1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, titled TUBE SWAGE PROCESS AND SYSTEM, but referred to for brevity as the “Tube Swage,” or “Tool Swage System,” hereafter, relates to a process and system for swaging (expanding and/or contracting by means of mechanical force) tubes 11 and 16 to allow them to be easily and reliably connected without external retention means.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Tube swage systems are known in the art: swaging the end of a tube by either expanding it or contracting it so it will surround or fit inside the end of a second tube, allowing them to be connected communicably, is a standard process in many fields. However, such connections are not mechanically solid: some sort of glue, clamp, set-screw, or other means of forcing the swaged tubes 11 and 16 to stay in place to avoid mechanical failure and/or leakage of fluids conducted through the tubes 11 and 16 are necessary. This adds expense and additional points of failure to such connections. It would be useful to be able to link swaged tubes 11 and 16 together in a fashion which is mechanically stable and provides reasonable integrity to the common communicable space of the linked tubes 11 and 16.
Furthermore, it is usually necessary to swage tubes 11 and 16 at the point of manufacture as such swaging can split, crack, or otherwise damage the tube if not done within the necessary parameters. Swaging in the field (with the tubes 11 and 16 “in place,” or nearly so, as in at the location of installation and/or use) can be imprecise and time-consuming. It would be useful to be able to easily and precisely swage tubes 11 and 16 in the field with minimal risk of damage.
The present invention addresses these concerns.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a Tube Swage Process and System which allows tubes 11 and 16 to be modified by swaging to allow a mechanically stable joining having reasonable integrity without the use of external retention means such as clamps or set screws.
The present invention further provides a Tube Swage Process and System which allows tubes 11 and 16 to be modified by swaging in the field with a simple and reliable process.
Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in use.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention in use.
FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the connection made possible by the invention.
FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the invention in use.
FIG. 5 is a view of the swaging tool of the invention in a swaging configuration and a cutting configuration.
FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of a first optional variant on the invention.
FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of a second optional variant on the invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third optional variant on the invention.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the third optional variant on the invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fourth optional variant on the invention.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fifth optional variant on the invention.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a sixth optional variant on the invention.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a seventh optional variant on the invention.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an eighth optional variant on the invention.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a ninth optional variant on the invention.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a tenth optional variant on the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, can be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms are not to be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words attach, connect, couple, and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct or intermediate connections, but can also include connections through mediate elements or devices.
Though useful for many applications, the invention will be described as a tube swage process and system. For purposes of this application “tubes” means hollow cylindrical objects with walls which are swageable, meaning that if a radially-oriented force is exerted against the interior or exterior of the walls, they have sufficient elasticity to expand or contract without breaking or otherwise being materially damaged or weakened, and sufficient rigidity that they will retain some or all of the imparted expansion or contraction, leaving the tube with a larger or smaller inside diameter (“I.D.”) and likely a corresponding smaller or larger outside diameter (“O.D.”) in the portion which was swaged. Tubes could include what are commonly called pipes, lines, hoses, et cetera. Tubes may or may not be air-tight, water-tight, opaque or non-opaque, et cetera. An embodiment will be described as powered by a human user, but could also be electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically powered or powered by any other suitable means. The place(s) where tubes to be joined with the Tube Swage Process and System are to be joined together are generally referred to as “joints.”
It should be noted that the embodiment of the invention will also work with connector fittings which are not hollow. While applications of this type do not allow the motion of fluids or routing other materials through them, they are useful for structural and other purposes.
By referring to the provided drawings, the Tube Swage Process and System can be easily understood. FIG. 1 shows first tube 11 and second tube 16, which are to be joined with the process of the invention. Swaging tool 10 has handle 12 to be manipulated by a human user (not shown) which is connected to swage head 15 with connector 13. While connector 13 is shown connecting as a threaded rod, which can also be used to reduce the distance between the support wheels and the swaging wheel, it could be connected in any reasonable manner. Swage head 15 has first and second support wheels 17 and swaging wheel 18. While it is preferred to have two support wheels, swage head 15 could incorporate any reasonable number of support wheels. The distance between support wheels 17 and swaging wheel 18 is adjusted either manually or automatically such that at the beginning of the process, it is equal to or larger than the outside diameter of the tube to be swaged. Swaging tool 10 is rotated around the tube to be swaged, and the distance between support wheels 17 and swaging wheel 18 is gradually reduced. This results in swaging wheel 18 gradually compressing the tube to be swaged, producing swaged rings 14. It is optional, but not required, for swaging tool 10 to have multiple swaging wheels, offset axially such that it can create multiple swaged rings simultaneously. It is likewise optional, but not required, for swaging tool 10 to have multiple support wheels instead of a single support wheel. These options can be combined. Swaged rings 14 comprise an area of the tube having been swaged which has a smaller O.D. and a corresponding smaller I.D., resulting in annular bosses 34 on the interior of the tubes 11 and 16 (not shown, see FIG. 3.)
It is optional, but not required, that support wheels 17 be configured such that it is also a swaging wheel, such that the swaged rings are formed by both support wheels 17 and swaging wheel 18 simultaneously.
FIG. 2 shows a connector fitting 20, comprising body 22, first connector end 21, and second connector end 26. Both connector ends have one or more annular grooves 24, which can either be swaged into the connector ends on site with a swaging tool, or formed by casting the connector fitting 20 with them in place or swaging them at the time of manufacture. Connector fitting 20 can be formed of any suitable material, though it is required that it has sufficient elasticity to allow annular bosses 34 (see FIG. 3) to engage with it. If the tubing is required to have fluid integrity, it is preferred for the connector fitting 20 to be formed of rubber or silicone or some other elastic material which will press firmly against the interior of the tubes 11 and 16 for a tighter and longer lasting seal. Connector fitting 20 will connect first tube 11 and second tube 16 after swaging as shown in FIG. 3.
Depending on the ultimate use of the assembled tubing, connector fitting 20 may be solid (increasing structural rigidity and strength) or hollow (enabling fluids, wiring, or any other desired media or object(s) to pass through the assembled tubing.)
FIG. 3 shows the details of the connection. First tube 11 and second tube 16 are joined by connector fitting 20. Annular bosses 34 formed in the tubes 11 and 16 by the swaging tool (see FIGS. 1 and 2) have engaged with the annular grooves 24 of connector fitting 20. The tubes 11 and 16 are now mechanically engaged with the connector fitting 20, forming a mechanically stable joint with a continuous communicable space. The relative I.D. and O.D. of the tubes 11 and 16 and the connector fitting 20, including the relative sizes of the annular bosses and the annular grooves, may be adjusted such that the tubes 11 and 16 can be rotated on connector fitting 20 relative to each other and/or the connector fitting 20, or such that the tubes 11 and 16 are difficult or nearly impossible to rotate due to the tightness of the connections. If connector fitting 20 has an internally rotatable section, it can serve as a rotary point even if the tubes 11 and 16 will not rotate against the connector fitting 20. Similarly, if connector fitting 20 has a flexible or hinged section, it can serve as a point of flexion between the tubes 11 and 16.
FIG. 4 shows details of the swaging tool and connection. In this figure, connector fitting 20 is formed at a right angle, allowing a 90 degree feature in the connection between first tube 11 and second tube 16. This could be done by machining rod fittings and welding them together, casting/forging the connector fitting 20 in this shape, bending it on site, or making it of a material flexible enough to allow the bending as the tubes 11 and 16 are put in place. Swage head 15 is engaged with tube 16 and has completed the swaging of annular bosses 34, which are engaged with annular grooves 24. In this embodiment, the annular bosses can be swaged in place, with the distance between support wheel 17 and swaging wheel 18 being reduced until the desired level of compression of swaged rings 14 has fit annular bosses 34 into annular grooves 24.
FIG. 5 shows the swaging tool in a swaging configuration and a cutting configuration. This is an optional embodiment which increases the utility of the swaging tool. In configuration 10, the swaging tool includes support wheels 17 and swaging wheel 18. In configuration 10A, the swaging tool has had swaging wheel 18 replaced with cutting wheel 58. Cutting wheel 58 has a sharp edge and when configuration 10A is rolled around the tube, it will cut the tube instead of swaging the swaging rings. Wheel retaining pin 52 is removable and allows the efficient exchange of the swaging wheel with the cutting wheel.
FIG. 6 shows a first optional variant on the invention wherein the swaging tool has swaging head 65, which comprises two sets of support wheels 67A and 67B, and one or more sets of swaging wheels 68A and 68B. The sets of swaging wheels and support wheels are offset by a fixed amount corresponding to the distance between annular grooves 24 (not shown, see FIG. 2) such that the tube 11 and/or 16 will engage with both annular grooves. It is optional to allow the distance between the swaging wheels 68A and 68B to be adjustable by the user such that the swaging tool can be used with different configurations of connector fittings and tube sizes. Optional spacer plates 62A and 62B mounted on either side of swaging head 65 provide correct placement of swaging wheels 68A and 68B with respect to the connector fitting containing dual annular groove 24 positions (not shown, see FIG. 4).
It is optional to include even more swaging wheels and/or support wheels, or to apply the swaging tool to the tubes 11 and 16 multiple times to provide additional annular bosses corresponding to annular grooves in the connector fitting 20. This could provide additional mechanical integrity to the joint and/or allow multiple configurations of the joint.
FIG. 7 shows a second optional improvement wherein the connector fitting 70 has o-ring groove 72 into which o-ring 71 can be inserted. This increases the integrity of the joint, helping to keep moisture and air out and any fluids transmitted by the tubes 11 and 16 in.
FIG. 8 shows a third optional variant on the invention wherein the joint is further secured with exterior clamps 82. While the use of exterior clamps to secure tube joints is known in the art, the invention's provision of swaged rings makes the use of such clamps much more effective. An additional element added to such clamps further increases their efficiency as shown in FIG. 9. Clamps 82 are fitted into swaged rings 14 such that they engage the reduced O.D. of the tubes 11 and 16, keeping them straight and in a fixed position on the tube. In FIG. 9, it can be seen that clamp 82 is a u-bolt 92 with a saddle bracket 94, secured by nuts 91. Interior member 93 fits into swaged ring 14 and provides for the equal distribution of clamping force on the O.D. of the tubes 11 and 16, making the engagement of the annular boss and the annular groove solid and uniform.
FIG. 10 shows a fourth optional variant on the invention wherein connector fitting 100 includes shoulders 102. Shoulders 102 are equal to or larger than the I.D. of the tubes to be joined (not shown) and serve to both improve the seal between the tubes to be joined and connector fitting 100 and to provide for a fixed placement of the tubes 11 and 16 onto connector fitting 100.
FIG. 11 shows a fifth optional variant on the invention wherein connector fitting 110 includes shoulder 102 (see FIG. 10) and threaded end 114. This allows the tube with which connector fitting 110 is engaged (not shown) to be attached to a threaded receiver (not shown,) such as a pre-threaded tube or a mounting flange. This is a particularly advantageous application of the invention as only connector fitting 110 needs to be rotated/threaded into the receiver instead of the entire length of the tube which engages it. Connector fitting 110 can be threaded into the receiver before or after the tube has been engaged with it.
FIG. 12 shows a sixth optional variant on the invention wherein connector fitting 120 has hinge boss 133, to which second connector fitting 128 can be movably connected via bolt 135 and nut 137.
FIG. 13 shows a seventh optional variant on the invention wherein flange 134 surrounds a portion of connector fitting 130, allowing it and the entire assembly to be affixed to a surface with screws, nails, bolts, or any other suitable means. It is preferred, but not required, that connector fitting 130 be welded or otherwise permanently affixed to flange 134.
If it is not desired that the assembly be allowed to rotate at all with respect to flange 134, as an addition or alternative to welding, optional through holes 138 can be used to affix the connecting member to the flange. Optional through holes 138 can also be used to mount flange 134 to an underlying surface, either by drilling flange 134 at the time of assembly or incorporating corresponding holes at an earlier time.
In another variant, a flange feature may not be suitable or sufficient for a particular application. Optional flat feature 132 can be applied to one or both sides of connector fitting 130 and one or more through holes 138 added allowing the entire assembly to be affixed to a flat surface or between two flat surfaces with screws, nails, bolts, or any other suitable means.
If the connector fitting 130 does not engage with the flanges such that the connector fitting 130 cannot rotate relative to flange 134, flange 134 can form a rotatable hinge for an assembly incorporating the tubes to be joined (not shown, see previous figures) such as a raisable/lowerable safety bar, towel holder, et cetera. If rotation is desired, it is strongly preferred that the tube(s) rotate relative to the connector fitting, and that the connector fitting does not rotate relative to the flange and/or mounting surface.
FIG. 14 shows an eighth optional variant on the invention wherein connector fitting 140 has multiple connector ends 142a, 142b, and 142c, and a threaded end 144, which allows multiple tubes (not shown, see previous figures) to be connected to a tube, member, or other fitting which has a threaded receiver.
FIG. 15 shows a ninth optional variant on the invention wherein connector fitting 150 has a connector end 152 and a saddle end 154. Saddle end 154 has a through-hole which allows saddle bolt 156 to be secured with saddle nut 158 and hold saddle bracket 159. Optional rebate 151 in saddle end 154 is shaped to provide full clearance of the tube or other round item which passes through the saddle bracket 159 no matter what angle the saddle bracket 159 is at in respect to saddle end 154.
FIG. 16 shows a tenth optional variant on the invention wherein connector fitting 160 has a chamfered inner surface 162 at one or both ends of connector fitting 160. This makes it easier for whatever is to be passed through tube 164 and thus through connector fitting 160 to pass through the joint. In particular, this reduces wear on insulated cables or interior conductors of whatever type as they pass through the joint and/or as the joint may move or flex and/or the interior conductors may move or flex.
An optional variant (not shown) applicable to many of the embodiments described would be to add a compound comprising adhesive sealant (or having the properties of either adhesive or sealant) to the annular grooves of a connector fitting. This would, depending on whether the compound was adhesive, sealant, or both, improve the mechanical and/or fluid retention properties of the completed assembly.
It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the variants detailed above may be combined as desired to further improve the applicability of the invention to any given application, including the control of cost and complexity and the required level of mechanical reliability of a particular application.
This application-taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, and drawings being combined-provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention as disclosed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure.
Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this device and method can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.
Patent Application
20250018459
