Tube swage process and system
OwnerSteven FRITZEinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector creates a connection between one or more tubes swaged with a swaging tool and the connector, allowing in-place modifications to allow connection between the tubes and the connector. The swaging tool creates one or more annular bosses in the tubes which engage corresponding annular grooves of the connector to permanently connect one or more tubes. The tubes are rotatable about the connector. Optional through-holes in the connector allow wiring, fluids, or other materials to pass through and be protected by the swage tube assembly. Clamping, threaded and pivoting connection variants are disclosed.
Claims20
A tube swage system for connecting tubes, comprising:
- a swaging tool having a first support wheel and a second support wheel and a swaging wheel, the first and second support wheels opposed to the swaging wheel by a variable distance wherein the first and second support wheels and the swaging wheel rotate around a first one of the tubes having a first outer wall such that the first and the second support wheels and the swaging wheel rotate around the first outer wall while the variable distance between the first and second support wheels, and the swaging wheel is incrementally reduced, creating a first annular boss on a first inner wall of the first tube such that a connector fitting having a first annular groove, is engageable with the first tube by mechanically engaging the first annular groove with the first annular boss.
A method for swaging and connecting tubes comprising:
- swaging a first swaging ring on a first tube with a swaging tool comprising a first support wheel, a second support wheel, and a swaging wheel, the swaging wheel in contact with a first outer wall of the first tube such that a first annular boss is formed on a first inner wall of the first tube;
- and
- inserting a connector fitting having a first annular groove and a second annular groove into the first tube such that the first annular groove engages the first annular boss.
A tube swage tool for swaging and connecting tubes comprising:
- a first support wheel;
- a second support wheel;
- a swaging wheel, the first and second support wheels opposed to the swaging wheel by a variable distance wherein the first and second support wheels and the swaging wheel rotate around a tube having a first outer wall such that the first and the second support wheels and the swaging wheel rotate around the first outer wall while the variable distance between the first and second support wheels, and the swaging wheel is incrementally reduced, creating a first annular boss on a first inner wall of the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.