Tube compressor

Claim 1

A portable device for compressing the end of a length of cylindrical tubing which has been expanded to a size greater than its normal diameter, said device comprising: a. hollow housing means having an opening therethrough for allowing the expanded end of the length of tubing to be inserted into the interior of said housing means; b. die means positioned in the interior of said housing means, said die means including a plurality of die members for being positioned around the length of tubing in said housing means, each of said plurality of die members having a sloping outer surface and having a curved inner surface for engaging the expanded end of the tubing, said curved inner surface of each of said plurality of die members having substantially the same curvature as the normal diameter of the tubing; c. sleeve means positioned in the interior of said housing means for placement about said die means and for forcing said plurality of die members inwardly to compress the end of the length of the tubing, said sleeve means having a sloping inner surface; and d. activating means for selectively causing said sleeve means to force said plurality of die members inwardly to uniformly compress the expanded end of the length of tubing, said activating means including cam means pivotally attached to said housing means and including cam follower means fixedly attached to said sleeve means for causing said sleeve means to force said plurality of die members inwardly to compress the expanded end of the length of tubing when said cam means is activated.

Claim 12

A method of compressing the end of a length of cylindrical metal tubing which has been expanded to a size greater than its normal diameter, said method comprising: a. inserting said expanded end of said tubing into a portable device which comprises: a hollow housing means having an opening through one end thereof for allowing said expanded end of said tubing to be inserted therethrough into the interior of said housing means, said housing means including a removable portion for allowing access into the interior of said housing means; die means positioned within said housing means, said die means including a plurality of die members for being positioned around said expanded end of said tubing in said housing means, each of said plurality of die members having an outer surface sloping in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof and having an inner surface curving in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, said curved inner surface of each of said plurality of die members having substantially the same curvature as the normal diameter of said end of said tubing; sleeve means positioned substantially in the interior of said housing means for placement about said die means and for forcing said plurality of die members inwardly to compress the end of the length of tubing, said sleeve means having an inner surface sloping in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof, said sloping inner surface having substantially the same slope as said sloping outer surface of each of said plurality of die members of said die means; and activating means for selectively causing said sleeve means to force said plurality of die members inwardly to compress said expanded end of said tubing, said activating means including a cam means pivotally attached to said housing means and including a cam follower means fixedly attached to said sleeve means for causing said sleeve means to move in response to said sleeve means to force said plurality of die members inwardly to compress said expanded end of said tubing; and b. activating said activating means of said device to cause said plurality of die members of said device to be forced inwardly to compress said expanded end of said tubing.

Claim 13

A method of compressing the end of a length of cylindrical metal tubing which has been expanded to a size greater than its normal diameter, said method comprising: a. inserting said expanded end of said tubing into a portable device which comprises: a hollow housing means having an opening through one end thereof for allowing said expanded end of said tubing to be inserted therethrough into the interior of said housing means, said housing means including a removable portion for allowing access into the interior of said housing means; die means positioned within said housing means, said die means including a plurality of die members for being positioned around said expanded end of said tubing in said housing means, each of said plurality of die members having an outer surface sloping in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof and having an inner surface curving in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, said curved inner surface of each of said plurality of die members having substantially the same curvature as the normal diameter of said end of said tubing; sleeve means positioned substantially in the interior of said housing means for placement about said die means and for forcing said plurality of die members inwardly to compress the end of the length of tubing, said sleeve means having an inner surface sloping in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof, said sloping inner surface having substantially the same slope as said sloping outer surface of each of said plurality of die members of said die means; and activating means for selectively causing said sleeve means to force said plurality of die members inwardly to compress said expanded end of said tubing, said activating means including a cam means pivotally attached to said housing means and including a cam follower means fixedly attached to said sleeve means for causing said sleeve means to move in response to said sleeve means to force said plurality of die members inwardly to compress said expanded end of said tubing; and b. activating said activating means of said device to cause said plurality of die members of said device to be forced inwardly to compress said expanded end of said tubing.