Pipe spacing wedge systems

A pipe spacing wedge system including a pipe spacing wedge assembly, with the pipe spacing wedge assembly including a wedge-body. The wedge-body may be defined by a front-side, a back-side, a right-edge, a left-edge, a top-edge, and a bottom-edge. The front-side of the wedge-body includes a plurality of stepped surfaces and the top-edge includes a sharp point. The pipe spacing wedge assembly is structured and arranged to assist a user in setting a variety of specific gap-distance between sections of pipe and pipe spacing wedge assembly is intended to be driven between the two sections of pipe by the user to set the gap-distance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of pipe spacing devices and more specifically relates to pipe spacing wedge systems.

2. Description of Related Art

Standard pipeline construction generally requires the use of multiple sections of pipe which must be joined together to form a longer pipeline. Various methods are available to join these sections of pipe. Some methods include the use of mechanical restraints, joining pipe by adhesive, or the pipe sections may use a bell-and-spigot and hold together by friction. In the case of metallic pipe, including steel and steel alloys, joining the pipe sections by welding, brazing, or soldering is common in the industry.

When welding metallic pipe, great care must be taken to ensure that the welds are of the proper thickness and depth to ensure longevity of the pipeline and leak-free construction. Therefore the gap spacing used and to be filled by welds is of great importance. Various methods may be employed to ensure the proper gap spacing.

Common methods of ensuring the proper gap between sections of pipe include the use of a wedge, a gap rod, or a spacing ring. These devices are either placed between the pipe sections as they are brought together or may be hammered/driven/pryed into a smaller gap to open the gap to a wider predetermined width. These devices are also used to gauge the gap. Generally, a wedge or gap rod is a specific thickness such that they can only be used for a single gap width. This limitation requires that the pipefitter or tradesman must have available multiple different wedges or gap rods to cover the range of desired gaps during construction. This limitation makes pipeline construction more costly and time consuming. Therefore a suitable solution is required.

Several attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. and Foreign Pat. And Pub. Nos. U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,420 to Wittenbach, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,059,320 and 4,346,918 to Lycan, U.S. Pat. No. 2,423,848 to O'Connor, U.S. Pat. No. 1,872,240 to Burnish, U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,487 to Lorusso, U.S. Pat. No. 3,210,068 to Shelton, U.S. Pat. No. 2,803,883 to Morano, U.S. Pat. No. 8,292,161 and CA 2,649,980 to Hacikyan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,541 to Condon, and EP 0,366,399 to Jones. This art is representative of pipe spacing devices. However, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

Preferably, a pipe spacing wedge system should provide a device to allow a user to quickly and accurately set a variety of different specific gap widths between sections of pipe and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable pipe spacing wedge system to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known pipe spacing device art, the present invention provides a novel pipe spacing wedge system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a device to allow a user to quickly and accurately set a variety of different gaps widths between sections of pipe during fabrication or coupling. The present invention lends itself to use during pipe to pipe connections, pipe to fitting connections, pipe to flange connections or fitting to flange connections.

A pipe spacing wedge system is disclosed herein, in a preferred embodiment, comprising a pipe spacing wedge assembly; the pipe spacing wedge assembly comprising a wedge-body. The wedge-body may comprise a front-side, a back-side, a right-edge, a left-edge, a top-edge, and a bottom-edge. In a preferred embodiment, the front-side of the wedge-body may comprise a plurality of stepped surfaces and the top-edge may comprise a sharp point. The sharp point may comprise a double edge or a single edge.

The pipe spacing wedge assembly is structured and arranged to assist a user in setting a variety of specific gap-distances between sections of pipe, in the preferred embodiment, and thus the pipe spacing wedge assembly is designed as intended to be driven between two sections of pipe by the user to set the gap-distance, or to be pryed upon to achieve desired Hi-Lo. A preferred embodiment may include the pipe spacing wedge assembly constructed of a tempered material to provide sufficient hardness and durability in use and the front-side may comprise a non-smooth texture to prevent the pipe spacing wedge system from being inserted into the two sections of pipe. Back side may comprise various surface textures (to prevent wedge from slipping too deep into gap) or no texture.

In the preferred embodiment, the right-edge and the left-edge of the wedge-body may be substantially parallel. The top-edge and the bottom-edge of the wedge-body may also be substantially parallel. Additionally, the plurality of stepped surfaces of the front-side may be substantially parallel in alignment. A height of the plurality of stepped surfaces may be non-equal and each of the heights may lie at a 45-degree angle in relation to the plurality of stepped surfaces in a preferred embodiment. Other angles may be used. Also, the plurality of stepped surfaces may be each ⅜″ in length, dependent upon the specific use and application of the pipe spacing wedge system.

A preferred embodiment of a pipe spacing wedge system may include the stepped surfaces which may further comprise numeric-indications of the heights of the plurality of stepped surfaces and the numeric-indications may be fractional-inch indications or other suitable measurement means. Other forms of marking may be used.

The front-side of the pipe spacing wedge system may comprise an aperture to aid the user during use of the pipe spacing wedge system, and the aperture may be ⅜″ in diameter. A center of the aperture may be located at a distance of ¾″ from the bottom-edge in a preferred embodiment. The device may be carried via the aperture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a pipe spacing device and more particularly to a pipe spacing wedge system as used to improve the quickness and accuracy of setting a variety of specific gap-distances between sections of pipe.

Generally speaking, a pipe spacing wedge system can be easily operated by a user while providing an accurate means for the user to accurately set a variety of specific gap-distances between sections of pipe, using only one wedge. Steps may be found on one side of the device or on both sides. Multiple wedges may be used.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown inFIGS. 1-4, a pipe spacing wedge system100. Referring now more specifically toFIG. 1, showing pipe spacing wedge systems100during ‘in-use’ condition150according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2-4, show pipe spacing wedge systems100comprising pipe spacing wedge assembly102having wedge-body110. Wedge-body110comprises front-side112, back-side116, right-edge118, left-edge120, top-edge122, and bottom-edge124. Front-side112further comprises plurality of stepped surfaces114and top-edge122comprises sharp point126, as shown. Pipe spacing wedge assembly102is structured and arranged to assist user140in setting a variety of specific gap-distances130between sections of pipe132and pipe spacing wedge assembly102is driven between two sections of pipe132by user140. Pipe spacing wedge assembly102is preferably constructed of a tempered material to provide sufficient hardness and durability during use in some embodiments.

Embodiments of pipe spacing wedge system top-edge and said bottom-edge are substantially parallel100include arrangements where plurality of stepped surfaces114are substantially parallel in alignment; right-edge118and left-edge are substantially parallel120, and top-edge122and bottom-edge are substantially parallel124. Embodiments include front-side112comprising a non-smooth texture to prevent pipe spacing wedge system100from being fully inserted into two sections of pipe132. Alternate embodiments may comprise different profiles.

A height between plurality of stepped surfaces114are equal in some embodiments, where other embodiments include heights of plurality of stepped surfaces114which are non-equal. In the embodiments which include heights of plurality of stepped surfaces114which are non-equal, further embodiments may include heights which are sequentially smaller in relation to increase in proximity to top-edge122. Additional embodiments include heights which lie at a 45-degree angle in relation to plurality of stepped surfaces114. Other angles may be used dependent upon the application. Some embodiments may include plurality of stepped surfaces114which are each ⅜″ in length, and may vary dependent upon the specific application.

Embodiments of pipe spacing wedge system100include plurality of stepped surfaces114which further comprises numeric-indications of heights of plurality of stepped surfaces114. The numeric-indications may comprise fractional-inch indications, and in alternate embodiments, may comprise millimeter indications or other such indications.

Front-side112may further comprise aperture128to aid use of pipe spacing wedge assembly102by user and aperture may be ⅜″ in diameter and center of aperture128may be located at a distance of ¾″ from bottom-edge124. Other diameters and distances may be used in other embodiments.

Pipe spacing wedge system100may be sold as a kit comprising the following parts: at least one pipe spacing wedge assembly102and at least one set of user instructions. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). Pipe spacing wedge system100may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different stepping and profiling combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

Referring now toFIG. 5showing flowchart550illustrating method of use500for a pipe spacing wedge system100according to an embodiment of the present invention ofFIGS. 1-4.

As shown, method of use500may comprise the steps of: step one501, providing pipe spacing wedge assembly102; step two502, providing at least two sections of pipe132; step three503, driving pipe spacing wedge assembly102between two of the at least two sections of pipe132to a predetermined depth to provide a predetermined gap; step four504, affixing (weld tacking or the like) two of the at least two sections of pipe32together; and step five505, removing pipe spacing wedge assembly102from the two of at least two sections of pipe132.

It should be noted that step four504and step five505are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use500are illustrated using dotted lines inFIG. 5so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use500.