Pipe homing tool and method

A pipe homing tool includes a plurality of clamps each having a clamp cavity, a chain extending through the clamp cavity of each of the plurality of clamps and a binder engaging the chain and adapted to selectively shorten and lengthen the chain.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to pipe homing tools and methods of using pipe homing tools. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a pipe homing tool which homes the joint ends of pipe members which are to be joined to each other and a method of using the pipe homing tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Piping is used in a variety of industries and can be used to convey fluids, cables and other objects or substances over long distances. For example, subterranean piping is commonly used in municipalities to convey potable water, sewage and cables. In cable-conveying applications, the distance across which the cable must be conveyed may exceed the length of a single pipe segment. Therefore, multiple pipe segments are designed in such a way as to be easily connected to one another to ensure that the assembled pipe traverses the required distance.

An example of a pipe segment which is used in municipal applications is known as a AWWA c900 pipe segment and is tapered at one end (known as the spigot end) and flared at the opposing end, forming an outer bell. The spigot end of an inner pipe segment is dimensioned to fit into the complementary outer bell of an adjoining outer pipe segment. In order to prevent leaks, ensure proper internal pipe pressure and prevent exposure to subterranean elements, a gasket lines a recess inside the outer bell. The gasket is shaped in such a way that when the spigot end of the inner pipe segment is inserted to a preferred depth within the outer bell of an adjacent outer pipe segment, the gasket deforms and seals the joint from exterior conditions. The depth at which the spigot end of the inner pipe segment is inserted into the outer bell of the outer pipe segment may be indicated with a stop mark on the surface of the inner pipe segment. The process of inserting the spigot end of the inner pipe segment to the preferred depth within the outer bell of the receiving outer pipe segment is referred to as homing the pipe.

If a pipe segment is improperly homed, proper sealing between the pipe segments may not occur. This may be costly to the contractors or municipalities who install the piping, as the improperly-homed pipe may require repair or replacement. One circumstance which can cause improper homing is environmental conditions. In general, since municipal piping is laid underground, a problem which arises when attempting to home a pipe is that the marker on the inner pipe gets covered with dirt, mud, or the like, thereby obscuring the marker. Once the marker cannot be seen, workers are no longer able to easily ensure that the inner pipe is properly homed.

What is desired is a tool and a method for ensuring that a pipe segment is properly and easily homed, regardless of marker visibility, so that the pipe segment may be properly homed for use in any weather or working conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure is generally directed to a tool and method for homing pipe.

A first aspect of the disclosure provides a pipe homing tool which may include:

at least three clamps fabricated of a rigid material and defined by a proximal side wall, a distal side wall, a bottom face, a support rod, and a central cavity;

a chain; and

a binder able to apply tension to the chain,

wherein the chain passes through the central cavity of each clamp and is connected at either end to the binder.

In another aspect of the device, each clamp may be plastic.

In a further aspect of the pipe homing tool, the bottom face of the clamp may be shaped so as to immobilize each clamp against the surface of a pipe segment.

In another aspect of the pipe homing tool, the bottom face of each clamp may be fitted with multiple teeth.

In yet another aspect of the pipe homing tool, the bottom face of each clamp may include a configuration of spikes.

In yet another aspect of the pipe homing tool, the support rod may extend from the proximal side to the distal side at a height above the bottom face of each clamp such that the chain may be threaded through the support rod and the bottom face.

In a further aspect of the pipe homing tool, the tool may be used on a pipe having a surface, a spigot end at one end, an outer bell at the opposing end and a stop mark.

In another aspect of the pipe homing tool, the chain may be sufficiently long to substantially surround the spigot end of a pipe segment.

In another aspect of the pipe homing tool, the chain may be threaded through the central cavities of the clamps in such a way that the proximal side and bottom face of each clamp is aligned.

In another aspect of the pipe homing tool, the clamps and the chain may be placed around the spigot end of the pipe segment in such a manner that the bottom face of each clamp is in contact with the surface of the pipe and the proximal side of each clamp is aligned with the stop mark.

In yet another aspect of the pipe homing tool, both ends of the chain may be attached to the binder.

In another aspect of the pipe homing tool, the tension of the chain may be adjusted with a binder.

In another aspect of the pipe homing tool, the chain, the clamps and the binder may be removed from the pipe using a release mechanism.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for ensuring that a pipe is properly homed which comprises:

threading a chain through three or more clamps fabricated of a rigid material defined by a proximal side wall, a distal side wall, a bottom face, a support rod, and a central cavity in such a way that proximal side and bottom face of each clamp is aligned;

placing the chain and clamps around a spigot end of an inner pipe segment so that the bottom face of each clamp comes in contact with the surface of the inner pipe segment;

spacing the clamps evenly around the inner pipe segment;

attaching either end of the chain to a binder;

aligning the proximal side of each clamp to a spot mark on the spigot end of the inner pipe segment;

tightening the chain using the binder,

inserting the spigot end of the inner pipe segment into an outer bell of an outer pipe segment until the outer bell contacts the clamps; and

removing the chain, the clamps and the binder from the inner pipe segment.

These and other advantages of the disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially toFIG. 6of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of a pipe homing tool is generally indicated by reference numeral50. As will be hereinafter described, the pipe homing tool50may be used to ensure that an inner pipe segment300is properly homed to facilitate adjoining of the pipe segment300to an adjacent outer pipe segment500(FIG. 9). The pipe homing tool50may include multiple clamps100, at least one chain200which engages the clamps100and at least one binder400which engages the chain200and is operable to selectively tighten the chain200and secure the clamps100against the pipe segment300. In some embodiments, the pipe homing tool50may include four clamps100, as illustrated inFIG. 6.

Referring next toFIGS. 1-4of the drawings, each clamp100may include a proximal side wall102, a distal side wall104which is spaced-apart with respect to the proximal side wall102and a connecting wall105which extends between and joins the proximal side wall102and the distal side wall104. In some embodiments the proximal side wall102, the distal side wall104and the connecting wall105may be generally elongated, as illustrated. The connecting wall105may have a clamp bottom face110. A clamp cavity108may be defined by and between the proximal side wall102and the distal side wall104. At least one transverse clamp support rod106may traverse the clamp cavity108between the proximal side wall102and the distal side wall104at a spacing of at least “H” (FIG. 4) with respect to the connecting wall105. As shown inFIG. 4, the spacing “H” may correspond to the thickness of the chain200. The clamp cavity108may be sized and dimensioned to accommodate the chain200. In some embodiments, each clamp100may be plastic; however, it is understood that in other embodiments the clamp100may be metal, composite material and/or any other suitable rigid material.

As shown inFIGS. 1-3, in some embodiments, multiple clamp teeth112may be provided in the clamp bottom face110of the connecting wall105of each clamp100. The clamp teeth112may be oriented in parallel relationship with respect to a longitudinal axis of the connecting wall105. In application of the pipe homing tool50, which will be hereinafter described, the clamp teeth112engage the exterior surface of the pipe segment300(FIG. 5) to immobilize the clamp100with respect to the pipe segment300. While depicted in the drawings as multiple adjacent rows of teeth112, it is understood that in some embodiments multiple spikes (not illustrated) and/or other structural elements may be provided on the clamp bottom face110for the purpose.

Referring next toFIGS. 7,8and11-15of the drawings, an exemplary binder400of the pipe homing tool50may include a binder housing402. In some embodiments, the binder housing402may include a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart binder housing sidewalls410. A binder housing connecting wall412may extend between and join the binder housing sidewalls410to each other. A binder housing interior414may be defined by and between the binder housing sidewalls410and the binder housing connecting wall412.

A chain gear406having gear teeth407may be journaled for rotation between the binder housing sidewalls410in the binder housing interior414of the binder housing402. As shown inFIG. 15, in some embodiments, a gear mount bolt426may be extended through registering gear mount bolt openings (not illustrated) in the respective binder housing sidewalls410of the binder housing402and through a registering bolt opening (not illustrated) in the chain gear406. A securing nut427may be threaded on the gear mount bolt426. A generally elongated binder lever404may extend from the chain gear406and protrude from the binder housing interior414of the binder housing402.

In some embodiments, the binder400may include a ratchet mechanism416. The ratchet mechanism416may include a ratchet plate417which has ratchet plate teeth418and is provided on the gear mount bolt416. As illustrated inFIGS. 13 and 14, the ratchet plate417may be disposed outside one of the binder housing sidewalls410of the binder housing402. As illustrated inFIG. 15, the gear mount bolt426may have at least one elongated key slot428. A ratchet key429may be seated in each key slot428. The ratchet key428may engage the ratchet plate417at a key notch (not illustrated) in the ratchet plate417, for example and without limitation. Accordingly, the ratchet plate417moves with the rotating chain gear406as the binder lever404is pivoted or rotated in the binder housing interior414of the binder housing402. A pawl420having pawl teeth421may be pivotally attached to one of the binder housing sidewalls410via a pivot bolt422. Therefore, as illustrated inFIG. 11, the pawl teeth421of the pawl420disengage the ratchet plate teeth418of the ratchet plate417to facilitate free rotation of the chain gear406in the binder housing402. As illustrated inFIG. 12, the pawl teeth421of the pawl420engage the ratchet plate teeth418of the ratchet plate417to prevent rotation of the chain gear406in the binder housing402.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, in some embodiments, the chain200may have a chain fixed end201and a chain free end202which is opposite the chain fixed end201. The chain fixed end201may be affixed to the binder housing connecting wall412or other component of the binder housing402at a chain connection point408. As illustrated inFIG. 12, the gear teeth407of the chain gear406mesh with the chain free end202of the chain200. Accordingly, as the binder lever404is pivoted or rotated in the binder housing interior414of the binder400, the chain gear406rotates in the direction in which the binder lever404is pivoted or rotated. As the chain gear406rotates, the gear teeth407are progressively introduced into subsequent chain link cavities204(FIG. 7) of the chain200, thereby advancing the chain200through the binder housing interior414. Thus, the binder400progressively shortens or tightens the chain200. The pawl teeth421of the pawl420engages the ratchet teeth418of the ratchet plate417to prevent rotation of the chain gear406and linear movement of the chain200in the opposite direction. In alternative embodiments, the binder400may include a winch, geared screw or any other mechanism which is suitable to adjust the tension of the chain200. These alternative embodiments of the binder400may require that both the chain fixed end201and the chain free end202of the chain200be fixed or free.

Referring next toFIGS. 4-6,9and10of the drawings, in exemplary application, the pipe homing tool50may be used to ensure that an inner pipe segment300is properly homed to facilitate adjoining of the inner pipe segment300to an adjacent outer pipe segment500(FIG. 9). As illustrated inFIG. 5, the inner pipe segment300may have a spigot end302and a stop mark304which is spaced-apart from the spigot end302. The stop mark304defines the depth to which the spigot end302is to be inserted into an outer bell502(FIG. 9) of the outer pipe segment500for proper homing of the inner pipe segment300, as will be hereinafter described.

The chain free end202(FIG. 7) of the chain200is threaded through the clamp cavity108(FIG. 4) of each of the multiple clamps100and the binder housing interior414of the binder housing402of the binder400. Care may be taken to ensure that no twists are present in the chain200. As illustrated inFIG. 12, the chain200meshes with the gear teeth407on the chain gear406in the binder housing interior414of the binder400. Accordingly, the chain200can be advanced through the binder housing402of the binder400and through the clamp cavity108(FIG. 4) of each clamp100by pivoting the binder lever404in the binder housing interior414of the binder housing402. As shown inFIG. 6, the clamps100and the chain200are draped around the circumference of the pipe300. The clamps100are then evenly spaced around the pipe300on the chain200and aligned with respect to the pipe300such that the proximal side wall102of each clamp100is aligned with the stop mark304(FIG. 5), the distal side wall104of each clamp100is spaced-apart from the spigot end302of the inner pipe segment300and the clamp bottom face110of each clamp100disposed in contact with the exterior surface of the pipe300.

The chain200is next tensioned by pivoting the binder lever404in the binder housing interior414of the binder400until the clamps100are tightened and become immobilized against the exterior surface of the inner pipe segment300. Once the clamps100are immobilized, the spigot end302of the inner pipe segment300is inserted into the companion outer bell502of the receiving outer pipe segment500, thereby forming a pipe joint600(FIG. 10) between the inner pipe segment300and the outer pipe segment500. The inner pipe segment300may be inserted into the outer pipe segment500until the clamps100of the pipe housing tool50contact the outer bell502of the outer pipe segment500. At this point, a gasket504(FIG. 9) may form a seal between the inner pipe segment300and the outer pipe segment500and the inner pipe segment300is properly homed. Upon completion of the homing operation, the chain200may be released from the binder400and the clamps100, the chain200, and the binder400may be removed from the pipe300.