Abstract:
Fittings for smooth surfaced pipe including an adjustable fitting in which the lateral wings of a saddle-shaped configuration can be molded to the surface of a round pipe using a hammering technique or a squeezing technique. The adjustable fitting is adhered to the pipe using a metal adhesive and optionally, dimpling in the pipe per se.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention herein disclosed deals with fittings for smooth surfaced pipe. Generally in the field of pipes and pipe fittings for pipe line assemblies that axe constructed for conveying fluids under pressure, there are used several different types of standard pipe including grooved, ridge, rolled, beaded, threaded and smooth, this typing indicating the configuration of the outer surface of the pipe that is adaptable to the various pipe couplings that are available to the industry. 
         [0002]    The invention disclosed herein deals with adjustable fittings for smooth pipe systems. 
       THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Thus, what is disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment, is an adjustable fitting for smooth pipe. The adjustable fitting comprises an integral combination of a malleable saddle-configured base having a linear axis, terminal ends, two lateral wings, a top surface and a centered opening therethrough. 
         [0004]    There is a hollow hub centered and surmounted over the centered opening. The hollow hub has an inside surface and a bottom edge. In addition, there are two stabilizer ridges located on the top surface of the base. Each stabilizer ridge has a top flat surface, and extends along the linear axis of the saddle-configured base from the hub to a terminal end of the saddle-configured base. 
         [0005]    In a second embodiment, there is a coupling for smooth pipe, the coupling being a hollow tube with a center point and the coupling has at least one concave dimple at the center point. The coupling has an inside diameter for accepting smooth pipe in a close, sliding fit. 
         [0006]    Yet another embodiment is a smooth pipe elbow, the smooth pipe elbow having two ends and a circular wall extending therebetween. The smooth pipe elbow has at least one concave dimple in the wall at a predetermined distance from each end. 
         [0007]    In addition, there is a further embodiment in which the combination of a coupling of this invention and smooth pipe are connected together with a metal adhesive. 
         [0008]    Still another embodiment of this invention is a combination of at coupling as set forth Supra, smooth pipe, and an adjustable fitting, wherein the adjustable fitting comprises an integral combination of a saddle-configured base having a linear axis, terminal ends, two lateral wings, a top surface and a centered opening therethrough, a hollow hub centered and surmounted over the centered opening, the hollow hub having an inside surface and a bottom edge. 
         [0009]    There are two stabiliser ridges located on the top surface of the base, each stabilizer ridge having a top flat surface, and extending along the linear axis of the saddle-configured base from the hub to a terminal end of the saddle-configured base, and, a means of connecting the coupling, the smooth pipe, and the adjustable fitting together. 
         [0010]    Included herein is an embodiment which is a combination of a first smooth pipe and a pipe reducer, said first smooth pipe having two ends, an inside diameter, an outside diameter and an outside surface of the first smooth pipe having a concave dimple located near at least one end of the first smooth pipe, each dimple being located a predetermined distance from each end. 
         [0011]    The pipe reducer has an outside surface, an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the first smooth pipe and an inside diameter, being slidably acceptable into a second smooth pipe having a diameter less than the inside diameter of the first smooth pipe. 
         [0012]    There is a second smooth pipe having an outside surface and being lesser in diameter than the first smooth pipe and slidably insertable into the pipe reducer, the second smooth pipe having a concave stop dimple located oh an outside surface a predetermined distance from an end of the second smooth pipe, these components being connected and fixed together by an adhesive. 
         [0013]    Additionally included within the scope of this invention is a method of manufacturing the combinations as set forth Supra, the method comprising treating the outside surface of the reducer near one end with an adhesive; treating the outside surface of the second smooth pipe near one end with an adhesive; fitting the first smooth pipe, the reducer, and the second smooth pipe together; placing a securing concave dimple in the outside surface of the first smooth pipe commensurately with placing a concave dimple in the outside of the reducer, while commensurately placing a concave dimple in the outside surface of the second smooth pipe. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a full side view of a section of smooth pipe showing the metal adjustable fitting on the surface thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is full end view of the adjustable fitting. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a full top view of the fitting of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is full side view of a coupling of this invention connecting two end sections of smooth pipe together. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a full side view of a reducer of this invention and two different sized pipes fox connection. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a full side view of an elbow of this invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a tee for piping made from an adjustable fitting of this invention and a portion of pipe. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , wherein there is shown a full side view of a section of smooth pipe  2  showing the adjustable fitting  1  on the surface of the pipe  2 . 
         [0022]    To those skilled in the art, it is known that there is an opening in the pipe  2  (not shown) that the adjustable fitting  1  is covering. The adjustable fitting  1  is integral and malleable and is comprised of a malleable saddle-configured base  3  having a linear axis A-A, two terminal ends  4  and  4 ′, two lateral wings  5  (only one of which is shown), a top surface  6  and a centered opening  7  therethrough (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0023]    There is a hollow hub  8 , centered and surmounted over said-centered opening  7 . The hollow hub  8  has an inside surface  9  (See  FIG. 3 ), and a bottom edge  10 . The inside surface  9  of the hub can be smooth, for the use of adhesives, or can be dimpled as will be described infra, or can be threaded for standard pipe sizes. The hub  8  has a lower bottom edge  27  and it is contemplated within the scope of this invention to have tabs  26  located on this bottom edge that they can insert into notches formed in the opening of a pipe, so as to prevent the adjustable fitting  1  from turning on the surface of the pipe. 
         [0024]    There are two, rigid stabilizer ridges  11  and  11 ′ located on the top surface  6  of the base  3 . Each of the said stabilizer ridges  11  and  11 ′ have a top flat surface  12 , and extend along the linear axis A-A of the saddle-configured base  3 , from the hub  8  to a terminal end  4  or  4 ′. These rigid stabilizer ridges  11  and  11 ′ act as reinforcement for the adjustable fitting  1 . The hub  8  is for connecting additional piping at this juncture in the pipe  2 . 
         [0025]    The opening width of the saddle of the saddle-based configuration  3  is enough to allow for the adjustable fitting  1  to fit over a large pipe. Upon fitting the adjustable fitting  1  to a pipe, the two lateral wings  5  are hammered or squeezed down onto the surface of the pipe  2  such that the saddle fits the surface tightly. Thus, the adjustable fitting can be used on all sizes of pipe. Once fitted to the pipe, the adjustable fitting is adhered to the pipe surface with a metal-adhesive.  FIG. 2  shows an end view of the adjustable fitting  1  of this invention wherein there is also shown a bend of the lateral wings  5  in phantom to illustrate how the lateral wings  5  can be bent down to the surface of the pipe. 
         [0026]    This invention contemplates a coupling  13  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The coupling  13  is shown as joining two segments of pipe P wherein there is also shown stop dimples  14 . Stop dimples  14  formed in the coupling  13  allow for stopping the insertion, of the pipe ends  15  beyond a certain point. Also shown is a stabilizer dimple  16  (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,723) which is incorporated herein by reference for showing the means by which pipe dimpling can be accomplished. This dimple  16  disallows the turning, or moving of the pipe otherwise, in the connector  13 . This coupling  13  is also connected to piping using a metal adhesive. 
         [0027]    Also contemplated within the scope of this invention is a pipe reducer  17 , shown in  FIG. 5 . This reducer  17  does not have any dimpling, but is fitted by dimpling the pipes in which it is to be used. For example, there is a dimple  18  in the large pipe  19  shown in  FIG. 5  and a dimple  20  shown in the small pipe  21  in  FIG. 5 . The dimple  20  in the small pipe  21  is facing out rather than in as are the stop dimples such as  16 . This dimple  21  is formed by using a dimpling device and putting it inside of the pipe rather than, on the outside of the pipe. 
         [0028]    Shown in  FIG. 6  is an elbow  22  in which there is shown retainer dimplings  23 .  FIG. 7  shows a pipe tee  24  that has an adjustable fitting  1  mounted on it and retainer dimplings  25 . Retainer dimplings are used to retain the fittings and pipe together with the use of a metal adhesive.