A device is for fixing equipment to an end of the inner surface of a tube. The device has an elongated body, a ring adapted to surround and slide along a segment of the elongated body, and at least two flaps rotatable on the ring. Each hole in the elongated body is adapted for bearing a bolt aligned with the longitude of the elongated body. The ring has at least two threaded bores designed to mate with the threads of the bolts so that the position of the ring on the elongated body is controllable by applying torque to the bolts; and the flaps are positioned homogenously around the ring. The elongated body has at least one portion adapted to guide the flaps so that the flaps radially open against the inner surface of the tube.

The invention relates to a coupler for reinforcing steel rod connection in construction of a concrete structure. The disclosed coupler includes a housing having a substantially cylindrical interior with a radial lip fixed to an interior sidewall of the housing to separate a first hollow and a second hollow within the interior, a first frustoconical gripping unit with a frame and a plurality of plates positioned against the frame to form sidewalls and define a first cavity, a spring positioned within the housing and biasingly abutting the first frustoconical gripping unit, a center separator positioned within a central coil of the spring and abutting the radial lip on the interior sidewall of the housing, and a second frustoconical gripping unit having a frame and a plurality of plates positioned against the frame to form sidewalls and define a second cavity. The arrangement of components forms two opposing passages into which the reinforcing steel rods are inserted for a stable connection.

A first embodiment of a torque tube coupler may include an outer body that includes a first abutting surface and a second abutting surface adjacent to the first abutting surface. Set screws may be inserted into one or more channels of the first abutting surface. Tightening the set screws may force the abutting surfaces away from each other and the outer body to press against an inner surface of a torque tube. Another embodiment of the torque tube coupler may include a central ring sized based on a size of a torque tube. The torque tube coupler may also include a set of fingers that extend away from a first side of the central ring and are shaped to flex radially outward. The torque tube coupler may include a core disposed within the set of fingers that, when drawn towards the central ring, causes the fingers to flex radially outwards.

A joint structure for connecting two hollow frame tubes in sporting equipment is described. The tubes have a shell, a sleeve part, and a receiving part. The sleeve part is configured to fit into the receiving part in such a way that there is a hole running through both parts. The joint structure includes a locking arrangement having an elongated spring strip that is bent into a first wing and a second wing. The holding part includes a first connecting element and a second connecting element. The first connecting element is configured to be inserted inside of the sleeve part and the second connecting element is configured to be fixed to the first connecting element in such a way that the shell of the second tube and the shell of the first tube is between the connecting elements.

A composite tube assembly may comprise a composite tube comprising a variable diameter portion comprising a first frustoconical portion and a second frustoconical portion, wherein a diameter of the composite tube at an interface between the first frustoconical portion and the second frustoconical portion is a maximum diameter value with respect to the first frustoconical portion and is a maximum diameter value with respect to the second frustoconical portion, a locking wedge disposed at least partially around a circumference of the first frustoconical portion, a locking collar nut disposed at least partially around a circumference of the locking wedge, and an end fitting disposed at least partially around a circumference of the second frustoconical portion, wherein the end fitting is coupled to the locking collar nut, wherein the first frustoconical portion and the second frustoconical portion comprise a metallic insert.

A method of manufacture may comprise disposing a locking collar nut at least partially around a composite tube, wherein the composite tube comprises a variable diameter portion comprising a first frustoconical portion and a second frustoconical portion, wherein a diameter of the composite tube at an interface between the first frustoconical portion and the second frustoconical portion is a maximum diameter value with respect to the first frustoconical portion and is a maximum diameter value with respect to the second frustoconical portion, disposing a locking wedge at least partially around the first frustoconical portion, disposing an end fitting at least partially around the second frustoconical portion, and coupling the locking collar nut with the end fitting, wherein the locking collar nut circumferentially surrounds the locking wedge disposed around the first frustoconical portion.

A post coupler expands laterally. The post coupler includes a first member that is hollow and has a first slanted face. A second member is also hollow and has a second slanted face that is abutted with the first slanted face. A rod extends through the first and second members; the rod has a head that is disposed at a head end and threads disposed at a thread end. A nut is engaged with the threads, and rotating the nut causes the first member to extend in a first lateral direction and causes the second cylindrical member to extend in a second lateral direction opposite the first radial direction.

A joint exhibits high tensile strength. The joint includes a solid rod having a slit or opening into which a wedge is inserted. The rod and wedge are inserted into a fitting. Only a small amount of adhesive material is applied between the fitting and the rod. The adhesive material may be blended with non-adhesive, non-compressible beads that have a preferred diameter in order to insure that the desired adhesive thickness is achieved between the fitting and the rod. The internal surface of the fitting has a contour which continuously and nonlinearly varies with distance along the fitting. The wedge has a dimension having a similar contour. The shape of the contour can be described by a polynomial of order two or higher. The joint can be used to construct a sucker rod for an oil well, or it can be used in other applications. The joint can support high tensile loads, over long distances, while occupying a very narrow tubing bore.

A connector (200) for securing an inner tubular (105) to an outer tubular (107) includes an inner gripper (220), and outer gripper (210); and a wedge (230). The connector (200) is configured to be located in an annulus between the inner tubular (105) and the outer tubular (107), and to be moveable from a collapsed configuration where the inner tubular (220) can move relative to the outer tubular (210), to an expanded configuration; the inner tubular (105) is secured by the connector (200) to the outer tubular (107). The wedge (230) is configured to be driven between and moveable relative to outer and inner surfaces of the outer gripper (210) such that, in use, movement of the wedge (230) causes movement of an inner surface of the inner gripper (220) radially inwards towards the inner tubular (105) and/or movement of the outer surface of the outer gripper (210) radially outwards towards the outer tubular (107), thereby moving the connector (200) from the collapsed configuration towards the expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration the inner surface of the inner gripper (220) is engaged with the inner tubular (105) and the outer surface of the outer gripper (210) is engaged with the outer tubular (107).

A joint exhibits high tensile strength. The joint includes a solid rod having a slit or opening into which a wedge is inserted. The rod and wedge are inserted into a fitting. The internal surface of the fitting has a contour which continuously and nonlinearly varies with distance along the fitting. The wedge has a dimension having a similar contour. The shape of the contour can be described by a polynomial of order two or higher. The joint can be used to construct a sucker rod for an oil well, or it can be used in other applications. The joint can support high tensile loads, over long distances, while occupying a very narrow tubing bore.