Tube milling head

• US 20050175421A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc. (CPMT Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: H&S Tool Incorporated (CPMT Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hall, J. Randall
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,992 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 407/33
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2210/02 Tool holders having multiple cutting inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 5/168 with guiding devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/1906 including holder [i.e., head] having seat for inserted tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/1936 Apertured tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/1946 Face or end mill
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/22 including holder having seat for inserted tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/2202 Plural spaced seats and common holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/304144 Means to trim edge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30952 with cutter holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/16 Severing or cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/22 Portable lathe for pipe turning

Abstract

Tube ends such as those of boiler tube banks, are prepared utilizing any of various combinations of processes which include a step of micro-diameter tube film removal from a portion of a tube end, including an area below a beveled segment, or segment to be beveled. The micro-diameter film removal step provides the tube with an exposed, clean metal surface which is conducive to a subsequent welding or bonding operation performed on the tube. In yet a further embodiment, tube film removal blades are provided having a curved or rounded edge which can be utilized in milling operations having close quarters. In a further embodiment, milling head cutting blades are provided which are adjustable. In a preferred embodiment, the milling head cutting blades and/or bevel blades are provided with elongated, slotted bores.

Claims

1. A rotary milling head for a rotary milling tool, comprising:

a cylindrical body having an annular recess, said body adapted to be connected to a rotary milling tool;

a cutting blade connected to said body by a securing element, said blade disposed circumferentially around a rotational axis of the milling head, said blade having a cutting edge defining an annular cutting sweep having an inner radius which is adapted to remove an outer radial thickness from an annular tube in an amount of from about 2% up to about 25% of said annular tube thickness, and an outer radius at least equal to said tube outer diameter, wherein the cutting blade cutting edge is rounded or comprises at least ⅛

of a circumferential segment of a circle.

2. A milling head according to claim 1, wherein the cutting blade cutting edge is ovoid or comprises at least ½

of a circumferential segment of a circle.

3. A milling head according to claim 1, wherein the cutting blade cutting edge is annular, and wherein the cutting blade has a diameter of from 0.25 to about 0.50 inch.

4. A milling head according to claim 2, wherein said blade has a face surface with a bore extending therethrough through which said securing element connects said blade to said body, said blade having a countersink around said bore capable of receiving at least a portion of a head of said securing element.

5. A milling head according to claim 3, wherein said securing element connects said blade to said body whereby the securing element has a head portion which extends out from said blade face surface a first distance which is less than or equal to a second distance measured from a lower edge of the securing element head to a lower cutting edge of the blade.

6. A milling head according to claim 5, wherein said blade cutting sweep inner radius is from about 2% to about 15% of said annular tube thickness, and wherein the cutting blade diameter is from about 0.25 to about 0.437 inch.

7. A milling head according to claim 3, wherein the cutting blade is connected to a blade support of the body, the blade support comprising a threaded bore, wherein the cutting blade has a bore which extends from a face surface to an opposite back surface of the cutting blade, wherein the cutting blade is connected to the blade support by the securing element having a head portion and a threaded portion threadable in the blade support bore, wherein the cutting blade has a lower cutting edge opposite a first end portion of the body adapted to be connected to the rotary milling tool, wherein the cutting blade is connected to the blade support at a predetermined radial distance from the rotational axis of the body, wherein the securing element head portion extends out from the face surface of said cutting blade a first distance which is less than or equal to a second distance measured from a lower edge of the securing element head to the lower cutting edge of the cutting blade;

and wherein the cutting blade diameter is from about 0.312 to about 0.375 inch.

8. A milling head for a rotary milling tool, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical body having an annular recess, said body adapted to be connected to a rotary milling tool,

a first milling portion, adapted to remove a portion of an outer diameter of a tube, located substantially at one end of the body and having a cutting blade connected a predetermined radial distance from the rotational axis of the body to the body by a securing element which extends out from a face surface of said blade a first distance which is less than or equal to a second distance measured from a lower edge of the securing element head to a lower cutting edge of the blade; and

a second milling portion spaced from said first milling portion on the body and having at least one bevel cutting blade having an active cutting edge extending into the recess adapted for forming a bevel on the tube, wherein the cutting blade cutting edge is rounded or comprises at least ⅛

of a circumferential segment of a circle.

9. A milling head according to claim 8, wherein the cutting blade cutting edge is ovoid or comprises at least ½

of a circumferential segment of a circle.

10. A milling head according to claim 8, wherein the cutting blade cutting edge is annular, and wherein the cutting blade has a diameter of from 0.25 to about 0.50 inch.

11. A milling head according to claim 10, wherein said second milling portion includes an orifice adapted to allow milling debris to exit the milling head recess, and wherein said bevel cutting blade is attached to a wall of the orifice, and wherein said bevel cutting blade is disposed in a plane radial to the central rotational axis of the body.

12. A milling head according to claim 11, wherein the bevel cutting blade active cutting edge is disposed at an angle of about 30°

to about 45°

in relation to the central rotational axis of the body, and wherein a lowermost cutting portion of the bevel cutting blade active cutting edge is located a distance of about 0.25 to about 1.50 inches from a lower cutting edge of the first milling portion cutting blade measured in relation along the central rotational axis.

13. A milling head according to claim 12, wherein said blade has a countersink around said bore capable of receiving at least a portion of a head of said securing element, and wherein the cutting blade diameter is from about 0.25 to about 0.437 inch.

14. A milling head according to claim 10, wherein the bevel cutting blade active cutting edge is disposed at an angle of about 30°

to about 45°

in relation to the central rotational axis of the body, and wherein a lowermost cutting portion of the bevel cutting blade active cutting edge is located a distance of about 0.25 to about 1.50 inches from a lower cutting edge of the first milling portion cutting blade measured in relation along the central rotational axis, and wherein the cutting blade diameter is from about 0.312 to about 0.375 inch.

15. A milling head for a rotary milling tool, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical body having an annular recess, said body adapted to be connected to a rotary milling tool;

a tube film cutting blade connected to a milling element support of said body by a securing element, said tube film cutting blade disposed circumferentially around the rotational axis of the milling head, said tube film cutting blade having a cutting edge defining an annular cuffing sweep having an inner radius which is adapted to remove an outer radial thickness from an annular tube in an amount up to about 25% of said annular tube thickness, and an outer radius at least equal to said tube outer diameter; and

a second milling portion spaced from said first milling portion on the body and having at least one bevel cutting blade having an active cutting edge extending into the recess and adapted for forming a bevel on the tube end, wherein the tube film cutting blade has a face and a back with a slotted bore extending therethrough, wherein the slotted bore has a length greater than a diameter of the securing element, and wherein the slotted bore allows the tube film cutting blade to be adjusted and secured at a plurality of different positions with respect to the milling element support.

16. A milling head according to claim 15, wherein said tube film cutting blade has a countersink around said slotted bore capable of receiving at least a portion of a head of said securing element.

17. A milling head according to claim 16, wherein the slot of the slotted bore has a length of from about 0.15 to about 0.25 inch measured on the back of the milling element.

18. A milling head according to claim 15, wherein the slot length is arranged substantially perpendicular to the central axis.

19. A milling head according to claim 18, wherein said securing element connects said blade to said body whereby the securing element head portion has an end which is flush mounted or recess mounted in relation to said blade face, and wherein the outer tube milling element slot length is from about 0.18 to about 0.22 inch.

20. A milling head according to claim 19, wherein said blade cutting sweep inner radius is from about 2% to about 15% of said annular tube thickness, and wherein said second milling portion includes an orifice adapted to allow milling debris to exit the milling head recess, wherein said bevel cutting blade is attached a wall of the orifice with a second securing element, wherein the outer tube milling element slot length is from about 0.18 to about 0.20 inch, and wherein the bevel cutting blade includes a slotted bore having a length greater than a diameter of the bevel cutting blade securing element.