TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates to an adaptor for a peeling tool for resurfacing a pipe.

BACKGROUND

[002] Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.

[003] High-density polyethylene, or HDPE, pipe is a heavy duty pipe made from thermoplastic. It is generally used underground for high pressure pipelines such as water mains, gas mains, sewer mains and the like. It is important to weld HDPE pipe together properly to ensure safety as well as optimising the length of pipe. To effectively weld the HDPE pipe the pipe surface in the weld area must be virgin material. This may be achieved by scraping, or peeling, the outer surface of the pipe using a special purpose rotational peeling tool such as the Plasson™ Pipe End Peeler which is specifically designed to prep HDPE pipe for welding. Figure 1 shows a typical peeling tool for removing the outer surface from the pipe, exposing virgin material. The peeling tool 100 has a centre spider clamp 110 for securing the tool 100 within the pipe 112 as shown in Figure 2. The peeling tool 100 also includes a threaded rod 114 for carrying a peeling arm 116 and a carriage nut 118 coupling the peeling arm 116 and the rod 114. The scraping, or peeling process is typically done manually, using the rotational peeling tool after the pipe is laid in a trench about 1.5 m below ground. The manual operation involves turning (or rotating) the peeling arm 116 about the pipe using the handle 121 which rotates the peeling arm 116 about the threaded road 114 and is tedious (kilometres of pipe are laid at a time), cumbersome, and requires significant strength and endurance.

[004] It would be desirable to improve the preparation process of a HDPE pipe for welding.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[005] In an aspect, the invention provides an adaptor for a peeling tool for resurfacing a pipe, the adaptor including: a shaft having a shaft axis extending between a first end and a second end, the first end connectable to a drill, and the second end connectable to the peeling tool, wherein the adaptor couples the peeling tool with the drill.

[006] Preferably, the first end includes a fitting for engagement with the drill and/or connectable to the drill or similar rotary device or tool. More preferably, the fitting includes a hex drive for engagement with the drill and/or connectable to the drill or similar rotary device or tool.

[007] Still preferably, the second end includes a collar having an aperture with a centre offset from the shaft axis, wherein the collar is configured to receive a portion of the peeling tool.

[008] Preferably, the second end, or collar, includes at least one planar wall defining the aperture. Still preferably, the at least one planar wall is configured to abut and/or engage a planar surface of the peeling tool during engagement. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one planar wall is configured to abut and/or engage a planar surface of the peeling tool within the collar. [009] Preferably, the shaft includes a viewing window or viewing aperture extending axially from the collar for viewing the peeling tool during use. Preferably, the viewing window is located at or adjacent the second end of the shaft.

[010] Preferably, the shaft has a length of about 230-300 mm.

[011] Preferably, the shaft is tubular. Preferably, the collar is integral with the shaft.

[012] Preferably, the collar includes a first wall portion having a first thickness and a second wall portion having a second thickness, and wherein the thickness of the second wall portion is greater than the thickness of the first wall portion.

[013] In another aspect, the invention provides a peeling tool system, the peeling tool system including: a peeling tool for resurfacing a pipe; and an adaptor configured to connect to the peeling tool.

[014] Preferably, the adaptor of the peeling tool system includes a shaft having a shaft axis extending between a first end and a second end, the first end connectable to a drill or a rotary device, and the second end connectable to the peeling tool, wherein the adaptor couples the peeling tool with the drill or the rotary device.

[015] Preferably, the system further comprises a drill or a rotary device connected to the adaptor, wherein upon activating the drill or the rotary device, the drill or the rotary device causes the peeling tool to rotate about the pipe and peel an outer surface of the pipe.

[016] In another aspect, the invention provides an adaptor for a peeling tool for resurfacing a pipe, the adaptor including: a shaft having a shaft axis extending between a first end and a second end, the first end connectable to a rotary device, and the second end connectable to the peeling tool, wherein the adaptor couples the peeling tool with the rotary device.

[017] In another aspect, the invention provides a method of using a peeling tool for resurfacing a pipe, the method including: connecting an adaptor configured to connect to a peeling tool to a peeling tool; connecting the adaptor to a rotary device or drill.

[018] Preferably, the method includes connecting the peeling tool to a pipe. Preferably, the method includes connecting the peeling tool to a pipe before connecting the adaptor to the rotary device or drill.

[019] Preferably, the method includes activating the rotary device or drill, whereby the rotary device or drill causes the peeling tool to rotate about the pipe and peel an outer surface of the pipe.

[020] Preferably, the method includes activating the rotary device or drill, whereby the rotary device or drill causes the peeling tool to rotate about an axis extending along the adaptor and peeling tool and peel an outer surface of the pipe.

[021] Preferably, connecting the adaptor to the peeling tool includes connecting a shaft of the adaptor to the peeling tool. Preferably, connecting the adaptor to the peeling tool includes connecting a first end of a shaft of the adaptor to the peeling tool.

[022] Preferably, connecting the adaptor to the rotary device or drill includes connecting a shaft of the adaptor to the peeling tool. Preferably, connecting the adaptor to the rotary device or drill includes connecting a second end of a shaft of the adaptor to the peeling tool. Preferably, the first end and the second end of the shaft are at opposed ends of the shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[023] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a typical peeling tool used for removing an outer surface from a pipe;

Figure 2 shows the peeling tool ready for use within the pipe;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an adaptor for a peeling tool according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is an end view of the adaptor of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of the adaptor of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is another end view of the adaptor of Figure 3;

Figures 7 and 8 show the adaptor in use with a drill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[024] Figures 3 to 6 illustrate an adaptor 10 for coupling a standard drill to a peeling tool 100 (shown in Figures 1 and 2) in accordance with the present invention. The adaptor 10 is best suited for a rotational peeling tool 100 such as a Plasson Pipe End Peeler™, commonly used in Australia for preparing HDPE pipe for welding.

[025] The adaptor 10 includes a shaft 12 having a shaft axis A-A extending longitudinally between a first end 14 and a second end 16. The shaft 12 may be an elongate tubular shaft formed from steel, or other suitable material. Otherwise, the shaft 12 may be generally cylindrical. The length of the shaft 12 may vary, but it is recommended to be between about 230 - 300 mm to clear the centre threaded rod 114 when the peeling tool 100 is installed onto the carriage nut 118 (see Figures 1 and 2). In one embodiment, the shaft 12 includes an opening, viewing aperture or viewing window 18 for viewing the carriage nut 118, allowing a user to avoid winding the carriage nut 118 too far, locking up on the locking handle 120 (Figure 1) that tightens the centre spider clamp 110 (Figure 1), which, in turn would drive/turn the centre spider clamp 110 inside the pipe 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the viewing window 18 is located at the second end 16 of the shaft 12. Flowever, the viewing window 18 may be located adjacent the second end 16 of the shaft 16.

[026] The first end 14 of the shaft 12 includes a fitting 20 for engagement with a standard drill 124 (Figure 7). The fitting 20 may be a 12mm or 12.7 (imperial) hex drive or other suitable drive member.

[027] The second end 16 of the shaft 12 includes a collar 22 having a recess or aperture 26 (See Figure 6) for receiving the peeling tool 100. The collar 22 may be a separate piece welded to the shaft 12, or integral to the shaft 12.

[028] The recess or aperture 26 is a generally semicircular shape (or circular with a segment removed) having a centre offset from the shaft axis A-A such that a first portion 22a of the collar 22 has a first wall thickness and second portion 22b of the collar 22 has a second wall thickness greater than the first portion 22a. The aperture 26 should not be deeper than 24 mm, or no deeper than from the end of the carriage nut 118 to the quick release button 122. One internal wall has a generally planar surface 24 which aligns with the carriage nut 118 for engagement with the peeling tool 100.

[029] In use, the adaptor 10 couples a standard drill 124 to the peeling tool 100 by fitting the hex drive 20 (or fitting) into a rotary device in the form of a standard drill 124 at a first end 14 of the shaft 12 and the collar 22 onto the carriage nut 118, ensuring the planar surface 24 of the collar 22 abuts the planar, or flat, surface 119 of the carriage nut 118 at a second end 16 of the shaft 12 as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Once the adaptor 10 is connected to the drill 124 and the peeling tool 100, the drill 124 is activated which causes the peeling arm 116 of the peeling tool 100 rotate about the pipe 112 and peel an outer surface of the pipe 112.

[030] While the examples provided herein only refer to a drill, it will be appreciated that any powered rotary device or tool can be used with the adaptor where that rotary device or tool can connect to or be configured to connect to a fitting of the adaptor to allow the rotary device to transfer rotational energy to the adaptor to cause it to rotate.

[031] Put another way, the drill 124 (or rotary device) causes the peeling tool 100 to rotate about an axis B-B extending along the adaptor 10 and peeling tool 100 and peel an outer surface of the pipe 112.

[032] The adaptor 10 allows for a faster and smoother peeling operation, saving time and money, and reducing risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI) and fatigue.

[033] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term “comprises” and its variations, such as “comprising” and “comprised of” is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features.

[034] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

[035] The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.