Abstract:
A flange alignment tool is provided for aligning misaligned flanges such that one worker can align the flanges, in a safe and efficient manner, with no sledge hammer involved. The flange alignment tool is simple to operate and is adaptable to various sized flange holes. The tool is operated by simple tools, such as a wrench, with no impact forces required. The tool is constructed of rigid materials to provide the strength and support for the alignment process, and has all components attached, and readily accessible, that are needed to accommodate various sizes of flange holes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/852,456, filed Oct. 18, 2006, by the inventor herein, Alfredo Rangel Sanchez. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The field of the invention is industrial piping equipment, specifically flange joints used for connecting sections of pipe, valves, and the like. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Industrial workers often face the task of connecting two pipe sections, or a valve and a pipe section, where each pipe section and valve has a flange on its end. The flanges are matched and have a number of corresponding hole pairs such that bolts may be inserted through the hole in the first flange and through the corresponding hole in the second flange. A nut is then added to the bolt portion that protrudes from the hole in the second flange. All corresponding hole pairs receive a bolt and nut in this manner, and the flange joint is finally connected by tightening the nuts on the bolts. 
   In order to begin this task, the worker must first line up a pair of corresponding holes on the first and second flanges. Since the pipe, valves, and flanges are usually very heavy and awkward, it is hard to align the corresponding holes to receive the first bolt. In current practice, the worker uses a “line-up pin”, which is a steel pin that must be driven into the corresponding hole pair with a sledge hammer. The force of the sledge hammer acting on the pin will eventually move the flanges into approximate alignment, and a bolt may be placed in another of the corresponding hole pairs. 
   The line-up pin technique has serious shortcomings. Often the workers are in small areas with insufficient room to properly aim and swing the sledge hammer. As a result, the worker holding the pin is often struck in the arm or hand by the hammer. Also, surrounding structures, such as the valve bodies, are often inadvertently struck by the hammer. A sledge hammer striking the steel pin is also very loud, especially when working in metal buildings. 
   What is needed is a device for aligning misaligned flanges in a simple operation such that one worker can align the flanges, in a safe and efficient manner, with no sledge hammer or other impact forces involved. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   My invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a flange alignment tool for aligning misaligned flanges such that one worker can align the flanges, in a safe and efficient manner, with no sledge hammer involved. My flange alignment tool is simple to operate and is adaptable to various sized flange holes. The tool is operated by simple tools, such as a wrench, with no impact forces required. The tool is constructed of rigid materials to provide the strength and support for the alignment process, and has all components attached, and readily accessible, that are needed to accommodate various sizes of flange holes. 
   In the present invention, I have provided a tool for aligning misaligned bolt holes in first and second flanges, the flanges having top edges and holes, including top holes, for receiving bolts, such that the first and second flanges can be drawn together, the tool comprising: an insertion member for inserting into the top hole of the first flange; a body member, attached to the insertion member, for positioning on the second flange and extending over the first flange; a sliding member slidably positioned within the body member; and an elongated member positioned through the body member, threadably received by the sliding member, and slidable along the body member with the sliding member to a point above the second flange top edge, such that rotation of the elongated member in a first direction causes the elongated member to bear upon the second flange top edge and move the body member, the movement of the body member causing the insertion member to move the first flange toward a more aligned position. 
   In some exemplary embodiments, the tool further comprises a shim for reducing the annulus formed by the insertion member in the first flange top hole. In some exemplary embodiments, the tool further comprises an attachment member for attaching the shim to the tool. 
   In some exemplary embodiments, the tool further comprises a plurality of shims, having varying thicknesses, for reducing the annulus formed by the insertion member in the first flange top hole. In some exemplary embodiments, the tool further comprises an attachment member for attaching the shim to the tool. 
   In some exemplary embodiments, the first flange top hole has an interior end and the insertion member has a first end, the body member and insertion member being configured such that, when inserted into the first flange top hole, the body member bears upon the first flange and the insertion member first end is proximate the first flange top hole interior end. 
   I have provided, in the present invention, a tool for aligning misaligned bolt holes in first and second flanges, the flanges having top edges and holes, including top holes, for receiving bolts, such that the first and second flanges can be drawn together, the tool comprising: support means for supporting the first flange at the first flange top hole; lift means, cooperating with the second flange top edge, for lifting the support means; positioning means for positioning the lift means for cooperation with the second flange top edge; and operating means, for operating the lift means. 
   In some exemplary embodiments, the tool further comprises fitting means for improving the support means support of the first flange at the first flange top hole. 
   In the present invention, I have provided a tool for aligning misaligned bolt holes in first and second flanges, the flanges having top edges and holes, including top holes, for receiving bolts, such that the first and second flanges can be drawn together, the tool comprising: a body member, the body member having a bore, a top and a bottom, the top having a slot, the bottom having a slot, the top and bottom slots being at least partially aligned; a rod, attached to the body member, the rod being in substantial parallel alignment with the top slot; and a slide member, positioned for movement along the body member bore, the sliding member having a threaded member, the sliding member having a hole for threadably receiving the threaded member, the threaded member being positioned through the body member top slot, through the sliding member hole, then through the body member bottom slot; such that, when the rod is inserted into the first flange top hole, the body member extends over the second flange top edge, and rotation of the threaded member causes the body member to rise and lift the rod, the rod lifting the second flange. 
   In some exemplary embodiments, the tool further comprises a shim for reducing the annulus formed by the rod in the first flange top hole. In some exemplary embodiments, the tool further comprises an attachment member for attaching the shim to the tool. 
   In some exemplary embodiments, the tool further comprises a plurality of shims, having varying thicknesses, for reducing the annulus formed by the rod in the first flange top hole. In some exemplary embodiments, the tool further comprises an attachment member for attaching the shim to the tool. 
   In some exemplary embodiments, the first flange top hole has an interior end and the rod has a first end, the body member and rod being configured such that, when inserted into the first flange top hole, the body member bears upon the first flange and the rod first end is proximate the first flange top hole interior end. 
   The foregoing features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following more particular descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention as illustrated, in some embodiments, in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with a portion cutaway to illustrate inside components. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the sliding member of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of two flanges being aligned by an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of two flanges being aligned by an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of two shims provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   The following discussion describes in detail exemplary embodiments of the invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. 
   As used herein, the term “flange” refers to each of two generally disk shaped members, having equal diameters and corresponding holes, that are sealably fastened together by placing bolts in each of the pairs of corresponding holes, and then tightening the members by placing nuts on the bolts and tightening the nuts. The flanges are typically welded to pipe sections or valves, with the flange joinder being used to form a connecting joint between the two pipe sections or a pipe section and a valve. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 , wherein an exemplary embodiment of a tool  10  is depicted and shown to comprise a body member  20 , an insertion member  30 , a sliding member  40 , and an elongated member  50 . As shown further in  FIG. 2 , the body member  20  has a top side  22 , top side slot  24 , first vertical side  25 , bottom side  26 , second vertical side  27 , and bottom side slot  28 , and the insertion member  30  has rod  32 , a rod first end  34 , a rod second end  36 , and attachment members  38   a,b . The sliding member  40  is shown to comprise a first portion  42  and a second portion  44  having a threaded hole  46 , and the elongated member  50  is shown to have a wrenchable first end  52 , threads  54  and a second end  56 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the body member  20  is generally rectangular and elongated, and hollow to allow the slide member  40  to slide along at least part of the body member&#39;s length, of approximately 11.5 inches. The top side slot  24  and the bottom side slot  28  run generally along a part of the body member length, and are approximately 7.5 inches long, and 0.75 inches wide. As shown further in  FIG. 3 , the sliding member  40  has a steel, generally rectangular first portion  42 , that is approximately 1.25 inches in height, which provides a generally close fit within the body member  20  interior, the interior having a height of approximately 1.5 inches. The sliding member second portion  44 , is welded to the first portion, and has a threaded hole  46 . 
   The insertion member  30  in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  is a 1.125 inch steel rod, about 4.5 inches in length. The attachment members  38   a,b  have a width of about 2.25 inches, and a height of about 1.5 inches, and are welded to both the body member  20  and the insertion member rod  32  such that the height from the top side  22  of the body member  20  to the bottom of the rod  32  is approximately 4.5 inches. The elongated member  50  in this exemplary embodiment is a bolt  50  having a hex head first end  52 , threads  54 , a second end  56 , a diameter of 0.75 inches, and a length of 5.0 inches. When sized according to this exemplary embodiment, the tool  10  can be utilized with flanges having diameters of very large sizes—even 96 inches in diameter. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , wherein the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  is shown in use on a first flange  100  and a second flange  120 , the first flange being welded to a first pipe  130 , the second flange being welded to a second pipe  140 . The first flange  100  has a top hole  102  and an adjacent hole  104 , the top hole corresponding to, but misaligned with, a top hole  122  on the second flange  120 , the adjacent hole  104  corresponding to, but misaligned with, a hole (not shown) on the second flange. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 6 , wherein the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , is further shown to include readily accessible primary and secondary shims  150 ,  160 , each shim having an elongated arcuate portion  152 ,  162  that is sized to generally correspond with different flange hole diameters, with both shims so corresponding to flange hole diameters larger than the diameter of the insertion member rod  32 . Each shim has a grasping portion  154 , 164  and a chain  156 , 166 , the chain being attached to the tool body member  20 . 
   In practice, the misaligned flanges will generally have a first flange  100  that is lower than the second flange  120 , this causing the misalignment of the holes through which straight bolts must be inserted to draw the flanges together. In order to raise the first flange  100  such that the flange holes align for bolt insertion, the tool operator inserts the insertion member rod  32  into the top hole  102  of the first flange  100 . The rod  32  has a length that, in cooperation with the positioning of the attachment members  38   a,b , prevents the rod second end  36  from extending, to any significant length, beyond hole  102 . The attachment members  38   a,b  are sized such that the body member  20  easily extends over the first flange  100 , thus placing at least a portion of the lengths of the body member top side slot  24  and bottom side slot  28  over the top edge  124  of the second flange  120 . 
   At this point, the tool operator inspects the fit of the insertion member rod  32  in the first flange top hole  102 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the hole diameter substantially exceeds the rod diameter, the operator will insert either or both of the shims  150 , 160  into the hole  102  along with the rod second end  36 . In  FIG. 4 , the primary shim  150  is adjacent the rod and the secondary shim is adjacent the hole  102 , thus positioning the widest arcuate portion  162  against the wall of the flange hole  102 . 
   Having further secured the insertion member rod  32  in the first flange top hole  102 , using the shims  150 , 160 , the operator then slides the sliding member  40  until the bolt  50  is positioned above the second flange top edge  124 . Using a wrench, or other suitable tool, the operator begins to rotate the bolt at the bolt head  52 . As the bolt is rotated clockwise its threads  54  act in cooperation with the threads in the sliding member second portion hole  46 , allowing the bolt second end  56  to emerge from the body member bottom side slot  28  and continue downwardly until the bolt second end bears upon the second flange top edge  124 . Because of the generally close fit of the sliding member first portion  42  in the body member  20 , the continued rotation of the bolt  50  causes the sliding member  40  to push upwardly on the body member top side  22 , thus raising the body member, and, in turn, raising the insertion member rod  32 . As the insertion member rod  32  is elevated, it bears on the first flange  100  and supports and raises the first flange at the flange top hole. The operator continues to rotate the bolt  50  until visual inspection indicates that the top edges of the flanges are substantially flush, at which time the operator inserts a flange bolt into a first flange  100  hole (such as hole  104 ) which can readily continue into and through the corresponding hole on the second flange  120 , because of the new alignment of such holes due to the elevation of the first flange. 
   Although an exemplary embodiment of the tool of the present invention has been described herein with dimensions suitable for the application depicted in  FIGS. 1-6 , and for applications involving very large flange diameters, it will be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art, that the components of the tool, can be re-sized to fit flanges of substantially smaller and larger diameters. Similarly, additional shims, of varying sizes, can be provided to accommodate a range of flange hole diameters. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum materials and configuration for my device will occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the present disclosure. 
   All equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   The descriptions in this specification are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense.