Importance

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Abstract

A tube expander of the type having a series of die members suitable for engaging the inside of a tube to expand it and which are guided for radial movement by a thrust plate, and which are caused to move radially by a mandrel movable axially within the thrust plate by a piston moving within an hydraulic cylinder, the mandrel having a circumferentially spaced series of slideways sloping outwardly from an inner end of the mandrel, with each slideway cooperating with a similarly sloping inner surface of one of the die members; wherein the slideways are at least partially recessed within the mandrel so that the force-transmitting area of the mandrel is not limited by the area circumscribed by the innermost ends of the slideways. In addition, the mandrel and piston rod and connecting parts therebetween all have a transverse area which is larger at all points than the area circumscribed by the innermost ends of the slideways. By this means, larger forces can be applied by the mandrel than with prior art tube expanders.

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First Claim