CA1107191A - Tracer controlled pipe cutting machine - Google Patents
Tracer controlled pipe cutting machineInfo
- Publication number
- CA1107191A CA1107191A CA324,629A CA324629A CA1107191A CA 1107191 A CA1107191 A CA 1107191A CA 324629 A CA324629 A CA 324629A CA 1107191 A CA1107191 A CA 1107191A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pattern
- tube
- accordance
- axis
- line
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K7/00—Cutting, scarfing, or desurfacing by applying flames
- B23K7/005—Machines, apparatus, or equipment specially adapted for cutting curved workpieces, e.g. tubes
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Machine Tool Copy Controls (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Machine tools, particularly gas cutting torches are commonly controlled by pattern tracers. Under some circumstances, it is desirable to cut off the end of a cylindrical tube in the form of a complex curve so that the tube may be joined to another surface. For example, where it is desired to weld one tube onto another tube, this invention provides apparatus for cutting the end off the tube in accordance with a predetermined pattern. The pattern can be traced by a pattern tracer. The tube so cut can then be used for fabrication of complex structures.
Machine tools, particularly gas cutting torches are commonly controlled by pattern tracers. Under some circumstances, it is desirable to cut off the end of a cylindrical tube in the form of a complex curve so that the tube may be joined to another surface. For example, where it is desired to weld one tube onto another tube, this invention provides apparatus for cutting the end off the tube in accordance with a predetermined pattern. The pattern can be traced by a pattern tracer. The tube so cut can then be used for fabrication of complex structures.
Description
~ ~ 7~L~
TRACER CONTROLLED PIPE CUTTING MACHIN~
BAC~OROON. O7 IH~ ~Wv~ o9 In the machine tool field, it i.~ common to con-trol a machining operakion b~ means of a pattern. In particular, gas cutting torches have been controlled b~
pa~ern traci~g maehines. In the past, the majorit~ of such machine~ have been planar operating machines which reproduce a shape detexmined b~ a planar pattern; the pattern and the part cut b~aring a direct or proportional r~lation to each other and bo~h being arranged in a ~ingle plane~ There is however, need for cutting shapes other than plane shape3 and in particular i~ is a common problem to cut the end o~ a ~ube or eylinder into a complex shape so that it ma~ b~ joined ~o another surface, either ~lat or curved.
~S~IAN~ OF TH~ INVENTION
In accordance wi.th this invention~ the tube whieh is to be cu~ i~ mounted for axîal rotation on its axis and a cutting tool is arranged to engage or cut the ~ube~ The CtlttiIlg tool in turn is arranged .~or motio~
., ~ .
,, .
~ 7~
alon~ a line parallel to the axi~ o~ the tube~ The pattern which represents ~he development of the desired contour of the end of the tube on a flat surface is then placed on a plane which is scanned by a pattern tracin~
apparatus moving in X and Y coordinate directions~ The developed pattern is arranged so that one of its axis coincides ~rith one of the coordinate direckions and the other axi~ coincides with ~he other coordinate direction.
A pattern tracer is then arranged to ~race ~he pattern as si~nals representing i~s motion in the coordi~ate directions are used to control both the rotation of the pipe on its axis and the motion of the tool in its single linear direction. I~en the motion of the ~racer9 the tool and the tube are thus coordinated, the end of the tube may be cut off in the desired contour in conformance with the pattern.
G~ ~ = n_,~ 3s A clearer understanding of this invention ma~
be had ~rom a consideration of the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an illustration of a system in acco.rdance wi~h thi~ inv~ntion;
Figure 2 is an ex~mple of an application of ~he apparatus;
Fi~lre 3 is a graphical illustration of the development of' the de~ired contour into a pattern.
Considering first Figure 1~ it will be seen that the tube which is to be cut designated 5 is mounted for rotation on it,~ cen~ral axis by means of rollers 7 and ~ . . .
: . ............. , ~ ' . . . . . .
7~
.
~ and corresponding rollers on the other side (not, sho~m) on ~,~rhich it can be rotated by means of a drive motor 9 which frictionally drives the tube by means o~ a friction wheel 10~ A cutting torch 11 is mounted for movement on a frame 12 along a line parallel to the central axis.
Movement on this line is produced b~ the motor 13 whose pinion engages a rack llt on the frame 12. P~otation of the mot,or 13 drives the torch 11 back and forth along the frame 12~ A pattern 15 is mounted on a table 16 and an optical pattern tracer head 17 is arranged over the pattern to be driven in X and Y coordinate directions, first in an X direction across the frame 1~ by means of motor 19 which drives the tracer 17 b~ means of a worm 20 and second by means of movement of the frame 1~ along the rails 21 and 22 b~ means of the worm 23 dri.ven by motor 24.. Signals from ~he optical tracer 17 are applied to a signal processor 25 and thence to amplifier~s 26 and 27. The output from the ampll~ier 26 is applied both to motor 24 and motor 13.
The output from amplifier 27 is applied both to motor 19 and motor 9. I~hen arranged in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, the output from the optical tracer 17 when processed by the signal processor produces a pair o~
coordinate signals, one appli~d to ampli~er 26 and the other applied to amplifier 27 which represent the ~ and Y
motion nece~sary ~or ~he tracer ~o ~ollow the line or pattern 15 at a constant spe~d. The s~me signals are also applied to motors 9 and 13. The signal applied to motor 9 causes the tube 5 to rotate ln an amount equal to the Y
coordinate displacement of the tracer. The signal applied .~ ~
,, .
- - : . : . . .
from ~m~lifier 26 ~o motor 13 cau~es the torch to move i~
an amount. equal to the motion i~ the ~ direction by the tracer. The shape cut from the end of the tube ~herefore confo~ms to the pattern ]-S. If the pattern 15 is suitably selected9 t,he tube wi.ll be cut, in the desired contour~
An example of a particular application of this apparatus is sho~ n Figv.re 2 l,~hich shows the angular intersection of the pipe and ~he second larger pipe" As can be seen, pipe 5 is to be joined to pipe 31 at an angle of ~ degrees. With ~he varlous dimensions shown~ it is kno~m l;hat the value hg that is the motion of ~he tool can be determined by the Io~nula h - r2 - ~r2~ - (a-rl sin~C) ~ r~ cos ~)~
sin ~ tan ~
The value of h for multiplicity o~ values o~ ~he angle ~C
may be calcula~ed and plotted to produce the curve as sho~m in Pigure ~ in solid line~ 1~ this curve is now used as the pattern, ~he end of pipe 5 will be shaped to conform ~o its in~ersec~ion with pipe 31D ~ fu~kher si~ple ex~lple is illustrated in Flgure 3 of a simple curve which will produce shaping of ths end Or tube 5 to confo~m to its i~te~section with a plane sur~ace at 45. This is sho~m in dotted in Figure 3 . As will be understood ,, no details have been provided of the structure o:î th0 tracing appara-tus" :since this is well known and may be oP the type illustrated in Canadian Patent No ~ 972 t 1~46 lssued August 5 1975 to Francis P~ Murphy, et al, or any other suitable coordinate drive p~ttern traceri In a similar manner~ the exact structure o~ the means ~or rotating the pipe and : ~ , , , ,.: , - .
- - ~: - . . . . . . . . .. . .
~ ~ 7 ~ ~ ~
drivin~ the cu~ting torch a.re not sho~m in detail since they too may vary depending on the nature of the pipe to be cut, the nature of the cutting equipment and other variables~ For cxample, while ~he pipe is shown driven by a friction drive, i-t may be necessary to clamp a suitable gear around the pipe and positively dri~e the gear by means of a gear drive~ The rack and pinion dri~e of the torch obviously can be replaced by a worm ~ear driveO The processing of the signals to produce the necessary control of the ~ and Y coordinate motors and motors 9 and 13 also has not been described since this is also well known in the art and the complexlty of the control depends u~on the nature of the cut desired and whether o~her info~mation is required beyond the simple shaplng o~ the end of the tube.
It will also be evident t,hat while the invent-lon has been described in association with cutting the end o~f a tube t,o con~orm to a part/icular shape, it is also applicable to cutting holes in tubes except it will be ~.
understood ~hat ln de~elopîng a pattern for a hole in ~he tube, it will be necessar~ to caus~ the motor 9 ~o reverse rather than completely rotating khe tube 5. This reversal wlll occur because the pattern ~or a hole will be a closed loop and in following this pattern the tracer will cause the tube ~o be rotated fir~t in one clirection and ~hen in the other.
As described7 this inven~ion is directed to cuttinO relati~ely thin walled ~ube. Thicl~ walled tube will require a beveled cut and the ~orch ~ill therefore have to be arranged to have a variable anOle as it performs i~s convolutions~
:.
TRACER CONTROLLED PIPE CUTTING MACHIN~
BAC~OROON. O7 IH~ ~Wv~ o9 In the machine tool field, it i.~ common to con-trol a machining operakion b~ means of a pattern. In particular, gas cutting torches have been controlled b~
pa~ern traci~g maehines. In the past, the majorit~ of such machine~ have been planar operating machines which reproduce a shape detexmined b~ a planar pattern; the pattern and the part cut b~aring a direct or proportional r~lation to each other and bo~h being arranged in a ~ingle plane~ There is however, need for cutting shapes other than plane shape3 and in particular i~ is a common problem to cut the end o~ a ~ube or eylinder into a complex shape so that it ma~ b~ joined ~o another surface, either ~lat or curved.
~S~IAN~ OF TH~ INVENTION
In accordance wi.th this invention~ the tube whieh is to be cu~ i~ mounted for axîal rotation on its axis and a cutting tool is arranged to engage or cut the ~ube~ The CtlttiIlg tool in turn is arranged .~or motio~
., ~ .
,, .
~ 7~
alon~ a line parallel to the axi~ o~ the tube~ The pattern which represents ~he development of the desired contour of the end of the tube on a flat surface is then placed on a plane which is scanned by a pattern tracin~
apparatus moving in X and Y coordinate directions~ The developed pattern is arranged so that one of its axis coincides ~rith one of the coordinate direckions and the other axi~ coincides with ~he other coordinate direction.
A pattern tracer is then arranged to ~race ~he pattern as si~nals representing i~s motion in the coordi~ate directions are used to control both the rotation of the pipe on its axis and the motion of the tool in its single linear direction. I~en the motion of the ~racer9 the tool and the tube are thus coordinated, the end of the tube may be cut off in the desired contour in conformance with the pattern.
G~ ~ = n_,~ 3s A clearer understanding of this invention ma~
be had ~rom a consideration of the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an illustration of a system in acco.rdance wi~h thi~ inv~ntion;
Figure 2 is an ex~mple of an application of ~he apparatus;
Fi~lre 3 is a graphical illustration of the development of' the de~ired contour into a pattern.
Considering first Figure 1~ it will be seen that the tube which is to be cut designated 5 is mounted for rotation on it,~ cen~ral axis by means of rollers 7 and ~ . . .
: . ............. , ~ ' . . . . . .
7~
.
~ and corresponding rollers on the other side (not, sho~m) on ~,~rhich it can be rotated by means of a drive motor 9 which frictionally drives the tube by means o~ a friction wheel 10~ A cutting torch 11 is mounted for movement on a frame 12 along a line parallel to the central axis.
Movement on this line is produced b~ the motor 13 whose pinion engages a rack llt on the frame 12. P~otation of the mot,or 13 drives the torch 11 back and forth along the frame 12~ A pattern 15 is mounted on a table 16 and an optical pattern tracer head 17 is arranged over the pattern to be driven in X and Y coordinate directions, first in an X direction across the frame 1~ by means of motor 19 which drives the tracer 17 b~ means of a worm 20 and second by means of movement of the frame 1~ along the rails 21 and 22 b~ means of the worm 23 dri.ven by motor 24.. Signals from ~he optical tracer 17 are applied to a signal processor 25 and thence to amplifier~s 26 and 27. The output from the ampll~ier 26 is applied both to motor 24 and motor 13.
The output from amplifier 27 is applied both to motor 19 and motor 9. I~hen arranged in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, the output from the optical tracer 17 when processed by the signal processor produces a pair o~
coordinate signals, one appli~d to ampli~er 26 and the other applied to amplifier 27 which represent the ~ and Y
motion nece~sary ~or ~he tracer ~o ~ollow the line or pattern 15 at a constant spe~d. The s~me signals are also applied to motors 9 and 13. The signal applied to motor 9 causes the tube 5 to rotate ln an amount equal to the Y
coordinate displacement of the tracer. The signal applied .~ ~
,, .
- - : . : . . .
from ~m~lifier 26 ~o motor 13 cau~es the torch to move i~
an amount. equal to the motion i~ the ~ direction by the tracer. The shape cut from the end of the tube ~herefore confo~ms to the pattern ]-S. If the pattern 15 is suitably selected9 t,he tube wi.ll be cut, in the desired contour~
An example of a particular application of this apparatus is sho~ n Figv.re 2 l,~hich shows the angular intersection of the pipe and ~he second larger pipe" As can be seen, pipe 5 is to be joined to pipe 31 at an angle of ~ degrees. With ~he varlous dimensions shown~ it is kno~m l;hat the value hg that is the motion of ~he tool can be determined by the Io~nula h - r2 - ~r2~ - (a-rl sin~C) ~ r~ cos ~)~
sin ~ tan ~
The value of h for multiplicity o~ values o~ ~he angle ~C
may be calcula~ed and plotted to produce the curve as sho~m in Pigure ~ in solid line~ 1~ this curve is now used as the pattern, ~he end of pipe 5 will be shaped to conform ~o its in~ersec~ion with pipe 31D ~ fu~kher si~ple ex~lple is illustrated in Flgure 3 of a simple curve which will produce shaping of ths end Or tube 5 to confo~m to its i~te~section with a plane sur~ace at 45. This is sho~m in dotted in Figure 3 . As will be understood ,, no details have been provided of the structure o:î th0 tracing appara-tus" :since this is well known and may be oP the type illustrated in Canadian Patent No ~ 972 t 1~46 lssued August 5 1975 to Francis P~ Murphy, et al, or any other suitable coordinate drive p~ttern traceri In a similar manner~ the exact structure o~ the means ~or rotating the pipe and : ~ , , , ,.: , - .
- - ~: - . . . . . . . . .. . .
~ ~ 7 ~ ~ ~
drivin~ the cu~ting torch a.re not sho~m in detail since they too may vary depending on the nature of the pipe to be cut, the nature of the cutting equipment and other variables~ For cxample, while ~he pipe is shown driven by a friction drive, i-t may be necessary to clamp a suitable gear around the pipe and positively dri~e the gear by means of a gear drive~ The rack and pinion dri~e of the torch obviously can be replaced by a worm ~ear driveO The processing of the signals to produce the necessary control of the ~ and Y coordinate motors and motors 9 and 13 also has not been described since this is also well known in the art and the complexlty of the control depends u~on the nature of the cut desired and whether o~her info~mation is required beyond the simple shaplng o~ the end of the tube.
It will also be evident t,hat while the invent-lon has been described in association with cutting the end o~f a tube t,o con~orm to a part/icular shape, it is also applicable to cutting holes in tubes except it will be ~.
understood ~hat ln de~elopîng a pattern for a hole in ~he tube, it will be necessar~ to caus~ the motor 9 ~o reverse rather than completely rotating khe tube 5. This reversal wlll occur because the pattern ~or a hole will be a closed loop and in following this pattern the tracer will cause the tube ~o be rotated fir~t in one clirection and ~hen in the other.
As described7 this inven~ion is directed to cuttinO relati~ely thin walled ~ube. Thicl~ walled tube will require a beveled cut and the ~orch ~ill therefore have to be arranged to have a variable anOle as it performs i~s convolutions~
:.
Claims (5)
1. Apparatus for cutting a cylindrical surface in accordance with a planar pattern which is a develop-ment of the desired cut comprising a pattern follower including a flat surface on which said pattern is arranged and a head movable in two coordinate directions in accordance with the pattern being followed, means for rotating said cylindrical surface about its axis in accordance with movement of said head in one of said two coordinate directions, means for moving a cutting tool in engagement with said surface in a direction parallel to said axis in accordance with movement of said head in the other of said coordinate directions.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical surface is a thin walled tube and said pattern is a development of the line of intersection of said thin walled tube with a second cylindrical surface.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tube is of less diameter than said second cylindrical surface.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pattern follower is an optical line tracer and said pattern is a line representing the planar develop-ment of the desired cylindrical cut.
5. Apparatus for cutting the end of a thin walled tube in accordance with its line of intersection with a larger tube comprising developing a line pattern representative of the development of the required shape of the end of the tube, mounting the pattern on the tracing surface of a coordinate axis optical line tracer, mounting said thin walled tube for rotation on its axis in accordance with the movement of said line tracer along one coordinate axis and mounting a gas cutting torch in cutting relation to said tube for linear motion parallel to the axis of said tube in accordance with the movement of said line tracer along the other coordinate axis.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA324,629A CA1107191A (en) | 1979-04-02 | 1979-04-02 | Tracer controlled pipe cutting machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA324,629A CA1107191A (en) | 1979-04-02 | 1979-04-02 | Tracer controlled pipe cutting machine |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1107191A true CA1107191A (en) | 1981-08-18 |
Family
ID=4113895
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA324,629A Expired CA1107191A (en) | 1979-04-02 | 1979-04-02 | Tracer controlled pipe cutting machine |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1107191A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-04-02 CA CA324,629A patent/CA1107191A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |