Crimping apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus actuated by a rotational drive for crimping a fitting are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a crimp ring having at least two crimp ring segments pivotably coupled together for crimping the fitting. A first member, such as a trunnion or coupling arm, engages a first of the at least two segments, and a second such member engages a second of the at least two segments. A screw is coupled to the rotating drive. The screw is coupled to the first and second members such that at least one of the members is movable along the screw when the screw is rotated. In one embodiment, the rotational drive couples to the screw by a transfer mechanism for transferring and controlling rotational movement from the rotational drive to the screw. The transfer mechanism can include a plurality of gears or can include a universal joint. The rotational drive can be a drill or can be a socket and a ratchet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus actuated by a rotational drive for crimping a fitting, comprising: 
 a crimp ring having at least two pivotably coupled segments;    a screw coupled to the rotational drive;    a first member coupled to a first of the at least two pivotably coupled segments;    a second member coupled to a second of the at least two pivotably coupled segments; and    wherein the screw is coupled to the first and second members such that at least one of the members is movable along the screw when the screw is rotated to open and close the crimp ring.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is rotatably attached to the first of the at least two pivotably coupled segments.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is removably positioned in a recess, a pocket, a hook, a catch, a slot or a bifurcate end on the first of the at least two segments.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first member defines a contoured surface for engaging the recess, the pocket, the hook, the catch, the slot or the bifurcate end on the first of the at least two segments.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a trunnion threaded onto the screw.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a nut threaded onto the screw.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a pin attached to the screw.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a transfer mechanism coupled between the rotational drive and the screw and transferring rotational movement from the rotational drive to the screw.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the transfer mechanism comprises at least one of a chuck, a plurality of gears, a universal joint, and a torque clutch.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the screw comprises first and second threaded portions having opposing threads.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two pivotably coupled segments can be attached to the rotational drive.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus actuated by a rotational drive for crimping a fitting, comprising: 
 a segmented crimping assembly;    a drive member coupled to the rotational drive and receiving the output thereof;    means for coupling the drive member to the segmented crimping assembly; and    means for actuating the segmented crimping assembly by rotation of the drive member.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for coupling the drive member to the at least one of the segments comprises means for removably coupling to the at least one of the segments.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the drive member may be coupled with the rotational drive is a plurality of orientations.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising means for controlling the output of the rotational drive to the drive member.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for crimping a fitting, comprising: 
 a rotational drive;    a crimp ring having at least two pivotably coupled segments; and    a screw coupled to the rotational drive and coupled to the at least two pivotably coupled segments to open and close the crimp ring when rotated by the rotational drive.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , comprising: 
 a first trunnion coupled to a first of the at least two segments; and    a second trunnion coupled to a second of the at least two segments,    wherein the screw is threadable through at least one of the trunnions such that the at least one trunnion is moved along the screw when the screw is rotated.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the trunnions is removably attached to one of the at least two segments.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , comprising: 
 a first arm having a contoured surface removably positioned in a recess defined in a first of the at least two segments; and    a second arm having a contoured surface removably positioned in a recess defined in a second of the at least two segments,    wherein the screw is threadable through at least one of the arms such that the at least one arm is moved along the screw when the screw is rotated.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a first end of the screw is pivotably attached to a first of the at least two segments, and wherein a second end of the screw has a nut threaded thereon engaging a second of the at least two segments.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , comprising: 
 a first nut attached to the screw and engaging a first of the at least two segments; and    a second nut attached to the screw and engaging a second of the at least two segments,    wherein at least one of the nuts is threaded on the screw.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a transfer mechanism coupled between the rotational drive and the screw and transferring rotation from the rotational drive to the screw.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the transfer mechanism comprises at least one of a chuck, a plurality of gears, a universal joint, and a torque clutch.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the rotational drive is selected from the group consisting of a manually powered drill, a pneumatically powered drill, an electrically powered drill, a socket, a ratchet, a wrench, and a screwdriver.