Abstract:
A heavy-duty hose clamp installation tool is described. A pair of lever arms operates a pair of jaw members to engage a pinch clamp ear. The installation tool includes a pair of jaw members with clamp edges forming a lip for receiving the clamp ears. A pair of extension arms connects the jaw members to a pair of lever arms. The extension arms are pivotally interconnected intermediate the jaw member section so that closing the handle ends of the lever arms translates the jaw members towards a closed position thereof, thus squeezing the clamp ear. Once the ear of the clamp is crimped, an auxiliary form punch is used to flatten the ear, resulting in a tighter clamp configuration.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims benefit of copending and co-owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/673,168 entitled “Heavy-Duty PEX Installation Tools”, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Apr. 20, 2005 by the inventor herein, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to tools for use with clamps, and more particularly to a heavy-duty installation crimping tool for forming the “ears” commonly found on pinch-type clamps. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     Clamps are available in a wide variety of configurations for meeting the requirements of particular applications. For example, hose clamps are commonly used for mounting hose ends on various objects, such as radiators, water pumps, heaters, etc. Plastic pipe is used in many plumbing applications and for irrigation applications. 
     Different types of clamps are available. U.S. Pat. No. 2,614,304, to Oetiker, discloses a clamp having outwardly-projecting, deformable ears to facilitate installation. Once the clamp is in place, the ears are squeezed together with a suitable tool such as a pair of pliers to hold the clamp in place and to prevent leakage from the hose or pipe. Clamp structures provided with so-called “Oetiker” ears have enjoyed enormous commercial success. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,402,436 discloses an ear stiffening rib that improves the ability of such clamps to carry load while at the same time eliminating the need for special crimp tools. An ear with the stiffening rib would form into an acceptable ovate shape as opposed to a much weaker dunce-cap form associated with the prior art. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,580 discloses an Externally Strengthened Ear. By placing a secondary and heavier gauge ear cap over the existing clamp ear and then crimping both parts in unison, the holding ability of the clamp is increased. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,295 discloses a more robust stiffening rib to improve upon the “ears” load bearing capacity. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,113 discloses an improvement for the clamp and illustrates that by forming lobes on the upper corners of the “ear” a secure purchase with the crimp tool jaw is created, thus effectively eliminating clamps damaged by faulty crimps (i.e. slippage of the jaw off the ear at installation). 
     All of these improvements were directed at improving the load bearing capacity of the ear. The need for increased load was market driven by such things as use on pressurized applications (versus non-pressure or very low pressure), use on hose/tube materials that are of increased hardness (i.e. underground sprinkler/irrigation systems), and use in the home construction market for PEX plumbing applications. 
     Current market applications are particularly challenging in that PEX tubing (per ASTM F 876-01) is very hard and rigid. PEX tubing can be used for both hot and cold water systems that may be at pressures of up to 100 psi for prolonged periods of time. Generally speaking, this market is a professional contractors market, however, it is expected that the market will expand into the home repair and do-it-yourself markets as well. 
     Ear type clamps rely upon pinching down of a portion of the clamp to close the diameter of the clamp. Such pinching action places the band portion of the clamp in tension causing the band to stretch lengthwise during the pinching process, and forms the ear into a more circular shape. Current versions of clamps are made of heavier gauge and wider materials than previously seen in the industry, but still have stiffening ribs in the ear portion to locally increase the stiffness, the load carrying ability, and to prevent vertical buckling or “dunce-capping” of the ear. The robust nature of the new clamp puts increased stress and strain on both the installation tools used and the operators installing such clamps. 
     There remains a need, then, for a robust device that can achieve the squeezing of a heavy gauge clamp. There remains a need for a tool that can provide sufficient force to crimp the ears on a clamp without requiring extra human effort. Moreover, there remains a need for a tool that can squeeze the clamp and re-flatten the ear after squeezing. 
     The present invention addresses these problems encountered in installing such clamps. Heretofore there has not been a clamp installation tool with the advantages and features of the present invention. These improvements result in a significant increase in load bearing capacity of the “ears”, resistance to tube pull-off type loading, increased ability to create a seal between clamped components, and decreased operator effort. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is concerned with the ergonomics of a new tool as well as the degree of tightness achieved by pinch-type (PEX) clamps in the field. 
     Throughout the history of pinch clamp usage, operators often wondered just how tight is the clamp being installed and is it tight enough for the specific application. An installed pinch clamp should provide a sufficient seal such that, pull-off resistance of the clamp is sufficiently high to cause the tube to fail mid-length while the clamped end remains attached to its fitting, without drifting from its original position. Once the clamp is put on and the installation tool is removed, the ear opens slightly due to natural spring-back of the clamp material, due to the tensile load stored in the band, and due to energy stored in the compressed tubing. The general guideline offered to the concerned public is that the “ear will spring open slightly” after installation and for general purposes a visible gap at the root of the pinched ear will be around 1/32″. The problem comes about by the fact that many operators are not capable of determining the gap size with any degree of precision and/or consistency. In order to provide a pinch clamp with tighter seal of heavier gauge material, a more robust, heavy-duty tool is needed to install the clamp successfully. Additionally, over repeated installations the pivot points of existing installation tools wear, the wear being compounded by the higher forces needed for heavy duty PEX clamp. As this wear occurs gradually with time, it is not readily apparent to the operator. Eventually, worn-out tools are inadvertently used to make clamp installations resulting in large gaps that do not meet the standard of what the clamping system can tolerate. The consequence is failed connections and leaking water supply systems. 
     It has been learned that the tighter the ear remains, the higher the tube pull-off resistance, and the better the resultant seal. One approach to creating a tighter clamp is to use heavier gauge material. However, a difficulty with using heavier gauge material and trying to obtain a tighter seal is that present installation tools cannot withstand the demand of the workload. Of particular concern is the amount of grip strength required to successfully close a tool. While the effort is high at normal room temperatures, the effort required grows in magnitude at a cold work site or for test assemblies prepared at cold temperatures. 
     Such activity requiring large human effort will result in:
         1. operator injuries and/or medical claims   2. mis-aligned, side-loaded, or otherwise damaged clamps   3. premature tool failure or wear beyond the anticipated service limit.       

     In testing of prior art tools ( FIG. 1 ), an operator was required to 109 pounds of gripping type force in order to fully crimp a 1″ PEX clamp. Despite the fact that two hands may be used on a prior art tool, the effort is too extreme for most people to manage safely. In addition, the span or angle of the two levers when jaws first make contact with a clamp is too large (10½″) for most people and well beyond industry recommendations of 3½″ max. In contrast, the present invention has greatly reduced the operator effort to a comfortable 37 pounds and the mechanical advantage offered by the toggle arrangement allows this effort to drop off to nearly zero at the completion of the squeezing cycle. 
     It has been determined, through experimentation, that two stage forming of the ear results in a better seal; the first stage being squeezing the ear, the second stage being re-flattening the ear. The re-flattening of the ear tends to cause the clamp to retain its sealed position better. 
       FIGS. 2   a - d  illustrate the history of the problem and attempted solutions associated with ear style clamps. In  FIG. 2   a , an un-ribbed ear clamp is pinched by a standard tool resulting in a weak dunce-cap shaped ear form, leaving a gap of dimension “a”. In  FIG. 2   b , an un-ribbed clamp is installed with a prior art tool having a flat insert to limit the ear deformation, which yields an ear form that is stiffer and of lower profile having a gap of dimension “b”.  FIG. 2   c  shows an improved ribbed-ear clamp installed with a standard prior art tool, illustrating that the flat tool insert is not needed if a ribbed-ear type clamp is used. The resulting profile is low and has a gap of dimension “c”.  FIG. 2   d  illustrates an improved ribbed-ear clamp installed with the tool of the present invention using a two-step pinching and reforming process. The resulting clamp has a low profile and leaves a gap of dimension “d”. In all cases, gap “d” is smaller than gap “c”, which is smaller than gap “b”, which, in turn, is smaller than gap “a”. This demonstrates that the ear reforming process creates the tightest seal. 
     An objective of the present invention is to do away with the subjective ear root gap size concern by providing a robust tool that allows the operator to visually see that the ear root gap has been diminished to zero (i.e. the clamp is fully closed) while the clamp is in the process of being crimped and then re-forms the bulging (ovate) shaped ear into a much stiffer and stronger geometry. By re-forming the ear in such a two-stage manner the spring-back (or opening) of a pinched ear is virtually eliminated. The minor gap that ultimately results is generally less than 0.010 inches and usually appears to a layperson as if there is no gap at all. 
     In testing, PEX clamps installed with standard prior art tools offer a measured ear root gap of greater than 1 mm (0.040 inch). In Pull-Off tests of ⅝″, ¾″, and 1″ PEX assemblies it was found that the tubes would pull off the fittings. Whereas the same type clamps assembled with a tool of the present invention were tight enough to retain the tubes on the fittings with failure occurring in the length of tube between the fittings. 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a pinch-type clamp installation tool that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an installation tool with large handgrips to move the major load to the operator&#39;s pectoral muscles. A related object of the present invention is to increase the lever arms and handle length to reduce installation effort. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to move away from a tool design that requires the operators to have a high degree of handgrip strength. History has shown that repetitive work activity, especially those requiring a high level of grip type exertion, have a tendency to develop medical complications such as carpal-tunnel syndrome. By eliminating the grip style levers in favor of two power grips, strain is taken off the muscles involved with grip strength and transferred to the larger and stronger pectoral group of the chest. 
     Another object is to enable an installation tool that is fully field strippable for oiling, cleaning, inspection, and part replacement. Another objective of the present invention is to provide an easy method for in-the-field adjustment of the tool jaw spacing such that an operator can restore a well-used tool to factory new performance levels with little effort or required skill. This is accomplished by providing the present invention with split bearing blocks, on either side of the main jaws, that are cross-bolted together and which have a stack of shims between the bearing blocks. In this simple manner, an operator observing that the ear roots do not touch during installation may remove one or more shims from both the left and right side bearing block assemblies to adjust for the observed wear. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to improve the means by which the main jaws are synchronized during their opening and closing movements. Prior art uses a length of dowel pin, free floating in matched semi-circular cutouts on each jaw. In combination, the three components form a simple yet effective gear train, with both jaws moving in unison and counter-rotating directions (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Inasmuch as it is an objective of this invention to have a moveable auxiliary punch between the two main jaws, a length of dowel pin cannot be used. Instead, two disc-shaped synchronizers create a portal between the jaws and the discs, such that the auxiliary punch may pass through. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an installation tool that has two stage forming of the clamp ear. A related object is to provide an installation tool that squeezes the clamp ear in a first stage and then re-flattens the clamp ear in a second stage. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide for single stage forming by way of a fixed position auxiliary punch. While testing has shown that this type of forming cannot deliver the extreme tightness found in dual stage forming, it nonetheless has economic advantages to many markets where the extreme tightness and robust clamp strength may not be required, such as irrigation and sprinkler systems. Here the operator would benefit by way of crimps that are tighter than prior art tools, improved ergonomics by way of reduced effort, a visual sighting of tool wear, and an improved method of in-field wear adjustment. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to enable the combination of a tool head as described above albeit actuated by means other than human strength and levers. Actuation could be by way of a drill motor with an integral torque-link that would then allow the crimping of an “ear” clamp with need of a single hand only. Likewise, an arrangement of hydraulic and/or pneumatic cylinders or actuators could be used for the initial force input to such a tool head. 
     In accordance with the above objects, a clamp installation tool is provided for squeezing the ears of a pinch-type clamp. A pair of lever arms operates a pair of jaw members to engage a pinch ear. Once the ear of the clamp is crimped, an auxiliary form punch is used to flatten the ear, resulting in a tighter installed clamp configuration. The installation tool includes a pair of jaw members with clamp edges forming a lip for receiving the clamp ears. A pair of extension arms connects the jaw members to a pair of lever arms. The extension arms are pivotally interconnected intermediate the jaw member section so that closing the handle ends of the lever arms translates the jaw members towards a closed position thereof, thus squeezing the clamp ear. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The various features of novelty that characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims of this application. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are considered in more detail, in relation to the following description of embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view and plan view of a prior art installation tool. 
         FIGS. 2   a - d  shows crimp “ear” forming using prior art tools and the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a plan view of an installation tool in an open position according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the installation tool of  FIG. 3  in a closed position. 
         FIG. 5  shows an enlarged view of the head of the installation tool of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the installation tool of  FIG. 3  with an auxiliary tool lever aligned with a matching drive unit. 
         FIG. 7  shows a prior art configuration of the head of an installation tool. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a prior art solution. 
         FIG. 9  shows an enlarged view of the head of an installation tool in an open position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross section of the head of  FIG. 9 , taken along the line A-A. 
         FIG. 11  shows the head of an installation tool of  FIG. 9  in a closed position, with the auxiliary punch retracted. 
         FIG. 12  shows the head of an installation tool of  FIG. 9  in a closed position, with the auxiliary punch extended. 
         FIG. 13  shows the head of an installation tool in an open position according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  shows the head of an installation tool of  FIG. 13  in a closed position, with the optional punch extended. 
         FIG. 15  shows an optional punch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  shows a powered installation tool according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 17   a - c  show the head of the installation tool of  FIG. 16  in open and closed configurations. 
         FIGS. 18   a - b  show a powered installation tool according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 19   a - c  show the head of the installation tool of  FIGS. 18   a  and  b  in open and closed configurations. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims may be better understood by referring to the following description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers are used for like parts. This description of an embodiment, set out below to enable one to practice an implementation of the invention, is not intended to limit the preferred embodiment, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 3 and 4  show a tool, indicated generally as  10 , according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  shows tool  10  in an open position and  FIG. 4  shows tool  10  in a closed position. Tool  10  comprises a pair of lever arms  13 ,  14  and rotatable arm  17 . Lever arms  13 ,  14  are attached to head  20 , shown in more detail in  FIG. 5 . The distal ends of lever arms  13 ,  14  are provided with handle forming extensions  25 ,  26 , that may be offset from the centerline of lever arms  13 ,  14  to enable sufficient room for an operator&#39;s hands during use. The handle forming extensions  25 ,  26  are of generous proportion and sculpted to fit the hand without pressure points. Tool  10  is also provided a spring-loaded releasable latching mechanism  30  that snaps into a mating pin bracket  31  when the tool  10  is fully closed, and will hold the lever arms  13 ,  14  in the closed position. An operator can selectively release the latching mechanism  30  following operation of the tool  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , head  20  comprises extension arms  33 ,  34  and jaw members  37 ,  38  having oppositely facing clamp edges  43 ,  44 . The proximal end of extension arm  33 ,  34  are T-shaped, having an opening for a pivot point on each end of such T. The inner point of the T for each extension arm  33 ,  34  is joined to each other at toggle point  40 . The outer point of the T for each extension arm  33 ,  34  is pivotally attached to jaw members  37 ,  38 , respectively, by means of pivot pins and snap rings. The spacing between jaw members  37 ,  38  is maintained by the center-to-center distance established by cross-bolted bearing blocks  41  and a stack of shims  42 , which shims  42  are intended to be removed systematically as wear to the pivotal joints occur with extended tool use, thus restoring the jaw spacing to the optimal. Jaw members  37 ,  38  pivot about pivot pins  46 ,  47 , respectively. By moving lever arms  13 ,  14  outward causes extension arms  33 ,  34  to pivot around toggle point  40 , drawing the attached end of jaw members  37 ,  38  inward, resulting in opening of the clamp edges  43 ,  44 . In a preferred embodiment, clamp edges  43 ,  44  should be able to open at least approximately 0.5 inches. By moving lever arms  13 ,  14  inward causes extension arms  33 ,  34  to pivot around toggle point  40 , drawing the attached end of jaw members  37 ,  38  outward, resulting in closing of the clamp edges  43 ,  44 . In a preferred embodiment, clamp edges  43 ,  44  should be able to close to within at least approximately 0.07 inches. When tool  10  is closed such that the clamp edges  43 ,  44  are sufficiently close, latching mechanism  30  will latch to hold the lever arms  13 ,  14  in the closed position. 
     Side plates  52 ,  53  (not shown) hold the jaw members  37 ,  38  such that the toggle pivots align to a common plane for maximum mechanical advantage. Portal cutouts, such as  54 , are made in both side plates  52 ,  53  (not shown) to facilitate the visual inspection of a clamp being installed for full clamp closure. Note that tool wear will start to show up at this location with a gradual widening of the ear roots. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a rotatable arm  17  is provided with a socket  55  that matches to drive  56  on the tool  10 . Such socket  55  and drive  56  may be hex-shaped, square-shaped, or some other appropriate matching socket and drive combination. The drive  56  is attached to a cam  50 . When the socket  55  is attached to drive  56  and the rotatable arm  17  makes a 180° rotation, cam  50  rotates to force auxiliary form punch  58  toward the clamping end of the tool  10 . Cam  50  is pivotally mounted and free floating between side plates  52 ,  53  (not shown). In some embodiments, a detent can be provided to keep rotatable arm  17  and form punch  58  in a full up or full down position, as desired. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show a pivot arrangement of the prior art. Tools that use a toggle mechanism to develop large forces usually synchronize the action of the jaws  70 ,  71  with a dowel pin  75  free floating in semi circular cutouts located between the jaws  70 ,  71 . This allows the jaws to move in unison thus preventing a staggered jaw condition if the feature were to be omitted.  FIG. 7  illustrates the misalignment resulting from removal of dowel pin  75 . Since the present invention passes the auxiliary form punch  58  through the space between the jaws, a dowel pin cannot be used. 
     The auxiliary punch  58  is free floating in the space between the two jaw members  37 ,  38  and two floating disc synchronizers  80 ,  83 .  FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate an embodiment of the present invention using two floating disc synchronizers  80 ,  83  to synchronize the jaws  37 ,  38 . The floating discs  80 ,  83  are held between side plates  52 ,  53  (not shown) and provide an opening through which the auxiliary form punch  58  can pass. The disc-synchronizers  80 ,  83  are free floating in slightly oversized clearance pockets machined into the main jaw members  37 ,  38 . Clearance cuts made into the two jaw members  37 ,  38  should be deep enough such that the discs  80 ,  83  will not bind with the jaws, nor will the punch  58  bind with the jaws. 
       FIG. 11  shows the arrangement of the main jaw members  37 ,  38  pivotally mounted to side plates  52 ,  53  (not shown) by way of pivot pins  46 ,  47  and snap rings (not shown). The auxiliary punch  58  is equipped with a cam roller  84  that is free spinning on axle  86 , which rides in slot  87  ( FIG. 5 ) cut through side plates  52 ,  53  (not shown) to provide centering of the auxiliary punch  58  within the space provided between the main jaw members  37 ,  38 . In  FIG. 11 , the auxiliary punch  58  is in the retracted position. 
       FIG. 12  shows the arrangement of the main jaw members  37 ,  38  with the auxiliary cam  50  rotated through 180 degrees to extend the auxiliary punch  58 , which reforms the ovated ear pinched between main jaw members  37 ,  38  at the location indicated at  88 . 
     In use, lever arms  13 ,  14  are moved to the open position and head  20  is placed over a clamp ear such that clamp edges  43 ,  44  are inserted between the lobes and the outer band end portions of the clamp ring with clamp edges  43 ,  44  engaging the sidewall of the ear of the clamp ring. Rotatable arm  17  should be positioned such that the auxiliary form punch  58  is in the retracted position. The lever arms  13 ,  14  are then moved to the closed position until the latch mechanism  30  latches. While the maximum load is being applied to the clamp, the operator perceives a drop-off in effort. Portal cutouts  54  may be provided in the side plates  52 ,  53  (not shown), so that the operator can visually witness full closure of the ear. With the lever arms latched in the closed position, rotatable arm  17  is rotated to cause the auxiliary form punch  58  to extend and flatten the ear of the clamp. The tool  10  can then be removed by releasing latch mechanism  30  and moving lever arms  13 ,  14  to the open position. 
     Tool  10  is longer in both the lever arm length and jaw length than the instrument illustrated in  FIG. 1  thereby providing more mechanical advantage. The more robust tool provided by the present invention enables operation with clamps of higher thickness and provides a tighter seal. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  show an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The cam configuration is replaced with guide bushing  90  that is pivotally mounted on bosses  93 ,  94 , which are turned on either end of the guide bushing  90 . The bosses  93 ,  94  engage the two side plates  52 ,  53  (not shown). Optional form punch  96  is aligned through the guide bushing  90  such that a free end  99  comes in contact with the toggle joint  40 .  FIG. 14  illustrates the benefit of this embodiment in that as the tool  10  is closed, the toggle joint  40  will align as illustrated and will move the optional form punch  96  in the direction indicated by arrow  102 , to re-form the ovated ear of a clamp pinched between the clamp edges  43 ,  44  of the two main jaw members  37 ,  38  at the location indicated  105 . With a toggle arrangement as shown, there is nearly no operator effort required to close tool lever arms  13 ,  14  through the last 5 degrees of rotation and just prior to latch  30  engaging in the closed position. This decrease in effort affords the opportunity to redirect the operator&#39;s strength and the combined leverage of tool  10  to raise the optional form punch  96  for useful work, and thereby eliminating the extra motion needed to crank the rotatable arm  17  through its required arc.  FIG. 15  shows a side view of the guide bushing  90 , bosses  93 ,  94 , and optional form punch  96 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a powered version, indicated generally as  100 , of the installation tool according to the present invention. In the illustrated example, a power head  103  is installed on a Ridgid® Compact 100-B power tool. The power tool  100  is a lightweight, cordless, battery powered, hydraulic ram with rapid reverse. Tool  100  includes an operating switch  106  that, when depressed causes an internal electric motor  109  to power a hydraulic pump  111 . The motor  109  is powered by a suitable battery  114 , mounted in a handle  117  comprising part of the tool  100 . In a preferred embodiment, the battery  114  is a Nickel-Metal Hydride rechargeable battery or a Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable battery. Other types of batteries can be used. The operating switch  106  controls power to the motor  109 . The battery  114  is connected to the motor  109  by suitable wires through the switch  106 . The hydraulic pump  111  forces fluid into an internal cylinder of the tool  100 , forcing a ram  120  outward and applying thousands of pounds of pressing force onto the power head  103 . The entire cycle duration is approximately seven (7) seconds. Once the cycle begins to deform a clamp, it will automatically continue until completion. When used with appropriate power head  103 , the tool  100  is designed to mechanically press fittings onto tubing in order to create a tight and permanent seal. 
       FIGS. 17   a - c  illustrate cross sections of the power head  103 . The power head comprises jaw members  123 ,  124 , and a reforming plunger  127 . The hydraulic ram  120  includes two rollers  130 ,  131 . As the hydraulic ram  120  extends outward (from right to left in the drawings), the rollers  130 ,  131  spread the back ends  133 ,  134  of jaw members  123 ,  124  apart causing the clamp edges  137 ,  138  to crimp on a clamp.  FIG. 17   b  shows the power head  103  in the first stage with the jaw members  123 ,  124  closed. To complete the two-stage reforming process, the hydraulic ram  120  continues to extend so that the rollers  130 ,  131  push against the end block  140  of the reforming plunger  127 .  FIG. 17   c  shows the power head  103  at the end of the second stage re-forming of the ear. Note that second stage forming occurs when the rollers  130 ,  131  are on the flat or dwell portion of the jaws cam surfaces. By timing in this manner the jaw members  123 ,  124  are essentially finished with crimping the ear (i.e. stationary), so that all of the force of the ram  120  is directed toward the ear re-forming stage. 
       FIGS. 18   a  and  b  illustrate another embodiment of the powered tool, indicated generally as  146 , that works with a commercially available drill motor. In the illustrated example, a power head  150  is installed on a DeWalt® 14.4 volt Model DW983K-2. The power tool  146  is a lightweight, cordless, battery powered, ½-inch heavy-duty cordless driver/drill with adjustable clutch. Other makes are also suitable. Tool  146  includes an operating switch  153  that, when depressed causes an internal fan-cooled motor  156  to rotate. The motor  156  is powered by a suitable battery  160 , mounted in a handle  163  comprising part of the tool  146 . In a preferred embodiment, the battery  160  is a Nickel-Metal Hydride rechargeable battery or a Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable battery. Other types of batteries can be used. The operating switch  153  controls power to the motor  156 . The battery  160  is connected to the motor  156  by suitable wires through the switch  153 .  FIG. 18   b  shows the same tool head  150  rotated about the input axis for ease of use by an installer/plumber. 
       FIGS. 19   a - c  illustrate cross sections of the power head  150 . The power head comprises jaw members  166 ,  167 , and a reforming plunger  170 . This tool head functions in the same manner as the one described with reference to  FIGS. 16 and 17  except that it is actuated by rotary motion. A cam spade  173  is mounted on a jackscrew  176 . As the drill motor  156  rotates the jackscrew  176 , the cam spade  173  extends outward and causes the extension ends  179 ,  180  of the jaw members  166 ,  167  to spread open causing the jaw members  166 ,  167  to crimp on a clamp.  FIG. 19   b  shows the power head  150  in the first stage with the jaw members  166 ,  167  closed. To complete the two-stage reforming process, the cam spade  173  continues to extend so that the reforming plunger  170  can reshape the ear.  FIG. 19   c  shows the power head  150  at the end of the second stage reforming of the ear. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the drill motor would one be of the types having an adjustable slip such that the operator can sense the end of travel of the spade cam  173 . Tool reset would be accomplished by putting the drill motor in reverse and backing off until the jaw members  166 ,  167  are wide enough to accept another fresh clamp, or full mechanical return is reached, in which case the clutch would trip out again. 
     The invention has been described with references to exemplary embodiments. While specific values, relationships, materials and steps have been set forth for purposes of describing concepts of the invention, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the basic concepts and operating principles of the invention as broadly described. It should be recognized that, in the light of the above teachings, those skilled in the art can modify those specifics without departing from the invention taught herein. Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with such underlying concept. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein. Consequently, the present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.