Method of cutting target members using a cutting saw device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9919370-B1
Application number	US-201715462980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 20, 2017
Priority date	Jun 20, 2008
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A diamond wire saw and method provides a frame that includes a clamp that attaches to a target (e.g. piling, beam, tubular), an elongated toothed rack extending away from the mount and target, and a moving portion that carries the diamond wire and motor drives that advance the moving portion toward the target and along the toothed rack while driving the wire around roller guides.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wire saw apparatus comprising:
a) a frame having first and second sections configured to attach the first section to a target that is to be cut and a moving portion operatively connected to the frame;
b) a beam mounted to the first section of the frame and extending away from the first section and target, the beam including a detachable connector that detachably connects the beam to the target to be cut wherein, when connected, the target to be cut supports both the beam and the moving portion;
c) the moving portion including a pair of arms disposed on opposing sides of the beam, an open end positioned near the first section and a transverse bar that connects the arms opposite the open end, the moving portion including a sleeve movably connecting the moving portion to the beam and restricting relative motion between the beam and the moving portion to relative linear motion;
d) the moving portion having a powered driver operably connected to the beam which driver effects non-rotational movement of the moving portion of the frame along the beam, the moving portion having a single degree of freedom relative to the beam;
e) a plurality of roller guides on the moving portion of the frame including at least one roller guide mounted at the free end of each arm;
f) a drive roller on the moving portion, the drive roller being rotatable by a powered motor drive; and
g) a diamond wire wound upon the drive roller and guide rollers so that when the drive roller is rotated, the diamond wire travels around the moving portion and from one roller to another roller.

2. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the powered driver travels with the moving portion.

3. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning mechanism that enables adjustment of the tension of the diamond wire.

4. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the diamond wire travels at a speed of between about 20 and 30 feet per second.

5. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rollers is marked with different patterns so that rotation of the rollers is visible even via underwater camera and remote monitor.

6. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arm free ends are connected with a section of wire that cuts through the target as the moving portion of the frame travels along the beam and towards the first section.

7. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guide rollers on the arm free ends are connected with a section of wire that extends across the open end of the moving portion.

8. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the moving portion carries a camera and light mount.

9. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guide rollers are removably attached to the moving portion of the frame.

10. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , wherein rollers and wire define a cutting plane and the linear beam includes a toothed rack and is below the cutting plane and a drive motor is operably connected to the toothed rack and also positioned below the cutting plane.

11. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arms are spaced apart a distance that defines the maximum thickness of a target that can be cut.

12. The wire saw apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arm free ends and transverse bar are spaced apart a distance that defines the maximum thickness of a target that can be cut.

13. A wire saw apparatus comprising:
a) a frame having first and second sections configured with a detachable connector to attach to a target that is to be cut, wherein after attachment the target supports the frame;
b) a beam mounted to the first section and extending away from the first section and target;
c) a moving frame having a sleeve, the sleeve being mounted on the beam and being movable along the beam with a single degree of freedom, the frame including a pair of arms disposed on opposing sides of the beam, an open end positioned near the detachable connector and a transverse bar that connects the arms opposite the open end;
d) a motor operably connected to the beam which motor effects non-rotational movement of the moving frame along the beam;
e) a plurality of roller guides on the moving portion of the frame including at least one roller guide mounted at the free end of each arm;
f) a drive roller on the moving portion, the drive roller being rotatable by a second motor drive;
g) a diamond wire wound upon the drive roller and guide rollers so that when the drive roller is rotated with the second motor drive, the diamond wire travels around the moving portion and from one roller to another roller.

14. The wire saw apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the the sleeve movably connecting the moving portion to the beam and restricting relative motion between the beam and the moving portion to relative linear motion.

15. The wire saw apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the diamond wire travels at a speed of between about 20 and 30 feet per second.

16. A method of cutting an underwater target, comprising the steps of:
a) lowering a cutting apparatus to a position that is next to an underwater target to be cut, the target having a longitudinal axis;
b) attaching the cutting apparatus to the target;
c) wherein in step “b” the cutting apparatus includes a frame that has first and second sections, the first section including a beam and detachable connector attached to the beam which detachable connector is configured to attach to the target, wherein when so attached the target supports the frame, and a moving portion having first and second moving ends, and mounting to the first section for movement relative to the first section limited to a single degree of freedom relative to the beam, the moving portion includes a pair of arms disposed on opposing sides of the beam and an open end at the first end of the moving portion and a transverse section that connects the arms opposite the open end and wherein a diamond wire is supported for travel upon the frame, the wire connected to a plurality of rollers including at least one powered drive roller that moves the wire;
d) advancing the moving portion toward the target while the diamond wire is traveling upon the rollers; and
e) wherein in step “d” a driver engages the beam, which engagement causes the advancement of the moving portion linearly in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the target.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the moving portion having a sleeve, and the sleeve movably connecting the moving portion to the beam and restricting relative motion between the beam and the moving portion to relative linear motion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein remote operation includes monitoring the cutting with an underwater camera that transmits a signal to a monitor on the vessel.

Assignees

• Tetra Tech

Inventors

• Clark Ii Galen R

Classifications

• B23D57/0038

  of frames; of tables · CPC title

• E21B29/002

  Cutting, e.g. milling, a pipe with a cutter rotating along the circumference of the pipe · CPC title

• F16L1/166

  Reclaiming pipes · CPC title

• B23D57/0007

  using saw wires · CPC title

• E21B29/007

  with a radially-retracting cutter rotating outside the pipe · CPC title