GB1602600A - Socket spinning tool - Google Patents

Description

(54) SOCKET SPINNING TOOL (71) 1, ROBERT EDWARD STOTT, a British subject of 19 Edwards Gardens, Swanley, Kent do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a socket spinning tool.

A frequent requirement in the plumbing trade is the joining together of lengths of copper tubing of the same diameter. This is usually carried out by increasing the diameter at the end of one tube to form a so-called "socket", and then fixing the end of the other tube in the socket, for example by soldering. Copper tubes can be obtained in various sizes but are not sold with ready made sockets. There is therefore a need for a simple tool which can produce a socket in the end of a tube.

Previously proposed tools for this purpose have been unnecessarily complicated and expensive.

The present invention provides a socket spinning tool for use with spinning means, for example an electric drill or a lathe, comprising a shank to be held in the spinning means and a body extending longitudinally from the shank and coaxial therewith, a first part of the body being of substantially uniform transverse cross section and adapted to act as guide means when the the tool is inserted into a tube end and having a smaller spinning radius along its length than a second part of the body adjacent the shank, and a connecting portion between the first and second parts of the body having gradually inclined working surfaces of increasing spinning radius, said gradual inclination commencing at the start of the connecting portion adjacent the first part.

In a preferred embodiment, the body of the spinning tool has longitudinally extending rounded off corners, the rounding off being greater in the first part than in the second part (to give a smaller spinning radius) and increasing gradually in the connecting portion to provide the working surfaces.

The body preferably has an even number of flat sides (e.g. four, six or more) with rounded off corners opposite one another.

The opposing corners ensure that an even thrust is exerted on the socket being formed. The tool would not work so effectively with, for example, three sides to the body. The body is most preferably of substantially uniform square cross section with rounded off corners.

It is not essential for the working surfaces to be formed simply by rounded off corners.

Instead, the corners along the connecting portion can have roller bearings or needle bearings mounted therein, and the surfaces of the bearings then form the working surfaces.

For spinning sockets in copper tubes, the tool is suitably made of mild steel. For spinning sockets in other than copper tubes, the tool can be made of different appropriate materials.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of socket spinning tool according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the tool from a different angle; and Figure 3 is an end view of the tool.

The spinning tool has a cylindrical shank 1 which can be gripped in the chuck of an electric drill. The body of the tool extends longitudinally from the shank and is coaxial therewith. The tool as a whole can therefore be spun about its longitudinal axis by the electric drill. The body of the tool is of substantially uniform square cross section, except that the corners of the square are rounded off to a varying extent along the length of the body. The rounding off decreases the spinning radius of the body.

The body of the tool comprises a first part 2 having a smaller spinning radius (i.e.

greater rounding off of the corners) than a second part 3 which is adjacent the shank.

In a connecting portion 4 of the body between the first and second parts, the rounding off of the corners is gradually decreased from the first part to the second part. In the use of the tool, the rounded off corners of the connecting portion act as gradually inclined working surfaces, the spinning radius of which increases from the first part to the second part of the body. As shown in Figure 2, the part of the connecting portion 4 immediately adjacent the first part 2 is rounded off to a greater extent than the first part. The rounding off then decreases uniformly up to the second part 3. The rounding off of the second part 3 then become greater towards the shank 1.

The angle of incline of the working surfaces may decrease towards the second part 3.

The dimensions of the tool are chosen so that the spinning radius of the first part of the body is the same as or slightly less than the original internal radius of the copper tube in which a socket is to be formed. The spinning radius of the second part of the body is the same as the internal radius of the socket which is produced by the tool. The tool is mounted in an electric drill and flux is applied to the working surfaces to assist in operation. The first part 2 of the body of the tool is then inserted in the end of the copper tube, the electric drill is switched on and the connecting portion 4 and then the second part 3 of the body are gradually inserted to the desired extent into the copper tube, thereby forming the socket. The tool is then simply withdrawn, and the tube with the socket is then immediately ready for joining to another tube, for example by soldering.

Tools having various dimensions can be made for use with the different standard sizes of copper tube.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A socket spinning tool for use with spinning means, comprising a shank to be held in the spinning means and a body extending longitudinally from the shank and coaxial therewith, a first part of the body being of substantially uniform transverse cross section and adapted to act as guide means when the tool is inserted into a tube end and having a smaller spinning radius along its length than a second part of the body adjacent the shank, and a connecting portion between the first and second parts of the body having gradually inclined working surfaces of increasing spinning radius, said gradual inclination commencing at the start of the connecting portion adjacent the first part.

2. A socket spinning tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the body has longitudinally extending rounded off corners, the rounding off being greater in the first part than in the second part and increasing gradually in the connecting portion to provide the working surfaces.

3. A socket spinning tool as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the body has an even number of flat sides with rounded off corners opposite one another.

4. A socket spinning tool as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the body is of substantially uniform square cross section with rounded off corners.

5. A socket spinning tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. between the first and second parts, the rounding off of the corners is gradually decreased from the first part to the second part. In the use of the tool, the rounded off corners of the connecting portion act as gradually inclined working surfaces, the spinning radius of which increases from the first part to the second part of the body. As shown in Figure 2, the part of the connecting portion 4 immediately adjacent the first part 2 is rounded off to a greater extent than the first part. The rounding off then decreases uniformly up to the second part 3. The rounding off of the second part 3 then become greater towards the shank 1. The angle of incline of the working surfaces may decrease towards the second part 3. The dimensions of the tool are chosen so that the spinning radius of the first part of the body is the same as or slightly less than the original internal radius of the copper tube in which a socket is to be formed. The spinning radius of the second part of the body is the same as the internal radius of the socket which is produced by the tool. The tool is mounted in an electric drill and flux is applied to the working surfaces to assist in operation. The first part 2 of the body of the tool is then inserted in the end of the copper tube, the electric drill is switched on and the connecting portion 4 and then the second part 3 of the body are gradually inserted to the desired extent into the copper tube, thereby forming the socket. The tool is then simply withdrawn, and the tube with the socket is then immediately ready for joining to another tube, for example by soldering. Tools having various dimensions can be made for use with the different standard sizes of copper tube. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A socket spinning tool for use with spinning means, comprising a shank to be held in the spinning means and a body extending longitudinally from the shank and coaxial therewith, a first part of the body being of substantially uniform transverse cross section and adapted to act as guide means when the tool is inserted into a tube end and having a smaller spinning radius along its length than a second part of the body adjacent the shank, and a connecting portion between the first and second parts of the body having gradually inclined working surfaces of increasing spinning radius, said gradual inclination commencing at the start of the connecting portion adjacent the first part.

2. A socket spinning tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the body has longitudinally extending rounded off corners, the rounding off being greater in the first part than in the second part and increasing gradually in the connecting portion to provide the working surfaces.

3. A socket spinning tool as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the body has an even number of flat sides with rounded off corners opposite one another.

4. A socket spinning tool as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the body is of substantially uniform square cross section with rounded off corners.

5. A socket spinning tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.