Crimper for Metal Seals with Orientation Indicator

Abstract

A metal seal crimper includes a pair of opposing jaw units mounted to move in response to movement of a pair of the crimper's handles to close a metal seal. A first jaw unit of the opposing jaw units is located on a first side of the crimper and configured to close a short flange of the metal seal. A second jaw unit is located on a second side of the crimper and configured to close a long flange of the metal seal. A first handle of the pair of handles is located on the first side of the metal seal crimper, and a second handle is located on the second side of the metal seal crimper. An indicator located on at least one of the first and second handles is configured to distinguish the handles to facilitate proper alignment of the metal seal within the crimper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for clamping a metal seal, the apparatus comprising:
 a pair of opposing jaw units mounted in a metal seal crimper to move in response to a movement of a pair of handles of the metal seal crimper to close a metal seal disposed within the metal seal crimper;   a first jaw unit of the opposing jaw units located on a first side of the metal seal crimper, the first jaw unit being configured to close a short flange of the metal seal;   a second jaw unit of the opposing jaw units located on a second side of the metal seal crimper, the second jaw unit being configured to close a long flange of the metal seal;   a first handle of the pair of handles located on the first side of the metal seal crimper;   a second handle of the pair of handles located on the second side of the metal seal crimper; and   an indicator located on at least one of the first and second handles, the indicator configured to distinguish the first handle from the second handle.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the indicator is located on the second handle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the first handle having a first grip and the second handle having a second grip, wherein the indicator is located on at least one of the first and second grips. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the indicator includes the second grip having a color different from a color of the first grip. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein one of the first and second grips are blue. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein one of the first and second grips are red. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the indicator includes at least one of a group comprising a letter, a number, a picture, and a symbol. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the indicator includes a sticker. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the indicator includes at least one of a protrusion extending from at least one of the first and second handles or a aperture defined in at least one of the first and second handles. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the indicia includes the first handle having a first length and the second handle having a second length different from the first length. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the second length is longer than the first length. 
     
     
         12 . A method of using a metal seal crimper comprising a pair of opposing jaw units mounted in the metal seal crimper to move in response to a movement of a pair of handles of the metal seal crimper to close a metal seal disposed within the metal seal crimper, a first jaw unit of the opposing jaw units located on a first side of the metal seal crimper, the first jaw unit being configured to close a short flange of the metal seal, a second jaw unit of the opposing jaw units located on a second side of the metal seal crimper, the second jaw unit being configured to close a long flange of the metal seal, a first handle of the pair of handles located on the first side of the metal seal crimper, a second handle of the pair of handles located on the second side of the metal seal crimper, and an indicator located on at least one of the first and second handles, the indicia configured to distinguish the first handle from the second handle; the method comprising:
 aligning the metal seal crimper with the metal seal such that the second side of the metal seal crimper is on a side of the metal seal having the long flange; and   operating the handles to crimp the metal seal.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein aligning the metal seal crimper comprises aligning a one of the first and second handles having a first color grip with the long flange and aligning a one of the first and second handles having a second color grip with the short flange. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein aligning the metal seal crimper comprises aligning a side of the crimper with a longer handle with the long flange of the metal seal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein aligning the metal seal crimper comprises aligning a side of the metal seal crimper having a one of the first and second handles having a sticker with the long flange of the metal seal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein aligning the metal seal crimper comprises aligning a side of the metal seal crimper having a one of the first and second handles having a sticker with the short flange of the metal seal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein aligning the metal seal crimper comprises aligning a side of the metal seal crimper having a one of the first and second handles having a protrusion with the long flange of the metal seal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein aligning the metal seal crimper comprises aligning a side of the metal seal crimper having a one of the first and second handles having a protrusion with the short flange of the metal seal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein aligning the metal seal crimper comprises aligning a side of the metal seal crimper having a one of the first and second handles having a recess with the long flange of the metal seal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein aligning the metal seal crimper comprises aligning a side of the metal seal crimper having a one of the first and second handles having a recess with the short flange of the metal seal.