Abstract: The specification discloses a crimping process for crimping a metal ferrule (19) onto a hose (17) including the steps of applying a radially inwardly directed crimping force to die elements (16) adapted to engage the ferrule (19) and increasing said crimping force to a first level over a first period of time, at least partially removing the crimping force from said die elements after said first period of time, and reapplying the radially directed crimping force to said die elements (16) and increasing said crimping force to a second level over a second period of time, said second crimping force level being equal to, higher or lower than said first level, and at an end of the crimping process, removing the crimping force fully from the die elements (16).

Abstract: The specification discloses a swaging press (10) having an annular axially movable drive member (19) and a plurality of die shoes (16) cooperable with the drive member (19), the drive member (19) having at least one inwardly facing contact surface (22, 23) engageable with at least one outwardly facing segmented contact surface (24, 25) of each die shoe (16), the die shoes (16) being arranged as a die shoe set (17) whereby axial movement of the drive member (19) in a first direction causes the die shoes (16) of the die shoe set (17) to move radially inwardly during a swaging operation, the die shoes (16) and the drive member (19) being movable relative to one another about a rotation axis (29) after a single swaging operation or after a number of swaging operations.

Abstract: A swaging press (30) includes a piston member (16) and a plurality of die shoes (18), the piston member (16) in use driving the die shoes (18) inwardly during a swaging process in response to axial movement of the piston member (16), the piston member (16) defining a plurality of substantially flat die shoe engaging surfaces (31) configured to provide a polygonal shape in transverse cross-section, each die shoe (16) being located at each corner (32) of the polygonal shape whereby a portion of each dies shoe (16) engages a corresponding die shoe engaging surface (31) on either side of the corner (32).

Abstract: The specification discloses a crimping process for crimping a metal ferrule (19) onto a hose (17) including the steps of applying a radially inwardly directed crimping force to die elements (16) adapted to engage the ferrule (19) and increasing said crimping force to a first level over a first period of time, at least partially removing the crimping force from said die elements after said first period of time, and reapplying the radially directed crimping force to said die elements (16) and increasing said crimping force to a second level over a second period of time, said second crimping force level being equal to, higher or lower than said first level, and at an end of the crimping process, removing the crimping force fully from the die elements (16).

Abstract: A die element configuration for use in a swaging or crimping press includes at least two cooperating die elements that, in use, are radially moved inwardly during a swaging or crimping process. Each die element has a body portion with a work element engaging surface located at a radially inner location on the body portion, the work element engaging surface having an axial direction and a circumferential direction transverse to the axial direction with the work engaging surface being concavely curved in the circumferential direction. The work engaging surface has a first central section extending axially with at least a pair of axially spaced first lateral sections and at least one second lateral section extending from the first central section oppositely to the first lateral sections, whereby a first lateral section of a first die element in the configuration is located axially adjacent a second lateral section of a second similarly formed die element.

Abstract: The specification discloses a die element change tool for use with a crimp press having a plurality of die shoes positioned about a crimping work space, the die shoes being movable from a radial outer position to a radial inner position during a crimping process, the change tool being effective to remove a die element set or introduce a new die element set while the die shoes are in the radial outer position, the change tool having a main body part and a movable body part, the main body part having a number of circumferentially spaced operational positions each capable of retaining an individual die element held at one axial end by the movable body part and at the other axial end by the main body part, the change tool being bodily movable into the crimping work space to position each said die element carried thereby adjacent to a respective die shoe to be secured thereto, said movable body part being movable to disengage from said die elements such that the change tool can be withdrawn from the crimping work

Abstract: The present specification discloses a swaging press including a piston member co-operable with a plurality of die shoes to drive the die shoes inwardly upon axial movement of the piston member during a swaging operation, the piston member having a frusto-conical recessed region divided into a plurality of circumferentially disposed bearing surface zone of a defined axial length, each of the bearing surface zones having an inner axial end with a numerical radius of curvature less than or equal to the radius of curvature of a circular line forming the lateral edges of each of the bearing surface zones at the inner axial end whereby at least 50% of the outer bearing surface of each said die shoe remains in bearing engagement with the adjacent said bearing surface zone over the axial movement of the piston member during a swaging operation.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a swaging press including a piston member (30) cooperable with a plurality of die shoes (40) to drive the die shoes inwardly upon axial movement of the piston member (30) during a swaging operation, the piston member (30) having a frusto-conical recessed region (31) divided into a plurality of circumferentially disposed bearing surface zone (33) of a defined axial length, each of the bearing surface zones (33) having an inner axial end (35) with a numerical radius of curvature less than or equal to the radius of curvature of a circular line (36) forming the lateral edges of each of the bearing surface zones (33) at the inner axial end (35) whereby at least 50% of the outer bearing surface (41) of each said die shoe (40) remains in bearing engagement with the adjacent said bearing surface zone (33) over the axial movement of the piston member (30) during a swaging operation.