Pipe flare processing device having a view hole

The present invention includes a mold set, a deformation generating element, and an engaging element. The mold set has a pipe storing channel, a deformation portion, and a positioning recess. The deformation generating element has a deformation generating portion and a pushing portion with an outer working thread. The engaging element has an axial positioning portion and a working channel with an inner working thread. Therefore, the deformation generating portion can move toward the deformation portion for pipe flare processing work and a view hole is provided for viewing. So, no threaded hole is required for the mold set. The view hole allows the user to inspect the pipe end's position being correct or not. The manufacturing for the engaging element is easy. The engaging element has a guiding function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pipe flare tool, especially to a pipe flare processing device having a view hole. It has the following advantages and functions. No threaded hole is required for the mold set. The view hole allows the user to inspect the pipe end's position being correct or not. The manufacturing for the engaging element is easy. The engaging element has a guiding function. Therefore, this invention can solve the traditional problems such as inconvenient and complicated replacing procedure as well as time-consuming problem.

2. Description of Related Art

As illustrated inFIG. 9, a traditional flaring apparatus70(or called traditional tube flare apparatus) is disclosed. It includes a body71, a threaded bolt72, a tube securing portion73, and a flaring element74. The tube securing portion73contains a pair of adjusting portions731, several clamping channels732, and the guiding slots733. This body71can slide along the guiding slots733. The adjusting portions731can limit its moving range. The body71has a threaded bore711. This threaded bolt72can be positioned in this threaded bore711. The flaring element74is disposed on one end of the threaded bolt72.

About the operation of the traditional flaring device70, a pipe91is placed in one of the clamping channels732first. Then, the user can adjust the adjusting portions731about the size of the clamping channel732. Thus, the pipe91is fixed in the selected clamping channel732.

Finally, the user can rotate the threaded bolt732to force the flaring element moving731toward the direction of the clamping channel732. So, it can conduct the pipe flare processing related works on the pipe91.

However, when the user wants to change the flaring element74, one of the adjusting portions731must be taken off, so as to allow the body71to be removed from the guiding slots733. Hence, the body71is separated from the tube securing portion73. Then, the flaring element74can be replaced by another one. That is a very inconvenient and complicated procedure. It is time-consuming as well.

Under such condition, it is necessary to develop a new device to overcome the afore-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide a pipe flare processing device having a view hole containing the following advantages and functions. No threaded hole is required for the mold set. The view hole allows the user to inspect the pipe end's position being correct or not. The manufacturing for the engaging element is easy. The engaging element has a guiding function. Therefore, this invention can solve the traditional problems such as the inconvenient and complicated replacing procedure as well as the time-consuming problem.

In order to achieve the object and solve the above-mentioned problem, this invention is provided. A pipe flare processing device having a view hole comprising:

a mold set having an upper half mold, a lower half mold, and a plurality of securing elements;the upper half mold having an upper half pipe storing channel, an upper half deformation portion, an upper half positioning portion, a plurality of upper securing holes, and an upper view hole;the lower half mold having a lower half storing channel, a lower half deformation portion, a lower half positioning portion, a plurality of lower securing hole, and a lower half view hole; the upper half mold and the lower half mold being assembled; the upper half storing channel and the lower half storing channel forming a pipe storing channel; the upper half deformation portion and the lower half deformation portion forming a deformation portion; the upper half positioning portion and the lower half positioning portion forming a positioning recess; the upper half securing holes and the lower half securing holes forming a plurality of securing holes so that the securing elements are able to lock through so as to make the upper half mold and the lower half mold be secured together; and the upper view hole and the lower view hole forming a view hole;

a deformation generating element having at least one deformation generating portion and at least one pushing portion, the pushing portion being disposed with an outer working thread;

an engaging element having an axial positioning portion and working channel, the axial positioning portion being provided for axially securing the engaging element in the positioning recess; the working channel being axially disposed inside the engaging element and having an inner working thread that is able to match with the outer working thread of the pushing portion, so the deformation portion can move through;

so that the deformation generating portion is able to move along a direction toward the deformation portion to conduct a pipe flare processing work and the view hole being provided for viewing an inner portion of the mold set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention relates to a pipe flare processing device having a view hole. It comprises a mold set10, a deformation generating element20, and an engaging element30.

With regard to the mold set10, it has an upper half mold10A, a lower half mold10B, and several securing elements10C.

The upper half mold10A has an upper half pipe storing channel11A, an upper half deformation portion12A, an upper half positioning portion13A, a plurality of upper securing holes14A, and an upper view hole15A.

The lower half mold10B has a lower half pipe storing channel11B, a lower half deformation portion12B, a lower half positioning portion13B, a plurality of lower securing holes14B, and a lower view hole15B.

The upper half mold10A and the lower half mold10B can be assembled. The upper half storing channel11A and the lower half storing channel11B form a pipe storing channel11. The upper half deformation portion12A and the lower half deformation portion12B form a deformation portion12. The upper half positioning portion13A and the lower half positioning portion13B form a positioning recess13. The upper half securing holes14A and the lower half securing holes14B form a plurality of securing holes14so that the securing elements10C can lock through so as to make the upper half mold10A and the lower half mold10B can be secured together. Furthermore, the upper view hole15A and the lower view hole15B are co-axially aligned and combined to form a view hole15which is substantially perpendicular to the pipe storing channel11and penetrates the mold set10.

Concerning this deformation generating element20, it has at least one deformation generating portion21and at least one pushing portion22. The pushing portion22is disposed with an outer working thread221.

About the engaging element30, it has an axial positioning portion31and a working channel32. The axial positioning portion31is provided for axially securing the engaging element30in the positioning recess13so that the engaging element30is fixed and positioned inside the mold set10. The working channel32is axially disposed inside the engaging element30and has an inner working thread321that is able to match with the outer working thread221of the pushing portion22, so the pushing portion22can move toward the deformation portion12.

Therefore, the deformation generating portion21is able to move along a direction toward the deformation portion12to conduct a pipe flare processing and the view hole15is provided for viewing an inner portion of the mold set10.

Practically, the pipe storing channel11can store and secure a pipe91. This pipe90has a pipe end911which is positioned inside the deformation portion12and can be inspected via the view hole15.

The securing elements100could be screws, bolts or the like.

The axial positioning portion31is a hexagonal screw head structure. Moreover, the axial positioning portion31must have at least one pair of parallel flat surfaces for engaging with the positioning recess13. Of course, it could be four surfaces, eight surfaces or more.

About theFIG. 2, after the upper half positioning portion13A and the lower half positioning portion13B is assembled, the positioning recess13is formed. The positioning recess13is able to engage with the axial positioning portion31. The positioning recess13is shaped as a recessed hexagonal hole corresponding with the axial positioning portion31so as to limit a rotation of the axial positioning portion31. About the positioning recess13, the hexagonal recess can be modified to square or other shape that has at least one pair of parallel surfaces.

The deformation generating portion21is able to move along a direction toward the deformation portion12to conduct a pipe flare processing or relates works (bending, re-shaping, etc.).

The deformation generating element20further comprises a guiding portion23formed on an end of the deformation generating portion22so as to protrude in the deformation generating portion21to conduct a pipe flare processing for the pipe end911.

The deformation generating portion21having two ends.

Two pushing portions22and two guiding portions23are disposed on both ends respectively of the deformation generating portion21.

However, the deformation generating portion21can be modified as only one end that has one pushing portion21and one guiding portion23. That is, only one end has such function for pipe flare processing function.

There are many deformation generating elements20. Each deformation generating element20could be designed a0:

[a] the deformation generating portion21has different angle (such as for 30 degrees, 45 degrees pipe flaring) and has different size (such as for metric units or imperial units). Furthermore, the pipe flare processing contains many works such as pipe end deformation, tube expanding, special pipe end deformation or reshaping, etc., all known technology).

[b] The size of the pushing portion22should be changed according to the size of the deformation generating portion21(for example, larger or smaller).

The engaging element30should match with the deformation generating element20in quantity. Also, the working channel32should match the size and shape of the deformation generating portion21(for example, larger or smaller).

In addition, the outer working thread221should match with the inner working thread321(such as both coarse threads or both fine threads). Of course, they should match each other.

Referring toFIGS. 5A and 5B, this invention can include marks40that are formed on both the outer surfaces of the upper half mold10A and of the lower half mold10B. The marks40can indicate the center of the upper view hole15A and the lower view hole15B for allowing the user can inspect whether the pipe end911moving to the right position or not for pipe flare processing work.

Also, a handle50can be disposed perpendicularly on the upper half mold10A or on the lower half mold10B as an integral structure so as to make the user to hold this invention conveniently.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the operation procedures can be described as follows.

First, the engaging element30is placed between the upper half mold10A and the lower half mold10B. Next, the pipe91is placed in the pipe storing channel11. By inspecting through the view hole15, the user can make sure the pipe end911reaching the right position or not (inside the deformation portion12), as shown inFIGS. 4, 5A and 5B. Then, after assembling the upper half mold10A and the lower half mold10B together, the user should lock them tightly by these securing elements14through the securing holes15, so that the mold set10is locked. The axial positioning portion31is axially secured in the positioning recess13(cannot rotate). Put the deformation generating element20in the working channel32. The outer working thread221of the pushing portion22is threaded with the inner working thread321of the engaging element30. During the threading in process, the guiding portion23is protruded in the pipe end911as illustrated inFIG. 5A. Hence, the deformation generating portion21is able to conduct a pipe flare processing work on this pipe end911(can be seen inFIGS. 6A-6B).

Because the variety of products, there are many different types of pipe flare processing works. The key point is this invention has a positioning recess13in the mold set10. Thus, it can provide different deformation generating elements20can be used so as to fit specific needs about such pipe flare processing works. The deformation generating element20is changeable. Each deformation generating element20has a working channel32. As shown inFIG. 7, the working channel32has a first diameter D1. InFIG. 8, the working channel32has a second diameter D2which is smaller than the first diameter D1. So, suitable deformation generating element20with proper outer working thread can be screwed in. That is, only the deformation generating element20and the corresponding engaging element30are needed to be changed, the mold set10is the same (no change is needed). Therefore, it is very convenient.

Under such condition, please note:

First, just locking the upper half mold10A and the lower half mold10B together is required. No precise positioning procedure is required.

Second, the function of the securing hole14is to lock the upper half mold10A and the lower half mold10B.

Third, the engaging element30is placed between the upper half mold10A and the lower half mold10B. It also can guide the matching position about the upper half mold10A and the lower half mold10B.

The advantages and the functions of this invention can be summarized as follows.

[1] No threaded hole is required for the mold set. In our invention, there is no threaded hole in the upper half mold nor the lower half hold. The pipe storing channel and the positioning recess can be manufactured by general machining technique easily. The securing hole is easy to be manufactured. So, No threaded hole is required for the mold set

[2] The view hole allows the user to inspect the pipe end's position is correct or not. Because there is the design of view hole, it is easy to check whether the pipe end moving to a right position or not (for starting a pipe flare processing). It is extremely convenient.

[3] The manufacturing for the engaging element is easy. Once the upper half mold is placed on the lower half mold, it just needs to make the engaging element being positioned in the positioning recess. The required machining technology is relatively low. So, the manufacturing for the engaging element is easy.

[4] The engaging element has a guiding function. The engaging element is placed between the upper half positioning portion and the lower half positioning portion. Also, the upper and the lower half positioning portions are just positioned between the upper and the lower half molds. Therefore, it can guide the upper and the lower half molds to be locked together. Thus, the engaging element has a guiding function.

[5] One mold set is suitable for different deformation generating elements with different threads. This invention is designed to make the engaging element replaceable. Every engaging element's thread can fit with the thread of the corresponding deformation generating element. Meanwhile, if the user needs different deformation generating element, the one only needs to change a suitable engaging element. It is not required to change the whole mold set. It is very convenient. One mold set is suitable for different deformation generating elements with different threads.