Seal head for tube expansion apparatus

An apparatus for filling a tube with fluid comprising:

• a) a hollow shaft, said hollow shaft having a forward end, a rearward end, and a longitudinal axis, said hollow shaft including:
• i) a rod having a forwardly open longitudinal bore for rearwardly communicating with a fluid source;
• and
• ii) a sleeve disposed outward of said rod;
• b) means disposed adjacent the forward end of said shaft for sealing a tube when said shaft is advanced into engagement with the tube, said tube sealing means including:
• i) an elastomeric ring between a surface of said rod and a surface of said sleeve;
• and
• ii) means associated with said rod and sleeve for axially displacing said rod and said sleeve relative to each other for axially compressing and decompressing, and for radially expanding and contracting said elastomeric ring to engage and disengage said tube;
• c) means associated with said shaft for reciprocating said shaft for advancing and retracting the forward end of said shaft parallel to said longitudinal axis into and out of engagement with the tube;
• d) means associated with said shaft for controlling fluid flow to said tube, for communicating with a fluid source, for filling and pressurizing the tube when said shaft is advanced into engagement with the tube and said tube sealing means seals the tube, and for depressurizing and draining fluid from the tube before said shaft is retracted;
• e) said tube sealing means being configured to seal an outer surface of the tube, said surface of said sleeve and said surface of said rod are disposed forwardly and rearwardly of said elastomeric ring, respectively, and said elastomeric ring extends radially inwardly to engage an outer surface of said tube when compressed between the sleeve and rod rings;
• and
• f) said means for axially displacing said rod and sleeve relative to each other comprises a stop element engaged by one of said rod and sleeve as the shaft is moved in one direction along said longitudinal axis so that said one of said rod and sleeve is stopped against further movement and further movement of the other of said rod and sleeve displaces said rod and sleeve relative to each other.

An apparatus for filling a tube with fluid comprising:

• a) a hollow shaft, said hollow shaft having a forward end, a rearward end, and a longitudinal axis, said hollow shaft including:
• i) a rod having a forwardly open longitudinal bore for rearwardly communicating with a fluid source;
• and
• ii) a sleeve disposed outward of said rod;
• b) a tube sealing means disposed adjacent to the forward end of said shaft, said tube sealing means sealing a tube when said shaft is advanced into engagement with the tube, and said tube sealing means including:
• i) an elastomeric ring disposed between a surface of said rod and a surface of said sleeve;
• and
• ii) a stop element disposed adjacent to and engagable by one of said rod and sleeve as the shaft is moved in one direction along said longitudinal axis so that said one of said rod and sleeve is stopped against further movement and further movement of the other of said rod and sleeve displaces said rod and sleeve relative to each other, the displacement of said rod and said sleeve relative to each other axially compresses and decompresses, and radially expands and contracts said elastomeric ring for engaging and disengaging said tube;
• c) a cylinder associated with said shaft for advancing and retracting the forward end of said shaft parallel to said longitudinal axis into and out of engagement with the tube;
• d) fluid control means fluidly connected with said rod, said fluid control means being configured for communicating with a fluid source, filling and pressurizing the tube when said shaft is advanced into engagement with the tube and said tube sealing means seals the tube, and depressurizing and draining fluid from the tube before said shaft is retracted;
• and
• e) said tube sealing means being configured to seal an outer surface of the tube, said surface of said sleeve and said surface of said rod are disposed forwardly and rearwardly of said elastomeric ring, respectively, and said elastomeric ring extends radially inwardly to engage an outer surface of said tube when compressed between the sleeve and rod rings.