Hand expansion device

Abstract

A hand expansion device is capable of expanding pipe ends. The device includes an expanding head, which can be actuated by an electric motor and/or by a hydraulic medium and which has a plurality of segments. The segments can be actuated by an expanding mandrel that can be moved in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the expanding head. The segments are expanded in a direction which is transverse to the movement direction of the expanding mandrel as the result of a first triggering of an expansion process. A second activation of the hand expansion device is only allowed if it is determined that the hand expansion device was rotated around the longitudinal axis a predetermined angle.

Claims

1. A hand expansion device capable of expanding pipe ends comprising: an expanding head configured to be actuated by an electric motor and/or a hydraulic medium, the expanding head defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the hand expansion device is capable of rotating around the longitudinal axis; an expanding mandrel on the expanding head, the expanding mandrel configured to be displaced in a displacement direction along the longitudinal axis of the expanding head; a plurality of segments on the expanding head, the segments configured to be expanded by the expanding mandrel transverse to the displacement direction of the expanding mandrel to affect an expansion process; a sensor on the hand expansion device capable of detecting a three-dimensional motion of the hand expansion device and to generate signals relating to the three-dimensional motion of the hand expansion device; a switch, wherein the hand expansion device is configured to be actuated by the switch to affect a first expansion process such that the segments expand transverse to the displacement direction of the expanding mandrel in response to movement by the expanding mandrel; and a processing unit associated with the hand expansion device, the processing unit in communication with the sensor and the switch, the processing unit receives and evaluates the signals generated by the sensor of the detected three-dimensional motion of the hand expansion device; wherein, if and only if the processing unit determines from the signals of the sensor that the hand expansion device was rotated around the longitudinal axis a predetermined angle, then the processing unit allows a second activation of the switch of the hand expansion device to affect a second expansion process, wherein the segments expand transverse to the displacement direction of the expanding mandrel in response to a movement by the expanding mandrel.

2. The hand expansion device according to claim 1, wherein each segment defines a circumferential angular extent, and wherein the predetermined angle corresponds to one fourth or more of the circumferential angular extent of one of the segments.

3. The hand expansion device according to claim 1, wherein each segment defines a circumferential angular extent, and wherein the predetermined angle corresponds to one fourth to three-fourths the circumferential angular extent of one of the segments.

4. The hand expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an inertial sensor.

5. The hand expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System gyroscope.

6. The hand expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a vibrating structure gyroscope.

7. The hand expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is provided on a circuit board in an interior of the hand expansion device.

8. The hand expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is 2 degrees or greater.

9. The hand expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is 20 degrees.

10. The hand expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is 30 degrees.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings that, however, merely show an exemplary embodiment. In these drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a hand expansion device in the form of a perspective view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the hand expansion device according to FIG. 1 in connection with a pipe to be expanded;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the object according to FIG. 2 along the plane III-III; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows an illustration according to FIG. 3 after the rotation of the hand expansion device about the longitudinal axis has taken place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) A hand expansion device 1 suitable for expanding one end 2 of a pipe 3 is illustrated in the figures and described below.

(7) Such an expansion of pipe ends is required, in particular, in the plumbing trade. It must be carried out, e.g., in order to push a pipe, particularly a plastic pipe or, e.g., a composite aluminum pipe, onto a connector and/or to press-fit an expanded pipe with another non-expanded pipe inserted therein.

(8) The hand expansion device features an expanding head 4 composed of several individual segments 5 that can be actuated by means of a displaceable expanding mandrel 6.

(9) The individual segments are circularly arranged transverse to a displacement direction of the expanding mandrel 6 that corresponds to a longitudinal axis L of the expanding head 4.

(10) The segments 5 are forced outward as the result of an activation of an expansion process by means of the expanding mandrel, during which the expanding mandrel 6 is displaced outward referred to the expanding head 4 in the direction of the longitudinal axis for the expansion process, and thereby cause the expansion of the end 2 of the pipe 3.

(11) In the hand expansion device shown, a schematically indicated sensor 7 is provided for detecting a three-dimensional motion of the hand expansion device. When an expansion process of the hand expansion device is activated, e.g., by means of an actuating switch 8, this can be interpreted as a first activation.

(12) In the device shown, a second activation of an expansion process is only possible if the hand expansion device was after the first activation turned about the longitudinal axis L, see FIGS. 3 and 4, by a certain angle a. In this context, FIG. 3 particularly shows the state, in which the expanding mandrel 6 is not yet moved forward or was moved back again after its initial forward motion (and the associated first expansion process), whereas FIG. 4 shows the state, in which the expansion mandrel is (once again) moved forward and has caused a (second) expansion.

(13) With respect to the circuit technology, the sensor 7 is furthermore connected to a control unit 9 that preferably is arranged in the hand expansion device 1 itself, but only schematically indicated in the figures.

(14) The angle a may vary. It preferably corresponds to approximately half of an identically measured angle β of a segment 5. In this way, it can be ensured that clearances resulting between the individual segments are during the second activation of an expansion process reliably covered by a segment 5 as the result of their radial motion.

(15) It is particularly preferred that the angle a corresponds to one fourth or more, e.g. up to three-fourths, of an angular extent of the segment 5 referred to a circumferential angle about the longitudinal axis L.

(16) It would additionally or alternatively also be possible to monitor if after the first activation the hand expansion device 1 was not moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis L. In this case, a second activation can only be realized, e.g., if the device is still or, after the first activation, once again in its corresponding position in the direction of the longitudinal axis L. A certain tolerance may also be provided in this respect. This tolerance may lie, e.g., in the range between 1 and 5 mm.