande (46) à initier le mouvement de mise en contact de la série de matrices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) avec la feuille (10) quand la feuille (10) atteint des positions prédéterminées, les moyens de détection (52, 54) comprenant un commutateur (52, 54) en contact avec la feuille (10).

10. Appareil (32) selon la revendication 9, dans lequel le commutateur (52, 54) comprend un organe de pontage (104) de dimension suffisante pour ponter la distance entre deux crêtes adjacentes (12) de la feuille ondulée conductrice de l'électricité (10), l'organe de pontage (104) comprenant deux sections en un matériau conducteur de l'électricité (108, 110) et des moyens isolants (112) séparant électriquement les sections (108, 110), et des moyens de connexion électrique (114, 116) s'étendant de chacune des sections conductrices de l'électricité (108, 110).

11. Appareil (32) selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le moyen de commande (46) comprend une source d'énergie (118, 120) et des moyens d'activation (130A, 130B) de la série de matrices, fonctionnant quand de l'énergie leur est fournie pour initier le mouvement de mise en contact de la série de matrices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) avec le feuille (10), les moyens de connexion électrique (114) pour une première section conductrice (108) de l'organe de pontage (104) étant connectés pour recevoir de l'énergie de la source d'énergie (118, 120), et les moyens de connexion électrique (116) pour la section conductrice restante (110) du moyen de pontage (104) étant connectés pour fournir de l'énergie aux moyens d'activation (130A, 130B) de la série de matrices.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zum Drücken eines Teils (20) eines gewellten Flächenelements (10) in einem sich quer zu den Wellungen desselben erstreckenden Gebiet ohne die Durchlässe (14) zwischen den Rippen (12) des nicht gedrückten Teils des gewellten Flächenelements zu blockieren, wobei das Verfahren die Schritte des Einsetzens eines Abstandsgliedes (58, 60, 62, 64, 66; 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88) in die Durchlässe (14) auf jeder Seite jeder Rippe (12) des gewellten Flächenelements umfaßt, und zwar in einem Übergangsgebiet 24 angeordnet zwischen den nicht gedrückten Gebiet und dem Rest des zu drückenden Gebiets, gekennzeichnet durch das fortschreitende Drücken jeder der einzelnen Rippen (12) im Übergangsgebiet (24) individuell in einer Vielzahl von aufeinanderfolgenden Drückvorgängen bis die Rippen des Übergangsgebiets flach gemacht sind, wobei die Rippen in jedem aufeinander folgenden Drückvorgang in einem größeren Ausmaß gedrückt werden als die im vorhergehenden Drückvorgang erreicht wurde, und ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß daraufhin der Rest des zu drückenden Gebiets (62) flach gemacht wird.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei folgende Schritte vorgesehen sind: Erzeugung einer Relativbewegung zwischen dem Flächenelement (10) und einer Vielzahl von sequentiell angeordneten, mit Abstand angeordneten Drückstationen, um die Rippen (12) einzeln sequentiell an jeder der Drückstationen vorbeizuführen.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei vorgesehen ist, daß gleichzeitig eine Rippe (12) in der Oberseite des gewellten Flächenelements (10) und eine Rippe (12) an der Unterseite des Flächelements an jeder der Drückstationen gedrückt wird.

4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei der Rest der zu drückenden Fläche (20) darauffolgend ohne Verwendung der Abstandsglieder gedrückt wird.

5. Vorrichtung (32) zum Drücken eines Teils (24, 26) eines gewellten Flächenelements (10) in einem Gebiet (20, 22), welches sich quer zu den Wellungen erstreckt, ohne daß dabei die Durchlässe (14) zwischen den Rippen (12) des nicht gedrückten Teils des gewellten Flächenelements (10) blockiert werden, wobei folgendes vorgesehen ist: Formsatzmittel (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) zum Drücken der Rippen (12) des gewellten Flächenelements (10) in dem Gebiet (24, 26), welches gedrückt werden soll, wobei die Formsatzmittel (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) eine obere Form (34) und eine untere Form (36) mit entgegengesetzt liegenden Formflächen aufweisen, wobei sowohl die oberen als auch die unteren Formen (34, 36) eine Vielzahl von Abstandsmitteln (60-66 und 80-88) aufweisen, die von den entgegengesetzt liegenden Formflächen wegragen, und mit einer Vielzahl von Schlitzen (70-76 und 94-98), welche benachbarte Abstandsmittel (60-66 und 80-88) trennen, und zwar um einen hinreichenden Abstand um zu gestatten, daß jedes der Abstandsmittel frei in einen Durchlaß (14) auf einer Seite einer zu drückenden Rippe (12) einsetzbar ist, wobei die Tiefe des Fußes der Schlitze (70-76 und 94-98) kleiner ist als die Tiefe der Durchlässe (14), und mit Steuermitteln (46, 52, 54, 56A, 56B) zur Bewirkung, daß die Formsatzmittel (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) die Abstandsmittel (60-66) in die Durchlässe (14) auf jeder Seite einer zu drückenden Rippe (12) bewegen, um zu bewirken, daß der Fuß des Schlitzes (70-76) die Rippe (12) berührt und drückt, wobei darauf folgend die Abstandsmittel (60-66) aus den Durchlässen (14) entfernt werden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Schlitze (70-76 und 94-98) in jeder der Formen (34, 36) fortlaufend in der Tiefe von einem Eingangsende der Form zu einem Austrittsende hin abnehmen.

6. Vorrichtung (32) nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Formsatzmittel (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) Antriebsmittel (38, 40, 42, 44) aufweisen, um die entgegengesetzten Stirnflächen der oberen und unteren Formen (34, 36) in und außer Eingriff mit einem dazwischen angeordneten gewellten Flächenelement (10) zu bewegen, wobei die oberen und unteren Formen (34, 36) an den Antriebsmitteln (38, 40, 42, 44) befestigt sind und relativ derart positioniert sind, daß die Schlitze (70-76) der oberen Form (34) die Abstandsmittel (80-88) der unteren Form (36) aufnehmen können, und die Schlitze (94-98) der unteren Form (36) können die Abstandsmittel (60-66) der oberen Form (34) aufnehmen, und zwar dann, wenn die entgegengesetzt liegenden Stirnflächen der oberen und unteren Formen (34, 36) zum Eingriff hin sich bewegen.

7. Vorrichtung (32) nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, wobei die oberen und unteren Formen (34, 36) mindestens eine Eingangs-Abstandsvorrichtung (58, 80) und benachbarten Schlitz (68, 90) aufweisen, die die gleiche Tiefe wie die Tiefe der Durchlässe (14) in dem gewellten Flächenelement (10) aufweisen, wobei der Eintrittsschlitz (68, 90) im Gebrauch der erste Schlitz der Form (34, 36) ist, der zur Aufnahme einer zu drückenden Rippe (12) dient.

8. Vorrichtung (32) nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Steuermittel (46, 52, 54, 56A, 56B) Abfühlmittel (52, 54) aufweisen, die zum Triggern der Steuermittel dienen, und zwar jedes Mal dann, wenn ein Durchlaß (14) im gewellten Flächenelement mit den Eintritts-Abstandsmitteln (58, 80) ausgerichtet ist.

9. Vorrichtung (32) nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 8 mit Abfühlmitteln (52, 54) zum Abfühlen der Position des Flächenelements (10) bezüglich der Formsatzmittel (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) und arbeitend, um die Steuermittel (46) dazu zu veranlassen, die Bewegung der Formsatzmittel (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) in Eingriff mit dem Flächenelement (10) dann einzuleiten, wenn das Flächenelement (10) vorbestimmte Positionen erreicht, wobei die Abfühlmittel (52, 54) einen Schalter (52, 54) aufweisen, und zwar in Kontakt mit dem Flächenelement (10).

10. Vorrichtung (32) nach Anspruch 9, wobei der Schalter (52, 54) ein Brückenglied (104) von hinreichender Größe aufweist, um den Abstand zwischen zwei benachbarten Rippen (12) in dem gewellten, elektrisch leitenden Flächenelement (10) zu überbrücken, wobei das Brückenglied (104) zwei Abschnitte von elektrisch leitendem Material (108, 110) aufweist und Isoliermittel (112), die die Abschnitte (108, 110) elektrisch trenne, und wobei elektrische Verbindungsmittel (114, 116) sich von jedem der elektrisch leitenden Abschnitte (108, 110) aus erstrecken.

11. Vorrichtung (32) nach Anspruch 10, wobei die Steuermittel (46) eine Leistungsquelle (118, 120) aufweisen, und wobei die Formsatz-Aktivierungsmittel (130A, 130B) bei Erregung die Bewegung der Formsatzmittel (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) einleiten, und zwar in Eingriff mit dem Flächenelement (10), wobei die elektrischen Verbindungsmittel (114) für den einen leitenden Abschnitt (108) des Brückenglieds (104) zum Leistungsempfang von der Leistungsquelle (118, 120) geschaltet sind, und wobei die elektrischen Verbindungsmittel (116) für den verbleibenden leitenden Abschnitt (110) der Brückenmittel (104) so geschaltet sind, daß sie Leistung an die Formsatz-Aktivierungsmittel (130A, 130B) liefern.

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