EXPANDABLE ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC F16B1/00 F03G7/06 

FIELD: machine building.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to use of an expandable element, which expands at elevated temperature, for applying a force to one or more of surrounding components. Expandable element comprises metal body with at least one side wall surrounding cavity and expandable material, expanding due to phase change and/or decomposition, retained inside cavity and surrounded by said at least one side wall. Cavity has a first volume at a first temperature and further comprises a filler material, which does not contribute to expansion and which occupies at least about 50 % of first volume of cavity; and at a second temperature of at least about 500 °C expandable material expands, so that cavity has a second volume. Second volume is greater than first volume.

EFFECT: due to expansion of expandable material said at least one side wall has a gauge pressure of at least approximately 150 pounds/square inch.

17 cl, 1 tbl, 16 dwg