Apparatus for machining a tubular piece

• US 9,586,275 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exact Tools Oy
• Original Assignee: Exact Tools Oy
• Inventors: Priha, Mika Petteri, Makkonen, Seppo Antero
• Primary Examiner(s): Payer, Hwei C
• Application Number:
  US14/130,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20140150266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 21/00 Machines or devices for shearing or cutting tubes as additional equipment for deep-drawing presses B21D24/16
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 21/08 with cutting wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/124 the workpieces turning about their longitudinal axis during the cutting operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

An apparatus for machining a tubular piece, wherein the apparatus includes a frame element, support rollers, which are associated with the frame element, support a workpiece and rotate the same around its longitudinal axis. In addition, the frame element is provided with a machining unit adapted to be movable towards and away from the workpiece. The machining unit includes a tool member, such as for example a cutting tool, as well as support wheels adapted to bear against a workpiece. The machining unit is arranged to link up with the frame element through the use of an auxiliary frame element adapted to clamp itself thereto at not less than two support points, for example through the use of a self wedging assembly implemented with an indentation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for machining, or cutting, a tubular piece, comprising:

a frame element;

support rollers, which are associated with the frame element, configured to support a workpiece and rotate the workpiece around a longitudinal axis of the workpiece; and

a machining unit adapted to be movable towards the workpiece, wherein the machining unit comprises support wheels adapted to bear against the workpiece, wherein the machining unit is arranged to link up with the frame element through use of an auxiliary frame element, the auxiliary frame element being adapted to be clamped to the frame element via at least two support points at least two different distances from the support rollers, and said support rollers are located between said at least two support points,

wherein the support wheels are adapted to be movable essentially towards or away from the support rollers independently of at least one cutting tool, and wherein the support wheels are adapted to clamp themselves in at least two different positions with respect to the machining unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the machining unit comprises at least one cutting tool.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the machining unit links up with said auxiliary frame element by way of guides and is adapted to be movable relative to the auxiliary frame element and towards or away from the support rollers by means of an adjustment element in a substantially stepless/continuous manner.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the machining unit, the tool at least one cutting and/or the support wheels are adapted to link up with the auxiliary frame element or the frame element in a spring-cushioned manner or by means of belleville springs.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support wheels are adapted to be at least partially compressible and/or spring-cushioned with respect to the machining unit.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support wheels are adapted to make contact with the workpiece substantially before the at least one cutting tool.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support wheels are set at a toe-out angle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary frame element links up with said frame element by way of guides.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary frame element is adapted to be movable relative to the frame element and towards or away from the support rollers in a substantially stepless manner, or wherein the auxiliary frame element is adapted to clamp itself to said frame element through the intermediary of a self wedging assembly.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary frame element is adapted to clamp itself in at least two different positions relative to the frame element, such that the clamping in a first position enables pieces of a first diametrical size to be inserted between the support rollers and the machining unit, and the clamping in a second position enables pieces of a diametrical size other than the first size pieces to be inserted between the support rollers and the machining unit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting tool, is axle-mounted to said machining unit in such a way that, in a working position, the support wheels or their suspension elements prevent a movement of an axle out of an axle hole formed in the at least one cutting tool.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a motor, or a battery-powered electric motor, which is adapted to rotate at least one of said support rollers.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting tool, is disposed essentially on a vertical center axis of the apparatus, and the support rollers as well as the support points for the auxiliary frame element are disposed symmetrically on either side of said center axis.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the support rollers comprises a groove to indicate the point of contact for the at least one cutting tool, on a surface of the workpiece.

15. A manufacturing method for an apparatus, comprising:

providing a frame element;

linking up support rollers with the frame element;

supporting a workpiece and rotating the workpiece around a longitudinal axis of the workpiece, with the support rollers;

linking up a machining unit with the frame element;

moving the machining unit towards the workpiece;

bearing support wheels of the machining unit against the workpiece;

linking up the machining unit with the frame element through the use of an auxiliary frame element; and

clamping the auxiliary frame element to the frame element via at least two support points at at least two different distances from the support rollers, and said support rollers are located between said at least two support points,

wherein the support wheels are moving essentially towards or away from the support rollers independently of at least one cutting tool, and

wherein the support wheels are clamping themselves in at least two different positions with respect to the machining unit.