Hydraulic expansion tube
OwnerCasiano Glenie Rodriguesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An hydraulic expansion tube is provided which may be inserted into bore holes and expanded to break apart rock. An expandable tube is secured at its ends with end caps and sleeves which are carried on a support shaft. The end caps and sleeves form a tight interference fit with the ends of the expandable tube. Hydraulic fluid is ported through the support shaft into the interior of the expandable tube. The end caps and sleeves may be provided with threads to better grip the expandable tube and prevent it from pulling away from the end caps after repeated expansion. Additionally, an expandable sheath may be provided to surround the ends of the expandable tube to limit the expandable tube from flowing around the end caps when pressurized.
Claims8
An expander, comprising:
- a support shaft;
- a pair of sleeves disposed about on said support shaft proximate either end of said support shaft;
- an expandable tube disposed about said support shaft and said sleeves;
- a pair of end caps proximate said either end of said support shaft surrounding said expandable tube such that, proximate each end of said support shaft, one of said end caps and one of said sleeves pinch said expandable tube;
- a port for porting hydraulic fluid between said support shaft and said expandable tube;
- a pair of expandable sheaths disposed about said expandable tube at each of said end caps, each of said sheathes capable of minimizing expansion of said expandable tube over one of said end caps, wherein each of said end caps overlaps an end of one of said sheaths;
- and
- a bleed for bleeding air from between said support shaft and said expandable tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.