PEX expanding tool

A tool operable to expand an end of a pipe, the tool comprising:

• a plurality of jaws movable between a closed position and an expanded position and rotatable about a longitudinal axis;
• a shuttle, selectively engageable with the plurality of jaws and rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation;
• a spindle selectively coupled to the shuttle such that the spindle and the shuttle move between a first position and a second position in unison, wherein the shuttle is in the first orientation and is disengaged from the plurality of jaws when the spindle is in the first position and the shuttle is in the first orientation and is engaged with the plurality of jaws when the spindle is in the second position, and wherein further movement of the spindle from the second position toward a third position in which the spindle engages the plurality of jaws to move the jaws to an expanded position produces rotation of the shuttle to the second orientation;
• a sleeve coupled to the shuttle and including a cam surface, the cam surface engagable with the shuttle as the spindle moves from the second position to the first position to rotate the shuttle to the first orientation;
• and
• a first biasing member positioned between the shuttle and the spindle and operable to bias the shuttle toward the plurality of jaws.

A tool operable to expand an end of a pipe, the tool comprising:

• a plurality of jaws movable between a closed position and an expanded position and rotatable about a longitudinal axis;
• a shuttle, selectively engageable with the plurality of jaws and rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation;
• a spindle selectively coupled to the shuttle such that the spindle and the shuttle move between a first position and a second position in unison, wherein the shuttle is in the first orientation and is disengaged from the plurality of jaws when the spindle is in the first position and the shuttle is in the first orientation and is engaged with the plurality of jaws when the spindle is in the second position, and wherein further movement of the spindle from the second position toward a third position in which the spindle engages the plurality of jaws to move the jaws to an expanded position produces rotation of the shuttle to the second orientation;
• a sleeve coupled to the shuttle and including a cam surface, the cam surface engagable with the shuttle as the spindle moves from the second position to the first position to rotate the shuttle to the first orientation;
• and
• a rotation collar disposed between the shuttle and the plurality of jaws, wherein the rotation collar is coupled to the plurality of jaws and is selectively engageable with the shuttle.

A tool operable to expand an end of a pipe, the tool comprising:

• a plurality of jaws movable between a closed position and an expanded position and rotatable about a longitudinal axis;
• a shuttle, selectively engageable with the plurality of jaws and rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation;
• a spindle selectively coupled to the shuttle such that the spindle and the shuttle move between a first position and a second position in unison, wherein the shuttle is in the first orientation and is disengaged from the plurality of jaws when the spindle is in the first position and the shuttle is in the first orientation and is engaged with the plurality of jaws when the spindle is in the second position, and wherein further movement of the spindle from the second position toward a third position in which the spindle engages the plurality of jaws to move the jaws to an expanded position produces rotation of the shuttle to the second orientation;
• a sleeve coupled to the shuttle and including a cam surface, the cam surface engagable with the shuttle as the spindle moves from the second position to the first position to rotate the shuttle to the first orientation, wherein the shuttle includes a pin and the spindle includes an L-shaped slot having a short portion that is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis and a long portion that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the pin is movably disposed within the L-shaped slot.

A tool operable to expand an end of a pipe, the tool comprising:

• a plurality of jaws movable between a closed position and an expanded position and rotatable about a longitudinal axis;
• a shuttle, selectively engageable with the plurality of jaws and rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation;
• a spindle selectively coupled to the shuttle such that the spindle and the shuttle move between a first position and a second position in unison, wherein the shuttle is in the first orientation and is disengaged from the plurality of jaws when the spindle is in the first position and the shuttle is in the first orientation and is engaged with the plurality of jaws when the spindle is in the second position, and wherein further movement of the spindle from the second position toward a third position in which the spindle engages the plurality of jaws to move the jaws to an expanded position produces rotation of the shuttle to the second orientation;
• a sleeve coupled to the shuttle and including a cam surface, the cam surface engagable with the shuttle as the spindle moves from the second position to the first position to rotate the shuttle to the first orientation;
• and
• a wedge coupled to the spindle, the wedge engageable with the plurality of jaws to move the jaws between the closed position and the expanded position.

A method of rotating a plurality of jaws, the plurality of jaws being movable between a closed position and an expanded position, the method comprising:

• positioning a spindle in a first position wherein the spindle is spaced apart from the plurality of jaws and the plurality of jaws are in the closed position;
• coupling a shuttle to the spindle, the shuttle movable between a first orientation and a second orientation;
• moving the spindle and the shuttle in unison along a longitudinal axis to a second position;
• coupling the shuttle and the plurality of jaws when the spindle is in the second position;
• moving the spindle to a third position in which the spindle is spaced apart from the plurality of jaws and the plurality of jaws are in the closed position;
• rotating the spindle and the plurality of jaws to the second orientation in response to movement of the spindle from the second position to the third position;
• moving the spindle to a fourth position while maintaining the spindle and the plurality of jaws in the second orientation;
• moving the jaws to the expanded position in response to movement of the spindle to the fourth position;
• returning the spindle to the first position from the fourth position;
• disengaging the shuttle and the plurality of jaws as the spindle moves from the second position toward the first position;
• engaging the shuttle and a cam surface after the shuttle disengages from the plurality of jaws;
• and
• rotating the shuttle from the second orientation to the first orientation in response to the cooperation of movement of the spindle to the first position and the engagement of the shuttle and the cam surface.