Motorized cutting torch attachment

• US 5,804,133 A
• Filed: 07/09/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ross S. Sterling
• Original Assignee: Daniel Webster Denton
• Inventors: Denton, Daniel Webster
• Primary Examiner(s): KASTLER, SCOTT R
• Application Number:
  US08/677,586
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 264/48, 264/66, 264/70
• US Class Current: 266/66
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 7/102 for controlling the spacial relationship between the workpieces and the gas torch
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 7/107 for cutting circles

Abstract

A cutting torch drive attachment which is easily attachable to an existing cutting torch providing a self contained battery powered motorized cutting torch drive attachment facilitating consistent torch speed and tip to work distance resulting in smooth straight line and circular metal cutting with improved torch gas usage efficiency.

Claims

1. A cutting torch drive apparatus, comprising:

a) a drive motor,

b) a drive wheel mounted for rotation about its center upon a floating drive wheel mounting means,

c) a means engaging said drive wheel to said drive motor, said engaging means providing frictional engagement of the drive wheel with the drive motor,

d) a means powering said drive motor, and

e) means mounting said apparatus to said cutting torch.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive motor further comprises a direct current battery powered 2.0 to 15 milliampere single motor shaft motor.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive motor includes a 10 to 16 volt direct current single shaft drive motor.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting torch drive apparatus further comprises a cylindrical body housing having a body housing cavity, said cavity receiving said drive motor and said powering means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting torch drive apparatus further comprises an extendable drive motor to drive wheel engagement means and an extendable engagement means housing, said extendable housing and extendable engagement means providing a means for extending the overall length of the torch drive apparatus facilitating application of the torch drive apparatus on cutting torches of varying dimensions.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive wheel further comprises a drive wheel constructed of nonmagnetic stainless steel.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive wheel further comprises a drive wheel mounted and dimensioned to support a cutting torch tip a desired distance above a work surface.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive wheel further includes an engagement circumference comprising a double beveled drive wheel perimeter which serves as a frictional engagement with said engagement means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive wheel further comprises a drive wheel mounting means comprising a drive wheel mounting bracket said drive wheel mounting bracket being substantially flat and further having a drive wheel mounting aperture for receiving a drive rotational mounting means, said rotational drive wheel mounting means comprising a centrally located drive wheel aperture, a shouldered brass bushing dimensioned for receiving said drive wheel aperture, a brass washer disposed upon a bolt and inserted through said drive wheel aperture and said bushing and further securing said drive wheel upon said drive wheel bracket securely in place so that when said bolt is tightened and further dimensioned so that once secured upon said bracket said drive wheel rotates freely about said shouldered brass bushing with drive wheel aperture to brass bushing having from about 0.003 to about 0.015 inch slack, said drive wheel further engaging said engagement means when said drive wheel is urged toward said engagement means.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive wheel further comprises a means for rotationally and floatingly mounting said drive wheel so that when the drive wheel is urged towards said engagment means said drive wheel engages said engagment means.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive wheel further comprises a drive wheel mounting means comprising a drive wheel mounting bracket said drive wheel mounting bracket being substantially flat and further having a slotted drive wheel mounting aperture for receiving a floating drive rotational mounting means, said floating rotational drive wheel mounting means comprising a centrally located drive wheel aperture, a double shouldered bushing having a squared trunion dimensioned to be floatingly disposed within said slotted drive wheel mounting aperture and a rounded trunion dimensioned for rotationally receiving said centrally located drive wheel aperture, said drive wheel being sandwiched between said double shouldered bushing and a flat washer and further said drive wheel mounting bracket being sandwiched between said double shouldered bushing and a flat washer, said flats washers and double shouldered bushing being secured inplace by a bolt centrally traveling through said washers and said double shouldered bushing and further said double shoulder bushing square and round trunions being dimensioned so that after said washers and said bushing is secured inplace by said bolt said squared trunion travels freely within said slooted aperture and said drive wheel rotates freely about said rounded trunion while also traveling with said bushing, said drive wheel further engaging said engagement means when said drive wheel is urged toward said engagement means.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for engaging said drive wheel to said drive motor includes a single drive motor shaft, a drive motor shaft, a means for extending said drive motor shaft, a means for engaging said extendable drive motor shaft means to said drive wheel.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for engaging said drive wheel to said drive motor further comprises a single drive motor shaft, an extendable shaft having front and back ends said extendable shaft back end having a slotted key way, a drive motor extendable shaft coupler said coupler having front and back ends, said coupler back being secured upon said motor shaft by inserting said motor shaft into a centrally located coupler drive motor bore and securing said drive motor shaft in said bore by use of a set screw, said extendable shaft being slidingly secured to said coupler front by the use of a coupler front extendable shaft bore said bore dimensioned to slidingly receive said extendable shaft back end further said extendable shaft being rotationally secured to said coupler front by the use of key material disposed within said extendable shaft coupler bore said key material engaging said extendable shaft key way so that when said coupler rotates said extendable shaft rotates while said extendable shaft also slides in or out of said coupler.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said engagement means further comprises an engagement wheel rotationally coupled to said drive motor by a rotational drive wheel coupling means, said engagement wheel further having an engagement grooved circumference said grooved circumference providing a frictional engagement area to contact said drive wheel so that when said drive wheel is brought into contact with said engagement groove said drive motor rotation is transferred to said drive wheel thereby rotating said drive wheel and driving said cutting torch.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means powering said drive motor comprises a battery.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means powering said drive motor comprises a multiplicity of batteries.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting torch drive apparatus further comprises electrical circuitry, said circuitry comprising a means of controlling said drive motor speed, a means for controlling said drive motor rotational direction, a means for controlling said power supply to said drive motor.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting torch drive apparatus further comprises electrical circuitry, said circuitry comprising two nine volt batteries, a grounding on/off switch, a high/low switch said high/low switch connecting one nine volt battery to said drive motor on the low position and connecting both said batteries to the drive motor in the high position, a forward/reverse switch which reverses polarity to the drive motor.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting torch drive apparatus further comprises electrical circuitry, said circuitry comprising two nine volt batteries, a grounding on/off switch, a means for variable controlling the drive motor speed, a forward/reverse switch which reverses polarity to the drive motor.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said a means for variable controlling the drive motor speed further comprises a pulse width modulation control circuitry and a speed control switch.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means mounting said apparatus to a cutting torch with a tip and a neck comprising a means for securing said apparatus upon the cutting torch tip area whereby said drive wheel is positioned to support the cutting torch tip a desired distance above metal to be cut, and a means for attaching the apparatus to the neck of the cutting torch.

22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means mounting said apparatus to said cutting torch comprises a front torch tip mount and a rear torch neck mount, said front torch tip mount further comprises a substantially flat member with a torch tip receiving aperture dimensioned to receive a threaded torch tip area after the torch tip has been removed from the cutting torch and said torch tip mount being further secured by reinstalling said torch tip upon said cutting torch, said torch tip bracket further having a means for securing said torch tip front bracket to said apparatus, said rear neck bracket being constructed of nonelectrically conducting material and dimensioned as a two part block with a central torch neck receiving aperture, said two parts providing a clamping mounting device further secured around the torch neck with mounting screws.

23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apparatus mounting means includes a mounting means which allows for mounting the apparatus upon cutting torches of varying dimensions.

24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said means for securing said torch tip front bracket to said apparatus comprises a means for selectively extending said front bracket which thereby results in an overall elongation of the apparatus so that it may be installed upon cutting torches of varying length.

25. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a means for circularly directing said cutting torch and said cutting torch apparatus so that the cutting torch and said cutting apparatus cuts circles.

26. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an attachment means which facilitates circular metal cutting.

27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein said cutting torch includes a torch tip and said means for facilitating circular cutting comprises a means for pivoting said cutting torch so that when the torch drive apparatus moves the cutting torch the torch tip moves in an arcing motion parallel with a metal surface to be cut, a means for selectively adjusting the distance from said pivot point to said torch tip.

28. Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein said cutting torch includes a torch tip and said means for facilitating circular cutting comprises a means for pivoting said cutting torch so that when the torch drive apparatus moves the cutting torch the torch tip moves in an arcing motion parallel with a metal surface to be cut, a means for selectively adjusting the radius of the circle formed by said arc, a means for attaching said circular cutting means upon said drive apparatus.

29. Apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein said cutting torch is equipped with a gas valve and said drive apparatus includes a drive wheel mounting means located near the torch tip a drive apparatus housing wherein said means for facilitating circular cutting comprises a square stock member having a front end disposed near the torch tip and a rear end disposed near the torch gas valve, further said member being about 1 foot to about 3 feet long, a means for quickly attaching said member front end upon said apparatus drive wheel mounting means, a means for attaching the member upon the drive apparatus housing and further wherein said means for selectively adjusting the radius of the circle formed by said arc comprises a pointed rod mounted upon a carrier, said carrier being disposed upon said square member further said carrier having a locking thumb set screw for securing the carrier in a desired location upon the square member, further said pointed rod extending about 1/2 to about 3 inches from said carrier and being fixedly attached to said carrier and positioned upon said carrier so that when the cutting torch is place in position for cutting metal the pointed end contacts the metal surface when the cutting torch is substantially parallel to the metal surface and further said pointed rod serving as a pivot point for a circle to be cut.

30. Apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein the means for attaching the member upon the drive apparatus housing comprises a clip formed in the shape of a C, said C clip having two ends and said C clip having an inner open area serving as a receiving area for said housing, the ends of the C clip being biased to retain a general C shape so that when the housing is placed in the inner receiving area the clip biased ends hold the clip in place upon the housing, the clip further being disposed upon said square member by use of a mounting trough, said trough being dimensioned to snugly receive said square member, further said trough longitudinal axis lying perpendicular to the C clip when viewing the clip as a C, further said trough being positioned on the perimeter of the C halfway between the clip ends, the square member further being snugly secured within said trough by a retaining strap so that the clip can be slid along the square member with moderate force.

31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein the means for quickly attaching said member front end upon said apparatus drive wheel mounting means comprises a coupler mounted on the front end of said square member said coupler being substantially cylindrical in shape and having two open ends and further being about 1/2 to about 2 inches long, one end of said coupler cylinder being fixedly secured upon said square member front end, the other coupler cylinder end having a substantially square internal dimension forming a square receiving area for a male engaging member, further said square receiving area having an engaging cog internally disposed within said square receiving area said engaging cog dimensioned to engage an indention disposed upon said male engaging member so that when said male engaging member is inserted into said square receiving area said engaging cog engages with said male engaging member indention and further when said rear mounting means is engaged said front mounting engaging members further secure said circle cutter upon said drive wheel mounting means, further said male engaging member being fixedly attached upon said drive wheel mounting means.

32. A cutting torch drive apparatus for attachment upon a gas cutting torch with a cutting torch tip, a cutting torch neck and a gas valve lever, comprising:

a) a battery powered drive motor with a single motor shaft,

b) a power supply for powering said motor including a multiplicity of batteries,

c) electrical circuitry controlling said motor and said motor power supply, said circuitry including a grounding on/off switch which is positioned to be activated by depressing the cutting torch gas lever, a high and low switch which in the low position provides power from less than all the batteries to the motor and when in the high position provides power from all the batteries to the drive motor, and a reverse and forward switch which switches the polarity of the electrical power to the drive motor facilitating motor direction change,

d) a cylindrical body housing with a front and back end, said front body housing having a circular plate fixedly attached forming a body housing cavity for receiving said motor, batteries, and electrical circuitry, said circular plate further having a centrally located threaded aperture, said body cavity being further sealed with a circular back plate which is secured in place upon said housing back by screws extending from said body housing front through the body housing cavity to the body housing back plate, said cylindrical body housing further providing a user accessible mounting means for said high/low switch and said reverse/forward switch, said cylindrical body housing further providing a mounting means for mounting said drive apparatus upon a neck of said cutting torch,

e) a cylindrical housing having front and back ends, the back end being male threaded for disposition upon the front plate centrally located threaded aperture, an extendable cylindrical housing having front and back ends, said extendable housing further having an internal diameter to receive said cylindrical housing front end upon said extendable housing back end, said extendable housing back end further having a compression nut disposed for compressingly securing said extendable housing upon said cylindrical housing back in a desired position, said cylindrical extendable housing front further having an enlarged area for internally receiving an extendable shaft bearing in addition to a shoulder area for pressingly receiving a drive wheel bracket,

f) a drive motor shaft coupler having front and back ends, the back end fixedly receiving said motor shaft and the front end with a centrally disposed extendable shaft receiving area slidingly receiving an extendable shaft wherein said extendable shaft is also engagingly received by said coupler by the use of an extensible shaft key way which engages coupler key material disposed within said centrally disposed extendable shaft receiving area, said extendable shaft, drive motor shaft coupler, and extendable shaft being disposed within said cylindrical housing and said cylindrical extendable housing, said extendable shaft front end further extending beyond said extendable housing from said extendable shaft bearing providing a mounting shaft for an engagement wheel pressingly mounted upon said extendable shaft front, said engagement wheel having an engagement groove around its circumference said engagement groove being dimensioned as a V,

g) said drive wheel bracket providing an aperture for mounting a drive wheel said aperture being positioned and said drive wheel and said engagement wheel dimensioned so that once the drive wheel is mounted said drive wheel supports the cutting torch tip a proper distance from the work metal and also provides a proper drive speed for the torch tip and work thickness, said drive wheel further having an engagement area around its circumference which engages with the engagement wheel engagement area, further providing a rotationally mounting means which is secured to said drive wheel bracket aperture said rotational mounting means further providing rotational movement of said drive wheel with a predetermined amount of slack between the drive wheel and drive wheel mounting means so that the drive wheel engagement area engages the engagement wheel engaging area when the drive wheel is urged toward the engagement wheel,

h) a front mount mounted to said drive wheel bracket, said front mount having a cutting torch tip receiving aperture, said torch tip receiving aperture dimensioned to receive a cutting torch tip threaded area once the cutting torch tip has been removed from the cutting torch and said front bracket further being secured by installing the cutting torch tip upon the cutting torch, further providing a means for securing said front mount to drive wheel bracket,

i) said cylindrical body housing mounting means for mounting said drive apparatus upon a neck of said cutting torch further comprising a multiplicity of mounting projections extending from said cylindrical body housing exterior, a non-electrical conducting mounting block, said mounting block having a cutting torch neck receiving aperture and further said mounting block being split forming top and bottom mounting block halves facilitating a clamping mounting means around said cutting torch neck, said top mounting block providing a means for mounting said on/off grounding switch and further positioning said on/off grounding switch to be contacted by said cutting torch gas valve lever.

33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said means for securing said torch tip front bracket to said apparatus comprises a means for selectively extending said front bracket which thereby results in an overall elongation of the apparatus so that it may be installed upon cutting torches of varying length.

34. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 further comprising a means for circularly directing said cutting torch and said cutting torch apparatus so that the cutting torch and said cutting apparatus cuts circles.

35. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 further comprising an attachment means which facilitates circular metal cutting.

36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said cutting torch includes a torch tip and said means for facilitating circular cutting comprises a means for pivoting said cutting torch so that when the torch drive apparatus moves the cutting torch the torch tip moves in an arcing motion parallel with a metal surface to be cut, a means for selectively adjusting the distance from said pivot point to said torch tip.

37. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said cutting torch includes a torch tip and said means for facilitating circular cutting comprises a means for pivoting said cutting torch so that when the torch drive apparatus moves the cutting torch the torch tip moves in an arcing motion parallel with a metal surface to be cut, a means for selectively adjusting the radius of the circle formed by said arc, a means for attaching said circular cutting means upon said drive apparatus.

38. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said cutting torch is equipped with a gas valve and said drive apparatus includes a drive wheel mounting means located near the torch tip a drive apparatus housing wherein said means for facilitating circular cutting comprises a square stock member having a front end disposed near the torch tip and a rear end disposed near the torch gas valve, further said member being about 1 foot to about 3 feet long, a means for quickly attaching said member front end upon said apparatus drive wheel mounting means, a means for attaching the member upon the drive apparatus housing and further wherein said means for selectively adjusting the radius of the circle formed by said arc comprises a pointed rod mounted upon a carrier, said carrier being disposed upon said square member further said carrier having a locking thumb set screw for securing the carrier in a desired location upon the square member, further said pointed rod extending about 1/2 to about 3 inches from said carrier and being fixedly attached to said carrier and positioned upon said carrier so that when the cutting torch is place in position for cutting metal the pointed end contacts the metal surface when the cutting torch is substantially parallel to the metal surface and further said pointed rod serving as a pivot point for a circle to be cut.

39. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein the means for attaching the member upon the drive apparatus housing comprises a clip formed in the shape of a C, said C clip having two ends and said C clip having an inner open area serving as a receiving area for said housing, the ends of the C clip being biased to retain a general C shape so that when the housing is placed in the inner receiving area the clip biased ends hold the clip in place upon the housing, the clip further being disposed upon said square member by use of a mounting trough, said trough being dimensioned to snugly receive said square member, further said trough longitudinal axis lying perpendicular to the C clip when viewing the clip as a C, further said trough being positioned on the perimeter of the C halfway between the clip ends, the square member further being snugly secured within said trough by a retaining strap so that the clip can be slid along the square member with moderate force.

40. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein the means for quickly attaching said member front end upon said apparatus drive wheel mounting means comprises a coupler mounted on the front end of said square member said coupler being substantially cylindrical in shape and having two open ends and further being about 1/2 to about 2 inches long, one end of said coupler cylinder being fixedly secured upon said square member front end, the other coupler cylinder end having a substantially square internal dimension forming a square receiving area for a male engaging member, further said square receiving area having an engaging cog internally disposed within said square receiving area said engaging cog dimensioned to engage an indention disposed upon said male engaging member so that when said male engaging member is inserted into said square receiving area said engaging cog engages with said male engaging member indention and further when said rear mounting means is engaged said front mounting engaging members further secure said circle cutter upon said drive wheel mounting means, further said male engaging member being fixedly attached upon said drive wheel mounting means.

41. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said drive motor includes a 10 to 16 volt direct current motor.

42. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said drive motor includes a 2.0 to 15.0 milliampere motor.