US 7,481,461 B2
	Device which is expandable to engage the interior of a tube
Bruce McGarian, Aberdeen (United Kingdom); Gary Pape, Nisku (Canada); and Tony LaPlante, Aberdeen (United Kingdom)
Assigned to Smith International, Inc., Houston, Tex. (US)
Filed on May 02, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/415,430.
Claims priority of application No. 0509029.5 (GB), filed on May 03, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0273584 A1, Dec. 07, 2006
Int. Cl. F16L 27/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 285—145.1  [285/298; 285/302; 285/332; 285/398; 285/921; 166/207; 166/242.7]

14 Claims

1. A device which is expandable to engage the interior of a tube in which the device is located, the device comprising: first and second tubular members in partial telescopic engagement with each other, the first tubular member having an end region which is received on the second tubular member and which is expandable radially outwardly to engage the interior of the tube, and the second tubular member having an external tapered region which, when forced into the end region, will cause radial expansion of the end region, the tapered region having first, second and third tapered zones having respectively first, second and third taper angles, the tapered zones being located to enter the end region successively when the tapered region is forced into the end region with the first tapered zone entering the end region before the second tapered zone and the second tapered zone entering the end region before the third tapered zone, wherein the taper angle of the second tapered zone is less than the taper angle of the first tapered zone and is less than the taper angle of the third tapered zone.