Spreading tool for restoring the shape of annular products

Claim 2

A spreading tool of a type for insertion within a collapsed or deformed hollow core of a normally annular product for expanding within the core to reform the annular configuration of the product comprising an elongate rigid hollow staff, wedging elements forming one end of said hollow staff for insertion into said core, one of said wedging elements being rigidly fixed to said one end, another of said elements being secured to said one end and movable between spaced and proximate positions relatively to the first named one of said wedging elements to provide an expanded and contracted wedging means at said one end, dual acting hydraulic means fixed within the other end of said hollow staff including a cylinder and a piston, a cam surface formed on one of said wedging elements, a rod attached at one end to said piston and extending through said hollow staff, a movable wedge member attached to the other end of said rod and disposed between said wedging elements for movement between advanced and retracted positions therebetween into and out of engagement with said cam Surface, and an enlarged solid mass attached to the outer end of said cylinder forming an anvil for receiving striking blows for driving said wedging means into said core to a selected position therein, whereby upon activation said hydraulic means serves to force said elements apart at said position to reform said core and product from within.

Claim 3

A spreading tool as in claim 1 together with gauge means for indicating the measure of expansion of said wedge elements.

Claim 4

A spreading tool of a type for insertion within a collapsed or deformed hollow core of a normally annular product to be expanded within the core to reform the annular configuration of the product comprising an elongate rigid staff, laterally expansible rigid wedging means carried at one end of said staff for insertion into said core, an operating member movable to laterally expand said wedging means, hydraulic means attached to the other end of said rigid staff coupled to said operating member and including a cylinder and a piston selectively operable to expand said wedging means to reform said core and product from within, and an enlarged solid mass sealing the outer end of said cylinder and forming an anvil for receiving striking blows for driving said wedging means into said core to a selected position therein.

Claim 5

A spreading tool of a type for insertion within a collapsed or deformed hollow core of a normally annular product to be expanded within the core to reform the annular configuration of the product comprising an elongate rigid staff, laterally expansible rigid wedging means carried at one end of said staff for insertion into said core, an operating member movable to laterally expand said wedging means, hydraulic means attached to the other end of said rigid staff coupled to said operating member and including a cylinder and a piston selectively operable to expand said wedging means to reform said core and product from within, and an enlarged solid mass sealing the outer end of said cylinder and forming an anvil for receiving striking blows for driving said wedging means into said core to a selected position therein.

Claim 6

A spreading tool according to claim 3 wherein said wedging means comprises a pair of elongate wedging elements carried at said one end of said staff, one of said elements being pivotally coupled to move between closed and open positions, a cam surface formed on one of said elements, a movable wedge member attached to one end of said operating member disposed between said elements and movable between advanced and retracted positions therebetween said hydraulic piston being attached to the other end of said operating member for driving said wedge member, said hydraulic cylinder containing said piston and having pressure inlets at each end whereby said piston may selectively drive said wedge member into and out of engagement with said cam surface.

Claim 7

A tool for restoring the annular shape to a deformed roll of material collected on a hollow supporting core comprising an elongate rigid hollow shaft having a rear and a forward end, a chamber fixed to the rear end of said shaft, an anvil cap on the end of said chamber, a piston disposed in said chamber and movable in said chamber, a flow passage in each end of said chamber in fluid communication with said chamber on opposite sides of said piston, a fixed wedge segment attached to the forward end of said shaft adapted to enter said core, a movable wedge segment attached to said forward end and adapted to enter said core, said movable wedge segment having a portion disposed adjacent said fixed wedge segment, said anvil cap sealing the outer end of said chamber having sufficient mass and bulk to receive striking blows thereagainst to force said wedge segments into the supporting core, a cam follower surface formed internally in said movable wedge segment, a cam slideably disposed between said wedge segments for contacting said cam follower surface, and a piston rod joining said piston and said cam whereby hydraulic pressure admitted through one of said flow passages moves said piston and rod so as to force said cam into engagement with said cam follower surface for spreading said wedge segments and hydraulic pressure admitted through the other of said flow passages moves said piston to withdraw said cam out of engagement with said cam follower surface thereby allowing said wedge segments to collapse.

Claim 8

A tool for restoring the annular shape to a deformed roll of material collected on a hollow supporting core comprising an elongate rigid hollow shaft having a rear and a forward end, a chamber fixed to the rear end of said shaft, an anvil cap on the end of said chamber, a piston disposed in said chamber and movable in said chamber, a flow passage in each end of said chamber in fluid communication with said chamber on opposite sides of said piston, a fixed wedge segment attached to the forward end of said shaft adapted to enter said core, a movable wedge segment attached to said forward end and adapted to enter said core, said movable wedge segment having a portion disposed adjacent said fixed wedge segment, said anvil cap sealing the outer end of said chamber having sufficient mass and bulk to receive striking blows thereagainst to force said wedge segments into the supporting core, a cam follower surface formed internally in said movable wedge segment, a cam slideably disposed between said wedge segments for contacting said cam follower surface, and a piston rod joining said piston and said cam whereby hydraulic pressure admitted through one of said flow passages moves said piston and rod so as to force said cam into engagement with said cam follower surface for spreading said wedge segments and hydraulic pressure admitted through the other of said flow passages moves said piston to withdraw said cam out of engagement with said cam follower surface thereby allowing said wedge segments to collapse.

Claim 9

A tool for restoring the annular shape to a deformed roll of material collected on a hollow supporting core as in claim 5 wherein said hollow shaft has an opening extending through the hollow shaft wall, a vernier scale surrounding said opening, and a mark on said piston rod visible through said opening, whereby the relative position between said mark and said vernier scale provides a measure of the spreading of said wedge segments.