Cutting Or Grooving Tool

Abstract

A tool provided with a plurality of cutting blades received in a carriage which is pivotally mounted to the tool for engaging and disengaging the cutting blades on a pipe. A compressed coil spring forcefully urges the cutting blades to penetrate into the pipe and a stop means is provided to limit penetration of the cutting blades. The tool is further provided with a removable cradle which adapts the tool for use with pipes of varying diameters.

Description

The present invention relates to a grooving or cutting tool, and more specifically, to a portable, light-weight and manually operated tool for cutting pipe or providing grooves in pipe. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tool is provided with locating apparatus for positively positioning the tool on a pipe to be cut or provided with grooves. The cutting blade or, alternatively, a plurality of groove cutting blades, are mounted on extended arms of a carriage which is pivotally mounted on the tool. A compressed coil spring forcefully pivots the carriage thereby engaging the cutting blade or groove cutting blades into engagement on the pipe. The tool is then rotated over the surface of the pipe, with the stored energy of the compressed coil spring supplying pressure between the cutting blades and the pipe. Rotation of the tool about the pipe is continued until the pipe sidewall is completely cut therethrough. Alternatively, an adjustable stop is provided to limit penetration of the cutting blades into the pipe sidewall. Thus, the preferred embodiment provides either pipe severing or a groove of precisely controlled depth in a pipe sidewall.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable and manually operated pipe cutting and grooving tool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable and manually operated tool for providing at least one groove of precisely controlled depth in a pipe sidewall.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable and manually operated cutting or grooving tool for pipe with a cradle apparatus for adapting the tool for use with pipes of different diameters.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable and manually operated pipe grooving tool with locating structure for positively positioning the tool into position on a pipe which is to be cut or provided with at least one groove.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pipe grooving tool with a compressed resilient spring for supplying cutting pressure to the cutting pressure to the cutting blade of the tool and camming structure for pivoting and disengaging the blade from the pipe and allowing removal of the tool therefrom.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon perusal of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective of a preferred embodiment of a portable and manually actuated grooving tool and an adapted therefor;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevation with parts in section illustrating a portion of a pipe provided with a series of grooves, together with fragmentary portions of a series of spaced groove cutting blades according to the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of one end of the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and with parts in section, illustrating the plurality of cutting blades according to the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 2 pivotally displaced to allow either positioning of the tool on a pipe to be cut, or removal of the tool from a pipe without interference with the cutting blades;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken generally along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 3 illustrating the cutting blades pivotally displaced to engage and penetrate into a pipe sidewall, and a compressed coil spring for supplying such pivotal displacement and cutting pressure to the blades, together with stop means for limiting expansion of the compressed coil spring and penetration of the cutting blades; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

With more particular reference to the drawings, a portable and manually operated lightweight tool for grooving pipe is indicated generally at 1 and includes a generally cylindrical housing 2, having an inner diameter 3. One end portion of which housing is encircled by a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves 4 generally of L-shaped cross section and extending generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing 2. The portions of the cylindrical housing between adjacent circumferentially spaced grooves 4 are provided with aligned arcuate grooves 6 for receiving a single circular wire ring 8 which, for example, is resiliently snapped into place within the grooves 6.

Further with reference to FIG. 1, the other end 10 of the cylindrical housing 2 includes a portion partially cut away and defined by, a pair of sidewalls 12 extending longitudinally of the cylindrical housing 2 and a radial sidewall 14 intersecting the sidewalls 12 and further defining the partially removed away portion. One of the sidewalls 12 is generally beveled and provided thereover with an elongated generally rectangular bar 16 overlying and attached to the beveled surface 12 by a weldment, for example. The bar 16 extends between and joins together a pair of laterally spaced elbow-shaped flanges 18 and 20 fixedly attached to the beveled surface 12 of the cylindrical housing 2 by weldments, one of which is shown at 22. Accordingly, the bar 16 and the laterally spaced elbow-shaped flanges 18 and 20 are fixedly secured to the housing 2. The end portion of the elbow-shaped flanges 18 and 20, that are spaced from the housing 2 and also from the bar 16, receive the end portions of a generally cylindrical pin 24 which extends therebetween.

With more particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of laterally spaced elbow-shaped arms 26 and 28 are pivotally received over the pin 24, with the arms 26 and 28 between the fixed exterior flanges 18 and 20. The arms 28 and 26 are joined together by a generally planar sidewall 30 to define a carriage pivotally mounted on the pin 24.

With more particular reference to FIG. 3, the sidewall 30 is in spaced opposed relationship from the bar 16, and is provided therethrough with an aperture 32 freely receiving the threaded stem of a set screw 34 having an enlarged head. An enlarged diameter bearing plate 36, having a projecting reduced diameter boss 38 thereon, is secured to the planar surface of the bar 16, between the bar 16 and the opposed sidewall 30. The stem of the set screw 34 is adjustable threadably received into the surface of the reduced diameter boss 38. A compressed coil spring 40 is received over the stem of the set screw 34, with one end of said spring bearing in compression against the planar surface of the sidewall 30, and the other end of said spring encircling the reduced diameter boss 38 and bearing in compression against the surface of the enlarged diameter plate 36. Accordingly, the coil spring 40 is compressibly retained between the bar 16 and the sidewall 30, and upon compression of the spring, the sidewall 30 will be displaced toward the fixedly secured bar 16 in order to cause pivotal displacement of the arms 26 and 28 about the pin 24 in the direction shown by the arrow 42.

With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 3, the pivotally mounted arms 26 and 28 of the carriage are provided with extended end portions 44 and 46, respectively. Disposed between the end portions 44 and 46 are a plurality of generally circular cutting blades 48, together with a spaced enlarged diameter, generally disc-shaped stop 50 adjacent to the end portion 44. The blades 48 and the stop 50 are carried on the stem of an elongated fastener 52 bridging between the end portions of the pivotally mounted arms 26 and 28. As shown in FIG. 1, the blades 48 and the stop 50 are disposed adjacent to the partially cut away portion of the housing 2 that is defined by the surfaces 12 and 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, taken in conjunction with FIG. 5, each of the blades 48 and the stop 50 is provided with a generally inverted L-shaped cut away portion 54, which provides a generally radially projecting cutting tip 48' on each of the blades 48, and a similar radially projecting tip 50' on the locating disc 50. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, when the coil spring 40 is compressed, the projecting tip 48' of each cutting blade will be pivoted generally clockwise about the pin 24 such that the radially projecting cutting tips 48' do not project beyond the inner diametrical sidewall 3 of the housing 2. However, the projecting tip 50' of the locating disc 50 does protrude into the housing diameter formed by the sidewall 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, with the compressed coil spring 40 in generally partially expanded condition, the sidewall 30 will be displaced from the fixed bar 16 thereby pivoting the blades 48 and the stop 50 counterclockwise about the pin 24. As a result, the radially projecting cutting tips 48' of the blades 48, as well as the radially projecting tip 50' of the locating disc 50 will protrude into the inner diameter of the housing formed by the inner diametrical sidewall 3.

With more particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, taken in conjunction with FIG. 1, the details of a cam structure for retaining the spring 40 in compressed condition will be explained in detail. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the carriage arm 26 has attached thereto a generally L-shaped flange 56, with a shorter leg secured at one end thereof to the intersection of the arm 26 and the sidewall 30 by a weldment 58. The longer leg of the L-shaped flange 56 is in parallel spaced relationship with respect to the arm 26, with a portion of the stationary flange 18 slidably received therebetween. A generally cylindrical, relatively enlarged diameter cam 60 is rotatably received in suitable aligned apertures of the arms 26 and 56. The cam 60 is provided with a generally central, reduced diameter, offset cylindrical portion 62 received in an enlarged diameter aperture 64 provided in the fixed arm 18. The cam is provided with a generally axially aligned enlarged diameter stem 66 having a laterally extending peg handle 68. With the cam offset portion 62 in the position shown in FIG. 4, the bores of the arms 26, 18 and 56 are aligned, thereby displacing the sidewall 30, from its position shown in phantom line at 30', toward the bar 16 and compressing the coil spring 40. With the coil spring 40 thus compressed, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tool 1, is received in a ratchet wrench and received over a pipe, the end portion of which is shown at 70 in FIG. 3 inserted into the inner diameter portion 3 of the housing 2. The radially projecting cutting edges 48' of the blades 48 will not protrude into the inner diametrical portion of the housing 2 freely allowing insertion or removal of the pipe 70. However, the tip 50' of the locating disc 50 will protrude into the housing and the pipe end portion 70 will abut thereagainst to properly position the pipe with respect to the cutting blades 48.

With the pipe end portion properly positioned as described, reference will be made to FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein the cutting operation will be described in detail. To begin the cutting procedure, the handle rod 68 is pivoted to its position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Such action rotates the offset cam portion 62 to its position shown in FIG. 6, thereby allowing the aperture 64 of the fixedly secured arm 18 to become misaligned from the apertures of the carriage arm 26 and the flange 56. Such action releases the sidewall 30 of the carriage and permits expansion of the coil spring 40. Such action pivots the cutting blades 48, counterclockwise about the pin 24 as shown in FIG. 5. The cutting tips 48' of the cutting blades 48 thus radially engage the circumference of the pipe as the end portion 70 of which is retained in the housing 2 and against the tip 50' of the locating disc 50. To begin the cutting operation, the end portion of the housing adjacent to the wire ring 8 is received in the commercially available ratchet wrench, not shown. The teeth of the ratchet wrench are received respectively in the grooves 4 of the housing and the wire ring 8 retains the wrench in position of the housing end portion. Generally, the pipe end portion 70 remains fixed while the ratchet wrench is pivotally actuated manually in the well known manner, causing the tool housing 2 to be rotated in a single direction, as shown by the arrow 72 in FIG. 5, generally clockwise over the cylindrical surface of the pipe end portion. Yet with reference to FIG. 5, the compressed coil spring will continue to expand, as the tool is rotated about the pipe, in order to supply cutting pressure to the cutting blade tips 48'. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 2, the cutting pressure supplied by expansion of the compressed coil spring 40 causes the cutting blade tips 48' to cut continuous grooves 74 in the circumference of the pipe end portion 70. Additionally as shown in FIG. 2, the locating disc 50 may also include a cutting edge 76 which provides a chamfer 78 on the terminal end portion of the pipe 70.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the depths of the grooves 74 and of the chamfer 78 may be precisely controlled by threadably adjusting the exposed length of the set screw stem. The coil spring 40 will continue to expand and supply cutting pressure until expansion of the spring 40 displaced the sidewall 30 into stopped engagement against the enlarged head of the set screw 34. When this occurs, the sidewall 30 will be stopped against the enlarged set screw head to prevent continued expansion of the compressed coil spring 40 and the continued application of cutting pressure. Thus, the cutting depths of the blade tips 48' may be precisely limited, thereby limiting cutting of the grooves 74 beyond a precisely controlled depth. Continued rotation of the tool would not produce a cutting action since the cutting pressure is removed as described.

To remove the tool, an operator need only pivot the handle 68 from its position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Such pivotal motion will return the offset cam surface 62 from its position shown in FIG. 6 to its position shown in FIG. 4, thereby compressing the coil spring 40 and pivoting the cutting blade tips 48' out of engagement with the pipe end portion 70. Additionally, the blade tips 48' will no longer protrude into the inner diametrical portion of the housing 2 thereby, permitting free withdrawal of the housing from the pipe end portion 70 without interference with the blade tips 48'.

With reference to FIG. 1, an adapted cradle, shown generally at 79, is provided with a first set of generally C-shaped laminated plates 80 and a second set of laminated plates 82, laterally spaced from the first set by a generally arcuate flange spacer 84. The laminates are retained in stacked relationship by connecting rods, one of which is shown at 85. The end of the set of plates 80 is provided with a depending loop locating pin 86. The cradle 79 is removably inserted in the housing 2, with the plates 80 disposed slong the housing inner diametrical sidewall 3 in spaced opposed relationship from the cutting blades 48, and with the pin 86 in registration with a complimentary notch 88 provided in the end of the housing 2. The cradle thus adapts the inner diametrical portion 3 of the housing to accept pipes of different diameters.

An obvious modification not specifically shown in the drawings is the replacement of the cutting blades 48 and the locating disc 50 with a single cutting blade. This can be accomplished by removal of the threaded fastener 52 to remove the cutting blade 48 and the locating disc 50. The single cutting blade may then be mounted to the carriage arms 26 and 28 by the threaded fastener 52. Thus, upon operation of the cutting procedure as above described, the single blade may be utilized to cut entirely through the cylindrical circumference of a pipe located within the tool, provided that the set screw 34 is properly adjusted to permit a depth of cut entirely through the sidewall of the pipe.

Thus, what has been described are preferred embodiments of the invention. However, the spirit and scope of the present invention are not to be limited by description of the specific embodiments, but additional modifications and embodiments will become obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, wherein:

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cutting tool for rotation over the circumference of a pipe, comprising:

a tubular housing encircling and slidably receiving said pipe therein,

cutting means pivotally mounted on said tubular housing for engaging said pipe and for selectively cutting or grooving said pipe,

disengaging means for rotating said cutting means relative to said tubular housing, pivoting said cutting means away from said pipe, disengaging said cutting means from said pipe and allowing removal of said pipe from said tubular housing,

biasing means for biasing said cutting means in a direction for engagement with and penetration into said pipe, and

stop means extending from said tubular housing into the rotational path of said cutting means for limiting penetration of said cutting means into said pipe when grooving said pipe.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1 and further including:

carriage means receiving said cutting means, and

cam means for association with said disengaging means for displacing said carriage means and for disengaging said cutting means from said pipe.

3. The structure as recited in claim 1 and further including:

an elongated, C-shaped cradle adapted to be removably positioned within said tubular housing with the opening in said cradle adjacent to said cutting means whereby said cradle permits said tubular housing to receive a pipe of a diameter smaller than a pipe received by said tubular housing without said cradle.

4. The structure as recited in claim 1, and further including: locating means associated with said cutting means for locating said pipe in a desired relationship with respect to said cutting means.

5. A cutting tool for rotation over the circumference of a pipe, comprising:

a tubular housing encircling and slidably receiving said pipe therein,

cutting means for engaging and cutting said pipe,

a carriage arm having said cutting means extending therefrom pivotally mounted on said tubular housing and operable to produce substantially radial movement of said cutting means with respect to said pipe,

biasing means between said tubular housing and said carriage arm for biasing said carriage arm in a direction for engagement of said cutting means with said pipe, and

disengaging means for moving said carriage arm relative to said tubular housing in opposition to said biasing means to pivot said cutting means away from said pipe, disengage said pipe, and allow removal of said pipe from said tubular housing.

6. A cutting tool as set forth in claim 5, said tubular housing having an outer surface adapted to receive means adapted for rotating said tubular housing around said pipe.

7. A cutting tool as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

a. said tubular housing includes an lateral extension thereon; and

b. said disengaging means including a cam pivotally mounted on said carriage arm and having a cam surface which acts on said extension of said tubular housing, said cam being rotatable to a position to cause said carriage arm to move in opposition to said biasing means.

8. A cutting tool as set forth in claim 5 including:

an elongated, C-shaped cradle adapted to be removably positioned within said tubular housing with the opening of said cradle adjacent to said cutting means whereby said cradle permits said tubular housing to receive a pipe of a diameter smaller than a pipe received by said tubular housing without said cradle.

9. A cutting tool as set forth in claim 5 including:

said cutting means having at least one cutting or grooving blade selectively positioned axially relative to said tubular housing,

adjustable stop means extending from said tubular housing into the rotational path of said carriage arm for stopping the biased rotation of said carriage arm and for limiting the penetration of said cutting means into said pipe when grooving said pipe.

10. A cutting tool as set forth in claim 9 including:

a locating member extending from said carriage arm toward said pipe to limit the insertion of said pipe into said tubular housing and to locate said pipe in a desired relationship with respect to said cutting means.

11. A cutting tool as set forth in claim 10, said locating member including a cutting edge to chamfer the end of said pipe.

12. A cutting tool for rotation over the circumference of a pipe, comprising:

a tubular housing encircling and slidably receiving said pipe therein and having an outer surface adapted to receive a wrench for rotating said tubular housing around said pipe, said tubular housing further having a lateral extension thereon,

cutting means for engaging and for cutting or grooving said pipe and having at least one cutting or grooving blade selectively positioned axially relative to said tubular housing,

said cutting means extending from a carriage arm which is pivotally mounted on said tubular housing to produce substantially radial movement of said cutting means with respect to said pipe,

biasing means between said tubular housing and said carriage arm for biasing said carriage arm in a direction for engagement of said cutting means with said pipe,

a cam pivotally mounted on said carriage arm and having a cam surface acting on said extension of said tubular housing, said cam being rotatable to a position to cause said carriage arm to move in opposition to said biasing means,

adjustable stop means extending from said tubular housing into the rotational path of said carriage arm for stopping the biased rotation of said carriage arm and for limiting the penetration of said cutting means into said pipe when grooving said pipe,

a locating member extending from said carriage arm toward said pipe to limit the insertion of said pipe into said tubular housing and to locate said pipe in a desired relationship with respect to said cutting means, and

said locating member including a cutting edge to chamfer the end of said pipe.

13. A cutting tool as set forth in claim 12 including:

an elongated C-shaped cradle adapted to be removably positioned within said tubular housing with the opening of said cradle adjacent to said cutting means whereby said cradle permits said tubular housing to receive a pipe of a diameter smaller than a pipe received by said tubular housing without said cradle.