DEFORMABLE SLEEVE FOR A DUAL-ACTION CLAMP
Disclosed is a deformable sleeve that includes a bulbing portion, a first end portion, a second end portion, a transition portion defining a groove on the outer surface of the sleeve and located between the bulbing portion and the first end portion so that upon application of a compressive load to the deformable sleeve the bulbing portion bulbs to form a flange that begins in the transition portion so that the transition between the flange and the first end portion is non-canted. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing such a deformable sleeve that includes applying a mechanical treatment to the a flanged end of a sleeve to deform the flanged end until its outer diameter is equal to the outer diameter of the rest of the sleeve, thereby forming the first end portion.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a deformable sleeve comprising a first end portion having a first wall thickness, a second end portion having a second wall thickness, a bulbing portion having a third wall thickness, said bulbing portion being positioned between said first end portion and said second end portion, and a transition portion defining a groove in the outer surface of said deformable sleeve, wherein said transition portion is positioned between said bulbing portion and said first end portion, wherein said bulbing portion is constructed and arranged to form a flange upon application of a compressive load to at least one of said first and second end portions.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said flange is bounded by said transition portion so that there is a non-canted transition between said flange and said first end portion.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said groove has an outer diameter less than an outer diameter of said first end.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said groove is radiused.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said deformable sleeve further comprises an internally threaded portion proximate to said second end portion.
6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said bulbing portion bulbs proximate to said transition portion so that said flange beings in said groove.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said deformable sleeve further comprises an internally threaded portion proximate to said second end portion.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said third wall thickness is less than said first wall thickness.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said bulbing portion bulbs proximate to said transition portion so that said flange beings in said groove.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said flange is undercut by said transition portion.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said bulbing portion comprises a frustoconical body.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first end portion is sufficiently thick to prevent buckling under the compressive load.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said second end portion is sufficiently thick to prevent buckling under the compressive load.
14 . A method of forming a deformable sleeve comprising the acts of:
providing a sleeve comprising a flanged end having a first outer diameter, a thin-walled portion having a second outer diameter and a second end having a third outer diameter, wherein the thin-walled portion is positioned between the flanged end and the second end and wherein the first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter and the third outer diameter;
deforming the sleeve by mechanical treatment to the flanged end until the first outer diameter is substantially equal to the third outer diameter.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising the act of:
providing the sleeve further comprising a radiused transition between the thin-walled portion and the flanged end.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising the act of:
providing the sleeve further comprising a tapered wall portion between the thin-walled portion and the second end.
17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising the act of:
providing the sleeve further comprising an internally threaded portion proximate to the second end.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the deforming act transforms the thin-walled portion from a substantially cylindrical shape to a substantially frustoconical shape.
19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising the act of:
providing the sleeve wherein the inner diameter of the bore of the flanged end and the thin-walled portion is substantially equal.