Expandable shaft

Abstract

The present invention relates to an expandable shaft ( 1 ) for insertion into a core, the expandable shaft have a longitudinal extension and comprising: a profile ( 4 ), which extends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, the profile comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves; inflatable and expandable chambers which are adapted to be arranged in the grooves; gripping means ( 3 ) which are arranged in connection to the expandable chambers, the gripping means being adapted to radial movement between a first position and a second position in view of an expansion of the inflatable and expandable chambers so that the gripping means ( 3 ) are movable in a radial direction between a first position and a second position depending on an expansion of the expandable chambers wherein an outer cylindrical tube is arranged outside the profile ( 4 ), the outer cylindrical tube comprising a plurality of openings, and wherein the gripping means ( 3 ) are aligned with the openings of the tube so that the gripping means can project through and beyond the tube in a radial direction of the shaft during the expansion of the expandable chambers.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An expandable shaft for insertion into a core, the expandable shaft having a longitudinal extension and comprising:
 a profile, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, the profile comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves;   inflatable and expandable chambers which are adapted to be arranged in the grooves;   gripping means which are arranged in connection to chambers, the gripping means being adapted to radial movement between a first position and a second position in view of an expansion of the inflatable and expandable chambers so that the gripping means are movable in a radial direction between a first position and a second position depending on an expansion of the expandable chambers wherein   an outer removable cylindrical tube is arranged outside the profile, the outer cylindrical tube comprising a plurality of openings, and wherein the gripping means are aligned with the openings of the tube so that the gripping means can project through and beyond the tube in a radial direction of the shaft during the expansion of the expandable chambers.   
     
     
         17 . The shaft according to  claim 16 , wherein the profile comprises at least three longitudinal grooves. 
     
     
         18 . The shaft according to  claim 17 , wherein the profile comprises three or six longitudinal grooves, the grooves preferably being arranged with an angle of 120° or 60°, respectively, between them. 
     
     
         19 . The shaft according to  claim 16 , wherein the gripping means extend in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The shaft according to  claim 16 , wherein the gripping means extend in a tangential direction of the shaft. 
     
     
         21 . The shaft according to  claim 16 , wherein rails is arranged in the grooves between the expandable chambers and the gripping means. 
     
     
         22 . The shaft according to  claim 21 , wherein the gripping means are connected to the rails. 
     
     
         23 . The shaft according to  claim 21 , wherein one or more elastic or spring members are arranged in connection with the rails, the elastic or spring members being adapted to force the rails into the grooves when the chambers are deflated. 
     
     
         24 . The shaft according to  claim 23 , wherein the member is a spring, an elastic bending, an O-ring, a rubber band or the like. 
     
     
         25 . The shaft according to  claim 21 , wherein the rails have a projection to detachable fixation of the gripping means. 
     
     
         26 . The shaft according to  claim 16 , wherein the profile is divided into a plurality of modules. 
     
     
         27 . The shaft according to  claim 26 , wherein the gripping means extend partly over two modules. 
     
     
         28 . The shaft according to  claim 26 , wherein the modules are fitted on one or more rods to ensure proper placement of the grooves in the modules in relation to the plurality of openings in the outer cylindrical tube.