US3731364A

US3731364A - Broken sprinkler standpipe removing tool

Info

Publication number: US3731364A
Application number: US00078097A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Romero
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-10-05
Filing date: 1970-10-05
Publication date: 1973-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-08

Abstract

A torque transfer tool including an elongated shank provided with a handle at one end and retractable gripping jaws at its other end. The other end of the shank is adapted to be telescoped into the broken end of a broken pipe section having its other end threadedly engaged with a supporting fitting and the tool jaws are extendable generally radially outwardly of the other end of the shank and supported therefrom for rotation therewith, whereby after insertion of the other end of the shank into the broken pipe section the jaws may be extended so as to frictionally grip the inner surfaces of the broken pipe section and the tool may be subsequently rotated about its longitudinal axis in order to unthread the broken pipe section from its supporting fitting.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 1 sa a s Romero 1 1 May 8, 1973 s41 BROKEN SPRINKLER STANDPIPE 1,672,937 6/1828 Helms ..29/262 x REMOVING TOOL [75] inventor: Ilrintonio S. Romero, Santa Fe, N. grzgzg lggs xg' fig Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B Jacob- [73] Assignee: Boston E. Witt, Santa Fe, N. Mex. son

' a part interest 22 Filed: Oct. 5, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT A torque transfer tool including an elongated shank [211 App! 78097 provided with a handle at one end and retractable gripping jaws at its other end. The other end of the [52] 11.8. C1 ..29/240, 29/261 shank is adapted to be telescoped into the broken end [51] Int. Cl. ..B23p 19/04 of a broken pipe section having its other end [58] Field of Search ..29/240, 261, 262, threadedly engaged with a supporting fitting and the 29/265; 81/532, 72; 294/95 tool jaws are extendable generally radially outwardly of the other end of the shank and supported therefrom [56] References Cited for rotation therewith, whereby after insertion of the other end of the shank into the broken pipe section UNITED STATES PATENTS the jaws may be extended so as to frietionally grip the 1,197,648 9/1916 Meyers ..81/72 ux inner surfaces of the broken P Section and the 1,390,371 9/1921 Meyer ..81/72 may be subsequently rotated about its longitudinal 2,562,419 7/1951 Ferris ..81/72 X axis in order to unthread the broken pipe section from 3,152,830 10/1964 Pounder .81/72 X its supporting fitting. 1,464,693 8/1923 Campbell. .29/265 2,755,540 7/1956 Crozier ..29/265 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUW 8% 3,731,364

Fig.2 Fig-3 Antonio 5. Romero BROKEN SPRINKLER STANDPIPE REMOVING TOOL Sprinkling or irrigation systems are commonly provided with a plurality of upstanding standpipes from whose upper ends sprinkling heads are supported. The lower ends of the standpipes are threadedly engaged in T-fittings disposed in an underground supply line and accordingly, the lower end of the standpipes are not readily accessible from ground level. In some instances these standpipes will be deflected laterally above the ground to the extent that they will break off below ground level thus requiring their replacement. Conventionally, the replacement of a broken standpipe requires that the earth be dug out from around the lower end of the standpipe and that a pipe wrench be applied to the lower end of the standpipe in order that the latter may -be unthreaded from its supporting fitting. However, this removal of dirt fromaround the lower end of a broken standpipe requires the expenditure of a considerable amount of work not only to remove the dirt but to also replace the dirt after the broken standpipe has been replaced.

It is accordingly the main object of this invention to provide a tool whereby the lower end of a broken standpipe may be removed by a person manipulating the tool from above the ground and without removing any dirt from around the broken standpipe lower end.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a tool constructed in a manner whereby any given tool may be utilized in conjunction with broken standpipes of various diameters.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a broken sprinkler standpipe removing tool constructed in a manner whereby use will not require special trainmg.

A final object of this invention is to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a tool in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a sprinkler or irrigation system having at least one broken sprinkler head supporting standpipe;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but with the tool of the instant invention in operative position to remove the lower end of the broken sprinkler standpipe;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view of the tool with certain portions thereof being broken away and illustrated in vertical section to more clearly illustrate the internal structural details thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the lower end of the tool in operative association with the lower broken end of the standpipe preparatory to removal of the standpipe lower end.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a sprinkling or irrigation system including an underground header pipe 12 having a plurality of longitudinally spaced T-fittings 14 connected therein. Each of the T-fittings 14 includes an upwardly opening internally threaded neck 16 in which the externally threaded lower end portion of a standpipe 18 is threadedly engaged. The upper end of the standpipe 18 projects above 'the surface 20 of the ground 22 in which the header pipe 12 is buried and has a sprinkler head 24 mounted on its upper terminal end.

As occasionally will happen, the upper end of one or more of the standpipes 18 will be struck above the ground 22 and horizontally deflected resulting in the lower end portion of the standpipe 18 being broken as at 26. When this breakage occurs, it is then necessary to remove the entire standpipe l8 and to replace the same with a new standpipe. However, removal of the entire standpipe 18 by conventional methods involves digging away the ground 22 around the neck 16 so that a pipe wrench or the like may be engaged with the lower end portion of the standpipe 18 remaining in threaded engagement with the neck 16. Then, the pipe wrench may be utilized to unscrew the lower terminal end of the standpipe 18 and a new standpipe 18 may be threaded in place after which the ground previously dug away from the neck 16 is replaced.

This conventional method of replacing broken sprinkler system standpipes is thus time consuming as well as tiring. Further, if a large number of standpipes are to be replaced, the task of replacing the broken standpipes can be quite expensive, from a labor standpoint.

The tool of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 30 and includes a tubular shank 32 having upper and

lower ends

34 and 36.

The lower end of the tubular shank 32 is secured in a counterbore 38 defined at the upper end of an upstanding bore 40 formed in a lower terminal end head piece 42. The lower end 36 is secured in the counterbore 38 in any convenient manner such as by welding 43.

The head piece 42 defines an upstanding generally cylindrical body 46 in which the bore 40 and counterbore 38 are formed and the body 46 further includes a transverse passage 48 into which the lower end of the bore opens and in whose opposite ends a plurality of jaw members 50 are pivotally supported as at 52.

The upper end 34 of the tubular sleeve 32 has an internally threaded sleeve 56 secured therein and the lower end 36 of the tubular sleeve 32 has a similar internally threaded sleeve 58 secured therein, the sleeve 58 also being seated in the inner end of the counterbore 38.

The upper end of the tubular sleeve or shank 32 includes a pair of diametrically oppositely and outwardly projecting hand grips 60 secured to the outersurface portions of the tubular shank 32 in any convenient manner such as by welding 62 and a threaded shank member 64 is threadedly passed through the internally threaded

sleeves

56 and 58 and includes a diametrically reduced lower end portion 66 whose lower terminal end is rounded as at 68. Further, the upper end of the shaft member 64 is provided with a diametric handle 70.

In operation when it is desired to remove the lower end of the standpipe 18 from the neck 16, the upper broken portion of the standpipe is removed and the tool 30 is disposed above the passage in the ground extending from the neck portion 16 up to the surface 20 of the ground 22. Then, the shank 56 is retracted upwardly by rotation of the shank 56 until the rounded lower end portion 68 of the shank member 64 is raised out of engagement with the confronting convexly curved adjacent surfaces of the jaw members 50 when the jaw members 50 are in the fully retracted positions illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Then, tool 30 ,is lowered downwardly through the passage in the ground so that the conical lower end 74 of the head piece 42 will be received downwardly in the neck 16 and function to center the tubular shank 32 relative to the centerline of the neck 16. Then, with the upper broken end 76 of the remaining portion of the standpipe l8 supported from the T-fitting 14 engaging the peripheral shoulder 78 of the head piece 42 to limit downward displacement of the head piece 42 through the remaining portion of the standpipe 18, the outer tubular shank 32 is held stationary while the handle 70 is utilized to thread the shank member 64 downwardly through the

sleeves

56 and 58 so as to force the rounded lower end 68 of the diametrically reduced end portion 66 between the opposing convex cam surfaces of the jaw members 50 to thus swing the lower ends of the jaw members 50 outwardly of the opposite ends of the passage 48 toward the position thereof illustrated in FIG. of the drawings with the lower ends of the jaw members 50 frictionally engaged withand biting into the inner surface of that portion of the standpipe 18 remaining supported from the T-fitting 14. Thereafter, with the lower ends of the jawimembers 50tightly embedded in the remaining portion of the standpipe 18, the handles 60 are used to turn the tubular shank 32 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from above so as to unscrew the remaining portion of the standpipe 18 from the neck 16. Thereafter, the new standpipe may be downwardly inserted into the ground passage through which a broken standpipe piece is removed and threadedly engaged in the neck 16.

By this operation, a broken standpipe section may be removed from the T-fitting l4 and a new standpipe threadedly engaged with the T-fitting 14 without any necessity of removing dirt from around the neck 16. Thus, the task of replacing broken standpipes in irrigation sprinkler systems may be greatly simplified.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 4 principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tool for removing brokensprinkler standpipes, said tool comprising an elongated handle having first and second ends, a plurality of gripping members suprted from said first end forshiftin betw tardly displaced extended positions rel tive to ti e 35nterline of said handle and inwardly displaced retracted positions relative to said centerline, actuator means, operable from said second end of said handle, for selectively extending and retracting said gripping members, said gripping members including outer surfaces thereof adapted to bite into the inner surfaces of the broken end of a pipesection into which said first end is telescoped upon extension of said gripping members after said first end has been telescoped into said broken end, said handle being tubular and said gripping members being supported from said first end for at least substantial retraction within said one end when moved to their retracted positions, said gripping members including cam surfaces disposed within said first end, said actuator means comprising an elongated thrust rod disposed in said handle and having means connected to one end thereof disposed outwardly of said second end for imparting rotational torque to said rod, means establishing a threaded connection between said rod and said handle for axially reciprocating said rod in response to rotary oscillation of said rod relative to said handle, the other end of said rod including cam surface means operatively engageable with said cam surfaces to force said gripping members toward their extended positions in response to axial shifting of said rod toward said first end of said handle, said gripping members being pivotally supported from said first end and the latter being provided with radial slots through which said gripping members are swingable during their movement between extended and retracted positions, said second end of said tubular handle being open, said one end of said rod projecting outwardly of said second end of said handle, said means on said one end of said rod comprising a cross handle, said second end of said tubular handle including outwardly projecting handgrip portions, said first end including at least a bluntly pointed end wall, said gripping members being at least slightly axially spaced along said handle toward said second end from the terminal end of said first end.

Claims

1. A tool for removing broken sprinkler standpipes, said tool comprising an elongated handle having first and second ends, a plurality of gripping members supported from said first end for shifting between outwardly displaced extended positions relative to the centerline of said handle and inwardly displaced retracted positions relative to said centerline, actuator means, operable from said second end of said handle, for selectively extending and retracting said gripping members, said gripping members including outer surfaces thereof adapted to bite into the inner surfaces of the broken end of a pipe section into which said first end is telescoped upon extension of said gripping members after said first end has been telescoped into said broken end, said handle being tubular and said gripping members being supported from said first end for at least substantial retraction within said one end when moved to their retracted positions, said gripping members including cam surfaces disposed within said first end, said actuator means comprising an elongated thrust rod disposed in said handle and having means connected to one end thereof disposed outwardly of said second end for imparting rotational torque to said rod, means establishing a threaded connection between said rod and said handle for axially reciprocating said rod in response to rotary oscillation of said rod relative to said handle, the other end of said rod including cam surface means operatively engageable with said cam surfaces to force said gripping members toward their extended positions in response to axial shifting of said rod toward said first end of said handle, said gripping members being pivotally supported from said first end and the latter being provided with radial slots through which said gripping members are swingable during their movement between extended and retracted positions, said second end of said tubular handle being open, said one end of said rod projecting outwardly of said second end of said handle, said means on said one end of said rod comprising a cross handle, said second end of said tubular handle including outwardly projecting handgrip portions, said first end including at least a bluntly pointed end wall, said gripping members being at least slightly axially spaced along said handle toward said second end from the terminal end of said first end.