Direct action powered soil pipe cutter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9192995-B2
Application number	US-201213431321-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2012
Priority date	Mar 29, 2011
Publication date	Nov 24, 2015
Grant date	Nov 24, 2015

Abstract

A soil pipe cutting tool is described. The tool includes a telescoping housing assembly, a feedscrew in threaded engagement with the housing assembly, and a cutting chain. The cutting tool can be powered by an impact driver. Also described are rotary powered tools. In certain versions, the tools include torque limiting provisions to prevent transfer of excessively high levels of torque to a working end of the tool. Various methods of use are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe cutter comprising:
a housing assembly including a first member and a second member slidably engaged therewith;
a feedscrew having a proximal end adapted for receiving a source of rotary power, an opposite distal end, and an external threaded region between the proximal end and the distal end, the external threaded region of the feedscrew being threadedly engaged with the second member of the housing assembly;
a flexible cutting chain defining a first end and a second end, the first end engaged to the first member of the housing assembly and the second end engaged to the second member of the housing assembly;
wherein upon application of torque to the proximal end of the feedscrew resulting in rotation of the feedscrew relative to the second member of the housing assembly, the second member of the housing assembly is linearly displaced relative to the first member of the housing assembly, thereby changing the distance between the first end of the cutting chain and the second end of the cutting chain.

2. The pipe cutter of claim 1 wherein the first member of the housing assembly is an outer primary housing member and the second member is a secondary housing member slidably positioned within the primary housing member, the secondary housing member defining a threaded interior bore.

3. The pipe cutter of claim 2 wherein the distal end of the feedscrew is disposed within the interior bore of the secondary housing member and the external threaded region of the feedscrew is threadedly engaged with the threaded interior bore of the secondary housing member.

4. The pipe cutter of claim 3 wherein the secondary housing member is concentrically disposed within at least a portion of the primary housing member.

5. The pipe cutter of claim 3 wherein the feedscrew is concentrically disposed within at least a portion of the secondary housing member.

6. The pipe cutter of claim 3 wherein the outer primary housing member and the secondary housing member include key provisions that allow linear movement of the secondary housing member in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the primary housing member, yet preclude rotation of the secondary housing member relative to the primary housing member.

7. The pipe cutter of claim 1 further comprising:
an outer rotary grip engaged along the proximal end of the feedscrew.

8. The pipe cutter of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first end and the second end of the cutting chain includes releasable engagement provisions that enable the end of the cutting chain to be manually disengaged from the corresponding housing member.

9. The pipe cutter of claim 3 wherein the secondary housing member defines a distal end and an opposite proximal end, the proximal end of the secondary housing member disposed closer to the proximal end of the feedscrew than the distal end of the secondary housing member, wherein the second end of the cutting chain is engaged to the secondary housing member at the distal end of the secondary housing member.

10. The pipe cutter of claim 1 wherein the feedscrew includes torque limiting provisions.

11. The pipe cutter of claim 10 wherein the torque limiting provisions are defined between the proximal end of the feedscrew and the external threaded region of the feedscrew.

12. The pipe cutter of claim 10 wherein the torque limiting provisions exhibit a predefined torsional transfer limit such that upon application of a torque to a proximal end of the feedscrew greater than the predefined torsional transfer limit, the feedscrew undergoes rotational displacement to an extent such that the torque as measured at the distal end of the feedscrew is less than the predefined torsional transfer limit.

13. The pipe cutter of claim 1 further comprising:
a handle affixed to the primary housing member.

14. A pipe cutter comprising:
a housing assembly including an outer primary housing member and a secondary housing member disposed within the primary housing member, the secondary housing member defining a threaded interior bore;
a feedscrew having a proximal end adapted for receiving a source of rotary power, an opposite distal end, and an external threaded region between the proximal and the distal ends, the distal end disposed within the interior bore of the secondary housing member and the external threaded region of the feedscrew being threadedly engaged with the threaded interior bore of the secondary housing member, the feedscrew including torque limiting provisions which exhibit a predefined torsional transfer limit such that upon application of a torque to a proximal end of the feedscrew greater than the predefined torsional transfer limit, the feedscrew undergoes rotational displacement to an extent such that the torque as measured at the distal end of the feedscrew is less than the predefined torsional transfer limit;
a flexible cutting member defining a first end and a second end, the first end engaged to the primary housing member and the second end engaged to the secondary housing member;
wherein upon application of torque to the proximal end of the feedscrew resulting in rotation of the feedscrew relative to the secondary housing member, the secondary housing member is linearly displaced relative to the primary housing member, thereby changing the distance between the first end of the cutting member and the second end of the cutting member.

15. The pipe cutter of claim 14 wherein the torque limiting provisions are defined between the proximal end of the feedscrew and the external threaded region of the feedscrew.

16. A method for cutting a frangible member, the method comprising:
providing a cutting tool including (i) a housing assembly having an outer primary housing member and a secondary housing member slidably positioned within the primary housing member, the secondary housing member defining a threaded interior bore, (ii) a feedscrew having a proximal end adapted for receiving a source of rotary power, an opposite distal end, and an external threaded region between the proximal end and the distal end of the feedscrew, the distal end disposed within the interior bore of the secondary housing member and the external threaded region of the feedscrew being threadedly engaged with the threaded interior bore of the secondary housing member, and (iii) a flexible cutting chain defining a first end and a second end, the first end engaged to the primary housing member and the second end engaged to the secondary housing member;
positioning the cutting chain around the frangible member such that multiple points of contact occur between the cutting chain and the frangible member;
applying torque to the proximal end of the feedscrew resulting in rotation of the feedscrew relative to the secondary housing member, the secondary housing member being linearly displaced relative to the primary housing member, thereby changing the distance between the first end of the cutting chain and the second end of the cutting chain, and thus tensioning the chain to thereby induce cutting of the frangible member.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the frangible member is a soil pipe.

Assignees

• Hamm James E
• Davison Kyle
• Emerson Electric Co

Inventors

• Hamm James E
• Davison Kyle

Classifications

• Y10T83/04

  Processes · CPC title

• B23D21/00 Primary

  Machines or devices for shearing or cutting tubes (as additional equipment for deep-drawing presses B21D24/16) · CPC title

• Y10T83/7226

  With means to guard the tension · CPC title