US2749983A - Pipe and tube cutting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. F. ROGERS PIPE AND TUBE CUTTING APPARATUS R O T m M m H m INT m R I E w L a 5 5 U R z a a mm u \x uH llll WW Ill ldi-llll N H- 1 11 J .1 llllll ll \NIaVI llnfln LuLuuLwuLHfirrBuBurnBnuE E M r w i n" NT .ib a B "I I I I l v on w mm Q n mo 2 MN June 12, 1956 Filed Aug. 25, 1952 BY f mf gnfl ATTORNEY June 12, 1956 R. F. ROGERS PIPE AND TUBE CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 21:: :1: 32 min-155mg EQ'JJJJJJILELT lgnrrmnts ELUIIJJJELmi-JELFI V 3! -31 u 5l INVENTOR RUSSELL E ROGERS ATTORNEY United States Patent G PIPE AND TUBE CUTTING APPARATUS Russell Ford Rogers, Youngstown, Ohio Application August 23, 1952, Serial No. 305,960

1 Claim. (Cl. 164-61) The present invention relates to pipe and tube cutting apparatus, and more particularly to improvements in the design and method of operation of such apparatus whereby the cutting or severing operation may be most advantageously eflected and whereby the severedarticle is of an improved quality as regards the condition of the end surface thereof provided by a severing operation.

In one of its aspects my present invention is concerned with the severing of tubular lengths into a plurality of lengths of short longitudinal extent for the ultimate manufacture of such lengths into pipe nipples, couplings and the like. In this respect the invention seeks to provide an improved apparatus for severing the tubular stock material whereby the severed lengths are suitable for threading, either internally or externally, or both, without additional machining operations heretofore usually required to prepare the severed lengths for the threading operation. In accordance with my teachings the operation may be carried out without causing any burr or other appreciable projection of metal at the end surface of the pipe so that internal or external threading operations may be effected immediately subsequent to the cut-off and without an intermediate deburring operation as heretofore required where the tubes are severed by conventional means.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus having the characteristics enumerated above wherein roller type cutters are utilized for severing the pipe or tube rather than saw or parting tool type cutters. In the past it has been proposed to sever tubes and pipes by means of, for example, a saw passing transversely through the material, or one or more parting tools (thin tool bits of the type used in metal working lathes) which are rotated relative to the tubular stock and caused to advance progressively thereinto to efiect a severing operation. Either of these two last mentioned arrangements tends to reduce the difiiculties caused by the formation of a burr during the severing operation, but both cause the removal and loss of a certain amount of the parent material. Over a sustained period of operation this loss of material represents a substantial financial loss in the operation. However, my arrangement obviates this objectionable feature while at the same time avoiding the formation of any burr in the severing operation.

More specifically, the invention seeks to provide a practical and efiective arrangement for utilizing roller type cutters for severing tubular stock wherein cutters are provided for acting on both the interior and exterior surfaces of the stock rather than on the exterior surface alone as has been common in the past. As will be readily appreciated, roller type cutters tend to displace as Well as cut the material in the direction of application of force to the rollers and hence it is not uncommon for a large burr to tend to build up on the tubular surface opposite that at which the rollers are initially applied. However, with my apparatus the rollers enter the material in both directions and thus any tendency for the material to be displaced in one direction is opposed and counteracted by a similar tendency for the material to be displaced in the opposite direction. The cumula- Patented June 12, 1956 contouring the cutting rollers so that as the same advance into the work the material is caused to be displaced in a longitudinal direction to provide the desired contour. As will appear hereinafter, this arrangement is made possible by the basic teachings of my invention which provide apparatus capable of operating on opposite surfaces of tubular material rather than on a single surface only thereof.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed specification and accompanying drawing wherein are disclosed certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of tube severing apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention;

Figure '2 is an enlarged fragmentary section View taken generally along line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section view taken along line III-III of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of a modification of the apparatus of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing and initially to Figure 1 thereof, the numeral 10 designates a machine frame comprising generally a pair of spaced longitudinally disposed I-beam or channel members 11 supported in spaced relation to a foundation 12 by a plurality of suitable legs 13. Secured to the upper surface of the longi tudinal members 11 in outwardly overhanging relation are guiding tracks 14 which serve to support and guide in longitudinal movement a chuck-supporting head 15 which is operative in a manner to be hereinafter described to support and rotate a pipe or other tubular member during the performance of a cutting operation thereon.

In accordance with the general teachings of the invention the chuck-supporting head 15 comprises a rigid housing 16 which forms the main body of the head 15 and which is provided with suitable guiding grooves 17 arranged to register and cooperate with the tracks 14 to accurately guide the head 15 for movement in a longitudinal direction only. The housing 16 rotatably supports by means of spaced roller bearings 17 and 18 a tubular chuck-mounting member 19 which, as illustrated in Figure 1, extends axially outward of each end of the housing 16.

Rigidly secured to the forward or left hand end of the tubular member 19 is a chuck 20 which may be of conventional construction and which is provided with a central longitudinal opening 21 arranged to register with the tubular member 19. In the present illustration the chuck 20 is provided with a plurality of adjustable jaws 22 arranged to grip standard pipe or tubular stock of from about four to twelve inches in diameter.

Secured to the right hand end of the tubular chucksupporting member 19 is a suitable sprocket arranged to engage a chain 23 driven by a motor 24, the latter being rigidly secured to and carried by the housing 16. The motor 24 may be hydraulically or electrically operated, but should be capable of accurate speed control so that the speed of rotation of the chuck 20 may be properly correlated with the diameter of the tubular section gripped therein; the preferred arrangement being such that a tubular section may be rotated relative to stationary cutters, to be described, at a speed most suitable for carrying out the cutting operation,

Positioned at or near the forward end of the frame and mounted for movement transversely of the principal longitudinal axis thereof is a pair of opposed upstanding cutter mounting members 25 and 26 which are supported and guided by spaced transversely disposed rails 27. As illustrated in Figure 2, one of the last mentionedrnembers, i. e., member 25, rotatably carries a conventional cutter wheel 30 which is positioned substantially at the same height as the rotational axis of the chuck so that upon transverse movement of the member the wheel will be carried radially toward or away from the center of a pipe or tubular section 29 mounted on the chuck 20. The member 26 carries a pair of cutter wheels 30 which are spaced relatively and positioned respectively above and below the cutter wheel carried by member 25 so that when pressure is applied to a pipe 29 by means of a closing movement of the members 25 and 26 the pipe 29 will tend to center itself with respect to all of the cutter wheels.

Each of the members 25 and 26 is provided with a pair of spaced downwardly depending lugs 31 which are bored and threaded internally to receive a transversely disposed shaft 32 carried by. the frame 10. As indicated in Figure 2, the shaft 32 is provided with oppositely arranged threaded portions for engaging each of the members 25 and 26 whereby rotation of the shaft 32 will cause simultaneous movement of the members 25 and 26 either toward or away from the rotational axis of the chuck 20 and tubular section 29 gripped therein.

Usually it is desirable to provide suitable means at the forward end of the apparatus for aiding in the support of pipes or tubes to be severed, and in the prment illustration I utilize a pair of spaced rollers 33 journaled in mounting brackets 34 and arranged to engage the lower external side wall surface of the pipe 29 and to antifrictionally support the latter for rotation by the chuck 20. The mounting brackets 34 may be interchangeable, as in the present illustration, or may be adjustable so that pipes or tubular sections of various diameters may be readily accommodated in the apparatus.

In accordance with the teachings of the invention I provide in addition to the cutter wheels 30, a plurality of cutter wheels 35 which are operative to act on the inside surface of the tubular section 29 and in opposition to the cutters 30. The cutter wheels 35 are carried by an elongated mandrel 36 which extends through the housing 16 and chuck 20 and through a tubular section 29, when the latter is positioned for a cutting operation. As illustrated in Figure l, the mandrel 36 is secured at its right hand end by means of an anchoring block 37 which is in turn rigidly secured to the machine frame It). Suitable keys 38 prevent any rotation of the mandrel 36, while collars 39 prevent any longitudinal movement, although a certain measure of longitudinal adjustment is afforded by reason of a threaded interconnection between the mandrel 36 and. collars 39.

in the preferred form of the invention the mandrel 36 is provided at its outer free end with a plurality of radially directed slots 40 each of which isadapted to slidably receive a carrier block 4.1 for radial movement toward or away from the axis of the mandrel. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 each of the carrier blocks 41 journals a cutter wheel 35 near its outer edge portion which cutter is adapted for engagement with the inside surface of the tubular section 29 in the manner illustrated in Figure 3.

According to the teachings of the invention the slots 49 are so arranged as to position the carrier blocks 41 and cutters 35 in angularly displaced relation to the cutter wheels 30 so that a favorable balance of forces is obtained during advancement of the cutters into the wall of the pipe 29 and also so that there is no possibility l: of the cutter wheels 30 and 35 interfering during a cutting operation;

The carrier blocks 41 are held in position and guided by an end cap member 42 which encloses the open sides of the slots 40 and which is secured in the manner shown by a plurality of bolts 43. In accordance with the teachings of the invention the end cap 42 is readily removable from the mandrel 36 and for any particular operation should be substantially equal in diameter to the internal diameter of the tubular stock being cut. Thus, the end cap 42 serves an additional function of insuring proper positioning of the pipe 29 with respect to the cutter wheels. Also in accordance with my invention, where the pipe 29 to be cut is larger internally than the outside diameter of the mandrel 36 a spacing collar 44 is mounted on the mandrel adjacent the right hand edge of the slots 4.0 to assist in properly positioning the pipe with respectto the mandrel 36. And in instances where the diameter of the pipe 29 substantially exceeds the diameter of the mandrel- 36 either the spacing collar 44 or the end cap. 42, or both, will be provided with slots, not shown, arranged to register with the slots in the mandrel whereby to assure adequate support and guidance of the carrier blocks 41. Also, where pipe of maximum or near maximum size, for example about ten to twelve inches in diameter, is to be cut, it may be desirable to utilize a modified mandrel assembly, not shown, incorporating four or more radially movable carrier blocks. Such a modification may be provided by any skilled mechanic.

For manipulating the carrier blocks 41 and cutters 35, carried thereby during a severing operation the mandrel 36 is provided along its principal axis with a bore 45 arranged to slidably receive an elongated operating rod 46 which extends outwardly of the right hand or fixed end of the mandrel as shown in Figure l. the forward end of the operating rod 46 is an enlarged plug 47 which is provided with a plurality of converging dovetail slots 48 arranged to engage complementary dovetail inner end portions 49 of the carrier blocks 41. In this manner the blocks 41 and cutters 35 may be simultaneously moved radially inward or outward upon suitable longitudinal movement of the operating rod 46, and it is of course contemplated that the plug 47 will be so designed as to afford control movement of sufficient magnitude to permit the cutters 35 to pass, for example, half way through the side wall of any pipe 29 which may be accommodated in the apparatus.

To effect longitudinal control movement of the rod 46 I have mounted a double -acting hydraulic cylinder 50 at the right hand end of the frame it), and as illustrated in Figure l the piston member of the cylinder 50 is connected to the rod 46. By means of suitable hydraulic circuitry, not shown, including a suitable metering valve, also not shown, I may cause the rod 46 and consequently the cutter wheels 35 to move at an accurately controllable rate whereby to effect a cut upon the interior surface of a pipe 29 in the most expeditious manner. Suitable limit adjustments in the form of nuts 51 and 52 may be provided on the rod .6 so that upon a full forward stroke of the cylinder 50 the cutters 35 will have advanced only as far as desired, while upon a full rearward stroke of the cylinder the cutters 35 will slightly recess within the end cap 42 and collar 44 so that the pipe 29 may pass freely thereover without damaging or dulling the cutters.

Figure 4 of the drawing illustrates the apparatus as set up for performing cutting operations on pipe 29 of minimum size, that is, pipe having an internal diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the mandrel 36. For this set-up an end cap 42' is utilized which is equal in diameter to the mandrel 36, and the spacing collar 44 is eliminated. Also carrier blocks 41' are used which are shorter than the blocks 41 illustrated in Figure 3 so that, in accordance with the principles of the invention, the cutter wheels 35 will be slightly recessed within the Secured to,

peripheral outline of the mandrel when the cylinder 50 is positioned in a rearward limit position.

To adapt the apparatus for stock larger than that illustrated in Figure 4, the spacing collar 44 and end cap 42 are substituted for equivalent members of the appropriate diameter, and the carrier blocks 41 are also exchanged for longer blocks as will be understood.

In operation, my apparatus is initially set up in the manner illustrated in Figure l, with the chuck-supporting head 15 positioned at or near the right hand limit of its travel and an elongated section of tubular stock 29 engaged by the chuck 2 3 and supported in concentric relation to the cutter wheels 30 and 35 by means of antifriction rollers 33 and by the collar 44 and end cap 42.

To position the stock 29 in the desired longitudinal relation to the cutters 30 and 35 the chuck-supporting head 15 may be shifted longitudinally on the guides 14 therefor, and for this purpose I provide an elongated longitudinally disposed threaded shaft 53 which engages the head 15 and which may be rotated by a suitable motor 55 operated from a hydraulic or electric power source as may be desired.

After the stock is properly positioned the motor 24 is energized to rotate the chuck 20 and stock 29, and at this time the cylinder 50 is energized to move in a foiward direction to cause the interior cutter wheels 35 to move outwardly into the side wall of the stock. Also at this time the external cutter wheels 30 are caused to advance into the stock, and in the presently illustrated apparatus this is accomplished by manual rotation of the threaded shaft 32 by means of a hand wheel 56.

It will be understood that the movement of the external cutters 30 need not be correlated with the movement of the interior cutters 35. However, if such correlation is desired the shaft 32 may be mechanically associated with the operating rod 46 by suitable additional linkage which may be provided by a competent engineer.

After a severing operation is completed the cylinder 50 is energized in a reverse direction to retract the internal cutters 35 and the hand wheel 56 is appropriately rotated to retract the external cutters 30. When the cutters are retracted sufiiciently to avoid interference with the tubular stock 29 the latter is caused to move longitudinally forward by energizing the motor 55 to cause the chucksupporting head 15 to move in a forward direction. A new cutting operation may be initiated immediately upon the stock 29 being properly positioned with respect to the cutters. This procedure is continued until the stock is exhausted, whereupon new stock is loaded into the chuck 20 as will be understood.

When it becomes necessary or desirable to change the size of the stock being severed the apparatus is first altered as set forth above by interchanging the collar 44, end cap 42 and the carrier blocks 41 with equivalent members which are dimensionally suitable for the stock to be cut. It is of course contemplated that a complete set of such members will be on hand so that all standard size stock within the minimum and maximum limits of the apparatus may be readily accommodated.

My apparatus is particularly advantageous for severing tubular stock into a plurality of short lengths for nipples, couplings and the like since the nature of the cutting operation is such that little or no radial projection of metal is formed adjacent the cut. Hence if a subsequent threading operation is desired the same may be immediately carried out and intermediate and expensive deburring operations which have heretofore been required are eliminated. And it will be noted that with my apparatus this may be accomplished without removing metal during the cut. The cutting operation is merely one of parting rather than removing metal. This method of cutting tubular stock is of course basically old, but heretofore it has been possible to cut from the outside only which resulted in the formation of a large burr along the inside surface of the stock. It was necessary to remove this burr before the stock could be threaded internally, and usually it was desirable to remove the burr under any circumstances since the same would interfere with fluid flow through the pipe, or would create a dangerous condition where electrical conductors, for example, were housed within the tubular stock.

An advantageous feature of my invention which lends materially to its practicability and structural soundness resides in the combined use of non-rotating angular-1y displaced inner and outer cutter wheels with means for rotating the tubular stock relative to the cutters. This arrangement materially simplifies the control and manipulation of the cutters, particularly the internal cutters as will be understood. Positioning of the internal and external cutters in angular-1y displaced or oifset relation is also advantageous in that the cutters may be advanced into overlapping relation to insure a complete and clean parting of the stock without causing the cutters to interfere and thereby become dulled or damaged.

A further advantageous feature of my invention resides in the fact that the axial end of the tubular stock may be worked and shaped to a certain degree during the cutting operation so that upon completion thereof the stock may be provided with a beveled or radiused end as may be desired in certain instances. This may be accomplished by suitably contouring the cutter wheels so that as the same are advanced into the work the stock is displaced longitudinally to a certain extent to provide the desired contour. It will be readily apparent that I may thereby eliminate not only a deburring operation, but also other operations which are sometimes necessary or desirable to properly prepare the stock ends for subsequent threading, for example.

It will be understood, of course, that the apparatus herein specifically disclosed is capable of substantial modification within the spirit of the invention, and for this reason reference should be had to the appended claim in determining the true scope of the invention.

I claim:

In apparatus for severing tubular stock the combination of a base, a rotatable centrally apertured pipe supporting chuck, means mounting said chuck on said base for longitudinal movement therealong, an anchor block fixed on said base on one side of said chuck, a mandrel anchored in said block and extending through said chuck to the other side thereof, a plurality of internal cutters carried by said mandrel, an operating rod extending through said mandrel and adapted upon longitudinal movement with respect to said mandrel to move said internal cutters radially inward or outward, power means on said base for effecting longitudinal movement of said operating rod, and external cutters mounted on said base opposite said internal cutters and movable toward and away from the same, the arrangement being such that a length of tubular stock gripped in said rotatable chuck may be severed into a plurality of elements upon longitudinal movement of the chuck along said base between severing operations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 134,150 Luther et al. Dec. 24, 1872 213,691 Reichardt Mar. 25, 1879 408,162 Condon July 30, 1889 810,764 Hollingshead et al. Jan. 23, 1906 1,279,965 Bacon Sept. 24, 1918 1,283,969 Tertrou Nov. 8, 1918 1,927,310 Edwards Sept. 19, 1933 2,055,909 Peeler Sept. 29, 1936 2,304,828 Joy Dec. 15, 1942 2,598,930 Murphy June 3, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,301 Great Britain Mar. 2, 1914

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