Patent US3789648A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3789648A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable tube expander
Assignee: Tridan Tool and Machine Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-27
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A portable device for expanding tubes. In one embodiment, a pair of movable jaws are pivotally mounted to a block and are spring biased together so as to engage the periphery of the tubes to be expanded. A pair of pistons with rods are slidable within hollow cylinders attached to the block. Each piston rod has a ballshaped end which is positioned between the movable jaws in the retracted position with each end extendable therefrom into the tubes. A pair of shafts extend sealingly into the pair of hollow cylinders. By moving the shafts further into the hollow cylinders the length of travel of each piston is decreased. The pistons and headed ends are movable in unison together by the application of hydraulic pressure on either side of the pistons. In the preferred embodiment, the rods used to expand the tubes are driven by wheels with aligned peripheral grooves which engage the outer surfaces of the rods. In one version, a pair of wheels are coupled by gears to a hydraulic motor whereas in another version two pairs of wheels are coupled by a gear and chain combination to a hydraulic motor. In the preferred embodiment, the rods extend through a housing in which the wheels are rotatably mounted with the length of travel controlled by stop blocks mounted to the rods which contact the housing when the rods are extended the desired length.
Inventors
- 👤 W Ames
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:32
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D39/00; B21D39/08; B21D39/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53113; Y10T29/53122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A portable tube expander comprising: a first hollow elongated element having a first and second end; a first piston with piston rod affixed thereto both being movable longitudinally in said element, said rod having a headed end; a first body fixedly connected to said first end of said element preventing movement of said piston through said first end; a member slidably mounted to said body; and, movable jaws lockingly engageable peripherally to an end of a tube to be expanded, said jaws being connected to said member and having a chamber with said headed end positionable therein and extendable therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A portable tube expander comprising: a first hollow elongated element having a first and second end; a first piston with piston rod affixed thereto both being movable longitudinally in said element, said rod having a headed end; a first body fixedly connected to said first end of said element preventing movement of said piston through said first end; a member slidably mounted to said body; and, movable jaws lockingly engageable peripherally to an end of a tube to be expanded, said jaws being connected to said member and having a chamber with said headed end positionable therein and extendable therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The expander of claim 1 wherein: said jaws have a top plate and a bottom plate with proximal ends pivotally connected to said member and further comprising: spring means biasing said top plate and bottom plate together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The expander of claim 2 wherein: said element is a cylinder; and further comprising: a first plate fixedly connected to said second end of said cylinder; a tie rod fixedly connected to said member and extending through said body and said first plate; a second plate fixedly connected to said tie rod; and, a shaft fixedly connected to said second plate and extending sealingly and slidably into said second end of said cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The expander of claim 3 wherein: said shaft is hollow and is connectable to a source of hydraulic pressure; said body has a fluid passage therein communicating with said hollow cylinder and an external source of hydraulic pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The expander of claim 2 wherein: said spring means has a bolt extending through said first and second plate with a helical spring mounted on the bolt urging said first and second plates together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The expander of cliam 2 and further comprising: a collar slidably mounted on said piston rod and positioned in said chamber, said collar has a cam surface formed thereon engageable with said top and bottom plates forcing said jaws to open as said headed end is retracted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The expander of cliam 2 and further comprising: a collar slidably mounted on said piston rod and positioned in said chamber, said collar has a cam surface formed thereon engageable with said top and bottom plates forcing said jaws to open as said headed end is retracted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The expander of claim 1 wherein: said element is a cylinder; and further comprising: a second hollow cylinder; a second piston with piston rod affixed thereto, both being movable longitudinally in said second cylinder, said piston rod of said second piston having a headed end positionable in said jaws and extendable therefrom; and wherein: said body has a passage communicating externally thereof to internally thereof with said first hollow cylinder and said second hollow cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
The expander of claim 7 and further comprising: a first plate fixedly connected to said first cylinder and said second cylinder; a pair of tie rods fixedly connected to said member and extending through said body and said first plate; a second plate fixedly connected to said pair of tie rods; and, a pair of shafts fixedly connected to said second plate and extending sealingly into said first cylinder and second cylinder, said shafts are slidable in unison toward and away from said first and second piston.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The expander of claim 8 wherein: said first plate has locking means adjustable to prevent relative movement between said tie rods and said first plate; and, said headed ends of said piston rods of said first piston and said second piston have vents allowing gas in front of said headed ends to flow rearwardly thereof as said headed ends are forced through the tubes being expanded.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A tube expander comrising: a frame; a pair of rods slidably mounted to said frame, said rods having spherical shaped ends; tube gripping jaws mounted to said frame with said spherical ends being extendable therefrom; first means connectable to said frame being operable to force said spherical ends in unison into tubes to be expanded; and, second means mounted to said frame being operable to control the distance said spherical ends are extended from said jaws.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
A tube expander comrising: a frame; a pair of rods slidably mounted to said frame, said rods having spherical shaped ends; tube gripping jaws mounted to said frame with said spherical ends being extendable therefrom; first means connectable to said frame being operable to force said spherical ends in unison into tubes to be expanded; and, second means mounted to said frame being operable to control the distance said spherical ends are extended from said jaws.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The expander of claim 10 wherein: said rods have opposite piston shaped ends; said frame has a pair of cylinders housing said piston shaped ends; said second means is a body with bushings slidably receiving said rods; and further comprising: a tie rod connected to said jaws and slidably mounted to said body.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for expanding tubes comprising: a frame; a first rod slidably mounted to said frame, said rod having an enlarged end to move through and expand a first tube; first tube gripping jaws lockingly engageable peripherally to an end of said tube, said jaws mounted to said frame and having an open position when said enlarged end is lodged within and against said jaws and a closed tube gripping position whenever said enlarged end is positioned outside of said jaws; and, first means mounted to said frame being operable to move said rod and said enlarged end through said jaws to open and close said jaws and to move said enlarged end through said tube.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for expanding tubes comprising: a frame; a first rod slidably mounted to said frame, said rod having an enlarged end to move through and expand a first tube; first tube gripping jaws lockingly engageable peripherally to an end of said tube, said jaws mounted to said frame and having an open position when said enlarged end is lodged within and against said jaws and a closed tube gripping position whenever said enlarged end is positioned outside of said jaws; and, first means mounted to said frame being operable to move said rod and said enlarged end through said jaws to open and close said jaws and to move said enlarged end through said tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: said jaws include a first and second jaw with proximal ends connected together to said frame and free distal ends, said first jaw has an interior surface adjacent said rod; and, said first means is operable to withdraw said enlarged end into said jaws to force said enlarged end against said interior surface of said first jaw and to move said jaws apart to said open position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising: a second rod slidably mounted to said frame, said rod having a second enlarged end to move through and expand a tube; second tube gripping jaws lockingly engageable peripherally to a tube end and having an open and closed position; and, said first means is operable to move said second rod and said second enlarged end through said second tube gripping jaws to open and close said second enlarged tube gripping jaws.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein: said first means includes a cylinder with a first cylinder end and a second cylinder end with said cylinder mounted to said frame, a piston connected to said first rod and sealingly slidable through said cylinder, fluid valve means connecting said first cylinder end and said second cylinder end to a source of pressurized fluid and operable to direct said fluid against said piston to move said first rod.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein: said first means includes a motor mounted to said frame with a rotatable drive shaft, said first means further includes a first wheel rotatably mounted to said frame and drivingly coupled to said drive shaft, said first wheel haS an outer circumferential edge with a portion tangentially aligned and in driving contact with said first rod, said first means is operable to rotate said wheel with said motor to move said first rod into and out of said first jaws and said first tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein: said first means includes a second wheel rotatably mounted to said frame and drivingly coupled to said drive shaft, said second wheel has an outer circumferential edge with a portion tangentially aligned and in contact with said second rod; said first means is operable to rotate said second wheel with said motor forcing movement of said second rod through said second tube gripping jaws.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: said first tube gripping jaws are bifurcated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |