Patent Application
20090136306
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for planing out unwanted sections of pipe materials.
There is currently widespread use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, heat resistant polyvinyl chloride (HPVC) pipe and corrosion resistant polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe in the plumbing and building industries. A few of the desirable features of these piping materials relate to the ease of cutting of pipe segments and ease of attachment of the pipe segments to various fittings and couplings of the same type of material, using special glues and pipe cements. When mistakes are made in measurement or when breaks occur at or near junctions of pipe sections to fittings, the replacement process for multiple pieces of pipe and perhaps multiple fittings can be time-consuming and costly.
Therefore a need exists for a way to rework the existing pipe segments or fittings to permit reattachment and reuse of damaged or otherwise unsuitable materials.
The present invention meets this need, amongst others, by providing apparatus and methods to quickly and economically rework and rehabilitate broken or otherwise unsuitable sections of fittings or pipe segments. Typically a section of PVC, CPVC or HPVC pipe will have broken, leaving part of the pipe section attached to the interior of a fitting or other pipe. An embodiment of the invention provides a planing apparatus comprising: A) an elongated bladelike member having a thickness, a width and a length, which bladelike member is symmetrical about an imaginary central longitudinal axis, and which bladelike member comprises (i) a shoulder portion comprised of two beveled cutting areas and (ii) a body portion forming a leading edge which is convex relative to the body portion; and B) an elongated shank member for coupling the planing apparatus to a rotational driver, which shank member is attached to and axially aligned with the shoulder portion of the bladelike member.
In another embodiment of the invention each of the beveled cutting areas comprise two cutting edges which converge. In further embodiments of the invention, the two cutting edges converge to form an acute angle. The angle of incidence between a first cutting edge and a second cutting edge is measured to be in a range of from about 77 degrees to about 83 degrees. More preferably this angle is measured to be in range of from about 79 degrees to 81 degrees.
In one embodiment of the invention the body portion of the bladelike member is of unitary construction. In another embodiment of the invention, the body portion defines one or more notches for aiding in removal of cuttings.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a kit for removing a section of an inner pipe from a bore of an outer pipe, useable in combination with a rotational driver, which kit comprises a plurality of planing apparatuses wherein each apparatus comprises: A) an elongated bladelike member having a thickness, a width and a length, which bladelike member is symmetrical about an imaginary central longitudinal axis, and which bladelike member comprises (i) a shoulder portion comprised of two beveled cutting areas and (ii) a body portion forming a leading edge which is convex relative to the body portion; and B) an elongated shank member for coupling the planing apparatus to the rotational driver, which shank member is attached to and axially aligned with the shoulder portion of the bladelike member.
Yet another embodiment of the invention provides a method for removing a section of an inner pipe from a bore of an outer pipe, which method comprises:
The various embodiments and features of this invention will now become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
Like numbers and/or letters in the various figures are used to refer to like parts or components within the group of figures.
As will now be appreciated, the present invention makes possible planing or reaming sections of “plastic” pipe such as PVC, CPVC and HPVC pipe which as been glued or cemented into a bore of another section of pipe or into a bore of a fitting. The cutting away of the unwanted pipe can be accomplished in an easy operation by use of an embodiment of an apparatus of this invention which quickly attaches to a conventional rotational driver such as a hand-held portable drill. An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for reaming out or planing away a piece of plastic pipe fixed in a plastic pipe fitting so that the plastic pipe can be replaced without damaging the fitting.
Referring now to the accompanying figures,
As shown in
Inner pipe P1 can be seen to be lodged inside bore B of outer pipe P2. Planing apparatus 10, after being operably attached to rotational driver D, not shown, will be guided into aperture A to a distance E to allow rotational motion of cutting areas 16,16 to shave or plane away a portion C of inner pipe P1 which is to be removed. It is to be understood that outer pipe P2 could easily be a fitting or other coupling, rather than a section of pipe. Most, though not all, shavings or cuttings produced by the operation of the planing apparatus will be pushed ahead of the planing apparatus and can be readily removed when the planing apparatus is withdrawn from the bore of the outer pipe.
Aperture A of inner pipe P1 is seen in
The angles of bevel or the pitches of the cutting edges make it possible to cleanly plane away PVC pipe having a thickness of, at least, from schedule 20 to schedule 40 PVC pipe without jamming or gouging the inner pipe. A schedule of pipe refers to a pipe sizing system for the outside diameter and wall thickness dimensions of the pipe.
In an embodiment of the invention, a kit is provided which comprises a plurality of planing apparatuses in multiple different sizes. The dimensions L, W, and T of the planing apparatuses vary to provide a choice of dimension of planing apparatus for use with a variety of different diameter pipes or fittings.
In a situation where the planing apparatus is to be used for removing a section of an inner pipe form a bore of an outer pipe, the inner pipe will typically have broken leaving an uneven end within the outer pipe. The outer pipe can also be a pipe fitting which could be reused if the broken pipe could be remove without damaging the fitting. The user will choose the particular planing apparatus to suit the dimensions of the interior diameter of the inner pipe, usually in the range of 0.5 inch to 1.25 inch. After attaching the planing apparatus to a portable drill or other rotational driver at the shank member and tightening the operable connection according to the standard methods of the drill, the user will activate the drill so that the planing member rotates at an appropriate rpm depending on the drill type and specification. If the inner pipe is to be removed from a fitting, the fitting, with inner pipe attached, can first be secured in some manner for ease of maneuvering, such as being secured in a vice. Appropriate personal protective equipment should be employed, such as safety goggles and gloves for the user.
The rotating planing apparatus is aligned with the aperture of the inner pipe and, as the planing apparatus is guided into the inner pipe, the cutting areas will begin to plane away the material making up the inner pipe. Shavings may fall either in or out of the pipes. It is to be understood that the alignment of the planing apparatus with the aperture of the inner pipe can be accomplished either before or after the rotational driver or drill is activated. The sequence of these two steps can be reversed and still be within the scope of this invention.
The user will guide the planing apparatus into the inner pipe for a sufficient distance to plane away and remove a suitable section of the inner pipe. By suitable section, it is to be understood that in some instances all traces of the inner pipe will not need to be removed. For instance, it could be that only enough material of the inner pipe needs to be removed to allow attachment of a new section of PVC pipe or a new PVC fitting, leaving some material from the inner pipe within the outer pipe.
After a desired amount of inner pipe material is shaved or planed away, the planing apparatus is removed from the bore of the outer pipe, leaving the outer pipe intact and structurally sound.
Suitable materials of construction of the planing apparatus include, but are not limited to, metal such as carbon steel and stainless steel.
Except as may be expressly otherwise indicated, the article “a” or “an” if and as used herein is not intended to limit, and should not be construed as limiting, a claim to a single element to which the article refers. Rather, the article “a” or “an” if and as used herein is intended to cover one or more such elements, unless the text expressly indicates otherwise.
This invention is susceptible to considerable variation in its practice. Therefore the foregoing description is not intended to limit, and should not be construed as limiting, the invention to the particular exemplifications presented hereinabove.
It should be appreciated that, while specific embodiments are described hereinafter, several other applications of the presently described invention may be contemplated by those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in detail hereinafter. Rather, what is intended to be covered is as set forth in the ensuing claims and the equivalents thereof permitted as a matter of law.
