Pipe Flaring Device

Abstract

A pipe flaring tool includes a case member, a clamping member, a flaring module, a feeding member and a connecting member. The case member has a first end, a second end, a chamber and a bore at the first end and communicated with the chamber. The clamping member connected to the second end of the case member. The flaring module is received in the chamber, having a shaft and a flaring terminal. The flaring terminal is connected to an end of the shaft and proximal to the clamping member. An opposite end of the shaft is proximal to the bore of the case member to engage a power tool through the bore. A feeding member is received in the chamber. A connecting member is detachably connected to the flaring module to the feeding member, wherein the flaring module and the feeding member are turned and moved together.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a tool for flaring pipes and tubes, and more particularly to a pipe flaring device.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional pipe flaring devices are used to enlarge a diameter of an end of a metal pipe to allow the pipe able to be connected to another pipe. This task is very common in installation of air condition machines.

Conventional pipe flaring devices usually are hand tool. They usually are provided with a crank for user to turn it for flaring pipes. Therefore, it is a heavy duty work for women and some people with little strength.

An improved pipe flaring device is driven by a power tool. The worker has to operate the power tool in the entire pipe flaring task. For example, the worker has to stop the power tool when the pipe is flared, and reversely operate power tool to return the pipe flaring device for the next pipe flaring task. Over driving the pipe flaring device, including forwards and reverse, may damage the pipe or the pipe flaring device.

Therefore, it needs a suitable mechanism to prevent the pipe flaring device from being overturned by the power tool.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pipe flaring device, which may prevent the pipe flaring device from being overturned by the power tool.

In order to achieve the objective of the present invention, a pipe flaring tool is driven by a power tool to enlarge a diameter of an end of a pipe, includes a case member has a first end and a second end, wherein the case member has a chamber therein and a bore at the first end and communicated with the chamber. A clamping member is connected to the second end of the case member for holding the pipe. A flaring module is received in the chamber of the case member, having a shaft and a flaring terminal, wherein the flaring terminal is connected to an end of the shaft and proximal to the clamping member, and an opposite end of the shaft is proximal to the bore of the case member to engage the power tool through the bore. A feeding member is received in the chamber of the case member, to be reciprocated in a limited range. A connecting member is detachably connected to the flaring module to the feeding member, wherein the flaring module and the feeding member are turned and moved together when the connecting member connects the flaring module to the feeding member, and the flaring module is turned and the feeding member is kept still when the connecting member disconnects the flaring module to the feeding member.

In an embodiment, the connecting member has a rod and an elastic member; the rod is movably connected to the flaring module, and the elastic member urges the rod toward the feeding member; the feeding member has a hole; the connecting member connects the flaring module to the feeding member by the rod engaging the hole, and the connecting member disconnects the flaring module to the feeding member by the rod disengaging the hole.

In an embodiment, the rod is provided with a slot; a pin has an end fixed to the flaring module and an end extending to the slot.

In an embodiment, the rod has an inclined face on an end facing the feeding member.

In an embodiment, the feeding member is provided with a threaded portion, and the case member is provided with an outer threaded section; both the feeding member and the flaring module are turned and reciprocated when the threaded portion of the feeding member engages the outer threaded section of the case member.

In an embodiment, the feeding member further is provided with a flat portion next to the threaded portion; both the feeding member and the flaring module are turned only when the threaded portion of the feeding member disengages the outer threaded section of the case member and the flat portion is associated with the outer threaded section.

In an embodiment, the pipe flaring tool further includes a spring having opposite ends urging the feeding member and the flaring module.

In an embodiment, the feeding member has a room, in which the spring is received; the shaft of the flaring module has passes through the room of the feeding member and the spring.

In an embodiment, the flaring member has a base, on which the connecting member is provided, and the spring urges the feeding member toward the base to make the feeding member touch the base of the flaring member normally.

In an embodiment, the connecting member separates the feeding member from the base of the flaring member when the connecting member disconnects the feeding member to the flaring member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing pipe flaring tool being driven forwards to flare a pipe; and

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are partial sectional views of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the movement of the connecting member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a pipe flaring device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is intended to connect a power tool 100 to enlarge a diameter of an end of a pipe 200, includes a case member 10, a clamping member 20, a flaring module 30, a feeding member 40, and a connecting member 50.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the case member 10 includes a housing 11, a ring 12 and a connector 13. The housing 11 is an elongated hollow member with an elliptical cross section, having a first end 14 and a second end 15. The housing 11 further has a chamber 16 therein. The ring 12 is received in the chamber 16 and fixed to an inner side of the housing 11. The ring 12 has an inner threaded section 18 on an interior side thereof. The connector 13 is connected to the second end 15 of the housing 11, to which the clamping member 20 is connected. The housing 11 has a bore on the first end 14, and the bore is communicated with the chamber 16. A buffering member 17, which is a ring-like flexible member, is inserted into the bore. The buffering member 17 has a slot on an outer side to engage the housing 11, so that the buffering member 17 is fixed and has a portion extending into the chamber 16.

The clamping member 20 is connected to the second end 15 of the case member 10 through the connector 13. The clamping member 20 is a conventional device designated to holding the pipe 200 to be flared.

The flaring module 30 is received in the chamber 16 of the case member 10, including a base 31, a post 32, a shaft 33, and a flaring terminal 34. The base 31 is a disk-like member, having a recess 37 on a bottom side. The post 32 has an end connected to a top side of the base 31 and has a hexagonal hole on a distal end which aligns with the bore of the housing 11. The shaft 33 has an end connected to the bottom side of the base 31 and has a head 35 on a distal end thereof. The head 35 has a mounting portion 36, to which the flaring terminal 34 is connected. A distal end of the flaring terminal 34 extends to the second end 15 of the case member 10 and faces the clamping member 20.

The feeding member 40, which is a tubular member, is fitted to the shaft 33 and has opposite ends abutting against the head 35 and bottom side of the base 31. The feeding member 40 is provided with an outer threaded section 41 on an outer surface and a room 43 therein. The outer threaded section 41 has a threaded portion 410 and a flat portion 411. The feeding member 40 is moved to have the threaded portion 410 engaging the inner threaded section 18 of the ring 12 or have flat portion 411 associated with the inner threaded section 18 (in this condition, the threaded portion 410 disengages the inner threaded section 18). A spring 42 is received in the room 43 of the feeding member 40 and fitted to the shaft 33. The spring 43 has opposite ends urging a bottom of the room 43 of the feeding member 40 and the head 35 of the shaft 30 (through two washers) to urge the feeding member 40 toward the bottom side of the base 31 that make the feeding member 40 normally rests against the base 31 of the flaring module 30. The feeding member 40 has a hole 45 associated with the recess 37 of the base 31.

The connecting member 50 has a rod 51 and an elastic member 52, wherein the elastic member 52 and the rod 51 are installed in the recess 37 of the base 31 in sequence, and the elastic member 52 urges the rod 51 outwards. The rod 51 is provided with a slot 53 (FIG. 5), and a pin 54 is inserted into the slot 53 from outside of the base 31, so that the elastic member 52 and the rod 51 are restricted in the recess 37 and the rod 51 is allowed to be reciprocated in a limited range. The rod 51 has an inclined face 55 on a distal end thereof. Normally, the rod 51 extends into the hole 45 of the feeding member 40 that makes the feeding member 40 be turned by the flaring module 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, a pipe 200 is selected to be clamped by the clamping member 20 to be flared. When the power tool 100 engages the hexagonal hole of the post 32 through the bore and drives the flaring module 30 to turn in a forward direction, the feeding member 40 is turned and moves downward because of an engagement of the threaded portion 410 of the feeding member 40 and the inner threaded section 18 of the ring 12. In the same time, the flaring module 30 will be moved downward by the feeding member 40 to make the flaring terminal 34 flare the pipe 200. When the flaring terminal 34 is moved downwards to a predetermined position, it will be stopped by the clamping member 20 and unable to move anymore even the power tool 100 is driving. As a result, the feeding member 40 is stopped, but the power tool 100 keeps driving the flaring module 30. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the post 51 will be forced to leave the hole 45 of the feeding member 40, and the spring 42 is compressed to make the feeding member 40 and the base 31 separate from each other to allow the base 31 to turn and the feeding member 40 to stay still. After the base 31 is turned a round, the rod 51 will drop into the hole 45 and the feeding member 40 is attached to the base 31 again by the spring 42. Soon after that, the post 51 is forced to leave the hole 45 and feeding member 40 and the base 31 separate from each other. It provides a vibration to warn the operator that the flaring task is completed, and you could stop the power tool 100.

After the flaring task, the operator has to operate the power tool 100 to turn in a backward direction to drive both the flaring module 30 and the feeding member 40 upwards for another flaring task. As shown in FIG. 3, when the feeding member 40 is moved upwards to have the threaded portion 410 no longer engages the inner threaded section 18 of the ring 12, and the flat portion 411 is associated with the inner threaded section 18 of the ring 12. The feeding member 40 still is turned, but will not be forced to move. As a result, the flaring module 30 and the feeding member 40 will be turned but not moved. The operator will find it in a short and understand the return task is completed. It is noted that the post 32 will touch the buffering member 17 when the flat portion 411 is associated with the inner threaded section 18 to protect the flaring module 30 from being damaged.

The present invention provides a pipe flaring device, which avoids flaring the pipes overly. In the other words, when the flaring terminal has flared the pipe, the feeding member not moves downward anymore. The present invention provides an innovative idea for industries, and urges the industries to further development.

It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pipe flaring tool, which is driven by a power tool to enlarge a diameter of an end of a pipe, comprising:

a case member has a first end and a second end, wherein the case member has a chamber therein and a bore at the first end and communicated with the chamber;

a clamping member connected to the second end of the case member for holding the pipe;

a flaring module, which is received in the chamber of the case member, having a shaft and a flaring terminal, wherein the flaring terminal is connected to an end of the shaft and proximal to the clamping member, and an opposite end of the shaft is proximal to the bore of the case member to engage the power tool through the bore;

a feeding member, which is received in the chamber of the case member, to be reciprocated in a limited range; and

a connecting member detachably connecting the flaring module to the feeding member, wherein the flaring module and the feeding member are turned and moved together when the connecting member connects the flaring module to the feeding member, and the flaring module is turned and the feeding member is kept still when the connecting member disconnects the flaring module to the feeding member.

2. The pipe flaring tool of claim 1, wherein the connecting member has a rod and an elastic member; the rod is movably connected to the flaring module, and the elastic member urges the rod toward the feeding member; the feeding member has a hole; the connecting member connects the flaring module to the feeding member by the rod engaging the hole, and the connecting member disconnects the flaring module to the feeding member by the rod disengaging the hole.

3. The pipe flaring tool of claim 2, wherein the rod is provided with a slot; a pin has an end fixed to the flaring module and an end extending to the slot.

4. The pipe flaring tool of claim 2, wherein the rod has an inclined face on an end facing the feeding member.

5. The pipe flaring tool of claim 1, wherein the feeding member is provided with a threaded portion, and the case member is provided with an outer threaded section; both the feeding member and the flaring module are turned and reciprocated when the threaded portion of the feeding member engages the outer threaded section of the case member.

6. The pipe flaring tool of claim 5, wherein the feeding member further is provided with a flat portion next to the threaded portion; both the feeding member and the flaring module are turned only when the threaded portion of the feeding member disengages the outer threaded section of the case member and the flat portion is associated with the outer threaded section.

7. The pipe flaring tool of claim 1, further comprising a spring having opposite ends urging the feeding member and the flaring module.

8. The pipe flaring tool of claim 7, wherein the feeding member has a room, in which the spring is received; the shaft of the flaring module has passes through the room of the feeding member and the spring.

9. The pipe flaring tool of claim 7, wherein the flaring member has a base, on which the connecting member is provided, and the spring urges the feeding member toward the base to make the feeding member touch the base of the flaring member normally.

10. The pipe flaring tool of claim 9, wherein the connecting member separates the feeding member from the base of the flaring member when the connecting member disconnects the feeding member to the flaring member.