Patent Application
20060002765
In the art of working on underground pipes, it has been conventional for workers to dig a hole to access the pipe beneath ground, with the hole being of sufficient size that workers can get down into the hole, to work on the underground pipe. Often the underground pipe is on the order of 4 feet below the ground surface, such that the hole must first be excavated, and such excavation must be sufficient in amount to allow one or more workers to enter the hole and have sufficient room to work on the underground pipe.
Depending upon the depth of the pipe beneath the ground surface, the usual process requires excavation of large amounts of earth, causing considerable disruption to the surrounding landscape.
The present invention is directed to using a tool assembly for working on underground pipes through a hole at the ground surface that is small relative to the depth within the hole of the pipe being worked upon.
The tool assembly uses an elongate handle member adapted to be actuated from above ground at its upper end, and, at the lower end of the elongate handle member, there is a universal coupling. The coupling is connectable and disconnectable to the lower end of the handle member and is also connectable and disconnectable to adapters for various specific tools, preferably with a quick connect/disconnect feature.
The handle member is preferably hollow, for delivery of compressed air, for pneumatically driving tools that are down in the hole, from above ground.
The present invention is directed to a tool assembly and a process of using it, to work on underground pipes through a hole at the ground surface, while optionally employing any one of a plurality of different tools, for different tooling operations.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a tool assembly and processes for using the assembly below ground, whereby a single handle member carries a universal coupling at its lower end, for selective connecting and disconnecting to any of various tools, each having their own adapter.
It is another object of this invention to accomplish the above object, wherein the coupling is connectable and disconnectable to the lower end of the handle member.
It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the objects set forth above, by pneumatically driving the tools in the hole, from above ground.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent upon a reading of the following brief descriptions of the drawing figures, the detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments, and the appended claims.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to
A tool assembly in accordance with this invention is generally, designated by the numeral 13, and is shown in the hole 10. The tool assembly 13 includes an elongate handle member 14, having upper and lower ends 15 and 16, respectively. Typically, a measurement across the access opening 11 could be on the order of 18 inches, for example, and the depth of the hole, at the bottom 12 could be 4 feet below ground level 17.
A pipe 18 is shown, underground, adapted to be worked on by means of a tool. In the illustration of
The tool 20 carries at its upper end an adapter 21 (not visible in
A universal coupling 22 connects the lower end 16 of the handle member 14, with a coupling extension carried by the tool adapter 21.
The handle member 14 has a sleeve 23 mounted thereto, at an above ground level, and carries a manual grip 24 thereon, so that a worker can grab the grip 24 to manipulate the handle 14, and consequently the tool 20 carried thereby, into proper position for working on an underground pipe.
The handle member 14 is hollow, for delivering compressed air supplied via line 25, when the manually actuable lever 26 is activated by the worker, by grapping the same and pressing it toward the upper end 15 of the handle member 14, to open a valve disposed therein (not shown), to permit compressed air from line 25 to pass downwardly through the handle member 14, to the tool 20, for pneumatically driving the tool.
In the course of delivery of compressed air to the tool 20, the air will pass through the coupling 22, and the tool-specific adapter 21.
With specific reference to
A flat zone 35 is provided, for bolted connection of a plate (to be described herein later), thereto, by means of bolts inserted into threaded holes 36.
A coupling extension 37 is provided, having a small diameter portion 38 and a larger diameter portion 40, terminating at its lower end in a tool-adapter connection 41.
The coupling extension 37 is adapted to be moved into engagement, in the direction of the arrow 42, such that the sleeve portion 34 is received into the smaller diameter portion 38 of the coupling extension 37, with suitable “O”-ring seals (not shown), for air-tight connection therewith, in the manner shown in
With reference now to
The coupling includes a hinge plate 42, and left and right coupling sleeve halves 43 and 44, pivotally connected to the plate 42, by suitable hinge pins 43, 44. The plate 42 has three bolt-receiving holes 47, 48 and 50, as shown.
Each of the coupling sleeve halves 43, 44, is of arcuate construction, and together, along with the plate 42, essentially provide a circular configuration as shown in
An over-center lock handle 51 is pivotally mounted to sleeve half 43, as shown, by means of pivot pin 52, and after the sleeve halves are closed, and the over-center pin 51 is closed as shown in
With reference to
A conduit 60, is shown, for compressed air from a source 25 as shown in
With reference now to
A tool adapter 70 is shown, clampingly engaged against the sleeve-like portion 41 of the coupling extension, the adapter 70 being clamped against the periphery of sleeve-like portion 41 by means of set screws 71 or the like in engagement thereagainst, with the adapter 70 being tool-specific, for connection to a specific tool, such as a grinder, a reciprocating saw, a drill, a right-angle drive, needle scaler, or the like.
It is thus seen that any selected ones of various tools may be quickly connected to, or disconnected from the lower end of the handle member 14, by means of the over-center connection provided by members 53, 51, of the coupling 49, to release the coupling extension 37 from the lower end thereof, and to release the coupling connection 30 carried by the handle member 14. Thus, adapters such as that 70 may be pre-applied to coupling extensions such as that 37, with the adapters 70 being tool-specific, and simple over-center actuation of members 51, 53, can clamp or release the coupling 49, such that a different tool may be connected to the lower end 16 of the handle member 14, rapidly and efficiently, by simply connecting its adapter with a coupling extension 37 carried thereby, to the coupling connection 30, via the coupling 49. It will be understood that any of these specific tools may be mounted to their tool-specific adapter 70 by bolts or the like, connected to threaded bolt holes 72 or the like.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that various modifications may be made in the details of construction, as well as in the use and operation of the tool in accordance with this invention, all within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
