The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 28, 1981
Filed:
Oct. 16, 1978
Edward H Smith, Plum Borough, PA (US);
Richard L Stiller, Natrona Heights, PA (US);
Robert Shaffer, Swissvale, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for actuating a tube guide expander device inserted in a tube end and extracting it therefrom subsequent to tube expansion induced by guide-expander actuation. The apparatus includes inner and outer sleeve structures which are independently axially displaceable relative to the tube and guide-expander. The outer sleeve structure is engageable with a first compression structure of the device to secure it and its engaged tube in place during relative axial displacement of a second compression structure of the device. Selectively coupling the inner sleeve structure to the device's second compression structure and axial displacement of both axially compresses a radial expansion element situated between the compression structures and expands the enclosing tube. A series of balls are radially displaceable from an outer unobstructing position through radial openings in the inner sleeve structure and an intermediate sleeve structure to an inner obstructing position protruding into the inner sleeve structure's bore so as to axially engage a portion of the second compression structure and prevent its extraction from the bore during axial displacement of the inner sleeve structure. Radial displacement of the balls is provided by selective axial displacement of the intermediate sleeve structure arranged about the inner sleeve structure. Simultaneous axial displacement of the inner and outer sleeve structures away from the tube with the balls in obstructing position subsequent to the tube's expansion enables extraction of the guide-expander from the tube.