Patent · US Expired

Method of expanding an intermediate portion of a tube using an outward radial force

US6701764B2 · kind B2 · utility

27Cited by
13References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 27, 2001
Grant dateMar 9, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 22, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49805
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of making a tube having an expanded region which includes the steps of providing an elongated metal tube, preparing the tube to be expanded, and, exerting a generally uniform outwardly radial force to create the expanded region. During the preparation step, a region of the tube is annealed by applying heat. The outward radial force may be created by pressurizing the tube, by freezing water within the tube or by axially rotating the tube.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.