This document relates to the technical field of (and is not limited to) an apparatus for buffing a pipe assembly (and a method thereof).
Pipe cleaning tools (such as buffing wheels) are configured to buff (clean) a pipe end section.
It will be appreciated that there exists a need to mitigate (at least in part) at least one problem associated with existing pipe cleaning tools (also called existing technology). After much study of the known systems and methods with experimentation, an understanding of the problem and its solution has been identified and is articulated as follows:
Conventional (known) pipe cleaning and/or buffing tools and methods may result in buckling of the pipe, etc., in such a way that the pipe buffing (cleaning) operation may be somewhat dangerous for the operator.
It is desirable to provide a solution in which the buffing operation is cleaner and relatively quicker, and saves time and money.
It is also desirable to provide a solution in which the buffing operation is relatively safer so less safety supervision and fewer skilled operators may be used, thus saving time and money while increasing worker safety.
To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with the existing technology, there is provided (in accordance with a first major aspect) an apparatus. The apparatus is for a pipe assembly having an open-ended pipe portion with a pipe end face extending between an inner pipe diameter and an outer pipe diameter. The apparatus includes a support assembly configured to be spatially positioned and movable, in use, relative to the open-ended pipe portion of the pipe assembly. A buffing assembly is configured to extend, in use and at least in part, from the support assembly. This is done in such a way that the buffing assembly (in use) contacts, at least in part, the pipe end face, the inner pipe diameter and the outer pipe diameter of the open-ended pipe portion of the pipe assembly once the support assembly is spatially positioned (in use) to do just so. The buffing assembly is also configured to buff, in use and at least in part, the pipe end face, the inner pipe diameter and the outer pipe diameter of the open-ended pipe portion of the pipe assembly once the buffing assembly is extended to do just so and in response to the movement of the support assembly.
To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with existing technology, there is provided (in accordance with a second major aspect) an apparatus. The apparatus is for a pipe assembly having an open-ended pipe portion with a pipe end face extending between an inner pipe diameter and an outer pipe diameter. The apparatus includes a support assembly configured to be spatially positioned and movable. A buffing assembly is configured to extend from the support assembly, and buff the pipe end face, the inner pipe diameter and the outer pipe diameter of the open-ended pipe portion of the pipe assembly once the buffing assembly is extended from the support assembly and in response to the movement of the support assembly.
Other aspects are identified in the claims.
Other aspects and features of the non-limiting embodiments may now become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments with the accompanying drawings.
The non-limiting embodiments may be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details unnecessary for an understanding of the embodiments (and/or details that render other details difficult to perceive) may have been omitted.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several figures of the drawings. Elements in the several figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not been drawn to scale. The dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for facilitating an understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. In addition, common, but well-understood, elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted to provide a less obstructed view of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims. For the description, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the examples as oriented in the drawings. There is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory in the preceding Technical Field, Background, Summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are exemplary embodiments (examples), aspects and/or concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. It is understood that the phrase “at least one” is equivalent to “a”. The aspects (examples, alterations, modifications, options, variations, embodiments and any equivalent thereof) are described regarding the drawings. It should be understood that the invention is limited to the subject matter provided by the claims, and that the invention is not limited to the particular aspects depicted and described.
Referring to the embodiments as depicted in
The pipe assembly 900 may include a tube of metal, plastic, or other suitable material used to convey water, gas, oil, or other type of fluid substance. The pipe assembly 900 has an open-ended pipe portion 902 with a pipe end face 904 extending between an inner pipe diameter 906 and an outer pipe diameter 908. The open-ended pipe portion 902 is also called a pipe end face portion or pipe face.
The apparatus 100 includes (and is not limited to) a synergistic combination of a support assembly 102 and a buffing assembly 104.
The support assembly 102 is configured to be spatially positioned and movable, in use, relative to the open-ended pipe portion 902 of the pipe assembly 900. The support assembly 102 may include any type of shaped support device. The support assembly 102 may be called a housing assembly. The buffing assembly 104 is configured to extend, in use and at least in part, from the support assembly 102. This is done in such a way that the buffing assembly 104 contacts, at least in part and in use, the pipe end face 904, the inner pipe diameter 906 and the outer pipe diameter 908 of the open-ended pipe portion 902 of the pipe assembly 900 once the support assembly 102 is spatially positioned, in use, to do just so. In addition, the buffing assembly 104 is also configured to buff, in use and at least in part, the pipe end face 904, the inner pipe diameter 906 and the outer pipe diameter 908 of the open-ended pipe portion 902 of the pipe assembly 900 once the buffing assembly 104 is extended to do just so and in response to the movement of the support assembly 102.
A technical effect of the combination of the support assembly 102 and the buffing assembly 104 is that the open-ended pipe portion 902 may extend so far into the buffing assembly 104 in such a way that once the buffing assembly 104 is reciprocated (moved) back and forth several times (such as, once or twice), the open-ended pipe portion 902 is cleaned, at least in part, by the buffing assembly 104.
It will be appreciated that the support assembly 102 and the buffing assembly 104 may be configured or adapted to suit any type of the pipe assembly 900 (to accommodate most sizes of pipes or pipelines). Preferably, the apparatus 100 is used in a single pass (application to the open-ended pipe portion 902 as depicted in
For instance, the buffing assembly 104 includes buffing elements, such as wire bristles and/or steel wires (and any equivalent thereof), that extend (fixedly extend) from the support assembly 102. The steel wires may be configured to be fixedly mounted to the support assembly 102, and to extend from the support assembly 102 into the interior of the support assembly 102. For instance, the wire bristles may include any one of brass wires, softened brass wires, a more malleable metal alloy (metallic wire bristles), plastic wires (plastic materials), and a cloth material (cloth materials), etc., and any equivalent thereof.
Preferably, the support assembly 102 is shaped as a semi-circular spheroid having an open end configured to receive, at least in part, the open-ended pipe portion 902 (as depicted in
In accordance with an embodiment, the apparatus 100 further includes a shaft assembly 106. The shaft assembly 106 is configured to be moved (rotated). The shaft assembly 106 has a longitudinal axis 103 extending along the shaft assembly 106. The support assembly 102 extends from the shaft assembly 106 in such a way that the support assembly 102 is movable in response to the movement of the shaft assembly 106.
Referring to the embodiments as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
Preferably, the centrally aligned extension member 110 includes a tapered portion 112. The tapered portion 112 is configured to assist in imparting (in use) a buffing force to the open-ended pipe portion 902 (as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
It will be appreciated that there are many ways to configure the support assembly 102 and the buffing assembly 104.
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
It may be appreciated that the assemblies and modules described above may be connected with each other as required to perform desired functions and tasks within the scope of persons of skill in the art to make such combinations and permutations without having to describe each and every one in explicit terms. There is no particular assembly or component that may be superior to any of the equivalents available to the person skilled in the art. There is no particular mode of practicing the disclosed subject matter that is superior to others, so long as the functions may be performed. It is believed that all the crucial aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been provided in this document. It is understood that the scope of the present invention is limited to the scope provided by the independent claim(s), and it is also understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to: (i) the dependent claims, (ii) the detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments, (iii) the summary, (iv) the abstract, and/or (v) the description provided outside of this document (that is, outside of the instant application as filed, as prosecuted, and/or as granted). It is understood, for this document, that the phrase “includes” is equivalent to the word “comprising.” The foregoing has outlined the non-limiting embodiments (examples). The description is made for particular non-limiting embodiments (examples). It is understood that the non-limiting embodiments are merely illustrative as examples.