Hand tool for forming dimples and nipples on end portion of tube

Beuyukian, C. S.

Heisman, R. M.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
WASIIINGTON, D C 20540 
REPLY TO March 27, 1971 
ATTN OF. 
i f i c  & Technical Information Div is ion  
At ten t ion :  M i s s  Winnie M. Morgan 
FROM: G P / O f f i c e  of A s s i s t a n t  General 
Counsel f o r  Pa ten t  Matters 
SUBJECT: Announcement of NASA-Owned 
U . S .  Pa ten t s  i n  STAR 
I n  accordance w i t h  the  procedures contained i n  the  Code G P  
t o  code US1 memorandum on t h i s  s u b j e c t ,  dated June 8, 1970, 
the a t t ached  NASA-owned U.S.  p a t e n t  i s  being forwarded f o r  
a b s t r a c t i n g  and announcement i n  NASA STAR. 
The fol lowing information i s  provided: 
U.S.  Pa t en t  No. : 3,345,840 
Corporate Source : North American Aviat ion,  Inc,  
Supplementary 
Corporate Source 
NASA P a t e n t  Case N o . :  XMS-06876 
Please note  t h a t  t h i s  p a t e n t  covers  an invent ion  made by an 
employee of a NASA con t r ac to r .  Pursuant t o  Sec t ion  305(a) of 
t h e  Nat ional  Aeronautics and Space A c t ,  t h e  name of t h e  
Adminis t ra tor  of NASA appears on t h e  f i rs t  page of t h e  p a t e n t ;  
however, the name of t h e  a c t u a l  inventor  (au thor )  appears  a t  
the  heading of Column No. 1 of t h e  S p e c i f i c a t i o n ,  following t h e  
words 'I. . . w i t h  r e s p e c t  t o  an  invent ion  of.  . . .'I 
Gayle Parker 
Enclosure: 
Copy of Pa ten t  
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710012061 2020-03-17T02:49:14+00:00Z
36 
Oct. 10,1967 JAMES E. WEBB 3,345,840 
‘ ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL 
AERONAUTICS A N D  SPACE 
Filed Dec. 27, 1966 
ADMlN ISTRATION 
TUBE DIMPLING TOOL 
2 Sheets-Sheet 2 
Charles S. Beuyuk/an 
Rob e /  f M. Hersman 
INVENTORS 
9 345,84 United States Patent Office Patented Oct. 1967 
'1 
3,3 4 5,s 4 0 
TUBE DIMPLING TOOL 
James E. Webb. Administrator of the National Aero- 
nautics and Siace Administration, with respect to an in- 
vention of Charles 9. Beuyukian, Gardena, and Robert 
M. Heisman, Palos Verdes, Peninsula, Cali. 
Filed Dec. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 605,100 
6 Claims. (Cl. 72-34) 
The invention described herein was made in the per- 
formance of work under a NASA contract and is subject 
to the provision of Section 305 of the National Aero- 
nautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 85-568 (72 
Stat. 435); U.S.C. 2457. 
This invention relates to a hand tool, and more par- 
ticularly lo a tool for forming dimples and nipples on the 
end portion of a tube. 
When tubes of different diameters are brazed together 
in a series-flow relationship, the tube of smaller diameter 
is not always centered with respect to the larger tube 
which is sleeved thereover, and the resulting mismatch at 
the brazed joint adversely affects the braze quality. Here- 
tofore there have been known commercially available 
tools for satisfactorily centering tubes for the purpose 
noted above and centering of a tube in concentric rela- 
tion to a fitting structure has usually been accomplished 
by visual inspection. With the tool of this invention nip- 
ples can be formed on the end portion of the smaller 
tube, each of which corresponds in height to the difference 
between the outer diameter of the smaller tube and the 
inner diameter of the larger tube which is to be fitted 
thereover. Consequently, the nipples serve as accurate 
spacer means for precisely centering the smaller tube 
preparatory to brazing. 
Although there are tools currently available which can 
be used for forming nipples and dimples in tubular mem- 
bers, these are usually complex devices comprising op- 
posed die members which are movable by wedge or screw 
means. No tools are known which can be easily held in the 
hand to perform very precise dimpling and nipple form- 
ing and at the same time provide means for controlling 
and accurately measuring the height of a nipple so formed. 
The tool of this invention which has been devised to 
overcome the attendant disadvantages of the prior art 
devices and methods is a plier-like device which may be 
held in one hand while accomplishing a precise tube 
dimpling and nipple forming operation. The device com- 
prises a pair of conventional pivotally connected lever 
arms which provide opposed handles on one side of the 
pivot axis and on the other side of the pivot are operative- 
ly connected to a pair of jaw members which are adapted 
for relative opening and closing movement in correspond- 
ence with movement of the handle. The jaw members are 
mounted on the lever arms in a manner so as to move 
only in parallel motion relative to one another. 
The tool is also provided with a mandrel which is car- 
ried by one of the jaw members and is adapted to re- 
ceive a tube in sleeved relationship thereon. A projec- 
tion is provided in the surface of the mandrel and the 
second jaw member is formed with a clamping surface 
and a bore therethrough in registry with the mandrel and 
the mandrel projection, respectively. When a tube is 
sleeved over the mandrel and the mandrel projection, 
gripping the handles of the device effects a closing move- 
ment of the jaw members which compresses the tube 
against the clamping surface and forms a dimple in the 
inner surface of the tube and a corresponding nipple on 
the outer surface. 
The tool of this invention also includes a contact pin 
which extends through the bore in the second jaw mem- 
ber and contacts the surface of the tube which is to be 
deformed opposite the mandrel projection. The contact 
2 
pin is operatively connected to a displacement measur- 
ing dial gauge of conventional type whereby, as a nipple 
is formed on the tube by closing movement of the jaw 
members, the gauge is driven by the contact pin and pro- 
5 vides an accurate indication of the height of the nipple. 
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages 
of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same 
become better understood by reference to the following 
detailed description when considered in connection with 
the accompanying drawings in which like reference nu- 
merals designate like parts throughout the figures there- 
of and wherein: 
FIG. 1 is a view of the dimpling and nipple forming 
tool of this invention, partly in section, showing the tool 
15 in the operative condition of forming a nipple on the end 
of a tube; 
FIG. 2 is a view showing the relationship of the jaw 
members of the tool in FIG. 1 and the mandrel carried 
by one of the jaw members; 
FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the device of FIG. 
1 as taken along the broken line 3-3 and looking in the 
direction of the arrows: 
FIG. 4 is a top view of the tool of FIG. 1 with the 
indicator gauge and gauge mounting means removed 
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view through the device in 
FIG. 2 as taken along the broken line 5-43 and looking 
in the direction of the arrows; and 
FIGS. 6 and 7 are front and side views, respectively, 
30 of the mounting means for supporting the indicator gauge 
on the upper jaw member. 
Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 4 of the 
drawings, the tool PI) of this invention comprises a pair 
of lever arms 11 and 12 which are pivotally connected 
35 intermediate their ends by a pivot pin 13 in a manner to 
provide opposed handles l l a  and 12a, respectively. For 
approximately half of their length each of the lever arms 
has a bifurcated portion, which portions receive upper 
and lower jaw members 16 and 17, respectively. The 
40 upper jaw member 16 is pivotally connected to one end 
of the lever arm 12 by a pivot 18. It is also slidably and 
pivotally connected to the handle portion of the lever 
arm 11 by means of a pivot pin 19 which extends trans- 
versely across the bifurcated section of the lever arm 11 
45 and is received in an elongate slot 20 which extends in- 
wardly from the end of the jaw member. The lower jaw 
member 17 is similarly connected to the lever arms by 
a pivotal connection 22 with lever arm 11 and a pivotal 
sliding connection with the handle portion of lever arm 
50 12 by means of the pivot pin 23 which seats within a 
slot 24 in the end of the jaw member 17. By this manner 
of connection, opening and closing movement of the jaw 
members results in relative parallel motion of the jaw 
members upon corresponding opening and closing move- 
The lower jaw member 17 is provided with a bore 25 
which extends inwardly from one end 26 of the jaw 17 
and is adapted to receive a cylindrical mandrel 27 therein. 
The upper surface of the mandrel 27 is provided with a 
60 projection 28 in the form of a hard chrome steel ball 
which is seated and press fitted in a conforming semi- 
spherical depression provided in the mandrel. As best 
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mandrel 27 is also formed 
wLth a flat surface 29 at the end thereof which is inserted 
65 into the bore 25. The surface 29 provides a seat for the 
end of a set screw 30 which is threaded through a bore 
31 extending upwardly from the lower surface of the jaw 
member. The set screw secures the mandrel to the jaw 17 
in a position with the projection 28 facing the upper 
As best shown in FIG. 4, the upper jaw member, which 
is of greater length than the lower jaw, is formed with a 
20 
25 therefrom; 
% ment of the handles l l a  and 12a. 
70 jaw member 16. 
3,345,840 
3 4 
concave lower surface 35 in the end portion thereof which It should also be understood that the foregoing dis- 
overlies the mandrel 27. It is also provided with a vertical closure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the 
bore 36 which extends therethrough in registry with the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and 
spherical projection on the mandrel 27. modifications of the examples in the invention herein 
For performing a dimple and nipple forming operation, 5 chosen for the purposes of the disclosure and whiich do 
the tube T which is to be deformed is sleeved over the not constitute departure from the spirit and scope of the 
mandrel 27 until the end of the tube abuts the end 26 of invention. 
the lower jaw member 17. It will therefore be apparent What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters 
that by gripping the handles of the tool 18) and compress- Patent is: 
ing the same, the upper and lower jaws 16 and 17 are 1. In a tool of the type having first and second lever 
moved towards one another in a parallel motion until arms which are pivotally connected intermediate their 
the mandrel 27 has forced the tube against the clamping ends to provide opposed handles on one side of the 
surface of the upper jaw member. By slightly increasing pivot axis and are operatively connected to first and 
the pressure on the handles, the projection 30 of the second jaw members, respectively, for relative opening 
mandrel forces an indentation or dimple on the inner 15 and closing movement of the jaw members on correspond- 
surface of the tube T and a corresponding nipple on the ing movement of the handles, the combination comprising: 
outer surface thereof which protrudes upwardly into the a mandrel carried by said first jaw member; 
bore 36 in the upper jaw member. The parallel movement nipple forming means in the nature of a projection on 
of the jaws provides for accuracy in forming dimples and the surface of said mandrel, said second jaw mem- 
uniformity in forming a plurality of nipples to the same 20 ber having a clamping surface in registry with said 
specification. mandrel and said projection, whereby a tube sleeved 
However, to provide a means for controlling the height over said mandrel is adapted to be clamped and com- 
of a nipple formed on the tube T and to permit the use pressed between said mandrel and said clamping sur- 
of the same mandrel 27 for deforming tubes with other face by closing pivotal movement of said handles and 
nipple heights, the tool 10 is provided with a displace- 25 jaw members to thereby form a dimple on the inner 
ment measuring dial gauge 40 of conventional type which surface of said tube and a corresponding nipple on 
is carried on the upper jaw 16 by a generally rectangular the outer surface of said tube by said nipple forming 
shaped mounting member 41. The mounting member 41 means; and 
is a generally rectangular block formed with a vertical gauge means carried on said second jaw member for 
bore 42 which extends through the block and a channel 30 measuring and indicating the height of a nipple 
43 in the lower end of the block which seats over the formed on said tube by said nipple forming means. 
jaw member 16. The block 41 is fastened to the upper 2. A tool as described in claim 1 wherein said gauge 
jaw member by set screws 43 which are threaded on holes means comprises an elongate contact pin mounted for 
44 formed in the block 41. axial movement on said second jaw member, said contact 
The displacement measuring gauge 40 is provided with 35 pin having one end thereof adapted to engage the outer 
a protruding cylinder 50 which is sleeved over a plunger surface of a tube when in sleeved position over the man- 
51 and is inserted into the bore 42 of the mount 41. The drel, whereby the forming of a nipple on said tube by 
cylinder 50 is locked therein by means of a set screw said nipple forming means produces axial movement of 
46 to thereby secure the displacement measuring gauge said contact pin corresponding to the. height of the 
to the jaw 16. The end of the plunger 51, which is opera- 40 nipple, and dial indicating means responsive to axial 
tively associated with the dial of the gauge, contacts the movement of the contact pin for indicating the height of 
upper end 55 of a contact pin 56 which is inserted into the nipple. 
the bore 36 of the upper jaw member 16. The lower end 3. A tool comprising first and second lever arms pivoted 
of the contact pin engages the outer surface of the tube intermediate their ends to provide opposed handles on 
T when it is sleeved over the mandrel 27. 45 one side of the Divot axis: _ _  
It will therefore be noted that when the handles of 
the tool 10 are gripped with sufficient force to move the 
tube T against the concave clamping surface of the upper 
jaw 16, the contact pin is forced to rise, thereby produc- 
ing a displacement measurement indication on the dial of 50 
the gauge 40. The dial indicator gauge is then adjusted 
to zero and pressure on the tool handles is increased so 
that the deforming projection 28 of the mandrel dimples 
the inner surface of the tube and correspondingly forms 
a nipple in the outer surface thereof. As this occurs, the 55 
contact pin 56 is moved upwardly in axial movement by 
a distance corresponding to the height of the nipple which 
has been formed. The movement of the contact pin forces 
the plunger of the dial gauge upwardly, which translates 
the plunger movement to rotary movement of the dial in- 60 
dicating pointer, whereby an accurate reading of the 
height of the dimple can be readily determined. 
It will therefore be apparent that an extremely ac- 
curate nipple height can be obtained by the use of the 
tool of this invention. The tool may be used to form any 65 
number of deformations around the end of a tube which, 
when properly spaced, permit accurate center alignment 
of the tube in an aperture of a fitting member for brazing 
procedures. As a result, more accurate and economical 
assemblv of brazed ioints is made uossible with an im- 71) . -
provemint of braze quality. - -  
Although the tool 10 has been described with regard 
to an application for dimpling and nipple forming the 
end of a tube, it could as readily be used to similarly 
deform other members such as metal plates, and the like. 75 
means comprises: 
an elongate contact pin which extends through a bore 
provided in said second jaw member and is mounted 
on said second jaw member for axial movement 
first and second jaw members operatively connected to 
said lever arms for relative opening and closing 
parallel movement in correspondence with movement 
of said handles, said first jaw member being slidably 
and pivotally connected to the handle of said first 
lever arm and pivotally connected to said second 
lever arm on the other side of said pivot axis, said 
second jaw member being slidably and pivotally con- 
nected to the handle of said second lever arm and 
pivotally connected to said first lever arm on the other 
side of said pivot axis; 
a mandrel carried by said first jaw member; 
deforming means in the nature of a projection on the 
surface of said mandrel, said second jaw member 
having a clamping surface in registry with said man- 
drel whereby a tube sleeved over said mandrel is 
adapted to be clamped and compressed between said 
mandrel and said clamping surface by closing paral- 
lel movement of said jaw members to thereby form a 
dimple on the inner surface of said tube and a corre- 
sponding nipple on the outer surface of said tube 
by said deforming means; and 
gauge means carried on said second jaw member for 
measuring and indicating the height of a nipple 
formed on said tube by said deforming means. 
4. A tool as described in claim 3 wherein said gauge 
3,345,840 
5 
thereon with one end of the contact pin adapted to 
engage the outer surface of a tube when in sleeved 
position over said mandrel, whereby the forming of 
a nipple on said tube by compression of the tube 
against said projection produces axial movement of 
the contact pin corresponding to the height of the 
nipple, and dial indicating means responsive to axial 
movement of said contact pin for indicating the height 
of a nipple formed on said tube by said deforming 
means. 
5. In a tool of the type having first and second lever 
arms which are pivotally connected intermediate their ends 
to provide opposed handles on one side of the pivot axis 
and are operatively connected to first and second jaw 
members, respectively, for relative opening and closing 
movement of the jaw members on corresponding move- 
ment of the handles, the combination comprising: 
projection means on said first jaw member, said second 
jaw member having a clamping surface in registry 
with said projection means whereby a tube sleeved 
over said projection means is adapted to be clamped 
and compressed between said projection means and 
said clamping surface by closing pivotal movement 
of said handles and jaw members to thereby form a 
dimple on the inner surface of said tube and a corre- 
sponding nipple on the outer surface of said tube; 
and 
6 
10 
15 
20 
25 
6 
gauge means carried on said second jaw member for 
measuring and indicating the height of a nipple 
formed on said tube by said projection means. 
6. A tool as described in claim 5, wherein said gauge 
means comprises an elongate contact pin mounted for 
axial movement on said second jaw member, said contact 
pin having one end thereof adapted to engage the outer 
surface of a tube when in sleeved position over said pro- 
jection means whereby the forming of a nipple on said 
tube by said projection means produces axial movement 
of said contact pin corresponding to the height of the 
nipple, and dial indicating means responsive to axial move- 
ment of the contact pin for indicating the height of the 
nipple. 
References Cited 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 
1,513,641 1011924 Simmons _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  72-34 
2,645,142 711953 Schwenzfeier _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  72-409 
2,828,780 411958 Gray _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  7 2 4 0 9  
2,890,611 611959 McPherson _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  72-34 
3,146,804 911964 Wallshein _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  140-106 
CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Exminer. 
R. D. GREFE, Assistant Examiner. 


Tube dimpling tool Patent

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