Patent ID: 8151628

Claim:
A hydrostatic testing tool for testing a test article including a fitting having threaded outer surface and an end surface, the hydrostatic testing tool comprising: a housing including a front cap and a generally hollow interior defined by a channel; the front cap having an opening in communication with the channel; a piston at least partially located within the channel; the piston being biased toward the front cap in a forward position; wherein the channel narrows proximate the front cap; the piston further including an orifice extending along the length of the piston; the orifice having an inlet aperture; a collet body located within the channel proximate the opening in the front cap, the collet body having a plurality of collet segments collectively forming a generally cylindrical inner perimeter having a variable diameter, each collet segment having a threaded surface on the inner perimeter; wherein the piston is engaged with the collet body when the piston is in the forward position and, pushes the collet body against the front cap in an unexpanded position and wherein the collet body is in an expanded position when the piston is in a withdrawn position; wherein the fitting of the test article can be inserted at least partially into the opening for testing when the piston is withdrawn and collet body can be secured around the fitting after the fitting is inserted at least partially into the opening when the piston moves from the withdrawn position to the forward position; wherein a source of pressurized medium can be connected to the inlet aperture such that the pressurized medium can flow from the inlet aperture into the test article when the collet body is secured around the fitting.