Method and apparatus for flaring a tube
View Patent ↗A tool for forming flares in, for example, corrugated elliptical tubing. The tool may have a retaining portion having a longitudinal axis located between an impact surface and a die head. The die head is coupled to the retaining portion on a first side, and on a second side the die head has a guide plug extending from an inner area of a flare surface normal to the longitudinal axis; and a bottoming surface extending from a periphery of the flare surface. The bottoming surface is oriented at an angle to the flare surface. A saw guide may be used to obtain an appropriate extension of the tube from a stop which the flare is formed against.
1. A flare tool, comprising:
a retaining portion having a longitudinal axis located between an impact surface and
a die head;
the die head coupled to the retaining portion on a first side, and on a second side having
a guide plug extending from an inner area of
a planer flare surface normal to the longitudinal axis; and
a planer bottoming surface extending from a periphery of the flare surface;
the bottoming surface oriented at an angle to the flare surface.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guide plug and the bottoming surface are elliptical.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the bottoming surface has a minimum extension from the flare surface proximate a first side of a major axis of the bottoming surface.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guide plug and the bottoming surface are circular.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining portion is cylindrical.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining portion is dimensioned for grasping by a human hand.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a guard section having a radius larger than the retaining portion located between the retaining portion and the impact surface.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the die head and the retaining portion are formed in a single piece.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the die head is removably attached to the retaining portion.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the die head is removably attached to the retaining portion by a screw.
11. A flare tool die, comprising:
a guide plug extending from an inner area of a planer flare surface normal to a longitudinal axis of the die; and
a planer bottoming surface extending from a periphery of the flare surface;
the bottoming surface oriented at an angle to the flare surface.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the guide plug and the bottoming surface are elliptical.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the bottoming surface has a minimum extension from the flare surface proximate a first side of a major axis of the bottoming surface.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the guide plug and the bottoming surface are circular.
15. A corrugated tube flaring tool kit, comprising:
a saw guide; and
a flare tool, comprising;
a retaining portion having a longitudinal axis located between an impact surface and a die head;
the die head coupled to the retaining portion on a first side, and on a second side having a guide plug extending from an inner area of a planer flare surface normal to the longitudinal axis; and a planer bottoming surface extending from a periphery of the flare surface; and the bottoming surface oriented at an angle to the flare surface.
16. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the saw guide is a planar surface with a hole dimensioned to accept the tube.
17. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the die head is removably attached to the retaining portion; and the kit includes a plurality of different die heads.
18. The kit of claim 17 , further including a plurality of different saw guides.