Hydraulic tube expander and method of use

Abstract

A hydraulic tube expander includes expanding jaws engageable with an interior surface of a tube to expand the tube; a source of hydraulic fluid, a valve located between the source and the expanding jaws and a single-action release actuator operatively coupled to the valve. The valve is moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, hydraulic fluid can pass from the source to the expanding jaws and in the open position the hydraulic fluid can pass from the expanding jaws to the source. The actuator is movable between first and second positions. In the first position the valve is in the closed position. Movement of the actuator in a direction from the first position toward the second position moves the valve into the open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 connecting a head having a jaw to a tube expander having a cone such that the head encloses the cone and the cone narrows towards the jaw;   inserting the jaw into an open end portion of a tube; and   causing the jaw to move within the open end portion based on the cone moving towards the jaw such that the jaw expands the open end portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the head is connected to the tube expander by threading. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tube expander contains a source of a fluid, wherein the cone moves towards the jaw based on the fluid flowing within the tube expander between the source of the fluid and the cone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the tube expander includes a first valve and a second valve, wherein the first valve is positioned between the source of the fluid and the second valve, wherein the second valve causes the fluid to enable the cone to move towards the jaw. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing the jaw to move within the open end portion based on the cone moving away from the jaw such that the jaw disengages the open end portion.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the tube expander includes a single-action release actuator that is activated to enable the cone to move away from the jaw. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the head includes a tubular portion, wherein the jaw extends from the tubular portion, wherein the tubular portion extends along a first plane, wherein the tube expander includes a handle extending along a second plane, wherein the first plane intersects the second plane such that the tube expander has a pistol-type orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane. 
     
     
         9 . A device comprising: a tube expander having a pistol-type orientation including a handle, a body, a trigger, and a head, wherein the handle is coupled to the body, wherein the head includes a tubular portion and a jaw extending from the tubular portion, wherein the tubular portion is coupled to the body, wherein the tubular portion extends along a first plane, wherein the handle extends along a second plane, wherein the first plane intersects the second plane, wherein the trigger is coupled to the body, wherein the handle contains a source of a fluid, wherein the jaw is configured to move relative to the tubular portion while parallel to the first plane based on the fluid flowing between the source of the fluid and the body when the trigger is pivoted relative to the handle outside the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the head is removably coupled to the body. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the head is threaded onto the body. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the tube expander includes a single-action release actuator configured to relieve a force imparted on the jaw that enables the jaw to move relative to the handle when the trigger is pivoted relative to the handle outside the handle, wherein the body extends between the single-action release actuator and the trigger, wherein the single-action release actuator, the body, and the head are configured such that a third plane extends therethrough, wherein the third plane is parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the body includes a cone narrowing away from the handle and enclosed by the head. 
     
     
         15 . A device comprising: a tube expander having a pistol-type orientation including a handle, a body, a trigger, a spring, a source of a fluid, a single-action release actuator, and a head, wherein the handle is coupled to the body, wherein the head is coupled to the body, wherein the head extends along a first plane, wherein the handle extends along a second plane, wherein the first plane intersects the second plane, wherein the trigger is coupled to the body, wherein the handle contains the source of the fluid, wherein the head includes a jaw, wherein the trigger is configured to pivot between a first position and a second position relative to the handle outside the handle, wherein the trigger is configured to enable pumping of the fluid from the source of the fluid to the body based on the trigger pivoting from the first position to the second position and thereby enabling the jaw to move relative to the handle, wherein the spring is configured to bias the trigger from the second position to the first position, wherein the spring is external to the handle, wherein the single-action release actuator is configured to relieve a force imparted on the jaw that enables the jaw to move relative to the handle when the trigger is pivoted from the first position to the second position, wherein the single-action release actuator, the body, and the head are configured such that a third plane extends therethrough, wherein the third plane is parallel to the first plane or intersecting the second plane. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the body includes a cone narrowing away from the handle and enclosed by the head. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the head is removably coupled to the body. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the head is threaded onto the body. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the jaw is operated by a mechanism other than a cone and piston arrangement.