We were discussing the various basic concepts of
bearings such as Basic
concept of bearings, Main functions
of bearings, Bearing
operating condition and various terminologies, Roller
bearing basics and types, in the category of engineering practices or
engineering maintenance, in our recent posts.
Now we will go ahead to start a new topic in the
field of engineering maintenance i.e. plumbing tools and their applications in
our engineering life.
Before going in detail, we should have one brief
idea about the meaning of plumbing. Plumbing is basically the activities
related with the laying of pipeline.
Let us consider one example of leakage of water
through a pipeline in your bathroom. The first question will be asked that how
to arrest the water leakage. What you will do?
You will start thinking about any plumber. But if we
will have some basic knowledge about the plumbing tools and their applications,
we can easily arrest such plumbing related issue.
Therefore, let us find out here few basic plumbing
tools and their applications in domestic and industrial areas.
Classification of plumbing tools
Pipe wrench
A pipe wrench, as displayed here in following
figure, is basically used for holding and turning the pipes. There are
basically two types of pipe wrenches as mentioned here.
Fixed wrenches
Fixed wrenches are available with specific size and
could not be adjusted.
Adjustable wrenches
Adjustable wrenches, as name indicates, could be
adjusted within its given range. We can use an adjustable wrench for holding
and turning the pipes of various sizes within the given range of the adjustable
wrench. There will be one mechanism in adjustable wrench which will be rotated
in order to move the jaw to secure the desired size.
Fig: Pipe wrench
Pipe vice
Pipe vice, as displayed here in following figure, is
basically used for gripping a pipe and preventing it from turning while
cutting, threading, grinding and fitting of bends, couplings, nipples etc.
Pipe vice will be fitted on the work bench. It will
have one set of jaws, one jaw will be fixed and other jaw will be movable, to
grip the pipe while doing the engineering activities such as cutting,
threading, grinding etc.
Fig: Pipe vice
Pipe cutter
Pipe cutter, as name indicates, is basically used
for cutting pipes. Following figure shows a pipe cutter. A pipe cutter will
have three wheels with hardened and sharp cutting edge along its periphery.
Out of three wheels of pipe cutter, one wheel will
be adjustable to any desired distance for accommodating the various sizes of
pipes.
Once pipe will be adjusted at pipe cutter machine,
cutter will be turned around the pipe and cutter wheel will cut the pipe along
a circle.
Fig: Pipe cutter
In current time, one modern pipe cutter is also
available in market. In modern pipe cutter, there will be one electric motor
and one cutting wheel. Cutting wheel will be driven via electric motor and it
will be adjustable too for compensating the various diameters of pipes.
There will be one set of jaws where pipe will be
fixed to avoid any accident during cutting of pipe. Once pipe will be gripped
properly, cutting wheel will be started and pressed along the pipes to cut the
pipe.
Fig: Pipe cutter
Hacksaw
Hacksaw is basically used for cutting pipes,
fasteners, metal bar and rods. Workpiece will be fixed in vice and hacksaw will
be used for cutting the workpiece at desired position. Hacksaw blade will be
moved over the workpiece in forward and reverse direction for cutting the given
workpiece.
Cutting operation will only take place during
forward stroke and hence forward stroke will also be termed as cutting stroke. While,
reverse stroke will be termed as idle stroke as there will be no cutting
operation during reverse direction motion of hacksaw.
Following figure indicates the hacksaw and its
various parts.
Fig : hacksaw
Threading dies and taps
In order to provide the external threads over the
surface of pipes, threading dies and taps are used. Threading dies and taps are
displayed here in following figure.
Threads will be developed in different shapes and
sizes which will be used by fitting pipes inside a die handle. Length of thread
will be dependent over the size of the pipe.
Pipe will be fixed in vice and threads will be made
with the help of die and die handle as displayed in following figure.
Fig: Threading dies and taps
Files and rasps
Following figure indicates the files and rasps which
is usually used in various assembly jobs, machining jobs in industrial areas.
There will be sharp edge teeth over the surface of
file and it will be used in order to remove the unwanted metal particle by
rubbing file over the surface of workpiece.
Fig: Files and rasp
Rasp is basically used for securing the finishing
surface of workpiece.
Plumb Bob
Plumb bob is a device which is used in alignment
activity. Vertical alignment could be easily checked with the help of a plum
bob.
Material of casting for plum bob will be basically
brass or steel.
Fig: Plum bob
Further we will go ahead to start a new topic i.e. Pipes
and fittings, in the subject of fluid mechanics, with the help of our next
post.
Do you have any suggestions? Please write in comment
box.
Reference:
Fluid mechanics, By R. K. Bansal
Image courtesy: Google
