Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS FOR BUFFING A PIPE ASSEMBLY
TECHNICAL FIELD
[01] This document relates to the technical field of (and is not limited
to) an
apparatus for buffing a pipe assembly (and a method thereof).
BACKGROUND
[02] Pipe cleaning tools (such as buffing wheels) are configured to buff
(clean) a
pipe end section.
SUMMARY
[03] It will be appreciated that there exists a need to mitigate (at least
in part) at
least one problem associated with existing pipe cleaning tools (also called
existing technology). After much study of the known systems and methods with
experimentation, an understanding of the problem and its solution has been
identified and is articulated as follows:
[04] Conventional (known) pipe cleaning and/or buffing tools and methods
may
result in buckling of the pipe, etc., in such a way that the pipe buffing
(cleaning)
operation may be somewhat dangerous for the operator.
[05] It is desirable to provide a solution in which the buffing operation
is cleaner
and relatively quicker, and saves time and money.
[06] It is also desirable to provide a solution in which the buffing
operation is
relatively safer so less safety supervision and fewer skilled operators may be
used, thus saving time and money while increasing worker safety.
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[07] To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with
the existing
technology, there is provided (in accordance with a first major aspect) an
apparatus. The apparatus is for a pipe assembly having an open-ended pipe
portion with a pipe end face extending between an inner pipe diameter and an
outer pipe diameter. The apparatus includes a support assembly configured to
be
spatially positioned and movable, in use, relative to the open-ended pipe
portion
of the pipe assembly. A buffing assembly is configured to extend, in use and
at
least in part, from the support assembly. This is done in such a way that the
buffing assembly (in use) contacts, at least in part, the pipe end face, the
inner
pipe diameter and the outer pipe diameter of the open-ended pipe portion of
the
pipe assembly once the support assembly is spatially positioned (in use) to do
just so. The buffing assembly is also configured to buff, in use and at least
in part,
the pipe end face, the inner pipe diameter and the outer pipe diameter of the
open-ended pipe portion of the pipe assembly once the buffing assembly is
extended to do just so and in response to the movement of the support
assembly.
[08] To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with
existing
technology, there is provided (in accordance with a second major aspect) an
apparatus. The apparatus is for a pipe assembly having an open-ended pipe
portion with a pipe end face extending between an inner pipe diameter and an
outer pipe diameter. The apparatus includes a support assembly configured to
be
spatially positioned and movaLle. A buffing assembly is configured to extend
from
the support assembly, and buff the pipe end face, the inner pipe diameter and
the
outer pipe diameter of the open-ended pipe portion of the pipe assembly once
the
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buffing assembly is extended from the support assembly and in response to the
movement of the support assembly.
[09] Other aspects are identified in the claims.
[010] Other aspects and features of the non-limiting embodiments may now
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following
detailed
description of the non-limiting embodiments with the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[011] The non-limiting embodiments may be more fully appreciated by reference
to
the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments when taken
in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[012] FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 10 (SHEETS 1 and 2 of 6 SHEETS) depict views
of embodiments of an apparatus for a pipe assembly;
[013] FIG. 1D (SHEET 2 of 6 SHEETS) depicts an end view of the pipe assembly
of any one of FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 10;
[014] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B (SHEET 3 of 6 SHEETS) depict views of embodiments
of the apparatus of any one of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B;
[015] FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C (SHEET 4 of 6 SHEETS) depict views of
embodiments of the apparatus of any one of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B; and
[016] FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 40 (SHEETS 5 and 6 of 6 SHEETS) depict views
of embodiments of the apparatus of any one of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.
[017] The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by
phantom
lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain
instances,
details unnecessary for an understanding of the embodiments (and/or details
that
render other details difficult to perceive) may have been omitted.
[018] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components
throughout the several figures of the drawings. Elements in the several
figures
are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not been drawn to scale.
The
dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be emphasized relative
to
other elements for facilitating an understanding of the various disclosed
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embodiments. In addition, common, but well-understood, elements that are
useful
or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted to
provide a less obstructed view of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
[019] LISTING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS
100 apparatus
102 support assembly
103 longitudinal axis
104 buffing assembly
106 shaft assembly
108 pipe gap
110 centrally aligned extension member
112 tapered portion
114 protection assembly
116 parallel-aligned sidewalls
118 tapered sidewalls
120 handle section
800 motorized tool
802 user
900 pipe assembly
902 open-ended pipe portion
904 pipe end face
906 inner pipe diameter
908 outer pipe diameter
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[020] The following detailed description is merely exemplary and is not
intended to
limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described
embodiments. As used, the word "exemplary" or "illustrative" means "serving as
an example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation described as
"exemplary" or "illustrative" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred
or
advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described
below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the
art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to
limit the scope of the disclosure. The scope of the invention is defined by
the
claims. For the description, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "rear,"
"right," "front,"
"vertical," "horizontal," and derivatives thereof shall relate to the examples
as
oriented in the drawings. There is no intention to be bound by any expressed
or
implied theory in the preceding Technical Field, Background, Summary or the
following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the devices
and
processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following
specification, are exemplary embodiments (examples), aspects and/or concepts
defined in the appended claims. Hence, dimensions and other physical
characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered
as
limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. It is understood that
the
phrase "at least one" is equivalent to "a". The aspects (examples,
alterations,
modifications, options, variations, embodiments and any equivalent thereof)
are
described regarding the drawings. It should be understood that the invention
is
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limited to the subject matter provided by the claims, and that the invention
is not
limited to the particular aspects depicted and described.
[021] FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C depict views of embodiments of an apparatus
100 for a pipe assembly 900. FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C depict cross-
sectional views of embodiments of the apparatus 100.
[022] FIG. 1D depicts an end view of the pipe assembly 900 of any one of FIG.
1A,
FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C.
[023] Referring to the embodiments as depicted in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C
(and with reference to all of the FIGS.), the apparatus 100 is for the pipe
assembly 900.
[024] The pipe assembly 900 may include a tube of metal, plastic, or other
suitable
material used to convey water, gas, oil, or other type of fluid substance. The
pipe
assembly 900 has an open-ended pipe portion 902 with a pipe end face 904
extending between an inner pipe diameter 906 and an outer pipe diameter 908.
The open-ended pipe portion 902 is also called a pipe end face portion or pipe
face.
[025] The apparatus 100 includes (and is not limited to) a synergistic
combination
of a support assembly 102 and a buffing assembly 104.
[026] The support assembly 102 is configured to be spatially positioned and
movable, in use, relative to the open-ended pipe portion 902 of the pipe
assembly
900. The support assembly 102 may include any type of shaped support device.
The support assembly 102 may be called a housing assembly. The buffing
assembly 104 is configured to extend, in use and at least in part, from the
support
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assembly 102. This is done in such a way that the buffing assembly 104
contacts,
at least in part and in use, the pipe end face 904, the inner pipe diameter
906 and
the outer pipe diameter 908 of the open-ended pipe portion 902 of the pipe
assembly 900 once the support assembly 102 is spatially positioned, in use, to
do
just so. In addition, the buffing assembly 104 is also configured to buff, in
use and
at least in part, the pipe end face 904, the inner pipe diameter 906 and the
outer
pipe diameter 908 of the open-ended pipe portion 902 of the pipe assembly 900
once the buffing assembly 104 is extended to do just so and in response to the
movement of the support assembly 102.
[027] A technical effect of the combination of the support assembly 102 and
the
buffing assembly 104 is that the open-ended pipe portion 902 may extend so far
into the buffing assembly 104 in such a way that once the buffing assembly 104
is reciprocated (moved) back and forth several times (such as, once or twice),
the
open-ended pipe portion 902 is cleaned, at least in part, by the buffing
assembly
104.
[028] It will
be appreciated that the support assembly 102 and the buffing
assembly 104 may be configured or adapted to suit any type of the pipe
assembly 900 (to accommodate most sizes of pipes or pipelines). Preferably,
the
apparatus 100 is used in a single pass (application to the open-ended pipe
portion 902 as depicted in FIG. 1B). The apparatus 100 cleans (in use) the
pipe
assembly 900. The apparatus 100 is configured to improve the safety of the
user.
The user (operator) may use the apparatus 100 to buff (in use) the open-ended
pipe portion 902 (as depicted above), preferably in one shot (application or
use of
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the apparatus 100). Preferably, the support assembly 102 and the buffing
assembly 104 are configured to prevent (at least in part) bucking and binding
of
the open-ended pipe portion 902.
[029] For instance, the buffing assembly 104 includes buffing elements, such
as
wire bristles and/or steel wires (and any equivalent thereof), that extend
(fixedly
extend) from the support assembly 102. The steel wires may be configured to be
fixedly mounted to the support assembly 102, and to extend from the support
assembly 102 into the interior of the support assembly 102. For instance, the
wire
bristles may include any one of brass wires, softened brass wires, a more
malleable metal alloy (metallic wire bristles), plastic wires (plastic
materials), and
a cloth material (cloth materials), etc., and any equivalent thereof.
[030] Preferably, the support assembly 102 is shaped as a semi-circular
spheroid
having an open end configured to receive, at least in part, the open-ended
pipe
portion 902 (as depicted in FIG. 1B). Preferably, the buffing assembly 104 is
encased within the support assembly 102 in such a way that the elements of the
buffing assembly 104 are not prone to inadvertently detaching from and
becoming expelled from the interior of the support assembly 102 during normal
operation of the buffing assembly 104.
[031] In accordance with an embodiment, the apparatus 100 further includes a
shaft assembly 106. The shaft assembly 106 is configured to be moved
(rotated).
The shaft assembly 106 has a longitudinal axis 103 extending along the shaft
assembly 106. The support assembly 102 extends from the shaft assembly 106
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in such a way that the support assembly 102 is movable in response to the
movement of the shaft assembly 106.
[032] Referring to the embodiments as depicted in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG.
1C,
there is depicted a method for buffing the pipe assembly 900. The method
includes (and is not limited to) an operation for spatially positioning a
support
assembly 102 relative to the open-ended pipe portion 902 of the pipe assembly
900. The method also includes an operation for extending a buffing assembly
104, at least in part, from the support assembly 102 in such a way that the
buffing
assembly 104 contacts, at least in part and in use, the pipe end face 904, the
inner pipe diameter 906 and the outer pipe diameter 908 of the open-ended pipe
portion 902 of the pipe assembly 900 once the support assembly 102 is
spatially
positioned, in use, to do just so. The method also includes an operation for
moving the support assembly 102 relative to the open-ended pipe portion 902 of
the pipe assembly 900. The method also includes an operation for using the
buffing assembly 104 to buff, at least in part, the pipe end face 904, the
inner
pipe diameter 906 and the outer pipe diameter 908 of the open-ended pipe
portion 902 of the pipe assembly 900 once the buffing assembly 104 is extended
to do just so and in response to the movement of the support assembly 102.
[033] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B depict views of embodiments of the apparatus 100 of
any one of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. FIG. 2A depicts a cross-sectional view of an
embodiment of the support assembly 102. FIG. 2B depicts an end view of an
embodiment of the support assembly 102 (looking into the interior of the
support
assembly 102).
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[034] Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 2A, the apparatus 100
further includes a centrally aligned extension member 110 fixedly extending
from
the support assembly 102. The centrally aligned extension member 110 is
spatially positioned, at least in part, in the support assembly 102.
Preferably, the
longitudinal axis 103 of the shaft assembly 106 is coaxially aligned with the
centrally aligned extension member 110. Preferably, the centrally aligned
extension member 110 is configured to be screwed (operatively attached) into
the
support assembly 102.
[035] Preferably, the centrally aligned extension member 110 includes a
tapered
portion 112. The tapered portion 112 is configured to assist in imparting (in
use) a
buffing force to the open-ended pipe portion 902 (as depicted in FIG. 1B)
[036] Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the
buffing
assembly 104 is configured to form a pipe gap 108 positioned between the
elements of the buffing assembly 104 (such as, between the steel wires). The
pipe gap 108 is configured to receive, at least in part, the pipe end face 904
of
the pipe assembly 900. This is done in such a way that the pipe end face 904
is
relatively easier to be inserted into the buffing assembly 104 via the pipe
gap 108
(especially so for the case where the buffing assembly 104 includes steel
wires).
For this embodiment, a portion of the buffing assembly 104 extends radially
outward (relative to the longitudinal axis 103) from a distal end portion of
the
centrally aligned extension member 110. Another portion of the buffing
assembly
104 extends radially inward (relative to the longitudinal axis 103) from
opposite
sides walls of the support assembly 102 positioned proximate to the
entranceway
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leading into the interior of the support assembly 102. Preferably, the pipe
gap 108
is configured to receive, at least in part, the sidewalls extending from the
open-
ended pipe portion 902 (as depicted in FIG. 1B).
[037] In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the
open-ended pipe portion 902 may extend so far into the buffing assembly 104 in
such a way that once the buffing assembly 104 is reciprocated (moved) back and
forth several times (such as, twice), the open-ended pipe portion 902 is
cleaned
by the buffing assembly 104.
[038] FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C depict views of embodiments of the
apparatus
100 of any one of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. FIG. 3A depicts an end view of an
embodiment of the support assembly 102 (looking into the interior of the
support
assembly 102). FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C depict cross-sectional views of
embodiments of the support assembly 102.
[039] Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, the
shaft
assembly 106 is configured to be operatively mounted to a motorized tool 800
(such as a hand-held rotatable tool). The motorized tool 800 is configured to
be
rotated once energized to do just so. In this manner, the shaft assembly 106
may
be rotated to move so that the support assembly 102 and the buffing assembly
104 may be rotated as well. This is done in such a way that once the open-
ended
pipe portion 902 (as depicted in FIG. 1B) is inserted, at least in part, into
the
interior of the buffing assembly 104, the open-ended pipe portion 902 may be
buffed (cleaned) as described above.
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[040] Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, the
apparatus 100 further includes a protection assembly 114 fixedly positioned
within the support assembly 102. The protection assembly 114 is configured to
protect the open-ended pipe portion 902 (as depicted in FIG. 1A) in such a way
that once the open-ended pipe portion 902 enters the interior of the support
assembly 102, the open-ended pipe portion 902 may strike the protection
assembly 114 and the open-ended pipe portion 902 does not become
inadvertently damaged (wrecked) as a result of entering too far into the
interior of
the support assembly 102.
[041] Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 3A, the support assembly
102 defines parallel-aligned sidewalls 116 that are aligned coaxially with the
longitudinal axis 103 (that is, are aligned parallel relative to the
longitudinal axis
103). The technical effect of the parallel-aligned sidewalls 116 is to prolong
the
operative life of the buffing assembly 104.
[042] Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 3B, the support assembly
102 defines tapered sidewalls 118. More specifically, the tapered sidewalls
118
are aligned non-coaxially with the longitudinal axis 103 (that is, are not
aligned
parallel relative to the longitudinal axis 103). The technical effect of the
tapered
sidewalls 118 is to prolong the operative life of the buffing assembly 104.
[043] FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 40 depict views of embodiments of the
apparatus
100 of any one of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 40 depict
cross-sectional views of embodiments of the support assembly 102.
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[044] It will be appreciated that there are many ways to configure the support
assembly 102 and the buffing assembly 104.
[045] Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 4A, the shaft assembly
106
is configured to be attached to the motorized tool 800, such as a grinding
tool
having a chuck assembly configured to receive the shaft assembly 106 of the
apparatus 100.
[046] Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 4B, the shaft assembly
106
is configured to be attached to the motorized tool 800, such as a drilling
tool
having a chuck assembly configured to receive the shaft assembly 106 of the
apparatus 100.
[047] Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 40, the shaft assembly
106
includes a handle section 120 configured to be manipulated (rotated) by the
user
802, without the use of a motorized unit.
[048] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,
including
the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and
use
the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims,
and
may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other
examples are within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements
that
do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent
structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language
of the
claims.
[049] It may be appreciated that the assemblies and modules described above
may be connected with each other as required to perform desired functions and
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tasks within the scope of persons of skill in the art to make such
combinations
and permutations without having to describe each and every one in explicit
terms.
There is no particular assembly or component that may be superior to any of
the
equivalents available to the person skilled in the art. There is no particular
mode
of practicing the disclosed subject matter that is superior to others, so long
as the
functions may be performed. It is believed that all the crucial aspects of the
disclosed subject matter have been provided in this document. It is understood
that the scope of the present invention is limited to the scope provided by
the
independent claim(s), and it is also understood that the scope of the present
invention is not limited to: (i) the dependent claims, (ii) the detailed
description of
the non-limiting embodiments, (iii) the summary, (iv) the abstract, and/or (v)
the
description provided outside of this document (that is, outside of the instant
application as filed, as prosecuted, and/or as granted). It is understood, for
this
document, that the phrase "includes" is equivalent to the word "comprising."
The
foregoing has outlined the non-limiting embodiments (examples). The
description
is made for particular non-limiting embodiments (examples). It is understood
that
the non-limiting embodiments are merely illustrative as examples.
