Abstract:
A rollout wheel apparatus for performing welding. The rollout wheel apparatus may comprise a mount; a support section; a spindle extending from the support section; a substantially circular hub disposed on the spindle and free to rotate about the spindle, the hub having a narrow portion facing the support section and a wide portion facing the chuck, the hub further including a brake pad disposed about the circumference of the narrow portion; a brake, the brake being affixed to the support section and having a cantilever design, wherein the brake is cantilevered from the support section to a point located radially outwards from the brake pad of the substantially circular hub; and a chuck, the chuck comprising a chuck locking mechanism and a plurality of jaws.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Welding pipe can be one of the most difficult tasks in welding, to the point where skilled pipe welders are some of the most highly demanded and highly paid welders in the profession. One of the main reasons why welding a pipe fitting is so difficult is because it demands very precise welds. A given weld will typically have to create a perfect seal in the pipe fitting for it to be useful in a pipe; otherwise, it may experience leaks or even cracking. Furthermore, after a pipe fitting has been welded and the pipe has been put in use, the pipe, and the weld, will generally have to deal with vibrations, variance in temperature and pressure, and other conditions that can cause cracking in a bad weld. As such, it is important to be able to achieve a careful, consistent weld. 
         [0002]    However, due to the geometry of pipes, this is often difficult to achieve. In order to seal a pipe, a weld must be placed around the entire circumference of the pipe, which can generally be very difficult to do without shifting or moving the pipe in such a way that the existing weld is disrupted. Further, because of their geometry (long, thin, cylindrical, and without many mated surfaces that can be clamped together) many pipes can be difficult to clamp in place or otherwise secure. Some pipes may also have complex geometries with various bends and turns, and these may make it difficult to get the pipes in the right position to be welded. Many pipes may also be composed of materials that are considered to be difficult to weld, adding to the complexity of welding a given pipe fitting and making it more likely that the welder will make a mistake. 
         [0003]    A device for assisting in the creation of pipe welds may be envisioned. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to an exemplary embodiment, a rollout wheel apparatus for performing welding may be described. The rollout wheel apparatus may include a mount; a support section; a spindle extending from the support section; a substantially circular hub disposed on the spindle and free to rotate about the spindle, the hub having a narrow portion facing the support section and a wide portion facing the chuck, the hub further including a brake pad disposed about the circumference of the narrow portion; a brake, the brake being affixed to the support section and having a cantilever design, wherein the brake is cantilevered from the support section to a point located radially outwards from the brake pad of the substantially circular hub; and a chuck, the chuck including a chuck locking mechanism and a number of jaws. 
         [0005]    According to another exemplary embodiment, a method of using a rollout wheel apparatus may be described. The method may include: inserting a part into the chuck; securing the chuck jaws with the chuck locking mechanism; rotating the hub, using the hand wheel, to a desired initial rotational position; welding the part held by the chuck; and rotating the hub in order to rotate the part held by the chuck while simultaneously continuing to weld the part held by the chuck. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0006]    Exemplary  FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a rollout wheel. 
           [0007]    Exemplary  FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a rollout wheel, as seen from the opposite side. 
           [0008]    Exemplary  FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a rollout wheel having a particular angular configuration. 
           [0009]    Exemplary  FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a rollout wheel having a particular angular configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
         [0011]    As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0012]    An exemplary embodiment of a device for fitting and welding pipe fittings may be provided. Such a device may be called a “rollout wheel” or a “chuck spinner.” The rollout wheel may use a lathe chuck mounted to a plate and ring; this chuck may rotate, for example on a trailer axle bearing or other bearing. The rollout wheel may have adjustable components; for example, the tilt of the chuck or the brake for the hub may be adjustable. Adjustment of the rollout wheel may be done through hand wheels placed on the device, or may be done through another method, as desired. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a rollout wheel  100 . Rollout wheel  100  may include a stand  102 , a mount  104 , a mounting plate  106  or multiplicity of mounting plates, a support section  108 , a tilt adjustment mechanism  110  including a plurality of pinholes  112 , a locking pin  114 , and a pivot  116 , and further including a tilt adjustment hand wheel  118  and a tilt adjustment lever  120  linked to the tilt adjustment hand wheel  118 . Rollout wheel  100  may also include a brake  122  including a brake adjustment hand wheel  124 , a hub  126 , a hub hand wheel  128 , and a chuck  130  including a chuck locking mechanism  132  and multiple jaws  134 . Rollout wheel  100  may also include a stinger hook  136 . 
         [0014]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the tilt adjustment mechanism  110  may allow for adjustment of the tilt of the chuck  130  via both the plurality of pinholes  112  and via the tilt adjustment hand wheel  118 . According to one exemplary embodiment, there may be a hole going through the support section  108 , and a plurality of pinholes  112  spaced in an arc several degrees apart located on the mounting plate  106 . The hole going through the support section  108  and each of the plurality of pinholes  112  may be substantially the same size and may be aligned with each other, such that when so aligned, the locking pin  114  may be placed through one of the plurality of pinholes  112  and through the support section  108 , preventing the support section  108  from tilting up or down. Locking pin  114  may extend to or through another mounting plate  106  on the other side of the support section  108 ; this second mounting plate  106  may be a mirror of the first or may be different, as desired. Additional mounting plates  106 , such as a central mounting plate that fits within a slot in the support section, may also be included. According to an exemplary embodiment, adjustment of the tilt of the chuck  130  using the plurality of pinholes  112  may include removing the locking pin  114  from the tilt adjustment mechanism  110  and pivoting the support section  108  up or down so that a new hole in the plurality of pinholes  112  is aligned with the hole in the support section  108 . The locking pin  114  may then be reinserted through the new hole in the plurality of pinholes  112  and through the support section  108  in order to secure the support section  108  in place. 
         [0015]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the tilt adjustment mechanism  110  may have a substantial range through which it can be adjusted. For example, according to one exemplary embodiment, the tilt adjustment mechanism  110  may be adjustable from a vertical position to a horizontal position, or may be adjustable from one vertical or horizontal position to another vertical or horizontal position. Other ranges, including both smaller and larger ranges, may also be envisioned. According to an exemplary embodiment, the pivoting of the tilt adjustment mechanism  110  and of the support section  108  may be constrained by a pivot  116 ; however, this pivot may be removable in order to permit the repositioning of the support section  108 . For example, according to an exemplary embodiment, the support section  108  may be flipped around and installed backwards to facilitate a greater range of motion; according to an exemplary embodiment, this may allow the rollout wheel  100  to hold a piece of pipe horizontally or substantially horizontally rather than vertically or substantially vertically. This may also be done in order to use a smaller mounting plate  106  or a tilt adjustment mechanism  110  with a smaller or finer range of adjustment; for example, in order to have a potential range of tilts of between 0 and 90 degrees, the tilt adjustment mechanism  110  may permit tilts of between 0 and 45 degrees, and may also be removable so that it can be placed at the 90 degree mark and adjusted back. Other embodiments may also be envisioned. 
         [0016]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the tilt adjustment hand wheel  118  may be linked to the tilt adjustment lever  120  via a thrust bearing. Tilt adjustment hand wheel  118  may be used for fine adjustment of the tilt of the chuck  130 ; turning the tilt adjustment hand wheel  118  one way may slightly increase the tilt of the chuck  130 , while turning the tilt adjustment hand wheel  118  in the other direction may slightly decrease the tilt of the chuck  130 . The range of the tilt adjustment hand wheel  118  may be the same range as or a greater range than the spacing between holes in the plurality of pinholes  112 ; this may allow the chuck  130  to be adjusted to any desired angle by using a combination of the tilt adjustment hand wheel  118  and the plurality of pinholes  112 . According to such an exemplary embodiment, in order to make an adjustment of the chuck  130  angle, a user may first make a rough adjustment by aligning the locking pin  114  with the right pinhole in the plurality of pinholes  112 . Then, a user may make a finer adjustment of the chuck  130  angle by adjusting the tilt adjustment hand wheel  118  until the chuck  130  is in the desired position. If necessary, the user may also be able to take the support section  108  off of the pivot  116 , for example by unscrewing the pivot, and then may be able to replace the support section  108  in another position or in another orientation. Other tilt adjustment features may be present, as desired. 
         [0017]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the chuck  130  may be a standard lathe chuck or other chuck, as desired. For example, according to an exemplary embodiment, an 8-inch 3-jaw chuck may be used. Alternatively, a faceplate may be used instead of a chuck  130 , as desired. Chuck  130  may be connected to a hub  126 , such as a trailer hub, which may in turn be mounted on a spindle; any such hub may be used, so long as the hub  126  fits the chuck  130  or faceplate, whichever is used. For example, according to one exemplary embodiment, the hub  126  may be a 4-inch on 4-inch trailer hub having tapered roller bearings. According to an exemplary embodiment, hub  126  may be flipped around backwards as compared to how it would normally be mounted on a trailer, with the longer side of the hub  126  facing inward and the shorter side of the hub  126  facing outward. This may ensure that the chuck jaws  134  can close cleanly without interference from the hub  126 . According to an exemplary embodiment, one or more spacers may further be used to space the end of the hub from the jaws of the lathe chuck; for example, spacer washers may be used in order to keep the chuck  130  from hitting the bolts on the hub. 
         [0018]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the rollout wheel  100  may further include a brake  122  and a brake adjustment hand wheel  124 . According to one exemplary embodiment, the brake  122  may be deployed manually, using the brake adjustment hand wheel  124 ; a user may turn the wheel in one direction or the other in order to extend or retract the brake, as desired. According to an exemplary embodiment of the brake  122 , the brake  122  may be cantilevered from a top portion of the rollout wheel apparatus, such as a top portion of the support section  108 ; this may help to create more leverage on the brake pad when the brake  122  contacts the hub  126 . Brake  122  may be adjustable from side to side; this may ensure that the brake  122  can hit the hub  126  dead center and will not make the hub  126  move when tightened. Side-to-side adjustment of the brake  122  may take place using adjustable nuts positioned on either side of the brake, allowing for lateral movement, as desired. Further, the brake adjustment hand wheel  124  if it is not used to manually extend or retract the brake. Alternatively, the brake  122  may be adjusted from side to side using another method; for example, the brake  122  may rest between two or more guides, which may be moved in order to adjust where the brake  122  will contact the hub  126 , as desired. Brake adjustment hand wheel  124  may also be positioned as a hand rest, if desired. 
         [0019]    A user may generally operate the rollout wheel  100  by first securing the brake  122  to lock the hub  126  in place, and then placing a pipe or other part into the chuck  130 , and securing the jaws  134  with the locking mechanism  132 . The user may then adjust the tilt of the hub  126  using the tilt adjustment mechanism  110  until the chuck  130  is in a desirable position. The user may also loosen the brake  122  and then rotate the hub  126  using the hub hand wheel  128  to a desirable starting position. Once the user has rotated the hub  126 , and by extension the chuck  130 , to a desirable rotational position, they may then rotate the hub  126  in order to work on a pipe or other part held in the chuck  130 . Alternatively, they can reapply the brake  122  or leave it secured, so that they can work on the pipe or other part that is held in the chuck  130  with the part remaining in a fixed position. 
         [0020]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the rollout wheel  100  may also include a stinger hook  136  or similar feature. Stinger hook  136  may be used to hold a welding stinger, other electrode holder, or other welding implement, as desired. Stinger hook  136  may be constructed differently depending on the welding implement to be accommodated; for example, according to one exemplary embodiment, the stinger hook  136  may be constructed from material that is electrically nonconductive or substantially electrically nonconductive, in order to minimize the risk of electric shock to the users of the rollout wheel  100 . An alternative exemplary embodiment of the stinger hook  136  may be thermally nonconductive or substantially thermally nonconductive, as desired. According to an exemplary embodiment, another feature may serve as the stinger hook  136 , in addition to serving in its other role; for example, the brake adjustment hand wheel  124  may double as a stinger hook, if desired. 
         [0021]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the design of the rollout wheel  100  may be such that it can be constructed primarily or entirely from inexpensive CNC laser-cut parts. This may ensure that it can be manufactured economically in small quantities as well as large ones, as no matter how small a particular order is it can always be cut using a CNC mill efficiently, alternatively. According to one exemplary embodiment, the rollout wheel  100  may be primarily constructed out of steel, specifically steel plate. The parts of the rollout wheel  100  may be laser cut with tabs and stops; according to an exemplary embodiment, these parts may be self-jigging, and may go together like a puzzle. Other materials may be used in the construction of the rollout wheel  100 ; for example, some parts may be constructed from bronze, as desired. 
         [0022]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the rollout wheel  100  may be mated to any compatible stand  102  using a mount  104 . Mount  104  may attach to stand  102 , for example, by the use of a bolt or plurality of bolts, or screw or plurality of screws. According to other embodiments, the mount  104  may be welded to the stand, as desired. 
         [0023]    Turning now to exemplary  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a rollout wheel  100  as seen from the opposite side. Several additional features of the brake  122  not clearly shown in  FIG. 1  can be seen in  FIG. 2 . The brake  122  may include, in addition to a brake adjustment hand wheel  124 , a brake contact surface  202  and at least one brake guide  204 . The hub  126  may include a brake pad  206 .  [CM1] When the brake adjustment hand wheel  124  is tightened or loosened, the brake  122  may raise or lower. When the brake adjustment hand wheel  124  is tightened, the brake  122  may lower such that the brake contact surface  202  comes into contact with the brake pad  206 . When enough pressure is applied to the brake  122 , the brake  122  may prevent the hub  126  from rotating from side to side and hold it essentially in place. Then the brake adjustment hand wheel  124  is loosened, the brake may come away from the brake pad  206  and allow the hub  126  to spin freely once more. The brake guide or brake guides  204  may ensure that the brake  122  is constrained to only contact the hub  126  in the correct area; the brake guides  204  may be adjustable in width and adjustable from side to side to ensure that the brake guides  204  can be tailored to a particular brake  122  or hub  126 . Alternatively, a brake guide  204  of fixed width can be used, if desired. 
         [0024]    According to an exemplary embodiment of the rollout wheel  100 , it may be motorized instead of manually-driven, if desired. According to such an embodiment, a motor may be used to automatically drive the hub  126 , which may remove the need for a user to turn the hub  126  manually when welding. Such a motor may be linked to a user-controlled kill switch, such as a foot pedal, as desired. 
         [0025]    Turning now to exemplary  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a rollout wheel  300  as shown in an alternate configuration. According to such an embodiment, both the support section  108  and the mounting plates  106  may have a plurality of pinholes; the pinholes in the support section  108  may be indicated as  302 , while the pinholes in the mounting plates  106  may be indicated as  112 . Having a plurality of pinholes in both the support section  108  and the mounting plates  106  may allow the support section  108  and the mounting plates  106  to be aligned at a variety of angles; for example, according to the exemplary embodiment displayed in  FIG. 3 , by aligning the lowermost support section pinhole  302  and the uppermost mounting plate pinhole  112 , and inserting a locking pin  114  between them, the rollout wheel  300  may be held horizontal. 
         [0026]    Turning now to exemplary  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a rollout wheel  400  as shown in an alternate configuration. According to such an embodiment, and as in  FIG. 3 , both the support section  108  and the mounting plates  106  may have a plurality of pinholes; the pinholes in the support section may be indicated as  402 , while the pinholes in the mounting plates may be indicated as  112 . These may likewise be aligned at a variety of angles in order to allow the chuck  130  to be adjusted to a desired angle. For example, according to the exemplary embodiment displayed in  FIG. 4 , by aligning the support section pinhole  402  that is second from the top and the lowermost mounting plate pinhole  112  and inserting a locking pin  114  between them, the rollout wheel  400  may be held at an angle facing upwards. Different angles that may be formed by the mounting plates  106  and the support section  108  may be envisioned, as desired. 
         [0027]    The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art (for example, features associated with certain configurations of the invention may instead be associated with any other configurations of the invention, as desired). 
         [0028]    Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.