Patent ID: 7096699

Claim:
A tube expander spindle assembly, comprising: a plurality of bladder assemblies, each bladder assembly having an axial first end and an axial second end, each end having a means for attachment, and an expandable bladder positioned between the first end and the second end in fluid communication with the first end and second end; a first connection tube of preselected length having a first end and a second end with a means for locating the first connector tube relative to a datum mounted to the first end, and means for attachment at the second end or removably attaching the first connection tube to an axial end of one of the bladder assemblies, the connection tube further including an axially extending aperture in fluid communication with the bladder assembly; a plurality of additional connection tubes of preselected length, each tube having two axially-opposed ends, with a means for connection at each end for attaching one end of the connection tube to an axial end of one of the bladder assemblies of the plurality of bladder assemblies and the remaining end to an axial end of another of the bladder assemblies of the plurality of bladder assemblies, each of the plurality of the connection tubes further including an axially extending aperture to provide fluid communication between the attached the bladder assemblies; and means for fluidly sealing a second end of the last bladder of the plurality of bladder assemblies.