Metal deforming – By use of tool acting during relative rotation between tool... – During rotation of work
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2001-06-12
Larson, Lowell A. (Department: 3725)
Metal deforming
By use of tool acting during relative rotation between tool...
During rotation of work
C470S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244088
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tools for working tubular conduits or pipes, and more particularly to a tool which forms an outwardly projecting ridge in pipes. The tool is employed in fabrication applications wherein purely tubular stock must be modified to include a ridge. Pipes which are intended to be assembled to form fluid conducting assemblies which are to receive fittings which rely on interference with the their associated pipes are afforded such interference by a ridge formed by the novel tool. The novel tool finds application in the fields of construction of plumbing systems, fire sprinkler systems, heating and cooling piping systems, and other residential, industrial, commercial, military, and institutional construction projects wherein interference based fittings are to be incorporated and tubular stock piping is utilized.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Buildings greater than those for single family residences may have involved piping systems wherein pipes extend along ceilings and floors quite extensively. A principal example is that of fire sprinkler systems, which may be either wet or dry. During construction of typical commercial, multi-unit residential, multi-use, institutional, industrial, and military buildings, fire sprinkler systems are installed after the structural elements of the building are erected, and prior to finishing the building. For example, a sprinkler system is assembled prior to installation of dropped ceilings.
Fabrication of a sprinkler system or other large scale fluid distribution system is difficult since pipe is ordinarily furnished in awkward lengths that are not easily maneuvered into place. In a typical building, sprinkler and other piping systems must compete for space with electrical components, duct work for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, structural elements which may project from floor slabs, ceilings, and columns, communications cables, and other architectural or functional features. A mechanic fitting pipes together may find that access, if not completely obstructed, is limited. This situation is frequently encountered in commercial construction projects.
One development which addresses this difficulty is that of utilizing fittings and connectors which are slipped axially over exposed ends of pipe, then locked to the pipe. An example is seen in Application Ser. No. 08/984,045, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,330, filed Dec. 3, 1997 by the present inventor and James R. Drury, a co-inventor of the aforementioned application. The filed application is directed to axially clamping pipe couplers of the type which require an outwardly projecting ridge formed in a pipe receiving a coupler. This application is hereby incorporated by reference.
Pipe may have an outwardly projecting ridge (hereinafter referred to as “ridge”) formed therein by a suitable rolling tool of the type more typically employed to form an inwardly projecting groove. Tools for forming a ridge by rolling a pipe are known. Examples are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,687, issued to William Jackson Ogle on Oct. 15, 1957, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,166, issued to Richard A. Kaar on Dec. 13, 1988. These prior art devices are self-contained tools none of which is adapted to form a readily deployed accessory mounted on a pipe working machine. By contrast, the present invention provides a carriage configured to enable the ridge forming accessory to be readily swung out of the way to allow other pipe working operations to proceed when desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 718,830, issued to William W. Doolittle on Jan. 20, 1903, sets forth a pipe truing device which operates by rolling pipe against rollers. However, unlike the present invention, the rollers are not disposed to be able to form a ridge in the pipe in the manner of the present invention. Also, the device of Doolittle is not readily mounted on a multipurpose, powered pipe working machine, as is the present invention.
Prior art tools which are pivotally mounted on support rails of the powered chuck of a multipurpose pipe working machine are known, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,940, issued to Dale A. Pulver et al. on Jan. 14, 1992. However, the tool of Pulver et al. does not form an outwardly projecting ridge in the manner of the present invention, and also only loosely engages its host machine, whereas the present invention allows for secure retention on the host machine. Notably, the tool of Pulver et al. cannot be retained on the host machine in a standby position, as can the present invention.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a carriage pipe working tool usable with host conventional multipurpose powered pipe working machines. A significant benefit of the novel carriage is that once installed on the pipe working machine, it requires no dismantling of the pipe working machine either to be utilized, nor dismantling or assembly of the pipe working machine to resume grooving work. The novel carriage is merely swung between the operational and idle positions. A tool mounted thereon is removably retained on the pipe working machine even in the standby position, and avoids inadvertent disengagement from its host machine and possible loss and damage. It is therefore quite practical to alternate among various pipe forming operations, such as forming ridges and forming grooves, cutting threads, and deburring.
One application is a ridge forming machine which forms suitable ridges in a pipe so that axially clamped couplers of the type described in co-pending application Ser. No. 08/984,045 may be readily employed to assemble piping systems. The novel ridge forming machine operates by rolling a pipe or any tubular conduit between two rollers. The novel machine cooperates with a conventional pipe working machine, which pipe working machine supports the novel ridge forming machine and also rotates a pipe or similar work piece.
The novel ridge forming machine utilizes rollers, or rotary dies, similar in principal to those employed to form grooves. However, the rollers are arranged such that the ridge produced thereby is the opposite of a groove, in that the ridge projects outwardly from the pipe. The rollers determine the distance between the end of the pipe and the ridge formed thereon. A plurality of female rollers are provided, each differing from the others in length. This feature enables the ridge to be formed at different distances from the end of the pipe.
The novel machine has gripping elements for mounting on dual parallel support shafts present on the conventional pipe working machine for supporting conventional pipe working apparatus. The gripping elements are configured to enable the novel ridge forming machine to be swung between an operational position and an idle or standby position on the pipe working machine. In the operational position, pipe inserted into the chuck of the pipe working machine may be worked to form a ridge. In the standby position, the ridge forming machines rests out of the way of other pipe working tools, and thus permits other aspects of pipe forming work to proceed.
A major benefit of the ridge forming machine is that expense, bulk, weight, and complexity of equipment are minimized. A multipurpose pipe working machine is frequently available on any job site requiring significant piping work, and thus is also available for adaptation for ridge forming. Therefore, providing an entire machine including a powered chuck, as seen in the patents to Ogle and Kaar, is not necessary.
Therefore, a ridge forming machine may be provided which includes only the roller apparatus forming the ridge, and an adapter for mounting the ridge forming machine on a conventional pipe working machine. Rotation of the pipe being worked is accomplished by a conventional host pipe working machine. The ridge forming machine produces highly satisfactory results on pipes made from materials ranging fro
Larson Lowell A.
Siemens Patent Services LC
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