GB2551179A

GB2551179A - Pipe cutting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2551179A
Application number: GB1610071.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Preston Roger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-06-09
Filing date: 2016-06-09
Publication date: 2017-12-13
Also published as: GB201610071D0

Abstract

A pipe cutter, preferably for 90 mm diameter plastic pipes, has a pipe-conforming clamp (1B, 2B, Fig. 1C) with a gripping portion, which may be a pair of handles 1, 2, and a ring portion (7, 8, Figs. 2) which opens with the clamp and, when closed, provides a guide channel around the pipes circumference for a cutting assembly 11. The cutting assembly 11 is movable around the guide channel, preferably by a handle 10, and may be held in the ring portion (7, 8, Figs. 2) by rotating bearings (12, Figs. 3). Ideally, the clamp pivots about a shoulder bolt 5, but may be configured to pivot about a central bolt like a pair of pliers.

Description

Pipe cutting apparatus.

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a pipe cutting apparatus. The present invention more closely relates to an apparatus designed for use to cut polymer plastic pipes.

The disclosure hereafter of the present invention relates to polymeric pipes of 90 mm (9 cm) diameter known in the UK as a “four-inch pipe”. It is of course, to be understood, that the invention can be employed for the pipes of different diameters, it merely being necessary to select such an apparatus configured to be appropriate for use on a pipe of the selected diameter.

Background to the invention. 9.0 cm pipes are widely employed, in construction, for waste and water transfer. A pipe must be cut into lengths for installation. Although 9.0 cm pipes are physically not cumbersome, it can take what seems to be unnecessary effort for their cutting for installation.

On a construction site, it generally takes it takes two operatives to cut a pvc plastic pipe. A first operative is required to hold the pipe to be for a second operative to saw through the held pipe. The present invention seeks to provide that it will require only one operative for its operation to cut a pipe and complete the job in less time than the job was previously accomplished with the presence of two operatives.

Drainage pipes are often laid in trenches. Ordinary two-operative pipe cutting requires the presence of 2 operatives in a restricted trench, which is not always possible. The present invention seeks to enable the single operator of the apparatus to use the apparatus inside of a trench without having to get out and cut it using a normal saw.

Using a saw to cut a PVC plastic pipe leaves the pipe with jagged edges. The present invention further seeks to provide an apparatus for pipe cutting that leaves a perfect smooth edge to the cut pipe on each and every occasion of its use.

Chinese Patent Application CN105328726 (A) discloses a pipe cutting device that comprises a base and a fixing frame located on the base. One end of the fixing frame is hinged to one end of the base. A handle is arranged at the other end of the fixing frame. The portion, close to the handle, of the fixing frame is provided with a cutting wheel disk driven by a motor. The position, corresponding to the cutting wheel disk, of the top of the base is provided with a clamping piece used for fixing a plastic pipe. Universal wheels and foot cups are arranged at the bottom of the base. A glass reinforced plastic anti-corrosion layer is arranged on the surface of the fixing frame. The plastic pipe cutting device is reasonable in structural design; in use, the tool is moved to a work position through the universal wheels, and the tool can be stably placed on the ground through the foot cups; and in cutting, the plastic pipe is clamped in the clamping piece, the the handle is operated downwards so that the cutting wheel disk can cut the plastic pipe; and in the cutting process, the tool will not topple or fall and is safe and reliable. The present invention seeks to provide improvement there over by providing a compact and motor-free apparatus very much reduced in bulk and capable of being used by a single operator.

United States Patent US4091533 (A) discloses a portable pipe-cutting apparatus, for use in cutting plastic, rubber and other non-metallic pipes or tubing and thin-wall metal pipes and tubing, having a rotatable cutter head for supporting a cutting element therewith, the cutting element being a serrated, plain wire, or cutting tooth. The cutting head is adapted to be opened for engaging and releasing the pipe. Because of its light weight and simple design, the cutter can be used in a variety of awkward working situations. The present invention seeks to provide improvement there over by eliminating sawing of a pipe, thereby providing improvement upon smoothness of cut.

Summary of the invention.

The present invention consists in an apparatus for cutting plastic pipes, the apparatus comprising: an openable clamp that comprises a gripping portion to be gripped by the hand and a clamping portion conformal with the outer surface of the pipe to be cut that can be closed to clamp a pipe to be cut; a ring portion, openable with the clamp that, when the clamp is closed, provides a circular path around the circumference of a pipe to be cut; and a cutter assembly, movable, when the clamp is closed, to move around the closed ring portion to follow the circumference of a clamped pipe and to move a cutting blade around the outer surface of a clamped pipe to cut the pipe.

The invention further provides that the clamp can be openable by pivoting about a shoulder bolt; or can be openable by pivoting about a central bolt.

The invention further provides that the openable clamp can comprise a hand grippable portion which can be gripped by a human hand when the clamp is closed, and can further comprise a rotating handle assembly which is grippable by the other human hand to rotate the cutting blade about the clamped pipe.

The invention further provides that the cutter assembly can be held in the ring assembly by rotating bearings.

The invention further provides that the cutting blade can be urged against the surface of the pipe to be cut by at least one of: spring pressure; manual pressure used by the operator; and elastic pressure caused by incursion by the cutting blade into the space to be occupied by pipe to be cut.

The invention further provides that the cutting blade can be supported in the rotating handle assembly.

Brief description of the drawings.

The invention is further disclose, by way of example, by the following description to be read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Figures 1 A, 1B, 1C and 1D show respectively different views of the top and bottom portions of the handle assembly of the pipe cutting apparatus.

Figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show different views of the ring assembly of the pipe cutting apparatus.

Figures 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D show different views of the rotating handle assembly of the pipe cutting apparatus.

And

Figure 4 shows an oblique view of the pipe cutter assembly employed as the pipe cutting apparatus.

Detailed description

Attention is first drawn to figures 1 A, 1B, 1C and 1D showing a first part of the pipe cutting apparatus in the form of a handle assembly.

Figures 1A through 1D collectively show first 1 and second 2 handles each comprising a respective straight gripping portion 1A 2A and a semicircular clamping portion 1B 2B at the distal end of the respective gripping portion 1A 2A. At its far distant and the two-part handle 1,2 is hinged by a shoulder bolt 5.

In use, to clamp a pipe to be cut, the first 1A and second 2A handle portions are pulled apart for the first 1B and second 2B clamping portions to pivot about the shoulder bolt 5. The pipe to be cut is introduced into the now open space between the first 1B and second 2B clamping portions. The first 1A and second 2A handle portions are then brought back to lie beside one another, thereby closing the gripping portions 1B 2B about the pipe to be cut.

Once the pipe to be cut is clamped between the clamping portions 1B 2B a handle lock plunger 3, and a lock tab 4, co-operate to hold the handle portions 1,2 together and thereby maintain the pipe to be cut clamped between the first 1B and second 2B clamping portions.

After a pipe has been cut, and is to be released, the plunger 3 and the lock tab 4 are released no longer to hold the handles 1,2 together allowing the first and second handles 1,2 to pivot apart around the shoulder bolt 5 for the pipe to be released.

Spacers 6 are provided on one side of the clamping portions 1B 2B to hold and provide attachment for a ring assembly, shown in figure 2, being a second part of the cutting apparatus.

Without deviation from the invention as claimed, those skilled in the art will be aware that the clamp can instead be openable by pivoting about a central bolt in the manner of a pair of pliers..

Attention is next drawn to figure 2.

Figures 2A through 2D variously show different views of the ring assembly mentioned above.

The ring assembly comprises a split ring assembly concentric with and respectively attached to first and second clamping portions 1B, 2B to open and close with the handle assembly 1,2. Each ring comprises first and second ring portions 7, 8, and handle cap screws 9 that attach the ring assembly to the handle assembly shown in figure 1

Attention is next drawn to Figures 3A through 3D.

Figures 3A through 3D show various views of a rotating cutter assembly that, in use, moves within the closed ring assembly of figure 2 to cut a pipe. A rotating handle 10 is coupled to move a rotating arc support 11. Rotating bearings 12 are disposed upon the rotating arc support 11 to support the rotating arc support 11 on the ring assembly shown in figures 2A to 2D. When the pipe cutting apparatus is closed, the handle 10 can propel the supporting arc 11 smoothly right around the circular surface of a gripped pipe. A cutting blade 13 is housed within the handle 10 and is urged against the surface of a pipe to be cut. As the cutting blade 13 is moved in successive revolutions about the surface of a clamped pipe, the cutting blade 13 progressively cuts to the pipe to be cut leaving a smooth edge.

Finally, attention is drawn to figure 4 showing an oblique view of the fully assembled pipe cutting apparatus shown in more expanded detail in figures 1A through 1D, to a through 2-D and 3A through 3D.

In the use, the operator approaches the pipe to be cut and opens the handles 1,2 and closes the pipe cutting apparatus around the pipe to be cut at the position to be cut. The clamping portions 1B 2B are conformal with the circular cross-section of the pipe and form a snug fit thereon when the handle gripping portions 1A, 2A are closed around the pipe to be cut. The operator continues to hold the apparatus using the first and second handle gripping portions 1A, 2A while using the rotating handle assembly 10 to move the arc support 11 around the track assembly (shown in figure 2A-2D) as the cutting blade 13 cuts into the outer surface of the pipe to be cut until, after a sufficiency of full revolutions of the rotating handle assembly 10, the pipe to be cut falls into two keeping the first 1B and second 2B handle gripping portions clamped on the cut end thereof. The operator then separates the handles 1,2 to allow the clamped end of the cut pipe to be released.

Those skilled in the art will be aware that the combination of the ring assembly (shown in figures 2A-2D), the openable and closable caliper holding assembly (shown in figures 1A-1D), and the movable cutter assembly (shown in figures 3A-3D) may be implemented differently from the manner above described with out departing from the invention as claimed.

Those skilled in the art will also be aware that the cutting blade may be provided other than in the rotating handle assembly. The only requirements of the cutting blade is that it is movable on a path that is conformal with the outer surface of a pipe to be cut and that it can bear down upon that surface.

An essential feature of the present invention is that cutting knife is provided that can move in a path concentric with a pipe to be cut.

The invention is further clarified by the following claims to be read in conjunction with the description.

Claims

Claims.

1. An apparatus for cutting plastic pipes, the apparatus comprising: an openable clamp that comprises a gripping portion to be gripped by the hand and a clamping portion conformal with the outer surface of the pipe to be cut that can be closed to clamp a pipe to be cut; a ring portion, openable with the clamp that, when the clamp is closed, provides a circular path around the circumference of a pipe to be cut; a cutter assembly, movable, when the clamp is closed, to move around the closed ring portion to follow the circumference of a clamped pipe and to move a cutting blade around the outer surface of a clamped pipe to cut the pipe.

2 The apparatus of claim one where in the clamp is openable by pivoting about a shoulder bolt.

3. The apparatus according to claim one where in the clamp is openable by pivoting about a central bolt.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the openable clamp comprises a hand grippable portion which can be gripped by a human hand when the clamp is closed, and further comprises a rotating handle assembly which is grippable by the other human hand to rotate the cutting blade about the clamped pipe.

5. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims where in the cutter assembly is held in the ring assembly by rotating bearings.

6. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the cutting blade is urged against the surface of the pipe to be cut by at least one of: spring pressure; manual pressure used by the operator; and elastic pressure caused by incursion by the cutting blade into the space to be occupied by pipe to be cut.

7. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the cutting blade is supported in the rotating handle assembly.

8. An apparatus, substantially as described with reference to the appended drawings.