GB2542760A

GB2542760A - Tool

Info

Publication number: GB2542760A
Application number: GB1515575.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Harnett Tyronne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-09-02
Filing date: 2015-09-02
Publication date: 2017-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-02
Also published as: GB2542760B; GB201515575D0

Abstract

A cutting template device for lagging or insulation for pipes, the device comprising two adjustable side walls 1, 11, moveable relative to one another via sliding arms 2, in order to accommodate a plurality of lagging diameters. The side walls have a substantially identical profile, and include V-shaped cut-outs 7, 9, and extended slits 8, 10 to allow a mitre to be created. Each side wall includes a curve or indent 6 along the length of the wall, which allows inserted lagging to be centralised within the walls.in use, a piece of lagging is placed within the side walls and clamped securely by adjusting the side walls to a secure fit. The lagging can then be cut in the required way using the V-shaped indents as cutting guides.

Description

Tool

Background

The invention relates to a tool, and in particular to a tool adapted for use in assisting in the complete and accurate lagging of pipes.

It is well known to apply lagging to pipes to enhance the thermal insulating properties thereof so as to minimise heat loss from hot fluids conducted by the pipes, or to reduce heating of cold fluids carried by the pipes. A large variety of pipe lagging are known, each typically comprising a hollow, generally cylindrical length of a suitable insulating material, the hollow interior of the lagging slide ably conforms to that of the external pipe diameter.

Whilst the installation of lagging to straight lengths of pipe is relatively straightforward, where the pipe work to be lagged incorporates a change of direction such as may be achieved by the use of an angled elbow fitting, or where two or more pipes become an intersection such as may be achieved by the use of a tee piece fitting, accurately installing the lagging proves very difficult. To achieve a precise joint requires time consuming template methods, skill and attention to detail which soon becomes an unappealing and laborious part of the installation. Many installers may simply cut the lagging so that it stops short of said fittings, leaving a significant length of pipe work and fitting exposed. Others may make an attempt to second guess the angles or fit the lagging around the fitting, but as the calculation of angles at which to cut the lagging is crucial, joints between two or more lengths of lagging still have a gap therebetween.

It will be appreciated that additional heating energy is required to compensate these heat losses and any such gaps promotes an unsightly sub standard finish.

Statement of invention

To overcome this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool to assist an installation engineer or DIY enthusiast accurately lagging pipe work effortlessly by way of using an adjustable, self centralising profiling tool, which is conveniently adapted to accommodate a multiplicity of wall thicknesses, a diversity of pipe diameters and overcome pipe work fittings commonly used within pipe work systems.

Advantages

It overcomes and exceeds limitations of conventional paper template methods, reduces installation time, minimises material wastage and enhances the overall aesthetics.

The exactitude V-shaped end region is identically shaped for cooperation with the V-shaped recesses within the two opposing clamp able sides to form an accurate intersection (T piece joint). The two opposing longitudinal concave curves are identically shaped for correct alignment, ensuring the horizontally located pipe lagging self centralises along its entire axis within aforementioned curves.

The tip of the two opposing V-shaped recesses within the clamp able sides conveniently aligns with the centreline to that of the two opposing concave curves.

The V-shaped cut-outs within each side wall also include an extended slit beyond the apex of the V-shape to allow the pipe lagging to be cut in its entirety therebetween and form a mitred angle for fittings and bends in pipes which change direction.

It will be appreciated where there may be two fixed points between pipes and fittings, measuring from the centre line of each pipe and fitting, allows for accurate, neat joints during installation of pipe lagging. It is an object of the present invention for the two opposing V-shaped recesses within the adjustable clamps and that of the V-shape protrusion on the end region, to meet in this way with the longitudinal concave curves.

The adjustable clamp arrangement preferably comprises of a pair of side walls with two arms located within the lower region of each side wall, where at least one of the side walls being moveable towards the other of the side walls, to clamp a length of lagging material therebetween. The two arms slide ably conform to one another to reduce friction so as the side walls remain equidistantly spaced during adjustment. It will be appreciated that this arrangement is merely one example of ways in which the two side walls can be adjusted and that a wide range of other possibilities and modifications may be made to the arrangement described hereinbefore without departing from the scope of the invention.

The V-shaped cut-outs may have interchangeable inserts to adapt the tool for dissimilar sizes of pipe lagging to one another when being used to form an intersection (T -joint) for example.

Detailed description

Pipe lagging material for use on pipe work systems is available in a range of wall thicknesses, pipe diameters and materials. As mentioned hereinbefore, the tool of the invention is intended for use in assisting the formation of mitred joints between lengths of lagging, such as where T-piece fittings are provided in a pipe work system. The tool is conveniently adapted to accommodate lagging of the aforementioned.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be shown in further detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the various figures. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the possible embodiments for the claimed invention. Reference can now be made to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a tool in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tool of figure 1 and 3, in use:

Figure 3 is an end view of the tool

Figure 4 is a view of parts of the tool of figure 3 in a disassembled condition; and

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate, respectively, examples of pipe work before and after lagging.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a tool is illustrated which comprises a side wall (1). The first side wall (1) may be rigidly secured to one of the slide able arms (2) as shown in fig 3. Upstanding from each slide able arm (2) the side wall (1) incorporates a square end (3) formed at 90 degrees from the base (4) and a protruding V shape at 45 degrees relative to the centreline within the self centralising curves (6) in figure (1) and (12) in figure 5 of the side wall (1). The sidewall (1) further comprises a recessed V shape (7) at 45 degrees relative to the centreline within the self centralising curves (6) in figure 1 and (12) in figure 5, an extended slit (8), a recessed V shape (9) at 67.5 degrees relative to the centreline within the self centralising curves (6) in figure 1 and (12) in figure 5 and an extended slit (10).

The tool further comprises a second side wall (11) as shown in figure 4, shaped substantially identically to the first side wall (1). The second side wall (11) is moveable relative to the first side wall (1) to allow the spacing therebetween to be correctly adjusted. This is achieved by the use of slide ably conforming arms (2) in figure 3 but whilst slide ably conforming arms are described as allowing the sidewalls (1) and (11) to be adjusted, it will be appreciated that other adjustable mechanisms could be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

As shown in figures 1 and 4 and denoted by dashed lines for each, both side walls (1) and (11) is formed with recess means in the form of longitudinal concave curves (6), where the curves (6) are substantially aligned with one another and are positioned such that a centreline of each curve (6) is aligned or substantially aligned with both the apex of recessed V-shape (7) and (9) and the apex of protruding V-shape (5) of each side wall (1) and (11).

In use, where it is desired to cut lagging material to fit to pipe work including a T-piece fitting (13) figure 6, the tool is first adjusted to suit the diameter of lagging material to be used by appropriately adjusting the spacing between the side walls (1) and (11). A length of lagging material is positioned within the self centralising curves (6) within the side walls (1) and (11) providing a relatively tight fit between the side walls (1) and (11), being clamped therebetween. If the lagging material is undesirably loose, then the positions of the side walls (1) and (11) can be adjusted slightly to provide the desired level of clamping of lagging material to resist movement thereof.

With the lagging material clamped in position, the axis of the lagging material will be substantially aligned with the centreline as denoted by dashed lines in figures 1 and 4 and the apex of (7) and (5). If desired, the lagging material can be moved axially, rotated and marked before cutting to ensure the correct orientation of next cut in a controlled manner. Once the lagging material centre mark is aligned with the apex of the V-shape recess (7) or (5) respectively, this can then be attained by cutting the lagging in situ in the tool with an appropriate sharp cutting blade. It will be appreciated that the V-shape (7) forms the recess of the intersection and the V-shape (5) forms the pointed end to complete the intersection joint as can be seen in figure 7 (17) and (18) and that each apex of the V-shape will be aligned with the centreline of lagging material and pipe work once cut, for accurate measurements thereafter. Furthermore, it will also be appreciated this enhances the overall ascetics and promotes excellent thermal insulating efficiencies.

Where the pipe work includes sharp bends such as may be achieved by the use of elbow type fittings in figure 6 (14) and (15), then the extended slits (8) and (10) within the side walls (1) and (11) may be used to assist the formation of accurate mitred joints as can be seen in figure 7 (19) and (20) between lengths of lagging material. Extended slit (8) angle is a continuance angle to that of the V-shape recess (7) angle, which forms the necessary 45 degree mitre cut to accommodate aforementioned pipe fitting (14). Extended slit (10) angle is a continuance angle to that of the V-shape recess (9) angle, which forms the necessary 22.5 degree mitre cut to accommodate aforementioned pipe fitting (15).

Where pipe lagging constructed of less malleable material is used such as glass fibre silver foil faced lagging, used in much heavier duty environments s, the V-shaped recess (9) within side walls (1) and (11) overcomes heavier duty long radius type bends or fittings by way of one or more consecutive V-shape cut-outs (9) with pipe lagging material which allows formation of long radius bends.

Where pipe work includes supporting along its length, such as may be achieved by the use of clips in figure 6 (16), then the square end (3) within the side walls (1) and (11) may be used to assist the formation of accurate square cuts as can be seen in figure 7 (21.)

Whilst the embodiment described hereinbefore the tool includes two side walls (1) and (11), with each side wall incorporating V-shape recesses (7) and (9), V-shape protrusion (5) and square end (3), this need not always be the case. If desired, a greater number, or fewer, V-shape cut-outs (5), (7), (9), extended slits (8) and (10) and adjustable arms (2) may be provided. Furthermore, one or more inserts may be provided to be fitted over the V-shape recess (7) to reduce the effective size thereof when dissimilar size lagging materials are used, such as, when forming T-piece type joints, mainly, when smaller diameter pipe sizes are being branched off from larger pipe sizes. In such an arrangement, the removable inserts may be of, for example, a hard wearing plastic or metallic material to maintain accuracy.

Claims

1. A tool comprising a self centralising adjustable clamp arrangement for supporting a length of lagging material centrally along its axis, in use, and pre-formed profiles, defining V-shaped cut-outs located, in use, adjacent the clamped lagging material and providing an indication as to where the lagging material should be cut to form a V-shape formation therein.

2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the clamp arrangement is designed to allow clamping of a multiplicity of diameters and wall thicknesses of lagging material.

3. A tool according to claim 1 or claim 2 and adapted to accommodate lagging along its axis in a singular orientation and in a controlled manner.

4. A tool, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the clamp arrangement comprises a pair of side walls slide ably adjustable on arms, so as to be parallel to one another, at least one of the side walls being moveable towards the other of the side walls to clamp a length of lagging material therebetween and to accommodate lagging materials in a multiplicity of diameters.

5. A tool according to claim 4, wherein the centreline of base within side walls and centreline of protruding V-shape cut-out within side walls substantially align to one another to centralise lagging material, in use.

6. A tool according to claim 4, wherein the side walls provided with V-shape recesses incorporate extended slits through which the lagging material can be fully mitred, in use.

7. A tool according to claim 6, wherein insert elements are provided and arranged to be inserted into the V-shape recesses to adapt the tool for use with dissimilar sizes of lagging when forming an intersection joint.

8. A tool according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the side walls are provided with self centralising clamps adapted to receive parts of the lagging material to hold the lagging material correctly oriented relative to the profile means such that the apex of the V-shape cut-outs is aligned or substantially aligned with the centreline of the lagging material therebetween.

9. A tool according to claim 7, wherein the self centralising clamps is defined by longitudinal curves in both side walls.