Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Pipe layout or fitting
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-20
2001-04-03
Fulton, Christopher W. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Pipe layout or fitting
C033S561100, C033S561200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209215
ABSTRACT:
The present invention pertains to the fabrication of saddle joints for joining two pipes, and more particularly to a contour gauge for use in the precise preparation of pipes for such joints.
BACKGROUND
Contour replicating devices for preparation of pipes to be joined by a saddle joint are well known in the art. Many of the early designs intended for this purpose incorporated a plurality of rods mounted to a member that encircles a pipe. For example Wurts' U.S. Pat. No. 776,713 discloses a flexible band adapted to be opened and included series of adjustable rods mounted thereon. Similarly, Turner's U.S. Pat. No. 2,222,127 discloses a retainer ring made of link elements pivotally interconnected wherein each link member includes a movable indicator.
Several other early designs include mechanisms that grip or are connected to the contour measuring device to hold the same in place. For example Bugenhagen's U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,919 discloses a conformator gauge supported from a hinged arm that extends from a supporting base. Moore's U.S. Pat. No. 2,466,464 discloses a guide head having stepped plates that are movable on a centrally disposed centering member that is held in place by an arm having a slidable clamp. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,533,500; 2,615,255; and 2,615,255 issued respectively to Parsons, Rankin and Rushing disclose contour gauges that in one way or another have a positive connection to one of the pipes being measured.
A few of the later designs were directed to contour gauges that could adjust in a way to accommodated pipes and structures of various sizes and diameters. For example Barnes U.S. Pat. No. 2,671,273 discloses a plurality of pins that project through a readily deformable band. Madden's U.S. Pat. No. 3,419,965 discloses a profile transferring device having a plurality of gauge units that connect together to form a long chain to follow long contours. Pruett's U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,278 discloses a pipe intersection marker having a a plurality of wedge shaped ribs attached to a belt that is adjustable in length.
Other recent designs include Halstead's U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,632 which discloses a contour transfer device including a pair of bars shaped and clamped together having a row of finger receiving openings through which transfer fingers are slideably mounted. Farris' U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,828 discloses a tubular pantograph mechanism that is adjustable in diameter, and has circumferentially spaced elongated rods mounted on the inner wall in parallel relation with the axis. Ming-Chin's U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,369 patent discloses a development drafter having a flexible strip that includes a plurality of integrally formed parallel tubular pin holders disposed to receive a plurality of pins wherein the flexible strip is adaptable to wrap around a pipe. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,282 by Field et al discloses a plurality of pins held in a flexible band that is capable of circumferentially enclosing a tube. As can be seen, many variations of contour gauge designs have been introduced over the years.
While most the above noted contour reproducing devices adequately perform the task of duplicating the line of an irregular surface, each are to some extent either complicated in design, difficult to use, expensive to manufacture, or produce imprecise results. Accordingly, a need remains for a contour gauge that produces accurate results yet is simple in construction, easy to use, and inexpensive.
SUMMARY
One object of the present invention is to facilitate the joining of a first pipe to the side of a transversely disposed second pipe.
A second object is to reduce the time required to form a saddle joint between two pipes.
Another object is to reduce wasted material that results from having to repair poorly formed saddle joints between pipes.
Yet another object is to increase the reliability of the saddle joint formed between two pipes.
A further object is to enable one person to more readily form a saddle joint.
Still another object is to reduce the man-hours spent on forming a saddle joint.
The invention is an improved contour gauge for use in the fabrication of saddle joints in pipe connections. The contour gauge is employed to record and reproduce the projected line of continuous contact between the end of a first pipe intersecting the side of a transversely disposed second pipe. The contour gauge is provided for configuring and marking the pipes so that the same can be accurately cut, and then joined/welded together in end-to-side relationship. The contour gauge comprises a cylindrical frame having a centrally disposed bore that defines a radially inner surface for positioning the frame over a pipe of predetermined size. In addition, the frame has a radially disposed outer surface that comprises a plurality of parallel guide channels that are disposed side-by-side to extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame. In the present invention, the guide channels are shaped in the form of grooves.
Disposed about the radially outer surface is a plurality of elongate rods, the rods being aligned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame such that each rod is slidingly received by one of the parallel guide channels.
Further, in order to maintain the rods within the guide channels and to provide friction for a controlled sliding action, a biasing member is circumferentially disposed around the frame, over the rods. The biasing member contacting the rods to impart a radially inward directed force on each rod to urge the same against the frame. Thus each rod is biased toward a respective guide channel wherein the rods can slide independently to follow the contour of a pipe.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
REFERENCES:
patent: 776713 (1904-12-01), Wurts
patent: 1535980 (1925-04-01), Campbell et al.
patent: 1568876 (1926-01-01), Campbell et al.
patent: 2155705 (1939-04-01), Gottwald
patent: 2222127 (1940-11-01), Turner
patent: 2380919 (1945-08-01), Bugennagen
patent: 2466464 (1949-05-01), Moore
patent: 2533500 (1950-12-01), Parsons
patent: 2615255 (1952-10-01), Rankin
patent: 2671273 (1954-03-01), Barnes
patent: 2742706 (1956-04-01), Rushing
patent: 3419965 (1969-01-01), Madden
patent: 3550278 (1970-12-01), Pruett
patent: 3983632 (1976-10-01), Halstead
patent: 4103428 (1978-08-01), Guzick
patent: 4419828 (1983-12-01), Farris
patent: 4807369 (1989-02-01), Ming-Chin
patent: 5383282 (1995-01-01), Field et al.
Doan Quyen
Forster William G.
Fulton Christopher W.
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