Embodying Three Or More Tools (e.g., Tube Expander) Patents (Class 72/393)
  • Patent number: 11732546
    Abstract: An ultra-high expansion downhole packer includes an anchor, a primary expansion cone, and a central tube. The anchor is provided with a first tapered through-hole having a large end sleeved at a small end of the primary expansion cone. The anchor is radially expandable to anchor with an inner wall of a wellbore. The primary expansion cone is provided with a second tapered through-hole, and the second tapered through-hole has a large end sleeved at a small end of the central tube. The primary expansion cone is a radially expandable structure, and the primary expansion cone supports the anchor after an expansion. The primary expansion cone is provided between the anchor and the central tube. The primary expansion cone is first driven into the anchor to make the anchor radially expand, and then the central tube is driven into the primary expansion cone to make the anchor radially expand again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: VERTECHS OIL & GAS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chengsong Qiu, Wei Zheng, Wei Zhang, Qijun Zeng
  • Patent number: 11667089
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of a composite material of a lobed structure (10) of a flow mixer which comprises a portion having a plurality of lobes (17, 19). For this purpose, a fibrous preform containing a resin will be produced in a simple geometric configuration of developable revolution. This is an intermediate state. By exploiting the thermoformable or thermosetting nature of the resin, the geometry of this intermediate preform is modified to deform it with limited offsets towards the final geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN CERAMICS
    Inventors: Gaël Bouchy, Eric Philippe
  • Patent number: 11660804
    Abstract: A device for expanding and shaping the end of pipes includes a head with means for connecting to an elastically deformable expanding element with a first elongated portion for being introduced into the end of the pipe, the expanding element having a central through hole, and an extracting member including an expansion head suitable to move from outside to inside the central through hole of the expanding element or the other way round, so as to cause deformation, or to allow the expanding element to elastically return to an undeformed state, means for moving said extracting member, wherein: —the connecting means is suitable for steadily constraining the expanding element to the head for a plurality of different pipes and to allow the expanding element to be replaced when worn out, the elongated portion of the expanding element is made of an elastically deformable polyurethane plastic material having certain characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: AQUATECHNIK GROUP S.P.A.
    Inventor: Lino Petena
  • Patent number: 11633775
    Abstract: An expansion tool includes a housing, a motor supported within the housing, a mandrel, and a drive mechanism configured to convert a rotational input from the motor into translational movement of the mandrel. The drive mechanism includes a cam and a drive shaft coupled to the cam. The expansion tool further includes a frame including a hub and a neck extending from the hub and having an opening. A working element is coupled to the neck and has a plurality of jaws movable from a closed position toward an expanded position in response to movement of the mandrel from a retracted position toward an extended position. The mandrel extends through the opening to engage the jaws, and the drive shaft is rotatably supported by the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Wekwert, Jacob Lindsey, Peter J. Davies, Justin Miller, Andrew J. Smith, Troy C. Thorson, Ryan J. Denissen, John S. Scott
  • Patent number: 11596999
    Abstract: An expansion tool includes a working element configured to expand an end of a tube. The working element includes a plurality of jaws movable between a closed position and an expanded position. The expansion tool also includes first mandrel with a first contact surface and a second mandrel coupled to the first mandrel. The second mandrel has a second contact surface. The first mandrel and the second mandrel are movable together relative to the jaws between a retracted position and an extended position. The first contact surface and the second contact surface are engageable with the jaws to move the jaws from the closed position toward the expanded position in response to movement of the first mandrel and the second mandrel from the retracted position toward the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Peter J. Davies
  • Patent number: 11370564
    Abstract: Disclosed is an adjustable internal support restraint device for roundness control of a cabin component. The present disclosure solves the problem that the existing cabin components are prone to roundness distortion in a heat treatment process. The adjustable internal support restraint device includes a central limiting column and at least two circumferential ejecting correcting assemblies that are coaxially mounted on the central limiting column in a sleeving manner. Each circumferential ejecting correcting assembly includes a mounting piece and a plurality of ejector blocks. The mounting piece is mounted on the central limiting column in a sleeving manner. The plurality of the ejector blocks are annularly arranged outside the mounting piece and are in threaded connection with the mounting piece. One side surface, close to the inner cavity profile of a cabin, of each ejector block and the inner cavity profile of the cabin are arranged according to the shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Harbin Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jiantang Jiang, Hao Jiang, Yong Yuan, Wenzhu Shao, Liang Zhen
  • Patent number: 11359838
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a tube expansion portion formed by expanding a heat transfer tube so that an outer peripheral surface of the heat transfer tube is pressed against an inner peripheral surface of a hole provided in a side wall portion of a case. The tube expansion portion includes first and second bulge portions positioned respectively on the inside and the outside of the side wall portion so as to sandwich the side wall portion in an axial length direction of the heat transfer tube and configured such that respective outer peripheral surfaces thereof partially bulge outward in a radial direction of the heat transfer tube, an end portion tip end of the heat transfer tube is positioned apart from the second bulge portion, and the end portion tip end and a part in the vicinity thereof are expanded so as to be included in a part of the tube expansion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Se, Shoji Okuda, Hideyuki Fujisawa, Taihei Terasawa, Masaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 11110646
    Abstract: An expansion toolhead configured to enable the expansion of multiple different sized diameters of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing with a single expansion toolhead. The expansion toolhead including a cap operably coupled to an expansion tool, and a plurality of jaws forming a 360 degree jaw section operably coupled to the cap, each of the plurality of jaws including an expansion tool interface portion forming a conical recess enabling a cone-shaped wedge of the expansion tool to move the jaw section between an unexpanded position and an expanded position, and a PEX tubing interface portion having a distal end, a proximal end and a plurality of lands positioned therebetween configured to form a corresponding plurality of substantially uniform diameter portions of the jaw section sequentially increasing in diameter between the distal end and the proximal end for the expansion of multiple different standard sized diameters of VEX tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Brochman Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Brochman
  • Patent number: 11002398
    Abstract: The application provides a system comprising a water blocking device, a support structure, an injection machine, a resin impregnated lining hose and a light curing machine. The water blocking device blocks water and creates space for repairing. The support structure jacks up the deformation of pipelines. The injection machine injects polymer into the gap between the support structure and the HDPE pipes and the defective soil. A resin impregnated lining hose is inflated to attach to the support structure before being cured by UV lights. A CIPP (Cured-in-place pipe) liner is formed. The application carries out the trenchless rehabilitation of deformation of HDPE pipelines by integrating the method of the lining steel ring supporting, polymer injection and CIPP process. The defective soils are stabilized and further defects after repairing is avoided. The application is advantageous to the trenchless rehabilitation for double wall corrugated pipeline (diameter over 800 mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignees: WELEAD infrastructure Engineering Technology (Zhengzhou), Ltd., SAFEKEY Engineering Technology (Zhengzhou), Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuming Wang, Hongyuan Fang, Peng Zhao, Yanhui Pan, Bin Li, Hang He
  • Patent number: 10994380
    Abstract: A device for manipulating a hollow shaft configured to create a pivot link between a first element and a second element. The manipulation device comprises a cylindrical body having a diameter variable by radial contraction or radial expansion of the cylindrical body, a module for controlling the diameter of the cylindrical body configured so that the diameter of the cylindrical body has alternatively at least a first diameter suitable for the cylindrical body to be displaced in the hollow shaft and a second diameter suitable for the cylindrical body to be blocked in the hollow shaft. The cylindrical body comprises an end configured to protrude from the hollow shaft when the cylindrical body is blocked in the hollow shaft. The manipulation device allows the alignment of the orifices due to the end configuration of the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Jérôme Colmagro, Aurélien Mauconduit, Julien Moulis
  • Patent number: 10960449
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a tool and repair method that facilitates restoring an exhaust pipe that has been become deformed as the result of a rear end collision which both restores to the pipes original shape and re-aligns the pipes to their original configuration, so the exhaust pipes can be re-attached to the pipe hanger without the need to replace the exhaust system pipes. The tool is comprised of a hydraulic piston cylinder, a stationary rectangular steel head attached to the body of the hydraulic piston, and a movable flat plate, located inside of the rectangular steel head and connected to the piston shaft of the hydraulic piston cylinder. To use the tool the deformed section of pipe is placed within the head of steel head of the compressive pipe repair apparatus when the cylinder piston shaft and movable flat plate are retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventors: James Dreby, Daniel Dreby
  • Patent number: 10888915
    Abstract: The invention relates first to a device for applying a pressing force, comprising two pressing jaws (25, 26) which can be moved linearly relative to each other via a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly (8). Additionally, an actuation cone (13) is provided for an expanding device (36), said cone carrying out a forward and rearward movement depending on an actuation of the hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly (8). In order to advantageously develop the device, the actuation cone (13) is connected to the hydraulic piston (9) of the hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly (8) for the forward and rearward movement. The invention further relates to a device for applying a pressing force, comprising two pressing jaws which can be moved linearly relative to each other and which can be held in receiving areas and to a pair of pressing jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GUSTAV KLAUKE GMBH
    Inventors: Egbert Frenken, Roman Bobowicz
  • Patent number: 10821582
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in connecting a cover member to a retaining member coupled to a nut mounted to a shaft includes a body portion, arms, and a plurality of pressing members. The arms extend from the body portion relative to the nut such that contacting portions of the arms contact a rear side of the nut to connect the body portion to the nut. The plurality of pressing members extend from the body portion and is alignable with the plurality of tabs of a cover member when the cover member is located between the body and the nut. The body portion includes a press mechanism configured to cause a first pressing member of the pressing members to contact a first tab of the cover member to deform the first tab toward a retaining member coupled to the nut mounted on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Temper Axle Products Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Rode, Sean E. Strait
  • Patent number: 10814458
    Abstract: An arrangement for working a tube end includes: an operating cylinder with a piston displaceable along an longitudinal axis; and a tube mounting, a tool holder being provided at an end of the piston facing the tube mounting. The operating cylinder is provided as a tandem cylinder. At least two cylinder stages are offset along the longitudinal axis. The piston includes connected piston segments, each piston segment being allocated to a cylinder stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Martin Maubach
  • Patent number: 10703509
    Abstract: A bond fixture including a plurality of supports mounted about a surface. At least one of the plurality of supports includes a vertical member and a hand crank operable to adjust a position of the vertical member. A first fixture is disposed at an end of the bond fixture and is movable relative to the surface. The first fixture includes a base and a support extending from the base. A second fixture includes a first member and a second member movably coupled. A fastener extending between the first member and the second member controls relative movement of the first member and the second member to define an opening there between. Each of the first member and the second member includes a plate having a heater formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Oren Smith, David Littlejohn, Sven Roy Lofstrom
  • Patent number: 10612785
    Abstract: A tool for repairing an out-of-round component such as a combustor body is disclosed. The tool includes a base including a first arcuate member; a second arcuate member; and a linear actuator coupling the second arcuate member to the base. The linear actuator moves the second arcuate member between a retracted position out of engagement with the out-of-round component and an extended position in which the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member engage an interior surface of the out-of-round component in an opposing relationship to force the out-of-round component into a more round state compared to an initial state of the out-of-round component. A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Merlau, Joseph Daniel Becker, Stuart Craig Hanson, Brian Michael Leinonen, Gregory Scott Means
  • Patent number: 10343359
    Abstract: A machine for retreading tires includes a rotatable hub that includes a moveable conical element, and an expandable rim disposed around the rotatable hub. The expandable rim includes a plurality of shoes. Each shoe of the plurality of shoes may have a base portion and a rim portion. The base portion may have a two-piece construction that allows for replacement of a worn interface that may include a channel and a ramp. A method for assembling an expandable rim for use in a tire retreading machine, and a method for servicing a machine having an expandable rim are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. Henriksen, Todd R. Frisbie, Christopher J. A. Ferrell
  • Patent number: 9987672
    Abstract: A hydraulic tube expander includes expanding jaws engageable with an interior surface of a tube to expand the tube; a source of hydraulic fluid, a valve located between the source and the expanding jaws and a single-action release actuator operatively coupled to the valve. The valve is moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, hydraulic fluid can pass from the source to the expanding jaws and in the open position the hydraulic fluid can pass from the expanding jaws to the source. The actuator is movable between first and second positions. In the first position the valve is in the closed position. Movement of the actuator in a direction from the first position toward the second position moves the valve into the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOL COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Houle, Roman Lomeli
  • Patent number: 9975289
    Abstract: A tool operable to expand an end of a pipe, such as PEX pipe, has a jaw assembly with jaws movable between a closed position and an expanded position and rotatable about a longitudinal axis. A motor drives an output spindle driven by the motor, which in turn drives a radial cam. A wedge is movable by the radial cam in a reciprocating motion along the axis, causing the wedge to move between a first position where the jaws are in the closed position and a second position where the jaws are in the expanded position. A rotating ring is mounted on the wedge and connected to the jaws. The rotating ring is driven by the output spindle for rotating the jaws about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Qingyang Li, Yuelong Xu, Xiaomei Zheng, Michael P. Kunz
  • Patent number: 9895734
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing at least one undercut in a sheet-metal profile that is slotted or closed may include an inner core portion and an outer core portion, which together can be inserted within the sheet-metal profile and/or may support a semi-finished sheet-metal product from which the sheet-metal profile is formed. The inner core portion and the outer core portion may have faces that mate with one another such that when the inner core portion rotates or translates relative to the outer core portion, the outer core portion is forced away from the inner core portion. To cause this behavior, the faces may be undulating, inclined, or cam-like, for example. In effect, a cross-sectional profile of the device may be reduced at least for purposes of extracting the device from the sheet-metal profile after the undercuts have been formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Thomas Groβerüschkamp, Thomas Flöth, Michael Brüggenbrock
  • Patent number: 9808852
    Abstract: A hand expansion device is capable of expanding pipe ends. The device includes an expanding head, which can be actuated by an electric motor and/or by a hydraulic medium and which has a plurality of segments. The segments can be actuated by an expanding mandrel that can be moved in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the expanding head. The segments are expanded in a direction which is transverse to the movement direction of the expanding mandrel as the result of a first triggering of an expansion process. A second activation of the hand expansion device is only allowed if it is determined that the hand expansion device was rotated around the longitudinal axis a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: GUSTAV KLAUKE GBMH
    Inventor: Egbert Frenken
  • Patent number: 9555577
    Abstract: A device for expanding an end of a pipe made of a plastic having a shape memory includes a plurality of spreading elements movable in a radial direction from a starting position, in which the spreading elements are insertable by a predetermined distance into the end of the pipe, to an outward-extended position, in which spreading surfaces of the spreading elements are each brought into an effective position against an interior surface of the end of the pipe, so as to expand the end of the pipe. A mechanism is configured to move the spreading elements from the starting position to the outward-extended position. An actuator is configured to vary a maximum radial distance of the spreading surfaces in the outward-extended position from a center axis. At least one fastener is configured to lock the radial maximum radial distance set by the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ROTHENBERGER AG
    Inventor: Arnd Greding
  • Patent number: 9550223
    Abstract: Embodiments provide improved flaring and swaging bits, and methods for flaring and swaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Bruno Anjos
  • Patent number: 9545750
    Abstract: An embodiment of a portable tube flaring system for flaring a flexible plastic tube end includes a hand-held wand with a heating element for heating a tube heater receptacle, which provides direct contact heating of the tube end about the entire outer periphery of the tube end. A mandrel device is configured for manual insertion into the heated tube end by the user after the tube end is removed from the wand and heater receptacle. A power/control unit is connected to the wand by a wiring bundle to provide electrical power to the heating element, and to optionally provide a visual and/or audio signal to the user for indicating when the tube end should be removed from the wand receptacle, and thereafter, when the mandrel may be removed from the tube end after sufficient cooling or curing time. The system may be carried by a person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Fit-Line, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank F. Hayes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9517536
    Abstract: A device for repairing a damaged zone in a first cavity, with a first diameter, of an intermediate layer interposed between two layers that have a second cavity with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The device includes a stop that forms an abutment at the interface between the first cavity and one of the second cavities, a ring having a deformable corrugated shape, an initial inside diameter, an initial outside diameter smaller than the second diameter, and being positioned in the first cavity, a deformation element having an elastically variable outside diameter initially smaller than the initial inside diameter of the ring, and a tool being able to increase the outside diameter of the deformation element so that it deforms the ring in the first cavity in order to reduce the difference between the first and second diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
    Inventors: Nicolas Boulet, Richard Combrouze, Julien Astruc
  • Patent number: 9446441
    Abstract: The aim of this invention is easy to use, practical, light, compact, mobile tool, designed for restoration of the formwork props. This tool very effectively removes uneven places and dents present inside the formwork prop without the need for electric power. No special premises or sites are needed for restoration of the formwork props. The tool is very compact and easily packed into a case-shaped box. When performing formwork prop restoration works, no special physical power of a person is necessary. All of the previously mentioned characteristics are ensured by the special design of this tool, where one ending is inlet into the damaged formwork prop close to the place, which is to be repaired, while the other ending, when using the screwdriver, is rotated around its axis. This rotary motion in one ending of the tool pulls the wedge, which is in the other ending of the tool, and, in this way, it spreads the plates, which touch the walls of the formwork prop, and evens them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventor: Linas Adomavicius
  • Patent number: 9409224
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for radially expanding a container body, including the steps of: i) providing a cylindrical container body having a longitudinal weld seam; ii) providing the container body at least one end with a flange; iii) clamping the container body circumferentially at the flange in a suspended state; and iv) radially expanding the suspended and clamped body from the clamped body end towards the suspended body end, to an apparatus therefore and to the container body and container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Impress Group B.V.
    Inventor: Johan Willem Roeterdink
  • Patent number: 9290154
    Abstract: An apparatus for disabling a motor vehicle comprises an expandable head adapted to be inserted and secured into the exhaust pipe of an automobile, motorcycle, go-kart, scooter, boat, tractor or other vehicle having an internal combustion engine. A shaft of the apparatus may be configured to engage with a tool, e.g., a socket wrench, torque wrench, drill driver, or other tool, which may impart a rotational force on the shaft to radially expand a head of the apparatus and secure it within a tailpipe of a vehicle, such that buildup of pressure within the vehicle exhaust system does not expel the apparatus from the pipe. An axial bore through the shaft may be fitted at a terminal end with a pressure release valve to selectively release pressure, e.g., before removing the device, or to allow operation of the vehicle while the apparatus is secured within the tailpipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Gary S. Berg
  • Patent number: 9248617
    Abstract: A pipe end is expanded by an expander tool (1) comprising a plurality of jaws (10), which are radially movable in relation to a center axis between a retracted position and expanded position. The jaws (10) when retracted are intended to be inserted into the pipe end. The jaws (10) have outer jaw surfaces which are intended for engagement with the inner surface of the pipe end and which lie adjacent to one another in the retracted position of the jaws (10). The tool (1) further comprises a piston (2) or a cone with a tapered end for moving the jaws (10) between said positions and means moving the piston (2) or the cone in a reciprocating manner in the axial direction for expanding the pipe end. The tool (1) further comprises support structures whereby the jaws (10) are supported in a circumferential direction in the expanded position. A method for expanding a pipe using such a tool is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: UPONOR INNOVATION AB
    Inventors: Yngve Lundequist, Hakan Persson, Erika Sundqvist Byhlin, Johan Backlund
  • Patent number: 9162275
    Abstract: A flaring device for flaring a hollow malleable tubular member is provided. A hydraulically powered assembly includes a main body having a cylinder, a lever and a piston member which is received in the cylinder. The main body has an axis and opposing first end and second end. The lever is pivoted on the first end of the main body and operable to drive the piston member to move along the axis. One end of the piston member is formed with a conical expander. The die set is disposed at the second end of the main body and has a plurality of die elements arranged around the axis. The conical expander of the piston member is actuated to move axially and outwardly so as to radially drive the die elements to flare the hollow malleable tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventor: Chieh-Yu Cheng
  • Patent number: 9079235
    Abstract: A tool assembly for forming a workpiece into a housing with a non-round design outer profile at least partially defined by an outer surface at a design position reduced from the initial position thereof. The tool assembly includes a ring portion having a bore therein at least partially defined by an inner surface, and an insert portion with a back plate and a number of elongate jaw segments, each jaw segment having between a back end thereof engaged with the back plate. When the insert portion is moved from an open condition to a closed condition, the inner surface of the ring portion urges the jaw segments inwardly, causing the jaw segments to engage substantially the entire outer surface and to move the outer surface from an initial position to the design position, reducing an initial outer profile to the design outer profile and forming the workpiece into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: GWS Tube Forming Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Sojak, James E. Kys
  • Publication number: 20150000368
    Abstract: An expansion head for expansion tools for hollow work-pieces, particularly for the ends of plastic pipes and metal-plastic composite pipes, comprising a union cap having a guide flange directed radially inward, and a set of expandable jaws of sector-shaped design, each received individually by an inner flange sector overlapping the guide flange so that they are radially movable in the union cap, wherein the set of sector-shaped expandable jaws is movable between a closed state and an expansion state, and in a closed state, an approximately cylindrical lateral area is formed by an envelope of the outer walls of the set of expandable jaws, wherein characterized in that each expandable jaw is provided with at least one recess extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the expandable jaws so that in a closed state of the expansion head, the surface of the outer walls of the set of expandable jaws corresponds to 25% to 75% of the surface of the envelope of the outer walls of the set of expandable jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Sebastian Bärthlein, Sven Christoph, Richard Sapper
  • Patent number: 8881572
    Abstract: A supporting core for using in a device for forming plates into a structured hollow profile and a method for producing structured hollow profiles from a plate, which on the one hand ensures an all-over support of the plate, and still enables the production of hollow profiles with a variable cross-section or a curved course, is provided by including individual supporting members, which when pushed together at least in part form as a surface an inner contour of the hollow profile to be produced and are interconnected by means of coupling elements, wherein the coupling elements allow the supporting members to be pulled-apart, and wherein the supporting members are interconnected in a hinged manner in the pulled-apart position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Michael Brüggenbrock, Thomas Flehmig, Jörg Gorschlüter, Harald Silz
  • Patent number: 8857036
    Abstract: A method of forming a leak tight connection between a pipe and a port made of different metals is described. A leak tight connection between a pipe made of a first metal and a port made of a second metal is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Christoph Kuebel
  • Publication number: 20140208816
    Abstract: For aging deformation of a reaction vessel used for production of titanium sponge by the Kroll method, the deformation of the reaction vessel can be corrected to a desired deformation. The apparatus for correcting the deformation corrects by being inserted inside of the cylindrical deformation of the reaction vessel, the apparatus has multiple cylinder arms radially extendable to a circumference, a deformation-correcting head arranged on a top part of the cylinder arm, a hydraulic power unit connected to the cylinder arm and driving the deformation-correcting head, a detecting means for the stroke of the deformation-correcting head, and a measuring means for the pressing force against the reaction vessel. Furthermore, the method for correcting the deformation of the reaction vessel using the apparatus has a step of pressing the reaction vessel while adjusting stroke of the deformation-correcting head depending on an amount of deformation of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: TOHO TITANIUM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru NAKASHIMA, Tarou TOMITA, Atsushi SAKAGAMI
  • Patent number: 8763439
    Abstract: A tool to expand an end of a pipe includes a plurality of jaws movable between a closed and expanded position and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and a shuttle movable along the axis between a disengaged position and engaged position wherein the shuttle and the jaws are engaged and rotatable about the axis between a first and second orientation. A spindle moves between a first position in which the shuttle is in the first orientation and is disengaged from the jaws, a second position in which the shuttle is in the first orientation and is engaged with the jaws, and a third position in which the shuttle and jaws are rotated to the second orientation while the jaws are closed. Movement of the spindle to a fourth position moves the jaws to the expanded position and maintains the engagement of the shuttle and the jaws in the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Troy C. Thorson, Andrew J. Weber
  • Publication number: 20140144020
    Abstract: Device for expanding tubes inserted in a finned pack of a heat exchanger including support means of the finned pack, a tool for enlarging the ends of each one of the tubes, a mandrel for the radial expansion of each one of the tubes. The device also includes axial abutment means for both enlarged ends of each one of the tubes in the contraction direction of each one of the tubes during the radial expansion operation. A method for expanding tubes carried out with such a device is also proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: C.M.S. Costruzione Macchine Speciali S.R.L.
    Inventors: VINICIO MAGGIOLO, LORIS SARTORI
  • Patent number: 8656749
    Abstract: The present invention solves a problem with conventional tube expanding method for heat exchanger tubes that is susceptible, when carrying out tube expansion on U-shaped heat exchanger tubes that have a narrower diameter than in the past and forming flare portions in opening portions that have been subjected to tube expansion, to a buckling phenomenon at boundaries between straight portions and hairpin portions of the heat exchanger tubes or a vicinity thereof. Opening portions of U-shaped heat exchanger tubes 56 that pass through a fin layer 54 protrude from an upper end surface of the fin layer 54, hairpin portions 56b of the heat exchanger tubes 56 protrude from a lower end surface of the fin layer 54, and tube expanding billets 22 are inserted into each opening portion of the heat exchanger tubes 56 to carry out primary tube expansion that expands the diameter of each straight tube portion 56a of the heat exchanger tubes 56 to integrate the heat exchanger tubes 56 and fins 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hidaka Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Baba
  • Publication number: 20130305512
    Abstract: A stent is mounted upon a tubular braid. A tapered mandrel is placed within the inner lumen of the braid to allow the stent to be expanded to a larger diameter. The tubular braid acts as a transport that reduces friction between the stent and the mandrel to help uniformly stretch the stent circumferentially. Uniquely shaped expansion mandrels limit the stresses applied to stent struts while the stent is expanded to a larger diameter. A plurality of longitudinally extending expansion blades cooperates to form a complete mandrel body. The expansion blades lie adjacent to one another and are capable of independently moving relative to each other in a longitudinal direction. Subsets of alternating expansion blades can be moved axially relative to the other subsets. The expandable mandrel may include numerous regions having progressively larger diameters than an adjacent region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Green
  • Patent number: 8562331
    Abstract: A pipe end is expanded with the aid of an expander tool (1). The expander tool (1) comprises a plurality of jaws (10) that are radially movable between a retracted and an expanded position. The jaws (10) have outer jaw surfaces which are intended for engagement with the inner surface of the pipe end and which lie adjacent to one another in the retracted position of the jaws (10) and have an at least generally circular arcuate shape in cross-section. The expander tool (1) further comprises a piston (2) or cone with a tapered end for moving the jaws (10) between the retracted and the outer expanded positions and the piston (2) is moved in a reciprocating manner in the axial direction before expanding the pipe end gradually in the stages. The axial reciprocating movement of the piston (2) is guided to rotate the jaws (10) to a certain extent in a circumferential direction after each expansion stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Uponor Innovation AB
    Inventors: Ervin Willy Schramm, Amalia Barragan Gomez, Duane L. Adelman, Randall J. Knapp, Janne Eklund
  • Patent number: 8517715
    Abstract: A tool operable to expand an end of a pipe includes a plurality of jaws movable between a closed position and an expanded position and rotatable about a longitudinal axis and a rotation collar rotationally coupled to each of the plurality of jaws. A shuttle is selectively engageable with the rotation collar and is rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation and a spindle is movable between a first position in which the shuttle is in the first orientation and is disengaged from the rotation collar, a second position in which the shuttle is in the first orientation and is engaged with the rotation collar, and a third position in which the shuttle and the rotation collar are rotated together to the second orientation. The rotation of the rotation collar produces a corresponding rotation of the plurality of jaws while the plurality of jaws is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Troy C. Thorson, Andrew J. Weber
  • Patent number: 8511133
    Abstract: An expander includes a first head member, a rotating portion, a plurality of expanding members, and a tightening structure. The first head member and the rotating portion have conical faces corresponding to each other. The rotating portion has a threaded rod section which is screwed with the first head member. The expanding members are arranged around the two conical faces, and the expanding members tend to approach each other due to the tightening structure. When the rotating portion is rotated to approach the first head member, the expanding members are pushed outward to radially expand a tubular element. In addition, a plurality of restriction slots are formed on the conical face of the first head member, and each expanding member forms a corresponding rib slidably disposed in the restriction slot to improve stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Jun Fan Chen
  • Publication number: 20130192331
    Abstract: A processing tool to process workpieces, for example cold working holes and/or installing expandable members into holes includes an expansion assembly with a plurality of elongated expansion segments. A first band and a second band couple the expansion segments into an array with the expansion segments circumferentially distributed about a longitudinal axis, with a passageway extending between the arrayed segments. The processing tool may include a tuning assembly that allows a radial expansion amount of the expansion assembly to be adjusted without altering a stroke length of a drive member of the processing tool. Sensors may sense various aspects of the processing performed by the processing tool to enable analysis and storage of information regarding performance of the process and/or materials processed by the processing tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: FATIGUE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James Ryunoshin Ross, Timothy Howard Johnson, Doug Bakken, Kevin J. Dooley, Scott Harlow Gulick
  • Publication number: 20130186166
    Abstract: A machine or device for forming tubes or the like includes one or more cables or other elongated flexible members. An expanding forming device is positioned at an end of the cables, and the cables are inserted into a tube that is to be formed. The expanding device expands outwardly, and tension is placed on the cables to pull the cables through the tubes. This causes the tubes to be permanently deformed outwardly to a larger outer diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: KAYDON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kaydon Corporation
  • Patent number: 8474298
    Abstract: A hollow component is adjusted in shape, for example to correct circularity, by means of a shape adjusting tool. The tool comprises a base structure on which adjuster elements are guided. An adjustment ring has a ramp surface corresponding to each adjuster element so that rotation of the adjustment ring causes radial displacement of the adjuster elements 6. The adjuster elements are displaced in unison, and engage the internal surface of the component to be adjusted so as to deform the component to the desired shape. The segments are interconnected by rigid links and a single flexible link, and are supported on bearing rollers mounted on the base structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventor: Andrew V Mather
  • Patent number: 8402806
    Abstract: Installation/processing tools may be used to install one or more expandable structures in a workpiece. An installation/processing tool may include an expansion mandrel, a processing tool, and an expansion assembly having an expansion jaw movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. An expandable portion of the expansion jaw is sized to fit within a passageway of an expandable member. When the mandrel is moved through the expansion assembly, the expansion jaw is moved between the collapsed and expanded configurations to cause expansion of the expandable member. The installation/processing tool can also be used to cold work a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fatigue Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Glenn, Jonathan M. Shafer
  • Patent number: 8387436
    Abstract: An alignment device is located on a mandrel of an installation tool and is used to align a structural member in an opening of a workpiece while seating a radial flange of the structural member against a first surface of the workpiece. The alignment device comprises a disk-shaped device having an outer surface, an inner surface forming an opening through the alignment device, and where the opening is sized to be at least slightly smaller than a major diameter of an expansion portion of the mandrel. In one embodiment, the alignment is nylon to allow the inner surface of the alignment device to be repeatedly, radially expanded and yet the opening formed by the inner surface returns to its original size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fatigue Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas W. Glenn
  • Patent number: 8356507
    Abstract: Devices and methods for manufacturing fittings (2) with different ends (3, 4) are disclosed, such fittings permitting different measures of connection. For example, one fitting (2) is a threaded end connector with its one end (4) being potentially configured as a compression fitting and its other end (3) as a thread-bearing end. An intermediate section (5) having preferably a polygonal cross-section is provided between the two ends (3, 4). Starting with a pipe piece (1), the manufacture takes place in a few process-safe method steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Witzig & Frank GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Bauer, Manfred König, Bernd Koschig
  • Patent number: 8353193
    Abstract: A mandrel assembly has a mandrel, a biasing member, and a outer member. The biasing member biasly maintains the outer member in a first position, which corresponds to a contoured portion of the mandrel, when the outer member is either on the access or the blind side of a workpiece. The biasing member is compressible to allow the outer member to move into a second position as the outer member is moved through an opening in the workpiece. In the first position, the outer member includes a maximum outer circumference that is larger than the opening of the structural workpiece. In the second position, the outer member includes a maximum outer circumference that fits within the opening of the structural workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Fatigue Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy H. Johnson
  • Patent number: RE49842
    Abstract: Embodiments provide improved flaring and swaging bits, and methods for flaring and swaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DiversiTech Corporation
    Inventor: Bruno Anjos