Abstract:
The present invention is directed to overcoming stability issues when using welding stands or jacks screw stands to support pipe and other cylindrical objects in horizontally oriented manner by providing a support head or head apparatus which pivots. In one embodiment, the pivoting head apparatus for supporting a cylindrical object having a longitudinal axis comprises a base member and a support member pivotally mounted to the base member so that, in operation, the support member pivots about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical object. In another embodiment, the pivoting head apparatus further comprises a plurality of rollers for rollably engaging the cylindrical member. Additional embodiments and a method aspect are also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a regular application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/864,964 filed Nov. 8, 2006 and entitled, “PIVOTING HEAD FOR WELDING STAND”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of present invention relates generally to a head attachment, or head apparatus, for a welding stand and, more particularly, to a pivoting head apparatus and a method for supporting pipe and other cylindrical members in a horizontally oriented manner to facilitate welding and other operations. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    To prepare for the welding and fabrication of metal pipe, welders typically support a particular section of pipe using a plurality of welding stands or jacks placed at appropriate positions underneath the pipe. Each such stand will typically have a support head or head attachment mounted on top to support the pipe. One type of support head may take the form of a V-shaped cradle that receives and centers the pipe to be supported. This type of object support is known in the industry as a “V-head”. Where the pipe is to be supported for rotation, pipe support heads having horizontally arranged, spaced rollers may be employed. This type of object support is referred to as a “roller head”. The rollers facilitate the turning or rolling of the pipe section as the welding is conducted. 
         [0004]    One example of such prior art welding stands and heads is the FOLD-A-JACK™ stand manufactured by Sumner Manufacturing Co., Inc. of Houston, Tex., United States. This particular model can be ordered with a V-head, a bar-head or a roller head. 
         [0005]    However, the welding stands used in the conventional manner described above have a tendency to tip over under the weight of the pipe section, especially as the pipe is rotated or turned during welding procedure. For example, the inventor has observed that a 10 foot section of 6-inch diameter ¼″ thickness schedule 40 pipe, supported at about waist level above generally level ground by two of the prior art FOLD-A-JACK™ stands each having conventional roller heads (with the two stands position underneath the  10  foot section of pipe each within half-a-foot of the ends of the pipe), will at most accommodate about two or two-and-a-half revolutions of the pipe before the setup becomes unstable and begins to fall over. Likewise, the inventor has observed that a 40 foot section of 8-inch diameter ⅜″ thickness pipe, supported at about waist level above generally level ground by three of the prior art FOLD-A-JACK™ stands each having roller heads (with two of the stands position underneath the 40 foot section of pipe within half-a-foot of the ends of the pipe and the third placed roughly at the mid-way point of the pipe), will only accommodate about half a revolution of the pipe before that setup becomes unstable and begins to fall over. 
         [0006]    An advantage therefore exists for a stand and head assembly to safely support metal pipe sections, or other objects, while also allowing for a significant number of revolutions of the pipe and remain stable during such revolutions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one embodiment, the pivoting head apparatus for supporting a cylindrical object having a longitudinal axis comprises a base member and a support member pivotally mounted to the base member so that, in operation, the support member pivots about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical object. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the pivoting head apparatus further comprises a plurality of rollers for rollably engaging the cylindrical member. Preferably the rollers rotate about an axis which is generally parallel to longitudinal axis of the cylindrical object. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, the pivoting head apparatus further comprises a plurality of rollers for rollably engaging the cylindrical member and a V-shaped bracket attachment which is removably attachable over top of the plurality of rollers. The V-shaped bracket attachment pivots in cooperation with the support member during operation as the support member pivots relative to the base member. Advantageously, the V- shaped bracket allows the user of the pivot head to select either a pipe rolling feature (by operating the head with the V-shaped bracket removed) or a non-rolling feature (by operating the head with the V-shaped bracket attached). Additional embodiments and a method aspect are also disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1   a - 1   d  are perspective views of one embodiment of the pivoting head according to the present invention, showing various degrees of pivoting of the support member relative to the base member; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2   a - 2   b  are exploded perspective and exploded front views, respectively, of the pivoting head of the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a;    
           [0012]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   g  are side views of the pivoting head of the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a,  showing various degrees of pivoting of the support member relative to the base member; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  are perspective views of the pivoting head of the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a,  shown supporting a section of pipe at various degrees of pivoting of the support member relative to the base member; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   c  are side views of two pivoting heads of the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a,  shown mounted each on top of a welding stand and supporting a section of pipe; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is side view of the pivoting head of the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a,  shown mounted on top of a welding stand and supporting one end of a section of pipe; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 7   a - 7   m  are various views of a second embodiment of the pivoting head; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 8  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a;    
           [0018]      FIGS. 9   a - 9   b  are various views of a third embodiment of the pivoting head; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 9   c  is a side perspective view of two pivoting heads of the embodiment of  FIG. 9   a,  shown mounted each on top of a welding stand and supporting a section of pipe. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Reference is to be had to the Figures in which identical reference numbers identify similar components. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6  and  8 , one embodiment of a pivoting head constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated generally at  10 . The pivoting head  10  is designed to effectively supports all, or part of, a cylindrical object  15  such as a pipe  15   p  to be welded. The pivoting head  10  comprises a base member  12  and a support member  14  pivotally mounted to the base member  12 . Support member  14  is pivotally mounted to the base member  12  so that, in operation, support member  14  pivots about axis A which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B of the cylindrical object  15 , while at the same time supporting said object  15 . 
         [0022]    Preferably the base member  12  is a U-shaped cradle or saddle for pivotally mounting the support member  14 . Alternatively, the base member  12  may take any other suitable form, so as to pivotally mount the support member  14  as described above, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. More preferably, support member  14  is pivotally mounted to the base member  12  in a conventional manner. Even more preferably, support member  14  is pivotally mounted to the base member  12  so that the center of gravity of the support member is below pivot axis A. 
         [0023]    In this embodiment, support member  14  is pivotally mounted to the base member  12  by a pair of threaded bolts  17   b  which pass through a pair of pivoting holes  12   h  (one hole  12   h  located at either end of the U-shaped cradle of the member  12 ) and thread into internally threaded openings (not shown) in the support member  14 . Alternatively, in another embodiment (not shown) the support member  14  is pivotally mounted to the base member  12  by means of a pair of pins which pass through matching pivoting holes in both members  12 ,  14 , the pins then being held in place by retaining rings or clips. In yet another embodiment (not shown) the support member  14  is pivotally mounted to the base member  12  by means of a pair of pins which pass through matching pivoting holes in both members  12 ,  14 , the pins then subsequently being welded to each member so as to hold them in place. 
         [0024]    The support member  14  is of such form so as to effect support of a cylindrical object  15  such as a pipe  15   p  to be welded. In this embodiment, the support member  14  further comprises a pair of rollers  16  for rollably engaging the cylindrical member  15 . The rollers  16  are mounted to the support member  14  so that, in operation, the rollers  16  rotate about axis C which is generally parallel to the objects&#39;s longitudinal axis B; thereby facilitating the turning or rolling of the pipe  15   p  as the welding is conducted. 
         [0025]    Advantageously, when the support member  14  pivots relative to base member  12  (while the pivot head  10  supports object  15  during operations) the rollers&#39;s rotating axis C is kept generally parallel to the objects&#39;s longitudinal axis B (see  FIGS. 5   a - 6 ). Were this not the case, as with prior art roller heads, axis B and C would diverge from each other (i.e. no longer remaining parallel) causing or contributing to the instability found in the prior art stands and support heads. 
         [0026]    Preferably, the rollers  16  are mounted to the support member  14  in a conventional manner. In this embodiment, the rollers  16  are mounted to the support member  14  using a nut  16   n  and bolt  16   b  combination; the bolt  16   b  passing through the center of the roller  16  (via a central passage therethrough) and through matching and aligned roller holes  14   h  in member  14  (see  1   a - 2   b ), thereby acting as an axel. Advantageously a plurality of matching and aligned roller holes  14   h  are provided to allow a user to selectively place the rollers  16  at desired positions on the member  14 ; thereby allowing the pivoting head  10  to easily adjust to support various diameters of cylindrical objects  15 . 
         [0027]    Alternatively, in another embodiment (not shown) the rollers  16  are mounted to the support member  14  by means of a pin which passes through the center of the rollers  16  (via a central passage therethrough) and through matching and aligned roller holes in member  14 , said pin then being held in place by retaining rings or clips. Alternatively, in yet another embodiment (not shown) the rollers  16  are pivoted to the roller holes of support member  14  by a shaft which projects from the center of either side of the rollers  16 . 
         [0028]    Alternatively, the support member  14  may take any other suitable form to effectively support all or part of the object  15 , including that of a V or U shaped cradle, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. 
         [0029]    In this embodiment the pivoting head  10  further comprises mounting means  18  suitable for removably mounting the head  10  onto a welding stand  20 , screw jack stand or the like. Advantageously, the mounting means  18  allow the pivoting head  10  to be retro-fit onto existing welding stands  20 , screw jack stands or the like. In other embodiments (not shown), the pivoting head  10  can be formed as an integral part of the stand or jack by being welded or otherwise fixed thereto. 
         [0030]    Preferably the mounting means  18  is in a conventional form and comprises an externally threaded elongate adjustment screw  18   s  and adjustment nut  18   n.  In this embodiment the adjustment screw  18   s  projects downward from the base member  12 , the adjustment nut  18   n  defines internal threads (not shown) which are received by external threads  18 t of the adjustment screw  18   s  and the adjustment nut  18   s  further comprises a lower load transmitting portion  18   l.  More preferably, the threads  18   t  are coarse, acme threads but they may also take any other suitable form. Even more preferably, the adjustment nut  18   n  is provided with opposed adjusting handles  19   a  and  19   b  for ease of manual manipulation. 
         [0031]    Mounting or retrofitting the pivoting head  10  of this embodiment to a stand  20  is accomplished in a conventional manner, with at least a portion of the adjustment screw  18   s  being received within the conventional upward facing, internal opening of the stand  20  and with the lower load transmitting portion  18   l  of the adjustment nut  18   n  engaging part or all of the circumference portion around the internal opening of the stand  20 . Advantageously, the mounting means  18  of this embodiment enables easy retrofit of the pivot head  10  to existing welding stands, screw jack stands or the like. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0032]      FIGS. 7   a  to  7   m  illustrate a second embodiment of the pivoting head  10 . This embodiment of the head  10  is similar to the first embodiment as discussed above with the following notable differences. 
         [0033]    In this embodiment, support member  14  is pivotally mounted to the base member  12  by a pair of pivoting shafts  14   s  which project laterally from the support member  14  as shown and pass through a pair of pivoting holes  12   h  (one hole  12   h  located at either end of the U-shaped cradle of the base member  12 ), so as to effect pivotal movement of the support member  14  relative to the base member  12 . Preferably, the pivoting shafts  14   s  project some additional distance past the holes  12   h  and sides of the base member  12 , this additional portion being referred to as the pivoting shafts&#39; projecting portion  14   pp.  Preferably, each of the projecting portions  14   pp  project at least ¼ inch past the holes  12   h  and sides of the base member  12 . 
         [0034]    The second embodiment further comprises a brake, lug or stop  40  projecting from the support member  14  which will engage the base member  12  when the support member  14  pivots too far about axis A. Advantageously, the brake  40  functions to prevent unwanted excess pivoting movement of the support member relative to the base member. In this embodiment, the brake  40  engages the base member  12  at either point P 1  or point P 2  (depending on the direction of the pivoting movement) when the support member  14  has pivoted about 25 degrees relative to the base member  12 . 
         [0035]    Advantageously, and since typically only a small amount of pivoting action will be required to provide additional stability when supporting the pipe  15   p,  the brake  40  prevents the support member  14  from making too large a rotational movement about axis A, which in turn may create an opening between the base member  12  and the support member  14 , said opening potentially allowing passage of a users&#39;s fingers  50  therethrough; and, in such a case, the users&#39;s fingers  50  subject to becoming pinched, jammed or clamped between members  12  and  14  as member  14  rotates back. See the embodiment of  FIG. 8  for such an opening (labeled O) when the pivot head  10  does not have a break and the support member  14  has pivoted about 70 degrees counterclockwise relative to the base member  12 . 
         [0036]    The second embodiment further comprises a V-shaped bracket attachment  30  which is removably attachable over top of the rollers  16  of the support member  14  (see  FIGS. 7   a - 7   b  and  7   e - 7   h  for how the V-shaped bracket  30  may be easily mounted on, or removed from, the support member  14 ). The V-shaped bracket  30  attaches, connects or mounts to the support member  14  so as to pivot in co-operation with the support member  14  during operation, about axis A, as said member  14  pivots relative to the base member  12  (as more clearly shown in  FIGS. 7   a,    7   b  and  7   e - 7   h ). 
         [0037]    In this embodiment, the V-shaped bracket attachment  30  further comprises a V-shaped cradle  31  that receives, supports and centers object  15  and a pair of mounting members  32 ,  33  on either side of the cradle  31  to facilitate attaching the V-shaped bracket attachment  30  to the support member  14 . 
         [0038]    Further, in this embodiment, each of the mounting members  32 ,  33  comprises a first leg element  32   a,    33   a,  a second leg element  32   b,    33   b  and a third leg element  32 c,  33   c.  The first leg elements  32   a,    33   a  project generally downward from each side of the V-shaped cradle and rest on the support member  14  (shown more clearly in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b ) so as to transfer the weight of the object  15  from the cradle  31  to top of the support member  14  generally at points P 3  and P 4 . The second  32   b,    33   b  and third  32   c,    33   c  leg elements each project generally laterally and downward, respectively, from the first leg member  32   a,    33   a;  with the second leg members  32   b,    33   b  projecting just above and along the top of the support member  14  and the third leg members  32   c,    33   c  projecting substantially adjacent the sides of the base member  12  (again, as more clearly shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b ). 
         [0039]    In this embodiment, mounting member  32  further comprises an opening  320  in third leg member  32   c  to receive, or fit over, one of the projecting portions  14   pp  (see  FIG. 7   e ). Further in this embodiment, mounting member  33  further comprises a slot  33   s  in third leg member  33   c  to receive, or slide over, the other projecting portion  14   pp  (see  FIG. 7   f ) on the opposing side of the base member  12 . In this embodiment the slot  33   s  is L-shaped and both the opening  320  and the slot  33   s  conveniently cooperate with both projection portions  14   pp  to facilitate attaching the V-shaped bracket attachment  30  to the support member  14  as follows. First, mounting member  32  is position over one side of the support member  14  so that the projecting portion  14   pp  on that side is received by opening  320  (as shown in  FIG. 7   e ). Next mounting member  33  positioned over the opposite side of the support member  14  so that the projecting portion  14   pp  on that side is received by slot  33   s  (see  FIG. 7   f ). Then mounting member  33  is positioned so as to guide the projecting portion  14   pp  through the slot and towards the end of the L-shape (see  FIGS. 7   g - 7   h ). Removal of the V-shaped bracket attachment  30  is accomplished by generally reversing these steps. 
         [0040]    Advantageously, the V-shaped bracket attachment  30  is mounted to the support member  14  so as to pivot in co-operation with the support member  14  during operation as said member  14  pivots relative to the base member  12 . More advantageously, the V-shaped bracket  30  allows the user of the pivot head  10  to select either a pipe rolling feature (by operating the head  10  with the V-shaped bracket  30  removed, as shown more clearly in  FIGS. 7   c  and  7   d ) or a non-rolling feature (by operating the head  10  with the V-shaped bracket  30  attached, as shown more clearly in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b ). 
         [0041]    In this embodiment, the V-shaped bracket attachment  30  further comprises a pair of downward projecting securing tabs  35   a,    35   b  and a pair of gripping tabs  36   a,    36   b  projecting in opposite directions from the cradle  31  at an axis generally parallel to the objects&#39;s longitudinal axis B. Advantageously, the securing tabs  35   a,    35   b  facilitate removably attaching the V-shaped bracket attachment  30  over top of the rollers  16  and onto the support member  14  and provide additional securing means to ensure that the V-shaped bracket attachment  30  mounted to the support member  14  cooperates with the support member  14  during operation as said member  14  pivots relative to the base member  12 . More advantageously, the gripping tabs  36   a,    36   b  provide a gripping surface for a lockable gripping tool, such as chain vice-grips, to clamp or grip onto; thereby allowing one to use such a lockable gripping tool to quickly and easily fasten a pipe end, that is being supported by the pivoting head  10  and V-shaped bracket attachment  30 , to said attachment  30 . 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0042]      FIGS. 9   a  to  9   c  illustrate a third embodiment of the pivoting head  10 . This embodiment of the head  10  is similar to the second embodiment as discussed above with the following notable difference. This embodiment does not feature the V-bracket attachment but does comprise a brake or stop  40 . Also, in this embodiment, the rollers  16  are mounted to the support member  14  using a nut  16   n  and bolt  16   b  combination like that in the first embodiment. 
         [0043]    Observations 
         [0044]    The inventor has observed that a 10 foot section of 6-inch diameter ¼″ thickness schedule 40 pipe, supported at about waist level above generally level ground by two of the prior art FOLD-A-JACK™ stands each being retro-fit with the pivoting head  10  of the first embodiment (with the two stands and heads  10  positioned underneath the 10 foot section of pipe each within half-a-foot of the ends of the pipe), will now easily accommodate six revolutions of the pipe without the 10 foot section of pipe moving relative to the stands and without the setup becoming unstable or falling over.