Abstract:
A pipe fitting socket for use with an axial driving device accepts a variety of angled fittings (e.g. tees, full elbows, slant elbows) snugly within a fitting cavity for torquing onto a fixed threaded end of pipe. Torquing of the fitting is accomplished by inserting a drive stud of the driving device into a drive aperture defining a rotational axis and torquing the driving device, thereby rotating the socket about the rotational axis, or through manually torquing a cylindrical portion of the socket. The socket offers superior efficiency and safety over conventional pipe wrenches by maximizing the effective range of movement available for a wrench used for angled fitting installation and/or removal, while virtually eliminating a wrench&#39;s loss of grip on the fitting.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to plumbing tools, more particularly wrenches for manipulating threaded pipe fittings. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Pipe fittings are used to join together lengths of pipe. They have two or more fitting ends, connected via short lengths of tubing. Fittings for threaded pipe have at least one fitting end that is threaded, and may be male or female in a variety of different diameters, as needed to threadingly mate with a given threaded pipe end. 
   Angled fittings have a bend in the tubing between two of the fitting ends. Three of the most common varieties of angled fittings are the elbow fitting, which comprises two female threaded ends joined by a specific angle of tubing (usually 90 degrees, but other angles are available, e.g. 45 degrees, 22.5 degrees); the tee fitting, which comprises three threaded ends, which can be male or female, two of which are joined by a straight length of tubing, and one of which is at a 90 angle to the other two; and the street elbow, which is similar to the elbow fitting, except that one of the threaded ends has a male thread. 
   Angled fittings typically require the use of a pipe wrench for installation and removal. A pipe wrench typically comprises a handle and an adjustable/rocking jaw that are arranged such that forward force exerted upon the handle causes the adjustable jaw to rock back in a way that tightens the jaw, and backward force on the handle tends to loosen it. Thus, when the jaw is loosened, the wrench can be rotated while the loosened jaw slips around the pipe. Teeth also line the interior of the jaw such that forward force on the handle causes the teeth to dig into an object (e.g. a pipe fitting) placed within the jaw of the pipe wrench. Thus, forward force exerted upon the handle tightens the jaw until the object within the jaw turns with the wrench. Once the wrench reaches the end of its range of movement, backward force is applied to the handle to loosen the jaw, and the wrench may be rotated back within its range of movement to re-grip the object for further tightening. The range of movement of a conventional pipe wrench is determined by whatever structure or immovable obstacles surround the object being tightened. For example, when installing and/or removing pipe fittings, it is common to be assembling pipe lines along or between walls or joists. 
   Several problems exist with the current state of the art in pipe fitting installation and removal, especially when said installation and/or removal occurs in limited access areas. Where angled fittings have been installed in confined spaces or where surrounding equipment has been installed after an initial pipe installation, conventional pipe wrenches can render pipe installation extremely inconvenient. This is because conventional pipe wrenches require the use of a long handle, which places space at a premium during installation. This problem is further exacerbated by the bulkiness of the jaw of a conventional pipe wrench, which often severely restricts the jaw&#39;s range of movement. For example, the jaw wraps around three sides of an imaginary square containing the round pipe/fitting, and the jaw has strengthening structure extending outward from the jaw faces. Compounding the problem is the fact that the first part of the tightening movement is lost to the rocking jaw movement until it tightens enough to be able to turn the fitting. Consequently, pipe installation and removal professionals are either forced to remove and reinstall surrounding equipment or else struggle to work around it, using a wrench limited to a very small effective range of movement (10 to 20 degree effective range is not uncommon). Under these conditions, pipe and fitting assembly is frustratingly slow, excessively difficult and inefficient. 
   The tendency for conventional pipe wrenches to slip while being forcefully turned adds to the difficulty of tight quarters work and also adds risk of injury to piping professionals and/or damage to nearby equipment and structures. Additionally, the slippage inherent in conventional pipe wrenches can decrease overall productivity. Finally, the teeth in conventional pipe wrenches tend to mar and/or score pipe/fitting surfaces. 
   Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool that is capable of installing and removing pipe fittings more efficiently, especially in limited access areas, thereby increasing productivity and reducing the risk of damage and injury. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention an apparatus is disclosed for torquing an angled pipe fitting relative to a fixed threaded end of pipe having a longitudinal axis, wherein the angled fitting has an axial arm and a lateral arm, and wherein the torque must be applied about an axis of the axial arm of the angled fitting while it is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the fixed threaded end, the apparatus comprising: a socket that has an axial drive attachment defining a socket rotational axis, wherein the axial drive attachment facilitates attachment of an axial driving device to the apparatus; and a fitting cavity axially distal to the drive aperture, wherein: the fitting cavity opens axially outward and comprises an axial canal about the socket rotational axis, and a lateral canal that extends laterally outward relative to the socket rotational axis; the axial canal is shaped and dimensioned to receive the axial arm of the angled fitting and to hold it such that the axial arm axis is coaxial with the socket rotational axis; and the lateral canal is shaped and dimensioned to receive the lateral arm of the fitting and to hold it against torque about the axial arm axis. 
   According to the invention the apparatus may further comprise a flange recess in the lateral canal, wherein the flange recess is shaped and dimensioned to accept a fitting flange rimming the end of the lateral arm of the angled fitting. 
   According to the invention the apparatus may further comprise a socket flange rimming a laterally outward end of the lateral canal, positioned such that when the angled fitting is inserted into the fitting cavity, the socket flange holds the angled fitting against lateral movement out of the fitting cavity. Preferably there is an opening through the socket flange; wherein the socket flange opening opens both laterally outward and axially outward, and is shaped and dimensioned to accept the diameter of a length of pipe; thereby enabling an angled fitting with the length of pipe threadingly mated to its lateral arm to be axially inserted such that the mated length of pipe extends through the socket flange opening. 
   According to the invention the apparatus may further comprise a drive cylinder arranged coaxially about the socket rotational axis, thereby facilitating torquing of the socket by hand. Preferably there are friction elements on its surface; for example a series of grooves extending axially along the surface of the drive cylinder. 
   According to the invention the axial drive attachment preferably comprises a drive aperture coaxially aligned with the socket rotational axis, wherein the drive aperture is shaped and dimensioned for removably engaging with a drive stud of the axial driving device. 
   According to the invention the axial driving device preferably comprises a ratcheting wrench, or a motor drill. 
   According to the invention the apparatus may further comprise hexagonal facets around the axial canal, thereby enabling a hexagonal flange on a fitting to be inserted such that the hexagonal flange&#39;s rotational axis is coaxial with the socket&#39;s rotational axis. 
   According to the invention the axial canal further comprises an arm recess that extends axially inward of the lateral canal, towards the drive attachment end of the socket, the arm recess being shaped and dimensioned to receive an axial arm of the angled fitting. 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in light of the following description thereof. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference will be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. The figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these preferred embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention to these particular embodiments. 
     Certain elements in selected ones of the drawings may be illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views, if any, presented herein may be in the form of “slices”, or “near-sighted” cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines which would otherwise be visible in a true cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity. 
     Elements of the figures can be numbered such that similar (including identical) elements may be referred to with similar numbers in a single drawing. For example, each of a plurality of elements collectively referred to as  199  may be referred to individually as  199   a ,  199   b ,  199   c , etc. Or, related but modified elements may have the same number but are distinguished by primes. For example,  109 ,  109 ′, and  109 ″ are three different elements which are similar or related in some way, but have significant modifications. Such relationships, if any, between similar elements in the same or different figures will become apparent throughout the specification, including, if applicable, in the claims and abstract. 
     The structure, operation, and advantages of the present preferred embodiment of the invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIGS. 1A-1D  are side views of four common angled fittings that can be accommodated by the inventive socket, as well as a side view of a fixed threaded end of pipe to which an angled fitting is to be applied; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the inventive socket and two examples of axial drive mechanisms accommodated by the inventive socket; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the inventive socket, showing a side, top, and drive end; 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  are views of a fitting end of two embodiments of the inventive socket; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the inventive socket; and 
       FIGS. 5A-5D  are side views of three angled fittings (ghosted outline) that have been inserted into a fitting cavity (also ghosted) of the inventive socket, all according to the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Although the drawings and the proceeding description disclose angled fittings with female threaded ends (the most common form), it should be understood that the inventive socket accepts angled fittings with male or female threaded ends. The use of angled fittings with female threaded ends in the drawings and proceeding description is meant to be illustrative and is not intended to be limiting in nature. 
   It will be shown that the inventive socket  100  is particularly suited to advantageously handle a variety of angled pipe fittings, including the most commonly used ones. 
     FIG. 1A  shows a first example of an angled fitting  101 , specifically a full elbow  101   c  (i.e., a ninety degree elbow), shown coaxially aligned with a fixed threaded end  102  (e.g. a male threaded end of a length of pipe) that has a longitudinal axis  104 . The full elbow  101   c  comprises a lateral arm  108  joined perpendicularly to an axial arm  106 , through which runs the axial arm&#39;s axis of rotation  126 . A fitting flange  103  rims the end of each of the lateral arm  108  and the axial arm  106  and defines a diameter referenced as dimension C. 
   For any angled fitting  101 , when an arm&#39;s axis of rotation  126  (e.g. the axial arm  106 ) is coaxial with the fixed threaded end&#39;s longitudinal axis  104 , the axial arm  106  may be torqued around the axial arm&#39;s axis of rotation  126 , thereby threadingly mating the angled fitting  101  with the fixed threaded end  102 . The fixed threaded end  102  is either male or female, as needed to mate with the angled fitting  101 , and can be an end of any portion of threaded piping that requires assembly with an angled fitting  101 . For example, the fixed threaded end  102  can be at the free end of any length of pipe, including a nipple; or, for example, can be at the free end of a street elbow. 
     FIG. 1B  shows an example of an angled fitting  101 , specifically a street elbow  101   d . The street elbow  101   d  comprises a lateral arm  108  joined perpendicularly to an axial arm  106 , through which runs the axial arm&#39;s axis of rotation  126 . Unlike a typical full elbow  101   c , the street elbow  110   d  has one female threaded end with a flange  103 , and one male threaded end  107  having a diameter referenced as dimension D. The male threaded end  107  on a street elbow  101   d  makes a shorter connection possible between two consecutive elbows that would otherwise need to be interconnected by a pipe nipple. Generally, the male threaded end  107  on a street elbow  101   d  extends farther out from the bend than the female threaded end with a flange  103 . 
     FIG. 1C  shows an example of an angled fitting  101 , specifically a tee  101   a , that can be accepted by the socket  100 . The tee  101   a  comprises two axial arms  106  that are joined to form a linear portion, and a lateral arm  108  that is joined perpendicularly to the two axial arms  106 . The lateral arm  108  has a dimension C defined by the diameter of the lateral arm&#39;s  108  fitting flange  103 . An axis of rotation  126  is shown for the linearly combined axial arms  108 . A standard fitting flange  103  is shown on each female threaded end. 
     FIG. 1D  shows an example of an angled fitting  101 , specifically a slant elbow  101   b , that can be accepted by the socket  100 . The slant elbow  101   b  comprises a lateral arm  108  joined at a 45 degree angle to an axial arm  106 , through which runs the axial arm&#39;s axis of rotation  126 . Although  FIG. 1D  illustrates a slant elbow  101   b  with a 45 degree elbow, slant elbows exist with angles other than 45 degrees. Thus, references to slant elbows herein should be understood to include any angle of elbow other than 90 degrees. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the socket  100  showing a lateral canal  124  into a fitting cavity  120 , along with two exemplary axial driving devices  110 : a motor drive  110   a  and a ratcheting wrench  110   b . The axial driving devices  110  have a drive stud  118 , typically square in cross section, which is insertable into a mating drive aperture  114  of the socket  100 . (As in all of the drawings, hidden lines are shown as ghosted outlines.) When the drive stud  118  is inserted into the drive aperture  114 , the axial driving device  110  becomes coaxially aligned with a rotational axis  116  of the socket  100 , and therefore can easily be used to torque the socket  100  about its rotational axis  116 . The drive aperture  114  is a preferred embodiment of what can be generally called an axial drive attachment for the socket  100 , wherein the axial drive attachment (e.g., aperture  114 ) facilitates attachment of an axial driving device  110  to the socket  100 . Given the teaching herein, other forms of the axial drive attachment may become apparent. For example: The drive aperture  114  form is coaxially aligned with the socket rotational axis  116 , and is shaped and dimensioned for removably engaging with the drive stud  118 . Alternatively, the axial drive attachment could be an externally faceted stud coaxially aligned with the socket rotational axis  116 , and shaped and dimensioned for removably engaging with a ratcheting-ring type of axial driving device  110 . Alternatively, the axial drive attachment could be a permanent connection between a ratcheting wrench mechanism (driving device  110 ) and the socket  100 . Other forms and variations may become apparent, all of which are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the socket  100 . Its rotational axis  116  is defined by the drive aperture  114 , which is located in a socket cylinder  117 . The socket cylinder  117  is cylindrically shaped and coaxial with the socket rotational axis  116  so that the socket  100  can be conveniently hand torqued (manually) about the rotational axis  116 . Preferably the socket cylinder  117  has friction/grip-enhancing elements  119  to improve grip and further facilitate hand torquing of the socket, the elements  119  being grooves, ridges, knurling, rubber coating, or the like. The drive aperture  114  is axially distal to the fitting cavity  120 . The fitting cavity  120  comprises a lateral canal  124 , which is normal to the socket&#39;s rotational axis  116  (extending laterally outward), and an axial canal  122 , which is aligned with (coaxial with) the rotational axis  116 . 
     FIG. 4A  illustrates a fitting end of the socket  100 . The fitting end face  121  is open for receiving the angled fitting  101  in the fitting cavity  120 , which comprises the axial canal  122  with an arm recess  127 ; and the lateral canal  124  with a lateral branch  123 , as well as preferably a socket flange opening  125  in a socket flange  128  that defines a flange recess  129 . 
   The axial canal  122  is shaped and dimensioned to receive the axial arm  106  of an angled fitting  101 . In particular, the axial canal  122  is shaped and dimensioned to snugly fit around the fitting flange  103  of a female threaded end and the lateral canal  124  is shaped and dimensioned to snugly fit around the lateral arm  108  of the angled fitting  101 . If, as is usually the case, the angled fitting is a full elbow  101   c  with a flanged  103  female threaded end on the lateral arm  108 , then the fitting flange  103  will rest in the flange recess  129 , held in by the socket flange  128  which prevents the angled fitting  101  from rocking or falling out the top of the lateral canal  124 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the socket flange  128  preferably rims the entire socket flange opening  125 , minimizing jiggling of the fitting  101  when the fitting  101  is inserted into the fitting cavity  120 . The socket flange  128  partially surrounds the lateral canal  124 , forming the socket flange opening  125 . Because an inside dimension D of the socket flange opening  125  is smaller than an inside dimension C of the flange recess  129 , the angled fitting  101  is held snugly within the fitting cavity  120 . Dimension C also matches outside dimension C of the fitting flange  103  of the full elbow  101   c  and the tee  101   a , further minimizing rocking of the fittings  101   c  and  101   a  inside the fitting cavity  120 . Additionally, dimension C matches the diameter of both the arm recess  122  and the axial canal  120 , which consequently matches the diameter of the fitting flange  103 , minimizing lateral jiggling of the axial arm  106  in the axial canal  122 . For the street elbow  101   d , inside dimension D of the socket flange opening  128  matches outside dimension D of the male fitting end  107  of the street elbow  101   d , further minimizing rocking of the male fitting end  107  inside the lateral canal  124 . Furthermore, because inside dimension D of the socket flange opening  128  matches outside dimension D of the street elbow&#39;s  101   d  male fitting end  107 , it should be obvious that dimension D is also sized to receive the diameter of a fixed threaded end  102 . Consequently, the socket  100  will also accommodate an angled fitting  101  with a length of pipe (e.g., a nipple) already mated to the lateral arm  108  of the angled fitting  101 . 
   Since threaded pipe and its fittings come in a variety of nominal sizes (e.g., ¼ inch, ½ inch, ¾ inch, 1 inch, and so on), the inventive socket  100  will also come in the same variety of sizes, each one being suitably dimensioned for working with a particular nominal size of angled fittings. Although not a limiting part of the invention, it may be noted that as the pipe size increases, the axial drive stud size and/or driving mechanism is preferably increased correspondingly to accommodate any need for increased amounts of applied torque. Of course other means (e.g., reinforcement, stronger materials, etc.) could also be used. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 4A , the axial canal  122  is substantially circular and dimensioned to receive the typically circular fitting flange  103  on the axial arm(s)  106  of an angled fitting  101 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates an optional embodiment of the invention, wherein the axial canal  122  has hexagonal facets, i.e., is hexagonally shaped, enabling it to receive, and grip for torquing, a hexagonally shaped fitting flange on an axial arm  106  of a pipe fitting that may be, but isn&#39;t necessarily, an angled fitting  101 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a cross sectional side view of the socket  100 , and  FIG. 5A  illustrates a full elbow that has been inserted into the fitting cavity  120 . Referring to  FIG. 5A , the lateral arm  108  extends along the lateral canal  124 , where the flange recess  129  accepts the fitting flange  103  of the female threaded end. The axial arm  106  extends along the axial canal  122  such that the axial arm&#39;s rotational axis  126  is coaxial with the socket&#39;s rotational axis  116 , and consequently the axial arm  106  can be torqued by an axial driving device  110  onto a fixed threaded end  102  when its longitudinal axis  104  is also aligned (as shown in  FIG. 1A ). 
   A dimension E bounded by the face  121  of the fitting end of the axial canal  122  and the axially opposite side of the lateral branch  123  is sized such that the axial arm&#39;s fitting flange  103  is contained within, and ideally flush with, the face  121  of the fitting end of the axial canal  122 , preventing the angled fitting  101  from wiggling relative to the rotational axis  116 . The angled fitting  101  thus fits snugly into the socket  100 . 
     FIG. 5B  illustrates an optional socket embodiment wherein a slant elbow  101   b  can be inserted into the socket  100 . The lateral arm  108  extends part way into the lateral canal  124 , which is hollowed out to accommodate a fitting flange  103  on the slant elbow  101   b  such that the end of the lateral arm  108  butts against an edge of the arm recess  127 , and is shaped and dimensioned such that the axial arm&#39;s fitting flange  103  is contained within, and ideally flush with, the face  121  of the fitting end of the axial canal  122 . The slant elbow fitting  101   b  thus fits snugly into the socket  100 . The axial arm  106  extends along the axial canal  122  such that the axial arm&#39;s rotational axis  126  is coaxial with the socket&#39;s rotational axis  116 , and consequently the axial arm  106  can be torqued onto a fixed threaded end  102 . This embodiment is optional because the hollowed out part of the fitting cavity  120  may cause a somewhat sloppy fit for the more commonly used full elbow  101   c  and tee  101   a  types of angled fittings  101 . If desired, the socket  100  could be made in different versions, with one version being specifically fitted to a slant fitting  101   b  only. 
     FIG. 5C  illustrates a tee  101   c  that has been inserted into the socket  100 . The lateral arm  108  extends along the lateral canal  124 , where the flange recess  129  accepts the fitting flange  103  of a female threaded end. Both of a first axial arm  106   a  and a second, collinear, axial arm  106   b  extend along the axial canal  122 . The arm recess  127  extends the axial canal  122  deep enough to receive the second axial arm  106   b  while aligning the lateral arm  108  and the first axial arm  106   a  with the rest of the fitting cavity  120  substantially the same as the alignment of a full elbow  101   c . Thus the tee  101   a  fits snugly into the socket  100 , and the axial arm&#39;s rotational axis  126  is coaxial with the socket&#39;s rotational axis  116 , such that the first axial arm  106   a  can be torqued onto a fixed threaded end  102 . 
     FIG. 5D  illustrates a street elbow  101   c  that has been inserted into the fitting cavity  120  of the socket  100 . The lateral arm  108  extends along the lateral canal  124 , and the male threaded end  107  of the lateral arm  124  extends through the socket flange opening  125  such that the socket flange  128  snugly grips the male threaded end  107 . The axial arm  106  extends along the axial canal  122  such that the axial arm&#39;s rotational axis  126  is coaxial with the socket&#39;s rotational axis  116 , and consequently the axial arm  106  can be torqued by an axial driving device  110  onto a fixed threaded end  102  when its longitudinal axis  104  is also aligned (as shown in  FIG. 1A ). 
   Once an angled fitting  101  has been positioned snugly into the socket  100  via the fitting cavity  120 , the socket  100  can be torqued about the rotational axis  116  defined by the drive aperture  114 . Torque to start the mating can be applied by manually turning the socket cylinder  117 , thereby allowing the greatest control to avoid cross threading. When the parts are mated enough to make manual torquing difficult, then the axial driving device  110  is used. Because the socket rotational axis  116  is coaxial with the fitting axial arm&#39;s rotational axis  126 , which in turn is coaxial with the longitudinal axis  104  of the fixed threaded end  102 , the angled fitting  101  is rotated about the axial arm&#39;s rotational axis  126  and is easily torqued onto the fixed threaded end  102 . 
   The socket  100  renders the process of torquing the angled fitting  101  onto a fixed threaded end  102  both safer and more efficient than it is with a conventional pipe wrench. This is because the snug fit afforded by the socket  100  minimizes wiggling and also because the socket  100  has no jaw that can come loose and slip during torquing. Additionally, the fact that the drive aperture  114  accepts the drive stud  118  of an axial driving device  110  means that the socket  100  can be easily used to install an angled fitting  101  in very limited access areas. Unlike the offset drive of a pipe wrench, an axial drive need not have any structure protruding radially beyond the fitting, and the handle (if present) extends radially rather than tangentially from the fitting. Therefore, given the same set of obstacles around the pipe fitting installation point, the axial drive has a larger range of motion than the pipe wrench. Furthermore, a ratcheting axial drive device, having virtually zero slack re-gripping motion, also has a larger effective range of motion. Even further, if a motor drive is used, especially with a flexible shaft, the effective range of motion becomes virtually infinite. 
   Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character it being understood that only preferred embodiments have been shown and described, and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. Undoubtedly, many other “variations” on the “themes” set forth hereinabove will occur to one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention most nearly pertains, and such variations are intended to be within the scope of the invention, as disclosed herein.