Tubing cleaning and cutting method

Abstract

Methods of cutting pipe and removing contaminants from surfaces of pipe (40) and fittings (37, 38, and 39) that connect pipe (40) by soldering. During the cleaning and cutting of the pipe (40), contaminants are removed by way of a pipe cleaning abrasive (24) that is connected to the cleaning and cutting device. Rotating the device around the axis of the pipe (40) cleans and cuts the pipe until severed. Fittings (37, 38, and 39) are cleaned by a streamlined fittings cleaning abrasives (31, 32 and 33) located on the cleaning and cutting device. A fitting (37, 38, or 39) is placed over the fittings cleaning abrasives (31 or 32 and 33) and pushed so that the fittings cleaning abrasive (31,32 or 33) enters the fitting of the proper diameter (37, 38, or 39) removing the contaminants. The pipe cleaning abrasive (24) and the fittings cleaning abrasives (31, 32, and 33) may be replaceable. The cleaned surfaces of pipe (24) and fittings (37, 38, and 39) are ready to continue soldering process.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] This invention pertains to a tool and method for cleaning and cutting the surfaces of tube ends for jointure with fittings, more particularly to a tool that utilizes in one unit the means to simultaneously clean and cut the surface pipe or tubing as well a method to clean the surface of fittings for jointure by soldering.

[0003] 2. Prior Art

[0004] In the plumbing industry, plumbers and pipefitters are called upon to prepare tube endings, pipes, and fittings for connection and repairs. The volume of connections to be made can be very numerous, and accordingly, an invention that provides a method and tool to speed up this work without affecting or detracting from the quality of the connected joint is a valuable contribution to the industry and highly useful for plumbers and steamfitters.

[0005] The term pipe or tubing as used in the description of the present invention is intended to mean all commercial forms of pipe or tubing including copper, aluminum, steel, or other metal that requires the surface to be cleaned. The present invention may also be used for materials other than metal pipe or tubing.

[0006] Copper tubing and fittings are used for plumbing in many homes and buildings. The tubing typically comes in ten or twenty-foot lengths, which are usually ¼″, ½″, ¾″, 1″ and larger in diameter, but may be other diameters. The fittings typically include couplings, reducers, different angled elbows as well as tees that allow the branching off of the tubing.

[0007] Pipe cutting devices typically have an opening forming a C-shape frame or body to receive the pipe to be cut. Attached within the body usually are two or more guide rollers that back up the pipe toward an opposing cutting wheel. As the cutting wheel is advanced toward the pipe, the pipe cutting device is rotated about the axis of the pipe, severing the pipe.

[0008] The copper pipe and fittings are then cleaned with an abrasive to remove contaminants, oxides, or other obstructing films. The abrasives that are used to clean the surfaces of pipe and fittings to be joined are typically wire brushes, sandpaper, steel wire pads, dry steel wool, grit pads, grit cloth or emery cloth but other types of abrasives may be used. Cleaning the surfaces to be joined is required so that they will readily accept the solder to form sound joints that are free of porosity and voids and will not leak. Both of the separate procedures, pipe cutting and cleaning, are time consuming, requiring substantial physical effort.

[0009] Soldering is a method of joining metals together by heating the joints commonly with a torch until hot enough to cause the solder to melt, flowing into the joints. The solder alloy that is applied when molten, solidifies on cooling, bonding the joints. Soldering flux is applied to the cleaned joints before soldering to aid in the flow of solder.

[0010] Tools exist for pipe and tube cutting. A portable pipe cutter that is self feeding is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,385 to VanderPol (1990) also self retracting and operable by an auxiliary power source such as an electric drill. However, this device accommodates only a single size pipe. Other prior known self feeding tube cutting tools are U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,150 to Garcia et al (1985) which is a very complex device thereby very expensive to manufacture and also requiring a separate driving motor. U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,062 to Cummings (1983) is a hand operated tool also very complex. A further prior known self feeding device is U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,205 to Girala (1981) a tube cutter assigned to NASA and extremely complex and hence would be prohibitively expensive to manufacture. The Girala device is hand operated but can optionally be coupled to an auxiliary power driving source. U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,312 to Arnot (1979) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,569 (1972) also to Arnot disclose a self feeding cutting means which is hand operable. Also a self feeding tube cutter is U.S. Pat. No. 2,007,122 to Briegel (1935). Also a hand operated device. However, these tools do not include means for a cutter that also cleans the surfaces of the tubing in one process for soldering or a streamline fittings cleaner that is also contained in the handle of the cutting tool.

[0011] Cleaning tools have been developed to perform the required cleaning operation for copper tubing and fittings. Examples of such tools are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,216 Tube cutting and preparation tool and method which requires an electric power source that cuts the pipe first and then allows it to be cleaned; U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,790 Tube end and fitting preparation tool; U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,253 Hand held tool for preparing surfaces of tubing and fittings; U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,748 Tube cleaning device; as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,307,534; 5,269,104; 4,133,070; 4,862,549; and 4,899,409.

[0012] These tools do not include means for cleaning the tubing surface in the process of it being cut for soldering or a streamline fittings cleaner that is contained in the adjusting handle of the cutting tool.

[0013] Conventional cutting and cleaning of many tubing and fitting joint components can become tedious and time-consuming, which may lead to inattention and error by plumbers. A tool which would enable a plumber to complete the tasks of cutting and cleaning tubing more quickly and effectively could eliminate tedium and increase safety. For example, having the ability to complete these operations more quickly and effectively would decrease the likelihood of a plumber knocking over the flux or soldering torch, which are set down during cutting and cleaning operations.

[0014] From the foregoing, it is clear that a means for saving labor time and thus costs would result in further reduction in the final construction costs for any one particular project. To fulfill this need it is desired to have a hand-held tool that is capable of quickly and effectively cut and clean the surfaces of different diameter tubing. It also is desired to have in the same tool of this type a means to clean various sizes of fittings.

[0015] Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a need for a method that expedites the cleaning and cutting of copper pipe more effectively than existing tools by cleaning and cutting the pipe in one operational step.

[0016] In this respect, the pipe cleaning and cutting method according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus and primarily developed for the purpose of cleaning and cutting copper tubing and cleaning fittings for sweat soldering. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0017] Accordingly, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide the user with a tube cleaning and cutting device that is “user friendly,” convenient to use, quickly adjusting and with an abrasive which cleans the pipe simultaneously with the cutting of the pipe. This cleaning and cutting mechanism is a lightweight, self contained tool intended for use in the field of building construction and maintenance for use on installing pipe or repairs.

[0018] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a streamline fittings cleaning abrasive mechanism. This mechanism has the ability of being completely contained within the housing of the adjusting handle.

[0019] Another objective of the present invention and method is to provide a multiple diameter streamline fittings cleaning abrasive mechanisms that can accommodate fittings of different diameters. This mechanism has the ability of being completely contained within the housing of the adjusting handle.

[0020] One of the objectives of this tool is to make it user friendly to professionals in the field by the alleviation of fatigue do to the repetitive, time consuming task of cutting and then cleaning the pipe and copper tubing.

[0021] A further object of the present invention is to provide a tube cutting and cleaning device that will easily adapt to use in confined areas.

[0022] In another aspect of the present invention, it provides the advantage to quickly adjust the tool to accommodate different size pipe.

[0023] A further object of the present invention is to provide a simplified mechanism thereby reducing the manufacturing expense of the tool.

[0024] A further object of the present invention is to provide a simplified mechanism thereby it is easy to use.

[0025] A still further object of the present invention is to provide a tool that is portable, small, lightweight and when placed around a pipe or tube to be cut and cleaned, can adjust the cutting wheel and cleaning abrasive snuggly up against the tube wall ready to be cleaned and cut.

[0026] Another quality of this tool is the ability to cut and clean pipe or tubing of different thickness.

[0027] A manual tool for cutting, cleaning and burnishing ends of tubing for jointer.

[0028] Further, tools embodying the present inventions may be furnished with several sets of abrasives of different sizes.

[0029] Further more, the abrasive cleaner has the ability to have multiple attachment areas on the frame of the cutting mechanism.

[0030] Also the abrasives can be replaceable attachments.

[0031] Additionally, the abrasive attachments furnished with the tool have the ability to be of an entirely different configuration.

[0032] And another object of this invention is that it can be adapted for use with a motorized or power driven means.

[0033] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pipe cleaner cutter which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such tools economically available to the buying public.

[0034] Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

[0035] While one procedure within the scope of the present invention is disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings it will be understood that other procedures, apparatus, and methods also within the scope of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 is a side view in perspective of a tool embodying the present inventions.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a front view in perspective of a tool embodying the present inventions.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a top view in perspective of a tool embodying the present invention with the pipe cutter positioned around the pipe to be cut.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a top view in perspective of a tool embodying the present invention with the piping cleaned and cut where the pipe cleaning abrasive and cutting wheel initially made contact with the pipe.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a tool embodying the present invention with the fittings cleaner located in the adjusting handle of the pipe cutter.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a side view in perspective of a tool embodying the present invention with the fitting being cleaned by fittings cleaner located in the adjusting handle of the pipe cutter.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a cut away view of a tool embodying the present invention with the fittings cleaner containing multiple fitting abrasives that self adjusts to fittings of different diameters with the smaller diameter abrasive, connected to the fitting abrasive support rod, inserted in the smaller diameter fitting with the smaller diameter fitting pushing the larger diameter cleaning abrasive in, compressing the fittings abrasive resilient mechanism.

[0043] FIG. 8 is a cut away view of a tool embodying the present invention with the fittings cleaner containing multiple fitting cleaning abrasives that self adjusts to fittings of different diameters, with the larger and smaller diameter abrasive inserted in the larger diameter fitting with the fittings abrasive resilient mechanism supporting the larger diameter fittings abrasive, pressing it against the smaller diameter fittings abrasive

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0044] 20 Frame

[0045] 22 Cutting wheel

[0046] 24 Pipe cleaning abrasive

[0047] 26 Guide rollers

[0048] 27 Sliding holder for guide rollers

[0049] 28 Adjusting screw

[0050] 30 Adjusting handle

[0051] 31 Fittings cleaning abrasive

[0052] 32 Smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive

[0053] 33 Larger diameter fittings cleaning abrasive

[0054] 34 Fittings cleaning abrasive support rod

[0055] 35 Fittings cleaning abrasive resilient mechanism

[0056] 36 Compressed fittings cleaning abrasive resilient mechanism

[0057] 37 Fitting

[0058] 38 Smaller diameter fitting

[0059] 39 Larger diameter fitting

[0060] 40 Pipe

[0061] This invention is shown in its physical form including the various parts and alternate parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this invention.

[0062] Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following descriptions or illustrations in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0063] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] Referring now to the drawings wherein the tool and its parts are illustrated to show preferred embodiments of the present invention. This is by way of example only. These drawings are for the purpose of illustration and not for purposes of limiting the scope of this invention.

[0065] A typical embodiment shows the hand tool of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1 (a side view) and in FIG. 2 (a front view). The main body has a C shaped frame 20 with cutting wheel 22 and the back up rollers 26 housed in a sliding holder for guide rollers 27. The sliding holder for guide rollers 27 is attached to the adjusting handle 30 by way of the adjusting screw 28. For the purpose of simplicity in explanation the pipe cleaning abrasive 24 is located either by the cutting wheel 22 but may be located elsewhere such as on the sliding holder for guide rollers 27 near the guide rollers 26. A fittings cleaning abrasive 32 is located in the adjusting handle 30.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 3 (a top view) the pipe cutter is positioned around the pipe 40 to be cleaned and cut. The adjusting handle 30 is turned, twisting the adjusting screw 28 (the adjusting handle 30 and adjusting screw 28 are not visible in FIGS. 3 and 4). This advances the sliding holder for guide rollers 27, the guide rollers 26, the pipe cleaning abrasive 24, and the cutting wheel 22, toward the center of the pipe. The guide rollers 26, pipe cleaning abrasive 24, and cutting wheel 22, all make contact with the outer surface of the pipe 40. The frame 20 is then rotated around the pipe 40. With the rotation of the frame 20, the pipe cleaning abrasive 24 begins to clean the outer surface of the pipe 40 of contaminants, while the cutting wheel 22 creates a grove in the pipe 40 starting the cut.

[0067] The adjusting handle 30 is increasingly tightened. This further forces the back up rollers 26, pipe cleaning abrasive 24, and cutting wheel 22 toward the center of the pipe 40. With each rotation of the frame 20 the pipe cleaning abrasive 24 further cleans the surface of the pipe 40 as the cutting wheel 22 creates a deeper grove in the pipe 40. The pipe 40 is eventually cleaned and cut as in FIG. 4 where the guide rollers 26, pipe cleaning abrasive 24, and cutting wheel 22 initially made contact as in FIG. 3.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 5 the adjusting handle 30, attached to the adjusting screw 28, houses a fittings abrasive 31 that is supported by a fittings abrasive support rod 34. A fitting 37 is placed over the fittings abrasive cleaner 31 and pushed down forcing the fittings abrasive cleaner 31 into the fitting 37, cleaning the interior surface of contaminants as in FIG. 6.

[0069] Shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are cutaway views of the workings of a fittings cleaner with multiple diameter fitting cleaning abrasives 32 and 33, that self adjusts to fittings 38 and 39 of different diameters. When a fitting of a particular diameter is placed over the multiple fittings abrasives cleaners 32 and 33 and pushed down, the accommodating fittings abrasive cleaner will enter the fitting, cleaning the interior surface of contaminants.

[0070] In FIG. 7 the smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive 32 is supported by the fittings cleaning abrasive support rod 34. The smaller diameter fitting 38, being cleaned by the smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive 32, pushes the larger diameter fittings cleaning abrasive 33, out of the way, compressing the fittings abrasive resilient mechanism 36 that encircles the fittings abrasive support rod 34.

[0071] In FIG. 8 the larger diameter fitting 39 is cleaned by the accommodating larger diameter fittings cleaning abrasive 33. The fittings cleaning abrasive resilient mechanism 35 supports the larger diameter fittings cleaning abrasive 33 by pressing it against the smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive 32. The smaller diameter cleaning abrasive 32 is kept in place by the fittings cleaning abrasive support rod 34. The fittings abrasive cleaning resilient mechanism 36 encircles the fittings cleaning abrasive support rod 34. The smaller diameter cleaning abrasive 32 enters the larger diameter fitting 39 during the cleaning process. The smaller diameter cleaning abrasive 32 does not obstruct the larger fittings cleaning abrasive 33 of cleaning the larger diameter fitting 39.

[0072] Now that the cleaning and cutting method is complete the pipe 40 and fitting 37 are now ready to continue with the soldering process.

[0073] Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and that the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exists in the invention disclosed.

SUMMARY

[0074] Accordingly, the reader will see that the pipe cutter cleaner of this invention expedites the speed with which the fabrication of jointer of pipe by soldering. In addition, the fittings cleaner also expedites the speed of jointer of fittings by soldering by containing the fittings cleaner in the adjusting handle of the pipe cutter

[0075] Furthermore, the tool embodying the present invention has the additional advantages in that;

[0076] It may be furnished with several sets of different lengths of attachable pipe abrasive to accommodate the need to clean a variety of widths of the pipe;

[0077] It may be furnished with several sets of attachable streamline fitting abrasives of different diameters to accommodate the needed to clean a variety of fittings;

[0078] It may be furnished with fittings cleaning abrasive resilient mechanism that is internal as well as external of the fittings cleaning abrasive support rod;

[0079] It may be furnished with set of abrasives to clean the exterior of pipe or bushings. These may be located in the adjusting handle;

[0080] It provides a new and improved pipe cutter cleaner which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such tools economically available to the buying public.

[0081] Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the tool unit on attachments furnished with the tool may be of an entirely different configuration. The abrasives may be replaceable. Replaceable abrasives are to be considered as covered by this patent.

[0082] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than limited by the examples given.

Claims

1. A method for removal of contaminants from the surface of pipe while in the same process of said pipe being cut to a predetermined length, comprising the steps of

a. positioning said pipe in a frame containing an abrasive and a cutting device and a means to advance said abrasive and said cutting device toward said pipe

b. having said abrasive and said cutting device make contact with said pipe, and

c. rotating said frame or said pipe so that the said abrasive removes the contaminants from outer side of said pipe while said cutting device scores said pipe and further

d. advancing said abrasive and said cutting device toward said pipe and

e. rotating further said frame or said pipe so that the said abrasive removes more contaminants from said pipe while said cutting device further scoring said pipe until said pipe is cut in two,

whereby said two pieces of pipe have said contaminates removed from the surface of said pipe were said abrasive made contact with said pipe.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein said abrasive is different size and width abrasives.

3. The method as in claim 2 wherein said abrasives are replaceable.

4. The method as in claim 2 wherein said abrasive is a wire brush.

5. The method as in claim 2 wherein said abrasive is made of sandpaper.

6. The method as in claim 2 wherein said abrasive is made of steel wire.

7. The method as in claim 2 wherein said abrasive is made of steel wool.

8. The method as in claim 2 wherein said abrasive is made of grit cloth.

9. The method as in claim 2 wherein said abrasive is made of grit pads.

10. The method as in claim 2 wherein said abrasive is made of emery cloth.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein said frame has a means of advancing the said abrasive toward the pipe by way of an adjusting handle.

12. A method of removing the contaminates from the inner surface of fittings comprising the steps of

a. placing a fitting over a fittings cleaning abrasive that is of the proper diameter

b. pushing the said fitting down over the said fittings cleaning abrasive forcing the said fittings cleaning abrasive into the said fitting and

c. removing the said fitting from the said fittings cleaning abrasive by pulling the said fitting away from the said fittings cleaning abrasive

d. repeating steps a, b, and c if it is necessary to further remove remaining contaminants,

whereby said fitting has said contaminates removed from the inner surface of said fitting were said fittings abrasive made contact with said fitting.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein said method includes fittings abrasives of different diameters and widths.

14. The method as in claim 13 wherein said different diameters fittings cleaning abrasives are positioned together a smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive on the outer side, being supported by a fittings abrasive cleaning support rod with the larger diameter fittings cleaning abrasive being on the inner side supported by a fittings cleaning abrasive resilient mechanism that forces said larger diameter fittings abrasive against the side of the smaller diameter fittings abrasive.

15. The method as in claim 14 wherein said means for cleaning a fitting of a diameter of said smaller fittings cleaning abrasive comprising the steps of

e. placing said smaller diameter fitting over the smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive

f. pushing the said smaller diameter fitting down over the said smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive forcing the said smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive into the said smaller diameter fitting while the said smaller diameter fitting is

g. forcing said larger diameter fittings cleaning abrasive, that is supported by said fittings cleaning abrasive resilient down and

h. removing said smaller diameter fitting from the said smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive by pulling the said smaller diameter fitting away from the said smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive

i. repeating steps e, f, g, and h if it is necessary to further remove remaining contaminants,

whereby said smaller diameter fitting has said contaminates removed from the inner surface of said smaller diameter fitting were said smaller diameter fittings abrasive made contact with said smaller diameter fitting.

16. The method as in claim 14 wherein said means for cleaning a fitting of a diameter of said larger cleaning abrasive comprising the steps of

j. placing said larger diameter fitting over the larger diameter fittings cleaning abrasive that is supported by said fittings cleaning abrasive resilient mechanism and smaller diameter cleaning abrasive that is supported said fittings cleaning abrasive support rod,

k. pushing the said larger diameter fitting down over the said larger diameter fitting cleaning abrasive and smaller diameter fitting cleaning abrasive,

l. forcing the said larger diameter fittings cleaning abrasive and smaller diameter fitting cleaning abrasive into the said larger fitting and

m. removing said larger diameter fitting from the said larger diameter fittings cleaning abrasive and smaller diameter fittings cleaning abrasive

n. repeating steps j, k, l, and m if it is necessary to further remove remaining contaminants,

whereby said larger diameter fitting has said contaminates removed from the inner surface of said larger diameter fitting were said larger diameter fittings abrasive made contact with said larger diameter fitting.

17. The method as in claim 13 wherein said abrasive is a wire brush.

18. The method as in claim 13 wherein said abrasive is made of a type sandpaper.

19. The method as in claim 13 wherein said abrasive is made of steel wire.

20. The method as in claim 13 wherein said abrasive is made of steel wool.

21. The method as in claim 13 wherein said abrasive is made of grit cloth.

22. The method as in claim 13 wherein said abrasive is made of grit pads.

23. The method as in claim 13 wherein said abrasive is made of emery cloth.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.