Axial swage alignment tool
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsDavid Sembritzky, Terry Saville
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An axial swage alignment tool (11) having a bridge member (27) for axially and rotationally aligning a metal tube (21) and a fitting (31) is disclosed. The bridge member that is temporarily bonded to the exterior surfaces of the metal tube and the fitting. The bridge member eliminates the need to place any material between the metal tube and the fitting either prior to or after the swaging process.
Claims10
An axial swage alignment tool for swaging together a tube and a fitting having a swaging collar, the axial swage alignment tool comprising:
- a housing adapted to engage the fitting;
- a ram member adapted to engage the swaging collar, and
- a bridge member for maintaining the orientation of the tube relative to the fitting during swaging, the bridge member being configured for adhesion to the exterior surfaces of the tube and the fitting.
A bridge member for use in swaging together a metal tube and a fitting having a swaging flange, the bridge member comprising:
- a first end portion having a curved contact surface for matingly contacting the metal tube;
- a second end portion having a curved contact surface for matingly contacting the fitting;
- a cross piece for connecting the first end portion to the second end portion.
A method of swaging together a metal tube and a fitting having a swaging collar comprising the steps of:
- inserting the metal tube into the fitting such that the metal tube is selectively aligned both axially and rotationally with the fitting;
- providing a bridge member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a contact surface configured to mate with the exterior surface of the metal tube, the second end having a contact surface configured to mate with the exterior surface of the fitting;
- adhering the contact surface of the first end to the metal tube;
- adhering the contact surface of the second end to the fitting;
- forcing the swaging collar over the fitting;
- removing the bridge member from the metal tube and the fitting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.