Workpiece support assembly

• US 8,646,731 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grant Burles
• Original Assignee: Grant Burles
• Inventors: Burles, Grant
• Primary Examiner(s): WOOD, KIMBERLY T
• Application Number:
  US13/096,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20120273625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 248/55, 248/132, 248/146, 248/161, 248/163.1, 248/176.1, 248/49, 248/70, 248/65, 269/296, 269/57, 269/58, 193/37, 144/287, 414/682, 414/680, 414/684, 414/800
• US Class Current: 248/49
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/16 with special provision allowing movement of the pipe F16L3/01 takes precedence; supporting pipes or cables inside other pipes or sleeves F16L7/00

Abstract

A workpiece support assembly includes workpiece supporting roller assemblies each including a roller rotatably attached to an end of a swing arm. The roller assemblies are mounted to a frame forming a space between the rollers. A workpiece is positioned within the space and is supported in rolling contact by the rollers for rotation about its long axis. The space between the rollers is increased or decreased to support workpieces of various diameters by rotating the swing arms. The position of the rollers, and thus the distance therebetween are maintained or held by a swing arm lock that engages each swing arm and restrains the swing arms against rotation.

Claims

1. A workpiece support assembly for rotatably supporting an elongated cylindrical article for rotation about a long axis of the article, the workpiece support assembly comprising:

a single frame member having a pair of vertical plate members;

a first roller assembly including a first swing arm and a first roller rotatably mounted to said first swing arm, said first swing arm mounted to said frame between said pair of vertical plate members upon a first axel connected to and extending between said pair of vertical plate members;

a first plurality of pairs of cooperatively aligned apertures formed through said pair of vertical plate members in a circular array about said first axel;

a first retaining pin selectively received by a single pair of said first plurality of pairs of cooperatively aligned apertures and said first swing arm so as to lock its rotational position about said first axel and relative to said frame;

a second roller assembly including a second swing arm and a second roller rotatably mounted to said second swing arm, said second swing arm mounted to said frame between said pair of vertical plate members upon a second axel connected to and extending between said pair of vertical plate members;

a second plurality of pairs of cooperatively aligned apertures formed through said pair of vertical plate members in a circular array about said second axel;

a second retaining pin selectively received by a single pair of said second plurality of pairs of cooperatively aligned apertures and said second swing arm so as to lock its rotational position about said second axel and relative to said frame;

said first roller and said second roller defining a space therebetween for receiving the workpiece in rolling contact with said first roller and said second roller permitting the workpiece to be rotated about its long axis while being supported on said first roller and said second roller; and

wherein each of said first and said second rollers is selectively positioned towards or away from each other to either increase or decrease said space between said first and said second rollers, thereby permitting workpieces of various diameters to be rotatingly supported by said first roller and said second roller.

2. The workpiece support assembly of claim 1, wherein said first roller and said second roller are rotatable about first parallel axes, and wherein said first swing arm and said second swing arm are rotatable about second parallel axes that is parallel to said first parallel axes.

3. The workpiece support assembly of claim 1, wherein said frame has a substantially flat bottom that permits the placement of said frame on a horizontal supporting surface.

4. The workpiece support assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a stand having a lower member having mounted thereto a plurality of support legs and an elevating member telescopic relative to said lower member; and

wherein said frame is releasably mounted to said elevating member.

5. The workpiece support assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said vertical plate members include a V-shaped saddle for receiving the workpiece and supporting the workpiece in a non-rotating contact with said first roller and said second roller.