GB2497653A

GB2497653A - Scraper tool

Info

Publication number: GB2497653A
Application number: GB1222032.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Buchanan
Original assignee: Jack Sealey Ltd
Current assignee: Jack Sealey Ltd
Priority date: 2011-12-12
Filing date: 2012-12-07
Publication date: 2013-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2032-12-07
Also published as: GB2497535A; GB201121334D0; GB2497653B

Abstract

A tool adapted to scrape the surface of a rod-like member 5 of generally circular cross-section. The tool comprises a blade (200, fig 3a) having a group of three generally U shaped notches adapted to snugly receive the member 5. Two of the notches 201, 203 are of similar shape but opposed in direction to engage opposite sides of the member. The third notch 202 is arranged to engage the remaining surface of the member, whereby the whole of the surface of the member can be scraped. The tool preferably includes plurality of groups of the notches to scrape members 5 of different diameters and each of the two notches 201, 203 may be partially Reni-form in shape. The tool is particularly useful for cleaning brake pipes and the like.

Description

INSPECTION DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a hand tool used for the surface inspection of a rod-like member of generally circular cross-section such as air or fluid pipes and in particular vehicle brake pipes.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

If brake pipes become corroded, they could become dangerous even to the point of being life threatening. It is known to provide hand held brake pipe inspection tools consisting of screwdriver style tools with U shaped ends, the inner surface of the U shaped end incorporating a machined or stamped blade. The inner surface of the U shaped end is similar in size to a particular pipe size and as the blade is drawn along the surface of a pipe being tested any excessive corrosion upon the pipe surface would manifest itself as vibrations up the tool shaft into the handle/grip.

Examples of prior art are disclosed in 3B2262792A, GB2390405B, DE1001 1246A1 and US2042287A. They disclose single size tools for use on single size pipes or tubes.

The technician inspecting these pipes may be required to check several sizes of pipes on one vehicle. Furthermore, a vehicle mechanic could be required to inspect four sizes of pipe or more in one day. The sizes of some of the pipes cannot be discerned at a glance because of the similarlity of the sizes. As these inspections are underneath a car, it can be time consuming and expensive to either return to the tool cabinet or indeed provide the differing sizes of tool required for this type of inspection.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a superior tool that can be usefully used on several sizes of pipe or tube whilst being less expensive to manufacture. It is a further object of the present invention to at least partially alleviate the above mentioned disadvantages, or to provide an alternative to existing products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a tool adapted to scrape the surface of a rod-like member of generally circular cross-section, comprising a blade having a group of three generally U-shaped notches adapted to snugly receive the member, two of the notches being of similar shape but opposed in direction to engage opposite sides of the member and the third notch being arranged to engage the remaining surface of the member, whereby the whole of the surface of the member can be scraped.

The rod-like member of generally circular cross-section may be a pipe, e.g. a brake pipe. The invention may thus provide a hand held, brake pipe inspection tool for the removal of dirt, debris or surface lust from fluid or air pipes in particular metal vehicle hydraulic brake pipes or fuel lines. The present invention can be further used in order to inspect these pipes or tubes. As the correspondingly sized notch or blade profile is scraped along the surface of the pipe being tested, any corrosion would manifest itself as vibrations in the tool, for example up a shaft to a hard material handle or grip.

These vibrations would alert the operator to possible corrosion problems requiring further investigation.

The blade may comprise a plurality of groups of the notches adapted to scrape members of different diameter. The or each group of notches may be arranged with the said third notch disposed between the said two notches. Each of the two said opposed notches may be a partial Reni-form in shape.

In one embodiment the scraping blade disc preferably comprises several apertures sizes arranged around its periphery. Preferably the apertures are shaped so as to provide surface contact with all points of the pipe size being tested. The blade apertures can usefully be further arranged in sets of three; the centre aperture preferably topmost operating on the outer part of the pipe and the corresponding apertures either side of the centre aperture working on either rear 450 of the pipe. A size legend or indicator can usefully be stamped, labelled or engraved on the flat surface of the blade disc in order to easily discern the different sizes of the blade apertures at a glance.

The blade may be plate-like. The blade may be generally circular in shape. Thus, in a further embodiment the brake pipe inspection tool the scraping blade disc is substantially flat with blade apertures arranged around its periphery. The apertures are preferably in groups of three. One is in the shape of a semicircle or U for the testing engagement upon the top half of the pipe facing the operator. In order to engage the back side of the pipe there are two further blade apertures each consisting of one half of a generally Reniform like shape, allowing the scraping disc blade to engage the back quarters of the tested pipe 9Q0 at a time.

The tool may comprise a handle and a shaft coupling the handle to the blade. In one embodiment the preferably metal shaft has a hard material such as plastic for the firmly attached handle or grip. The blade disc is designed to be stamped. However, the blade disc may be laser cut. In this case the blade apertures would automatically be surface hardened to a very high degree as a product of the cutting process thus incurring further savings in production.

In a further embodiment the brake pipe inspection tool the scraping blade disc apertures are slightly oversized in order that the tool can be usefully utilised at an angle to the pipe being tested.

In a further embodiment of the brake pipe inspection tool, the scraping blade disc has several groups of blade apertures around it periphery in order that several sizes of pipes can be usefully tested with one tool. In a further embodiment of the brake pipe inspection tool, the scraping blade disc apertures are annotated with their corresponding pipe or rod sizes.

In a further embodiment of the brake pipe inspection tool, the scraping blade disc profile of the apertures can be usefully radiused to prevent any damage to any surface coating etc on the pipe or tube being tested.

In a further embodiment of the brake pipe inspection tool the scraping blade disc the profile of the apertures preferably has a sharp edge, enough to enable the removal of surface corrosion upon the pipe surface if required.

In a further embodiment of the brake pipe inspection toot the scraping blade disc is replaceable upon the shaft end of the tool by known means, in order that the blade disc can be easily replaced as required if the scraping surface becomes blunt or for any other reason.

While one or more preferred embodiments of the preferred invention have been described above, it should have been understood that any and all equivalent realisations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof.

The embodiments depicted are presented by way of example only and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. Thus, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in this art that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments since modifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the scope of appended claims.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a brake pipe inspection tool.

Fig 2 is a perspective view of the brake pipe inspection tool of Fig 1 being used on a pipe.

Figs 3a to 3c are front views of a blade of the brake pipe inspection tool of Fig 1 with a pipe profile in three different notches of the blade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a brake pipe inspection tool 1 comprises a scraping disc blade 200, a shalt 30 and a handle 40. Figure 2 illustrates the said tool 1 being utilised upon a pipe or tube 5. An aperture 201 or notch of the scraping disc blade 200 is shown engaged upon the said pipe 5. For illustration purposes a pipe fitting 6 is shown at the ends of the said pipe 5. The said scraping disc 200 is illustrated mounted on the said shaft 30, and said gripping handle 40 is also shown attached to the said shaft 30.

Figures 3a to Sc show a front view of the said scraping disc 200. For illustration purposes only, said pipe 5 is shown in section engaged within one notch in each of Figures 3a to 3c. Each of said notches has a scraping aperture size of 4.75mm. In Figure 3a, the notch is generally U-shaped. In Figure 3b, the notch 203 is also generally U-shaped but more specifically has a partial Reni-form shape. Similarly, in Figure Sc, the notch 201 is also generally U-shaped with a partial Reni-form shape which has an opposite direction to the notch 203. The notches 201, 203 engage opposite sides of the pipe and the notch 202 engages the remaining surface of the pipe. The notch 202 is disposed between the other two notches. In Figure 3a, said 4.75mm recess size is annotated next to the notch. Although the said U shaped profile 202 is marked 4.75mm, it is actually slightly oversized (not visible) which allows the said tool 1 to be usefully utilised at a reasonable angle to the said pipe 5 as shown in Figure 2.

Figures 3a to Sc show that there are notches adapted to scrape pipes of different diameter. It is preferable in layout that the various aperture sizes are for ease of use congregated in groups of three and also clustered together for ease of location. For example said notches 201, 202 and 203 labelled 4.75mm form a first group; 204, 205 and 206 labelled 3.5mm form a secon group; 207, 208 and 209 labelled 3/16 inch form a third group; and 210, 211 and 212 labelled 4mm form a fourth group. The use of said size annotations 213 next to the groups of three profiles of one size, for example said 201, 202 and 203 is helpful.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS: 1. A tool adapted to scrape the surface of a rod-like member of generally circular cross-section, comprising a blade having a group of three generally U-shaped notches adapted to snugly receive the member, two of the notches being of similar shape but opposed in direction to engage opposite sides of the member and the third notch being arranged to engage the remaining surface of the member, whereby the whole of the surface of the member can be scraped.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the blade comprises a plurality of groups of the notches adapted to scrape members of different diameter.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the or each group of notches is arranged with the said third notch disposed between the said two notches.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the two said notches is a partial Reni-form in shapa 5. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the blade is plate-like.6. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the blade is generally circular in shape.7. A tool according to any preceding claim, comprising a handle and a shaft coupling the handle to the blade.8. A tool adapted to scrape the external surfaces of brake pipes and the like, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>