HAND-TOOL FOR WIDENING A PIPE END AND PIPE COUPLING MAKING USE OF SUCH A WIDENED PIPE END

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for arranging on a pipe an approximately truncated cone-shaped pipe end, comprising: a mandrel (30) provided with a tapering end (31); holding means (3, 4) for fixedly holding the pipe end; and an operating arm (11) which causes the mandrel (30) to move relative to the holding means (3, 4). The above stated tool can be embodied with dimensions which are hardly larger than a so-called pipe wrench, which is suited as hand-tool and which considerably facilitate installation operations, particularly in places which are difficult of access, such as under and/or behind a bar table in a catering establishment.

Description: HAND-TOOL FOR WIDENING A PIPE END AND PIPE COUPLING MAKING USE OF SUCH A WIDENED PIPE END Particularly during installation operations in the catering industry, such as of beer pipes and pipes for soft drinks, pipe couplings are used wherein a nut element is fixedly screwed over a flared pipe element on an end piece which is for example fixed to a wall or tabletop. If such pipe couplings have to be made in situ, the pipes are usually manufactured from plastic material as it is easy to make a flared or truncated cone-shaped extremity on ends of these pipes. Such plastic pipes have a short life span parti¬ cularly in respect of gas-tightness. In an increasing number of catering establishments preference is given to pipes of stainless steel for beer and/or soft drinks. When these pipes have to be provided with flared pipe ends, extensive equipment has to be disposed at the place of installation due to the considerable forces which have to be exerted on the stainless steel pipe ends. The present invention provides a tool for arranging on a pipe an approximately truncated cone-shaped pipe end, comprising: - a mandrel provided with a tapering end, - holding means for fixedly holding the pipe end; and - an operating arm which causes the mandrel to move relative to the holding means. The above stated tool can be embodied with dimensions which are hardly larger than a so-called pipe wrench, which is suited as hand-tool and which considerably facilitate installation operations, particularly in places which are difficult of access, such as under and/or behind a bar table in a catering establishment. It is noted that hand-tools for widening pipe ends are known e.g. from the Netherlands patent applications 76- 12.841 and 77-12.995, wherein however these do not relate to the arranging of a truncated cone-shaped pipe end. Known apparatus, e.g. as described in GB-A-2.098.529, for flaring stainless steel pipes, are of heavy weight, and need a vase, such as a bench, which has to be transported to a installation location. The present invention further provides a pipe coupling provided with an end piece provided with screw thread, a stainless steel, approximately truncated cone- shaped pipe end and a nut element provided with internal screw thread which engages over the pipe end and is screw- able onto the screw thread of the end piece. Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be elucidated in a description of the preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the annexed drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective and partially exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the tool according to the present invention; Fig. 2A-2C show three views in section of the tool of fig. 1 in three respective operating positions; Fig. 3 shows a view in section of a preferred embodiment of a pipe coupling according to the present invention; and Fig. 4 is an exploded side view of the pipe coupling of fig. 3. A preferred embodiment of a tool 1 according to the present invention comprises a first side plate 2 onto which a first holding jaw 3 is fixedly attached, while a second holding jaw 4 is provided with protruding portions 5 which are movable up and downward in slots 6. The slot 6 which is provided in a second side plate 7 can be seen in fig. 1. The second side plate 7 is attachable to the fixed holding jaw 3 using screw bolts 8, 9. Between the side plates 2 and 7 a first operating arm 11 is pivotally attached using pivot shaft 12, rings 13 and nuts 14. A cam part 1.6 is arranged between operating arm 11 and pivot shaf 12. A second operating arm 17 is further attached pivo- tally between side plates 2 and 7 using pivot shaft 18, rings 19 and nuts 20. The cam part 21 coupled to operating arm 17 is provided with a roller element 22. Using threaded end 23, ring 24 and nut 25 a spring member 26 is arranged which engages onto the protruding portion 5, in order to urge the holding jaw 4, in the position shown in fig. 1, into the open wide position of fig. 1. In the position shown in fig. 2A, a pipe end (not shown) is inserted between holding jaws 3, 4 onto mandrel 30, wherein the mandrel 30 provided with a tapering end 31 is pressed to its retracted position. Using the operating arm 11 the holding jaw 4 (fig. 2B) is subsequently constrained downward, for which purpose the cam part 16 is provided with a rounded side. Holding jaws 3, 4 are preferably provided with screw thread in order to clamp onto a pipe end such that it will not slide during the following treatment with the tool 1 according to the present invention. The operating arm 17 is then brought into the posi¬ tion shown in fig. 2C and pressed into the pipe end (not shown) , wherein the roller element 22 rolls along the rear end of the mandrel 30. Since the forces which must be exerted on a pipe end of stainless steel are considerable, the mandrel 30, in particular the tapering tip 31 thereof and the holding or clamping parts 3, 4 are made of hardened steel. The preferred embodiment shown and described is only slightly larger than a pipe wrench and has a weight of approximately one kilogram or slightly more. A pipe coupling 40 (fig. 3, 4) comprises an end piece 41, which is for example attached to a wall or table- top using screw thread 42, in addition to a second screw thread 42 onto which a nut element 44 can be screwed. The nut element 44 is pushed over the pipe end before a flared end 46 is arranged thereon. A sealing ring 47 is received between pipe end 45 and end piece 41. As can be seen particularly in fig. 3, the flare 46 is dimensioned such that a practically seamless transition is created between pipe end 45 and end piece 41, which is particularly important for avoiding contamination in such a pipe coupling as well as for preventing frothing of carbonated drinks. The present invention is not limited to the pre¬ ferred embodiment shown and described here; the rights requested are defined by the following claims. In principle the present invention offers possibi¬ lities for applying stainless steel pipes anywhere where pipes of copper or plastic have up until now been applied.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A tool for providing a pipe with an approximately truncated cone-shaped pipe end, comprising: - a mandrel provided with a tapering end, - holding means for fixedly holding the pipe end; and - an operating arm which causes the mandrel to move relative to the holding means. 2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, provided with a second operating arm for placing the holding means in fixedly holding position prior to the first operating arm causing the mandrel to move. 3. A tool as claimed in claim 1 or 2, provided with two side plates between which the pivots of both the first and second operating arm are attached and which are provided with a slot along which a protruding portion of the holding means can move reciprocally. 4. A tool as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the mandrel is made of hardened steel. 5. A tool as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, wherein the holding means are made of hardened steel and comprise two holding jaws which are provided internally with screw thread. 6. A tool as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, provided with a roller element on the first operating arm for rolling thereof along the mandrel when the first operating arm is activated. 7. Pipe coupling, provided with an end piece provided with screw thread, a stainless steel, roughly truncated cone-shaped pipe end and a nut element provided with internal screw thread which engages over the pipe end and which is screwable onto the screw thread of the end piece. 8. Pipe coupling as claimed in claim 7, provided with a sealing ring between end piece and pipe end.

Inventors: VAN DIJK CORNELIS MARTINUS, VAN DIJK PAULUS EMANUEL, VAN DIJK, CORNELIS, MARTINUS, VAN DIJK, PAULUS, EMANUEL
Applicants: TAPKOEL VOF, TAPKOEL V.O.F.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B21D41
IPC codes: B21D41