Tool and preparation device

Abstract

A tool, particularly for preparing a pipe end for crimping, comprising a sleeve with a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the sleeve has an interior space and a drive element connected to the first end of the sleeve for rotating the sleeve. The interior space is configured to receive a pipe end, and an abrasive is arranged in the interior space for grinding the pipe end when the tool is rotated.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a tool, in particular for preparing a pipe end by means of an electric hand tool for crimping, and to a preparation device with such a tool.

[0002] The use of thick-walled steel pipes, in particular, in conjunction with press fittings has increased significantly in recent years. A wide variety of press fittings are now available for crimping a pipe end.

[0003] All systems have in common that the pipes must be prepared and marked before they are processed (pressed).

[0004] The pipes are designed as, in particular, seamless or longitudinally welded steel pipes, which are used with a black, galvanized, industrially painted or powder-coated surface to protect them against corrosion.

[0005] Preparation means cleaning the outer surface of the pipe at the pipe end. Ideally, oxide, zinc, rust, paint, or other coatings should be completely removed from the pipe surface in the area where the press fitting will later be installed. Since the sealing element of the press fitting seals against the pipe's outer diameter, this cleaning of the pipe is important. The problem here is that the user doesn't know exactly how far along the pipe needs to be cleaned and may damage the surface by cleaning too intensively, which can impair the fit and thus the seal of the pipe end and the press fitting.

[0006] Additionally, the pipe ends should be deburred inside and out. This serves to protect the sealing element in the press fitting from damage.

[0007] Additionally, the pipe end should be marked before crimping. This mark allows you to check after crimping whether the pipe extends far enough into the press fitting. There is no way to check the insertion depth of the pipe after crimping. Pipes that are not inserted far enough are a very common cause of errors in such crimping operations and can only be reliably detected if the user omits the marking step. The user should determine the insertion depth of the press fitting using a ruler and then transfer this measurement to the pipe end using a felt-tip pen or similar. Many users skip this time-consuming step and either don't mark the pipes at all or only do so after crimping.

[0008] Careful execution of each step in preparing the pipe end for subsequent crimping with a suitable press fitting is essential for a reliable and leak-proof connection. However, these steps are quite time-consuming, often resulting in users performing some steps inadequately or even omitting them altogether.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to create a tool with which the preparation of a pipe end can be carried out quickly and reliably, in particular with less susceptibility to errors.

[0010] The problem is solved by a tool according to claim 1 and a preparation device according to claim 15.

[0011] The tool according to the invention is designed for preparing a pipe end prior to crimping, for example with a press fitting. For this purpose, the tool according to the invention comprises a sleeve with a first end and an opposing second end. The sleeve defines an interior space, or rather, the sleeve itself has an interior space. The sleeve is, in particular, cylindrical or rotationally symmetrical. Likewise, the interior space is cylindrical. According to the invention, the interior space is designed to receive a pipe end. The pipe end, which is to be prepared with the tool according to the invention, can thus be inserted into the interior space. A drive element for rotating the sleeve is connected to the first end of the sleeve. The drive element is, in particular, designed to be connected to an electric hand tool, such as a drill or a cordless screwdriver, for rotating the sleeve.Here, the tool's axis of rotation coincides with the sleeve's axial axis. An abrasive is positioned inside the sleeve to grind the pipe end as the tool rotates. The rotation of the drive element is thus transferred to the sleeve, which rotates around the pipe end into the sleeve's interior. The abrasive prepares the outer surface of the pipe end, reliably removing oxide, zinc, rust, paint, or other coatings. Using a sleeve ensures that the roundness of the pipe end, and especially its outer surface, remains undamaged, thus maintaining the necessary precision with the press fitting.At the same time, the tool eliminates the need for manual processing with an abrasive tool such as a wire brush, sandpaper, or angle grinder with a flap disc, which can lead to inaccurate processing or damage to the outer surface of the pipe end. Thus, preparation with the tool is faster, and damage to the pipe's outer surface at the end, which later comes into contact with the press fitting and, in particular, its seal, is avoided. Preferably, the abrasive is arranged on the inside of the sleeve. This means that the inside of the abrasive, which can also surround the pipe end in a sleeve-like shape, comes into direct contact with the pipe's outer surface, allowing the abrasive to process the pipe's outer surface.

[0012] Preferably, the distance between the first end and the second end is equal to or greater than the insertion depth of the pipe end into a pipe fitting. In particular, the insertion depth is a minimum insertion depth of the pipe end into the pipe fitting, after which the pipe fitting is crimped. By ensuring that the distance between the first end and the second end of the sleeve is equal to or greater than the insertion depth of the pipe end into the pipe fitting, it is guaranteed that a sufficient length of the pipe end can be adequately processed by the abrasive inside the sleeve.

[0013] Preferably, the sleeve has an opening at its second end and a stop element at its first end. The pipe end can be pushed through the opening at the second end into the sleeve until its end face abuts the stop element. This positions a defined length of the pipe end within the sleeve, allowing it to be machined using the abrasive inside the sleeve. The position of the pipe end is precisely defined by the stop element.

[0014] Preferably, the distance between the opening and the stop element is equal to or greater than the insertion depth of the pipe end into a pipe fitting. Because the stop element defines the position of the pipe end within the sleeve, the distance between the opening and the stop element, which is greater than or equal to the insertion depth of the pipe end into the press fitting, ensures that the pipe end can be processed by the abrasive over a sufficient length on its outer surface. This ensures adequate preparation of the pipe's outer surface at the pipe end.

[0015] Preferably, the abrasive extends directly from the stop element. This results in the machining of the outer surface of the pipe starting at the end face of the pipe and continuing along the entire axial length of the abrasive.

[0016] Preferably, the axial length of the abrasive corresponds to the insertion depth of the pipe end into a pipe fitting. Alternatively or additionally, the axial end of the abrasive opposite the drive element coincides with a marking length of the pipe end. Thus, the end of the machining of the pipe's outer surface by the abrasive essentially coincides with the location of the required marking. Therefore, the machining of the pipe's outer surface simultaneously provides a corresponding marking. The length of the pipe end machined by the abrasive thus replaces manual marking with a ruler and felt-tip pen, as in previous applications.The tool of the present invention thus ensures, on the one hand, the preparation of the pipe's outer surface. Additionally, the dimensions and arrangement of the abrasive within the sleeve provide a marking for the pipe end, allowing for a simple and quick check of whether the pipe end has been inserted sufficiently far into the press fitting. This is also possible after the press fitting has been crimped to the pipe end. The axial length of the abrasive can correspond exactly to a predetermined insertion depth of the pipe end into the press fitting. Alternatively, the axial length of the abrasive can be slightly longer than the predetermined insertion depth, so that the prepared pipe surface protrudes slightly beyond the press fitting, allowing the prepared pipe surface to remain visible even after the pipe end has been crimped to the press fitting.The abrasive can be longer than the insertion depth in the press fitting by 0.5 mm to 10 mm, preferably 1 mm to 5 mm, and most preferably 1 mm to 3 mm, so that a corresponding protrusion of the prepared pipe outer surface is created. If, after the press fitting has been crimped, no machined pipe outer surface that came into contact with the abrasive during machining is visible, the pipe end has been inserted sufficiently far. Alternatively, a constant and slight protrusion of the machined pipe outer surface can be visible after crimping, so that it can be ensured even after crimping that the necessary preparation has been carried out on the pipe end.However, if this protrusion is too large, uneven, or differs between several press fittings of the same press fitting, it can be assumed that the pipe end was not inserted far enough into the pipe fitting.

[0017] Preferably, the abrasive consists of metal bristles, abrasive flaps, or an abrasive body.

[0018] Preferably, the drive element is a pin, particularly for insertion into a drill chuck. The tool can thus be easily connected to a cordless screwdriver or an electric drill, allowing the rotation of this power tool to be transferred to the tool.

[0019] Preferably, a deburrer is formed at a first end of the sleeve in the interior. In particular, the deburrer is formed by the stop element such that the deburrer defines an axial position of the pipe end within the sleeve.

[0020] Preferably, the deburrer has two opposing, circumferential inclined surfaces, wherein a radially inner circumferential inclined surface deburrs the inner edge of the end face of the pipe and the radially outer circumferential inclined surface deburrs the outer edge of the end face of the pipe. Of course, the deburrer can also have only one inclined surface, which, for example, deburrs the outer edge of the end face of the pipe. In this case, the distance between the inclined surfaces corresponds to the wall thickness of the pipe end. In particular, the minimum distance between the inclined surfaces is less than the wall thickness of the pipe end, whereas the maximum distance between the inclined surfaces is greater than or equal to the wall thickness of the pipe end. Specifically, the minimum distance is arranged towards the first end of the sleeve, whereas the maximum distance is arranged towards the second end, so that the inclined surfaces converge from the second end to the first end.

[0021] Preferably, the tool comprises a drive part and a separately designed tool part, wherein the drive part comprises the drive element and the tool part the sleeve. In particular, the tool part and the drive part are independently rotatable.

[0022] Preferably, the drive unit and the tool unit are connected by means of a force coupling, such that an axial force in the direction of the drive unit transmits a rotation of the drive unit to the tool unit. Thus, rotation of the tool unit or its sleeve only occurs when an axial force is generated by the tube end in the direction of the drive unit. This ensures reliable deburring and that the abrasive only begins to machine the outer surface of the tube once the tube end has been inserted far enough into the sleeve to generate an axial force in the direction of the drive unit.

[0023] Preferably, the force coupling incorporates friction elements such that an axial force creates a frictional connection between the drive part and the tool part, thereby transferring the rotation of the drive part to the tool part. The friction elements can, for example, be designed as corresponding rubber surfaces on the drive part and tool part. Without an axial force in the direction of the drive part, these surfaces slide against each other. When a sufficient axial force is generated, the frictional connection is sufficient to transfer the rotation of the drive part to the tool part, and the sleeve then processes the pipe end.

[0024] Preferably, the drive part and the tool part each have a centering pin and a centering recess, respectively, with the centering pin being received in the centering recess for centering the drive part and the tool part. The centering pin can be located on the drive part or on the tool part, and the centering recess can be located on the other part, i.e., the tool part or the drive part. The centering pin and the centering recess ensure relative centering between the drive part and the tool part, thus guaranteeing concentric rotation of the sleeve around its axial axis. The centering pin and the centering recess prevent out-of-round machining of the tube's outer surface.

[0025] Preferably, the centering pin and the centering recess have a locking element so that the centering pin cannot be completely removed from the centering recess. Alternatively, the centering pin and the centering recess are designed to be detachable, so that the same drive component can be used for a variety of different tool components. The drive component can, for example, remain in the chuck of the cordless screwdriver or drill. If a pipe end of a steel pipe with different dimensions needs to be machined, only the tool component needs to be changed, and then the pipe end can be machined.

[0026] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a preparation device with a drive unit for generating rotation and a tool as described above. The drive element of the tool is connected to the drive unit. The drive unit could be, for example, a cordless screwdriver, a cordless drill, an electric drill, or the like. The drive element can be detachably or permanently connected to the drive unit. In particular, a connection between the drive unit and the drive element can be made by means of a conventional drill chuck if the drive element is designed as a pin that can be received in the drill chuck of the drive unit.

[0027] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures.

[0028] They show: Figure 1Tool according to the present invention in an expanded view, Figure 2 The tool of Figure 1 in a composite configuration and Figure 3 the finished, machined pipe end.

[0029] The following refers to the Figure 1 and 2 The tool 10 comprises a tool part 12 and a drive part 18. In the embodiment of the Figure 1 and 2The tool part 12 and the drive part 18 are designed as separate components. The drive part 18 has a drive element 16, which is designed as a pin and can, for example, be inserted into a conventional drill chuck of a power tool. The drive element 16 transmits a rotation about an axis of rotation 11 to the drive part 18. For this purpose, the drive part 18 has a centering recess 20 into which a centering pin 26 of the tool part 12 can be inserted, so that the drive part 18 and the tool part 12 can be rotated about a common axis of rotation 11. A force coupling is provided to transmit the rotation of the drive part 18 to the tool part 12. This coupling consists of a first friction element 22, which is arranged on the drive part 18, and a corresponding friction element 24, which is arranged on the tool part 12. As in the Figure 2As shown, when the centering pin is inserted far enough into the centering recess 20, the first friction element 22 comes into surface contact with the second friction element 24. The friction elements 22 and 24 can, for example, be rubber elements. If an axial force is then applied to the tool part 12 in the direction of arrow 23, a frictional connection is created between the friction elements 22 and 24, so that the rotation of the drive part 18 is transmitted to the tool part 12.

[0030] The tool part 12 has a sleeve 25 which defines an interior space 28. The interior space 28 is designed to receive a pipe end 14. The sleeve 25 has a first end 29 and an opposite end 27. An opening is arranged at the second end 27 of the sleeve 25 so that the pipe end 14 can be inserted into the interior space 28 formed by the sleeve 25. A stop element 32 is formed at the first end 29. In particular, the stop element 32 is formed by a deburrer 34, wherein the deburrer 34 has opposing inclined surfaces which engage with the edges of the end face 36 of the pipe end 14 to deburr these edges. At the same time, the stop element 32 defines an axial position of the pipe end 14 within the tool part 12.Likewise, an axial force can be transmitted from the pipe end 14 via the stop element 32 to the tool part by an axial force in the direction of arrow 23, so that the corresponding force coupling between the tool part 12 and the drive part 18 takes place and the sleeve 25 of the tool part 12 is rotated.

[0031] An abrasive 30 is arranged in the sleeve, and in particular on an inner surface of the sleeve 25. The abrasive 30 extends from the stop element 32. Specifically, the abrasive 30 has an inner diameter DW. This corresponds essentially to an outer diameter DR of the pipe end 14. In particular, the inner diameter DW of the abrasive 30 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter DR of the pipe end 14, so that the abrasive 30 comes into contact with an outer surface of the pipe end 14. The rotation of the sleeve 25 thus prepares the outer surface of the pipe end 14, in particular for the removal of oxide, zinc, rust, paint, or other coating 40 from the pipe's outer surface, by the abrasive 30. The abrasive machining of the pipe end 14 takes place over a length L, extending from the end face or...The end face 36 of the pipe end 14 undergoes suitable preparation of the pipe end. The length L corresponds to a minimum insertion length of the pipe end into the press fitting or is slightly greater, so that a slight protrusion of the prepared pipe outer surface is visible when the pipe end 14 is sufficiently inserted into the press fitting. In particular, the length L corresponds to the length of a mark that would be applied during the conventional preparation of a pipe end. This is shown in the . Figure 3 shown. The pipe end 14 has deburred end faces 38, 38' and a prepared area 42 in which a surface coating, such as oxide, zinc, rust or paint, has been removed from the outer surface of the pipe over a length L.

[0032] The tool of the present invention thus combines the usual steps for preparing a pipe end for a press fitting and performs them in a single step. In particular, an outer surface of the pipe end is treated, and oxide, zinc, rust, paint, or other coatings are removed from this area, which will later be covered by the press fitting. Simultaneously, the pipe end is deburred. Due to the defined length of the abrasive, the pipe end is marked at the same time, with the length of the abrasive corresponding to the insertion depth of the pipe end into the press fitting or being slightly greater than this insertion depth. The treated outer surface of the pipe can therefore be used as a marker. Manual marking with a ruler and felt-tip pen or similar is no longer necessary.At the same time, the outer surface of the pipe is processed without damaging it, introducing unevenness on one side or the like, which would prevent a secure connection of the pipe end with the press fitting.

Claims

1. Tool, in particular for preparing a pipe end by means of an electric hand tool for crimping, comprising a sleeve with a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the sleeve has an interior space, a drive element connected to the first end of the sleeve for rotating the sleeve, in particular by means of an electric hand tool, wherein the interior space is designed to receive a pipe end, wherein an abrasive is arranged in the interior space for grinding the pipe end when the tool is rotated.

2. Tool according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that a distance from the first end to the second end is equal to or greater than the insertion depth of the pipe end into a pipe fitting.

3. Tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the sleeve has an opening at its second end and a stop element at its first end.

4. Tool according to claim 3, characterized by the fact thata distance of the opening from the stop element is equal to or greater than the insertion depth of the pipe end into a pipe fitting.

5. Tool according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that the abrasive extends from the stop element.

6. Tool according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that The axial length of the abrasive corresponds to the insertion depth of the pipe end into a pipe fitting.

7. Tool according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that The abrasive consists of metal bristles, abrasive flaps, or an abrasive body.

8. Tool according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that The drive element is a pin, especially for insertion into a drill chuck.

9. Tool according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that at the first end a deburrer is formed and in particular the stop element is formed by the deburrer.

10. Tool according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that The deburrer is formed by two opposing, circumferential inclined surfaces, the distance between the inclined surfaces corresponding to the wall thickness of the pipe end.

11. Tool according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by the fact that a drive part and a separately designed tool part, wherein the drive part has the drive element and the tool part has the sleeve.

12. Tool according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that The drive part and the tool part are connected by means of a force coupling, so that when an axial force is applied in the direction of the drive part, a rotation of the drive part is transferred to the tool part.

13. Tool according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that The force coupling has friction elements, so that a frictional connection is created when an axial force is applied.

14. Tool according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized by the fact thatThe drive part and the tool part have a centering pin and a centering recess, wherein the centering pin is received in the centering recess for centering the drive part and the tool part.

15. Preparation device with a drive unit for generating a rotation and a tool according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the drive element is connected to the drive unit.

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