The present invention discloses a closed cell foam made of cross linked polyethylene and also discloses a method to produce the foam. The foam has an enhanced property of providing better thermal insulation and the same is achieved by incorporation of air gaps in the polyethylene foam.

An expanding tool comprising: an actuator comprising a cylindrical housing that defines an actuator housing cavity; a primary ram disposed within the actuator housing cavity, the primary ram defining an internal primary ram cavity; a secondary ram disposed within the internal primary ram cavity; a cam roller carrier coupled to a distal end of the secondary ram; a drive collar positioned within a distal end of the actuator housing cavity; a roller clutch disposed within an internal cavity defined by an inner surface of the drive collar; a shuttle cam positioned between the roller clutch and a distal end of the primary ram; an expander cone coupled to the primary ram; and an expander head operably coupled to the drive collar. When triggered, the actuator first rotates the expander head and then the actuator expands the expander head.

A tool operable to expand an end of a pipe is disclosed. The tool has a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis. The tool includes a working end disposed at a distal end along the longitudinal axis. This working end includes a plurality of jaws movable between a closed position and an expanded position and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the tool. Further, the tool includes a main body connected to the working end. This main body includes a handle disposed at a proximal end along the vertical axis of the tool, wherein the handle is configured to be gripped in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool. Further, the tool includes a trigger disposed on the handle, and the trigger is configured to be activated by trigger movement along the vertical axis of the tool.

A pipe adapter includes a first tubular element having a first portion, a second portion axially adjacent the first portion, and a securing portion adjacent an end of the second portion opposite the first portion, the second portion defining a socket; a second tubular element having a first portion and a second portion axially adjacent the first portion, the first portion defining a distal end sized for insertion into the socket and having a radially extending stop; an annular sealing member. The securing portion is formed integrally with the second portion of the first tubular element and has a flange portion contacting the stop to secure the second tubular element axially relative to the first tubular element while also allowing the second tubular element to rotate relative to the first tubular element.

A pipe adapter includes a first tubular element having a first portion, a second portion axially adjacent the first portion, and a securing portion adjacent an end of the second portion opposite the first portion, the second portion defining a socket; a second tubular element having a first portion and a second portion axially adjacent the first portion, the first portion defining a distal end sized for insertion into the socket and having a radially extending stop; an annular sealing member. The securing portion is formed integrally with the second portion of the first tubular element and has a flange portion contacting the stop to secure the second tubular element axially relative to the first tubular element while also allowing the second tubular element to rotate relative to the first tubular element.

A compression collar is manufactured for use in reinforcing an interference fit between an end of a pipe and a fitting. A precursor form is injection molded using a cold-expansion material. The precursor form has a tubular body with an initially closed axial end and a bore that is initially blind formed in the other axial end. Material is removed from the initially closed axial end of the tubular body of the precursor form to form an opening in the initially closed axial end that connects to the bore thereby forming the compression collar. The opening has an inner periphery with a profile in axial cross section that is different than any profile in axial cross section of an inner periphery of the bore. The collar formed may lack knitlines and may include tabs formed during the removal step which help to position the collar on a pipe.

Disclosed are systems and methods for manufacturing compression collars for reinforcing sealed connections between a length of piping and a plumbing fitting. Specifically, compression collars and related methods of making include extruding a hollow tube having one or more ridges which are then partially removed or trimmed to provide positioning tabs on one end of the compression collar. The compression collars can be cut to the desired length from the extruded hollow tube. In this way, compression collars with features for enhancing the strength and reliability of an interference fit, as well as their ease of use, can be manufactured rapidly with little material waste through modifications to the extrusion process.

A tool operable to expand an end of a pipe, such as PEX pipe, has a jaw assembly with jaws movable between a closed position and an expanded position and rotatable about a longitudinal axis. A motor drives an output spindle driven by the motor, which in turn drives a radial cam. A wedge is movable by the radial cam in a reciprocating motion along the axis, causing the wedge to move between a first position where the jaws are in the closed position and a second position where the jaws are in the expanded position. A rotating ring is mounted on the wedge and connected to the jaws. The rotating ring is driven by the output spindle for rotating the jaws about the axis.

The present disclosure relates to pipes comprising bimodal high molecular weight high density polyethylene which has been extruded in the presence of one or more organic peroxides that are present in an amount ranging from 30 ppm to 200 ppm. The pipe has an improved long-term hydrostatic strength. Also provided are methods for preparing pipes having these characteristics.

A clamping ring that presses an end of a pipe against a connecting piece by back shrinkage. The clamping ring comprises a body comprising a plastic material having memory properties. The body has a first end to be positioned at a distance from the end of the pipe and a second end to be positioned close to the end of the pipe. The body of the clamping ring has a first position at the first end or at the distance from the first end having a first radial wall thickness. The body of the clamping ring has at least one second position between the first position and the second end such that the body of the clamping ring has a second radial wall thickness at the second position. The second radial wall thickness is smaller than the first radial wall thickness.