Slitting devices and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11097441-B2
Application number	US-201715629948-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2017
Priority date	Jun 22, 2017
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

A device for slitting a tubular workpiece into strips includes radially disposed cutting members. The device may include a tapered infeed mandrel for maintaining tension on the tubular workpiece being slit and optionally an exit mandrel. In embodiments, the position of the radially disposed cutting members may be adjustable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising;
an infeed mandrel having an outer surface configured to receive a tubular workpiece therearound;
a frame having a body and at least one opening;
a support structure secured to and spanning across a width of the frame, the support structure having a stationary central rod mounted thereon, the stationary central rod positioned near a central portion of the frame and extending towards a central portion of the infeed mandrel;
a plurality of cutting members supported on and extending radially outward from the stationary central rod to the body of the frame; and
a power source coupled to the cutting members and configured to heat the cutting members to cut the tubular workpiece.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cutting members are wires.

3. A device according to claim 2 , wherein the wires are heated by a circuit including the wires and the power source.

4. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cutting members are supported on the frame under tension.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein;
the infeed mandrel is configured to be positioned within, and to expand a diameter of, the tubular workpiece.

6. A device according to claim 5 , wherein the infeed mandrel includes an upstream portion having a first diameter and a downstream portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the upstream portion of the infeed mandrel.

7. A device according to claim 6 , wherein the diameter of the upstream portion of the infeed mandrel is less than an unexpanded diameter of the tubular workpiece, and the diameter of the downstream portion of the infeed mandrel is greater than the unexpanded diameter of the tubular workpiece.

8. A device according to claim 5 further comprising an exit mandrel.

9. A system for cutting a tubular workpiece into strips comprising;
a source of tubular workpiece stock material;
a slitting station including a device according to claim 8 ;
a drive mechanism; and
a collection station.

10. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a nip roller for pulling cut strips of material through the slitting station.

11. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the collection station includes a spool around which the strips may be stored.

12. A system according to claim 9 further comprising a cutting station for cutting the strips to a desired length prior to reaching the collection station.

13. A device according to claim 1 wherein;
the frame includes a plurality of apertures on a central portion of the frame, each aperture configured to secure a first end of a cutting member, and a plurality of holes on a peripheral portion of the frame, each of the plurality of holes configured to secure a second end of the cutting member; and
wherein each cutting member of the plurality of cutting members extends from the central portion of the frame to the peripheral portion of the frame.

14. A device according to claim 13 , wherein a position of the second end of a cutting member of the plurality of cutting members can be moved from a first hole of the plurality of holes to a second hole of the plurality of holes.

15. A device according to claim 13 , further comprising a conductive ring secured to the frame, an intermediate portion of the plurality of cutting members contacting the conductive ring.

16. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure is a strut.

17. A device according to claim 1 , wherein each cutting member of the plurality of cutting members includes a first end connected to the stationary central rod, and a second end connected to the frame.

18. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the stationary central rod is secured to a central portion of the infeed mandrel.

19. A device comprising;
a frame having a body and at least one opening;
a stationary central rod positioned near a central portion of the at least one opening;
a support structure, the support structure secured both to the frame and to the stationary central rod;
an infeed mandrel configured to receive a tubular workpiece therearound;
a plurality of cutting members supported on and extending radially outward from the stationary central rod towards the body of the frame;
a power source coupled to the plurality of cutting members and configured to heat the cutting members to cut the tubular workpiece; and
wherein the stationary central rod extends towards a central portion of the infeed mandrel.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of cutting members are supported on the frame under tension.

21. The device of claim 19 further comprising a plurality of spring loaded plungers coupled to the cutting members.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein the spring loaded plungers couple the power source to the cutting members.

23. The device of claim 19 , wherein the infeed mandrel includes a substantially circumferential outer surface configured to receive and support the tubular workpiece around the outer surface.

Assignees

• Delstar Tech Inc

Inventors

• Federico Ronald
• Trojnar Joel Patrick

Classifications

• B26F3/08

  with heated members · CPC title

• B26D1/553

  with a plurality of wire-like cutting members · CPC title

• B26D1/03

  with a plurality of cutting members · CPC title

• B26D7/10

  by heating (with Laser B23K26/00; severing by heating B26F) · CPC title

• B26D3/001

  Cutting tubes longitudinally · CPC title