Claims
- 1. A chain slip tool for use with a chain vise comprisinga pair of spaced apart generally parallel plates, each plate having a first edge adapted to generally conform to the periphery of a pipe to be clamped in the chain vise, a pin supported by said plates at a substantial perpendicular thereto, the pin generally parallel to the axis of the pipe to be clamped, at least one roller supported on the pin and freely rotatable thereabout, whereby the first edges of said plates abut the pipe to be clamped by the chain vise.
- 2. The chain slip tool of claim 1 whereina base shaped to generally conform to a curvilinear surface is fixed to the first edges of each of said plates.
- 3. The chain slip tool of claim 1 whereinthe at least one roller extends substantially the entire length of the space between the plates of the bearing member.
- 4. The chain slip tool of claim 1 whereina transverse wall joins the plates.
- 5. The chain slip tool of claim 2 whereinthe base defines an inverted V, the at least one roller comprises a multiplicity of roller bearings disposed coaxially, the multiplicity of roller bearings extends substantially the entire length of the space between the plates of the bearing member, a transverse wall joins the plates, the transverse wall formed integrally with the plates, the plates and the transverse wall defining an inverted U.
- 6. A chain vise comprisinga cradle to support a pipe to be clamped, a chain having a first end fixed to the cradle, the chain having a second free end, the second free end of the chain selectively drawn toward the cradle, a bearing member disposable upon the pipe to be clamped comprising a pair of spaced apart generally parallel plates, each of the pair of plates having a first edge adapted generally to conform to the periphery of the pipe to be clamped, an axle supported by said plates, the axle disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the pipe to be clamped, at least one roller supported on said axle and freely rotatable thereabout, the chain passing over the at least one roller.
- 7. The chain vise of claim 6 whereina pair of spaced apart bearing members is joined by a spacer, each of said bearing members substantially identical to the other of said bearing members, each pair of plates of each bearing member abutting at the first edges thereof the periphery of the pipe to be clamped.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7 whereinthe spacer comprises an elongate strap adapted to mount to each of said units.
- 9. A method to clamp a first pipe to be welded to a second pipe, comprising the steps of:positioning the first pipe on a cradle, placing a first bearing member upon the pipe generally overlying the cradle, the first bearing member comprising a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel plates, each plate having a first edge adapted to generally conform to the periphery of a pipe to clamped in the chain vise, a pin supported by said plates, the pin disposed substantially in parallel with the first pipe, at least one roller supported on the pin and freely rotatable thereabout, passing an elongate chain over the roller of the bearing member the chain having a first end and an opposing second end, fixing the first end of the chain to the cradle, drawing the second end of the chain past the cradle.
- 10. The method of claim 9 further including the steps of:placing a second bearing member on the pipe, the second bearing member being substantially similar to the first bearing member, remaining the first bearing member and the second bearing member in a spaced apart relation whereby the pins of the bearing members are generally parallel, passing the chain over the roller of the second bearing member before drawing the second end of the chain past the cradle.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority from provisional patent application entitled “Chain Slip Tool for Chain Vise”, Ser. No. 60/225,442 filed Aug. 14, 2000. The disclosure of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/225,442 is hereby incorporated in its entirety.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/225442 |
Aug 2000 |
US |