Apparatus and process for selectively expanding to join one tube into another tube
AssigneeCities Service Company
InventorRichard A. Mueller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and process for expanding a tube at selective points about its circumference to join with another tube. After a segment of a first tube is inserted into a second tube having an end sleeve segment with a larger diameter and wall thickness than the first tube, compression and subsequent radial expansion of one or more elastomeric bars lodged within longitudinal slots of a bushing means locted within the first tube end segment cause the elastomer to radially expand the wall of the first tube. The wall of the first tube expands at selective points against the wall of the second tube in proximity to their respective ends, creating a selective interference fit therebetween.
Claims14
An apparatus for joining at least one pair of tubes by selectively radially expanding a first tube into a second tube in proximity to their respective ends to form a selective interference fit between the tubes comprising:
- (a) the first tube including a shaft extending axially therein;
- (b) an inner cap bound to the shaft for longitudinal axial movement in combination with the shaft with respect to the first tube;
- (c) an outer cap slidably mounted on and along the shaft for longitudinal axial movement on and along the shaft with respect to the first tube, said outer cap including at least one prong means bound thereto;
- (d) a bushing means slidably mounted on and along the shaft between the outer cap and the inner cap for longitudinal axial movement on and along the shaft with respect to the first tube, said bushing means including a structure defining at least one longitudinal slot which longitudinally traverses said bushing means, said longitudinal slot registering said prong means therein;
- (e) an elastomeric means slidably lodged within the longitudinal slot of said bushing means;
- (f) the second tube with an end sleeve segment having a greater diameter than the first tube, said end sleeve segment defining a female opening to slidably mate with an end segment of said first tube, which includes the elastomeric means therein, such that the inner surface of the end sleeve segment of the second tube overlaps the outer surface of the end segment of the first tube;
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- (g) a means for pulling the shaft in one axial direction while simultaneously pushing the outer cap in the opposite axial direction such that when the inner cap contacts the bushing means and the prong means contacts the elastomeric means the continuing respective axial forces from pulling and pushing, in combination with the prong means of the outer cap in contact with the elastomeric means within the longitudinal slot, compress and thereby radially expand the elastomeric means at predetermined selective points against the end segment wall of the first tube causing said wall to expand against the inner surface of the end sleeve segment of the second tube to form a selective interference fit therebetween.
A process for joining at least one pair of tubes by selectively radially expanding a first tube into a second tube in proximity to their respective ends to form a selective interference fit between the tubes comprising the following steps:
- (a) placing a shaft axially inside a first tube, said shaft having an inner cap bound thereto for longitudinal axial movement in combination with the shaft with respect to the first tube;
- (b) mounting a bushing means, including at least one longitudinal slot which longitudinally traverses said bushing means, slidably on and along the shaft for longitudinal axial movement on and along the shaft with respect to the first tube, said bushing means having an elastomeric means slidably lodged within said longitudinal slot;
- (c) mounting an outer cap, including at least one prong means bound thereto, slidably on and along the shaft for longitudinal axial movement on and along the shaft with respect to the first tube such that said prong means is slidably lodged within the longitudinal slot of said bushing means, said outer cap positioned on the shaft such that the elastomeric means is between said prong means and said inner cap;
- (d) sizing an end sleeve segment of the second tube such that said end sleeve segment has a larger diameter than the first tube;
- (e) registering an end segment of the first tube, which includes the elastomeric means therein, within the end sleeve segment of the second tube such that the inner surface of the end sleeve segment of the second tube overlaps the end segment outer surface of the first tube;
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- (f) pulling the shaft in one axial direction while simultaneously pushing the outer cap in the opposite axial direction such that when the inner cap contacts the bushing means and the prong means of said outer cap contacts the elastomeric means the continuing respective axial forces from pulling and pushing, in combination with the prong means of the outer cap in contact with the elastomeric means within the longitudinal slot, compress and thereby radially expand the elastomeric means at predetermined selective locations against the end segment wall of the first tube causing selective radial expansion of the wall of the first tube end segment against the inner surface of the end sleeve segment of the second tube to form a selective interference fit therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.