Pipe Grooving Device

Abstract

A pipe grooving tool that works with commercially-available power drives. The tool attaches to the power drive using the existing tool assembly on the power drive, and allows a single operator to cut, ream and groove multiple pipe segments, without having to replace tools or otherwise alter the power drive and its tool assembly between grooving different pipe segments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 : A grooving device adapted to create a groove on a pipe and that is couplable to a power drive, the grooving device comprising:
 a device housing having a groove shaft and an attachment assembly, the attachment assembly being attachable to the power drive;   a wheel housing assembly pivotably connected to the device housing;   an activation rod adjustably connected to the device housing;   wherein turning the activation rod causes the wheel housing assembly to move toward or away from the groove shaft, depending on a direction of rotation of the activation rod.   
     
     
         2 : The device of  claim 1  wherein the device housing includes a bearing assembly and wherein the groove shaft is mounted in the bearing assembly so as to be freely rotatable. 
     
     
         3 : The device of  claim 2  wherein the wheel housing assembly includes a groove wheel having a center portion that protrudes outward from the groove wheel;
 wherein the groove shaft has a recess; and 
 wherein rotating the activation rod in a manner that moves the wheel housing assembly towards the groove shaft causes the center portion of the groove wheel to move towards the recess in the groove shaft. 
 
     
     
         4 : The device of  claim 3  wherein the activation rod is inserted through and secured to the device housing by a rod securing unit and the activation rod has a first end that is shaped to fit against and apply pressure to the wheel housing assembly and has a second end rotatable by a user and wherein rotating the activation rod causes the first end to selectively apply or relieve pressure to the wheel housing assembly, depending on the direction of rotation. 
     
     
         5 : The device of  claim 3  wherein the activation rod is adjustably inserted through a rod securing unit and the activation rod is fixedly connected to the wheel housing and wherein rotating the activation rod pulls or pushes a top portion of the wheel housing assembly causing the wheel to move towards or away from the groove shaft, depending on the direction of rotation. 
     
     
         6 : A pipe grooving device for creating a groove on a pipe and that is adapted to be pivotably coupled to a power drive having carriage rails and a tool assembly, the tool assembly being removably coupled to the carriage rails, the pipe grooving device comprising:
 a device housing having a groove shaft and an attachment assembly;   a wheel housing assembly pivotably connected to the device housing;   an activation rod adjustably connected to the device housing;   wherein the attachment assembly includes an attachment housing in which a device attachment shaft and a tool assembly attachment shaft are secured, the tool assembly attachment shaft running parallel to the groove shaft and the device attachment shaft running perpendicular to the groove shaft, such that the device housing is pivotably coupled to the tool assembly and moveable between a first position where the groove shaft is approximately in line with an opening in the power drive and a second position where the device housing is not in line with the opening in the power drive such that other tools may be used with the power drive.   
     
     
         7 : The device of  claim 6 , wherein the groove shaft is freely rotatable within the device housing. 
     
     
         8 : The device of  claim 7 , wherein when the groove shaft is approximately in line with the opening in the power drive the pipe is insertable through the opening in the power drive and insertable over the groove shaft such that the power drive supports the weight of the pipe and rotates the pipe about the groove shaft, the power drive holding the pipe in a fixed longitudinal position; 
     
     
         9 : The device of  claim 8 , wherein turning the activation rod causes the wheel housing assembly to move toward or away from the groove shaft, depending on a direction of rotation of the activation rod, the wheel housing assembly creating a groove in the pipe as the wheel housing assembly presses the pipe against the groove shaft as the pipe is rotated by the power drive and the groove shaft rotates freely. 
     
     
         10 : The device of  claim 6  wherein the wheel housing assembly includes a groove wheel having a center portion that protrudes outward from the groove wheel;
 wherein the groove shaft has a recess; 
 wherein the wheel housing assembly includes a groove wheel having a center portion that protrudes outward from the groove wheel; and 
 wherein rotating the activation rod in a manner that moves the wheel housing assembly towards the groove shaft causes the center portion of the groove wheel to move towards the recess in the groove shaft. 
 
     
     
         11 : The device of  claim 10  wherein the activation rod is inserted through and secured to the device housing by a rod securing unit and the activation rod has a first end that is shaped to fit against and apply pressure to the wheel housing assembly and has a second end rotatable by a user and wherein rotating the activation rod causes the first end to selectively apply or relieve pressure to the wheel housing assembly, depending on a direction of rotation of the activation rod. 
     
     
         12 : The device of  claim 10 , wherein the activation rod is adjustably inserted through and secured to the device housing by a rod securing unit and the activation rod has a first end that is connected to the wheel housing and the activation rod has a second end rotatable by a user and wherein rotating the activation rod pulls or pushes a top portion of the wheel housing assembly causing the groove wheel to move towards or away from the groove shaft, depending on a direction of rotation of the activation rod. 
     
     
         13 : The device of  claim 10 , wherein turning the activation rod causes the wheel housing assembly to move toward or away from the groove shaft, depending on a direction of rotation of the activation rod, the wheel housing assembly creating a groove in the pipe as the wheel housing assembly presses the pipe against the groove shaft as the pipe is rotated by the power drive and the groove shaft rotates freely. 
     
     
         14 : The device of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment assembly is slidably coupled to the tool assembly so that the device housing is slidable towards and/or away from the tool assembly so as to groove pipes of varying sizes. 
     
     
         15 : A grooving device for creating a groove on a pipe and that is adapted to be pivotably coupled to a tool assembly on a power drive, the grooving device comprising:
 a device housing having an attachment assembly, the device housing configured to create a groove in the pipe;   wherein the attachment assembly is configured to couple the grooving device to the tool assembly such that the device housing is pivotably moveable between a first position where the device housing is approximately in line with an opening in the power drive and a second position where the device housing is not in line with the opening in the power drive such that other tools in the tool assembly may be used with the power drive; and   wherein the pipe is insertable through an opening in the power drive such that the power drive supports the weight of the pipe and rotates the pipe as the device housing creates a groove in the pipe, the power drive holding the pipe in a fixed longitudinal position.