Abstract: A drain cleaning tool includes a wear indicator for providing a visual indication to a user of the tool of an amount of wear in the tool. Various forms of the wear indicator and tool include a flexible plumbers cable with one or more wear detector prominences extending between turns of the cable, a tool carried on the end of the cable and couplings on the opposite ends of the cable. The flexible plumbers cable includes an elongate hollow outer body member defining a longitudinal axis and a resilient intermediate body carried within the outer body. The resilient intermediate body carried within the outer body has along its periphery at least one wear detector prominence extending radially outwardly between at least one selected turn of the helically coiled outer body. The at least one wear detector has at least one color change in the radial direction to provide a visual indication visual indication to a user of the tool of an amount of wear in the tool.

Abstract: A jaw arm for a compression tool is segmented by a hinge and has a front body portion pivotably connected with a main body portion by the hinge. A jaw recess is formed at one end of the jaw arm in the front body portion. A compression tool comprises a pair of parallel spaced apart side plates, and a pair of the hinged jaw arms pivotally mounted between the plates. The front body portions are pivotable relative to trhe main body portions to enable the compression tool to be used in areas with limited accessibility. In one form, the front body portions of the jaw set are mutually self-aligning. In a further form, the front body portions are pre-positionable relative to their respective main body portions to maintain the jaw arms in adjusted positions for additional ease of use in the areas with limited accessibility. In a still further form, the front body portions of the jaw set are both mutually self-aligning and pre-positionable relative to their respective main body portions.

Abstract: A manual or powered crimping tool, and corresponding jaw set, are described that include a combination of provisions for crimping tangential type crimping elements and one or more circumferential type crimping elements. Various versions of the tool and jaw set are provided including tools and jaw sets that include provisions for using a selectively replaceable insert that significantly increases the range of applications of the tool or jaw set. Tool versions are also provided having insert receiving surfaces, such as when used with inserts, that also serve as crimping surfaces.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for using a press tool with a limited work output to perform a multi-step press operation to complete a press where the work required for the completed press is greater than the limited work output of the tool. The system includes a press ring actuator assembly, a press ring assembly with multiple press ring sections, or a combination thereof, designed to facilitate multi-step press operations with adjustable engagement surfaces to complete the press with the press tool.

Abstract: A jawset for crimping and punching an associated clamping workpiece has a pair of spaced apart side plates, a pair of pivot pins holding a pair of jawarms between the side plates, tooth members formed on the jawarms to crimp an associated clamp ring workpiece in a first direction, and a punch member slidable in the jawset relative to the jawarms to punch the associated workpiece in a second direction transverse the first direction. In one form, a timing disk is provided extending between the jawarms and through the slidable punch member. A biasing member is provided for urging the jawarms in an opening direction opposite the crimping direction. A workpiece alignment area is defined by a region of the spaced apart side plates for enabling relative alignment between the jawset and the associated workpiece. In a further embodiment, a pair of auxiliary side plates are carried adjacent ruggedized side plates for enabling an alignment area without adding undue weight or cost to the jawset.

Abstract: A jawset for crimping and punching an associated clamping workpiece has a pair of spaced apart side plates, a pair of pivot pins holding a pair of jawarms between the side plates, tooth members formed on the jawarms to crimp an associated clamp ring workpiece in a first direction, and a punch member slidable in the jawset relative to the jawarms to punch the associated workpiece in a second direction transverse the first direction. In one form, a timing disk is provided extending between the jawarms and through the slidable punch member. A biasing member is provided for urging the jawarms in an opening direction opposite the crimping direction. A workpiece alignment area is defined by a region of the spaced apart side plates for enabling relative alignment between the jawset and the associated workpiece. In a further embodiment, a pair of auxiliary side plates are carried adjacent ruggedized side plates for enabling an alignment area without adding undue weight or cost to the jawset.

Abstract: A compression tool having a pair of jaw arms pivotal between side plates and having inner edges provided with laterally inwardly open opposed spring pin recesses providing an opening therebetween for a spring pin, and a spring associated with the pin and biasing the jaw arms in a closing direction and biasing the spring pin rearwardly of the spring pin opening has one or the other or both the spring pin opening and spring pin modified for the pin to be displaced from the spring pin opening or canted therein in response to a fracture of at least one of the jaw arms outwardly from the corresponding pin recess toward the outer edge of the jaw arm.

Abstract: A jaw arm for a compression tool has a jaw recess at one end and a jaw insert is supported in the recess for pivotal displacement relative thereto about an insert axis. A compression tool comprises a pair of parallel spaced apart side plates, and a pair of the jaw arms pivotally mounted between the plates. The pivotal inserts are self-aligning with respect to a pipe and coupling to be crimped together and provide for use of the compression tool in areas with limited accessibility.

Abstract: A crimping assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes cam profiles on the ends of the arms. The cam profiles are engaged by the crimping tool and control the input force versus displacement of the tool. The cam profile includes a first portion defined by a radius, a second portion adjacent the first portion and defined by a non-linear equation, and a third portion adjacent the second portion and defined by a linear equation. The assembly further includes a passive mode of failure in the side plates. The arms of the assembly have a hardness greater than the side plates and have a maximum section height at their point of rotation for increasing their strength. The assembly further includes a leaf spring disposed between the arms and held therebetween by pins disposed in holes defined in the sides of the arms. A crimp ring having an increased diameter is disclosed for reducing the crimping force required to crimp 3-inch fittings.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for assuring or determining appropriate closure of a crimp ring assembly. In some embodiments, positive stopping apparatus on the crimp ring are used to assure appropriate closure of a crimp ring assembly. The positive stopping apparatus may be adjustable or non-adjustable and may be positioned on the free ends or adjoined ends of the segments of the crimp ring. In some embodiments, adjustable and/or cam operating pivot connections on the crimp ring are used to assure appropriate closure of a crimp ring assembly. In some embodiments, sensing apparatus or systems are disclosed for assuring or determining appropriate closure of a crimp ring assembly.

Abstract: A pivotal jawarm for a compression tool has opposite sides, a pivot pin opening therethrough, longitudinally opposite ends on longitudinally opposite sides of the opening, and inner and outer edges between the ends and on laterally opposite sides of the opening. A stress concentrator comprising aligned recesses in the opposite sides of the jawarm extends from the inner edge toward the pivot pin opening and provides a failure point at the inner edge for consistently initiating a fatigue crack at the failure point and fracture of the jawarm from the failure point to the pivot pin opening.

Abstract: Assemblies are disclosed for articulating a crimp ring for crimping a fitting relative to an actuator for actuating the crimp ring. The crimp ring includes segments for engaging the fitting, and the actuator includes arms for actuating the segments. Embodiments disclosed include articulating assemblies coupling between the actuator arms and crimp ring segments having multiple axes of articulation. Additional embodiments disclosed include articulating assemblies that are insertable between the arms and segments, articulating assemblies having fixed angled arms of the actuator, articulating assemblies using ball and sockets between the arms and segments, and articulating assemblies used in an intermediate position between the arms and segments.

Abstract: Apparatus for roll grooving thin wall pipe comprises a housing supporting a drive roll and an arm pivotally mounted on the housing and supporting a grooving roll. A feed screw between the housing and arm provides for pivoting the arm to displace the grooving roll radially toward and away from the drive roll, and a release arrangement between the feed screw and arm is operable to release the arm from the screw to protect the screw from damage. The feed screw is mounted on the housing and arm by a double pivot arrangement. Self-tracking during a roll grooving operation is provided by dimensionally different knurling on axially opposite sides of the rolling groove of the drive roll and/or by inclining the axis of the grooving roll relative to the axis of the drive roll and/or by tapering the rolling surface on the rolling projection of the grooving roll and/or by supporting the axially outer end of the drive roll against deflection.

Abstract: A pivotal jawarm for a compression tool has opposite sides, a pivot pin opening therethrough, longitudinally opposite ends on longitudinally opposite sides of the opening, and inner and outer edges between the ends and on laterally opposite sides of the opening. A stress concentrator comprising aligned recesses in the opposite sides of the jawarm extends from the inner edge toward the pivot pin opening and provides a failure point at the inner edge for consistently initiating a fatigue crack at the failure point and fracture of the jawarm from the failure point to the pivot pin opening.

Abstract: Hydraulically operated roll grooving apparatus comprises vertically oriented idler and backup grooving rolls each rotatable about a corresponding roll axis, a fluid actuator for displacing the idler roll toward the backup roll, a manually operated pump for supplying fluid under pressure to the fluid actuator, and a stabilizer for stabilizing a pipe being roll grooved. The pump and stabilizer are mounted on the same side of the apparatus with respect to the roll axes, and the pump has a vertically oriented major dimension and a pump operating lever including a removable handle.

Abstract: Assemblies are disclosed for articulating a crimp ring for crimping a fitting relative to an actuator for actuating the crimp ring. The crimp ring includes segments for engaging the fitting, and the actuator includes arms for actuating the segments. Embodiments disclosed include articulating assemblies coupling between the actuator arms and crimp ring segments having multiple axes of articulation. Additional embodiments disclosed include articulating assemblies that are insertable between the arms and segments, articulating assemblies having fixed angled arms of the actuator, articulating assemblies using ball and sockets between the arms and segments, and articulating assemblies used in an intermediate position between the arms and segments.