Patent Publication Number: US-11384871-B2

Title: Axial swage tool

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
     Any and all applications for which a domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57 and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present disclosure relates to tools for use in swaging and, more particularly, to a swaging tool for swaging axially swaged fittings. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Swaged fittings have been used for many years to connect tubes and pipes in various types of systems, including fluid systems used in the aircraft, marine, petroleum and chemical industries, as well as power transmission systems and the like. In a typical fluid system, the ends of two tubes are inserted into opposing ends of a fitting, each of which is usually in the form of a cylindrical sleeve or other type of fitting body. The fitting is then swaged with a swaging tool to produce a fluid-tight connection placing the tubes in fluid communication. This swaging operation is normally carried out by applying a radial force that radially compresses the fitting and tubing inwardly. This radial force may be applied directly by the swaging tool or indirectly by a specially shaped ring that is moved axially by the swaging tool to apply a radial force to the fitting. These fittings are referred to as axially swaged fittings. 
     Generally axially swaged fittings comprise a cylindrical body having openings at opposite ends for receiving the ends of two tubes, with a swaging ring at each end of the body. The outer surface of the body and the inner surface of the swaging ring contact each other, being shaped such that axial movement of the swaging ring over the body applies a radial force to the body and, thus, to the tubes. 
     SUMMARY 
     Swage tools with complex designs can include many moving components, which are subject to wear. In such tools, each component contributes to tolerance buildup, and each area of contact between moving parts is subject to wear. Additional wear results in increased costs, replacement of parts, and decreased performance over the life of the tool. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a compact swaging tool, for swaging axially swaged fittings, that has few moving parts, is lighter in weight, and/or more reliable than prior swaging tools. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides embodiments of a swage tool that satisfies some or all of these and other needs, and provides further related advantages. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, the swaging tool includes a housing configured for a first swaging engagement member (e.g., a jaw unit having a yoke). A movable jaw is configured to translate within the housing, the movable jaw being configured for a second swaging engagement member. A piston is configured to drive the movable jaw such that the second engagement member moves toward the first engagement member. 
     The swaging tool can include substantially fewer parts than many prior art tools, and more particularly, can include fewer moving parts. Advantageously, in some embodiments, the smaller number and simple arrangement of the parts can limit the tolerance build-up, which can otherwise require custom machining during manufacture to achieve acceptable tolerances. Furthermore, the design can limit bearing loads from being distributed in an uneven fashion, which can cause excessive wear. 
     The axial swage tool can include a spring compressed between a stop plate and the movable jaw. The movable jaw can be compressively held between the spring and the stop plate. The movable jaw can be compressively biased to be stationary, with respect to the housing, by the spring. The spring can become further compressed by the piston when driving the movable jaw axially through the chamber of the housing. The spring can provide for the tool to be self-resetting. 
     The present disclosure provides embodiments of an axial swage tool including a movable jaw unit that is in direct contact with a piston during a swaging operation. Advantageously, the axial swage tool can have no bearings, no stabilizing pin, and no piston rod. The design of the tool, with the features described below, contributes to a swage tool that can be generally compact, lightweight, and simple. Furthermore, the swage tool of the present disclosure can be generally robust, simple to operate, reliable in use, and relatively low in maintenance. 
     To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting. 
     The term “comprising” is used in the specification and claims, means “consisting at least in part of.” When interpreting a statement in this specification and claims that includes “comprising,” features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” are to be interpreted in the same manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Throughout the drawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided to illustrate embodiments of the inventive subject matter described herein and not to limit the scope thereof. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an axial swage tool. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional, side view of the embodiment of the axial swage tool of  FIG. 1 , depicting the swage tool in a relaxed configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view, depicting the swage tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded cross-sectional side view of the axial swage tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional, side view of the axial swage tool of  FIG. 1  depicted in a relaxed configuration. 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional, side view of the axial swage tool of  FIG. 1  depicted in an actuated configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an axial swage tool. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the embodiment of the axial swage tool of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of port separation between parallel tubing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an axial swage tool configured to axially swage a fitting to a tube, a cable, or other such item of manufacture. The swage tool can be configured to utilize swaging engagement members for grasping and driving a swaging ring over a fitting. The swaging ring thereby radially compresses the fitting around the tube or other item. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , an embodiment of an axial swage tool  100  is illustrated. The axial swage tool  100  includes a housing  102  having an inner surface  104  that forms a chamber  106 . The chamber  106  can have a longitudinal axis  108 , also referred to as a chamber axis. The housing  102  includes a fixed jaw unit  110 , also referred to as a swaging engagement member. In some embodiments, the jaw unit  110  can be formed into the housing  102 . The swage tool  100  also includes a movable jaw  150  having a first portion  151 , also referred to as the chamber portion, and a second portion  160 , also referred to as the movable jaw unit or swaging engagement member. The fixed jaw unit  110  and the movable jaw unit  160  include yokes that are configured to axially swage a fitting when the chamber portion  151  slides within the chamber  106  such that the movable jaw unit  160  moves toward the fixed jaw unit  110 . The yokes of the jaw units are configured to hold a swage fitting  200  and a fitting sleeve, also referred to as a fitting body  210  in order to axially swage a fitting (as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ). The tool  100  can further comprise a seal  130 , a piston  140 , a fastener  132 , a spring  134 , a stop plate  136 , and a retaining ring  138 . 
     Housing 
     The housing  102  has an outer surface  118 , and an inner surface  104  that forms the chamber  106 . The inner surface  104  and chamber  106  can be substantially cylindrical. In some embodiments, the chamber  106  can be a different cross-sectional shape, such as oblong. A first end  120  of the housing  102  defines a chamber opening that preferably is (or is approximately) the same size and shape of the chamber  106 . For example, first end  120  can have the same diameter as the inner surface  104 . Towards the first end, an annular slot or groove  122  can be formed in the inner surface  104 . The annular groove can have a greater diameter than the inner surface and can be sized and shaped to receive a retaining ring  138 . A second end  124  of the housing is closed except for a port  126  configured for attaching a fluid source, such as a hydraulic fluid source. In some embodiments, a tube having a threaded housing connection can be coupled to the port  126  and a fluid source can be coupled to a fluid source connection on the other end, such as a quick-release connection. 
     The first end  120  of the housing  102  can include the fixed jaw unit  110 , which can include structural reinforcement flanges  112 , a yoke  114 , and ball detents  116 . The housing jaw unit  110  can be substantially U-shaped, with yoke surfaces facing in a longitudinal direction, such as parallel to the chamber axis, and configured to provide a support for a body  210  or swaging ring  200  during the swaging process. For example, the body  210  can be positioned in the yoke  114  and the swaging ring  200  can be moved axially towards the body  210 . The ball detents  116  can be positioned at opposite sides of the yoke  114 . The ball detents  116  can provide an indication of a proper fit of the body  210  in the yoke  114 . For example, the ball detents  116  can be positioned to ensure that body  210  is properly positioned within the yoke  114 . The proper positioning of the body  210  can prevent misuse and prevent damage to the tool during operation, such as damage to the flanges, yoke, body, swaging ring, or other part of the tool. 
     The housing  102  can have an approximately rectangular cutout  128  (as seen in  FIG. 3 ) in a mid-portion of the housing  102  that permits radial access to the internal chamber  106 . Preferably, the width of the cutout  128  is only as wide as is necessary to position the movable jaw  150  within the chamber  106 , and the length of the cutout is only as long as is necessary to permit a complete swaging operation. For example, the cutout is long enough to permit the movable jaw  150  to travel from its relaxed-tool position to a fully actuated position, which completes a full swaging operation. In some embodiments, the width of the cutout  128  can be configured to match the width of the movable jaw  150  so that the movable jaw  150  moves axially without rotating. For example, in one embodiment, the differences in widths between the movable jaw  150  and the cutout  128  can be less than or equal to 0.005 inches, less than or equal to 0.002 inches, less than or equal to 0.001 inches, between 0.001 and 0.005 inches, between 0.002 inches and 0.005 inches, or another variation of the measurements. 
     Movable Jaw 
     The movable jaw  150  has a first portion  151 , also referred to as a chamber portion, and a second portion  160 , also referred to as a movable jaw unit or swaging engagement member. The chamber portion  151  is configured to be positioned within the chamber  106  of the housing  102 . The chamber portion  151  has an outer surface  152 . The curvature of the outer surface  152  is configured to match the curvature of the inner surface  104  of the chamber  106 . In some embodiments, at least a portion of the outer surface  152  may be cylindrical. In some embodiments, the outer surface may be a different shape (e.g., cylindrical with a flat portion, oblong, or another shape). The outer surface  152  is configured to be shaped to be translatable within the chamber  106 . The outer surface  152  can be sized within a defined tolerance of the inner surface  104  such that the movable jaw is translatable within the chamber without undesirable angular movement during operation of the tool. The difference in measurements (e.g., diameters) can form a gap  109  (not perceptible in the figures) between the outer surface  152  and the inner surface  104 . The gap can be defined by a measurement (e.g., a radial dimension, a diameter, a linear measurement, and the like) between the outer surface  152  and inner surface  104 . For example, in one embodiment, the differences in measurements (e.g., diameters) of the outer surface  152  and inner surface  104  can be less than or equal to 0.005 inches, less than or equal to 0.002 inches, less than or equal to 0.001 inches, between 0.001 and 0.005 inches, between 0.002 inches and 0.005 inches, or another variation of the measurements. The chamber portion  151  has a first inner surface  154  and a second inner surface  156  forming a through-hole. The first and second inner surfaces can be concentric. A spring engagement surface  157  can be substantially perpendicular to the first and second inner surfaces. The spring engagement surface  157  can extend between the first and second inner surfaces  154  and  156 . The first and second inner surfaces can define a chamber portion axis  158  that is configured to align with the chamber axis  108  as the movable jaw  150  moves axially within the housing  102 . A piston engagement surface  153  protrudes from a first face  155  of the chamber portion  151 . The piston engagement surface  153  can be parallel to the spring engagement surface  157 . The piston engagement surface  153  can be sized and shaped to fit within the recess  146  of the piston  140 . 
     The jaw unit portion  160  of the movable jaw can include structural reinforcement flanges  162 , a yoke  164 , and ball detents  166 . The movable jaw unit  160  can be substantially U-shaped, with yoke surfaces facing in a longitudinal direction, such as parallel to the chamber axis, and configured to provide a support for a fitting body  210  or swaging ring  200  during the swaging process. For example, the fitting body  210  can be positioned in the yoke  164  and the swaging ring  200  can be moved axially towards the fitting body. The ball detents  166  can be positioned at opposite sides of the yoke  164 . The ball detents  166  can provide an indication of a proper fit of the swaging body in the yoke  164 . For example, the ball detents  166  can be positioned to ensure that swaging body are properly positioned within the yoke  164 . The proper positioning of the swaging ring or sleeve can prevent misuse and prevent damage to the tool during operation, such as damage to the flanges, yoke, sleeve, swaging ring, or other part of the tool. 
     The housing jaw unit  110  defines a housing jaw axis and the movable jaw unit  160  defines a movable jaw axis. These axes align to form a swage axis  170  when the movable jaw axis  158  is aligned with the chamber axis  108 . The fixed jaw unit  110  provided on the housing  102  and the movable jaw unit  160  are configured to move a swaging ring  200  over a fitting body  210 , along the swage axis  170 , to swage the fitting to a tube or other item. 
     Piston 
     The piston  140  can be configured to be positioned in the second end  124  of the housing  102 . An outer surface  142  of the piston  140  can be the same shape as the chamber  106 , such as cylindrical. The outer surface  142  of the piston  140  can be sized and shaped, or otherwise configured such that the piston  140  can move axially within the housing chamber  106  (e.g., configured to slide along the chamber axis  108 ). The piston  140  has a first, closed end  144  forming a head  143  that faces the second end  124  of the housing  102 . The diameter of the head  143  can be smaller than the diameter of the outer surface  142 . The piston  140  also has a second end  145  opposite the first end  144 . The second end  145  has an axial bore  147  (e.g., a cylindrical bore), with a counter-bored or recessed guide surface  146 . The bore  147  can be configured to receive a fastener  132  (such as a screw) for securing the movable jaw  150  to the piston  140 . The recessed guide surface  146  can be sized and shaped to receive the piston engagement surface  153 . The chamber portion  151  of the movable jaw  150  can be configured to mount directly to the piston  140 , with the piston engagement surface  153  being positioned adjacent the recessed guide surface  146 . The face  155  of the chamber portion  151  can be positioned adjacent the face of the second end  145  of the piston  140 . By directly mounting the movable jaw  150  to the piston, the number of moving parts on the tool  100  can be reduced. Additionally, the distance between the chamber axis  108  and the swage axis  170  can be reduced, thereby lowering the moment force generated on the movable jaw  150  during swaging operations. 
     The outer surface  142  can be sized within a defined tolerance of the inner surface  104  such that the piston  140  is translatable within the chamber without undesirable angular movement during operation of the tool. The difference in sizes between the outer surface  152  and the inner surface  104  can form a gap  109  (not perceptible in the figures). The gap can be defined by a measurement value (e.g., a radial dimension, a diameter, a linear dimension, and the like) between the outer surface  152  and inner surface  104 . For example, in one embodiment, the differences in diameters of the outer surface  152  and inner surface  104  can be less than or equal to 0.005 inches, less than or equal to 0.002 inches, less than or equal to 0.001 inches, between 0.001 and 0.005 inches, between 0.002 inches and 0.005 inches, or another variation of the measurements. The size and shape of the outer surface  142  is configured such that the tool can operate without bearings or a piston rod extending axially through the chamber  106 . The size and shape reduces rotation on the piston  140  and the movable jaw  150  which can result in the piston  140  and/or movable jaw  150  jamming within the chamber. The length of the piston can also help to prevent angular rotation and increase stability during operation. In some embodiments, a majority of the length of the piston  140  remains in the chamber  106  and does not extend into the opening  128 . 
     When pressurized fluid is introduced through the port  126 , it acts against the head  144  of the piston  140 , forcing the piston  140 , and thereby directly forcing the movable jaw  150 , toward the first end  120  of the housing  102 . The piston  140  is thus configured such that it can translate axially through the chamber  106  at the second end of the housing  102 , toward the first end  120  of the housing, driving the movable jaw  150  and one end of the spring  134  as it moves. This translation toward the first end  120  of the housing  102  can be limited by the depth of the chamber  106 , the movable jaw&#39;s axial freedom of movement (such as from the fully compressed spring length, the cutout length, or limitations on the movement of the movable jaw  150 ). 
     Seal 
     A seal  130  can be configured to be positioned on the head  143  of the piston  140 . The seal  130  can be made of a durable material. When fluid is supplied to the housing chamber via the port  126  on the second end  124  of the housing  102 , the fluid is prevented from flowing between the piston outer surface  142  and the housing inner surface  104  by the seal  130 . Thus, the piston  140 , aided by the seal  130  and the second end  124  of the housing  102  can form a hydraulic chamber and act as an actuator for the tool  100 . In some embodiments, the seal can be a polyurethane seal. 
     Spring Assembly 
     The piston  140  and movable jaw  150  can be held in position within the housing  102  by the spring  134 , stop plate  136 , and retaining ring  138 . The retaining ring  138  can be seated in the annular slot  122  formed towards the first end  120  of the housing  102 . A stop plate  136  can be positioned adjacent the retaining ring. The stop plate  136  can be substantially the same shape (e.g., diameter) as the inner surface  104  of the chamber  106 . A protrusion  137  can extend from the stop plate on a face opposite the retaining ring  138 . The protrusion  137  can be sized and shaped such that the spring  134  can be positioned around the protrusion and adjacent a face of stop plate  136  opposite the retaining ring  138 . When assembled within the tool  100 , the spring  134  extends between the stop plate  136  and the spring engagement surface  157  of the movable jaw  150 . The stop plate  136  and the spring engagement surface  157  can be configured to receive opposite ends of the spring  134 . The protrusion  137  and chamber portion  151  of the movable jaw  150  (such as the depth of the inner surface  154 ) can be configured to provide additional support to the spring  134  during operation of the tool  100  such that the spring  134  compresses axially without lateral motion. The piston  140 , movable jaw  150 , and stop plate  136  can be held stationary against the retaining ring  138  by the spring when the tool is in a relaxed position. 
     With the tool in a relaxed (e.g., not actuated) position (as depicted in  FIG. 1 ), the spring  134  is in a relatively expanded position, pushing the movable jaw  150  toward the second end  124  of the housing  102  against the piston  140 . In some embodiments, when the tool  100  is in the relaxed (e.g., not actuated) position, the spring  134  can be continually compressed between the stop plate  136  and the movable jaw  150 , with each surface acting as a stop for the spring. The piston  140  in turn pushes against the second end of the housing. The spring&#39;s compressive force is pushed against the stop plate  136 , which is retained against the retaining ring  138 . Rotation of the movable jaw  150  within the chamber  106  can be restricted by the size and shape of the cutout  128 . 
     Axial Swage Tool Assembly 
     In one embodiment, to assemble the axial swage tool  100 , the seal  130 , and the piston  140  are inserted into the chamber  106 . The seal  130  is mounted on the piston head  153 . The piston head  153  and the seal are positioned facing the second end  124  of the housing  102 . The seal and/or the piston can be inserted through the housing cutout  128 . The chamber portion  151  of the movable jaw  150  is positioned within chamber  106  via the cutout  128 . The piston engagement surface  153  of the movable jaw  150  is positioned adjacent the recessed guide surface  146  of the piston  140 . The face  155  of the chamber portion  151  can be positioned adjacent the face of the second end  145  of the piston  140 . The movable jaw  150  is secured to the piston  140  using a fastener  132 . The spring  134  is then inserted through the housing first end and the stop plate  136  is inserted against the spring. The retaining ring  287  is then snapped into the annular slot  122  in the inner surface  104  of the chamber. The compressed spring biases the movable jaw and the piston away from the first end of the housing. 
     Swaging Operation 
     With specific reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , an operator can swage one side of a fitting by engaging a fitting body  210  with a first engagement member. Such as, for example, engaging the fitting body  210  within the yoke  114  of the fixed jaw  110 , which is stationary, to restrain the body  210  from movement during swaging. The ball detents  116  can be used to secure the body  210  in the correct position within the first engagement member. The second engagement member, such as the movable jaw yoke  164 , is then engaged with an outer surface of the swaging ring  200 . The fitting body  210  can be adapted for engaging either of the engagement members (e.g., fixed or movable jaws), so long as the swaging ring  200  is adapted for the other engagement member. Preferably, both engagement members can receive both the fitting body  210  and swaging ring  200 . 
     When pressure is supplied through the port  126 , the piston  140 , seal  130 , and movable jaw  150  are moved toward the first end  120  of the housing  102 , compressing the spring  134  and moving the swaging ring  200  over the body  210 , thereby swaging the body  210  to the tube  220 . More specifically, supplying pressurized fluid into the chamber  106  from a pressurized fluid source (for example, a source of oil at 10,000 psi) applies force axially on the piston  140 , pushing it toward the first end  120  of the housing  102 . The piston  140  applies the axial force to the movable jaw  150 , which in turn applies it to the spring  134 . The hydraulic force overcomes the axial spring compression force, and the piston  140 , seal  130 , and movable jaw  150  translate axially through the housing chamber  106  toward the first end  120  of the housing, compressing the spring  134 . Air that is within the chamber  106  of the piston while the tool is in the relaxed state is vented from the tool  100  during actuation via the cutout  128 . The movable jaw unit  160  moves toward the fixed jaw unit  110 . When a fitting  210  and swaging ring  200  are positioned in yokes of the jaw units during this translation, the swaging ring  200  is driven over the fitting  210 , thus forming a swaged fitting on the tube  220  by the time the tool has reached a fully actuated configuration (as depicted in  FIG. 5B ). The swaging operation is complete when the swaging ring  200  contacts the body  210 . The tool is configured such that the movable jaw does not stop prior to the completion of the swaging operation. As can be seen there is a gap  180  between the movable jaw  150  and face of the housing  102 . There is a gap  182  between the movable jaw  150  and the stop plate  136 . The spring  134  is not fully compressed. In this manner, the swaging operation can complete without encountering a stop that would prematurely stop the swaging operation resulting in an incomplete swage. 
     At the end of the swaging operation, the pressure source is relieved and the spring force returns the movable jaw  150  and the piston  140  toward the second end  124  of the housing, thereby separating the movable jaw unit  160  from the housing jaw unit  110 . When the compressed spring  134  expands, the spring  136  applies force to the movable jaw  150 . The movable jaw transmits these forces to the piston  140 , which forces the fluid from the chamber  106  and back down the tube. Air is allowed to return to the chamber  106  via the cutout  128  and the tool  100  returns to the relaxed position ( FIG. 5A ) for the next swaging operation. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the swage tool  100 ′. The swage tool  100 ′ has modified structural reinforcement flanges  112 ′. In the illustrated embodiment, the modified flanges  112 ′ extend up to the substantially the height of the movable jaw  150  and the fixed jaw  110 . The flanges  112 ′ extend the length of the operational movement of the movable jaw  150 . The flanges  112 ′ can provide protection to the operator during operation of the swage tool. The tool  100 ′ operates in accordance with the description of the tool  100  described herein. During operation, the flanges  112 ′ can prevent an operator from inadvertently placing an appendage (e.g., a finger) or piece of equipment between the movable jaw  150  and the fixed yoke  110 . Thereby protecting the operator from harm and protecting the swage tool  100 ′ from being damaged. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the port separation for properly swaging parallel tubing  210  and  220 . The minimum difference between the parallel tubing is a requirement under the AS6124 standard for “Aluminum Axially swaged fittings Installation and inspection procedure.” The standard requires that a minimum port separation distance “M” is required between the fittings in order to engage a swage tool  200  on two parallel fittings without interference for proper swaging. 
     Recommended minimum port separation distance “M” for various size combinations of aluminum axial swaged fitting series (i.e. a −04 fitting next to a −10 fitting) is given in the AS standard. In some embodiments of the compact swage tool, the “M” value can be smaller than the recommended value in the AS standard. Desirably, when it comes to getting the tubes closer to each other, reducing the “M” value helps fitting more tubes in a given space in an aircraft plumbing design. 
     The table below shows the range of values for fitting and tool of same size combination. For some exemplary embodiments, the reduced “M” values as compared with the AS values are shown in the table. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Tube Size 
                 “M”-4 
                 “M”-6 
                 “M”-8 
                 “M”-10 
                 “M”-12 
                 “M”-16 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                  -4 
                 0.554 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 AS6124-4 
                 0.75 
               
               
                  -6 
                   
                 0.665 
               
               
                 AS6124-6 
                   
                 0.942 
               
               
                  -8 
                   
                   
                 0.782 
               
               
                 AS6124-8 
                   
                   
                 1.145 
               
               
                 -10 
                   
                   
                   
                 0.951 
               
               
                 AS6124-10 
                   
                   
                   
                 1.372 
               
               
                 -12 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 1.137 
               
               
                 AS6124-12 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 1.582 
               
               
                 -16 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 1.412 
               
               
                 AS6124-16 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 1.979 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In the illustrated embodiments, the piston  140  and movable jaw  150  are held substantially fixed and stationary within the housing  102  by the retaining ring  138  and the spring  134 , the spring extending between the stop plate  136  and the movable jaw  150 . The piston  140  and the movable jaw  150  are configured to translate axially along the axis  108  when fluid is supplied to the housing chamber via the port  126  on the second end  124  of the housing. No bearing is needed for the piston  140  and movable jaw  150  to freely translate within the housing  102 . The seal  130  is configured to form a sealed chamber in the axial end of the housing  102  opposite the retaining ring. The piston  140 , the sealed chamber  106 , and the source of pressurized fluid are thus configured to actuate the movable jaw axially within the chamber  106 . 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are characterized by substantially fewer parts than the previously described tool, and more particularly, fewer moving parts. The smaller number of parts likely reduces tolerance build-up, which can otherwise result in the movable jaw-yoke rotating to a less-than-preferred angle with respect to the housing-yoke. Furthermore, because the prior art bearing on the stabilizing pin had to pass into portions of the housing having lobes that provide uneven support (i.e., support around less than the full circumference), that bearing was subject to wear at a rate greater than other parts. The elimination of the stabilizing pin provides the piston-bearing with 360 degree support, and thus tends to provide for a tool with preferable overall durability. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the swaging tool of the present invention preferably provides a swaging tool of greatly reduced size, weight and complexity, which typically results in a more reliable and less expensive swaging tool. The tool has few maintenance requirements. These and other advantages give the swaging tool of the present invention unique advantages. 
     Although certain features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure have been described in terms of a certain embodiments, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art also are within the scope of this invention. Thus, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, various components may be repositioned as desired. Moreover, not all of the features, aspects, and advantages are necessarily required to practice the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to be defined only by the claims that follow.