Metal deforming – With means to actuate both elements of tool-couple – Handle actuated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-23
2001-02-13
Crane, Daniel C. (Department: 3725)
Metal deforming
With means to actuate both elements of tool-couple
Handle actuated
C029S268000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185980
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a crimping tool designed especially to operate in field use where the crimped ring principally has exceptional shape requirements. In particular this tool crimps a chain ring onto a cap chain utilized with installed fire hydrant caps.
BACKGROUND
Crimping tools have existed for many years. Most are of a general type that obtains sufficient mechanical advantage to perform the crimping operation by using long handles. Others are designed to work in small spaces by utilizing multiple short arms to obtain the needed mechanical advantage. Further the general crimping tool is designed to crimp onto a cylindrical surface, such as a small smooth pipe, with an original round oversized ring. In the subject case these regular conditions are absent and are replaced by special requirements built into the crimping surface during the original manufacturing process.
The subject invention primarily concerns fire hydrants or fireplugs that have been with civilization for decades. Early water mains were made of wood and so chopping into it when water was needed to fight a fire resulted in a plug being used to seal the leak. Thus the history of the name “fireplug.” Iron and bronze fire hydrants have been manufactured for over a century and have been standardized for perhaps half that time. Today the hydrant pumper nozzle cap is of standard threaded size, refer to ASTM 126 CLB. When the cap is removed for use under hurried circumstances, it was often flung away and lost or damaged. To prevent this a chain was attached to the cap into order to allow it to hang near the base of the fire hydrant for easy retrieval. This chain is fixed to the cap with a chain ring, and a version of the subject invention crimps such specially made ring onto the cap and chain under field conditions. A good view of various fire hydrants with their pumper nozzle caps in place and each attached with the chain and ring is shown on the cover Internet page www.firehydrant.org.
Fire hydrants are made to last many years in all kinds of field use. However during this time a common maintenance item is the ring crimped to the nozzle caps and holding the retrieval chain in place. When replacement of the ring, and also often the chain, is required, field crimping of this ring is a common requirement since the ring and chain are easily ordered from the supplier. If the subject invention is ignored, then unfortunately no field-crimping tool is available to perform this task. Alternatively, the cap can be returned to the factory for such installation of a new ring and chain, but at great expense.
Generalizing this crimping tool design to other crimping operations requires crimping jaws or their equivalent having recesses, slots, or grooves that will fit any subject special ring that is desired to be crimped onto a curved geometric surface, and further insuring that the crimping tool surface is properly aligned.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,464 entitled “Pipe Ring Crimping Tool” discloses a standard type of crimping tool designed for pipe crimping of a smooth, regular ring, but with a series of short lever connections to obtain good mechanical advantage while using short handles that are ideal for use in confined spaces. Although the subject invention has a number of similar components, it is especially designed for crimping irregular rings onto unique curved surfaces, not common regular surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,080 entitled “Locking Pliers” discloses a type of vice-grip pliers with a locking, but not crimping, mechanism when closed, and in addition, an adjustable sized lower jaw. The subject invention being a type of tool with jaws has a number of similar components, but it is especially designed for crimping irregular rings onto unique curved surfaces, not clamping onto a regular surface.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The objectives of the present invention include overcoming the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art by designing a tool that allows the crimping of irregular shaped rings onto surfaces that are also potentially geometrically irregular. A primary use of the subject invention is to field attach a chain ring onto a cap chain utilized with installed fire hydrant caps.
REFERENCES:
patent: 410606 (1889-09-01), Patton
patent: 431086 (1890-07-01), Traut
patent: 601230 (1898-03-01), Billing
patent: 1429452 (1922-09-01), Phillips
patent: 1994819 (1935-03-01), Hartson
patent: 2691909 (1954-10-01), Hopmann
patent: 5697135 (1997-12-01), Dischler
patent: 6044681 (2000-04-01), Frenken
Crane Daniel C.
Fischer Morland C.
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