World-leading tube bending and end-forming technology specialists, AddisonMckee, have designed, built and supplied two highly innovative RidgeLock machines for one of America’s largest manufacturers of heating, venting and professional air conditioning products (HVAC).

In a typical domestic or commercial heating system, a heat exchanger suppliers is used to transfer heat generated by burning oil or gas to the air for distribution. The heat transfer tubes contained within the system require precise sealing to the heat exchanger panel in order to prevent the escape of gases, and this is normally done by means of a ‘RidgeLock’.

In the AddisonMckee RidgeLock process, expandable segmented tooling is inserted into the heat exchanger tubes (bent at 180 degrees into a sheet metal panel) in order to create a rim that acts as a secure lock between the tubes and panel.

For the customer in question, one AddisonMckee RidgeLock machine has been designed to perform locking operations for small inner tubes (1.75”OD x 0.40” wall aluminized mild steel or stainless) and the other machine performs the locking operation on larger outer tubes of 2.25” OD x .040” wall aluminized mild steel or stainless.

Both machines have been designed to hold two sets of tools – one each for the end of the tubes. A industrial roller table located between the two machines assists in conveying the component assemblies.

AddisonMckee RidgeLock machines are designed to perform locking operations by use of a manual set up feature of a micrometer stop nut on the professional cylinder to control the machine. Tubes are expanded by use of segmented fingers and a tapered mandrel inside the tube to lock the tube to the heat exchanger plate.