US20080022748A1 - Crimping tool for pipe fittings - Google Patents
Crimping tool for pipe fittings Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080022748A1 US20080022748A1 US11/495,256 US49525606A US2008022748A1 US 20080022748 A1 US20080022748 A1 US 20080022748A1 US 49525606 A US49525606 A US 49525606A US 2008022748 A1 US2008022748 A1 US 2008022748A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- jaw
- crimping
- jaws
- eyebolt
- extensions
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
- B25B27/00—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for
- B25B27/02—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same
- B25B27/10—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same inserting fittings into hoses
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D39/00—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders
- B21D39/04—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders of tubes with tubes; of tubes with rods
- B21D39/046—Connecting tubes to tube-like fittings
Definitions
- This invention is directed to apparatus for crimping and sealing copper fittings joining copper pipe, more particularly for crimping ProPress® fittings.
- copper tubing is preferred for plumbing and heating applications.
- threadless, solderless and “sweatless” couplings for copper piping have been developed and are being used in industrial applications where copper pipe is specified. Examples include the axially clamping pipe coupler, subject of U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,330 to Compton et al., and the ProPress® System with its “Smart Connect” feature from Ridge Tool Company of Elyria, Ohio and Viega, a German company, first available in May 2000.
- the latter system joins copper tubing by crimping the fitting around the tube to form a watertight connection in seconds.
- the system comprises a series of engineered copper and bronze press fittings offered in over 400 configurations and sizes ranging from 1 ⁇ 2′′-4′′. Fittings are offered with distinct sealing elements that, together, meet a broad range of piping applications.
- a battery-operated crimp tool the RIDGID® 320-E, developed by Ridge Tool Co. for use with the ProPress System, weighs ten pounds and is claimed as being suitable for joining tube in tight spaces. However, its size, which is slightly larger than a battery-powered hand-held electric drill, prevents its use in very small spaces.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,675 to Burnett is a manually operated tool which utilizes a threaded bolt to apply crimping force.
- the arrangement of parts with a handle adjacent the pivoting connection of the jaws and the complicated crimping-force-application assembly make the invention bulky, awkward to use, and complicated and expensive to manufacture. Accordingly there is a need for a crimping tool that can be used for the ProPress System, that will fit in the spaces which are too small for the RIDGID® 3 20-E, and that is more compact and simpler than the Burnett device.
- a crimping tool for pipe fittings has a pair of semi-cylindrical opposing jaws with opposing ends, pivotally attached at one end of each, for closing and opening movement about the pivot axis.
- the jaws When closed, the jaws define a cylinder for engaging a pipe or other cylindrical element to be crimped.
- the other ends of the jaws have integral extensions that meet when the jaws are closed and are clamped together by a simple crimping force assembly comprising a threaded eyebolt, the eye end being pivotally attached to the end of one jaw extension.
- the bolt swivels in and out of a slot in the other jaw extension.
- a nut on the other end of the eyebolt is used to compress the two jaw extensions together.
- the jaws have annular grooves on their inner surfaces to accommodate the male ridges of ProPress® pipe fittings.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the improved pipe crimping tool of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ProPress T pipe connector joined to pipe sections
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting the present invention crimping one end of a ProPress T connector to a pipe section.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention.
- a T-shaped, hollow ProPress® T-shaped pipe fitting 30 of the type made by the Rigid Tool Company is shown with circumferential ribs 32 spaced near each end 31 of the connector 30 .
- Each rib covers a sealing 0 -ring of high-performance elastomer, not shown.
- the ProPress® high-performance fittings are more particularly described and depicted at www.propresssystem.com/ and www.ridgid.com/propresssystem/ppfittings.asp.
- the present invention 10 comprises a first semicircular jaw 12 opposing and pivotably attached to a second semicircular jaw 16 by first pin 20 .
- Jaw extensions 14 and 18 are integral and extend from jaws 12 and 16 at their free unattached ends.
- the jaws and jaw extensions are made of rigid, heavy-weight, tempered metal.
- Jaw extensions 14 and 18 have slots 22 and 24 at their ends. The slots are aligned when the jaws are closed.
- the eye end of an eyebolt 26 is pivotably attached within slot 22 by second pin 27 .
- Slot 24 accepts the shaft of eyebolt 26 when the jaws are closed, and the shaft is long enough to extend outside slot 24 far enough so that a nut 28 and lock washer 29 can be threaded onto the end of the shaft to press jaw extensions 14 and 18 together, using a wrench of some kind, such as torque wrench or socket wrench
- FIG. 3 depicts an alternate embodiment 50 of my invention which has no annular groove on the internal surfaces of jaws 52 and 54 . This embodiment is directed to a crimping tool for sealing compression sleeves on plastic pipe.
- Both embodiments have the advantage of being relatively small in relation to the other crimping tools now available in the market place. Thus they can be used effectively where space is limited where bulkier crimping tools cannot fit or operate.
- This invention has fewer parts than the Burnett patent, it lacks a handle adjacent the pivot point of the jaw members.
- the crimping-force-application assembly is very simple and lacks the bushing, the spindle, the pintles and the retention plates of Burnett. Thus it is less complicated and less expensive to manufacture.
Abstract
A crimping tool for pipe fittings has a pair of semi-cylindrical opposing jaws with opposing ends, pivotally attached at one end of each, for closing and opening movement about the pivot axis. When closed, the jaws define a cylinder for engaging a pipe or other cylindrical element to be crimped. The other ends of the jaws have integral extensions that meet when the jaws are closed and are clamped together by a simple crimping force assembly comprising a threaded eyebolt, the eye end being pivotally attached to the end of one jaw extension. The bolt swivels in and out of a slot in the other jaw extension. A nut on the other end of the eyebolt is used to compress the two jaw extensions together. In another embodiment, the jaws have annular grooves on their inner surfaces to accommodate the male ridges of ProPress® pipe fittings.
Description
- This invention claims the benefit of the inventor's previously filed provisional application, No. 60/699433.
- This invention is directed to apparatus for crimping and sealing copper fittings joining copper pipe, more particularly for crimping ProPress® fittings.
- The need for leakproof conduit for fluids is extensive and entails the use of variously shaped connectors and pipe fittings for routing the conduit. Copper tubing and fittings were traditionally connected by “sweating ” the joints, or with threaded connectors. Then polyvinyl choride (PVC) conduit became widely used, particularly in residential plumbing applications. Sections of PVC were glued together. Later technology substituted flexible PVC and utilized a crimp ring to compress the tubing ends deformably down against a rigid insert positioned in the internal conduit in the tubes. This use of crimp rings is particularly well known in association with elastomeric hose or tubing, where the material possesses sufficient elasticity to be deformed without breaking.
- In many large facilities, such as airports, government buildings, sports stadiums, military bases, casinos, hotels, schools, colleges, hospitals and healthcare facilities, copper tubing is preferred for plumbing and heating applications. Recently, threadless, solderless and “sweatless” couplings for copper piping have been developed and are being used in industrial applications where copper pipe is specified. Examples include the axially clamping pipe coupler, subject of U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,330 to Compton et al., and the ProPress® System with its “Smart Connect” feature from Ridge Tool Company of Elyria, Ohio and Viega, a German company, first available in May 2000. The latter system joins copper tubing by crimping the fitting around the tube to form a watertight connection in seconds. The system comprises a series of engineered copper and bronze press fittings offered in over 400 configurations and sizes ranging from ½″-4″. Fittings are offered with distinct sealing elements that, together, meet a broad range of piping applications.
- A battery-operated crimp tool, the RIDGID® 320-E, developed by Ridge Tool Co. for use with the ProPress System, weighs ten pounds and is touted as being suitable for joining tube in tight spaces. However, its size, which is slightly larger than a battery-powered hand-held electric drill, prevents its use in very small spaces. U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,675 to Burnett is a manually operated tool which utilizes a threaded bolt to apply crimping force. However the arrangement of parts with a handle adjacent the pivoting connection of the jaws and the complicated crimping-force-application assembly make the invention bulky, awkward to use, and complicated and expensive to manufacture. Accordingly there is a need for a crimping tool that can be used for the ProPress System, that will fit in the spaces which are too small for the RIDGID® 3 20-E, and that is more compact and simpler than the Burnett device.
- Thus it is an object of this invention to provide a compact crimping tool that can seal ProPress copper tubing joints satisfactorily in tight spaces too small for use of the RIDGID® 3 20-E battery operated tool, that is compact and simple in construction.
- A crimping tool for pipe fittings has a pair of semi-cylindrical opposing jaws with opposing ends, pivotally attached at one end of each, for closing and opening movement about the pivot axis. When closed, the jaws define a cylinder for engaging a pipe or other cylindrical element to be crimped. The other ends of the jaws have integral extensions that meet when the jaws are closed and are clamped together by a simple crimping force assembly comprising a threaded eyebolt, the eye end being pivotally attached to the end of one jaw extension. The bolt swivels in and out of a slot in the other jaw extension. A nut on the other end of the eyebolt is used to compress the two jaw extensions together. In another embodiment, the jaws have annular grooves on their inner surfaces to accommodate the male ridges of ProPress® pipe fittings.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the improved pipe crimping tool of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ProPress T pipe connector joined to pipe sections; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting the present invention crimping one end of a ProPress T connector to a pipe section. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , a T-shaped, hollow ProPress® T-shaped pipe fitting 30 of the type made by the Rigid Tool Company is shown withcircumferential ribs 32 spaced near eachend 31 of theconnector 30. Each rib covers a sealing 0-ring of high-performance elastomer, not shown. When crimped with an appropriate tool, the fitting, copper tubing and sealing ring are combined to form a permanent watertight seal. The ProPress® high-performance fittings are more particularly described and depicted at www.propresssystem.com/ and www.ridgid.com/propresssystem/ppfittings.asp. - Referring now to
FIGS. 1 and 3 , thepresent invention 10 comprises a firstsemicircular jaw 12 opposing and pivotably attached to a secondsemicircular jaw 16 byfirst pin 20.Jaw extensions jaws extensions slots eyebolt 26 is pivotably attached withinslot 22 by second pin 27.Slot 24 accepts the shaft ofeyebolt 26 when the jaws are closed, and the shaft is long enough to extend outsideslot 24 far enough so that anut 28 andlock washer 29 can be threaded onto the end of the shaft to pressjaw extensions - When the jaws are closed, as in
FIG. 3 , a closed cylindrical ring is formed. The internal surfaces ofjaws grooves jaws FIG. 3 . These grooves are configured to accept, completely encircle and compress themale ribs 36 of a ProPress ) pipe fitting to seal a joint whennut 28 is tightened oneyebolt 26. Optionally, aguide pin 15 can be provided onjaw handle 18 to mate with guide hole 17 to ensure that no twisting ofjaws grooves FIG. 4 depicts analternate embodiment 50 of my invention which has no annular groove on the internal surfaces ofjaws - Both embodiments have the advantage of being relatively small in relation to the other crimping tools now available in the market place. Thus they can be used effectively where space is limited where bulkier crimping tools cannot fit or operate. This invention has fewer parts than the Burnett patent, it lacks a handle adjacent the pivot point of the jaw members. The crimping-force-application assembly is very simple and lacks the bushing, the spindle, the pintles and the retention plates of Burnett. Thus it is less complicated and less expensive to manufacture.
Claims (2)
1. In a manually operable crimping tool comprising first and second opposing semi-cylindrical jaw members with first and second ends, or engaging an element to be crimped, said jaw members being pivotally joined at the first end of each said jaw member, for pivotal opening and closing movement about a first axis, and defining a cylindrical space when closed, further comprising a crimping-force-application assembly including
(i) means to pivotally attach said assembly to one of said first and second jaw members for pivotal movement about a second axis generally parallel to said first axis;
(ii) means to releasably engage another one of said first and second jaw members, said means to releasably engage being movable between a first disengaged position in which said crimping-force-application assembly is not touching said second jaw member, permitting movement of said first and second jaw members onto and off of the element to be crimped and a second engaged position permitting application of a crimping force;
(iii) manually operable means to reduce a distance between said means to pivotally attach said assembly and said means to releasably engage, thereby causing said first and second jaw members to interact to crimp the element therebetween,
the improvement comprising a straight bar extension from each said first and second jaw member at their second ends, on which extensions are mounted said crimping-force-application assembly elements.
2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said extensions have slots at their second ends, which align when said jaw members are in their second engaged position, and said manually operable means to reduce a distance further comprises a threaded eyebolt having an eye end and a second end, the eye end of said eyebolt pivoting on a pin mounted parallel to said first axis within the slot of the first jaw member extension, and a nut rotatable at the second end of the eyebolt, whereby when said eyebolt is pivoted to lie within both slots of the jaw member extensions with its second end outboard of the second jaw member extension, rotation of the nut causes the jaw member extensions to come together.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/495,256 US20080022748A1 (en) | 2006-07-29 | 2006-07-29 | Crimping tool for pipe fittings |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/495,256 US20080022748A1 (en) | 2006-07-29 | 2006-07-29 | Crimping tool for pipe fittings |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20080022748A1 true US20080022748A1 (en) | 2008-01-31 |
Family
ID=38984777
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/495,256 Abandoned US20080022748A1 (en) | 2006-07-29 | 2006-07-29 | Crimping tool for pipe fittings |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20080022748A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104874656A (en) * | 2015-05-29 | 2015-09-02 | 清华大学 | Self-adaptive rapid pipe clamp |
USRE45811E1 (en) * | 2005-09-23 | 2015-11-24 | Bruns Daniel Kidd | Tool to crimp non-metallic tubing onto fittings |
CN105922165A (en) * | 2016-06-28 | 2016-09-07 | 贵州盘江矿山机械有限公司 | Single-side oil cylinder dismounting and clamping device and operation method thereof |
Citations (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US952787A (en) * | 1909-01-07 | 1910-03-22 | William H Baker | Combination-vise. |
US1624252A (en) * | 1926-02-06 | 1927-04-12 | Trimont Mfg Company | Pipe vise |
US1660329A (en) * | 1924-01-08 | 1928-02-28 | Henry Thomas Leman Freshwater | Holder for golf-club shafts and the like |
US1694474A (en) * | 1927-06-20 | 1928-12-11 | Abraham A Lainer | Holding and clamping device |
US1725892A (en) * | 1927-05-12 | 1929-08-27 | Wyman Gor Don Company | Machine for testing metal rods |
US1983050A (en) * | 1933-08-26 | 1934-12-04 | Fred W Sizer | Clamping device |
US2085321A (en) * | 1935-02-01 | 1937-06-29 | Victor A Lang | Pipe clamp |
US2308340A (en) * | 1941-06-18 | 1943-01-12 | Sarletta Mfg Company | Pipe welding clamp |
US3172454A (en) * | 1961-01-31 | 1965-03-09 | Parker Hannifin Corp | Pinch-off and re-rounding tool or the like |
US4538443A (en) * | 1982-07-26 | 1985-09-03 | Action Concepts, Inc. | Portable tool for affixing terminals onto battery cables |
US5122218A (en) * | 1990-06-18 | 1992-06-16 | Quality Fencing & Supply, Inc. | Tubular plastic crimping method and apparatus |
US5289712A (en) * | 1993-01-25 | 1994-03-01 | Haughian Sales Ltd. | Quick-action crimping tool |
US6056330A (en) * | 1993-11-20 | 2000-05-02 | Compton; Douglas C. | Axially clamping pipe coupler |
US6269675B1 (en) * | 1999-07-08 | 2001-08-07 | Reed Manufacturing Co. | Crimping tool for plastic pipe and the like |
US6523440B2 (en) * | 1999-07-12 | 2003-02-25 | Ridge Teel Company | Compression stop and coupling wrench |
USD483241S1 (en) * | 2002-05-06 | 2003-12-09 | Data Machine, Inc. | Toolholder tightening fixture |
-
2006
- 2006-07-29 US US11/495,256 patent/US20080022748A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US952787A (en) * | 1909-01-07 | 1910-03-22 | William H Baker | Combination-vise. |
US1660329A (en) * | 1924-01-08 | 1928-02-28 | Henry Thomas Leman Freshwater | Holder for golf-club shafts and the like |
US1624252A (en) * | 1926-02-06 | 1927-04-12 | Trimont Mfg Company | Pipe vise |
US1725892A (en) * | 1927-05-12 | 1929-08-27 | Wyman Gor Don Company | Machine for testing metal rods |
US1694474A (en) * | 1927-06-20 | 1928-12-11 | Abraham A Lainer | Holding and clamping device |
US1983050A (en) * | 1933-08-26 | 1934-12-04 | Fred W Sizer | Clamping device |
US2085321A (en) * | 1935-02-01 | 1937-06-29 | Victor A Lang | Pipe clamp |
US2308340A (en) * | 1941-06-18 | 1943-01-12 | Sarletta Mfg Company | Pipe welding clamp |
US3172454A (en) * | 1961-01-31 | 1965-03-09 | Parker Hannifin Corp | Pinch-off and re-rounding tool or the like |
US4538443A (en) * | 1982-07-26 | 1985-09-03 | Action Concepts, Inc. | Portable tool for affixing terminals onto battery cables |
US5122218A (en) * | 1990-06-18 | 1992-06-16 | Quality Fencing & Supply, Inc. | Tubular plastic crimping method and apparatus |
US5289712A (en) * | 1993-01-25 | 1994-03-01 | Haughian Sales Ltd. | Quick-action crimping tool |
US6056330A (en) * | 1993-11-20 | 2000-05-02 | Compton; Douglas C. | Axially clamping pipe coupler |
US6269675B1 (en) * | 1999-07-08 | 2001-08-07 | Reed Manufacturing Co. | Crimping tool for plastic pipe and the like |
US6523440B2 (en) * | 1999-07-12 | 2003-02-25 | Ridge Teel Company | Compression stop and coupling wrench |
USD483241S1 (en) * | 2002-05-06 | 2003-12-09 | Data Machine, Inc. | Toolholder tightening fixture |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USRE45811E1 (en) * | 2005-09-23 | 2015-11-24 | Bruns Daniel Kidd | Tool to crimp non-metallic tubing onto fittings |
CN104874656A (en) * | 2015-05-29 | 2015-09-02 | 清华大学 | Self-adaptive rapid pipe clamp |
CN105922165A (en) * | 2016-06-28 | 2016-09-07 | 贵州盘江矿山机械有限公司 | Single-side oil cylinder dismounting and clamping device and operation method thereof |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |