Outward direction pipe fitting swage machine systems and methods

Abstract

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a system that includes a pipe fitting to be secured to a pipe segment, in which the pipe fitting includes a grab ring having a grab notch and a fitting jacket to be conformally deformed around tubing of the pipe segment to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the pipe segment. The system includes a swage machine, which includes a grab plate having a grab tab that matingly interlocks with the grab notch to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the swage machine, a die plate including a die that opens away from the grab plate, and a swaging actuator secured to the die plate. The swage machine operates the swaging actuator to move the die plate over the fitting jacket in an outwardly axial direction away from the grab plate to facilitate conformally deforming the fitting jacket around the tubing of the pipe segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A swage machine, comprising:
 a grab plate configured to interlock with a pipe fitting;   a support plate;   a die plate disposed between the grab plate and the support plate, wherein the die plate is configured to enable a set of die segments used to deform the pipe fitting to be loaded in the swage machine;   a support member secured to the grab plate and the support plate, wherein the die plate is configured to slide on the support member between the grab plate and the support plate; and   a swaging actuator secured to the support plate and the die plate.   
     
     
         2 . The swage machine of  claim 1 , wherein the die plate is configured to enable the set of die segments to be loaded in the swage machine such that the set of die segments opens away from the grab plate. 
     
     
         3 . The swage machine of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a support rod that extends through the die plate. 
     
     
         4 . The swage machine of  claim 1 , wherein the swaging actuator comprises:
 an actuator cylinder secured to the support plate; and   an actuator piston secured to the die plate.   
     
     
         5 . The swage machine of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the actuator cylinder of the swaging actuator is secured to an outer surface of the support plate; and   the actuator piston of the swaging actuator extends through the support plate.   
     
     
         6 . The swage machine of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a housing. 
     
     
         7 . The swage machine of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of die actuators, wherein:
 the die plate comprises a plate rim; and   each die actuator in the plurality of die actuators is secured between the plate rim of the die plate and a corresponding die segment in the set of die segments.   
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a swage machine, comprising:
 loading a set of die segments in a die plate of the swage machine, wherein the die plate is disposed between a grab plate and a support plate of the swage machine;   interlocking the grab plate of the swage machine with a pipe fitting, wherein the pipe fitting comprises a fitting jacket;   disposing the fitting jacket of the pipe fitting circumferentially around tubing of a pipe segment; and   moving the die plate of the swage machine between the grab plate and the support plate of the swage machine at least in part by operating a swaging actuator secured to the die plate and the support plate to deform the fitting jacket of the pipe fitting against the tubing of the pipe segment using the set of die segments.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 loading the set of die segments in the die plate of the swage machine comprises loading the set of die segments in the die plate such that the set of die segments opens away from the grab plate of the swage machine; and   moving the die plate of the swage machine between the grab plate and the support plate of the swage machine comprises moving the die plate away from the grab plate.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein moving the die plate of the swage machine away from the grab plate of the swage machine comprises retracting the swaging actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein moving the die plate of the swage machine between the grab plate and the support plate of the swage machine comprises sliding the die plate on a support member secured to the grab plate and the support plate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 loading the set of die segments in the die plate of the swage machine comprises loading the set of die segments in the die plate such that the set of die segments opens toward the grab plate of the swage machine; and   moving the die plate of the swage machine between the grab plate and the support plate of the swage machine comprises moving the die plate toward the grab plate.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein moving the die plate of the swage machine toward the grab plate of the swage machine comprises extending the swaging actuator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein interlocking the grab plate of the swage machine with the pipe fitting comprises closing the swage machine around the pipe fitting. 
     
     
         15 . A swage machine comprising:
 a grab plate configured to interlock with a pipe fitting;   a support plate;   a die plate disposed between the grab plate and the support plate;   a swaging actuator configured to move the die plate between the grab plate and the support plate; and   a die configured to be loaded in the die plate to deform the pipe fitting.   
     
     
         16 . The swage machine of  claim 15 , wherein the die plate is configured to enable the die to be loaded in the swage machine such that the die opens toward the support plate. 
     
     
         17 . The swage machine of  claim 15 , wherein the swaging actuator comprises:
 an actuator cylinder secured to an outer surface of the support plate; and   an actuator piston secured to the die plate such that the actuator piston extends through the support plate.   
     
     
         18 . The swage machine of  claim 15 , wherein the swaging actuator is configured to:
 move the die plate toward the support plate using a retracting stroke; and   move the die plate away from the support plate using an extending stroke.   
     
     
         19 . The swage machine of  claim 15 , wherein the die plate is configured to enable the die to be loaded in the swage machine such that the die opens away from the support plate. 
     
     
         20 . The swage machine of  claim 15 , comprising a support member secured to the grab plate and the support plate, wherein the die plate is configured to slide on the support member between the grab plate and the support plate.