Pressure actuated fracture device
AssigneeAeroquip Corporation
InventorByrce B. Evans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure actuated fracture tool for use in splitting and fracturing hardened material, such as rock, stone, concrete and the like, having two expansible outer shells designed to move in opposition to each other along a selected axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool. The outer shells define a central orifice extending longitudinally to length of the tool. An elastomeric tubular member is positioned in the central cavity between two longitudinally fixed end connectors. Upon the application of pressure to the tubular member, the outer shells expand outwardly in a determined radial diversion to contact the wall of a cavity bored in the hardened material and cause the material to cleave or split.
Claims16
A pressure actuated tool for use in fracturing a large hardened mass of material into smaller units of desired size and shape, the tool being positioned in longitudinally oriented cavities bored into the hardened material, wherein the structure of the tool comprises, in combination:
- a first longitudinally extending expansion member, having a specified length and a first end and an opposed end, and a second longitudinally extending expansion member, having a similar specified length and a first end and an opposed second end, juxtaposed with said first expansion member, said juxtaposed first and second expansion members defining a generally concentric outer surface and a central cavity extending longitudinally about the axial centerline defined by said juxtaposed expansion members;
- a first transition member engaged with the first ends of said expansion members and a second transition member engaged with the opposed ends of said expansion members to retain said expansion members in such relative juxtaposition and allow movement by said expansion members only in a predetermined direction transverse to such axial centerline, said transition members each defining a transition cavity extending longitudinally through said transition member about said axial centerline and in communication with said central cavity;
- an elastomeric tubular member positioned within said central cavity and said transition cavities;
- a tie bar extending along such axial centerline and positioned within said elastomeric tubular member;
- a first connector member defining a centerline cavity positioned adjacent said first transition member and second connector member defining a centerline cavity positioned adjacent said second transition member;
- means for engaging each of said connector members with its respective transition member, capturing said tubular member, capturing said tubular member in leak-proof and airtight communication with said centerline cavities of said connector members and fixing said connector members with the opposed ends of said tie bar to prevent any longitudinal movement of such components when pressure is applied to said tubular member;
- and,
- whereby said tubular member expands under such pressure forcing said expansion members to move radially outward in predetermined and opposed transverse directions to engage the wall of such longitudinally oriented cavity and apply pressure thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.