Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to a pipe fitting table used to temporally support a plurality of pipes being connected. More particularly, the present invention relates to providing welding, cutting and clamping devices on the pipe fitting table to assist an assembler in positioning and joining a plurality of pipes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a pipe fitting table used to temporarily support a plurality of objects being interconnected. More particularly, the present invention relates to providing welding, cutting and clamping devices on the pipe fitting table to assist an assembler in positioning and joining a plurality of interconnected pipes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During construction of piping systems, the components (e.g., pipes, couplings, elbows, etc.) require clamping and positioning until they are permanently attached by (e.g., welding, soldering, glueing, etc.). An assembler typically uses clamps to hold and position the piping system components. It is difficult to accurately position-and hold the components in position. Thus, it is desirable to have a portable pipe fitting table that may assist the assembler in cutting, positioning, and clamping a plurality of components to form a piping system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a portable pipe fitting table that includes cutting, positioning, and clamping devices that assists an assembler in accurately clamping and positioning the components in a piping system. Clamping devices included in the portable pipe fitting table hold the piping system components in position until the assembler can permanently attach the piping system components together to form a desired piping system. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention will best be understood from a detailed description of the invention selected for the purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a portable pipe fitting table; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of the portable pipe fitting table; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of a first extendable pipe support apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the first extendable pipe support apparatus with a first v-support extended; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the first extendable pipe support apparatus with the first v-support retracted; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a third extendable pipe support apparatus with a third v-support extended; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the third extendable pipe support apparatus with the third v-support retracted; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a rotatable tower clamping apparatus; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of an angle block of the rotatable tower clamping apparatus pressing against a pipe and a second v-support of a second pipe support apparatus; 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a turntable supporting a pipe element being welded to a plate element; 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a first pipe system being supported by the first, second, and third extendable pipe support apparatus; and 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a second pipe system being supported by the first extendable pipe support apparatus and by a raised pipe support. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Although certain embodiments of the present invention will be shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., which are disclosed simply as an example of the embodiment. The features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. Although the drawings are intended to illustrate the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate perspective views of a portable pipe fitting table  10 . The portable pipe fitting table  10  includes a first extendable pipe support apparatus  12 , a second extendable pipe support apparatus  14 , a third extendable pipe support apparatus  16 , a vise  18 , a pipe cutting apparatus  20 , a raised pipe support apparatus  22 , a rotatable tower pipe clamp apparatus  24 , a turntable apparatus  26 , a top plate  28 , a base assembly  30 , a plurality of support leg assemblies  32 , and a plurality of wheel assemblies  34 . 
     The base assembly  30  includes a top side  36 , a first side  38 , a second side  40 , a third side  42 , a fourth side  44 , and a bottom side  46 . The first side  38  includes a door  48  that may be opened or closed to provide access to an interior storage space  50  within the base assembly  30 . The interior storage space  50  may be used to hold any suitable items (e.g., tools, fittings, hardware, solder, etc.). 
     The plurality of wheel assemblies  34  are attached to the bottom side  46  of the base assembly  30 . The wheel assemblies  34  include wheels  52  that allow the portable pipe fitting table  10  be easily moved from one location to another. The wheels  52  may be pivotally attached to the bottom side  46  of the base assembly  30 . A handle  54  is attached to the fourth side  44  of the base assembly  30  (FIG.  1 ). The handle  54  allows an assembler to easily push, pull, or steer the rolling portable pipe fitting table  10 . 
     The top plate  28  is attached to a transverse outer strut  56 A, a transverse outer strut  56 B, a transverse outer strut  56 C, and a transverse outer strut  56 D. The transverse outer struts  56 A- 56 D are attached to the longitudinal outer struts  58 A and  58 B. The longitudinal outer struts  58 A and  58 B are attached to the top side  36  of the base assembly  30 . The top plate  28  of the portable pipe fitting table  10  includes a plurality. of holes  60 . The plurality of holes  60  may be used to attach any suitable item (e.g., raised pipe support apparatus  22 , rotatable tower pipe clamp  24 , turntable apparatus  26 , etc.) to the top plate  28 . Fasteners such as bolts, or threaded studs may pass through the holes  60  and may be secured to the top plate  28  using threaded nuts. 
     The base assembly  30  includes the plurality of support leg assemblies  32 . Each support leg assembly  32  includes a leg holder  62 , a leg  64 , a pin  66 , and a foot pad  68  (FIG.  2 ). The leg  64  includes a plurality of adjustment holes  70 . The foot pad  68  is attached to a lower end  72  of the leg  64 . The leg  64  slides through the leg holder  62 . The pin  66  passes through the leg holder  62  and through one selected pair of adjustment holes  70 . The leg  64  may be extended towards or retracted away from a floor surface  74 . The leg  64  may be extended so that the foot pad  68  contacts the floor surface  74  such that the adjacent wheel  52  of the wheel assemblies  34  is removed from the floor surface  74 . The portable pipe fitting table  10  may be solidly supported by each leg assembly  32  contacting the floor surface  74 . This allows the portable pipe fitting table  10  to be stationary when the assembler is forming a pipe system. Each leg  64  of each leg assembly  32  may be retracted from the floor surface  74  allowing each wheel  52  of the wheel assemblies  34  to contact the floor surface  74 . Then the portable pipe fitting table  10  may be rolled to another location. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the vise  18  is attached to the top plate  28  of the portable pipe fitting table  10 . The vise  18  may be attached using fasteners such as bolts and nuts passing through one or several of the holes  60 . The assembler may use the vise to clamp piping components. The pipe cutting apparatus  20  is attached to the top plate  28  of the portable pipe fitting table  10 . The pipe cutting apparatus  20  may include any suitable device used for cutting a pipe section into a desired length. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the raised pipe support apparatus  22  includes a base upright  76 , a locking screw  78 , a shaft  80  and an angle member  82 . The base upright  76  may be removably attached to the top plate  28  of the portable pipe fitting table  10 . The base upright  76  may be attached by a fastener passing through one of the holes  60  in the top plate  28 . The angle member  82  is attached to the shaft  80 . The shaft  80  slides within the base upright  76  and is locked into a vertical position by the locking screw  78 . The assembler may use the angle member  82  to support a portion of piping. The angle member  82  may be raised or lowered by extending or retracting the shaft  80  within the base upright  76 . The assembler locks the angle member  82  in a desired position by turning the locking screw  78 . 
     The turntable apparatus  26  is removably attached to the top plate  28  using a fastener passing through one of the holes  60 . As illustrated in FIG. 10, the turntable appartus  26  includes an upright support shaft  84 , and a disc  86 . The disc  86  is rotatably attached to the upright support shaft  84 . The turntable apparatus  26  may be used by the assembler to weld around a peripheral edge  88  of a pipe member  90 . For example, in FIG. 10, the pipe member  90  is being welded to a plate member  92 . The plate member  92  is clamped to the disc  86  of the turntable apparatus  26  by any suitable means such as a clamp (not shown). The assembler rotates the disc  86  while welding at the peripheral edge  88  of the pipe member  90  to the plate member  92 . The rotating disc  86  rotates the plate member  92  and the pipe member  90 . This allows the assembler to hold the welding element at one location while the peripheral edge  88  of the pipe member  90  travels past the welding element. Thus, a welded joint is formed along the peripheral edge  88  of the pipe member  90 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the first extendable pipe support apparatus  12  includes the transverse outer strut  56 A, the transverse outer strut  56 B, a transverse inner strut  94 A, a transverse inner strut  94 B, a first v-support  96 A, a locking screw  98 A, and a locking screw  98 B (FIG.  1 ). The transverse inner struts  94 A and  94 B slide within the transverse outer struts  56 A and  56 B, respectively. The first v-support  96 A is rigidly attached to the transverse inner struts  94 A and  94 B. The locking screws  98 A and  98 B may be tightened or loosened by the assembler to lock or release the transverse inner struts  94 A and  94 B from the transverse outer struts  56 A and  56 B, respectively. FIG. 4 illustrates the first v-support  96 A extended away from the top plate  28  of the portable pipe fitting table  10 . FIG. 5 illustrates the first v-support  96 A in a retracted position, whereby the first v-support  96 A is resting against the top plate  28 . The first v-support  96 A may support a pipe member  100 A as shown in phantom in FIGS. 4 and 5. The first extendable pipe support apparatus  12  may support the pipe member  100 A and may position the pipe member  100 A closer or farther away from the top plate  28 . In a similar manner, the second pipe support apparatus  14  includes the transverse outer strut  56 C, the transverse outer strut  56 D, a transverse inner strut  94 C, a transverse inner strut  94 D, a second v-support  96 B, a locking screw  98 C, and a locking screw  98 D (FIG.  1 ). The second pipe support apparatus  14  allows the second v-support  96 B to be extended away from the top plate  28  or retracted towards the top plate  28 . 
     FIGS. 2,  6  and  7  illustrates the third extendable pipe support apparatus  16 . The third extendable pipe support apparatus  16  includes the longitudinal outer strut  58 A, the longitudinal outer strut  58 B, a longitudinal inner strut  102 A, a longitudinal inner strut  102 B, a third v-support  104 , a locking screw  98 E, and a locking screw  98 F (FIG.  2 ). The longitudinal inner struts  102 A and  102 B slide within the longitudinal outer struts  58 A and  58 B, respectively. The third v-support  104  is rigidly attached to the longitudinal inner struts  102 A and  102 B. The locking screws  98 E and  98 F may be tightened or loosened by the assembler to lock or release the longitudinal inner struts  102 A and  102 B from the outer longitudinal struts  58 A and  58 B, respectively. The longitudinal inner struts  102 A and  102 B include upright portions  106 A and  106 B to raise and align an upper portion  108  of the third v-support to be aligned with the top-plate  28 . FIG. 6 illustrates the third v-support  104  extended away from the top plate  28  of the portable pipe fitting table  10 . FIG. 7 illustrates the third v-support  104  in a retracted position whereby the third v-support  104  is resting against the top plate  28 . The third extendable pipe support apparatus  16  may support a pipe member  101  as shown in phantom in FIGS. 6 and 7. 
     FIGS. 1,  2 , and  8  illustrate the rotatable tower pipe clamp apparatus  24 . The rotatable tower pipe clamp apparatus  24  includes a base  110 , a shaft  112 , a locking screw  114 , a beam support  116 , a locking screw  118 A, a locking screw  118 B, a beam  120 , a collar  122 , a nut  124 , a height adjustment rod  126 , a handle  128 , and an angle block  130  (FIG.  8 ). The base  110  is removably attached to the top plate  28 . The shaft  112  slides vertically upward and downward within the base  110 . The locking screw  114  may be tightened to lock the shaft  112  in a selected vertical position. Additionally, the shaft  112  provides rotation of the rotatable tower pipe clamp apparatus  24  about the base  110 . An upper portion  132  of the shaft  112  is rigidly attached to the beam support  116 . The beam  120  slides in a horizontal direction within the beam support  116 . The locking screws  118 A and  118 B may be tightened to lock the beam  120  in a selected horizontal position. The collar  122  is rigidly attached to the beam  120 . The height adjustment rod  126  slides within the collar  122  and is locked in a vertical position by the nut  124 . The handle  128  is attached to the height adjustment rod  126  and allows the assembler to easily-rotate and vertically adjust the height adjustment rod  126 . The angle block  130  is attached to the height adjustment rod  126 . Thus, the angle block  130  may be positionally rotated and raised or lowered upon or away from a selected object. 
     For example, FIG. 9 illustrates the rotatable tower pipe clamp apparatus  24  being used to clamp an object, such as a pipe member  100 B, onto the first v-support  96 A of the first extendable pipe support apparatus  12 . The angle block  130  has been rotatably and vertically positioned above the pipe member  100 B. The rotatable tower pipe clamp apparatus  24  provides a downward clamping force upon the pipe member  100 B. The pipe member  100 B is held between the first v-support  96 A and the angle block  130  of the rotatable tower pipe clamp apparatus  24 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the portable pipe fitting table  10  being used to position and hold a series of interconnected pipes  134 . The series of interconnected pipes  134  includes the pipe member  100 B, an elbow  136 , a pipe member  100 C, an elbow  138 , and a pipe member  100 D. The second extendable pipe support apparatus  14  has been positioned to support the pipe member  100 D. The third extendable pipe support apparatus  16  has been positioned to support the pipe member  100 C. The first extendable pipe support apparatus  12  has been positioned to support the pipe member  100 B. The angle block  130  of the rotatable tower pipe clamp apparatus  24  has been rotated into position to provide a downward clamping force against the pipe member  100 B within the first v-support  96 A of the first extendable pipe support apparatus  12 . The assembler then welds the elbow  136  to the pipe members  100 B and  100 C. Then the assembler welds the elbow  138  to the pipe members  100 C and  100 D. Thus, a rigid series of interconnected pipes  134  is created. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates the portable pipe fitting table  10  being used to position and hold another series of interconnected pipes  140 . The series of interconnected  20  pipes  140  includes a pipe member  142 , an elbow  144 , a pipe member  146 , an elbow  148 , and a pipe member  150 . The first extendable pipe support apparatus  12  has been positioned to support the pipe member  142  and the elbow  144 . The raised pipe support apparatus  22  has been positioned to support the pipe member  150  with the angle member  82 . The rotatable tower pipe support apparatus  24  has been positioned so that the angle block  130  is positioned above the pipe member  150  and the angle member  82 . The angle block  130  provides a downward clamping force upon the pipe member  150 . The assembler then welds the elbow  148  to the pipe members  150  and  146 . Then the assembler welds the elbow  146  to the pipe members  146  and  142 . Thus, a rigid series of interconnected pipes  140  is created. 
     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, the portable pipe fitting table  10  may be used to support and position a plurality of any suitable objects (e.g., pipes, conduit, tubing, structural angles, etc.). The objects may be joined together by any suitable means (e.g., welding, soldering, glueing, etc.). Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.