# US 11,110,646 B2 · PEX tubing expander head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,646 B2 - Document ID: US11110646B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/519,684 - Filed: 2019-07-23 - Published: 2021-01-28 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-23 - Assignees: Brochman Innovations, LLC - Applicants: Brochman Innovations, LLC - Inventors: Todd Brochman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110646B2 ## CPC - B29C 57/04: using mechanical means {(B29C57/025 takes precedence)} - B21D 39/20: with mandrels, e.g. expandable - B21D 41/02: Enlarging - B21D 41/021: {by means of tube-flaring hand tools} - B21D 41/026: {by means of mandrels} - B21D 41/028: {expandable mandrels} - B29C 57/045: {rotating} - B29D 23/001: {Pipes; Pipe joints (pleated hoses B29D23/18)} - B29K 2023/0691: {PEX, i.e. crosslinked polyethylene} - B29L 2023/22: {Tubes or pipes, i.e. rigid (bent tubes not for use as pipe couplings B29L2023/004)} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expansion toolhead for an expansion tool, comprising: a cap operably coupleable to the expansion tool; 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 cross-linked polyethylene PEX tubing interface portion comprises a distal end, a proximal end, at least two lands, including a first land and a second land, positioned therebetween configured to form at least two substantially uniform diameter portions of the jaw section sequentially increasing in diameter between the distal end and the proximal end for an expansion of a respective first predetermined size of PEX tubing and a second, larger predetermined size of PEX tubing, a first ramp portion defining a first gradual transition between the distal end and the first land, a second ramp portion defining a second gradual transition between the first land and the second land, and a riser positioned between the first land and the second ramp portion, wherein the second ramp portion comprises a shallower angle with respect to a centerline of the toolhead than the first ramp portion, and the first ramp portion comprises a steeper pitch than the second ramp portion to reduce an expansion force required to expand the second, larger standard size of PEX tubing, and wherein the riser and a steeper angle of the first ramp portion relative to the second ramp portion reduce the overall length of the expansion toolhead. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The expansion toolhead of claim 1, wherein the jaw section includes at least six jaws. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The expansion toolhead of claim 1, wherein the PEX tubing interface portion of each of the plurality of jaws includes a roughened surface configured to grip an inside of the PEX tubing during expansion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The expansion toolhead of claim 1, wherein the first land is sized for the expansion of ½ inch PEX tubing, and the second land is sized for the expansion of ¾ inch PEX tubing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The expansion toolhead of claim 1, wherein the PEX tubing interface portion comprises at least three lands sized for the expansion of at least three different sized diameters of the PEX tubing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The expansion toolhead of claim 5, wherein the first land step is sized for the expansion of ½ inch PEX tubing, the second land is sized for the expansion of ¾ inch PEX tubing, and a third land is sized for the expansion of 1-inch PEX tubing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The expansion toolhead of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of jaws includes a third ramp portion positioned between the second land and the third land. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The expansion toolhead of claim 7, wherein the second ramp portion has a steeper angle with respect to a centerline of the toolhead than the third ramp portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The expansion toolhead of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of jaws includes a magnet configured to inhibit separation of the jaw section from the cone-shaped wedge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The expansion toolhead of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of jaws includes one or more biasing members at least partially encircling the jaw section to bias the jaw section to the unexpanded position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The expansion toolhead of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of jaws includes an expansion tool facing slot configured to interface with a portion of the expansion tool to at least partially rotate the jaw section relative to the expansion tool during operation. ### Claim 12 A cross-linked polyethylene PEX expansion tool comprising: a handheld actuator configured to selectively drive a cone-shaped wedge distally during operation; a cap operably coupleable to the handheld actuator; 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 cross-linked polyethylene PEX tubing interface portion comprises a distal end, a proximal end, at least two lands, including a first land and a second land, positioned therebetween configured to form at least two substantially uniform diameter portions of the jaw section sequentially increasing in diameter between the distal end and the proximal end for an expansion a respective first predetermined size of PEX tubing and a second, larger predetermined size of PEX tubing, a first ramp portion defining a first gradual transition between the distal end and the first land, a second ramp portion defining a second gradual transition between the first land and the second land, and a riser positioned between the first land and the second ramp portion, wherein the second ramp portion comprises a shallower angle with respect to a centerline of the toolhead than the first ramp portion, and the first ramp portion comprises a steeper pitch than the second ramp portion to reduce an expansion force required to expand the second, larger standard size of PEX tubing, and wherein the riser and a steeper angle of the first ramp portion relative to the second ramp portion reduce the overall length of the expansion toolhead. ### Claim 13 A powered cross-linked polyethylene PEX expansion tool comprising: a handheld tool including battery and driver configured to selectively drive a cone-shaped wedge distally during operation; a cap operably coupleable to the handheld tool; 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 cross-linked polyethylene PEX tubing interface portion comprises a distal end, a proximal end, at least two lands, including a first land and a second land, positioned therebetween configured to form at least two substantially uniform diameter portions of the jaw section sequentially increasing in diameter between the distal end and the proximal end for an expansion a respective first predetermined size of PEX tubing and a second, larger predetermined size of PEX tubing, a first ramp portion defining a first gradual transition between the distal end and the first land, a second ramp portion defining a second gradual transition between the first land and the second land, and a riser positioned between the first land and the second ramp portion, wherein the first second ramp portion has a steeper shallower angle with respect to a centerline of the toolhead than the first ramp portion, and the first ramp portion comprises a steeper pitch than the second ramp portion to reduce an expansion force required to expand the second, larger standard size of PEX tubing, and wherein the riser and a steeper angle of the first ramp portion relative to the second ramp portion reduce the overall length of the expansion toolhead. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The powered cross-linked polyethylene PEX expansion tool of claim 13, wherein the jaw section includes at least six jaws. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The powered cross-linked polyethylene PEX expansion tool of claim 13, wherein the PEX tubing interface portion of each of the plurality of jaws includes a roughened surface configured to grip an inside of the PEX tubing during expansion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The powered cross-linked polyethylene PEX expansion tool of claim 13, wherein the first land is sized for the expansion of ½ inch PEX tubing, and the second land is sized for the expansion of ¾ inch PEX tubing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The powered cross-linked polyethylene PEX expansion tool of claim 13, wherein the PEX tubing interface portion comprises at least three lands sized for the expansion of at least three different sized diameters of the PEX tubing, wherein the first land step is sized for the expansion of ½ inch PEX tubing, the second land is sized for the expansion of ¾ inch PEX tubing, and a third land is sized for the expansion of 1 inch PEX tubing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The powered cross-linked polyethylene PEX expansion tool of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of jaws includes a third ramp portion positioned between the second land and the third land. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The powered cross-linked polyethylene PEX expansion tool of claim 18, wherein the second ramp portion has a steeper angle with respect to a centerline of the jaw section than the third ramp portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The powered cross-linked polyethylene PEX expansion tool of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of jaws includes an expansion tool facing slot configured to interface with a portion of the expansion tool to at least partially rotate the jaw section relative to the expansion tool during operation.