Diameter indicator for use with groove forming tools

A tool for forming an external circumferential groove of a desired outer diameter in the wall of a pipe having an internal and an external surface, said tool comprising:

• a grooving roll rotatable about a first axis, said grooving roll having a circumferential surface engageable with the external surface of said pipe;
• a backup roll rotatable about a second axis, said backup roll having a circumferential surface engageable with the internal surface of said pipe opposite said grooving roll;
• means for rotating said pipe and said grooving and backup rolls relatively to one another to move said grooving roll and said backup roll circumferentially around said pipe;
• means for moving said grooving roll and said backup roll relatively toward one another for yieldably deforming said wall with said circumferential surface of said grooving roll to form said external circumferential groove in said wall upon relative motion between said pipe and said rolls circumferentially around said pipe;
• and
• an arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a third axis substantially parallel to said first axis, said arm having a feeler surface engageable with said external surface of said pipe within said circumferential groove, said arm being pivotable to a predetermined angular position when said feeler surface is engaged with said external surface of said pipe within said groove and said groove has said desired outer diameter.

A tool for forming an external circumferential groove of a desired outer diameter in the wall of a pipe having an internal and an external surface, said tool comprising:

• a grooving roll rotatable about a first axis, said grooving roll having a circumferential surface engageable with the external surface of said pipe at a first point of contact for forming said circumferential groove therein;
• a backup roll rotatable about a second axis parallel and in spaced relation to said first axis, said backup roll having a circumferential surface engageable with the internal surface of said pipe opposite said grooving roll, said backup roll having a circumferential trough positioned in registration with said grooving roll;
• means for rotating said pipe and said grooving and backup rolls relatively to one another to move said grooving roll and said backup roll circumferentially around said pipe;
• means for moving said grooving roll and said backup roll relatively toward one another for yieldably forming said external circumferential groove in said wall between said grooving roll and said backup roll upon relative motion between said pipe and said rolls circumferentially around said pipe;
• and
• an arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a third axis substantially parallel to said first axis, said arm having a feeler surface located at a predetermined distance from said circumferential surface of said grooving roll, said predetermined distance being proportional to said desired outer diameter of said groove, said arm being pivotable to position said feeler surface in contact with said external surface of said pipe within said groove at a second point of contact on said pipe diametrically opposite to said first point of contact when said external circumferential groove is at said desired outer diameter.

A tool for forming an external circumferential groove of a desired outer diameter in the wall of a pipe having an internal and an external surface, said tool comprising:

• a grooving roll rotatable about a first axis, said grooving roll having a circumferential surface engageable with the external surface of said pipe for forming said circumferential groove therein;
• a backup roll rotatable about a second axis parallel and in spaced relation to said first axis, said backup roll having a perimetral surface engageable with the internal surface of said pipe opposite said grooving roll, said perimetral surface having a circumferential trough positioned in registration with said grooving roll;
• means for rotating said pipe and said grooving and backup rolls relatively to one another to move said grooving roll and said backup roll circumferentially around said pipe;
• means for moving said grooving roll and said backup roll relatively toward one another for yieldably forming said external circumferential groove in said wall between said grooving roll and said backup roll upon relative motion between said pipe and said rolls circumferentially around said pipe;
• a first arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a third axis substantially parallel to said first axis, said first arm having a first feeler surface engageable with said external surface of said pipe within said circumferential groove;
• a second arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a fourth axis substantially parallel to said first axis, said second arm having a second feeler surface engageable with said external surface of said pipe within said circumferential groove;
• a first indicator tang mounted on said first arm distally of said third axis;
• and
• a second indicator tang mounted on said second arm distally of said fourth axis and facing said first indicator tang, said indicator tangs being movable toward each other by pivoting said arms toward said pipe to place said feeler surfaces in contact with said external surface within said groove, said indicator tangs positioned so as to be in contact with one another when said external circumferential groove is at said desired outer diameter.

An improved tool for forming an external circumferential groove of a desired outer diameter in the wall of a pipe having an internal and an external surface, the tool comprising:

• a grooving roll rotatable about a first axis, said grooving roll having a circumferential surface engageable with the external surface of said pipe;
• a backup roll rotatable about a second axis, said backup roll having a circumferential surface engageable with the internal surface of said pipe opposite said grooving roll;
• means for rotating said pipe and said grooving and backup rolls relatively to one another to move said grooving roll and said backup roll circumferentially around said pipe;
• means for moving said grooving roll and said backup roll relatively toward one another for yieldably deforming said wall with said circumferential surface of said grooving roll to form said external circumferential groove in said wall upon relative motion between said pipe and said rolls circumferentially around said pipe, wherein the improvement comprises:
• an arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a third axis substantially parallel to said first axis, said arm having a feeler surface engageable with said external surface of said pipe within said circumferential groove, said arm being pivotable to a predetermined angular position when said feeler surface is engaged with said external surface of said pipe within said groove and said groove has said desired outer diameter.

A method of forming a circumferential groove of a desired outer diameter in the wall of a pipe having an internal and an external surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a grooving roll rotatable about a first axis, said grooving roll having a circumferential surface engageable with the external surface of said pipe;
• providing a backup roll rotatable about a second axis parallel and in spaced relation to said first axis, said backup roll having a circumferential surface engageable with the internal surface of said pipe opposite said grooving roll, said backup roll having a circumferential trough positioned in registration with said grooving roll;
• providing an arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a third axis parallel to said first axis, said arm having a feeler surface engageable with said external surface of said pipe within said circumferential groove, said arm being pivotable to a predetermined angular position relative to a line passing between said first and second axes when said feeler surface is engaged with said external surface of said pipe within said groove and said groove has said desired outer diameter;
• positioning the wall of said pipe between said grooving roll and said backup roll, said grooving roll engaging said external surface, said backup roll engaging said internal surface;
• rotating said grooving roll and said backup roll circumferentially around said pipe;
• pivoting said arm to bring said feeler surface into engagement with said external surface of said pipe within said groove;
• moving said grooving roll and said backup roll relatively toward one another to yieldably deform said wall between said rolls to form said groove;
• ceasing to move said grooving roll and said backup roll toward each other when said arm is at said predetermined angular position;
• and
• removing said pipe from said tool.