Pneumaticaly driven pipe swedging and flaring tools

Abstract

Tools for expanding (i.e., flaring and swedging) the ends of metal tubes are configured for attachment to a powered impact hammer, such as an air hammer. A swedging tool for swedging an end of a metal tube has a swedging body with a die section for expanding the tube when driven thereinto and a flanged shank attached to the swedging body and configured for engagement by a powered impact hammer. A flaring tool for flaring an end of a metal tube includes a flaring body having a die section for flaring the tube when driven thereinto. A flanged shank is attached to the flaring body and configured for engagement by a powered impact hammer. A method for expanding an end of a metal tube entails attaching a die body for expanding the end of the metal tube to a powered impact hammer, aligning the die body with the inner diameter of the metal tube, activating the powered impact hammer, and urging the die body a determined distance into the metal tube.

1 . A swedging tool for expanding an end of a first metal tube having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter comprising
 a swedging body having a die section for expanding the first metal tube when driven thereinto; and   a flanged shank attached to said swedging body and configured for engagement by a powered impact hammer.   
   
   
       2 . A swedging tool according to  claim 1 , said flanged shank being configured for engagement by a retainer spring of a powered impact hammer. 
   
   
       3 . A swedging tool according to  claim 2 , said flanged shank having a cylindrical proximal shank body sized for engagement by a powered impact hammer, a distal shank body, and a flange disposed therebetween. 
   
   
       4 . A swedging tool according to  claim 3 , said flange having a chamfered trailing edge and a leading edge substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the swedging tool. 
   
   
       5 . A swedging tool according to  claim 4 , said proximal shank body having a diameter of about 0.40 inches. 
   
   
       6 . A swedging tool according to  claim 4 , said distal shank body having a diameter of about 0.50 inches. 
   
   
       7 . A swedging tool according to  claim 4 , said flange having a diameter of about 0.80 inches. 
   
   
       8 . A swedging tool according to  claim 4 , said proximal shank body having a diameter of about 0.40 inches and said distal shank body having a diameter of about 0.50 inches. 
   
   
       9 . A swedging tool according to  claim 4 , said proximal shank body having a diameter of about 0.40 inches and said distal shank body having a diameter of about 0.50 inches, and said flange having a diameter of about 0.80 inches. 
   
   
       10 . A swedging tool according to  claim 1 , said flanged shank being threadedly connected to the swedging body. 
   
   
       11 . A swedging tool according to  claim 1 , said flanged shank being integrally formed and permanently connected to the swedging body. 
   
   
       12 . A swedging tool according to  claim 1 , said die section comprising a cylindrical first body section having a diameter that is approximately equal to the first inner diameter of the first metal tube, and a cylindrical second body section having a diameter that is approximately equal to the first outer diameter of the first metal tube. 
   
   
       13 . A swedging tool according to  claim 1 , said die section comprising a cylindrical first body section having a diameter that is equal to the first inner diameter of the first metal tube, and a cylindrical second body section having a diameter that is equal to the first outer diameter the first metal tube, and a first chamfered transition from said first body section to said second body section. 
   
   
       14 . A swedging tool according to  claim 13 , said swedging tool being further configured to expand an end of a second metal tube having a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter, said die section further comprising
 a cylindrical third body section having a diameter that is about equal to the second outer diameter of the second metal tube, and said cylindrical second body section having a diameter that is about equal to the second inner diameter the second metal tube, and a second chamfered transition from said second body section to said third body section.   
   
   
       15 . A swedging tool according to  claim 14 , said swedging tool being further configured to expand an end of a third metal tube having a third inner diameter and a third outer diameter, said die section further comprising
 a cylindrical fourth body section having a diameter that is about equal to the third outer diameter of the third metal tube, and said cylindrical third body section having a diameter that is about equal to the third inner diameter the third metal tube, and a third chamfered transition from said third body section to said fourth body section.   
   
   
       16 . A flaring tool for flaring an end of a first metal tube having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter comprising
 a flaring body having a die section for flaring a tube of predetermined diameter when driven thereinto; and   a flanged shank attached to said flaring body and configured for engagement by a powered impact hammer.   
   
   
       17 . A flaring tool according to  claim 16 , said flanged shank being configured for engagement by a retainer spring of a powered impact hammer. 
   
   
       18 . A flaring tool according to  claim 17 , said flanged shank having a cylindrical proximal shank body sized for engagement by a powered impact hammer, a distal shank body, and a flange disposed therebetween. 
   
   
       19 . A method for expanding an end of a metal tube having an inner diameter and an outer diameter comprising steps of
 attaching a die body for expanding the end of the metal tube to a powered impact hammer,   aligning the die body with the inner diameter of the metal tube,   activating the powered impact hammer, and   urging the die body a determined distance into the metal tube.   
   
   
       20 . A method for expanding an end of a metal tube according to  claim 19 , wherein said die body comprises a tool from the group consisting of:
 a swedging body having a die section for swedging the end of the metal tube and a flanged shank attached to said swedging body and configured for engagement by a powered impact hammer; and   a flaring body having a die section for flaring the end of the metal tube and a flanged shank attached to said flaring body and configured for engagement by a powered impact hammer.