US2517227A

US2517227A - Cutting tool for pipe cleaning

Info

Publication number: US2517227A
Application number: US730119A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew A O'leary
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-02-21
Filing date: 1947-02-21
Publication date: 1950-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1967-08-01

Description

Aug. 1, 1950 A. A. OLEARY CUTTING TOOL FOR PIPE CLEANING Filed Feb. 21, 1947 FlE.z

gwuq/rvfm ANDR EW A. OLEARY 3% m. Bum

Patented Aug. 1 1950 w H- mil. I

en'r'rINGj'rooL FOR PIPE cL-EANING Andrew A.Leary, SLPa ul Minna Application February 21, I94'7QSerial-N6; "7301119" My invention relates-to an'improvementin cut filled with foreign material, by means of acutter head mountedon the end of a flexible cable.

These" cutter headshave usually been welded to the endof a cable so as to be firmlyaffixedthereto. This-structure has been found to involve certain diiiicultiesas the operation of welding thehead "tothe cable seems-to effectthe'metal of the cable in such a wayas to cause theheadtobreak oif after a num-berof'hours of work. The breaking of the head of the apparatusis serious asit is often necessary to dig out the drain-pipe in order toopen the same after the-head has been lodged in the pipe. i

A f eatureof thepresent invention resides in the provision ofa cutter head which is attabhed to the endof the cable" by means othenthan welding. As-aresult the cutter head maybe removed from time to time and the cable reversed at intervals, which has been found'to lengthen therlife oflathecable toa.considerableextent. l f

A featureof the present invention resides in thefl provisioniof a: cutter head'mounted uponlalholloiv cable and having a wire rope extendingithrough the cable. This wire rope in itself -isusually not oicsuflicient strength to be'ofmuch use-in operating the-:cutter head. However, thewire rope "is considerably more flexible than the outencablea: and-as a result this wireropeholds togetherthe:

brokenflparts ofv the cable in the event the cable should break. As a result the cutteryhead may;v

usually be'withdrawn from the pipe withoutzdifficulty. even afterthe outer cable'has been broken.

Awiurther feature of the present inventionwresideswintthe provision of a cutter head-body in which two ormoreblades mayberemovably supported; The cutter head body has an axial aperi ture i therethrou'gh through which: the cable may extend. Set screws orsimilarrmeans are provided for attaching theheadbody to the cable. The-cutter head bladesmay be freelyremoved or replaced when thepable is entirely or partially withdrawn fromthe cutter headlbodyz However,-

when the cableisin place in the cutter head the. bladeslare held in place-thereby. l 1 Aifurther featureeof the presentiinvention resides: the particular shape: and arrangement of them-bladesthemselves. 1 l l v i i 'lhesepand v other objects and :novel-Ffeatures {oil my-Pinvention will l be more clearly and fullyv set forth in: the followings specification and claimsw Irrthe drawingsriorming part of my specification? i Figure 1 is a\ side" elevational view of the cutter head showing the construction thereof 5 t Figure :2 is a cross sectional View l through the 1 cutter head; the position of the section being indicated'rbythe linen2-2 of Figure l. I

Figure 3 is:alperspectiveiview of :the cutter. head bodysand one endirofl aiblade engagedtherein;

Figurewlis a:perspective view of apportion of one of the blades showing the construction; thereof. i I i t Figure 5 is aiesectionalview through the blade? illustrated'in'Ei'gure 4; the position of the section beingindicatedzby the line 5-5lof Figure 4.

. Thercuttingxtool .L is: illustrated in the drawings; in general byathe letter ALi This cuttingtool is" supported on theend of a cable which is indicated insageneral bythe letterBl The cutter head A mountedon the cable B to rotate in unison there-=- with. l l

Theicutterhead A i is constructed as best illustrated in Figuresil, 2, and 3 of the drawings: The cutter head body Innis rectangular in out-line at its largest section, the; body including opposedsidefaeeswl I and Hand opposed top and bottom faces I3 and I4. Anmaperture extends axially; through the body I02 Thisclaperture is partially cylindrical inclshape as' indicated "at I 5; The. re; mainderrofs lthe aperture "through the body It isrectangular as indicatedat I6. 'I'hesides of the rectangular aperture IG WhiCh are parallel to the sides II and t2;;areqsubstantially flush with; the edges of the' cylindrical aperture I5. Thesides of theaperture ittwhich are parallel the topand bottom sides l3 -andul4jare spaced apart a'distance; somewhatgreaterthan the diameter ofthe aperl ture: [5,: thus providing shoulders Hand [9 be tween the ends of the cylindricalaperturei5 and the ends of the rectangular aperture I B.

Apair of similjar blades Zillaremounted in the body- Ill'toproject therefrom. Each blade 20 is: providedwith a notch 2| in one side edge thereof nearthe butt end 22 ofthe blade. Alugi 23 is provided within the head In to engage in each of: thenotches 2!: The lugs 23 areintegral with the

top andrbottomiinner surfaces

24 and 25 of the rectangular aperture I61 and are spaced from the shouldered! andilfii These lugs=23 engage in the notches 2l ofthe blades 20 and hold the bladesw from being accidentally disengaged from the head" whenuthe toolisin operation;

gAs-will be"obviouswircnr;anl-examination ofFigs i ores 1 and 3 of the drawings the blades 20 may be engaged in the head body l only when the cable B is not projecting through the apertures and Hi. The blades must be engaged in the head with the notches 2| embracing the lugs 23 while the cable i withdrawn from the rectangular aperture l6. Once the blades 20 have been inserted in place the cable B may be inserted through the aperture l6 between the blades 20, the cable then holding the blades from disengagement with the head body.

As best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 0f the v I drawings the cable B includes an outer helically wound metal wire 26 which is ofproper outer diameter to fit within the cylindrical aperture [5 and between the parallel side walls21 and 29 of the rectangular aperture 16. Furthermore the top and bottom surfaces 24 and25 of the aperture [5 are spaced apart a distance just sufficient topermit the butt ends of the blades 20 to be interposed between thesetop and bottom surfaces and the outer surface of the cable 26. As a result the. outer surfaceof the cable engages against the inner opposed surfaces of the blades 20 and holds these blades from movement toward the center of the aperture 16, thereby preventing disengagement of the notches 21 from the lugs23.

-The cable B also includes a wire rope which fits snugly within'the cable 26 and is relatively more'flexible than the cable .26. This Wire rope 30 is usually too light to withstand the rotative strain of the tool when driven, but supplements the. cable 26 in its action.

A pair of set screws 3| and 32 extend through therectangular portion of the body In and engage the outer surface of the cable 26 with considerable force, which is preferably sufficient to clamp the cable 26 against the wire rope 30. Thus the end of the cable is firmly connected together by means of the set screws 3l and 32. The head body and the blades may be readily removed from the cable, however, by disengagement of the set screws 3| and 32. -The body Ill preferably tapers from the intermediate rectangular portion toward each end of the body. At one end the body tapers at 33 so as'tobe circular in cross section at this end. a The body also tapers at 34 to be rectangular in outer shape at this end of the body- In operation the cable B is rotated, acting to rotate the head body It). This rotation alsoacts to rotate the blades 20 in unison with the head body. The blades are provided with a cutting edge which engages the obstructing material within the pipe and cuts into the same. The blades 20 are relatively close together at' their butt end, but diverge apart by outwardly inclined portions 35 and curve at 36 to converge toward one another at the free ends 31 of the blades. The free ends of the blades are usually tapered as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings,

In the event the blades 20 are of too large or toosmall diameter to fit a predetermined pipe, the head body It! may be removed from the cable and larger or smaller blades 2i) substituted for the improperly sized blades. Also in the event the blades should become locked within the pipe, causing the cable 26 to break, the head of the cutter will always remain'connected by the wire rope 30. Thus in the event'the outer cable 26 should break, the cable rotating apparatus is stopped Without delay and the cable B removed from the pipe by pulling upon the cable. The relative flexibility of the wire rope 30 permits this wire rope to be twis ed considerable amount after breakage of the outer cable 26 before the wire rope becomes injured.

The tooth construction employed is best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In the formation of the teeth the outer surface 39 of each of the blades 20 is beveled at 40 to the inner surface 41 of the blade. Substantially triangular notches 42 are cut in the inner surface M of the blades 20 into this beveled edge of the blade. Similar triang ular notches 43 are cut i the beveled surface 40 of the blade on the outer side thereof. The notches 42 and 43 are spaced apart the proper distance to produce sharply pointed teeth 44 therebetween. These teeth have a sharp cutting surface therebetween formed by the notches 42 and 43. Thus when the blades are supported in the cutter head body and rotated the sharpened and toothed edges of the blades are brought into contact with obstructing matter within the pipes acting to loosen this matter so as to allow a normal flow of fluid through the pipe.

In preferred form the blades are substantially identical. As a result when supported in the head in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, the

, edges of the blades are in reversed position so that the cutting edge of both blades will act upon the material in the pipe when the head is rotated in one direction.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have z described the principles of construction and operation 'of-my cutting tool, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understoodthat these,

areonly illustrative thereof and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:'

1. A cutting tool for use on a cable, thetool including a cutter head having an aperturetherethrough, one end, of said aperture being substantially cylindrical and the other end of said aperture being substantially rectangular, a pair of blades engageable between said cableand opposed sides'ofsaid rectangular aperture portion, co-

operable means on said blade and said head holding said blades from longitudinal movement relative to said head when thus engaged, and means for holding said cable between said blades.

2. A cutting tool for us on a flexible cable including a head, an aperture therethrough, one end of said aperture being substantially cylindrical and the other end of said aperture being substantially rectangular, two opposed sides of said rectangular aperture portion being "spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical aperture portion, and the other twolsides of said rectangular aperture being spaced a greater distance apart, a pair of blades engageable in said rectangular aperture, and a cable extending into said aperture, said cable having an outer diameter to snugly fit said cylindrical aperture portion, and means for holding said cable in said'head, said cable being interposed between the ends of said blades.

3. A cutting tool comprising a head having an aperture therethrough, one end of said aperture being cylindrical and the other end thereof being substantially rectangular, two opposed walls of said rectangular aperture being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical aperture portion, and the other two opposed walls of said rectangular aperture portion being spaced apart a greater distance proridi g shoulder means between each of said remaining opposed walls and said cylindrical aperture portion, a cable having an outer diameter to snugly fit said cylindrical aperture portion extending into said aperture, and opposed cutter blades interposed between said cable and each of said other opposed walls of said rectangular aperture portion.

4. A cutting tool comprising a head having an aperture therethrough, one end of said aperture being cylindrical and the other end thereof being substantially rectangular, two opposed walls of said rectangular aperture being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical aperture portion, and the other two opposed Walls of said rectangular aperture portion being spaced apart a greater distance providing shoulder means between each of said remaining opposed Walls and said cylindrical aperture portion, a cable having an outer diameter to snugly fit said cylindrical aperture portion extending into said aperture, and opposed cutter blades interposed between said cable and each of said other opposed walls of said rectangular aperture portion, and cooperable means on said blades and said head to hold said blades engaged with said head.

5. A cutting tool comprising a head having an aperture therethrough, one end of said aperture being cylindrical and the other end thereof being substantially rectangular, two opposed walls of said rectangular aperture being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical aperture portion, and the other two opposed walls of said rectangular aperture portion being spaced apart a greater distance providing shoulder means between each of said remaining opposed walls and said cylindrical aperture portion, a cable having an outer diameter to snugly fit said cylindrical aperture portion extending into said aperture, opposed cutter blades interposed between said cable and each of said other opposed walls of said rectangular aperture portion, notch means in said cutter blades and lug means in said head to hold said blades from outward movement while held in spaced relation by said cable.

6. A cutting tool including a cutting head, a flexible cable secured thereto, a pair of opposed blades secured to said cutting head, each of said blades diverging outwardly from the axis of said cutting head for a substantial distance, and then curved to provide converging end portions, and teeth on said blades, said teeth including pointed portions flush with one surface of each blade, said teeth being formed by spaced notches in both surfaces of said blade.

7. A cutting tool comprising a cutter head, an aperture therethrough, at least a portion of which is rectangular in form, a pair of blades secured to said cutter head, each blade having a notch therein, a lug on said cutter head engaging in said blade to hold said blade from outward movement, and a cable in said aperture between said blades holding said blades engaged with said lugs.

ANDREW A. OLEARY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 854,464 Charlton May 21, 1907 1,227,234 Bacon May 22, 1917 1,600,373 Stremel Sept. 21, 1926 2,059,414 Taylor Nov. 3, 1936 2,244,735 Silverman June 10, 1941 2,255,800 Miller Sept. 16, 1941 2,292,713 OLeary Aug. 11, 1942 2,354,245 Corbosiero July 25, 1944