Hydraulic tube expander and method of use
AssigneeIrwin Industrial Tool Company
InventorsJoseph Houle, Roman Lomeli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic tube expander includes expanding jaws engageable with an interior surface of a tube to expand the tube; a source of hydraulic fluid, a valve located between the source and the expanding jaws and a single-action release actuator operatively coupled to the valve. The valve is moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, hydraulic fluid can pass from the source to the expanding jaws and in the open position the hydraulic fluid can pass from the expanding jaws to the source. The actuator is movable between first and second positions. In the first position the valve is in the closed position. Movement of the actuator in a direction from the first position toward the second position moves the valve into the open position.
Claims17
A hydraulic tube expander comprising:
- a head portion comprising:
- expanding jaws engageable with an interior surface of a tube to expand the tube;
- and
- a fluid cavity configured to receive hydraulic fluid;
- a handle portion connected to the head portion and extending at a substantially 90° angle relative to the head portion, the handle portion comprising:
- a trigger mounted to the handle portion and pivotable with respect to the handle portion;
- a fluid source comprising the hydraulic fluid disposed in the handle;
- an inlet fluid path disposed between the fluid source and the fluid cavity, wherein the trigger is fluidicly coupled to the inlet fluid path at a position along the inlet fluid path;
- a first valve fluidicly coupled to the inlet fluid path and located between the fluid source and the position the trigger is fluidicly coupled to the inlet fluid path;
- and
- a second valve fluidicly coupled to the inlet fluid path and located between the fluid cavity and the position the trigger is fluidicly coupled to the inlet fluid path.
A hydraulic tube expander comprising:
- a tool body comprising:
- a head portion comprising:
- expanding jaws engageable with an interior surface of a tube to expand the tube;
- and
- a fluid cavity configured to receive hydraulic fluid;
- a handle portion extending at a substantially 90 degree angle to the head portion and comprising a fluid source comprising the hydraulic fluid:
- a trigger disposed on the tool body and configured to pump the hydraulic fluid from the source of hydraulic fluid to the fluid cavity, and, in turn, expand the expanding jaws;
- and
- a single-action release actuator disposed on the tool body and pivotable with respect to the tool body;
- an outlet fluid path disposed between the fluid cavity and the source of hydraulic fluid;
- a release valve fluidicly coupled to the outlet fluid path and disposed between the fluid cavity and the outlet fluid path;
- and
- a piston operatively coupled to the single-action release actuator and the release valve, wherein movement of the single-action release actuator operatively adjusts the piston to move the release valve from a normally-closed position to an open position to allow fluid to flow from the fluid cavity through the outlet fluid path to the source of hydraulic fluid.
A hydraulic tube expander comprising:
- a tool body comprising:
- a head comprising;
- expanding jaws engageable with an interior surface of a tube to expand the tube:
- a fluid cavity configured to receive hydraulic fluid;
- a handle attached to the head, the handle comprising:
- forming a substantially 90° angle, the
- a fluid source comprising the hydraulic fluid;
- first means for pumping hydraulic fluid from a source of hydraulic fluid toward the expanding jaws, and, in turn, expanding the expanding jaws;
- and
- second means for opening a normally-closed release valve in fluid communication with the expanding jaws and allowing hydraulic fluid to flow away from the expanding jaws
- an inlet fluid path disposed between the fluid source and the fluid cavity, wherein the first means is fluidicly coupled to the inlet fluid path at a position along the inlet fluid path;
- a first valve fluidicly coupled to the inlet fluid path and located between the fluid source and the position the first means is fluidicly coupled to the inlet fluid path;
- a second valve fluidicly coupled to the inlet fluid path and located between the fluid cavity and the position the first means is fluidicly coupled to the inlet fluid path;
- wherein the first and second means are configured to be operated by a single hand of a user and wherein the head and the handle form a substantially 90° angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.