US2562879A

US2562879A - Tube cutoff machine

Info

Publication number: US2562879A
Application number: US22376A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nelson D Abbey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-04-21
Filing date: 1948-04-21
Publication date: 1951-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1968-08-07

Description

1951 N. 0. ABBEY 2,562,879

TUBE CUTOFF MACHINE Filed April 21, 1948 3-Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Nelson D. Abbey mu/w ML A OR EV Aug. 7, 1951 N. D. ABBEY TUBE CUTOFF MACHINE Filed April 21, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Ne/son D. flbbeg ATTORNEY Aug. 7, 1951 N. n. ABBEY TUBE CUTOFF MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 21, 1948 INVENTOR. Nf/Jon D Abbey BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 7, 1951 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBE eu rfizifirncmun Application April 21, 194.8,; Serial No. 22,376

4 Claims. (01. 164-60.)

invention relates to tube cut-off ma.- ohines. but. more particularly to. machines of this Character which are self-contained and which operate recurrently to sever a finite length of tubing of indefinite length into predetermined, l n ths.

An object of the invention is to produce a tube. cut-ofi machine which is so constructed. and arranged that the cuttings fallv by gravity from the. machine. so that liability of their injuring ordamaging working parts of the machine is elimi-. nated or. Substantially reduced.

Another object. is to produce a tube cut-off carriage which is mounted for translatory movement along with the tube in an elevated position to afford ample space for the cuttings and the ike. formed, during the tube cutting operation to. tall. y vity away om the. machine- A further object is. to improve the drive for the. cutting tools in order to simplify the, design and. compact the mechanism so that it occupies less space.

A still further object. is to produce a, cut-off mechanism in which the. actuating, mechanism for the tool carrier has. increased support during its rotary and axial shifting movements in. con,- centric, relation to the rotary drive for the tool carrier.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration but not. i limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of, a. tube cut-off machine in which the cu-t off unit is 1-15-- pended and is mounted for translatory move, ments with the tube to. be. severed;

Figure 2 is a, vertical sectional elevation sub- Stantially on the line 2-2 of Figure. 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary levation f ne of the. ool carriers;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse. sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure, 3;

Figure, 5 is a perspective viewshowingtwo. parts to, which. the tool carrier is connected. and which cooperate with the tool actuating collar or Sle 7 Figure 6. is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation of the cut-01f. mechanism and associated parts; and a Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view Showthe connection. between. thefiywheel and innor sleeve. I

The. illustrated embodiment of the. invention comprisesa name hav g a. base Ill: f. subs-tantially ectangular e o ga e form from. which. r se,

'f 2, which are. connected by horizontal. tubes 12.. suitable means may be employed for bracing hev frame in order to make it sufficiently rigid and sturdy for. the purpose intended. suspended. from the parallel tubes I2. is a tube cut-off unit; C. which is provided on opposite sides. with pairs, of, grooved rollers [3. which ride. along the horizontal tubes l2 respectively, it being understood that a. pair of rollers i3 is provided on opposite sides of the cut-off unit C. It. will. be apparent,- from an inspection of Figure 1 that the bulk of the cut-off. unit C is suspended from. the horizon-- tal tubes. 12, the broken line. T indicating the tube. to. be cut. off and the same passing through the. eutrofi unitjC, substantially beneath the tubes or tracks. i2.

The cut-off unit C has a pair of brackets, M. to which the ends, of a, chain 15 are. adiustably an ohored, The. chain passes over an idlersprocket. U5- carried by a suitable bracket l-l secured to. one end of the frame. At the opposite. end of the frame is .a drive sprocket. [8 about which. the... chain is trained and the sprocket wheel l8. is carried by a bracket l9. secured to. the adjacent. frame. structure. The drive sprocket, l8 is driven by a concentric sheave 2.0, which receives a belt 2.1;, the beltv 21 passing about. a. smaller sheave concentric. with an electric motor 22. which. is. fixed to they bracket l9 and spaced above the sheave 20,. Preferably the electric motor 22 is of the reversible type so that the cut-ofi unit C may be shifted longitudinally in one direction or the other along the tubular tracks 12. Any suitable; switch, controls (not. shown). may be employed for the. motor 22. For example, the. operation. of the. motor 22. may be controlled by switchesactuated by the cut-off unit C. so that at the end. of its. advancing movement, 13118311101701 22v is reversed, to retract the cut-off unit. until the latter reaches a predetermined position, at. which time,

another switch deenergizes the motor. The advantageous. features. of the above de.--- scribed structure aremultifold. For example the. above cut-off unit throws the.- ehips resulting. from thev tube cutting operation freefrom the machine so that. they do not interfere with the smooth running of the machine. Heretofora. with the. tube cut-ofi unit in a position reversed.

from thatv shown in Figure 1-,, so. that the cut-off.

mechanism is disposed. above the actuating. chains, the chips fell into the chains andother ac.

tuatine' mechanism and not. infrequentlycaused:

sie nae t c si r-... a r ms o 3 accommodate operators, as well as elevated controls and the like. Therefore, this structure is of particular importance from the maintenance and operation standpoint. However, functionally, it is important in that it achieves more efficient location of the center of gravity, enables more uniform acceleration of the tube cut-off unit C, such acceleration being important so that the cut-off unit'attains virtually the speed of advancing movement of the tube T to be cut.

Likewise more uniform deceleration of move- 3 ment can be accomplished. A still further advantage resides in the greater stability of the the tube T is clamped by. a pair of clamping jaws .which are actuated bytoggle links 26 through a suitable hydraulic unit 21. It will be remembered that the tube '1 which issues from a suitable tube mill is constantly moving forwardly. Therefore, the advancing tube T is clamped by the jaws 25 and coincidentally therewith, the electric motor 22 is energized through said suitable switch means to impart the advancing translatory movement to the cut-off mechanism.

Following the clamping of the tube T by the jaws 25, cutting tools 28 suitably mounted in a tool carrier 29 advance toward the tube T to effect the cutting operation. After the tube has been severed, the tools 28 retract and subsequently the clamping jaws 25 are released, thereupon the unit C may be retracted along the rails l2 until the next succeeding cut-01f operation is required.

' Forming a part of the tool carrier 29 is a member 30 against which is clamped a member 3| and each of the members 30 and 3| is formed with an elongate arcuate groove provided with screw threads 32 which cooperate with each other. An adjusting screw 33 engages the complementary screw threads on the members 30 and 3|, thereby to afford initial adjustment of the tools 28 with respect to the tube to be severed. .As shown in Figure 4, the members 30 and 3| can move radially, their movement being guided by a pair of gibs 34, each of which has a substantially V-shaped groove to receive the tapering sides of the members 30 and 3|. I

Integral with the inner side of the member 30 and projecting at substantially right angles therefrom is a wedge member 35, the upper surface of which slopes or tapers upwardly from its outer free end. The wedge member 35 projects through an aperture 36 which is formed in the web of a flywheel 31, the aperture 36 being eccentric with respect to the flywheel web. As shown in the drawings, there are two tools 28, each carried by an individual carrier similar to the structure above described, but description of one carrier will suflice. The web of the flywheel 31 also is provided with a concentric aperture through which the tube T is adapted to pass. The web of the flywheel 31 abuts against the inner face of the tool carried 29 and is secured thereto so that rotation of the flywheel is im-. parted to the tool carrier through a key 38. The flywheel is provided with a series of annular V grooves 39 to receive V belts 40 which, as shown in Figure 2, are connected to a sheave driven by an electric motor 4|.

, It will be observed that the wedge member 35 i's'in the main'housed within the flywheel 31 and also housed within the flywheel 31 is a wedge 42,

' roller bearing units 52.

4 the lower face of which is tapered similarly to the upper face of the wedge member 35, a wear plate 43 of any suitable material providing the engaging surface for the wedge member 42. Manifestly, upon movement of the wedge 42 to the right of Figure 6, the wedge member 35 and the associated tool carrier mechanism is moved radially inwardly or toward-the tube T, thereby to bring the cutter tool 28 into engagement with the tube T. Upon movement of the wedge 42 to the left of the figure, the tool carrier is retracted by means of a coil spring 44, one end of which engages the under side of the wedge member 35 and the lower portion of which is disposed within a socket in the web of the flywheel 31.

The wedge 42 is integral with a spool 45 which is mounted upon a, sleeve 46. The spool 45 is formed with an elongate keyway 41 into which fits a key 43 carried bythe sleeve 46. This enables the sleev'e'45 to impart rotation to the spool 45 and also enables the spool 45 to shift axially along the sleeve 46 toward and away from the wedge member 35, thus concomitantly actuating both the cutting tools 28 to effect the cutting operation and also to enable the springs 44 to retract the tools to inoperative position.

The sleeve 45 has at one end an integral radial flange 49, the outer side of which abuts the adjacent side portion of the web of the flywheel 31 and the peripheral surface of which abuts the inner circumference of the flywheel. The flange 49 is secured for rotation to the flywheel by a key 50 and is formed with a pair of slots 49a to provide clearance for the wedging

members

35 and 42. Thus it will be understood that rotation of the flywheel 31 is transmitted through the key 55 to the flange 49 and thus to the sleeve 46 and through the-key 48 to the spool 45. Thus the flywheel and spool rotate at the same rate of speed and since the wedge member 35 and wedge 42 revolve at the same rate of speed, the axial shifting movement of the wedge 42 can readily be effected to achieve the advancing movement of the tools 28 and control the retraction thereof.

The sleeve 45 is mounted for rotation upon a supporting hub sleeve or tube 5| and interposed between the hub 5| and the sleeve 46 are two In order to militate against lubricant being thrown from the roller bearings 52, rings 53 are disposed on the outer 7 side of each roller bearing unit. At one end of the sleeve 46 is bolted a ring 54 formed with a series of grooves at the inner side to cooperate with a shoulder 55 on the hub 5| to provide a conventional grease labyrinth seal. The hub 5| is provided with an external annular flange 56 adjacent one end and this flange is connected by bolts to a wall 51 of the stationary supporting frame or housing. From the above description, it will be apparent that the hub 5| is rigidly supported through the medium of its radial flange 56 at one end, the opposite end bein free from supporting connection, the structure of the hub being suitably sturdy to support the sleeve 45 and spool 45.

A relatively thin wall liner tube 58 is disposed within the hub 5| and through the liner passes the tube T to be severed. As shown,'the liner 58 is fixed at one end to an external ring 59' which fits in a groove in the end portion of the hub 5| and is secured in place by a collar 65 which is suitably bolted to the hub. The outer end portion of the The spool 45 is formed with an annular groove 62 and engaging the side walls of the groove are rollers 63 mounted on a reduced neck 64 of a head 65, ball bearings being interposed between the neck 64 and the roller. The head 65 is rigid with a shank '66 which reciprocates horizontally in a stationary guide sleeve 61 projecting through an aperture in the housing wall 51. The shank 66 has secured to its inner end a piston rod 68 which has a piston 69 at its inner end. The piston 69 reciprocates in 'a horizontally disposed cylinder ill to which a tube H admits pressure fluid at one end and a tube 12 admits pressure fluid at the opposite end, thereby to drive the piston in one direction or the other.

As shown in Figure 6, there are two diametrically opposed hydraulic actuatin units as above described, these being of identical construction. At the proper time, liquid under pressure is admitted to the tube H to drive the piston 69 and associated parts and cause the spool 45 to move to the right of the figure and impart operative cutting movement to the cutting tools 28. Manifestly, by introducing liquid under pressure to the tube 12, the piston 69 is driven to the left of Figure 6, thereby moving the spool 45 and its wedge 42 away from the wedge 35 to allow the springs 44 to retract the cutting tools.

Reference is made to my co-pending application Serial No. 9,201, filed February 18, 1948, wherein the hydraulic system is shown and described for efiecting the operation of the hydraulic actuating unit above described, as well as the hydraulic unit controlling the tube clamping jaws 25 hereinbefore described, but since the same forms no part of the present invention, detail illustration and description of that system is not considered necessary here.

From the above description, it will be manifest that the driving and actuating mechanism for the cutting tools are greatly compacted, the number of parts substantially reduced, and an extremely eflicient arrangement is provided.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be efiected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a tube cutter, a tool carrier, a rotatable mounting for said tool carrier in which the latter has radial movement, a flywheel for rotating said mounting and abutting same, a driving connection between said flywheel and mounting, said fllywheel having a web centrally apertured to receive the tube to be cut and also having an eccentric aperture, a wedge member on said tool carrier projectin through and movable radially of said eccentric aperture, said wedge member being housed within said flywheel, a spool having a wedge engaging said wedge member, a rotatable sleeve concentric with said flywheel and on which said spool is mounted, a driving connection between said sleeve and spool enabling axial shifting movements of said spool relative to said sleeve, a support for said sleeve, and means providing an operative driving connection between said sleeve and flywheel.

2. In a tube cutter, a tool carrier, a rotatable mounting for said tool carrier in which the latter has radial movement, a flywheel for rotating said mounting and abutting same, a driving connection between said flywheel and mounting, said flywheel having a web centrally apertured to receive the tube to be cut and also having an ec- 6 centric aperture, a wedge member on said tool carrier projecting through and movable radially of said eccentric aperture, said wedge member being housed within said flywheel, a spool having a wedge engaging said wedge member, a rotatable sleeve concentric with said flywheel and on which said spool is mounted, a driving connection between said sleeve and spool enablin axial shifting movements of said spool relative to said sleeve, a support for said sleeve, a radial flange on said sleeve, and a driving connection between said flange and said flywheel.

3. In a tube cutter, a tool carrier, a rotatable mounting for said tool carrier in which the latter has radial movement, a flywheel for rotating said mounting and abutting same, a driving connection between said flywheel and mounting, said flywheel having a web centrally apertured to receive the tube to be out and also having an eccentric aperture, a wedge member on said tool carrier projecting through and movable radially of said eccentric aperture, said wedge member being housed within said flywheel, a spool having a wedge engaging said wedge member, a rotatable sleeve on which said spool is mounted, a connection between said sleeve and spool for causing the same to rotate together but to enable axial shifting movements of the spool relative to the sleeve, a driving connection between said sleeve and flywheel for causing conjoint rotary movement thereof, a stationary supporting tubular member concentric with said sleeve, said tubular member extending through the central aperture of the flywheel web, and anti-friction bearings between said tubular member and said sleeve.

4. In a tube cutter, a tool carrier, a rotatable mounting for said tool carrier in which the latter has radial movement, a flywheel for rotating said mounting and abutting same, a driving connection between said flywheel and mounting, said flywheel having a web centrally apertured to receive the tube to be cut and also having an eccentric aperture, a wedge member on said tool carrier projecting through and movable radially of said eccentric aperture, said wedge member being housed within said flywheel, a spool having a wedge engaging said wedge member, hydraulic means for imparting axial shifting movement to said spool and including a piston and cylinder assembly, a rotatable sleeve on which said spool is mounted, a connection between said sleeve and spool for causing the same to rotate together but to enable axial shifting movements of the spool relative to the sleeve, a driving connection between said sleeve and flywheel for causing conjoint rotary movement thereof, a. stationary supporting tubular member concentric with said sleeve, said tubular member extending through the central aperture of the flywheel web, and anti-friction bearings between said tubular member and said sleeve.

NELSON D. ABBEY.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,974 Guirl Jan. 10, 1939 556,857 Madden Mar. 24, 1896 789,776 White May 16, 1905 1,782,692 Lawson Nov. 25, 1930 1,934,997 Singer Nov. 14, 1933 2,262,178 Gest Nov. 11, 19 1.