Abstract:
A disconnection tool for disconnecting pipes which are connected. The disconnection tool is preferably a two piece cylinder with a leading edge and handles opposite the leading edge, and, can be positioned around a male end of a male pipe that is within a female end of a female pipe. The disconnection tool initially inserts into a clearance between the interior surface of the female end and the exterior surface of the male end while the pipes are connected. As the disconnection tool is further inserted, its leading edge contacts and disengages one or more locking members extending through the clearance thereby allowing the male pipe to be disconnected from the female pipe.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/365,000, filed Feb. 3, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a pipe disconnection tool and methods of disconnecting pipes with the disconnection tool. More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a disconnection tool for removing the male end of a pipe that is inserted into the female end of an adjacent pipe. The insertion tool fits around the male end of the pipe while the male end is inserted into the female end of the adjacent pipe, and, the disconnection tool inserts within a clearance and disengages the male end from the female end. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/365,000 offers a pipe connection system that allows for quick, secure connections to be formed between a pipe and a similar adjacent pipe. Unlike traditional pipe connections, the connection system in application Ser. No. 12/365,000 does not require gluing, threading, and/or welding to connect the pipe and the similar adjacent pipe. Instead, rigid fingers extend from an interior surface of the female end of the pipe and lock the male end of a connecting pipe into place within the female end. 
     The interior surface of the female end of the pipe defines a male end receiving chamber. The rigid fingers extend into the male end receiving chamber from interior circumferential grooves on the interior surface of the female end prior to insertion of the male end of the connecting pipe. The rigid fingers are displaceable and displace toward the interior surface of the female end during insertion of the male end. When the male end of the connecting pipe is fully inserted, the rigid fingers are positioned over corresponding exterior circumferential grooves on the surface of the male end and because the rigid fingers are biased toward their non-displaced position they extend into these corresponding exterior circumferential grooves. 
     The rigid fingers each have a distal end that enters into and remains within the exterior circumferential groove of the male end. The distal end of the rigid fingers abuts a sidewall of the exterior circumferential groove to prevent withdrawal of the male end of the connecting pipe from the female end of the pipe. Once connected, however, the male end cannot be removed from the female end without destruction of at least a portion of the pipe and/or the connecting pipe. As a result, the pipe and/or the connecting pipe cannot be reused. It is therefore desirable to have a disconnection tool for disconnection of the pipe and the connecting pipe which will allow reuse of the pipe and the connecting pipe, as well as a method for achieving such disconnection. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a disconnection tool that enables disconnection of a pipe connected to an adjacent pipe through the connection system disclosed in application Ser. No. 12/365,000 and/or connections systems similar thereto. For purposes of this simplicity and coherence, the pipe with a connecting female end is hereinafter referred to as a “female pipe” and the pipe with a connecting male end is referred to as a “male pipe.” 
     The disconnection tool of the present invention is shaped to fit around the male end of the male pipe when the male pipe is connected to the female end of the female pipe. The disconnection tool has an insertion member with an insertion length that is insertable into a clearance between the male end of the male pipe and the female end of the female pipe. Once around the male end, force is applied to the insertion member or, preferably, to a handle extending from the insertion member and thereby causing the insertion member to insert into the clearance between the pipes. 
     During insertion, a leading edge of the insertion member contacts and disengages at least one locking member which is engaged with the pipes. In the preferred embodiment—i.e., when the disconnection tool is used with pipes connected through the system disclosed in application Ser. No. 12/365,000—the insertion length displaces the distal end of the rigid fingers from an exterior circumferential groove on the male end of the male pipe. 
     Once the disconnection tool is fully inserted, the male end of the male pipe can be withdrawn from the female end of the female pipe by simply pulling the pipes apart. Once the male end is withdrawn, the insertion member is removed from the female end and the male pipe and the female pipe can be reused. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the disconnection tool of the present invention showing a first part of the disconnection tool separated from a second part of the disconnection tool. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the first part of the disconnection tool converged with the second part of the disconnection tool. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the disconnection tool of the present invention being positioned around a male end of a male pipe which is inserted into a female end of a female pipe. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along the male end of the male pipe and the female end of the female pipe prior to insertion of the disconnection tool into a clearance between the male end and the female end. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along the male end of the male pipe and the female end of the female pipe, with the disconnection tool being inserted into a clearance between the male end and the female end and engaging the rigid fingers within the clearance. 
         FIG. 6  is the same view as depicted in  FIG. 4 , with the disconnection tool being fully inserted into the clearance between the male end of the male pipe and the female end of the female pipe. 
         FIG. 7  is the same view as depicted in  FIG. 5 , with the male end of the male pipe being withdrawn from the female end of the female pipe. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , the preferred embodiment of the pipe disconnection tool is shown in an exploded perspective view and front view respectively. In practice, the preferred embodiment of the disconnection tool has a first part  10  and a second part  12  which, when converged together, form the preferred embodiment of the disconnection tool. Preferably, both the first part  10  and the second part  12  have identical structure with semicircular cross sections. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment a description of structure that is present for the first part  10  in the Figures applies equally to a description of the structure for the second part  12 , and vice versa. 
     The disconnection tool of the present invention has an insertion member  16  comprised of a first insertion member  16   a  of the first part  10  and a second insertion member  16   b  of the second part  12 . Each insertion member  16   a ,  16   b  is formed by inner walls  26  and outer walls  30 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , each insertion member  16   a ,  16   b  is semi-cylindrically shaped such that it can be positioned around and adjacent to an exterior surface  28  of a male end  18  of a male pipe  32 . In this regard, the inner walls  26  of the insertion members  16   a ,  16   b  are concavely contoured to fit adjacent to and around at least a portion of the convex exterior surface  28  of the male end  18  of the male pipe  32 . In this patent application, the exterior surface  28  of the male end  18  of the male pipe  32  is the radially outermost exterior surface of the male end  18 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , in the preferred embodiment the first part  10  and the second part  12  are converged such that first and second sidewalls  34   a ,  34   b  of the first part  10  align with and abut corresponding first and second sidewalls  40   a ,  40   b  of the second part  12 , thereby forming a cylindrical insertion member  16 . Alternatively, the insertion member  16  could be adapted to form a cylindrical insertion member  16  in other manners. For example, the insertion member  16  could be formed of one continuous cylinder. 
     In the preferred embodiment both the first part  10  and the second part  12  of the disconnection tool have handles  44   a ,  44   b  which extend from the first and second insertion members  16   a  and  16   b  respectively. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the preferred embodiment each handle  44   a ,  44   b  is a semicircular flange that extends perpendicular from an end  46  of the insertion member  16  opposite a leading edge  50  of the insertion member  16 . Preferably, the semi-circular length of the first handle  44   a  has ends which are adjacent and aligned with the first and second sidewalls  34   a ,  34   b  of the first part  10 . Likewise, the semi-circular length of the second handle  44   b  has ends which are adjacent and aligned with the first and second sidewalls  40   a ,  40   b  of the second part  12 . As a result, when the insertion member  16  is positioned around the male end  18  of the male pipe  32  and sidewalls  34   a ,  34   b  converge with sidewalls  40   a ,  40   b , the ends of each handle  44   a ,  44   b  also converge, thereby forming a circular flange around the cylindrical insertion member  16 . However, it is anticipated that each handle  44   a ,  44   b  may have alternative shapes and sizes and still operate in a manner consistent with this invention. It can also be understood that in an embodiment where the insertion member  16  is one continuous cylinder, the handle  44  may be one continuous flange. 
     The leading edge  50  of the insertion member  16  is at the end of the insertion member  16  nearest a female end  14  of a female pipe  52  when the insertion member  16  is positioned around the male end  18  of the male pipe  32 , prior to insertion of the insertion member  16  (see  FIG. 4 ). Preferably, the leading edge  50  of the insertion member  16  lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the male and female pipes  32 ,  52 . In this application the longitudinal direction is along the axis of the male and female pipes  32 ,  52  and the axis of the cylindrical or semi-cylindrical insertion member  16 . The insertion member  16  has a thickness that is equal to or less than a clearance  54  between the exterior surface  28  of the male end  18  of the male pipe  32  and an interior surface  20  of the female end  14  of the female pipe  52  when the pipes  32 ,  52  are connected (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     In order to more fully understand how the insertion member  16  of the disconnection tool fits within this clearance  54  a brief description of the male pipe  32  and female pipe  52  connection is provided. Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , in the preferred embodiment the interior surface  20  of the female end  14  of the female pipe  52  defines a male end receiving chamber (not shown), which is essentially the interior space within the female end  14 . In this application the interior surface  20  of the female end  14  of the female pipe  52  is the radially innermost interior surface of the female end  14 . When the male pipe  32  is connected to the female pipe  52  the male end  18  of the male pipe  32  is positioned within the male end receiving chamber of the female end  14  of the female pipe  52 . The exterior surface  28  of the male end  18  has an outer diameter less than the diameter of the male end receiving chamber and the clearance  54  is present in the male end receiving chamber between the exterior surface  28  of the male end  18  of the male pipe  32  and the interior surface  20  of the female end  14  of the female pipe  52 . In the preferred embodiment for a male pipe  32  with an outside diameter of five inches, the clearance  54  is approximately 0.0525 inches. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 4-7 , the preferred disconnection tool of the present invention is shown in operation, with the disconnection tool being moved toward and into the female end  14  of the female pipe  52 .  FIG. 4  shows the preferred embodiment prior to insertion of the insertion member  16 . A plurality of sets  56   a, b, c, d  of rigid fingers  38  extend from interior circumferential grooves  36   a, b, c, d  on the interior surface  20  of the female end  14  of the female pipe  52  into the male end receiving chamber, across the clearance  54 , and into corresponding exterior circumferential grooves  42   a, b, c, d  on the exterior surface  28  of the male end  18  of the male pipe  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a cross section of the male end  18  of the male pipe  32  connected to the female end  14  of the female pipe  52  is shown with a portion of the insertion member  16  inserted into the clearance  54 . Insertion member  16  is inserted into the clearance  54  by moving the insertion member  16  with a force f toward the female pipe  52 . Force f causes longitudinal movement of the insertion member  16  along the exterior surface  28  of the male end  18  of the male pipe  32 . Preferably, force f is a force parallel to the male pipe  32  and is applied to each handle  44   a ,  44   b  of the disconnection tool. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , the disconnection tool displaces the rigid fingers  38  from each of the sets  56   a, b, c, d  from the exterior circumferential grooves  42   a, b, c, d  on the exterior surface  28  of the male end  14  of the male pipe  32 .  FIG. 5  shows the leading edge  50  of the insertion member  16  engaging the second set  56   b  of rigid fingers  38  and displacing the rigid fingers  38  from the corresponding exterior circumferential groove  42   b  on the male end  14  of the male pipe  32 . As shown, a distal end  48  of each of the rigid fingers  38  is displaced out of the corresponding exterior circumferential groove  42   b . The leading edge  50  of the insertion member  16  already has passed over and displaced the first set  56   a  of rigid fingers  38  in the same manner as described with regard to the second set  56   b  of rigid fingers  38 . Once displaced, the outer walls  30  of the insertion member  16  hold the distal end  48  of each of the rigid fingers  38  out of the corresponding exterior circumferential grooves  42   a, b, c, b  on the male end  18  of the male pipe  32 . 
     The insertion member  16  should be made of a rigid material to displace and hold the rigid fingers  38 . In addition, the handle  44  is also preferably made from a rigid material. In the preferred embodiment both the insertion member  16  and the handle  44  are made from stainless steel. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the insertion member  16  is shown fully inserted into the clearance  54  between the male end  18  of the male pipe  32  and the female end  14  of the female pipe  52 . Preferably, when the insertion member  16  is fully inserted each handle  44   a ,  44   b  abuts a leading edge  22  of the female end  14  and acts as a stop to keep the insertion member  16  from being further inserted into the clearance  54 . As such, in the preferred embodiment with a five inch male pipe  32 , each handle  44   a ,  44   b  is five inches away from the leading edge  50  of the insertion member  16 . Alternatively, the leading edge  50  of the insertion member  16  may abut a shoulder  58  within the female end  14 , or, a stop member (not shown) may be disposed on the insertion member  16  and abut the female leading edge  22  of the female pipe  52 , to stop further insertion of the insertion member  16 . 
     The insertion member  16  has an insertion length  60  which is the length of the portion of the insertion member  16  that is positioned in the clearance  54  when the insertion member  16  is fully inserted (see  FIG. 2 ). Preferably, the insertion length  60  is long enough for outer walls  30  of the insertion member  16  to displace and hold the distal end  48  of all the rigid fingers  38  out of their corresponding exterior circumferential groove on the male end  18  of the male pipe  32 . However, the insertion length  60  could be just long enough so the leading edge  50  of the insertion member  16  holds the distal end  48  of the last set of rigid fingers  38  out of their corresponding exterior circumferential groove on the male end  18 . In the preferred embodiment, each handle  44   a ,  44   b  is positioned such that the longitudinal distance from the leading edge  50  of the insertion member  16  to each handle  44   a ,  44   b  is greater or equal to the insertion length  60  of the insertion member  16 . For a five inch male pipe  32  the insertion length  60  is preferably five inches long. 
     With the insertion member  16  fully inserted into the clearance  54 , the male end  18  of the male pipe  32  can now be withdrawn from the female end  14  of the female pipe  52 . To withdraw the male end  18 , the male pipe  32  is pulled from within the male end receiving chamber and insertion member  16  in the direction d shown in  FIG. 7 . Once the male end  18  has been withdrawn, the insertion member  16  is removed from the female end  14  of the female pipe  52 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the above-description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.