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US 4,637,436 AGranted
Annular tube-like driver
AssigneeRaychem Corporation
InventorsJohn B. Stewart, Jr., Laszlo Szalvay, Bernard de Brunier, Jeffrey W. Simpson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Annular tube-like driver for insertion into a tube insert which in turn is inserted into a tube. The driver is made of a shape-memory alloy which is capable of placing the tube insert in firm engagement with the inside of the tube.
Claims13
A composite structure comprising:
- an annular tube insert for insertion within a tube, said insert having an external surface for engagement with the inside tube surface of a tube;
- a soft material insert within said annular tube insert;
- and
- an annular tube-like driver within said soft material insert made of shape-memory alloy having a martensitic state and an austenitic state and having a configuration such that when it is inserted in its martensitic state it is capable of exerting an outward pressure on said annular tube insert through said soft material insert while simultaneously being deformed by said inserts and when transforming to its austenitic state it is capable of recovering toward its non-deformed condition to increase the pressure between the annular tube insert and the inside tube surface;
- said driver having a tapered leading edge in its martensitic condition and said soft material insert having an inside diameter, the tapered leading edge of said driver having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said soft material insert.
2 more elements
A composite structure comprising:
- an annular tube insert for insertion within a tube, said insert having an external surface for engagement with the inside tube surface of a tube and being closed at one end to plug said annular tube, said insert having threads at the closed end of the insert;
- and
- an annular tube-like driver within said tube insert made of a shape-memory alloy having a martensitic state and an austenitic state having a configuration such that when it is inserted in its martensitic state it is capable of exerting an outward pressure on said insert while simultaneously being deformed by said insert and when upon transforming to its austenitic state it is capable of recovery to its non-deformed condition to increase the pressure between the insert and the inside tube surface.
A composite structure comprising:
- an annular tube insert for insertion within a tube, said insert having an external surface for engagement with the inside tube surface of a tube and having an inside diameter;
- and
- an annular tube-like driver within said tube insert made of a shape-memory alloy having a martensitic state and an austenitic state having an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of said insert such that when it is inserted in its martensitic state it is capable of exerting an outward pressure on said insert while simultaneously being deformed by said insert and when upon transforming to its austenitic state it is capable of recovery to its non-deformed condition to increase the pressure between the insert and the inside tube surface, said driver having a tapered leading edge in its martensitic state, said tapered leading edge of the driver having an outside diameter smaller than said inside diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.