Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
Patent
1996-07-08
1998-11-10
Watson, Robert C.
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
29271, B25B 2714
Patent
active
058325824
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to apparatus for aligning two members, such as an alignment tool for aligning objects, for example, pipe, box section, RSJ beam, angle iron, T bar or other items which will not align true without the aid of force.
Aligning the ends of objects which are to be coupled together can be problematic, especially with objects of metal, such as steel. This is a common problem when joining ends of lengths of pipe together to form a pipeline. When the lengths of pipe are coupled together by a bolted flange connection, it may be necessary to rotate the adjacent ends relative to each other, as well as moving the ends linearly with respect to each other in order to align the adjacent ends.
Such misalignments may be caused by reactions in the metal from transformation, for example heat or cold can alter dimensions and alignment of many parts of a construction. Therefore, when coupling one member to another problems can occur.
It is already known to use devices such as chain blocks, pull lifts, cranes and jacks to bring the ends of pipe into alignment.
However, there is the disadvantage that chain blocks, and pull lifts all require anchor points which are in an exact line with the direction of pull or lift required. The anchor points to which the devices are attached must also be capable of sustaining the force about to be applied to them. Cranes have the disadvantage that they may not be able to be located adjacent to the members to be aligned and their lifting capabilities are reduced greatly by their distance from the point of lift. They are also limited by their direction of pull, that is, up only. Jacks have the disadvantage of requiring a level surface strong enough to support the jack and also the surface must be at an angle for the appropriate direction of push required. In addition, conventional methods are time consuming to arrange and operate, and costly.
In accordance with the present invention, apparatus for aligning two members comprises a first section, first coupling means for coupling the first section to one of the members, a second section, second coupling means for coupling the second section to the other of the members, and a third coupling means movably coupling the first and second sections together to facilitate relative movement between the first and second sections to align the two members.
Preferably, the apparatus also comprises actuating means coupled between the first and second sections to move the first and second sections relative to each other. Typically, the actuating means is a linear actuating means, such as a ram or piston device. Typically, the first and second coupling means are adapted to permit pivoting movement of the apparatus relative to the first and second sections to align the two members.
Preferably, the third coupling means facilitates linear movement between the first and second sections.
Typically, the first and second coupling means are removable from the first and second section and preferably, are adjustable on the first and second sections.
The third coupling means may also provide rotational movement of the first and sections relative to each other.
Typically, the two members are longitudinal members, and may be tubular. The two members may be, for example, pipe box section, metal bar, lengths of pipe or structural members, such as beams or supports.
Examples of apparatus for aligning two members in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a view of a first example of an alignment tool without clamps fitted;
FIG. 2 is a view of a clamp for use with the tool of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view showing the clamp of FIG. 2 attached to a flanged pipe end;
FIG. 4 is a top view of a second example of an alignment tool; and,
FIG. 5 is a side view of a portion of the tool shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 1 shows a first example of an alignment tool which has a side 51 and side 52. The sides 51, 52 of the tool are interconnected by a slide 4 mounted on a disc 9. The slide 4 is slidably mounted in
REFERENCES:
patent: 2638676 (1953-05-01), Callahan
patent: 3015883 (1962-01-01), Brown
patent: 3318592 (1967-05-01), Steffen
patent: 3807017 (1974-04-01), Une et al.
patent: 4263084 (1981-04-01), Takala
patent: 4674730 (1987-06-01), Roberts
Stephen Graham
Stephen Robert
Future Alignments Limited of Anderson House
Watson Robert C.
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