Patent ID: 8303295

Claim:
An interface element comprising: a fixed part adapted to be fixedly mounted to a pliers or machine for actuating an expansion tool; and a tapered needle operatively engaged with the fixed part for cyclic axial movement relative to the fixed part in response to operation of the pliers or machine for actuating an expansion tool, wherein the tapered needle is constructed and arranged to connect to a plurality of chucks of an expansion tool for producing a socket at an end of a polymeric or composite material pipe such that: (i) a portion of each complete cycle of said cyclic axial movement of the tapered needle causes the plurality of chucks to move radially outwardly, (ii) a portion of each complete cycle of said cyclic movement permits the plurality of chucks to move radially inwardly, (iii) and each complete cycle of said cyclic movement results in the plurality of chucks rotating for a portion of a turn relative to the fixed part; and wherein the interface element further comprises a rotatable member operatively engaged with the fixed part for rotation relative to the fixed part, wherein the rotatable member is constructed and arranged to operatively engage a plurality of chucks of an expansion tool for producing a socket at an end of a polymeric or composite material pipe such that the plurality of chucks rotate with the rotatable member relative to the fixed part, and the rotatable member operatively engages the tapered needle such that: (i) each complete cycle of cyclic axial movement of the tapered needle results in the rotatable member rotating to an angular position that is different than an angular position of the rotatable member immediately prior to the complete cycle of said cyclic axial movement, (ii) the rotatable member rotates a portion of a turn while the needle is moving through a first portion of the cycle of said cyclic movement of the needle, and (iii) the rotatable member does not rotate while the needle is moving through a second portion of the cycle.