Tap and die devices

Abstract

Tap and die devices are provided to repair internal and external threads, respectively. The tap and die devices are provided with components that coaxially align the tap and die to the nut or fitting being repaired. The tap and die devices are easily portable, compact tools that can be used in tight places.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A tap device, comprising:
 an elongated tap including a shaft having external cutting threads on one end; and   a body having a bore within which the shaft rotates and a socket opposite from the bore, wherein the center of the socket is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal center of axis of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The tap device of  claim 1 , wherein the socket has a plurality of sides. 
     
     
         3 . The tap device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is hollow at least at the end having the cutting threads. 
     
     
         4 . The tap device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is hollow at least at the end having the cutting threads, and the hollow end includes a frustoconical bevel. 
     
     
         5 . The tap device of  claim 1 , wherein the socket includes slots placed on opposite sides, and a clip is placed within the slots. 
     
     
         6 . The tap device of  claim 1 , wherein the tap and the body are approximately the same length. 
     
     
         7 . A method for repairing internal threads, comprising:
 placing a tap within a bore of a body having a socket located opposite from the bore, wherein the socket and tap are coaxially aligned;   placing a nut within the socket; and   rotating the tap to engage cutting threads on the tap with threads on the nut.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising securing the nut in the socket to prevent the nut from exiting the socket. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising engaging tubing passing through the nut within a cavity provided on the end of the tap. 
     
     
         10 . A die device, comprising:
 a die including internal cutting threads on one end and a bore on the inside at an opposite end from the cutting threads, wherein the center of the bore is coaxially aligned with a center of a diameter of the cutting threads; and   a pilot including a shaft that fits within the bore, wherein the longitudinal center of axis of the pilot is coaxially aligned with the center of the diameter of the cutting threads.   
     
     
         11 . The die device of  claim 10 , wherein the die includes means for turning the die. 
     
     
         12 . The die device of  claim 10 , wherein the pilot includes a boss placed a predetermined distance from one end of the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The die device of  claim 10 , wherein the pilot includes a spindle in front of the boss. 
     
     
         14 . The die device of  claim 13 , wherein the diameter of the boss is smaller than a minor diameter of the cutting threads to allow the boss to fit within the die in the area of the cutting threads. 
     
     
         15 . The die device of  claim 10 , wherein the pilot includes a frustoconical boss on the shaft wherein a base of the frustoconical boss faces the bore. 
     
     
         16 . The die device of  claim 10 , wherein a length of the die is smaller than a length of the pilot. 
     
     
         17 . A method for repairing external threads, comprising:
 placing a pilot on the inside of a fitting with external threads, wherein a portion of the pilot extends outward of the fitting, and the longitudinal center of the pilot is coaxially aligned with a center of a diameter of the external threads of the fitting;   engaging a die with the outward extending portion of the pilot, wherein the longitudinal center of axis of the pilot is coaxially aligned with a center of a bore of the die, and the longitudinal center of axis of the die is coaxially aligned with the center of the diameter of the external threads of the fitting; and   turning the die to advance the die on the threads of the fitting.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising placing a boss on the pilot against a corresponding structure on the fitting to facilitate coaxial alignment of the pilot to the fitting.