Explosive expansion of metal tubes
AssigneeImperial Chemical Industries PLC
InventorRoy Hardwick
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Abstract
In a method of explosively expanding a tubular metal component into engagement with a surrounding metal component, an explosive charge is disposed axially and fired in an insert having a hollow cylindrical container fitting closely within the portion of the tubular metal component to be expanded and having charge holding device, for example an axial pocket, to accommodate the explosive charge, the container being filled with a shock wave-transmitting liquid. Compared with solid inserts, the novel hollow insert is cheaper and requires a smaller explosive charge for a given operation. The method is especially advantageous for expanding large diameter tubes.
Claims11
A shock wave-transmitting insert for holding an explosive charge axially within a tubular metal element to be expanded and to transmit the shock wave from the said charge to the said tubular metal element when the charge is fired, characterised in that
- the said insert comprises a hollow cylindrical container and charge-holding means to accommodate an explosive charge and locate it axially within the container, said container being adapted in use to be filled with a shock wave-transmitting liquid.
A method of explosively expanding a tubular metal component into engagement with a surrounding metal component comprising the steps of axially disposing an explosive charge within a hollow cylindrical container fitting closely within the portion of said tubular metal component to be expanded, said container having a charge-holding means constituting an integral part of said container, filling said container with a shock wave-transmitting liquid, and firing said explosive charge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.