Apparatus and method for joining a branching fitting to a pipe

Claim 1

An apparatus for attaching a fitting to a side wall of a pipe with the axis of the fitting being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pipe, comprising: at least two cold rings for attachment to the pipe; removable inserts mounted within said cold rings for accommodating varying sizes of pipe; a guide rod attached to each of said cold rings and extending outwardly therefrom perpendicular to the axis of the pipe; a base plate slidably mounted on said guide rods for movement relative to the pipe; a receiver member fixed to said base plate and adapted to receive the fitting to be joined to the pipe; removable inserts mounted within said receiver member for accommodating varying sizes of fittings to be joined to the pipe; a top bar fixedly attached between said guide rods; a threaded shaft with one end attached to said receiver member and with the second end passing through said top bar; an engaging member in said top bar having a semibore threaded therein with threads which mate with those of said threaded shaft such that selective engagement between said shaft and said engaging member may be had by depressing the engaging member until it is engaged with the threads on said shaft whereby said shaft may be translated through said top bar by turning said shaft; and a removable heating unit slidably positioned on said guide rods having one face substantially conforming to the shape of the side wall of the pipe and with a second face substantially conforming to the shape of the fitting to be joined to the pipe so that said fitting and side wall of the pipe may be heated by said heating unit prior to joining.

Claim 2

An apparatus for attaching a fitting to a side wall of a pipe with the axis of the fitting being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pipe, comprising: at least two cold rings for attachment to the pipe; removable inserts mounted within said cold rings for accommodating varying sizes of pipe; a guide rod attached to each of said cold rings and extending outwardly therefrom perpendicular to the axis of the pipe; a base plate slidably mounted on said guide rods for movement relative to the pipe; a receiver member fixed to said base plate and adapted to receive the fitting to be joined to the pipe; removable inserts mounted within said receiver member for accommodating varying sizes of fittings to be joined to the pipe; a top bar fixedly attached between said guide rods; a threaded shaft with one end attached to said receiver member and with the second end passing through said top bar; an engaging member in said top bar having a semibore threaded therein with threads which mate with those of said threaded shaft such that selective engagement between said shaft and said engaging member may be had by depressing the engaging member until it is engaged with the threads on said shaft whereby said shaft may be translated through said top bar by turning said shaft; and a removable heating unit slidably positioned on said guide rods having one face substantially conforming to the shape of the side wall of the pipe and with a second face substantially conforming to the shape of the fitting to be joined to the pipe so that said fitting and side wall of the pipe may be heated by said heating unit prior to joining.

Claim 5

An apparatus for use in attaching a fitting to a side wall of a pipe, comprising: at least two cold rings for attachment to the pipe; a guide rod attached to each of said cold rings and extending outwardly therefrom perpendicular to the axis of the pipe; a base plate slidably mounted on said guide rod for movement relative to the pipe; means associated with said base plate for receiving the fitting to be joined to the pipe; a top bar fixedly attached between said guide rods; a shaft with one end connected to said fitting receiving means and with the second end passing through said top bar; force means associated with said top bar for controlling the translation of said shaft and said fitting receiving means toward the pipe; and means for alternatively engaging and disengaging said shaft from said force means to allow translation of said shaft through said top bar by actuating said force means when said force means is engaged with said shaft or by pushing or pulling said shaft when said force means is disengaged from said shaft.

Claim 6

An apparatus for use in attaching a fitting to a side wall of a pipe, comprising: at least two cold rings for attachment to the pipe; a guide rod attached to each of said cold rings and extending outwardly therefrom perpendicular to the axis of the pipe; a base plate slidably mounted on said guide rod for movement relative to the pipe; means associated with said base plate for receiving the fitting to be joined to the pipe; a top bar fixedly attached between said guide rods; a shaft with one end connected to said fitting receiving means and with the second end passing through said top bar; force means associated with said top bar for controlling the translation of said shaft and said fitting receiving means toward the pipe; and means for alternatively engaging and disengaging said shaft from said force means to allow translation of said shaft through said top bar by actuating said force means when said force means is engaged with said shaft or by pushing or pulling said shaft when said force means is disengaged from said shaft.

Claim 7

An apparatus for use in attaching a fitting to a side wall of a pipe, comprising: a frame; means on said frame for engaging a section of the pipe; receiving means adapted to receive the fitting to be joined to the pipe; a threaded shaft with one end attached to said receiving means and the second end passing through an opening in said frame such that said threaded shaft may axially slide therethrough; and selectively engageable means movable between a first position whereby said shaft may be translated through said frame by turning said shaft and a second position whereby said shaft may be moved freely through said frame.

Claim 8

An apparatus for use in attaching a fitting to a side wall of a pipe, comprising: a frame; means on said frame for engaging a section of the pipe; receiving means adapted to receive the fitting to be joined to the pipe; a threaded shaft with one end attached to said receiving means and the second end passing through an opening in said frame such that said threaded shaft may axially slide therethrough; and selectively engageable means movable between a first position whereby said shaft may be translated through said frame by turning said shaft and a second position whereby said shaft may be moved freely through said frame.

Claim 14

A method for clamping and moving a fitting against the side wall of a pipe whereby the fitting may be attached to the pipe, comprising the steps of: attaching at least two cold rings to the pipe each having a guide rod attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom perpendicular to the axis of the pipe; securing the fitting to be joined to the pipe to a base plate slidably mounted on the guide rods; placing a heating element on the pipe area to which the fitting is to be joined; forcing the fitting and base plate against the side of the heater opposite that adjacent the pipe by turning a threaded shaft attached at one end to the base plate and with its other end passing through a top bar attached to the guide rod ends opposite the guide rod ends attached to the cold ring; heating the areas on the pipe and fitting to be joined; withdrawing the fitting from the heating element by pulling the threaded shaft away from the pipe; removing the heating element from the surface of the pipe; pushing the threaded shaft and fitting toward the pipe; engaging the top bar against the threads of the threaded shaft; and turning the threaded shaft to exert a force on the base plate and fitting to effect a proper pressure on the fitting during the joining of the fitting to the pipe.

Claim 15

A method for clamping and moving a fitting against the side wall of a pipe whereby the fitting may be attached to the pipe, comprising the steps of: attaching at least two cold rings to the pipe each having a guide rod attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom perpendicular to the axis of the pipe; securing the fitting to be joined to the pipe to a base plate slidably mounted on the guide rods; placing a heating element on the pipe area to which the fitting is to be joined; forcing the fitting and base plate against the side of the heater opposite that adjacent the pipe by turning a threaded shaft attached at one end to the base plate and with its other end passing through a top bar attached to the guide rod ends opposite the guide rod ends attached to the cold ring; heating the areas on the pipe and fitting to be joined; withdrawing the fitting from the heating element by pulling the threaded shaft away from the pipe; removing the heating element from the surface of the pipe; pushing the threaded shaft and fitting toward the pipe; engaging the top bar against the threads of the threaded shaft; and turning the threaded shaft to exert a force on the base plate and fitting to effect a proper pressure on the fitting during the joining of the fitting to the pipe.