Apparatus and method for axially aligning straight or curved conduits

An apparatus for aligning conduits including pipes, pipe fittings and the like prior to joining, the apparatus comprising:

• a) first and second ring means for removably encircling respective end portions of first and second conduits to be joined together, each of said first and second ring means including respective first and second arcuate members hingedly connected together, the first and second arcuate members having complementary shaped mating end portions for registering the end portions in alignment with each other to maintain the first and second ring means in a generally fixed form;
• b) connecting means for connecting the first and second ring means together axially spaced apart so that the ring means are spaced apart sufficiently to permit joining of the end portions of the conduits between the first and second ring means;
• c) locking means for locking the first and second ring means in a fixed form said locking means including a U-shaped locking member having first and second side portions connected together by a cross member, the first and second side portions being separately pivotally connected to respective first end portions of the respective first arcuate members such that the cross member is immediately adjacent one of said connecting means so that neither the pivotal connection nor the cross member obstruct the weld area;
• and
• d) aligning means for axially aligning the end portions of the first and second conduits, the aligning means being disposed entirely between the ring means so as not to obstruct areas outside the first and second ring means, the aligning means including a plurality of adjustable contact surfaces for contacting respective end portions of the first and second conduits only in the space between the first and second ring means, each contact surface being movable relative to each other to move the first and second conduits into an axially aligned position.

A method of aligning conduits including pipes, pipe fittings, and the like prior to joining, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) removably encircling an end portion of a first conduit with a first pair of arcuate members connected together to form a first fixed ring member;
• b) removably encircling an end portion of a second conduit with a second pair of arcuate members connected together to form a second fixed ring member the first and second ring members being connected together in parallel spaced apart relation by a plurality of circumferentially spaced connecting means sufficiently spaced apart to provide unobstructed open spaces situated between the first and second fixed ring members and between said circumferentially spaced apart connecting means to permit welding of the conduits in said open spaces;
• c) locking the first and second ring members in a fixed form, about the end portions of the conduits to be joined, while maintaining the open spaces unobstructed;
• d) moving a plurality of adjustable contact surfaces disposed on the connecting means, relative to each other, the contact surfaces contacting the first and second conduits immediately adjacent the weld area to move the first and second conduits into an axially aligned position.