Pipe and flange alignment tool

An alignment tool for aligning a flange with a pipe so that the flange and pipe can be welded together, said tool comprising:

• a main body;
• radially spaced extensible pipe engaging means extending from said main body for engaging the interior of a pipe;
• radially spaced extensible flange engaging means extending from said main body for engaging the interior of a flange;
• a first mandrel axially positioned within said main body and having a conical surface formed on a marginal length thereof;
• said pipe extensible means have an inclined surface formed thereon that engages the conical surface of said first mandrel so that axial movement of said first mandrel forces the pipe extensible means to move radially respective to said main body, thereby holding the main body in fixed relationship respective to a pipe to which the tool may be connected;
• said flange engaging means includes another mandrel axially positioned within said main body and having a conical surface formed on a marginal length thereof for engaging said radially spaced extensible flange engaging means so that axial movement of said another mandrel forces the flange extensible means to move radially respective to said main body thereby holding the main body in fixed relationship respective to a flange to which the tool may be connected;
• whereby said tool can be used for holding a flange in fixed relationship respective to the pipe.

An aligning tool by which a first and a second hollow member can be axially aligned respective to one another;

• comprising:
• a main body having opposed marginal ends, a first plurality of radially arranged extensible members reciprocatingly received through said main body for engaging the inside wall surface of a first hollow member;
• a second plurality of radially arranged extensible members reciprocatingly received through said main body for engaging the inside wall surface of a second hollow member;
• said first and second plurality of extensible members are spaced axially from one another;
• a first mandrel means mounted for axial movement within said main body for reciprocating said first plurality of members in responses to axial movement of said first mandrel means;
• a second mandrel means mounted for axial movement within said main body for reciprocating said second plurality of members in response to axial movement of said second mandrel means independently of the first plurlaity of members;
• first and second actuator means, respectively, located adjacent one said marginal end for independently moving said first and second mandrel means, respectively, and thereby extending and retracting said first and second plurality of members, respectively;
• whereby, said first plurality of members can be extended into fixed relationship to one of two members to be aligned, and thereafter the second of said plurality of members can be extended into fixed relationship respective to the other of the two members to be aligned, thereby axially aligning the two members.

A flange aligner tool for independently engaging the interior wall surface of a flange and a pipe and aligning the flange with the pipe so that the flange and pipe can be welded together, said tool comprising:

• a main body having an axial bore;
• radially extending pipe engaging means extending from said main body for engaging the interior of a pipe;
• said radially extending pipe engaging means includes a mandrel mounted for axial movement within said main body and having a conical surface formed on a marginal length thereof;
• a plurality of extensible members extending through said main body and having an inclined surface that engages the conical surface of said mandrel so that axial movement of said mandrel forces the extensible members into engagement with the interior of a pipe, thereby holding the main body in fixed relationship respective to the pipe;
• radially extending flange engaging means axially spaced from said pipe engaging means and extending from said main body for engaging the interior of a flange;
• said flange engaging means includes a flange mandrel mounted for axial movement within said main body and having a conical surface formed on a marginal length thereof;
• another plurality of extensible members extending through said main body and having an inclined surface that engages the conical surface of the flange mandrel so that axial movement of the flange mandrel forces the extensible members into engagement with the interior of a flange, thereby holding a flange in fixed relationship respective to a pipe;
• and means for moving each of the recited mandrels independently of one another.