An orbital tube flaring system produces tubing connectors with a zero-leak potential needed in high pressure hydraulic and pneumatic systems. The flaring system incorporates a rolling cone and rolling die to closely control flare characteristics

Williams, J. R.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

END VIEW Tube Center Line 
Rolling Die 
nuluing Cone 
ube 
ff 
laring Cone	 Tube (Stationary) 
February 1967	 Brief67-10019 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Orbital Tube Flaring System Produces Tubing Connectors with Zero Leakage 
Start	 900	 18GO	 3600 
Rollinq Die 
SIDE VIEW
	 Tube Clamp 
The problem: 
The use of high pressure hydraulic and pneumatic 
systems requires tubing connectors with a zero-
leakage potential. The zero-leakage can be obtained 
from welded and brazed joints or from precision me-
chanical connectors which may be assembled and 
disassembled. Although many methods of tube flaring 
are available, including, impact forming, ballistic 
forming, hydraulic forming, pneumatic forming, and 
the conventional split die and cone method, it is 
extremely difficult to produce a flared tube configu-
ration with zero leakage.
The solution: 
The orbital tube flaring system (a modified version 
of the split die and cone) which incorporates a rolling 
cone and rolling die to closely control flare charac-
teristics. 
How it's done: 
The orbital system produces a flare on the tube end 
by rolling the material between an externally orbiting 
rolling die and an eccentrically rolling internal cone. 
The rolling die is the essential difference between the 
orbital flaring method and the conventional flaring 
system which uses a split die as the flare receptacle. 
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19670000019 2020-03-11T20:20:08+00:00Z
The rolling die and the rolling cone are held in rota-
tional register at all times permitting the tube ma-
terial being flared to be formed between the two 
rolling surfaces. 
The orbital system utilizes three primary parts: the 
tube clamp, the I.D. flaring cone, and the O.D. rolling 
die. The tube clamp is designed to hold the O.D. of 
the tube concentric with the centerline of rotation of 
the main spindle which drives the orbital adaptor 
flaring head. The tube holder design incorporates an 
iris type collet which compensates for slight variations 
of the tube diameter; therefore, it always centers the 
O.D. of the tube to a concentric position. The split 
jaw die holder on the commercial machine has been 
replaced with a one-piece bracket which concentri-
cally positions the iris type tube collet. 
The I.D. flaring cone of the orbital system functions 
in a similar manner to the I.D. flaring cone on the 
conventional flaring machine. The cone is completely 
bearing mounted and is free to roll about its own 
centerline The centerline of the cone shaft is slightly 
eccentric to the centerline of rotation of the main
drive spindle. Therefore, during operation, the center-
line of the cone orbits around the centerline of the 
main drive spindle. The flaring action takes place as 
the O.D. surface of the flare cone is forced axially 
against and rolls around the I.D. of the tube. The cone 
is driven only by frictional contact when the material 
being flared bottoms against the rolling die. 
Note: 
Inquiries concerning this invention may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, Alabama 35812 
Reference; B67710019 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to NASA, Code 
GP, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Source: James R. Williams 
(M-FS-2016) 
Brief 67-10019	 Category 05


Orbital tube flaring system produces tubing connectors with zero leakage

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