Pipe groover
AssigneeASC Engineered Solutions, LLC
InventorsJoseph Maksimowski, Larry Keith Gunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe groover can include a base assembly; a spindle plate secured to the base assembly but configured to rotate about an axis with respect to the base assembly; and a plurality of roller assemblies secured to the spindle plate, each of the roller assemblies including a pair of rollers configured to form a groove in a pipe proximate to an end of the pipe.
Claims41
A pipe groover comprising:
- a base assembly;
- a spindle plate secured to the base assembly but configured to rotate about an axis with respect to the base assembly;
- and
- a plurality of roller assemblies secured to the spindle plate, each of the roller assemblies comprising a pair of rollers configured to form a groove in a pipe proximate to an end of the pipe.
A pipe groover comprising:
- an inner roller configured to receive a pipe to be grooved;
- a pivot arm assembly configured to rotate with respect to the inner roller, the pivot arm assembly comprising a pivot arm and an outer roller coupled to the pivot arm, the pivot arm assembly comprising a pivot point proximate to a first end, the outer roller positioned between the first end and a second end distal from the first end;
- and
- an actuator configured to move the roller into the pipe by pushing against the second end of the pivot arm assembly, a lever arm distance defined between a first contact point proximate to the outer roller and a second contact point proximate to the second end of the pivot arm assembly, contact between the pivot arm assembly and the pipe defining the first contact point and contact between the actuator and the pivot arm assembly defining the second contact point.
A pipe groover comprising an electric actuator.
A method of using a pipe groover, the method comprising:
- automatically determining a diameter and a thickness of a wall of a pipe engaged with the pipe groover based on the pipe groover taking a measurement defining a distance between a sensor and an outer surface of the pipe;
- and
- identifying a set of pipe specifications matching the pipe based at least the measurement and a database to which the pipe groover has access.
A method of using a pipe groover, the method comprising:
- forming a groove in a bottom end of a pipe, an outer roller of a pair of rollers configured to form the groove positioned below the bottom end of the pipe when the pipe is positioned in the pipe groover relative to a Z-axis direction defined by the pipe groover;
- and
- supporting the pipe from below the pipe with an adjustable support roller secured to the pipe groover.
A method of using a pipe groover comprising:
- obtaining the pipe groover, the pipe grooving comprising:
- a base assembly;
- a tool head secured to the base assembly;
- an enclosure secured to the base assembly, the enclosure configured to receive both the tool head and a pipe to be grooved;
- and
- a safety sensor system secured to the enclosure;
- engaging a pipe with the tool head of the pipe groover;
- and
- sensing, with the safety sensor system, a foreign object positioned inside an opening defined by the enclosure, the foreign object not being the pipe groover itself or the pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.