Pipe rotator assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11027381-B2
Application number	US-201916402433-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2019
Priority date	May 3, 2018
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A pipe rotator assembly includes a frame upon which a cylindrical pipe is supportable, and a wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and engageable with the pipe for imparting rotation thereto in response to rotation of the wheel. The pipe rotator assembly additionally includes a drive shaft coupled to the wheel for transferring torque thereto, causing the wheel to rotate, and a drive unit for providing torque to the drive shaft. The drive unit includes an electric motor and an onboard power source for powering the motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe rotator assembly comprising:
a frame upon which a cylindrical pipe is supportable;
a wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and engageable with the pipe for imparting rotation thereto in response to rotation of the wheel;
a drive shaft coupled to the wheel for transferring torque thereto, causing the wheel to rotate; and
a drive unit for providing torque to the drive shaft, wherein the drive unit includes an electric motor and an onboard power source for powering the motor, and wherein the drive unit further includes a chuck drivably coupled to the motor.

2. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a gearbox including an input shaft and the drive shaft.

3. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the drive unit provides a first rotational speed to the input shaft, and the gearbox provides a second rotational speed to the drive shaft.

4. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed.

5. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a mounting plate coupled to the gearbox, and a rod positioned between the mounting plate and the frame.

6. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 5 , wherein the gearbox, the mounting plate, and the rod support the drive unit on the frame, and wherein the rod is engageable with a portion of the drive unit to impart a reaction torque on the drive unit, thereby permitting the drive unit to provide torque to the output shaft for rotating the wheel.

7. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the chuck removably couples the drive unit to the remainder of the pipe rotator assembly.

8. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wheel is a first wheel, and wherein the pipe rotator assembly further comprises a second wheel rotatably coupled to the frame upon which the pipe is supportable.

9. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first wheel is a driven wheel and the second wheel is an idler wheel.

10. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the onboard power source is a rechargeable power tool battery pack.

11. A pipe rotator assembly comprising:
a frame upon which a cylindrical pipe is supportable;
a first wheel and a second wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and engageable with the pipe for imparting rotation thereto in response to rotation of the first and second wheels;
a gearbox including an input shaft and an output shaft, wherein the output shaft is coupled to the first wheel for transferring torque thereto, causing the first wheel to rotate; and
a drive unit for providing torque to the output shaft, wherein the drive unit includes an electric motor and an onboard power source for powering the motor, and wherein the drive unit includes a chuck drivably coupled to the motor;
wherein the drive unit provides a first rotational speed to the input shaft and the gearbox provides a second rotational speed to the output shaft, and wherein the first rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed.

12. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first wheel is a driven wheel and the second wheel is an idler wheel.

13. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the chuck removably couples the drive unit to the input shaft of the gearbox.

14. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the onboard power source is a rechargeable power tool battery pack.

15. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a mounting plate coupled to the gearbox, and a rod positioned between the mounting plate and the frame.

16. The pipe rotator assembly of claim 15 , wherein drive unit is supported on the frame via the gearbox, the mounting plate, and the rod, and wherein the rod is engageable with a portion of the drive unit to impart a reaction torque on the drive unit, thereby permitting the drive unit to provide torque to the output shaft for rotating the first wheel.

17. A method of supporting a pipe during a pipe beveling operation, the method comprising:
positioning a first end of the pipe within a cradle of a pipe rotator assembly;
connecting a chuck of a drive unit to a shaft of the pipe rotator assembly, wherein the chuck is drivably coupled to a motor of the drive unit; and
activating the drive unit, thereby causing the drive unit to impart torque to the shaft and a wheel on the cradle upon which the pipe is supported, thereby causing the wheel and the pipe to rotate.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising imparting a reaction torque to the drive unit with a rod affixed to the cradle, thereby permitting the drive unit to provide torque to the wheel, causing it to rotate.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the wheel is a first wheel, and wherein positioning the first end of the pipe on the cradle includes positioning the first end of the pipe upon the first wheel and a second, non-driven wheel.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Onushko Walter A
• Tuma Michael J
• Fulop Joseph J
• White Daniel R
• Gee Kevin R

Classifications

• B23B5/16 Primary

  for bevelling, chamfering, or deburring the ends of bars or tubes · CPC title

• B23Q3/064 Primary

  for holding elongated workpieces, e.g. pipes, bars or profiles · CPC title

• B23B5/167

  Tools for chamfering the ends of bars or tubes · CPC title

• B23Q1/64

  characterised by the purpose of the movement (indexing equipment B23Q16/02) · CPC title