Apparatus and method for making custom length pipe nipple

• Main Author: Holm, Chris Lansing
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.12.2018
• Subjects: BLASTING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; LIGHTING; MACHINE TOOLS; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; MEASURING; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS; MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PIPES; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; TESTING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

An apparatus to make a custom length pipe nipple, and method for use of the apparatus. The apparatus has a male plumbing thread at one end connected to an elongate member, with length or measurement markings along the elongate member. The apparatus is threaded into a plumbing fixture that will be flush mounted against a wall, and then using the markings on the elongate member, a length is determined that corresponds to the flush mounting surface of the plumbing fixture. The apparatus is then threaded into a plumbing fitting, such as a drop ear elbow inside a wall, and a second length is determined that corresponds to a flush mounting surface of the wall. The two lengths are added together to determine the length of a piece of pipe. Tightening and/or caulk allowance may be included, and a piece of copper or iron pipe is then cut to length. For copper pipe, a threaded male copper fitting is solder attached to each end. For iron pipe, the ends are threaded. Depending on whether copper or iron pipe is used, there are different length or measurement markings along the elongate member.