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:
Aug. 17, 1993
Filed:
Mar. 30, 1992
TI Corporate Services Limited, London, GB;
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for filling a tube with fluid and for pressurizing the tube, in order to expand and form it within a die for example. The apparatus provides a high flow-low pressure fluid circuit for quickly filling and draining the tube, together with a separate high pressure-low flow fluid circuit for pressurizing and depressurizing the tube. The high pressure circuit of the apparatus includes a shaft having a longitudinal bore, communicating with a high pressure fluid source and controls; tube sealing device adjacent the forward end of the shaft for sealing the tube when the shaft is engaged with the tube and high pressure fluid flows into the tube; and a shaft reciprocating mechanism for advancing and retracting the shaft. The high flow circuit of the apparatus includes: a forwardly open shroud, housing the forward end of the shaft when retracted and having a rearward opening slidably and sealably engaging the forward end of the shaft rearward of the tube sealing device, the interior of the shroud communicating with a high flow-low pressure fluid source and controls; an external seal device about the forward opening of the shroud for sealing an external surface adjacent an end of the tube; and a shroud reciprocating mechanism for advancing and retracting the shroud. In operation therefore: the shroud is advanced to seal the external surface; the tube is filled with low pressure fluid; the shaft is advanced and the tube sealing device engaged; the tube is pressurized; and the process is reversed to release the tube.