Pipe fitter's helper

Details Pipe fitter's helper Pipe fitter's helper

2000-02-10

2001-05-15

Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)

Metal working

Means to assemble or disassemble

Means comprising hand manipulatable tool

C269S043000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06230381

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to metal working tools and, in particular, to a device for aligning one tube with another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Joining elbows, tees, flanges and other fittings to the ends of pipes by welding has never been an easy task. Today, the process requires the use of cumbersome lifting and clamping devices for holding the fitting in place during welding. Often, manipulating such devices to place a fitting requires more time than is required to perform the actual welding—a significant problem if many fittings are being welded as can occur during a refinery or pipeline overhaul. A need, therefore, exists for a tool that can be used to rapidly and accurately position a fitting at the end of a pipe for welding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the problems associated with the known devices and methods employed to weld a fitting onto a pipe, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a pipe fitter's helper, i.e., a tool that can be used to quickly, easily and safely position pipefittings at pipe ends for welding. The saving of time can, with large welding projects, significantly reduce manpower needs and the cost of the project.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pipe fitter's helper of the type described which can be used with minimal training and without the need of any additional tools to set it in place or remove it from a pipe after use.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a pipe fitter's helper for the purposes described which is lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and dependable in use.
Briefly, the pipe fitter's helper in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring a Y-shaped body having an upright with a threaded, interior passageway from which a screw extends. A pair of opposed arms project upwardly and laterally from the upright. A pair of plates extends forwardly from the distal ends of the opposed arms. Each of the plates has a threaded bore within which is threadably secured a thumbscrew.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3619891 (1971-11-01), Harrison
patent: 3735472 (1973-05-01), Silverman
patent: 4143450 (1979-03-01), Selden et al.
patent: 492297 (1930-02-01), None
patent: 18341 (1910-01-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Pipe fitter's helper does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Pipe fitter's helper, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pipe fitter's helper will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2442359