대표
청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A jaw for crimping a generally cylindrical compression sleeve in a compression coupling, which comprises at least two support members adapted to support at least two arcuately shaped dies for movement toward and away from each other for compressing the compression sleeve about an inner member to form a sealed coupling therewith, each said die having an inner arcuate die surface corresponding generally in circumferential shape and dimension to a predetermined outer surface portion of the compression sleeve, said die surface i...
The invention claimed is: 1. A jaw for crimping a generally cylindrical compression sleeve in a compression coupling, which comprises at least two support members adapted to support at least two arcuately shaped dies for movement toward and away from each other for compressing the compression sleeve about an inner member to form a sealed coupling therewith, each said die having an inner arcuate die surface corresponding generally in circumferential shape and dimension to a predetermined outer surface portion of the compression sleeve, said die surface including a section having a generally concave cross-section so as to engage and compress the compression sleeve when positioned thereabout and moved toward each other, said dies each having at least one crimping roller rotatably mounted adjacent said die surface, said crimping roller adapted to form a crimp on the compression sleeve and the inner member to form a mechanical attachment. 2. The jaw according to claim 1, wherein the radially innermost dimension of said crimping roller as measured relative to a central longitudinal axis of the compression sleeve is less than the corresponding radius of said die surface such that when said dies are positioned about the compression sleeve and forcibly moved toward each other to engage and compress the compression sleeve, said rollers engage and crimp portions of the compression sleeve to form said mechanical attachment. 3. The jaw according to claim 2, wherein the compression sleeve has a generally tubular configuration and includes a section having an arcuate concave cross-section for reception of an elastomeric O-ring therewithin, each said arcuately shaped die surface of said dies corresponding in dimension and shape to be positioned about the compression sleeve for applying compression thereto and to the O-ring to form a sealed attachment. 4. The jaw according to claim 3, wherein each said die has at least two of said crimping rollers rotatably mounted thereto adjacent said die surface, said crimping rollers being spaced generally uniformly relative to the circumferential dimension of said die surface, such that upon forcible engagement of said dies with said compression sleeve, said crimps formed thereby are generally equally and uniformly spaced about the circumference of the compression sleeve. 5. The jaw according to claim 4, wherein each said crimping rollers is made of hardened steel. 6. The jaw according to claim 5, wherein each said crimping rollers is rotatably mounted on a hardened steel mounting pin. 7. The jaw according to claim 6, wherein each said arcuately shaped dies comprises at least two crimping rollers rotatably mounted adjacent said die surface, one crimping roller being mounted on one axial side of said die surface, and the other of said crimping rollers being mounted on the axially opposite side of said die surface, each said crimping rollers being positioned at substantially the same radial location relative to said longitudinal axis. 8. The jaw according to claim 7, wherein each said arcuately shaped dies comprises at least two of said crimping rollers positioned on each axial side of said die surface, each pair of said crimping rollers on each side of said die surface being spaced uniformly over the circumferential dimension of said die surface, such that upon forcible engagement of said dies with said compression sleeve, said crimps formed thereby are generally equally and uniformly spaced about the circumference of the compression sleeve. 9. The jaw according to claim 8, wherein each said arcuately shaped dies has a semi-circular shape such that two of said dies completely surround the compression sleeve when moved to the said positions in engagement with the sleeve. 10. The jaw according to claim 9, wherein each said arcuately shaped dies comprises at least three of said crimping rollers on each axial side of said die surface, each of said three crimping rollers being spaced uniformly over the circumferential dimension of said surface, such that upon forcible generally radial engagement of said dies with said compression sleeve, said crimps formed thereby are generally equally and uniformly spaced about the circumference of the compression sleeve. 11. The jaw according to claim 8, wherein each said support members comprises an arm pivotably mounted to a support frame, each said arm for supporting at least one of said dies in generally opposed relation to said other die, and a third of such dies being fixedly mounted to said support frame at a location and position such that when said arms are moved toward each other at the free ends thereof and said dies are positioned about the compression sleeve, pivotal movement of said arms away from each other at the free ends thereof causes said jaws to move inwardly to forcibly contact the sleeve while encompassing at least about two thirds of the circumferential dimension of the sleeve, while said third arcuate jaw encompasses the remaining one third portion of the circumference of the sleeve. 12. The jaw according to claim 11, wherein said third die is formed unitarily with said frame. 13. The jaw according to claim 10, wherein each said support members comprises an arm pivotably mounted to a support frame, each said arm for supporting at least one of said dies in generally opposed relation to each other, each said dies dimensioned and configured to extend over about one-half the circumference of the sleeve, such that when said arms are positioned with said dies around the compression sleeve and spread apart at the free ends thereof to cause said dies to move into contact with the sleeve, each said dies attached to said arms encompass at least about one half of the circumferential dimension of the sleeve. 14. The jaw according to claim 13, wherein each said die is formed integral and unitarily with each said corresponding arm. 15. A jaw for crimping at least two generally cylindrical concentrically positioned workpieces so as to form an attachment thereof, which comprises a device for supporting at least two arcuately shaped dies arranged in a generally circular array and adapted for movement of said dies toward and away from each other for compressing the outer workpiece against the inner workpiece, each said die having an inner arcuate die surface corresponding generally in circumferential shape and dimension to at least a portion of the outer workpiece, said die surface including a section having a generally arcuate concave cross-section so as to engage and compress the outer workpiece when positioned thereabout and moved toward each other, each said die each having at least one crimping roller rotatably mounted adjacent said die surface, said crimping roller adapted to form a crimp on the outer and inner workpieces to form a mechanical attachment thereof. 16. A jaw for crimping at least two generally cylindrical concentrically positioned workpieces so as to form a mechanical attachment thereof, which comprises a device for supporting a plurality of arcuately shaped dies, said device being adapted to separate said jaws generally away from each other to permit positioning of the workpieces therebetween, said device further being adapted to forcibly move said dies generally toward each other and the workpieces, to apply generally inward forces to the workpieces, each said die having at least one inner arcuate die surface corresponding generally in dimension and shape to at least a preselected portion of the outer surface of the outer workpiece, said die surface including at least a section having a generally arcuate concave cross-section and at least one crimping roller mounted for rotation adjacent said die surface for engaging and crimping the workpieces to crimp the workpieces to form a mechanical attachment thereof. 17. A jaw for crimping a compression sleeve in a compression coupling, which comprises at least two support members adapted to support at least two arcuately shaped dies in generally spaced relation for movement generally toward and away from each other for compressing the compression sleeve about an inner member to form a sealed coupling therewith, a portion of the compression sleeve having a seal ring section having a concave generally arcuate cross-sectional configuration for reception of an elastomeric sealing O-ring, each said die having an inner arcuate die surface corresponding in shape and dimension to a preselected outer surface portion of said arcuate seal ring section so as to engage and compress the compression sleeve when positioned thereabout and moved by said support members toward the sleeve, said dies each having at least one crimping roller rotatably mounted adjacent said die surface, said crimping roller adapted to form a crimp on the compression sleeve and the inner member to form a mechanical attachment therebetween. 18. The jaw according to claim 17, wherein the inner member is a pipe or tube intended for attachment to the compression sleeve. 19. The jaw according to claim 18, wherein the elastomeric O-ring is made of at least one of synthetic and natural rubber, teflon and compounds thereof. 20. The jaw according to claim 17, wherein each support member has at least two of said crimping rollers rotatably mounted thereto adjacent said die surface, said crimping rollers being spaced uniformly relative to the circumferential dimension of said die surface. 21. The jaw according to claim 20, wherein each said crimping rollers is made of hardened steel. 22. The jaw according to claim 21, wherein each said crimping rollers is rotatably mounted on a hardened steel mounting pin. 23. The jaw according to claim 22, wherein each said arcuately shaped dies comprises at least two crimping rollers rotatably mounted adjacent said die surface, one crimping roller being mounted on one side of said die surface, and the other of said crimping rollers being mounted on the axially opposite side of said die surface, each said crimping rollers being positioned at substantially the same radial location relative to said longitudinal axis. 24. The jaw according claim 23, wherein each said arcuately shaped dies comprise at least two of said crimping rollers positioned on each axial side of said die surface, each pair of said crimping rollers on each side of said die surface being spaced uniformly over the circumferential dimension of said die surface, such that upon forcible engagement of said dies with the compression sleeve, said crimps formed thereby are generally equally and uniformly spaced about the circumference of the compression sleeve. 25. The jaw according to claim 24, wherein each said arcuately shaped dies has a semi-circular shape such that two of said jaws completely surround the compression sleeve when moved to the engaged positions. 26. The jaw according to claim 25, wherein each said arcuately shaped dies comprises at least three of said crimping rollers on each axial side of said die surface, each of said three crimping rollers being spaced uniformly over the circumferential dimension of said die surface, such that upon forcible engagement of said dies with the compression sleeve, said crimps formed thereby are generally equally and uniformly spaced about the circumference of the compression sleeve. 27. A method of crimping a generally cylindrical compression sleeve in concentric relation with a pipe or tube to form a compression coupling, comprising: a) positioning a plurality of arcuately shaped dies about the compression sleeve for movement toward and away from the outer surface thereof, each said die having an inner arcuate die surface corresponding in shape and dimension to a predetermined outer surface portion of the compression sleeve, the combined circumferential dimension of said die surfaces being sufficient to circumferentially surround the sleeve when said dies are positioned in circumferential engagement therewith, each said die having at least one crimping roller rotatably mounted adjacent said die surface, said crimping roller being positioned and dimensioned to engage and crimp the surface of the compression sleeve when said die surface of said die is positioned in engagement therewith; and b) moving said dies toward the compression sleeve with force sufficient to compress the compression sleeve-against the pipe or tube, and to cause said crimping roller to crimp the compression sleeve to the pipe or tube to form the compression coupling. 28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of arcuately shaped jaws comprises two dies, each die extending over about one half the outer circumference of the compression sleeve. 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein each said dies has at least two crimping rollers rotatably mounted adjacent said die surface. 30. The method according to claim 29, wherein each said dies has at least three crimping rollers rotatably mounted adjacent to said die surface. 31. A die for use in combination with a jaw for crimping a compression sleeve about a pipe or tube, which comprises an arcuately shaped member having a radially inner arcuate die surface corresponding generally in circumferential shape and dimension to a predetermined outer surface portion of the compression sleeve, said die surface including a section having a generally arcuate concave cross-section so as to be moved in engagement with the compression sleeve to apply generally radial compression force thereto, said arcuate member having at least one crimping roller rotatably mounted adjacent said arcuate die surface and dimensioned, configured and adapted to form a crimp on the compression sleeve and the pipe or tube to form a mechanical attachment. 32. The die according to claim 31, wherein said arcuate member is made of hardened die material. 33. The die according to claim 32, wherein said hardened die material is hardened steel. 34. The die according to claim 33, wherein said crimping roller is made of hardened die material. 35. The die according to claim 34, wherein said hardened die material of said crimping roller is hardened steel. 36. The die according to claim 35, wherein said crimping roller is rotatably mounted on a hardened steel pin. 37. The die according to claim 36, wherein said arcuate member is generally circular and extends over a circumferential arc of about 90 degrees or greater. 38. The die according to claim 37, wherein said arcuate member is generally circular and extends over a circumferential arc of about 180 degrees. 39. The die according to claim 38, wherein said arcuate member includes at least two of said crimping rollers rotatably mounted thereto adjacent said die surface. 40. The die according to claim 39, wherein said arcuate member includes at least three of said crimping rollers rotatably mounted thereto adjacent said die surface.
