Method and Apparatus for Driving and Positioning Couplings

• US 20190314965A1
• Filed: 04/12/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Twum
• Original Assignee: Thomas Twum
• Inventors: Twum, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/02 for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same B25D1/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 1/00 Hand hammers handles therefor B25G1/00; attachment of handles to the hammer head B25G3/00; Hammer heads of special shape or materials

Abstract

A method and apparatus for advancing a coupling along a length of pipe. The apparatus or tool is designed to sit on a segment of the pipe'"'"'s outer circumference, adjacent to the coupling edge. The tool is repeatedly struck with a hammer or mallet and the force from each strike is transferred from the tool to the coupling, advancing that coupling along the pipe length until it is in the proper position. The tool geometry conforms to a portion of the pipe'"'"'s exterior surface contour as well as the edge of the coupling, increasing the efficiency of the tool and minimizing damage to the fitting and pipes.

Claims

1. A tool that advances a mounted coupling along a length of pipe by transferring force to the coupling when struck, wherein said coupling has an annular thickness and the length of pipe has an exterior surface profile and a longitudinal axis, the tool comprising:

a cuff seated on said length of pipe and having a shape that substantially conforms to a segment of the pipe'"'"'s exterior surface profile and a having distal end placed in contact with or in close proximity to the annular thickness of the coupling; and

a striking face extending from the cuff.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said cuff and striking face are made from a spark resistant material selected from the group consisting of plastic, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper-nickel alloys, copper-aluminum alloys, and copper-beryllium alloys.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein said tool is coated with a spark resistant material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic, and silicone.

4. A tool that advances a mounted coupling along a length of pipe by transferring force to the coupling when struck, wherein said coupling has an annular thickness and the length of pipe has an exterior surface profile and a longitudinal axis, the tool comprising:

a cuff seated on said length of pipe and having a shape that substantially conforms to a segment of the pipe'"'"'s exterior surface profile and a distal end placed in contact with or close to the annular thickness of the coupling;

a support frame extending from the distal end of the cuff at an angle to said longitudinal axis; and

a striking face affixed or integral to said support frame.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein said support frame extends from the cuff at an angle between two and fifty degrees from the said longitudinal axis.

6. The tool of claim 4, wherein a handle is affixed to or is an integral part of the tool.

7. The tool of claim 4, wherein a handle having a shock absorbing mechanism is affixed to or is an integral part of the tool.

8. The tool of claim 4, wherein said cuff, support frame and striking face are positioned such that the tool is balanced, allowing said tool to remain seated on said length of pipe without being manually held in position.

9. The tool of claim 4, wherein a lip face having a height that is equal to or greater than the annular thickness of the coupling extends from the distal end of the cuff

10. The tool of claim 4, wherein the exterior surface profile of the pipe corresponds to a pipe having a circular cross-section.

11. The tool of claim 4, wherein the exterior surface profile of the pipe corresponds to a pipe having an oval cross-section.

12. The tool of claim 4, wherein the exterior surface profile of the pipe corresponds to a pipe having a triangular cross-section.

13. The tool of claim 4, wherein the exterior surface profile of the pipe corresponds to a pipe having a square cross-section.

14. The tool of claim 4, wherein the exterior surface profile of the pipe corresponds to a pipe having a hexagonal cross-section.

15. The tool of claim 4, wherein the exterior surface profile of the pipe corresponds to a pipe having an octagonal cross-section.

16. A method for advancing a coupling having an edge mounted along a length of pipe having an exterior surface profile and a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

Placement of a tool on the exterior surface profile of the pipe, the tool having a cuff shape that substantially conforms to a segment of said exterior surface profile and a striking face;

Positioning the tool cuff on said exterior surface profile such that the tool is in contact with or in close proximity to the coupling edge;

Hitting the striking face of the tool with a striking implement until the coupling is properly positioned along the longitudinal axis of the pipe.