Radially Expanding Internal Tube Patents (Class 29/523)
  • Patent number: 4708029
    Abstract: A fabricated camshaft having individual lobes mounted on tubular collars that are in turn mounted on an internal tubular member that is expanded between the collars to form bearing journals for the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Piston Ring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Urano
  • Patent number: 4706356
    Abstract: For the purpose of compressing by hammering a steam generator tube (1), a stream of gas at high velocity charged with particles having a particle size of between 50 and 500.10.sup.-6 m, is directed onto the inner surface of the tube (1) in radial directions and onto the whole of the periphery of the tube. The flow of the mass of the particles is higher than 0.008 kg/sec for tubes having an inside diameter of around 0.020 m. The device comprises a flexible sheath (20) movable inside a case (16, 18) fixed in a sealed manner under the tube plate (2) around the tube (1). An injection nozzle (21) is disposed at the end of the sheath (20) receiving the gas charged with particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Framatome
    Inventors: Claude Bianchi, Ives Fournier, Paul Jacquier
  • Patent number: 4706366
    Abstract: An inner tube (1) and an outer tube (6) are provided of suitable shape and size for the inner tube to be received coaxially inside the outer tube, thereby causing the outside face of the inner tube to face the inside face of the outer tube. A neutron-absorbing screen (2) is fixed to one of said faces. The inner tube is inserted into the outer tube, and the inner tube is radially expanded into the outer tube while leaving the outer tube externally free to expand, and thereby plastically deforming both tubes and obtaining a solid single block assembly of desired shape and size for the container. The container may be used for storing radioactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Establissements Lemer & Cie
    Inventors: Andre Madiot, Joel Kerjean
  • Patent number: 4707326
    Abstract: An improved arrangement for attaching and reattaching a top nozzle of a reconstitutable fuel assembly includes a sleeve member associated with each guide thimble of the fuel assembly and complementary elements for attaching the sleeve member and the upper end portion of the guide thimble together. The sleeve member includes an inner tubular alignment sleeve portion which receives the guide thimble upper end portion and extends between the upper hold-down and lower adapter plates of the top nozzle. The sleeve member also includes an outer tubular shroud portion having a lower annular flange which underlies a coil spring surrounding the sleeve portion and interconnects the shroud portion and the sleeve portion. The outer shroud portion extends upwardly about a portion of the coil spring for protecting the spring from damage by coolant cross flow from adjacent fuel assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: John F. Wilson, Robert K. Gjertsen, Joseph B. Mayers
  • Patent number: 4706365
    Abstract: Method and apparatus effective for emplacing a ring (52) at a selected axial location of a pipe (45) by reducing its diameter and establishing a circumferential bulge (146) adjacent to the selected location and ring (52), said bulge (146) cooperatively resisting axial displacmeent thereof and being in physical conformity therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Robert D. Hooton
  • Patent number: 4701993
    Abstract: A threaded fastener for installation in threaded engagement with an initially unthreaded apertured workpiece and which after installation can be removed in the manner of a screw or bolt, has a shank and an enlarged head. At least part of the shank intermediate between its ends has an external screw thread having a sharp crest, and can be radially expanded to cause the thread to embed in the workpiece. A bore extends through the head and the entire shank or at least the threaded port of the shank for receiving means for expanding the shank. An end portion of the shank remote from the head may be unthreaded to avoid splitting of the shank during expansion.The method of installing the fastener involves pulling a tapered mandrel along the bore to expand the shank. The mandrel may have a key-forming head of non-circular cross-section whereby the bore of the fastener can be adopted to receive a key of non-circular cross-section for turning the fastener in the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Advel Limited
    Inventors: William D. Bradley, Zia R. Alvi, Raymond D. Lacey
  • Patent number: 4702655
    Abstract: A fastener system for securing workpieces together including a blind fastener located in aligned bores and when installed providing a preselected interference fit with the bores, the fastener including a pin and a sleeve with the pin having a shank with a sizing portion and expansion portion, the sleeve having a shank portion adapted to be pre-assembled onto the sizing portion and, while pre-assembled, having its outer surface reduced in diameter to a preselected magnitude such as to provide the desired interference with the bores when the expansion portion is moved therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Huck Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James W. Kendall
  • Patent number: 4700981
    Abstract: An improved closure for sealing the paint drain holes of a vehicle body, and a tool and method of use therefor, are disclosed. The closure takes the form of a one-piece sheet metal plug of inverted hat-shaped configuration having a peripheral flange with a thermoplastic sealant ring located beneath the flange to form a hermetic seal about the opening of the vehicle body. In use, the closure is supported, preferably magneticlly, by the head of an insertion tool and is directed by that tool into a floor pan opening or other panel opening of a vehicle body. Depending on the shape of the panel opening, the plug is then temporarily secured in place, with the sealant ring clamped between the flange of the plug and the body panel, either by a partial turn of the plug or by a tool with cam-driven dimpling elements that are forced outwardly within the cavity of the plug to produce a plurality of external enlargments or nubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Perfection Spring & Stamping Corp.
    Inventor: Peter G. Seyler
  • Patent number: 4698896
    Abstract: A hollow section for coupling to other sections and methods for the production and utilization thereof. Hollow sections are formed from strip or sheet material which are corrugated and then welded along a longitudinal seam. The thusly formed corrugated hollow sections are inserted into another section and flanged on or coupled thereto by smoothing or expanding the corrugations. The length of the corrugations is selected to be substantially equal to the circumference of the aperture into which the hollow section is coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Vaw Leichtmetall G.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Werner Osterwald, Klaus-Georg Bottger, Rudolf Kader
  • Patent number: 4699212
    Abstract: In a plate heat exchanger having a frame plate and a pressure plate, at least one of these plates has holes for flow of the heat exchanging media to and from respective passages in the pack of heat exchange plates. Each of these holes has a lining of corrosion-resistant metal comprising a hollow cylinder with thin flanges at its opposite ends engaging opposite sides of the frame plate or pressure plate. One of these flanges has a seamless connection with the hollow cylinder and is sealingly compressed between a heat exchange plate and an undepressed surface of the inner side of the adjacent frame plate or pressure plate. Lining of the hole is effected by plastically deforming a metal disc into a hollow cylinder with a flange at one end, inserting the other end of the cylinder through the hole to engage the flange with said undepressed surface, and then providing said other end of the cylinder with a flange engaging an undepressed surface of the outer side of the frame or pressure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval Thermal AB
    Inventors: Jarl Andersson, Lennart Edso, Nils-Ake Jonsson, Per Rissler
  • Patent number: 4694677
    Abstract: An elongated tube expander tool and method for its use for remotely expanding a tube end to provide a close fit in an existing tube, such as before welding the tube end to the existing tube. The expander tool comprises an elongated central shaft attached to a cylinder which is attached to a collet having multiple expandable fingers. The cylinder contains a slidable front piston connected to a mandrel located within the collet, so that when the piston is pressurized and moved forward the multiple fingers are expanded radially outwardly within the tube end. In use, the tool is inserted into a replacement tube until a front shoulder of the tool housing contacts the replacement tube end portion to be expanded. The front piston is then pressurized and the mandrel forced axially forward through the collet so as to expand the collet fingers, which action expands the tube end firmly against the existing tube suitable for a weld to be reliably made between the closely fitting tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: George B. Rabe
  • Patent number: 4689868
    Abstract: The invention pertains to the attachment of a wrenching nut to a metal conduit wherein torque forces can be applied to the conduit through the nut. An annular nut member is located upon a conduit and the conduit is radially deformed to force the conduit material into engagement with keying surfaces defined upon the nut. Conduit deformation occurs on both sides of the nut for axial positioning thereof, as well as establishing a torque transmitting relationship between the nut and conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Aeroquip Corporation
    Inventors: Brett A. Hughes, David L. Gilbert, Eugene A. Ellerbrock
  • Patent number: 4688319
    Abstract: A method for production of a multi-layer gap-less steel pipe. An inner pipe and an outer pipe are formed from thermomechanically rolled steel strip with high notched bar impact strength by welding. The individual helical welding seam steel pipes of about the same lengths are matched with a difference of less than about one percent between the outer diameter of the inner pipe and the inner diameter of the outer pipe. The matched inner pipe is inserted into the outer pipe and the pipes are mechanically expanded with diameter control to a preset outer diameter of the multi-layer steel pipe. The resulting multi-layer steel pipe has the inner pipe disposed under compression and the outer pipe layer disposed under stress. The presence of a compression stress in the inner pipe provides a means opposed to hydrogen sulfide stress corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Inventors: Heinz Gross, Friedrich-Otto Koch, Adolf Peeck, Werner Wennemann
  • Patent number: 4688318
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for joining tubes. The tubes have ends which are deformed within sleeves having an interior channel by applying pressure to the tube end portion, a mandrel being temporarily placed within the tube and sockets being fitted on the exterior of the tube, pressure being applied to the end portion of the tube to cause the wall of said tube to deform in the area of the sleeve channels to anchor the tube in the sleeve. After the mandrel and the sockets are removed, the sleeve is clamped in the joint member with a nut which is screwed onto it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Hydexco
    Inventors: Joel Foucault, Alain Bonnargent
  • Patent number: 4685191
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for expanding a tube at selective points about its circumference to join another tube. After a segment of a first tube is inserted into a second tube having an end sleeve segment with a larger diameter and wall thickness than the first tube, compression and subsequent radial expansion of elastomeric bars lodged along the generally open sides of a bushing located within the first tube end segment cause the elastomeric bars to radially expand the wall of the first tube. The wall of the first tube expands at selective points against the wall of the second tube in proximity to their respective ends, creating a selective interference fit therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Cities Service Oil and Gas Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Mueller, David L. Laughry
  • Patent number: 4682714
    Abstract: A nozzle construction has an end of a spout member threaded into an opening of an adaptor member until the members are disposed in a predetermined threaded condition thereof. One of the members then has a portion thereof deformed into a locking position with the other of the members to tend to prevent relative threading movement between the members from the predetermined threaded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Dover Corporation
    Inventor: Chester W. Wood
  • Patent number: 4682832
    Abstract: A tubular sleeve of a deformable plastic is longitudinally slotted to define a plurality of laterally separated axially weakened longitudinal columns (62) the respective forward leading edges (64) of which being inserted into an annular passageway (32) formed between an insert (20) disposed in a shell (10) so that the columns curl about and the column medial portions (66) collapse in an accordian-like fashion whereby to radially interferencingly wedge and lock the columns in the passage and thereby to retain the insert in the shell. The curling could be 180.degree. causing the leading edges to retreat coaxially rearward or be 270.degree. causing the leading edges to loop about and be driven radially outward, the leading edges in either possibly engaging its rearward medial portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Punako, David O. Gallusser, Warren R. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4679285
    Abstract: A lubricated hinge comprises a pair of hinge plates and a lubricant filled hinge pin fitting through barrel sections of the hinge plates so as to pivotally connect same. The hinge pin comprises a hollow cylindrical body hvaing at one end a radially expansible portion terminating with a stop shoulder and at another end a preformed head and lubricant entrance. The pin body between its ends has lubricant delivery holes for delivering lubricant to between the pin body and the barrel sections of two hinge plates. The pin body is insertable into the barrel sections with the preformed head abutting one side of the hinge and the stop shoulder aligned with an opposite side of the hinge. A shank of a mandrel having an extruding head is insertable through the pin body and is adapted to then be pulled so as to radially expand the expansion portion of the pin body with the extruding head to abut the other side of the hinge and until the extruding head is stopped by the stop shoulder in the pin body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: David B. Ballantyne
  • Patent number: 4680067
    Abstract: Two intaglio printing plates having a total length equal to the circumference of the cylindrical barrel (1) of a plate cylinder are prepared. The cylindrical barrel (1) is expanded radially, and on the portion of its surface corresponding to the first plate (4) to be attached an epoxy film is deposited. The first plate (4) is applied on the epoxy film in the exact position. On the remaining part of the cylindrical barrel (1) one or a plurality of metal sheets (5) are deposited for ensuring the continuity of the cylinder surface. The plate (4) to be attached is surrounded by a tightening ribbon (6) covering completely the plate (4). Heat is used for softening the epoxy film and the ribbon (16) is tightened by exerting tractive forces beginning from the center of the two ends of the ribbon and advancing towards the peripheral edges. The epoxy film is allowed to set, the ribbon (6) and the sheet or sheets (5) are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: De la Rue Giori S.A.
    Inventor: John Moore
  • Patent number: 4663119
    Abstract: An insert for providing a reduced inside diameter for a structural tube, specifically an instrumentation guide tube, of a nuclear fuel assembly. The insert has forming lobes which coact with the structural tube to plastically deform the structural tube and mechanically lock it with respect to grid straps of a grid assembly. The insert also has centering lobes to prevent it from being expanded in other than a coaxial alignment with the structural tube. An expansion tool is provided for sequentially registering with and expanding sequential forming lobes in a simplified manner whereby all of the operations necessary to assemble the structural tube in the fuel assembly can be easily and accurately performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: John S. Kerrey
  • Patent number: 4662663
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining two tubular members together at a subsea location wherein one of the tubular members has internal grooves and the second tubular member is sufficiently small to slide into the first tubular member and the first tubular member has an external flange suitable for connecting to a flowline, which apparatus includes a tubular mandrel having means for connecting to said first tubular member, a resilient sleeve surrounding said mandrel and adapted to be positioned within said second tubular member, volume compensating means positioned within each of said grooves and testing means carried by said mandrel to allow testing of the joint while the mandrel is still in position after forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Cameron Iron Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 4660268
    Abstract: A rolling mill roll assembly having a cemented carbide work roll mounted on a tapered rolling mill arbor is described. The roll is held nonrotational with respect to the arbor by a split metallic ring member which is forced into pressurized abutment with the bore of the carbide roll by a cylindrical wedge member interposed between the split ring and the arbor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Kennametal, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Evans
  • Patent number: 4660269
    Abstract: A built-up camshaft is fabricated by fitting cam disks on a hollow shaft, fitting shaft end caps over the ends of the hollow shaft, placing the resulting structure in a die, compressing the hollow shaft in the axial direction thereof inwardly from the opposite ends thereof thereby to carry out swaging tube expansion thereof to place all parts in a temporarily fixed state, and introducing a fluid under pressure into the hollow shaft thereby to carry out bulging and expansion of diameter at specific parts of the hollow shaft and obtain an integral built-up camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Musashi Seimitsu Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4656721
    Abstract: A rung-to-rail ladder joint connection for box section or tubular side rails comprising a rung, a malleable ferrule disposed on an end of the rung, the ferrule and rung projected through an opening in the web of each of the walls of the side rails, a sleeve or sleeve-like reinforcing member of lesser length than the ferrule and of similar profile thereto telescoped over the ferrule and disposed between the webs of the rails, the sleeve being adapted to be disposed on the ferrule either during preforming a flange on one end of the ferrule or thereafter and prior in each instance to final assembly with the box section or tubular side rails by forming of a flange on an opposite end of the rung. The sleeve and the ferrule may be of the same or different materials and thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: R. D. Werner Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Werner
  • Patent number: 4654943
    Abstract: A tube positioning tool for remotely positioning a replacement tube into axial alignment and interfitting engagement with an existing tube, and method for its use. The forward end section of the elongated pressurizable tube positioning tool is first inserted through the replacement tube and into the existing tube end, after which the forward end is clamped into position therein by pressurizing the tool and expanding the tool nose end. Next, the tool body rear piston is pressurized and the replacement tube is moved forward into axial alignment and interfitting engagement with the adjacent existing tube. Then the tool body front piston is pressurized to expand a resilient mandrel and the rear portion of the replacement tube is expanded firmly into the opening in the tube sheet. Following such replacement tube installation, the tool is depressured and withdrawn from the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: George B. Rabe
  • Patent number: 4648626
    Abstract: A telescopic joint for repairing underwater pipelines laid at a great depth in which an annular sheath of steel having a yield point of not more than one half that of an outer sleeve of the joint is welded onto an inner cylinder, to create with the inner cylinder an annular chamber or interspace, the cylinder-sheath-sleeve assembly being guided in its telescopic movement by an inner tube welded coaxially to an end of the outer sleeve. The interspace is connected to an oil pump which under adequate pressure can cause the steel sheath to expand, to the extent that it yields, to interlock with the outer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignees: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A., Snam S.p.A.
    Inventors: Constantino Vinciguerra, Giampaolo Bonfiglioli
  • Patent number: 4649493
    Abstract: An apparatus for expanding a tube against the walls of a circumscribing bore, or a sleeve within a tube to effect an interference joint therebetween, is described herein. The tube expansion apparatus generally comprises a fluid mandrel connected to a hydraulic expansion unit for applying a radially expansive force to the tube or sleeve, and a control circuit electrically connected to the expansion unit and fluidly connected to the mandrel for sensing fluctuations in the pressure of the fluid discharged from the mandrel during the elastic and plastic deformation of the tube or sleeve during the expansion process, computing a final swaging pressure on the basis of these pressure fluctuations, and deactuating the hydraulic expansion unit when this final swaging pressure is attained within the tube or sleeve. The invention is particularly adapted for minimizing or eliminating the clearance between the heat exchange tubes of a nuclear reactor, and the baffle plate bores through which they extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Raymond P. Castner, David F. Olechovsky, Philip S. Brown, Susanta Sinha, Harold T. Keller, Wenche W. Cheng
  • Patent number: 4649492
    Abstract: A process for the controlled expansion of a conduit against the walls of a circumscribing structure is disclosed herein. The process generally comprises the steps of applying a radially expansive force to the conduit, while monitoring a variable associated with the elastic and plastic properties of the particular conduit being expanded in order to determine a final swaging force which will complete the expansion process. The process of the invention is particularly useful in eliminating the clearance between heat exchanger tubes and baffle plates in a nuclear reactor, and in sleeving operations wherein an internally inserted sleeve is plastically deformed against a heat exchanger tube in order to affect an interference joint therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Susanta Sinha, Philip S. Brown, Douglas G. Harman, Harold T. Keller, David F. Olechovsky, Wenche W. Cheng
  • Patent number: 4646548
    Abstract: A method and a tool for expanding the outside diameter and forming grooves on the inside surface of a tube. The tool comprises an axially extending mandrel, a centering portion, and a grooving portion. The centering and grooving portions of the tool are both secured to the mandrel, with the grooving portion located axially rearward of the centering portion. The centering portion radially projects outward of the mandrel, and the grooving portion is coaxial with and radially projects outward of the central portion of the tool. The central portion defines a smooth annular surface to engage and partially expand the tubes, inside and outside diameters, to guide the tube onto the grooving portion, and to maintain the grooving portion centered within the tube. The grooving portion defines an outside surface to expand the tube further, and preferably includes a plurality of external fins to form grooves on the inside surface of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Zimmerli, Alexander T. Lim
  • Patent number: 4641409
    Abstract: A method for reconstituting a nuclear reactor fuel assembly having its top nozzle adapter plate welded to its control rod guide thimble sleeves. Circumferentially cut the sleeves from the adapter plate below the weld. Separate the top nozzle from the cut sleeve 5. Obtain a modified top nozzle refashioned with a groove in its adapter plate control rod passageways. Insert the cut sleeves in the passageways of the modified top nozzle. Circumferentially bulge the sleeves into the grooves. A system for attachment of the top nozzle to the sleeves employing the above-described circumferential bulge and groove attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: John M. Shallenberger, Stephen J. Ferlan
  • Patent number: 4635333
    Abstract: A tube expanding technique for securing a sleeve within a tube whereby fluid pressure is applied via an expander by incrementally decreasing the volume of the fluid system exclusive of the expander, or by incrementally increasing the mass of the fluid within the system. The system pressure and the rate of pressure increase as a function of incremental change in volume, or mass, are monitored. A decrease in the rate is indicative of the onset of plastic expansion of the sleeve or tube, as the case may be. By determining this point, the outer diameter of the tube may be accurately controlled to within six thousandths of an inch. A tube expanding device including a distensible sealed bladder for applying the expanding pressure and containing the system fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Curtis L. Finch
  • Patent number: 4628704
    Abstract: A new and improved surge tank for the refrigeration circuit of an automobile air-conditioning system is fabricated from tube stock and comprises a unitary main cylindrical body having a sidewall and end walls. The end walls are formed by friction spinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Michigan Special Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Kilby
  • Patent number: 4622732
    Abstract: A joint assembly for use with pressurized fluid systems employs a tube that is secured to a ferrule, preferably by hydraulic swaging. During the swaging operation, a projecting end of the tube can be expanded against a die and thereby pre-sized. A sealing ring is then placed on the projecting end of the tube and enclosed within a cavity formed when a fitting is secured to the ferrule by a retainer. A spring that energizes the seal can be included in the cavity. The seal is formed between concentric circumferential surfaces and is independent of axial movement of the joint elements. A metal-to-metal backup seal can be formed by the ferrule and the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Haskel, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick J. Broderick
  • Patent number: 4615655
    Abstract: A fastener for securing workpieces having aligned bores and including a tubular sleeve and a pin with the sleeve having an elongated sleeve shank and a through bore and the pin having an enlarged pin head and an elongated pin shank, the pin shank having a retaining groove and a lock groove located proximate thereto, a resilient retaining clip located in the retaining groove and being axially captured therein, the retaining clip being of a split construction and having a relaxed outside diameter greater than that of the workpiece bores and being adapted to be located in at least one of the bores with an interference fit to thereby axially retain the pin to the workpieces in a preassembly, the sleeve shank having a sleeve lock groove adapted to be radially deformed into an aligned lock groove in the pin, the sleeve shank having a grip adjusting groove adapted to deform radially whereby the fastener can accommodate workpieces varying in total thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Huck Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Richard D. Dixon
  • Patent number: 4610072
    Abstract: An installation apparatus and method of attaching a female element, such as a nut, to a panel, wherein the panel is pierced and the female element is permanently installed in the pierced panel opening in a continuous operation. The female element includes a body portion and an annular barrel portion. In one of the methods disclosed, the panel is pierced by the free end of the barrel portion and the panel slug is disposed in the barrel portion as the nut is installed in the panel. In the presently preferred method, the panel is pierced by a punch received through the body and barrel portions, prior to driving the female element into a mechanical interlock with the panel. In the preferred installation, the free end of the barrel portion is deformed into a hook-shaped end portion, opening toward the body portion, and the panel is simultaneously driven into the hook-shaped barrel end portion, forming a very secure mechanical interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Multifastener Corporation
    Inventor: Rudolph R. M. Muller
  • Patent number: 4609317
    Abstract: A fastener for securing workpieces having aligned bores and including a tubular sleeve and a pin with the sleeve having an elongated sleeve shank and a through bore and the pin having an enlarged pin head and an elongated pin shank, the pin shank having a locking groove, a resilient retaining clip located in the locking groove and being axially captured therein, the retaining clip being of a split construction and having a relaxed outside diameter greater than that of the workpiece bores and being adapted to be located in at least one of the bores with an interference fit to thereby axially retain the pin to the workpieces in a pre-assembly, the retaining clip and pin lock groove defining a lock cavity, the sleeve shank having its free end adapted to be radially deformed into the lock cavity, the sleeve shank being adapted to buckle radially after the sleeve free end is deformed into the lock cavity whereby the fastener can accommodate workpieces varying in total thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Huck Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard D. Dixon, Marvin R. Hicks
  • Patent number: 4602411
    Abstract: A rotor disc structure is provided with a sleeve within an axial bore of a disc and mounted through a driving connection on a rotor shaft. Before being mounted on the shaft, the sleeve and bore have been plastically deformed such that the sleeve is subjected to compressive stresses. Plastic deformation is accomplished by inserting a plug, having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the disc and sleeve, into the heated sleeve and heating the assembled disc, sleeve and plug. The sleeve includes an eccentric turn which fits into a corresponding eccentric portion of the disc bore. Keying occurs at the sleeve-rotor interface to remove stress risers in the disc bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Ralph D. Brown
  • Patent number: 4597687
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process and a device for an angular connection of the end of a tube with one (or more) sheet metal element(s), quickly and reliably.The forward portion of a tubular shape (1) is contracted by force-fitting in a ring (2) whose outside dimensions are approximately equal to those of the opening (4) and the inside dimensions, less than the initial outside dimensions of the tubular shape, and whose rear end (6) is flush with the rear face (7) of the sheet metal (3), this ring (2) being compressed on the thickness of the sheet metal (3) between the tubular shape (1) and the opening (4) in the sheet metal, while the end (10) of the tubular shape is flanged outward in a corolla on the rear face (7) of the sheet metal element.This process can be used in particular to attach rungs to side rails of a ladder or rods to rails of guard railings and also for making scaffolding or tube exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Inventor: Francois Colas
  • Patent number: 4597365
    Abstract: A camshaft for an internal combustion engine or the like is formed of an expandable steel tube and individual preferably hardenable cam and journal elements fixed together by a mechanical expansion of the tube by a mandrel or other device. Material selection and processes for low cost manufacture are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony J. Madaffer
  • Patent number: 4593448
    Abstract: Method for tightly jointing a sleeve to a submarine pipe laid on a very deep sea-bottom, characterized by the preliminary stages of providing a series of grooves on the inside surface of the sleeve, and of filling each one of said grooves with two half-rings made of a material collapsible under high pressures up to a 70% variation of its volume. A type of such a material is moreover described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignees: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A., Snam S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gian P. Ferrari Aggradi, Giampaolo Bonfiglioli
  • Patent number: 4590732
    Abstract: An anchor device that is comprised of but two parts, a core that has a cylindrical body portion and a sleeve having an inside diameter that matches the body portion. The core has an end cap that is adapted for attachment to a power post or the like. The sleeve is positioned over the core and a restriction resists full seating of the core in the sleeve. When positioned in the hole of a concrete floor, the core is forced into the sleeve e.g., with a tool designed for that purpose. This expands the sleeve into the concrete and seats the core in the sleeve, and the combination sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Inventor: Ellis A. Hallman
  • Patent number: 4584765
    Abstract: Apparatus for expanding hairpin tubes into a fin pack unit that involves a special clamping fixture for securing the belled ends of the tubes to hold the ends of the tubes immobile as tube expanders are passed through the tubes to expand the tube walls in the fin plates and tube sheets of the unit. The tubes are expanded in tension which permits the bells to be formed against one of the tube sheets thereby eliminating the weakest region in the heat exchanger flow circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Gray
  • Patent number: 4584751
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically assembling hairpin tubes in the tube receiving holes of a fin pack unit. Pre-assembled fin pack units are serially moved from one station to the next to receive hairpin tubes, to have bells formed in the open ends of the laced hairpin tubes, to have expansion tools inserted upwardly through the open ends of the hairpin tubes to expand the walls of the tubes outwardly into contact against the fin plates and tube sheets with sufficient force to lock the tubes into the unit, and to have return bends interconnect the bell-like seats of adjacent hairpin tubes and thus complete the heat exchanger flow circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Gray, James E. Greever
  • Patent number: 4585374
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for the joining of one tubular member to another tubular member through the use of the substantially instantaneous application of high energy to the tubular members, such as by the use of explosives, while placing one tubular member in a state of substantially elastic deformation and the other tubular member in a state of substantially plastic and elastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignees: Jet Research Center Inc., Brown & Root, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Regalbuto, James E. Dailey
  • Patent number: 4581801
    Abstract: The sleeving method comprises inserting a metal sleeve within a tube so as to bridge the defective region of the tube. The sleeve is constructed to have annular slots on the outside thereof that are capable of tightly contacting the inside surface of the defective tube and creating a labyrinth-type seal therebetween. The sleeve is also constructed to have an expander member captured therein that may be pulled through the sleeve thereby causing expansion of those portions of the sleeve having the annular slots therein. Once such a sleeve has been inserted into the defective tube, the sleeve is internally expanded in the area of the sleeve wherein the annular slots are located by pulling the expander member through the sleeve. The expansion of the sleeve in the area wherein the annular slots are located causes the lands between each annular slot to closely contact the inside surface of the tube. The other end of the sleeve can then be either similarly attached to the tube or otherwise attached to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Richard M. Kobuck, John J. Wilhelm, Mark E. Wylie
  • Patent number: 4581817
    Abstract: A swaging apparatus includes a drawbar to be inserted in a tubular structure that is to be expanded radially. Two confinement structures define the axial boundaries of an annular pressure zone within which one or more elastically deformable pressurization rings are confined. One or both of these structures includes a plurality of arcuate segments elastically held together and presenting a cam surface. A cam ring interacts with that cam surface to radially expand a cylinder formed by the segments in response to swaging pressure, thereby preventing inelastic deformation of the pressurization rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Haskel, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kelly
  • Patent number: 4581799
    Abstract: The specification discloses a self-contained ball bearing for use in drawer rails. The bearing includes balls axially retained between a flared end of an inner race member and a washer retained on a stem of the inner race member. The bearing further includes a polymeric outer race member having a thrust shoulder extending radially inwardly closely proximate the flared end of the inner race member to form a dirt shield therewith and to provide an improved thrust bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Walter L. Bessinger
  • Patent number: 4580426
    Abstract: An improved sleeving apparatus and process capable of simultaneously expanding and rolling an interference joint between a reinforcing sleeve and a heat exchanger tube is disclosed herein. The apparatus generally comprises an elongated housing onto which upper and lower rollers are mounted, and upper and lower hydraulic expanders capable of applying a radially expansive force onto a sleeve across the length of the rollers. The rolls in the rollers are driven by a common drive shaft which is coupled to a hydraulic motor. The apparatus includes a torque controller including a torque sensor and a computer for controlling the torque, and hence the rolling pressure, that the rollers place on the inside surface of the sleeve. The torque sensor is mechanically connected to the output of the driving means of the drive shaft, and electrically connected to the microcomputer. The microcomputer is connected to the control valve of the power supply of the hydraulic motor driving the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Paolo R. Zafred
  • Patent number: 4575913
    Abstract: A joint structure of a metallic tubular member and metallic annular parts, the annular parts being joined to the outer periphery of the tubular member as in a camshaft. Each of the annular parts has around its inner periphery at least one serrated portion which cuts into the outer periphery of the tubular member when they are joined, the annular part also having a planar portion facing another portion of the tubular member in such a manner that substantially no pressure is exerted on the planar portion of the annular part.A method of making such structure involves positioning of the tubular member is required in relation to the annular parts, as by use of a split die, and then forcing into the tubular member a pressing member to expand the tubular member so that the serrated portions cut into the outer periphery of the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Riken Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Sugiuchi, Susumu Aoyama, Toshio Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4577053
    Abstract: A ground rod, coupling therefor and method of making that coupling are disclosed providing both strength and improved conductivity. Ground rods are usually copper coated or plated steel rods formed in sections which are driven or, perhaps more correctly, pounded into the ground to form grounding or earthing connections for dissipation of electrical current into the earth. The coupling includes co-extensive inner and outer sleeves of copper and a corrosion resistant metal such as stainless steel, respectively, which are mechanically interlocked along their axial lengths. The inner copper sleeve is formed with threads or oppositely directed cones after the two sleeves are interlocked and in so doing the interlock between the sleeves is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Inventor: Anton M. Kies