Rapidly retractable tool support for a pipe machining apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10919097-B2
Application number	US-202016840681-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2020
Priority date	Oct 4, 2012
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

Pipe machining apparatuses, tool supports, and methods of operating pipe machining apparatuses are provided. In one aspect, a pipe machining apparatus includes a frame, a tool carrier coupled to and movable relative to the frame, and a tool support coupled to and movable with the tool carrier relative to the frame. The tool support is adapted to support a tool and move the tool in a first direction toward a pipe at a first increment and move the tool in a second direction away from the pipe at a second increment. The second increment is larger than the first increment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of operating a tool support, the method comprising:
providing a tool clamp adapted to support a tool;
moving a worm gear to a first position;
coupling the worm gear with a feed screw in the first position;
rotating the worm gear in a first worm gear direction to rotate the feed screw;
moving the tool clamp along the feed screw to move the tool in a first tool direction upon rotating the worm gear in the first worm gear direction;
rotating the worm gear in a second worm gear direction to rotate the feed screw;
moving the tool clamp along the feed screw to move the tool in a second tool direction upon rotating the worm gear in the second worm gear direction;
moving the worm gear to a second position;
uncoupling the worm gear from the feed screw in the second position; and
rotating the feed screw independently of the worm gear with the worm gear in the second position.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
fixedly coupling a drive gear to the feed screw;
rotating the drive gear with the feed screw;
engaging the worm gear with the drive gear in the first position; and
disengaging the worm gear from the drive gear in the second position.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
moving the tool at a first increment in the first and second tool directions with the worm gear in the first position; and
moving the tool at a second increment in the second tool direction with the worm gear in the second position, wherein the second increment is larger than the first increment.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first increment is a first linear distance traveled by the tool as a result of a single rotation of the worm gear, and wherein the second increment is a second linear distance traveled by the tool as a result of a single rotation of the feed screw, the second linear distance being larger than the first linear distance.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
coupling a key element of the worm gear with a key feature of a drive coupling with the worm gear in the first position; and
rotating the worm gear and the drive coupling together when coupled.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
uncoupling the key element from the key feature with the worm gear in the second position; and
rotating the worm gear and the drive coupling independently of each other when uncoupled.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Coakley Roy C

Classifications

• Y10T82/22

  Portable lathe for pipe turning · CPC title

• Y10T82/2512

  having facing tool fed transverse to work · CPC title

• Y10T82/16951

  Tool adjustment and/or stop · CPC title

• B23B5/08

  for turning axles, bars, rods, tubes, rolls, i.e. shaft-turning lathes, roll lathes; Centreless turning · CPC title

• Y10T82/16442

  with means to circumrotate tool[s] about work · CPC title