FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a tool for forming grooves in pipe, and particularly to a hand-held manual tool for rolling engaging grooves in the end of pipes or tubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Pipe groovers are used by fire protection automatic sprinkler fitters, steamfitters, and plumbers in the construction of residential and commercial buildings. Pipe groovers are essential for the construction of fire protection sprinkler systems and other plumbing systems, as well as in the repair and replacement of plumbing components in buildings, homes, and civil infrastructure. Pipe groovers allow two pipe or tube ends to be joined end-to-end, with or without soldering.

[0004] Typically, pipe groovers used in most construction projects utilize gas or generator-driven motors. These require plumbing systems to be grooved and pre-assembled at a point distant from their final installation point, and then ultimately installed into a wall or ceiling. Motorized pipe groovers are large and heavy, and cannot be lifted to groove a pipe that is already installed in a wall or ceiling, as when making repairs to an existing plumbing installation. Thus, when making repairs using a motorized pipe groover, the damaged elements and the surrounding plumbing must be removed and the replacement plumbing newly grooved at a point removed from the existing installation. The repair cannot be made leaving undamaged elements in place because these elements also must be re-grooved and this simply cannot be done in place using a motorized groover too.

[0005] Motorized pipe groovers may also produce exhaust and smoke, limiting their use in enclosed areas. They may also require messy and volatile fuel, which creates a hazard for construction workers, particularly on sites where pipes are being soldered. Additionally, as with any piece of industrial equipment, motorized pipe groovers can only be safely operated by specially trained workers, and cannot be safely used by low-skill day laborers or untrained workers. Use of motorized devices such as pipe groovers also require the construction company or contractor to invest in additional ear and eye protection for workers, driving up construction costs. Further, motorized roller groovers that run on electricity require generators or a local power supply that is often absent or inconveniently located on construction sites. Thus, there is a need for an easy to use, lightweight manual pipe groover.

[0006] Conventional manual pipe groovers pre-date motorized pipe groovers. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 397,563; 1,810,342; 1,816,117; and 2,975,819. However, these conventional manual pipe groovers are typically heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to use effectively in grooving pipes, particularly when working overhead or within walls. This is because they require a portion of the pipe groover tool itself to be inserted within the inner diameter of the pipe to be grooved. Inserting a groover into a pipe is often problematic because the worker cannot see into walls or ceilings to find the center of the pipe quickly. Obstructions, such as existing plumbing, also inhibit mounting the groover on the terminal end of the pipe where the groove is to be formed. The pipe may also be corroded or have deposits in the interior, making the job cumbersome. In many instances, using prior art devices, the pipe cannot be grooved in place, but must be disassembled and removed from the installation site, grooved, and then re-installed.

[0007] Further, conventional pipe groovers, both manual and motorized, also require separate adaptors, attachments or die sizes to form grooves in pipes of different diameters. This requires the pipefitter to carry numerous adaptors to each job, and requires the contractor or pipefitter to invest in numerous dies for each size of pipe. Many conventional pipe groovers also require separate adaptors for each type of pipe; that is, forming a groove in a steel pipe might require a larger and stronger die than when forming a groove in a copper pipe of the same dimensions.

[0008] Thus, there is a long-felt and unmet need for a manual pipe groover that can form a groove in a piper of any size, while contacting only the outer diameter of the pipe into which the groove is being formed. The tool must securely engage the pipe only about its outer diameter, and must be adjustable to groove pipe of different diameters, without the need for attachments, adaptors, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention, which is defined by the claims set out at the end of this disclosure, is intended to solve at least some of the problems noted above. A pipe groover is provided that preferably is lightweight, portable, easy to use by unskilled workers in enclosed quarters, and quickly provides accurate and effective grooves to pipes. Thus, unlike previous pipe groovers, the pipe groover described herein does not include a portion that is inserted within the inner diameter of the pipe to be grooved. Instead, the pipe groover disclosed and claimed herein is securely engaged only to the outer diameter of the pipe. This provides a much easier method of grooving a pipe, particularly when working overhead or inside walls. It is also much easier to groove pipes of small diameter.

[0010] More specifically, the present invention is directed to a pipe groover used for pipes that are installed or in place in walls, floors, and ceilings of buildings and thus have minimal or obstructed clearances around them. The invention is designed to groove commonly used standard-sized industrial pipes such as steel, copper, and the like, accurately and quickly.

[0011] The present invention is also directed to pipe groover for grooving pipes with small amounts of pipe exposure, and can groove pipe exposures of several inches or less. This invention is also capable of grooving pipes of all diameters because it does not contain any internal pipe inserts. The invention can be adjusted or dimensioned to accommodate pipes of all sizes.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment, the present invention also utilizes a universal head size, and can thus accommodate pipes of all diameters and compositions without additional dies, adaptors, or attachments, however, a pipe groover with attachments, dies, or adaptors is foreseen by this disclosure, and is within the scope of the invention.

[0013] In an alternate preferred embodiment of the invention, a pipe cutter can be incorporated into the design of the pipe groover at the base.

[0014] Thus, a first embodiment of the invention is directed to a pipe grooving tool. In this embodiment, the invention comprises a substantially C-shaped housing having a base portion, a foot portion, and a head portion. A threaded bore extends through the base portion of the housing and there is a threaded screw that is matingly disposed within the threaded bore. Guide means are affixed to the threaded screw and a groover wheel is rotatingly and releasibly attached to the head portion of the housing. In this embodiment, the housing is dimensioned and configured to accept a cylindrically-shaped workpiece. When the threaded screw is advanced, the guide means and the groover wheel are urged against the outer diameter of the workpiece at points that are substantially diametrically opposite on the outer diameter of the workpiece. No element of the pipe grooving tool contacts the inner diameter of the workpiece.

[0015] A second embodimet of the invention is a pipe grooving tool as described above, the tool consisting of a substantially C-shaped housing having a base portion, a foot portion, and a head portion; a threaded bore extending through the base portion of the housing; a threaded screw matingly disposed within the threaded bore; guide means affixed to the threaded screw; and a groover wheel rotatingly and releasibly attached to the head portion of the housing.

[0016] The objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.