Fixture for aligning and clamping pipes

• US 5,573,229 A
• Filed: 02/21/1995
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amber Lycan, Kelly Lycan, The Goodwin A. Lycan Trust
• Original Assignee: Goodwin A. Lycan
• Inventors: Lycan, Goodwin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watson, Robert C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LYNCH, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/393,160
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 269/37, 269/43, 269/47, 269/49, 269/77, 269/130, 269/243, 269/287, 269/288, 269/289 R, 269/156, 29/258, 29/271, 29/272, 228/44.5, 228/49.3
• US Class Current: 269/49
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/06 Tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/0533 external pipe alignment clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/186 Aligning devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/10 for aligning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53913 Aligner or center

Abstract

A fixture for aligning clamping pipes end to end to enable joining the pipes by welding includes a collar circumscribing one of the pipes and circumferentially spaced arms extending outwardly from the collar and then coaxially with the pipes. Pipe damps are supported by each of the arms at approximately 120 degrees intervals about the pipe. The stems of the clamps are supported by the arms such that proper orientation of the clamping shoes and guide members is assured. Furthermore, an extension of the stem which projects between the pipes and carries an inner guide member for engagement with the inner circumferential surface of the pipe has a differential thickness such that the pipes are initially separated by a predetermined thickness by engagement of the pipes with the necked portion of the extension for tack welding. After tack welding is complete, the stems are rotated 90 degrees, thereby bringing a narrower dimension of the necked portion into registry with the gap between the pipes, permitting withdrawal of the stems.

Claims

1. Fixture for aligning and clamping pipes end to end to enable joining of the pipes by welding at the juncture of the pipes comprising a collar circumscribing one of said pipes, circumferentially spaced arms extending from said collar toward said juncture, and a clamping member supported on each of the arms for holding said pipes together end to end, each of the arms terminating in support means engaging the clamping member support by the arm, said support means and said clamping members having a sliding connection therebetween permitting the collar and said arms to slide along said pipe away from said clamping members after the latter have been installed to hold the pipes together.

2. Fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said clamping members including a stem extending from a corresponding arm radially inwardly with respect to the pipes, one end of the stem carrying clamping means for engaging and clamping said pipes, the other end of said stem being supported by a corresponding one of the arms.

3. Fixture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said collar includes a pair of arcuate members having corresponding pairs of contiguous ends, a hinge joining one pair of said contiguous ends, and releasable fastening means joining the other pair of said contiguous ends whereby said collar may be placed around said one pipe and the other pair of contiguous ends fastened together to thereby mount the collar on the pipe.

4. Fixture as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said arms include a radially outwardly projecting portion extending radially outwardly from said collar and an axially extending portion extending from the radially outwardly projecting portion substantially coaxial with said collar.

5. Fixture as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the arms terminates in support means engaging said stem, said support means permitting relative sliding movement between the stem and the arm.

6. Fixture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said clamping means includes a shoe carried on each of said stems, said shoe extending axially with respect to said pipes and having a pair of axially separated engagement surfaces, each of said engagement surfaces engaging the outer diameter of one of said pipes to assure axial alignment of the latter, and means carried on said stem for urging the shoe into engagement with the pipes.

7. Fixture as claimed in claim 6, wherein said clamping means includes an extension extending from said other end of the stem through said juncture, and an inner guide carried on the extension for engagement with the inner circumferential surface of each of said pipes when the shoe is engaged with the outer circumferential surface of the pipes.

8. Fixture as claimed in claim 7, wherein said extension has a cross section having edges separated by larger and smaller lateral dimensions, said edges separated by the larger lateral dimensions engaging the ends of the pipes being joined when the inner guide engages the inner circumferential surfaces of the pipes.

9. Fixture as claimed in claim 8, wherein said inner guide has a thickness substantially the same as the smaller dimension of the extension.

10. Fixture as claimed in claim 7, wherein said extension is removably joined to said stem.

11. Fixture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said clamping means includes an extension extending from said other end of the stem through said juncture and terminating in an end adjacent the inner circumferential surface of said pipes, and an inner guide carried on said end of the extension for engagement with the inner circumferential surface of each of said pipes.

12. Fixture as claimed in claim 11, wherein said extension has a cross section having edges separated by larger and smaller lateral dimensions, said edges separated by the larger lateral dimensions engaging the ends of the pipes being joined when the inner guide engages the inner circumferential surfaces of the pipes.

13. Fixture as claimed in claim 12, wherein said inner guide has a thickness substantially the same as the smaller dimension of the extension.

14. Fixture as claimed in claim 11, wherein said extension is removably joined to said stem.

15. Fixture for aligning and clamping pipes end to end to enable joining of the pipes by welding at the juncture of the pipes comprising a collar circumscribing one of said pipes, circumferentially spaced arms extending from said collar away from said juncture, and a clamping member supported on each of the arms for holding said pipes together end to end, each of said clamping members including a stem extending from a corresponding arm radially inwardly with respect to the pipes, one end of the stem carrying clamping means for engaging and clamping said pipes, the other end of said stem being supported by a corresponding one of the arms, each of the arms terminating in support means engaging said stem, said support means permitting relative sliding movement between the stem and the arm, each of said support means including an open-ended slot slidably supporting said stem.

16. Fixture as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said slots extends coaxially with said collar to permit movement of the collar along said pipe away from said stem to cause said stems to move out of the slot through the open end of the slot.

17. Fixture as claimed in claim 15, wherein said stem includes a pair of flat surfaces on opposite sides thereof extending axially along said stem, said flat surfaces engaging the slot to prevent relative rotation of the stem with respect to the corresponding arm but permitting sliding movement therebetween.

18. Fixture for aligning and clamping pipes end to end to enable joining of the pipes by welding at the juncture of the pipes comprising a collar circumscribing one of said pipes, circumferentially spaced arms extending from said collar away from said juncture, and a clamping member supported on each of the arms for holding said pipes together end to end, each of said clamping members including a stem extending from a corresponding arm radially inwardly with respect to the pipes, one end of the stem carrying clamping means for engaging and clamping said pipes, the other end of said stem being supported by a corresponding one of the arms, said clamping means including a shoe carried on each of said stems, said shoe extending axially with respect to said pipes and having a pair of axially separated engagement surfaces, each of said engagement surfaces engaging the outer diameter of one of said pipes to assure axial alignment of the latter, and means carried on said stem for urging the shoe into engagement with the pipes, each of said shoes being slidable along its corresponding stem, but is fixed against rotation relative thereto.

19. Fixture as claimed in claim 18, wherein said means for urging the shoe into engagement with the pipes includes an adjustment lever threadedly mounted on said stem and movable thereon toward and away from the corresponding shoe, whereby rotation of the adjustment lever advances the latter into engagement with the shoe and thereafter urges the engagement surfaces of the shoe against their corresponding pipes.

20. Welding clamp for aligning and clamping pipes end to end to enable joining of the pipes by welding at the juncture of the pipes comprising a stem, an extension extending from said stem through said juncture when the clamp is used, an inner guide carried on the extension for engagement with the inner circumferential surface of each of said pipes, a shoe carried on said stem and having a pair of engagement surfaces, each of said engagement surfaces engaging the outer circumferential surface of said pipes, and means carried on said stem for urging the shoe into engagement with the outer circumferential surfaces of the pipes and the inner guide into engagement with the inner circumferential surface of the pipes, said extension having a cross section having edges separated by larger and smaller lateral dimensions to permit said extension to control the width of a gap defined between said pipes at said interface between said pipes, said shoe being slidable along said stem but being fixed against rotation with respect thereto.

21. Welding clamp as claimed in claim 20, wherein said inner guide has a thickness substantially the same as the smaller dimension of the extension to permit removal of the inner guide from the pipes by rotation of the stem to align the inner guide and the smaller dimension of the extension with said gap.

22. Welding clamp as claimed in claim 21, wherein said extension is removably joined to said stem.

23. Welding clamp as claimed in claim 20, wherein said stem includes axially extending flat surfaces extending on opposite sides of the stem, said shoe having an aperture having sides engaging said flat surfaces to permit sliding of the shoe along the stem but preventing rotation of the shoe relative to the stem.

24. Welding clamp as claimed in claim 23, wherein said stem has arcuate portions interconnecting said flat surfaces, said arcuate portions carrying threads, said means for urging said shoe into engagement with the outer circumferential surface of the pipes including an adjustment lever having a threaded aperture threadedly engaging the threads on the stem.

25. Welding clamp for aligning and clamping pipes end to end to enable joining of the pipes by welding at the juncture of the pipes comprising a stem member, an extension member extending from said stem member through said juncture when the clamp is used, an inner guide carried on the extension member for engagement with the inner circumferential surface of each of said pipes, a shoe carried on said stem member and having a pair of engagement surfaces, each of said engagement surfaces engaging the outer circumferential surface of said pipe, and means carried on said stem member for urging the shoe into engagement with the outer circumferential surfaces of the pipes and the inner guide into engagement with the inner circumferential surface of the pipes, and a releasable connection between said extension member and said stem member to permit removal and replacement of the extension member when the extension member is worn.

26. Welding clamp as claimed in claim 25, wherein said releasable connection includes a socket on one of said members and a tip on the other member, said socket receiving said tip.