Wire saw

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9827624-B2
Application number	US-201414457777-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2014
Priority date	Jan 26, 2009
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A device for cutting a length of pipe includes a clamp portion for clamping around a length of pipe and a bow moveable with respect to the clamp portion that retains a loop of diamond embedded wire. The device further includes a feed for driving the bow with respect to the clamp portion and a detector for detecting bending of the wire and a control responsive to the detector for controlling feed rates. The device is made of modular parts and has synchronizing arms for clamping around a length of pipe. In one embodiment, the wheels are retained in enclosures with slots through which the cutting wire passes.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A device for cutting an object under water comprising
a clamp that at least partially encircles said object for retaining said device to said object,
a bow moveable with respect to said clamp,
a plurality of wheels on said bow,
a cutting wire loop on said wheels,
an enclosure surrounding one of said wheels,
said enclosure having a slot therein adjacent a portion of said one of said wheels wherein said cutting wire extends through said slot to an outer surface of said one of said wheels;
said clamp includes a first and a second moveable arm for extending around said object for retaining said object,
said first moveable arm driven by a first cylinder and said second moveable arm driven by a second cylinder,
a mechanical synchronization between said first cylinder and said second cylinder wherein said first moveable arm and said second moveable arm move in unison to encircle said object,
a frame, and
said frame having a plurality of mountings located thereon for receiving one of said first and second moveable arms at any one of said plurality of mounting locations wherein said one of said first and second moveable arms will grasp a range of sizes of pipe at each of said mounting locations that is different from a range of sizes of pipe that can be grasped at any other of said plurality of mounting locations.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein one of said first and second moveable arms has a roller at a distal end thereof for rolling along a surface of said object.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said device further comprises
a motor on said bow for rotating said cutting wire loop around said wheels,
a feed drive connected between said clamp and said bow for moving said bow relative to said clamp to thereby urge said cutting wire against said object,
a take-up wheel on said bow and engaging said cutting wire loop,
a detector for detecting a bending of said cutting wire between outer ends of said bow, and
a control responding to said detector, and connected to said feed drive wherein a feed rate is varied with cutting wire bending.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is a first enclosure and said one of said wheels is a first wheel, the device further comprising
a second enclosure surrounding a second wheel of said plurality of wheels, and
said second enclosure having a slot therein adjacent a portion of said second wheel wherein said cutting wire extends through said slot to an outer surface of said second wheel, and wherein rotational force from said second wheel is not applied to water surrounding said second enclosure.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said enclosure includes a first half including a first lip wrapping around a circumference of said one of said wheels and a second half including a second lip wrapping around the circumference of said one of said wheels, wherein said first and second lips extend toward each other, and wherein said first and second lips meet each other at a portion of the circumference of said one of said wheels and do not meet each other at another portion of said circumference of said one of said wheels to provide said slot in the enclosure.

6. A device for cutting an object under water comprising
a clamp that at least partially encircles said object for retaining said device to said object,
a bow moveable with respect to said clamp,
a plurality of wheels on said bow, wherein said plurality of wheels are rotatable relative to said bow,
a cutting wire loop on said wheels,
an enclosure surrounding one of said wheels, wherein said enclosure is fixed relative to said bow and said one of said wheels is rotatable relative to said enclosure, and
said enclosure having a slot therein adjacent a portion of said one of said wheels wherein said cutting wire extends through said slot to an outer surface of said one of said wheels;
said one of said wheels has first and second spaced apart large diameter side walls and a smaller diameter annular floor between said side walls,
said one of said wheels further having a first wheel portion including said first large diameter side wall and said annular floor,
said first wheel portion attached to a shaft on said device,
said one of said wheels also having a second wheel portion including said second larger diameter side wall,
said second wheel portion attachable to said first wheel portion by one or more removable fasteners, and
an annular insert between said spaced apart side walls and around said annular floor wherein said annular insert is replaceable by removing said plurality of removable fasteners and removing said second wheel portion without removing said first wheel portion from said shaft.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein said enclosure includes a first half including a first lip wrapping around a circumference of said one of said wheels and a second half including a second lip wrapping around the circumference of said one of said wheels, wherein said first and second lips extend toward each other, and wherein said first and second lips meet each other at a portion of the circumference of said one of said wheels and do not meet each other at another portion of said circumference of said one of said wheels to provide said slot in the enclosure.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the enclosure is a first enclosure and said one of said wheels is a first wheel, the device further comprising
a second enclosure surrounding a second wheel of said plurality of wheels, and
said second enclosure having a slot therein adjacent a portion of said second wheel wherein said cutting wire extends through said slot to an outer surface of said second wheel, and wherein rotational force from said second wheel is not applied to water surrounding said second enclosure.

9. A device for cutting an object while under water, said device comprising
a clamp that at least partially encircles said object for retaining said device to said object,
a bow moveable with respect to said clamp,
a plurality of wheels on said bow wherein each of said wheels has an annular groove in an outer surface thereof,
a cutting wire loop on said wheels wherein said wire loop is received in said annular groove of said plurality of wheels,
one of said wheels having first and second spaced apart large diameter side walls and a smaller diameter annular floor between said side walls,
said one of said wheels further having a first wheel portion including said first large diameter side wall and said annular floor,
said first wheel portion attached to a shaft on said device,
said one of said wheels also having a second wheel portion including said second larger diameter side wall,
said second wheel portion attachable to said first wheel portion by one or more removable fasteners, and
an annular insert between said spaced apart side walls in the annular groove and around said annular floor wherein said annular insert is replaceable by removing said plurality of removable fasteners and removing said second wheel portion without removing said first wheel portion from said shaft.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said wheel is a drive wheel and said first wheel portion is non-rotatably attached to said shaft and said shaft drivingly connected to a motor wherein said motor and said drive wheel rotate said cutting wire loop around said wheels.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said one of said wheels is enclosed in a clamshell having a first half extending around said first wheel portion and a second half extending around said second wheel portion and wherein said first half will remain attached to said device while said second half and said second wheel portion are removed to replace said annul

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Pierce Kenneth R

Classifications

• Y10T83/9292

  Wire tool · CPC title

• B26D7/02

  with clamping means {(B26D7/018 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• Y10T83/68

  Entirely work supported · CPC title

• B26D1/48

  with tensioning means · CPC title

• B23D57/0084 Primary

  specially adapted for sawing under water or at places accessible with difficulty · CPC title