Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Machine
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-01
2001-12-18
Meislin, D. S. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Machine
C081S057240, C081S180100, C007S142000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330840
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to the field of ratcheting tools, more particularly to an improved pipe wrench and pipe cutting tool utilizing a planetary gear arrangement, where the device has special utility in limited access applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a planetary ratcheting tool, such as may be used on larger diameter items, like pipes and pipe connections, and equipment filters, for example, where access thereto is restricted.
Pipe wrenches and ratchet wrenches are common tools for most households, such that their mechanical use and principles of leverage use are well known. Typically, one must have ample room in which to rotate the tool. Unfortunately, there are special applications where access to the pipe connection, for example, is limited. One such application is where a leaking pipe joint, such as between floors, must be repaired, or a poorly accessible pipe must be cut. With a typical pipe wrench, a large hole would have to be made in the ceiling of the lower level, in order to properly manipulate, i.e. rotate the pipe wrench. And, since the lower level is presumably a finished room, the large opening in the ceiling must be repaired and the scars of such repair may be permanent. There is a need for a special application tool that allows for such repairs without causing excessive corrective work.
The prior art, though not necessarily meeting such a goal, offers some special application tools, as described in the following U.S. Patents:
a.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,266, to Wilson, Jr. teaches line fitting orientation guides for use with a split socket and socket drive assembly. The guides include an opening for receiving and abutting the line on which the fitting is maintained as the fitting is received and properly positioned in the socket. The orientation guide may be integral to either the socket or the drive assembly structure, or may be a separate unit mounted to the drive assembly structure.
b.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,553, to Galat, discloses an open-ended, off set geared nutrunner having a housing with an opening providing access to a socket opening in the driving gear. The device further includes a seating structure mounted around the opening to receive the head of a powered wrench in a non-threaded connection when a driving stud on the wrench has been received in the socket opening.
c.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,698, to Delaney, teaches a bung tool having a cylindrical body with a four-armed drive portion projecting from one end thereof and a six-armed drive portion projecting from the opposite end thereof, respectively for engagement with different types of bungs. A drive member reciprocates in a square cross-section axial bore through the body, being manually moveable by a handle which projects radially through a slot in the body. The drive lug of an associated drive lever is receivable in the opposite ends of the bore for respectively driving the two drive portions. The drive member reciprocates among two recessed positions respectively spaced from the opposite ends of the bore to allow insertion of the drive lug therein and a drive position projecting from one of the drive portions for driving engagement with a bung cap.
d.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,289, to Iwinski, relates to a tool for use in attachment of a drain basket to a drain hole in a basin or the like, and is provided in the form of a cylindrical body having lugs projecting longitudinally from one end thereof The drain basket has a lower cup-like portion with a plurality of drain apertures and a threaded portion on the exterior of the cup-like portion for attachment to a drain pipe, the cup-like portion receiving therein a strainer basket for retaining particles from water flowing from the basin to a drain pipe. The lugs of the tool are shaped and dimensioned to fit into the drain apertures near the bottom of the cup. Around the base or joint of the lugs with the tool body, there is a radially extending ring or ledge. The tool may be attached to the external bottom of the drain basket by inserting the lugs through the cup-like portion and into the slots, then applying the lower flange around the tool body and threading it onto the lower threaded fitting which extends down from the cup.
e.) U.S. Pat No.4,649,778, to Bottoms, relates to apparatus which can be utilized on a drilling rig to aid in rotating drill pipe sections to connect and disconnect them. The apparatus includes a cat's head chain device to rotate the pipes but which avoids the danger arising when workmen wrap the chain around a pipe. The apparatus further includes a jaw assembly which can be installed around a pipe section, and which has teeth on its inner surface to engage the pipe and sprockets on its outside to engage the cat's head chain so the chain can turn the jaw assembly. A stationary frame surrounds the jaw assembly while permitting it to rotate therewithin, the frame also carrying a backup roller to keep the chain engaged with the sprockets of the jaw assembly.
The prior art described above fails to offer the special needs for performing corrective work in limited access locations. Further, none of such prior art, nor any commercial products known to the inventors, combines the unique attributes of this invention, namely, a pipe wrench and pipe cutting tool utilizing a planetary gear arrangement. The manner by which this invention achieves the attributes hereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a planetary gear, ratcheting wrench tool operable in combination with a conventional ratcheting tool, particularly for working on pipes and pipe connections that are not readily accessible with conventional tools. The tool of this invention can be used for generally large diameter pipe connections, such as 3 to 4″ diameter pipe, or for cutting such pipe. The tool comprises a U-shaped casement member having a pair of circumferential arms defining an essentially circular space, and a wing extension extending planarly therefrom. The wing extension includes a circular opening in tangential communication with the circular space. As a pipe connection tool, the tool hereof may further include a circular drive gear, having peripheral gear teeth thereabout, positioned for rotative movement within the opening, and a C-shaped insert, sized for rotative movement and positioned within the casement member. The insert is characterized by a discontinuous periphery with gear teeth thereabout and extending from a first end to a second end, for engagement with the peripheral gear teeth of the circular drive gear. Further, the insert, removable and replaceable, is internally configured to engage a work piece, such as a pipe coupling. Finally, the tool, in this embodiment, includes a fixed closure member which is secured to the first end of the insert. The closure member is open in the inoperable position to allow the device to be placed about the work piece, and is closed in the operable position by contact with the work piece. Since a prime feature of the device hereof is to work in limited access locations, a ratcheting tool, with an extension, may be used. Specifically, such tool engages the circular drive gear to effect rotative movement of the gear engaging insert.
A modified use for the tool of this invention is as a pipe cutting tool, particularly for larger diameter pipes. The tool is modified by incorporating spring biased pivotal arms, mounting a rotary cutting blade, where such pivotal arms and blade are secured for rotation on the circular drive gear. Preferably, the pivotal arms and blade are mounted between a pair of C-shaped, planar plates, where one of said plates overlies and is secured to the circular drive gear.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is the provision of a planetary ratcheting device, utilizing a ratcheting tool, to effect rotative movement of a work piece located in a limited access
James, Jr. Everett B.
McCormick Gerald D.
Meislin D. S.
Noll William B
LandOfFree
Planetary ratchet wrench and pipe cutting tool does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Planetary ratchet wrench and pipe cutting tool, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Planetary ratchet wrench and pipe cutting tool will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2579872