GB2197406A

GB2197406A - Pipe fitting tool

Info

Publication number: GB2197406A
Application number: GB08626028A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-30
Filing date: 1986-10-30
Publication date: 1988-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-30
Also published as: GB8626028D0; GB2197406B

Abstract

A tool body has two sections 1,2 hinged together at 3,4 to allow them to be assembled together around a length of piping 5 to define a fluid-tight chamber surrounding the piping. A cutting means 16 mounted upon body section 1 cuts through the piping 5 and forms a seal over one of the resulting cut piping ends. Section 2 has a part 2b which may be removed to expose the piping in the chamber while part 2a remains in place over the sealed cut piping end, thus allowing a new pipe fitting (not shown) to be secured to the left- hand cut end of pipe 5. Part 2b is then closed and cutting and sealing means 16 withdrawn to allow the right-hand cut end of pipe 5 to be secured to the new fitting within the fluid-tight chamber, after which the entire tool can be removed. Thus the new fitting can be installed in the system of which pipe 5 forms a part without the need for draining the system. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pipe fitting tool The present invention is a tool to assist the inclusion of a pipe fitting in a length of piping, in particular in an installed length of piping carrying a liquid.

In liquid-carrying- piping installations, for example industrial or domestic water supply or central heating systems, it is frequently desired to carry out a modification entailing introducing an additional pipe fitting into the circuit. To avoid spilling the liquid while making the necessary break-in to the piping circuit, it has usually been necessary to drain the system before-hand. Not only is such draining an undesirable chore, it also requires an amount of the operator's time which adds substantially to the short time required for the actual installation of the fitting.

An alternative to draining which has been practised in recent years is to freeze the liquid contents of the piping upstream of the proposed break-in point (or both upstream and downstream of that point) before entering the circuit. However this practice affords only a very limited working time, usually only a few minutes, before the liquid flow begins again, thus imposing an undesired restriction on the operator.

With these disadvantages of such existing practices in mind, an object of the present invention is to provide a pipe fitting tool, by means of which it is possible to break-in to an installed length of liquid-carrying piping, with little or no spillage of the liquid, and thereby to include an additional pipe fitting in the piping installation.

The pipe fitting tool according to the present invention comprises a tool body in at least two sections, which sections may together be assembled around a length of piping so as to define a fluid-tight chamber surrounding said piping, and cutting means mounted upon a first said piping and to form a seal over one of the resulting cut ends of said piping, a second of said sections being divided into two parts, the first of which parts may be removed to expose said piping in said chamber while the second of said parts remains in place over the sealed cut end of said piping.

In its most preferred form, the pipe fitting tool according to the present invention comprises just two body sections, the two parts of the second body section being separately hinged to the first body section so as to permit the tool body to be assembled around the piping and also to permit the first part of the second body section to be swung back, independently of the second part of that body section, to expose the chamber as mentioned above. To make the chamber truly liquid-tight, a continuous or, less desirably, discontinuous gasket is preferably provided to fit the line of junction between the two body sections.

As a matter of convenience and in the interests of compactness, the tool may be generally cylindrical in overall shape. The interior dimensions of the chamber should be such as to be able to receive and enclose the pipe fitting to be installed. Advantageously, the tool may be designed to be secured together when in its assembled condition, for example by a screw or nut and bolt connecting together lugs extending from the respective body sections.

In use, as will be explained in greater detail below in connection with one preferred-embodiment of the invention, the tool is assembled around the length of piping to be entered, the pipe is cut and temporarily sealed using the cutting means, the tool is opened to enable the introduction of the new fitting into the chamber, closed again while installation of that fitting is completed, and then finally removed. The whole operation may be carried out without spillage in a few miriutes. Thus, using this novel tool, the long delays entailed in draining the system are avoided, without incurring the disadvantages inherent in localised freezing of the liquid in the pipes.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates in plan view one preferred embodiment of the pipe fitting tool according to the present invention, partially assembled around a length of piping.

The illustrated pipe fitting tool comprises two body sections 1 and 2, hinged together at 3, 4 so as to be able together to envelop a length of water piping 5 but illustrated in an open condition. The piping 5, at this stage uncut, rests in aligned sockets 6 and 7 in the first body section 1 and extends through a recess 8 which, with a matching recess 9 in body section 2, combines to form a chamber 10 within the tool when the latter is closed. A gasket 11 follows the countour of the edge of body section 1 where it abuts body section 2 when closed. Extensions 12 of the gasket 11 overlap the piping 5 and ensure a water-tight fit when the tool is closed, a recess 13 to receive the gasket 11 being provided in body member 2.

Grab rings 14 and 15, each in two halves, ensures a tight grip on the piping 5 when the tool is closed upon it.

The second body section 2 is in two parts 2a and 2b, each separately hinged to body section 1. Thus the part 2a may be left in position about the piping 5 while part 2b is opened to expose the chamber 10.

A cutting wheel 16, manually operated by a handle 17 is supported by a lateral extension 18 of the body section 1 and is so mounted as to be able to cut through the piping 5 (along the broken line) and to remain as a seal over the cut end to the right-hand part of the piping as illustrated, until retracted by reverse operation of the handle 17.

When it is desired to use the tool, the following sequence of operations is carried out: (i) The lower section of the tool (body section 1) is fitted around the piping 5 as shown, with the water supply adjacent to the part 2a, and the split gasket 12 is placed in position.

(ii) The upper section of the tool (body section 2) is closed over the piping and the two sections are secured in place by screws cooperating with the lugs 19 on the respective body sections.

(iii) The handle 17 is operated to move the cutting wheel 16 to cut through the piping 5 and seal the cut end.

(iv) The part 2b of the body section 2 is swung open and the left-hand cut end of the piping 5 is withdrawn sufficiently to allow the new fitting (not shown) to be inserted in the chamber 10.

(v) The left-hand cut end of the piping 5 is pushed in to the fitting and the part 2b is closed again.

(vi) The cutting wheel 16 is withdrawn and the right-hand cut end of the piping 5 is pushed into the fitting.

(vii) The whole tool is removed.

By the foregoing sequence of operations, the new fitting is installed in the water circuit without any significant spillage of water.

Claims

1. A pipe fitting tool for assisting the inclusion of a pipe fitting in a length of piping, comprising a tool body in at least two sections, which sections may together be assembled around a length of piping so as to define a fluid-tight chamber surrounding said piping, and cutting means mounted upon a first of said sections and adapted to cut through said piping and to form a seal over one of the resulting cut ends of said piping, a second of said sections being divided into two parts, the first of which parts may be removed to expose said piping in said chamber while the second of said parts remains in place over the sealed cut end of said piping.

2. A pipe fitting tool as claimed in claim 1, comprising two said tool body sections and wherein the two parts of said second body section are separately hinged to said first body section.

3. A pipe fitting tool as claimed in either of the preceding claims, wherein the body sections are designed to be secured together when the tool is in its assembled condition.

4. A pipe fitting tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein lugs are provided extending from the respective body sections, for connecting together when the tool is in its assembled condition.

5. A pipe fitting tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having a gasket to fit the line of junction between the two said body sections.

6. A pipe fitting tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which tool is of generally cylindrical overall shape.

7. A pipe fitting tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said cutting means is a cutting wheel.

8. A pipe fitting tool for assisting the inclusion of a pipe fitting in a length of piping, which tool is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.