GB2147835A - A tool for preparing pipe-ends - Google Patents

Abstract

A tool 10 for preparing pipe ends, such as copper pipes used in plumbing, comprises two cylindrical housings 13, 14 arranged back-to-back, each housing having an opening 17, 19 in an end cap 16, 18, and abrasive means within the housing so disposed as to engage portions of the outer and inner surfaces of a pipe end introduced into the housing through the opening, so that upon relative rotation of the pipe and the tool the surfaces of the pipe are cleaned and abraded by the abrasive means which may be in the form of metal bristles. Ridged metal elements 27, 29 may also be provided in the housings to form an external conical taper on the end of the pipe. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A tool for preparing pipe-ends The invention relates to a tool for preparing pipe ends, and in particular for the preparation of the ends of pipes which are to be joined to fittings in fluid distribution systems such as domestic plumbing.

When a length of piping, such as copper piping, has been cut to length for connection to a fitting in a plumbing system, it is necessary to clean the end of the pipe, not only to remove fraze or burrs left on the end of the pipe after cutting, but also to remove dirt and oxidation from the pipe. This is particularly important if the end of the pipe is to be connected to the fitting by soldering. Normally the end of the pipe is cleaned both internally and externally by the use of files, wire wool and/or abrasive cloth. This may however be an inconvenient and time consuming operation and for this reason the cleaning may be only inadequately carried out, giving rise to faulty joints.Also, to provide the maximum effectiveness of a joint with some types of fitting it may be desirable for the end of the pipe to be given a slight external conical taper and this may be difficult to achieve with a file, particularly in inexpert hands.

The object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a simple tool which may be used to achieve some or all ofthe above mentioned preparation steps in one convenient operation. In a preferred embodiment, both the inside and outside surfaces of the pipe are prepared in a single operation. Atool according to the invention may be of such a size and shape as to be conveniently held in the hand and carried in a coat pocket or tool bag.

According to the invention, a tool for preparing pipe ends comprises a housing having an opening at one end thereof and abrasive means within the housing so disposed as to engage at least a portion of the outer and/or inner surface of a cylindrical pipe end introduced into the housing through the opening, whereby upon relative rotation of the pipe and the tool said surface is abraded by the abrasive means.

The abrasive means may include a generally cylindrical element extending axiallyfrom said opening and having an abrasive inner surface which engages and abrades a continuous end portion of the outer surface of the cylindrical pipe end. For example, the cylindrical element may comprise a generally cylindrical carrier to which is secured a plurality of inwardly extending bristles, preferably of metal.

Preferably, at least the inner extremities of the bristles are inclined at an angle to the radial direction with respect to their cylindrical carrier. With such an arrangement the inclination of the bristles means that the abrasive effect will be less in one direction of relative rotation and greater in the opposite direction. Accordingly, the direction of relative rotation can be chosen according to the amount of abrasion required.

The aforesaid carrier may comprise a flat elongate strip of flexible material in which the roots of the bristles are secured, opposite ends of the strip being brought together to form a cylinder.

In any of the above arrangements the housing may be formed from a main cylindrical body containing said abrasive means, and a separately formed end cap mounted on the main body and formed with said opening.

In any of the above arrangements also, the abrasive means may include a generally conical internal abrasive surface coaxial with the opening and spaced therefrom, and adapted to engage and abrade the outer peripheral end edge of a cylindrical pipe introduced into the housing. Such abrasive surface will then, upon relative rotation of the tool and pipe, form the desired conical taper on the end of the pipe.

The conical abrasive surface may comprise a ridged internal conical surface on a hardened metal element located within the housing.

The abrasive means may also include a central element extending towards the said opening from the interior of the housing, and having an abrasive outer surface which engages and abrades an end portion of the inner surface of the cylindrical pipe end introduced into the housing.

The abrasive outer surface of the said central element may be generally cylindrical, and the element may be formed from hardened metal, said abrasive outer surface being formed by longitudinal ridges on the outer surface of the element.

In any of the above arrangements the housing may conveniently be formed from plastics.

In order to handle pipes of different diameters, the tool may comprise two housings arranged back-toback, the opening and abrasive means associated with the two housings being so dimensioned as to accept and abrade two different diameters of pipe ends respectively.

In the case where each housing contains a central abrasive element, the two elements may comprise opposite end portions of a single element which extends through a wall which is common to the two housings.

The following is a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa longitudinal section through a tool according to the invention, and Figure2 is an end view of the tool with one end cap removed.

In Figure 1 the tool is indicated generally at 10, and there is also shown one end of a length of pipe 11 which has been sawn or otherwise cut to length and is therefore formed around its end edge with burrs orfraze, indicated at 12.

The tool 10 comprises two cylindrical circular housings 13 and 14 arranged back-to-back and having a common end wall 15. The open end of the housing 13 is closed by a circular end cap 16 having a central circular opening 17, and the housing 14 is similarly closed by an end cap 18 having a central opening 19. The two end caps are located on their housings by inward peripheral flanges 20 which snap into peripheral annular grooves 21 around the housings.

The housings 13, 14 and the end caps 16and 18 may be moulded from plastics material.

Fitted within a central aperture in the common wall 15 between the two housings is a central abrasive element 22 formed from hardened steel.

The element comprises a larger diameter portion 24 and a smaller diameter portion 25, both portions being formed with external axially extending splines or ridges to form an abrasive surface. The element 22 is also formed with a central bore 23.

The central wall 15 has a central thickened annular portion 26 which encircles the central aperture and provides support for the larger diameter portion 24 of the element 22.

A hexagonal hardened steel element 27 encircles the portion 25 of the central element 22 which projects into the housing 13, and is formed with an internal conical ridged abrasive surface 27a. The element 27 is located in position on the wall 15 by abutments 28 integrally moulded with the wall.

Similarly, a hardened steel hexagonal element 29 encircles the thickened portion 26 of the central wall within the housing 14, and is formed with an internal conical ridged abrasive surface 29a. The element 29 is also located by integrally moulded abutments 28.

The housing 13 also contains an outer abrasive element 30 for cleaning and abrading the outer surface of the pipe 11. The element 30 is formed from an elongate rectangular strip 31 of heavy fabric in which are rooted metal bristles 32. The strip of fabric is rolled into a cylinder, with the bristles extending inwardly, for insertion in the housing. As best seen in Figure 2, the internal surface of the housing 13 is integrally formed with a longitudinal ridge 34 which is engaged by the adjacent opposite ends of the strip 31 to prevent rotation of the cylindrical element formed by the strip within the housing. Also as best seen in Figure 2, the bristles 32, at their inner extremities, extend at an angle to the radial direction. The housing 14 also contains an external abrasive element 33, which is generally similar two the element 30.

The material from which the elements 30 and 33 are formed may be of a kind which is generally available for use in the textile industry for "carding".

In use of the tool, the end of the pipe 11 is pushed firmly through the opening 17 and into the housing 13 until its end engages the hardened steel element 27. The dimensions of the abrasive elements of the tool are such that, if the pipe 11 is of an appropriate standard size, the outersplined surface of the central element 25 will frictionally engage the inerior surface of the pipe, the bristles 32 will engage the outer surface of the pipe, and the conical ridged surface 27a will engage the outer end edge of the pipe.

Upon relative rotation between the tool and pipe, therefore, the internal surface of the pipe will be abraded over a short distance to clean the surface and remove fraze or burrs, and the outer surface will be abraded and cleaned by the bristles 32 over a greater length from the end. At the same time the ridged abrasive surface 27a will remove fraze and burrs from the outer end peripheral edge of the pipe and will form a tapered conical outer end surface on the pipe.

The opposite end of the tool is so dimensioned as to operate in similar fashion on another standard size of pipe of larger diameter, such as indicated at 35 in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows the pipe 35 after preparation, the burrs and fraze having been removed and the pipe end having been formed with an outer conical tapered surface 36.

It will be appreciated that, due to the angle of the bristles 32, as seen in Figure 2, rotation of the pipe anticlockwise relatively to the tool will give a stronger abrading action tha would clockwise relative rotation. Accordingly, the direction of relative rotation can be selected according to the amount of abrasion required. The outer surface of the housing 14 may be formed with longitudinally extending ridges to facilitate gripping of the tool.

Thus, after operation of the tool on a pipe end, the pipe end will be cleaned both internally and externally of dirt and oxidation and all burrs and fraze will have been removed. The pipe end will therefore be in good condition for making an effective and fluid tight joint.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be appreciated that other arrangements are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, it is not essential for the tool to be double-ended for dealing with different sizes of pipe, and each housing might be formed individually so that a separate tool is provided for each size of pipe to be cleaned. For sorne uses it may not be essential to provide all three types of abrasive element in each housing. For example, if the tool is for use with piping where the removal of external burrs or conical tapering of the end pipe is not necessary, the elements 27 and 29, or equivalent, may be omitted.Similarly, when preparing certain types of plastics piping, it may not be necessary to clean the external surface of the piping, and in this case only the elements 25 and 27 to remove burrs and fraze will be required, and the elements 30 and 33, or equivalent, being omitted.

Although it is preferable to provide different tools or different portions of a single tool to deal with different diameters of pipe, the invention also in duds within its scope arrangements which are adapted to handle pipes over a range of diameter.

For example, to deal with variations in internal pipe diameter, the internal abrasive element, such as the element 25 in Figure 1, may be slightly conically tapered instead of being cylindrical. To deal with different external diameters, an arrangement may be provided where the cylindrical outer abrasive element, such as 30, does not form a complete cylinder but has a longitudinal gap and an outer conical surface which engages within a cooperating inner conical surface on a part of the housing. The housing itself may then be in two parts which are in screw threaded engagement so that as one part is screwed onto the otherthe part-cylindrical abrasive element is forced axially against the conical surface and is compressed inwardly to a smaller diameter. Thus the internal diameter of the abrasive element may be adjusted according to the diameter of the pipe which is to be prepared by the tool. In such a tool the inner abrasive element will, of course, be conically tapered to deal with the differing internal diameters of the pipes.

Claims (16)

1. Atool for preparing pipe ends comprising a housing having an opening at one end thereof and abrasive means within the housing so disposed as to engage at least a portion of the outer and/or inner surface of a cylindrical pipe end introduced into the housing through the opening, whereby upon relative rotation of the pipe and the tool said surface is abraded by the abrasive means.

2. Atool according to Claim 1 wherein the abrasive means includes a generally cylindrical element extending axiallyfrom said opening and having an abrasive inner surface which engages and abrades a continuous end portion of the outer surface of the cylindrical pipe end.

3. Atool according to Claim 2, wherein the cylindrical element comprises a generally cylindrical carrier to which is secured a plurality of inwardly extending bristles.

4. A tool according to Claim 3, wherein the bristles are formed of metal.

5. A tool according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein at least the inner extremities of the bristles are inclined at an angle to the radial direction with respect to their cylindrical carrier.

6. A tool according to any of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the carrier comprises a flat elongate strip of flexible material in which the roots of the bristles are secured, opposite ends of the strip being brought together to form a cylinder.

7. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the housing is formed from a main cylindrical body containing said abrasive means, and a separately formed end cap mounted on the main body and formed with said opening.

8. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the abrasive means includes a generally conical internal abrasive surface coaxial with the opening and spaced therefrom, and adapted to engage the abrade the outer peripheral end edge of a cylindrical pipe introduced into the housing.

9. A tool according to Claim 8, wherein the conical abrasive surface comprises a ridged internal conical surface on a hardened metal element located within the housing.

10. Atool according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the abrasive means includes a central element extending towards the said opening from the interior of the housing, and having an abrasive outer surface which engages and abrades an end portion of the inner surface of the cylindrical pipe end introduced into the housing.

11. Atool according to Claim 10, wherein the abrasive outer surface of the said central element is generally cylindrical.

12. Atool according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the central element is formed from hardened metal, said abrasive outer surface being formed by longitudinal ridges on the outer surface of the element.

13. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the housing is formed from plastics.

14. Atool according to any of Claims 1 to 13, and comprising two housings arranged back-to-back, the opening and abrasive means associated with the two housings being so dimensioned as to accept and abrade two different diameters of pipe ends respectively.

15. Atool according to Claim 14, and in which each housing contains a central abrasive element, wherein the two elements comprise opposite end portions of a single element which extends through a wall which is common to the two housings.

16. Atool for preparing pipe ends substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.