Patent ID: 12240079

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG.1, the numeral10generally designates a deburring device. As will be more fully described below, the deburring device10is configured to receive a pipe for the purpose of uniformly and, optionally, simultaneously deburring the cut end to clean and/or remove imperfections on the outside of the pipe, and optionally to reshape the cut end of a pipe.

In the illustrated embodiment, deburring device10is constructed as a one-piece body from a material or materials, such as metal (e.g., aluminum), nickel alloy, steel (e.g., cold rolled steel), or other ferrous materials including sheet metal, tubing, solid rod, plastic, ceramic, or open web materials and may be formed by either molding, including plastic injection molding, welding, casting, or machining, including machining with a CNC machine, or any other desired manufacturing process. However, it should be understood that deburring device10may be formed or assembled from multiple components.

Referring toFIG.2, the deburring device10includes a cylindrical body12, which forms a receptacle20. Cylindrical body12includes an abrasive surface14for deburring a pipe inserted into the receptacle20on at least two surfaces, for example the outside of the pipe and/or edges of the pipe at the pipe's distal end. In the illustrated embodiment, abrasive surface14is located in an annular channel16formed or located, for example, at the lower end of cylindrical body12in receptacle20.

The abrasive surface14may be formed from abrasive materials, such as metal pieces, ceramic cutters, micro-honeycomb cutters, knives, sand, diamonds, carbide cutters, or may be formed from knurled surfaces. The abrasive surface may be from by abrasive material inserted, imbedded, sprayed, bonded, woven, or infused on or in the cylindrical body12on either side of channel16. For example, the abrasive surface may be provided in the form of a knurled surface. As will be more fully described below, the abrasive surface may be located so that it uniformly deburrs the inner and outer edges of the cut end of the pipe, while simultaneously removing imperfections from the outer or external surface of the pipe to make it completely smooth, and, if desired, reshaping the cut end of the pipe to form a tapered, bullnose or rounded cut end, such as shown inFIG.2C.

Referring again toFIG.2A, device10may be formed with outer cylindrical wall12aand an inner cylindrical wall12c, which is spaced inwardly from outer cylindrical wall12aand recessed into receptacle20to thereby form annular channel16there between. Inner cylindrical wall12cmay be solid or may also include one or more passageways to allow debris to be ejected from device10, as described below. The abrasive surface may be formed on the inside surface of outer cylindrical wall12aor inner cylindrical wall12cor both. Further, the lower end of outer cylindrical wall12amay be angled inwardly to form a tapered inner surface, as best seen inFIG.5A.

Referring toFIGS.2A-2C, annular channel16may be sized and shaped (e.g., have a curved or arcuate lower surface) so that the end of the pipe P can be freely and fully inserted into the channel16(see alsoFIG.5B) and optionally only make contact with abrasive surface14at its distal edges E1and E2(see e.g.,FIG.2B). As the pipe P is pushed and turned in receptacle20, edges E1and E2will, therefore, contact abrasive surface14so that edges E1and E2will be deburred and, optionally, reshaped such as shown inFIG.2C. Alternately, the lower surface of annular channel16may be generally flat so that when a pipe is rotated in device10, the pipe's distal end will remain generally flat after cleaning. As will be more fully described below, the other option is to insert the pipe into the receptacle so that it is only partially inserted into the channel, so that only the outer or exterior surfaces of the pipe may contact with the abrasive surface.

Alternately, channel16may be sized so that there is little or no gap between pipe P and inwardly facing side16bof channel16(which is formed at the lower end of inner cylindrical wall12c) and outwardly facing side16aof channel16(which is formed by outer cylindrical wall12a). Optionally, similar to as described above, the pipe P may be fully inserted into the channel so that edges E1and E2as well as the inner and outer pipe wall surfaces S1and S2of pipe P will be deburred by abrasive material14, with edges E1and E2optionally being reshaped as well after the pipe has been rotated in device10.

Optionally, as noted above, the pipe P need not be fully inserted in to receptacle20so that only outer and inner wall surfaces S1and S2of pipe P are deburred by the abrasive surface formed at sides16a,16bof channel16.

In the illustrated embodiment, cylindrical body12may include passageways18formed therein to allow debris from the deburring process to exit device10. The number and location of passageways18may vary, but in the illustrated embodiment comprise four passageways spaced equally around annular channel16at opposed sides of cylindrical body12, for example, at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock. Passageways18may be round, and formed, for example, by drilling or may be formed during the forming process of cylindrical body18.

The depth of channel16may vary and depends on the size of the pipe and area of pipe to be deburred. For example, the depth of the channel16may fall in a range about 3/16 to 5/16 inches, ¼ to ⅜ inches, or 7/16 to 9/16 inches.

While illustrated with a generally solid annular channel16with four passageways18(FIG.3), channel16may have fewer or more than four passageways, for example, formed by drilled holes or cuts formed therein to form discrete spaced sections of wall there between to increase the flow of debris exiting from the device. Further, as described in reference toFIG.5A, cylindrical body12may include one or more larger and/or longer passageways formed by cuts40to ease manufacturing of the device, which also allow debris to exit from the channel.

Referring again toFIG.2A, the lower end of cylindrical body12may be formed with rounded rim22, which joins outer and inner cylindrical walls12aand12c, and which forms the bottom of channel16. Referring toFIG.3, passageways18may extend through the rim22and extend up into channel16through the rim22, as noted, so as to provide paths for debris to exit from device10.

Optionally, as noted and best seen inFIGS.5A-5D, the lower end of cylindrical body12may include longer passageways in the form cuts40that extend up into the rim (optionally on the inside and/or outside cylindrical walls), which can facilitate manufacturing of the device. These may be in place of the passageways18(as shown) or in addition to the passageways18. The cuts40may extend partially up the inner cylindrical wall or extend to its upper free edge12d(FIGS.5A and5B). On the outside cylindrical wall12a, these cuts40may extend above the free edge of the inner cylindrical wall.

Still further, device10may be configured as a hand tool that is simple to construct, inexpensive, and capable for anyone to use without any special skill. Simplification in the construction of the invention makes it inexpensive to produce because it has no moving parts, is self-aligning, and is self-cleaning. These aspects increase the longevity and reliability of the invention. In addition, the device can easily be carried by a workman, and may be sized to fit in a work belt or pocket.

As would be understood fromFIGS.2,2A, and2B, when a pipe is inserted into device10, device10will deburr the outer and inner edges of the cut end of the pipe. These edges may be straight or flat or may be rounded or tapered (as shown inFIG.5B). Once deburred, the pipe will have a clean end to allow a coupler with a gasket, or other fitting, to be connected to the pipe end without damaging the gasket.

If a straight or flat cut end is preferred on the pipe, as noted above, the workman may simply insert the pipe into the body and seat it in the receptacle20. The workman may then slightly back the pipe out of the receptacle20so that the pipe is no longer fully seated in the receptacle. The workman can then rotate the body a few times to uniformly remove imperfections from the external surface of the pipe, such as generally shown inFIG.2Aand depending on the depth optionally simultaneously deburr the inner and outer edges of the cut end of the pipe.

Thus, if the cut end of a pipe is cut on an angle, or is not perfectly straight, the receptacle can straighten the cut end by reshaping it into a tapered, bullnose or rounded end, or flat end depending on the shaped of the channel. Before a pipe can be properly joined to a coupler with a gasket, or other fitting, it is preferred to be level and smooth on the external surface of the pipe. Again in this instance, the workman may fully insert the pipe into the cylindrical body and seat it fully in the channel. The workman then rotates the body several times, or until the workman no longer feels any resistance from the pipe, and until the cut end of the pipe has become its desired shape. Again, this allows ease of insertion of the pipe into a coupler with a gasket, or other fitting, preventing any damage to the gasket.

Consequently, it can be appreciated that the device can also be used as a leveling tool in addition to removing imperfections on the external surface of the pipe, which can otherwise prevent a gasket from forming a tight, leak-proof seal against the pipe.

To facilitate insertion of a pipe into device10, cylindrical body12may include a flared rim12bat its upper end. Further, flared rim12breduces the likelihood of a groove being created on the pipe as the pipe is turned in device10.

Referring toFIG.6, the numeral110designates another embodiment of a deburring device. Deburring device110is of similar construction to deburring device10but includes a planar annular surface122at the lower end of cylindrical wall112above which channel116is formed and with abrasive material114similarly located in channel116. In this manner, device110may be made from a solid stock of material, for example, using CNC, end mills to remove the material to form and shape cutting channel at the lower end of cylindrical body. The passageways can then be drilled or cut into the cylindrical body112to allow debris to exit the device. For further details of cylindrical body112, abrasive material114, and channel116reference is made to the above embodiments.

In any of the above, the abrasive material may also be provided on the outside of the cylindrical body of the devices described herein to allow a workman to manually grip the body for ease in rotating it without slipping.

Alternately or in addition, the outside shape or surface of the cylindrical body of the devices described herein may have two or more flat regions or indentations to allow a worker to grasp the device. For example, in one embodiment the cylindrical body may be formed from a poly-sided cylindrical body so that it has two or more planar surfaces to facilitate either manual operation of the device or so that it can be engaged by a tool or machine.

Therefore, the deburring devices, as noted, may be configured as a hand cleaning, reshaping, and deburring device that will simultaneously deburr at least two surfaces, such as the inner and outer cut end edges, of a pipe uniformly to thereby remove imperfections from the external surface of a pipe that may have been created during manufacturing, and, optionally, to reshape an irregular cut end of a pipe into a tapered, bullnose or rounded shape, or flat shape, if desired.

In another embodiment, the outer surface of the cylindrical body of any of the above devices may include other structures for engagement by a tool or machine. For example, the cylindrical body may include one or more flat regions or notches for engagement by a tool or machine.

Alternately, or in addition, the cylindrical body may be formed with or fitted with a shaft extending, for example, from its central lower wall, to allow the deburring device to be used with a power unit, such as a drill, including a cordless drill.

Consequently, the deburring devices described herein may increase efficiency in the installation process by uniformly deburring the inner and outer edges of the cut end of a pipe to provide a uniform cut end on the pipe.

It should be understood the embodiments described herein may be used to deburr pipes made from a wide variety of wall thicknesses and diameters, and a wide variety of materials.

With respect to the description of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that any changes in the construction of the devices, as illustrated and described herein, may be made within the scope or range of the claims without changing the concept of the present disclosure.

Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).

The above description is that of current embodiments. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present disclosure is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Any reference to claim elements as “at least one of X, Y and Z” is meant to include any one of X, Y or Z individually, and any combination of X, Y and Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z; and Y, Z.