KR20070015925A - Roller tool to form grooves in the pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

A roller tool is disclosed which forms a circumferential groove around a pipe. The roller tool has a circumferential surface rotatable about the axis of rotation and engageable with the pipe. The circumferential surface of the roller tool includes first and second surface portions positioned in the spaced relationship relative to the axis of rotation and oriented in the vertical direction. The radial surface portion extends between the first and second surface portions and is oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. A surface portion of a predetermined angle is located adjacent to the second surface portion. The surface portion at the predetermined angle is oriented at an angle of about 70 ° or less and inclined away from the second surface portion.

Description

ROLLER TOOL FOR FORMING GROOVES IN PIPES}

The present invention relates to a roller tool for forming grooves in a pipe, which is used in coupling for engaging between end portions of pipes and for implementing a substantially rigid or flexible fluid-sealed joint therebetween.

The coupling that joins the pipes together end to end has an arcuate segment that circumferentially surrounds the coaxially aligned pipes and engages with circumferential grooves located close to the ends of each pipe. Couplings are also used to connect pipes between components as well as connect fluid control components such as valves, reducers, strainers, restrictors, pressure regulators, and the like. Although pipes are described in the following description, pipes are used only as an example, and the invention herein is not limited to use only on the pipes themselves. It should be noted that the term "pipe" as used herein refers to elbows, T-shaped and other types of connectors as well as straight pipes.

The segment comprising the cuffing has a circumferential key extending radially inward towards the pipe and fitted in a groove around the pipe. The key is generally slightly narrower than the groove to fit in the groove and hold against the shoulders formed by the groove to hold the pipes together against internal pressure and external forces that may be applied to the pipe. The external force can be raised due to the weight of the pipe or a component such as a valve attached to the pipe as well as thermal expansion or contraction of the pipe due to temperature changes, which can be important for large diameter pipes and valves. Wind loads and seismic loads may also be factors.

Pipe couplings are substantially rigid, i.e., inhibit the rotation of the pipes with respect to each other about their longitudinal axis, withstand the relative axial movement of the pipes with respect to each other due to internal pressure, It is advantageous to arrest the deflection. Rigid couplings reduce leaks, require less maintenance, and simplify the design of pipe networks by eliminating or at least reducing the need for engineers to consider the axial movement of pipes in the pipe network under severe internal pressures. Pipes joined by rigid couplings require a small number of supports to limit unwanted deflection. Moreover, valves and other components, which tend to rotate out of position because the center of gravity is eccentric to the pipe axis, remain in place and do not rotate around the longitudinal axis under the action of gravity when the pipe coupling is substantially rigid. Do not.

Many couplings according to the prior art do not reliably provide the desired stiffness mainly because they use a key with a longitudinal cross section narrower than the width of the joining groove. This condition results in uneven contact between the coupling and the pipe, which makes it move much more freely, resulting in relative movement between the pipes, for example in the axial, rotational or angular direction. In addition, it is difficult to ensure that such a key properly engages with the groove. Couplings that provide a more rigid connection are inefficient in keeping pipe ends at a desired distance from each other so that the keys and grooves are properly aligned and the pipes are properly spaced. When properly spaced, the pipe end and the coupling cooperate with a sealing member located between the pipe end and the pipe end to ensure the fluid sealing seal. The movement of the pipes (at least) may occur when the couplings engage with each other and with the pipes and require a significant torque to be applied on the fasteners used to fasten the couplings to the pipes. This is particularly sensitive when the pipes to be joined overlap each other in a vertical direction, and the motion of coupling the coupling with the pipes must lift one pipe upwards relative to the other pipe to ensure adequate space between the pipe ends. In the case of such a coupling, it is also difficult to reliably and clearly ensure that the coupling is properly mounted such that the key is engaged with the groove and the pipe is spaced as necessary to ensure the fluid sealing seal.

There is an advantage of increasing the rigidity and also providing a coupling that reduces the force required to engage the coupling with the pipe end to ensure adequate space, and provides a reliable visual indication that the coupling is properly mounted on the pipe. .

The present invention relates to a roller tool for forming a circumferential groove around a pipe. The roller tool is rotatable about an axis of rotation and has a circumferential surface that can engage with the pipe. This circumferential surface has a first surface portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The second surface portion is positioned in a spaced relationship relative to the first surface portion and is substantially oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation. A radially opposing surface extends between the first and second surface portions and is oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. A surface portion of a predetermined angle is positioned adjacent to the second surface portion, and the surface portion of the predetermined angle is inclined to be oriented away from the second surface portion by being oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of rotation.

The surface portion of the predetermined angle may be oriented at an angle of up to about 70 ° with respect to the axis of rotation. The preferred tilt angle of the surface portion of the angle is about 50 ° with respect to the axis of rotation.

The invention also includes a roller tool that forms a circumferential groove around the pipe. The roller tool has a circumferential surface that is rotatable about the axis of rotation and that can engage the pipe. This circumferential surface has a first surface portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The second surface portion is positioned in a spaced relation relative to the first surface portion. A radially opposing surface extends between the first and second surface portions and is oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. The second surface portion has a cross-sectional profile selected from the group consisting of convex and concave.

In another embodiment of the roller tool according to the invention, the surface of the roller tool comprises a first surface portion which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

The second surface portion is positioned in a spaced apart relationship with respect to the first surface portion. The radially opposing surface portion extends between the first and second surface portions and is oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. The second surface portion includes a first surface having a first angular orientation with respect to the axis of rotation and a second surface having a second angular orientation with respect to the axis of rotation. In one embodiment, the slope of the first surface is greater than the slope of the second surface. In another embodiment, the slope of the first surface is less than the slope of the second surface.

1 is a perspective view of a coupling for connecting two pipes end to end, with the pipes shown in dashed lines.

1A is a perspective view showing details of the coupling shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the pipe coupling shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

2A is an enlarged perspective view of a modification of the pipe coupling according to the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a partial perspective view of FIG. 2 shown in an enlarged scale. FIG.

3 is a side view of the segment with the coupling shown in FIG. 1;

4 is a bottom view of the segment shown in FIG. 3.

4A is a side view of a modification of a segment having one key and a flange that mates with a flanged pipe or end connection;

5 is a cross sectional view taken at line 5-5 of FIG.

5a and 5b are cross sectional views taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing a modification of the coupling according to the invention;

6 and 7 are side views of the roller tool forming grooves in the pipe.

7A-7G are side views of various embodiments of a roller tool for forming grooves in a pipe.

8 is a cross sectional view of a modification of the coupling;

9 is a partial perspective view of a modification of the coupling according to the present invention.

10-15 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of embodiments of pipes having circumferential grooves in accordance with the present invention.

16-21 illustrate various connectors and components with circumferential grooves in accordance with the present invention.

1 shows a pipe coupling 10 for connecting two pipes 12, 14 coaxially end to end. As shown in FIG. 2, the coupling 10 consists of at least two segments 16, 18. Each segment 16, 18 has lugs 20, 22, respectively, which lugs are located at or near each end of the segment. Lugs 20 at each end of segment 16 are aligned with lugs 22 at each end of segment 18. The lugs 20, 22 are adapted to receive fasteners, preferably in the form of bolts 24 and nuts 26, which join the segments end-to-end together to surround the pipes 12, 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, lug 20 engages lug 22, which is the case when segments 16, 18 are properly engaged with pipes 12, 14, as described below. Known as "pad to bond" contacting each other. The lugs can also be attached to each other apart from each other when the segments 16, 18 are properly engaged with the pipes 12, 14 as shown in FIG. 1A.

Lugs are the preferred means for end-to-end attachment of segments to each other, but it should be appreciated that there are other attachment means such as circumferential bands, axial pins and fastening handles. These means are disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 1,541,601, 2,014,313, 2,362,454, 2,673,102, 2,752,174, 3,113,791 and 4,561,678, which are incorporated herein by reference.

In the case of large diameter pipes, it is sometimes advantageous to construct the coupling 10 in two or more segments. As shown in FIG. 2A, the pipe coupling 10 has segments 16a and 16b that are coupled to each other and also to segments 18a and 18b that are coupled to each other. Each segment preferably has lugs 20 and 22 at each end, and these segments are joined end to end by fasteners such as bolts 24 and nuts 26. The following description of the coupling 10 is provided as an example and is based on a coupling having two segments with lugs at either end. Various aspects of the disclosure can be applied to variations without regard to the number of segments, including couplings, and how the segments are attached to each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, each segment 16, 18 has an arcuate surface 28 that faces inwardly towards the pipes 12, 14. The pair of keys 30 protrude radially inward from the arc surface 28. The keys 30 of each segment are spaced apart from each other and define a space 32 therebetween. As best shown in FIG. 5, in order to make a connection between the pipes 12, 14, the key 30 engages with grooves 34, 36 respectively extending circumferentially around the pipes 12, 14. do. The engagement of the grooves 34, 36 and the key 30 substantially securely connects the pipes 12, 14 coaxially with each other to maintain a predetermined distance as indicated by the gap 38. The sealing member 40 is located in the space 32 between the arcs 28 and the pipes 12, 14 of the segments 16, 18. The gap 38 between the pipes 12, 14 provides a tolerance that facilitates the mounting of the coupling and allows the pressurized fluid to pressurize the sealing member 40 to seal the fluid between the pipes 12, 14. To ensure.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each key 30 preferably has a pair of cam surfaces 42 located adjacent the lugs 20, 22 or else near the end of the segment. The cam surface 42 faces outwardly away from the space 32 and is oriented at an angle with respect to the axis 43 oriented substantially tangential to the key 30 as shown in FIG. 2B. The cam surface also has an angle 45 of orientation that forms a wedge 46 adjacent to each lug shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, when the segments 16, 18 engage the grooves 34, 36 to connect the pipe 12 to the pipe 14, the cam surface 42 (see FIG. 2) becomes a groove ( 34, 36) to the first surface. The wedge 46 formed by the cam surface 42 is a machine that separates the pipes 12, 14 from each other when the lugs 20, 22 of the segments 16, 18 are preferably directed towards each other with pad-to-pad engagement. Provides the benefits. This wedge action reduces the separation gap 38 between the pipe ends when making the connection between the pipes 12, 14 while reducing the force needed to direct the lugs 20, 22 toward each other. To ensure that it is achieved. Lugs 20 and 22 are usually pulled toward each other by tightening nuts 26 (see FIG. 1). The mechanical advantage achieved by the use of the wedge 46 is that the torque applied to the nut 26 required to bring the lugs 20 and 22 into the pad-to-pad engagement significantly reduces the stacking in the perpendicular direction to each other. Even large pipes of large diameter can be connected by hand. Such a configuration is particularly problematic when inserting the key 30 into the grooves 34, 36 and has to lift the entire weight of the pipe to form the gap 38. Wedges 46 make this task quite easy. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2B, the angular orientation 45 of the cam surface 42 is preferably 5 ° when measured relative to the axis 43, but may be less than or equal to about 10 ° in an actual design.

The use of a key with a cam surface is not limited to the coupling that joins the grooved pipes together but may actually be used in any coupling device having at least one key. 4A shows a coupling segment 51 used with a similar coupling segment to attach the grooved pipe to the flanged pipe. The coupling segment 51 has an arc shaped key 30 with a cam surface 42 at either end. As described above, the angle may be oriented tangentially with respect to the key 30 to form the wedge 46 as shown in FIG. 4. On the opposite side of the key is a flange 53 adapted to engage a mating flange on the flanged pipe. The flange is secured through a fastener through a bolt hole 55 which is known in the flanged connection. The coupling segment 51 is attached to its associated coupling segment by means of an attachment, preferably a lug 20 positioned near the end of the segment, which is known in the art and aligned with the fastener described above. Attached end to end.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A, the key 30 preferably has a shape that performs wedge action when engaging the grooves 34, 36. 5 shows one configuration in which the key 30 has a wedge-shaped cross section. The key 30 includes an inner surface 50 facing the space 32, an outer surface 52 facing outwardly from the space 32, and a pipe located between the inner surface and the outer surface to engage the coupling. It is defined by radially facing surfaces 54 radially inwardly facing. The inner surface 50 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis 48, and the outer surface 52 is oriented at an angle with respect to the axis 48 to form a wedge shaped cross section of the key 30. The relative angle 56 measured radially with respect to the key between the outer surface 52 and the axis 48 oriented substantially coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the pipes 12, 14 reaches about 70 ° or less. , 50 ° is preferred (see FIG. 1).

Surface 52, 54 of FIG. 5 is shown in cross section with a straight profile, but can be wedge when engaged with grooves 34, 36, for example, convex, concave or any other profile shape. . A variation of the key 30 is shown in FIG. 5A, where the surface 50 has a curved cross-sectional profile in the form of a convex radius that substantially matches the radial surface 54.

As shown in FIG. 4, the radial angular orientation 44 of the cam surface 42 is substantially parallel to the radial angular orientation 56 of the key outer surface 52 as measured with respect to the longitudinal axis 48. same. The radial orientation angles of the cam surface 42 and the key outer surface 52 coincide with each other to prevent point contact when the surfaces engage the opposing surfaces of the grooves 34, 36 when the coupling is mounted. It is advantageous to mitigate gouging between surfaces resulting from point contact.

The grooves 34 and 36 to which the key 30 engages preferably have a shape complementary to the wedge-shaped cross section of the key. In general, it is advantageous for the key to have a cross-sectional shape that substantially fills the groove even though the groove and the shape of the key are not exactly complementary. The grooves 36 are described in detail below, but the grooves 34 are substantially similar and need not be described. The groove 36 is a first side 58 located close to the end 14a of the pipe 14, a second side located in a spaced relationship relative to the first side 58 and away from the end 14. 60, defined by a bottom surface 62 extending between the first and second side surfaces. The complementary shape of the groove 36 relative to the key 30 orients the bottom face 62 substantially parallel to the radial surface 54 and the first side 58 substantially to the bottom face 62. Vertically (and thus substantially parallel to the inner surface 50), and the second side 60 is substantially parallel to the outer surface 52 (thus, to the bottom surface 62). By a predetermined angle relative to the

The size and tolerance of the key 30 and lugs 20, 22 are such that when the lugs 20 are engaged between the lugs 22 and the pads, ie when they contact each other as shown in FIG. In combination with the groove 34 the outer surface 52 of the key is in contact with the second side 60 in a so-called “line-on-line gap” (see left half of FIG. 5), or a gap of 0.035 inches or less As formed by 64, it is spaced apart (shown in the right half of FIG. 5) relative to the second side surface 60 of the groove. Moreover, the radial surface 54 is also in a line on-line gap with the bottom surface 62 (left half in FIG. 5), or as defined by a gap 66 of 0.030 inches or less. ), Spaced apart for the right half of FIG. 5. The inner surface 50 nominally contacts the first side 58 as shown in FIG. 5, although there may of course be a gap under certain tolerance conditions. However, as a practical matter, it is difficult and expensive to make the pipes and couplings perfectly round and to the exact dimensions desired, and therefore the various surfaces of the keys 30 and grooves 34 and 36 around any pipe joint. The intermittent contact between them forms an efficient rigid joint. The stiffness of the joint can also be increased by using teeth 31 that protrude outward from the various surfaces of the key 30 as best shown in FIG. 2. Teeth 31 help to prevent relative rotational movement of the pipe relative to the coupling by engaging the groove surface of the pipe to increase friction. The relationship between the various surfaces described above can be equally achieved when the lugs are attached in spaced relation to each other as shown in FIG. 1A.

The relationship between the key surface and the surface comprising the groove is similarly expected even if the key does not have a shape complementary to the shape of the groove as shown in FIG. 5A. Such a key, for example a coupling with a convex key 30, is in contact with the second side 60 in a line on-line gap (left side of FIG. 5A) or in a spaced apart relationship to the surface 60 (of FIG. 5A). Right), with a clearance 64 of about 0.035 inches between surfaces 52 and 60. Surfaces 54 and 66 may also be in line-on-line gaps or may be separated by gaps 62, preferably 0.030 inches or less.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5B, the wedging of the key 30 also causes the inner surface 50 and the outer surface 52 to contact the groove surfaces 58 and 60, respectively, but the radial surface 54. ) May be ensured when in a spaced apart relationship with respect to the bottom surface 62 of the groove by the gap 66. The right side of FIG. 5B shows a variety of straight face shaped key surfaces 50, 52 and mating straight surface shaped groove surfaces 58, 60 that provide substantially complementary shapes to the grooves and keys. The right side of FIG. 5B shows, by way of example, a convexly curved outer surface 52 that engages a straight surface 60, wherein the shape of the key and groove is not substantially complementary. The bottom surface 62 of the groove is shown on the left side to be oriented at an angle with respect to the surface of the pipe 12.

It should be noted that the preferred configuration formed by the pad-to-pad coupling of lugs 20 and 22 with respect to the tolerance conditions described above provides several advantages. The combination of the inner surface 50 and the first side 58 presses the pipes 12, 14 to an axial position that is substantially accurate relative to each other. Since these surfaces are supported against each other when the couplings are mounted on the pipes, they do not move axially when hydraulic pressure is applied inside. Therefore, the designer does not have to consider the extension of the pipe network due to the internal pressure during use, thereby simplifying the design. The relatively small gaps (which may be zero) 64, 66 allow for adequate stiffness, prevent excessive angular displacement between the pipe and the coupling, and allow the tolerances necessary to limit the gap to within the desired limits. 10) makes it economically manufactured. It also allows economical formation of grooves in pipes, valves or other connections. The gaps, along with the circularity variations typically encountered in real pipes, provide a rigid joint. The interpad engagement of the lugs 20, 22 reliably and visually indicates whether the coupling 10 is properly engaged with the pipes 12, 14.

If one wants to have a more flexible coupling 10 to allow for greater angular deviations, the gap 64 at one or both ends of the coupling may be made larger than the above-described limit of 0.035 inches. In the case of flexible coupling, it is advantageous to have a gap 64 between the surfaces 52, 60, which is half the size of the gap 38 between the ends of the pipes 12, 14, as shown in FIG. 5. Do.

It is also possible to have keys 30 that engage grooves 34 and 36 without gaps in all tolerance conditions. This configuration is advantageous for the wedge action of the keys providing rigid joints. However, it is not practical to have this configuration and also to maintain the pad-to-pad coupling of lugs 20 and 22, because both coupling and pipe to pad coupling and key and full contact circumferential wedge coupling to key and pipe are not practical. This is because it is very difficult to manufacture economically with the tolerances necessary to ensure. In the case of a configuration in which no pad-to-pad engagement is maintained nominally, as shown in FIG. 9, adjacent the lugs 22 on the segments 16 fitted into the recesses 112 adjacent to the lugs 22 on the segments 18. It is desirable to employ the tongue 110. The tongue prevents the sealing member 40 from being sent out through the gap between the lugs 20 and 22 when the joint is subjected to high internal pressure.

As shown in FIG. 6, the groove 36 is preferably formed by cold working the material forming the pipe 14. In a preferred embodiment, the groove 36 comprises a first side 37 positioned close to the pipe 14 and a second side 60 positioned spaced apart from the first side and spaced apart from the end of the pipe. , A bottom 41 extending between the first and second sides. The second side is preferably oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to the floor at an angle 43 greater than 90 °.

It is used that the roller tool 68 has a cross-sectional shape whose periphery is about the same as the desired shape of the groove. The roller tool 68 is strongly engaged with the outer surface 70 of the pipe 14 around its circumference by moving the roller tool around the pipe or by moving the pipe around its longitudinal axis 48 relative to the roller tool. do. The backup roller 72 is preferably engaged with the inner surface 74 of the pipe 14 opposite the roller tool 68. The pipe wall 76 is preferably compressed between the roller tool 68 and the backup tool 72. Use of the backup roller 72 provides a reaction surface for the roller tool. The back-up roller also helps to ensure that the correct groove shape is achieved by facilitating the flow of material during the grooving of the roller.

During cold working forming the groove 36 with the second side 60 oriented at an angle, significant friction is formed between the roller tool 68 and the pipe 14. This friction is caused by contact with the surface 78 at an angle on the roller tool 68 forming the second side 60 oriented at an angle of the groove 36. Since the angle is formed, the point along the surface 78 of the predetermined angle is at a different distance from the axis of rotation 80 of the roller tool 68. Due to the different distance from the axis of rotation 80, each point on the surface 78 at an angle moves relative to each other at a different linear velocity for a particular angular velocity of the roller tool 68. The point farthest from the axis of rotation 80 moves fastest, and the point closest to the axis of rotation moves most slowly. Thus, there is a speed difference along the surface 78 at an angle that will slip against the second side 60 of the groove 36 as the roller tool 68 rotates about the pipe 14 to form a groove. The relative slip between the roller tool and the pipe causes friction. Excessive heat caused by friction damages the roller tool bearing lubricant and makes the roller tool too hot to handle when changing tools for pipes of different sizes. The roller tool must be cooled before changing, which results in a loss of time.

In order to alleviate the generation of excessive heat, the roller tool 82 shown in FIG. 7 is used to form grooves in the pipe 14. In groove 84, second side 86 is first surface portion 88 oriented at an angle with respect to bottom surface 90, and positioned substantially perpendicularly oriented adjacent bottom surface 90. A second surface portion 92, thereby reducing the size of the second side 86 oriented at an angle. By reducing the size of the surface area at an angle of both the roller tool 82 and the groove 84, the friction caused during the cold working forming the groove is reduced. The first surface portion 88 oriented at an angle still provides an advantage to the second side 60 as described above. An example of a coupling 10 that engages the groove 84 is shown in FIG. 8.

The roller tool 82 has a circumferential surface 94 having a cross-sectional shape complementary to the groove 84, the shape of which is first circumferential surface oriented almost perpendicular to the axis of rotation 80 of the roller tool 82. 99, extending between the first and second circumferential surfaces, the second circumferential surface 98 positioned in a spaced relationship relative to the first circumferential surface 96 and oriented almost perpendicular to the axis of rotation 80, and having a rotation axis 80 A radial surface 100 oriented nearly parallel to the circumferential surface) and a predetermined angle surface 102 positioned adjacent to the circumferential surface 100 and positioned at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation 80. The surface 102 at an angle is preferably oriented at a maximum of about 70 ° with respect to the axis of rotation 80, most preferably about 70 °. The surface 102 at an angle is inclined away from the second circumferential surface, thereby contacting the pipe when forming the groove 84.

The wedging action between the key 30 and the groove of the pipe can be achieved in a groove cross-sectional shape different from that described above. The main criterion of the wedging action is that the width of the groove at the surface of the pipe is greater than the width of the groove at the bottom of the groove. 10-15 show the configuration of various grooves meeting this criterion. 10 shows groove 114 partially formed by side 116 having a concave cross-sectional shape. 11 shows a groove 118 partially formed by the side 120 having a convex cross-sectional shape. In FIG. 12, the groove 122 is partially formed by the side portion 124 having the first and second inclined portions 124a and 124b, and the first inclined portion 124a is the second inclined portion 124b. Have a greater slope. FIG. 13 shows groove 126 partially formed by side 128 with first slope 128a having a smaller slope than second slope 128b. Combination of the radius and the inclined portion is also possible as shown in FIG. 14, where the groove 130 has a radius 132 and an inclined portion 134. FIG. 15 shows an example of a groove 136 having a wedge-shaped cross-sectional profile, with no bottom portion of any importance compared to the groove of another example. Grooves 136 are formed by sides 136a and 136b oriented at an angle with respect to each other. Common to all configurations is that the width 138 at the surface of the pipe is greater than the width 140 of the groove at the bottom of the groove. Although the floor is preferably substantially parallel to the pipe surface, it may be curved as shown in FIG. 10 or may not be present as shown in FIG. 15, where there is no floor so the width of the floor is substantially zero. . The bottom may also be oriented at an angle as shown in FIG. 5B.

Roller tools for forming grooves as described above are shown in FIGS. 7A-7G. In FIG. 7A, the roller tool 101 has a radially opposing surface rotatable about the axis of rotation 80 and abutting the first surface portion 105 and the second surface portion 107. The roller surface 105 is preferably oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation 80, with the result that a substantially vertical groove side is formed. The roller surface is concave, resulting in convex groove side 120 as shown in FIG.

Similarly, the roller tool 109 shown in FIG. 7B has a radially opposing surface portion 111 extending between the vertical surface portion 113 and the convex surface portion 115. Such a roller forms a groove having a concave side 116 as shown in FIG. 10.

The additional roller embodiments 117, 119 shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D are each oriented at an angle with respect to the rotation axis 80 and the first surface 123 oriented at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation 80, respectively. It has a second surface 125 with different angles. In the roller tool 117, the inclination of the first surface portion is greater than the inclination of the second surface portion, which roller forms the groove 122 shown in FIG. In the roller tool 119, the inclination of the first surface portion is smaller than the inclination of the second surface portion, and the roller forms a groove 126 having sides 124 oriented at an angle as shown in FIG. .

The roller tool 127 shown in FIG. 7E has no radially opposing surface, and the surface 129 at an angle intersects the surface portion 131 which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation 80. The roller tool 127 is useful for forming the groove shown in FIG.

The roller tool 133 shown in FIG. 7F has a vertical surface 137 as well as a curved radially opposing surface 135 and a surface 135 oriented at an angle. The curved surface may be convex, concave, sinusoidal, hyperbolic or irregularly curved.

As shown in FIG. 7G, the roller 139 may have a radially opposing surface 141 oriented at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation 80. The groove shown in FIG. 5B is formed by such a tool.

Although the grooves adapted to achieve the keying and significant wedge action of the coupling have been described by applying them to the pipe ends, such grooves can be used with pipe connectors as well. For example, FIG. 16 illustrates elbow connector 140 having a circumferential groove 142 at either end. Groove 142 may have any of the cross-sectional profiles shown in FIGS. 5, 10-15 or variations as described above. Similarly, the T-shaped connector 144 shown in FIG. 17 preferably has grooves 146 adjacent to each end thereof, which grooves are adapted to wedge to couple the connector to a pipe or other connector as described above. do. FIG. 18 shows a connector 148 having a flange 152 at an end opposite the wedge groove 150 adjacent one end. The connector 148 allows a pipe network using a mechanical coupling to be coupled to another pipe network using a flange. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, other types of connectors, such as reducer 154 (FIG. 19) used to join pipes with different diameters or nipples 156 (FIG. 20), may also It may be advantageous to have grooves 158 and 160, which are the same as those already shown and described, increasing the wedge action between the coupling and the grooves, resulting in rigidity or more flexible depending on the tolerance of the coupling as described above. Guarantee the joints of the castle.

As further shown in FIG. 21, components associated with the control of fluid flow, such as valve 162, are also the same as described above to couple the valve to pipes, connectors, or other components using mechanical coupling as described above. It may have a groove 164.

The roller tool according to the present invention allows grooves to be formed in the pipe with reduced friction and heat, and allows grooves to be formed faster and lower torque to rotate the pipe relative to the roller tool.

Claims (11)

A roller tool for forming a circumferential groove around a pipe, the roller tool having a circumferential surface rotatable about an axis of rotation and engageable with the pipe, wherein the circumferential surface is A first surface portion oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; A second surface portion located in a spaced relationship relative to the first surface portion and oriented at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation, and Radially opposing surface portions extending between the first surface portion and the second surface portion and oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation; Roller tool including. The roller tool of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angled surface portion is oriented at an angle of about 70 ° or less relative to the axis of rotation. The roller tool of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angled surface portion is oriented at an angle of about 50 ° with respect to the axis of rotation. The roller tool of claim 1, wherein the radially opposing surface portion is curved. The roller tool of claim 1, wherein the radially opposing surface portions are oriented at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation. A roller tool for forming a circumferential groove around a pipe, the roller tool having a circumferential surface rotatable about an axis of rotation and engageable with the pipe, wherein the circumferential surface is A first surface portion oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; A second surface portion located in a spaced relationship relative to the first surface portion, and Radially opposing surface portions extending between the first surface portion and the second surface portion and oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation; Wherein the second surface portion has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of convex and concave shapes. A roller tool for forming a circumferential groove around a pipe, the roller tool having a circumferential surface rotatable about an axis of rotation and engageable with the pipe, wherein the circumferential surface, A first surface portion oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; A second surface portion located in a spaced relationship relative to the first surface portion, and Radially opposing surface portions extending between the first surface portion and the second surface portion and oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation; Wherein the second surface portion comprises a first surface having a first angular orientation with respect to the axis of rotation and a second surface having a second angular orientation with respect to the axis of rotation. 8. The roller tool of claim 7, wherein the slope of the first surface is greater than the slope of the second surface. 8. The roller tool of claim 7, wherein the slope of the first surface is less than the slope of the second surface. A roller tool for forming a circumferential groove around a pipe, the roller tool having a circumferential surface rotatable about an axis of rotation and engageable with the pipe, wherein the circumferential surface, A first surface portion oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; A second surface portion located in a spaced relationship relative to the first surface portion and oriented substantially in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation; A radially opposing surface portion extending between the first surface portion and the second surface portion and oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and A surface portion of a predetermined angle positioned adjacent to the second surface portion Wherein the surface portion of the predetermined angle is oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of rotation and inclined away from the second surface portion. A roller tool for forming a circumferential groove around a pipe, the roller tool having a circumferential surface rotatable about an axis of rotation and engageable with the pipe, wherein the circumferential surface, A first surface portion oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; A second surface portion oriented at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation Roller tool including.

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