Method and apparatus for underground connection of pipe
AssigneeOmega Tools, Inc.
InventorsWilliam M. Hutton, Frank P. Russo, John K. Gilday, Michael G. Palmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The method and two devices provide for the underground connection of pipe with minimal disruption of the surrounding landscape. A main pipe is cleaned by a surface preparation tool designed to access the main pipe through a small hole. An adaptor is attached to a second pipe, and then placed in a clamping device designed to access the main pipe and clamp the adaptor thereto through the small hole. Electricity is passed through the adaptor, thereby softening the plastic so that this softening and the pressure of the clamp secures the adaptor to the main pipe. The main pipe is then pierced by the adaptor's tapping tee.
Claims29
A pipe surface preparation device comprising:
- a handle including a long shaft portion and a gripping portion at one end of said shaft, the gripping portion having a clamp control connected thereto,
- a milling assembly mounted on the free end of the shaft portion including a pipe guide assembly, a clamp secured to said pipe guide assembly, a milling cutter connected thereto, and a motor and a gear box connected to operate said milling cutter;
- and
- a rotation control for causing the rotation of said milling assembly about the free end of the shaft portion, said rotation control being positioned proximate said gripping portion of said handle.
A pipe surface preparation device comprising:
- a handle member including a gripping portion and a long shaft extending therefrom, said handle member also having a clamp control proximate the gripping portion thereof;
- a milling assembly having a pipe guide assembly, a clamp secured to said pipe guide assembly, a milling cutter connected thereto, and a motor and pear box connected to operate said milling cutter;
- and
- a rotation control connected to said handle member for rotating said milling assembly about the end point of said handle and thereby about the exterior of said pipe;
- wherein said motor is a pneumatic motor;
- wherein said handle member also includes an pneumatic valve control for controlling the flow of gas to said pneumatic motor;
- wherein said milling assembly further includes a base plate having a front side and a back side, wherein said front side of said base plate includes means for rotatably securing the milling cutter and means for securing the gear box, wherein said back side of said base plate includes means to secure the motor;
- wherein said means for securing the milling cutter is a pair of flanges each having an aperture therethrough attached to said front side of said base plate, wherein a first flange of said pair of flanges is located substantially centrally on said front side of said base plate and a second flange of said pair of flanges is located at a first end of said front side of said base plate.
A method for connecting underground pipe while minimizing disturbance of the surrounding landscape comprising the steps of:
- excavating the area above the damaged pipe;
- milling the oxide from the pipe with a surface preparation means;
- attaching an adapter to a fusing means;
- fusing the adapter to the oxide milled area of the pipe;
- and
- filling the excavated area above the pipe.
A pipe surface preparation device comprising:
- a manually operated handle having an elongated shaft with a gripping portion at one end;
- and
- a milling assembly connected to the opposite end of said elongate shaft and being rotatably movable about the said opposite end;
- wherein said milling assembly includes a pipe guide assembly, a clamp secured to said pipe guide assembly and a means for milling a pipe.
A surface preparation device comprising:
- a handle having an elongated shaft;
- and
- a milling assembly comprised of a pipe guide assembly, a clamp secured to said pipe guide assembly and a means for milling a pipe;
- wherein said milling assembly comprises a base plate having a front side and a back side, wherein said front side of said base plate includes a means for rotatably securing the milling cutter and a means for securing the gear box, wherein said back side of said base includes a means to secure the motor;
- wherein said means for securing a milling cutter is a pair of flanges each having an aperture therethrough attached to said front side of said base plate;
- wherein a first flange of said pair of flanges is located substantially centrally on said front side of said base plate and a second flange of said pair of flanges is located at a first end of said front side of said base plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.