Hydrostatic Testing Tool and Methods of Use

A tool for engaging and retaining an article having an aperture, the tool comprising:

• a head, including a collet body having an outer periphery and a plurality of collet segments positioned about a central longitudinal axis, the segments cooperating to selectively engage and disengage the aperture of the article;
• and
• the collet segments being movable independently of one another in directions parallel to the longitudinal axis such that a plurality of collet segments can independently become aligned with the aperture of the article.

A tool for engaging and retaining an article having a threaded aperture, the tool comprising:

• a head having a collet body and including a plurality of collet segments arranged around a central longitudinal axis, each collet segment having an outer surface, the outer surfaces of the plurality of collet segments collectively forming an outer perimeter constructed and arranged to enter and engage the threaded aperture, the collet segments being moveable toward and away from the central axis to cause the size of the outer perimeter to vary when the segments move toward and away from the central axis, each collet segment having a thread on at least part of its outer surface to match and engage the threaded aperture when the collet segments move outward from the central axis into contact with the threaded aperture;
• and
• an actuator unit interconnected with the head and constructed and arranged to selectively move the collet segments outward and inward relative to the central axis to vary the size of the outer perimeter to thereby selectively engage and disengage the threaded aperture of the article.