Powered pipe wrench

Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Machine

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C081S057120, C081S057130

Reexamination Certificate

active

06336381

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to a hand tool for rotating and installing pipes, and more particularly, to a powered pipe wrench.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Both powered and manually operated pipe wrenches for assembling and disassembling lengths of threaded pipe have long been known. Manual pipe wrenches include a jaw portion that can be tightened about a section of pipe and a handle that is used to rotate the pipe. Powered pipe wrenches generally include a chain or similar flexible element that wraps around the pipe, a mechanism for tightening the chain about the pipe, rollers for engaging the sidewall of the pipe, and a drive mechanism for moving the chain or rollers to rotate the pipe while the handle of the wrench is held in one position.
A relatively large amount of force is required to keep a wrench in position on a pipe when the pipe is turned, and it is often difficult to hold a pipe tightly enough to prevent such relative motion.
While some prior art devices for rotating a pipe adequately prevent relative movement between the pipe and the wrench, these devices, especially powered pipe wrenches, can be cumbersome and require considerable labor and time to attach securely to the pipe. Therefore, there is a need for a powered pipe wrench that can quickly and effectively be secured into a use position to grip a pipe or similar object.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These problems and others are addressed by the present invention which comprises a pipe wrench having an elongated housing, a motor disposed within the housing, and a pipe attachment structure connected to the housing. A rotatable shaft extends from within the housing, transverse to the axis of the housing, and is rotated by the motor. A pair of drive rollers are mounted on the shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the pipe wrench further comprises a support structure on the housing, a curved retaining arm pivotally mounted on the support structure, and a plurality of free-spinning rollers mounted on the retaining arm. In use, a pipe is placed within the retaining arm in contact with the free-spinning rollers and the handle is moved to bring the drive rollers into contact with the pipe. The motor is then engaged to rotate the drive rollers and rotate the pipe while it is held securely between the drive rollers and the free-spinning rollers on the support structure.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved powered pipe wrench that is simple and easy to use.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a powered pipe wrench that is adjustable to fit pipes of various sizes.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a powered pipe wrench having removable drive rollers that can be replaced with rollers suited for use with a particular type of pipe.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a powered pipe wrench having exteriorly mounted rollers that are easy to clean and that are not prone to jamming.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a powered pipe wrench with a mechanism for limiting the torque imparted by the wrench to a preset level.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1505205 (1924-08-01), Kilgour, Jr.
patent: 1690007 (1928-10-01), Greve
patent: 2552521 (1951-05-01), Coshow
patent: 3521509 (1970-07-01), Duke et al.
patent: 3774481 (1973-11-01), Goodman
patent: 4103419 (1978-08-01), Matthews et al.
patent: 4178817 (1979-12-01), Gibson
patent: 4771661 (1988-09-01), Levchenko et al.
patent: D306392 (1990-03-01), Honeycutt
patent: 5345682 (1994-09-01), Dubinsky et al.
patent: 5351582 (1994-10-01), Snyder et al.
patent: 5660087 (1997-08-01), Rae
patent: 5903980 (1999-05-01), Collier et al.
patent: 6065372 (2000-05-01), Ranch

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