The invention relates to a system for connecting rigid pipes and for connecting flexible pipes. The pipes have corresponding outer diameters, with a press jaw having a press contour, with at least one first fitting for press-fitting to a rigid pipe, the at least one first fitting having a first press sleeve with a first outer contour, with at least one second fitting for press-fitting to a flexible pipe, the at least one second fitting having a second press sleeve with a second outer contour, the at least one second fitting having a second press sleeve with a second outer contour has a second press sleeve with a second outer contour, the outer contour of the first press sleeve and the outer contour of the second press sleeve in each case being adapted at least in sections to the press contour of the press jaw of the press jaw and can be pressed by the press jaw and wherein the outer contours of the first press sleeve and of the second press sleeve correspond at least in sections. This system solves the technical problem of simplifying the on-site effort for installing piping systems. In particular, the task is to specify suitable combinations of fittings for rigid and flexible pipes

A crimping device includes a housing defining a bore and at least three extendable mechanisms angularly equispaced about the axis of the bore. Each of the extendable mechanisms include: (i) a first elongate arm hingedly connected at or near a first axial end of the first arm to the housing; (ii) a second elongate arm hingedly connected at or near a first axial end of the second arm to the housing, wherein: the first axial ends of the first and second arms are displaceable relative to each other; and the first and second arms are hingedly connected at or near their second axial ends to each other. The crimping device further includes means for equi-displacing the first axial ends of coupled first and second arms relative to each other, thereby to configure the crimping device between: (i) a dilated condition in which the second axial ends of the first and second arms are maximally spaced from the bore axis; and (ii) a contracted condition in which the second axial ends of the first and second arms are minimally spaced from the bore axis.

A pressing machine is described for plastically deforming a tubular workpiece, in particular a fitting. The pressing machine has a motor, and pressing jaws which are driven by the motor and can apply a force to the workpiece during operation. The pressing machine also has a power transmission unit coupled to the motor and the pressing jaws for transmitting power from the motor to the pressing jaws. The pressing machine also has at least one sensor unit for measuring at least one pressing parameter P and a controller which receives the currently measured value of the pressing parameter P from the sensor unit and determines therewith the pitch or slope of a press parameter curve K of the press parameter P. The controller terminates a pressing operation before reaching a maximum possible pressing force Pmax when the pitch or slope of the press parameter curve K of the press parameter P satisfies a shutdown criterion. Also described is a corresponding method for operating a pressing machine.

An assembly includes an elongate conductor, such as a coaxial electrical cable, having a generally circular cross section and a generally cylindrical seamless outer ferrule having a ferrule radius surrounding a portion of the conductor. The outer ferrule is deformed to define four indentations and four projections that are evenly spaced about a circumference of the outer ferrule. The four indentations have a consistent indentation radius that is less than the ferrule radius.

A capped fastener is provided with two outer flanges and a groove therebetween. The cap is crimped around the first outer flange without covering the second outer flange. The end of the cap is crimped in a groove between the first and second outer flanges. A crimping tool and method of crimping are also provided for crimping the end of a cap into a groove between two outer flanges.

A pipe processing tool that is configured to deform the end of a pipe so that the circumferential shape of the end of the pipe generally matches the circumferential shape of an adjacent pipe end. Matching the circumferential shapes of the pipe ends is advantageous during a pipe attachment process. The pipe processing tool can include a deformation ring with a plurality of pipe deformation members. Each pipe deformation member faces radially inward and is actuatable in a radial direction toward and away from the center of the deformation ring in order to permit engagement with the pipe. Each pipe deformation member is individually and separately actuatable from the other pipe deformation members so that the circumferential shapes of the pipes can be altered by controlling suitable ones of the pipe deformation members.

A swage tool includes a power unit connected to a yoke. The power unit exerts vertical force on a die block. The yoke holds swage dies in place and opposes the force exerted by the die block. The die block transfers the load exerted by the power unit into the swage dies, which surround the connector. The swage dies convert vertical force from the power unit into a radial swage on the connector. Quick release endplates hold the swage dies in place in the yoke and the die block. A yoke shroud keeps broken pieces of the yoke together if the yoke fails. A counter records the number of swages made by the tool. A rotating handle, a stand, remote wireless actuation and swage die identification imprints are also provided.

A pipe fitting crimping tool includes a ring-shaped hub member, a plurality of crimping dies, and ring-shaped hub guide. The hub member and the hub guide are moveable relative to one another to cause expansion and contraction of the crimping dies. Additionally, the hub member and the hub guide are both openable such that the pipe and the pipe fitting may be placed in a central aperture without completely disassembling the tool A method of making a joined pipe and pipe fitting includes inserting at least a portion of the pipe fitting into an end of the pipe, contacting the end of the pipe including the pipe fitting with a tool, activating the actuator to cause a decrease in an inner diameter of the central aperture thus providing the joined pipe and pipe fitting, and removing the tool from the joined pipe and pipe fitting.

The present application discloses methods and apparatus for installing fitting components, such as a conduit gripping device, on a conduit to form an assembly. The assembly is joinable with at least one other fitting component to form a fitting. The present application also discloses methods and apparatus for evaluating characteristics of components of a mechanically attached connection. Characteristics that may be evaluated include, but are not limited to, the position of a conduit gripping device on a conduit, an amount of axial compression or stroke of the conduit gripping device, an amount of clamping force applied to the conduit gripping device as the conduit gripping device is compressed, and an amount of torque applied to members that compresses the conduit gripping device.

A method may be utilized to produce a steering spindle part configured as a hollow shaft and having a connecting portion at its end. At least a part of the connecting portion includes increased wall thickness relative to a portion of the steering spindle part adjoining the connecting portion. The method may involve providing a circular, hollow cylindrical tube with an inner surface that is smooth in a circumferential direction, providing a circular, hollow cylindrical sleeve with an outer surface that is smooth in a circumferential direction, inserting the sleeve into an end portion of the tube, and jointly deforming the end portion of the tube and the sleeve such that a flow of material occurs. This flow may form positively locking elements on the tube and the sleeve that engage into one another in the circumferential direction and generate positive locking in the circumferential direction.