PIPE CUTTER

• US 20160214265A1
• Filed: 04/04/2016
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Thorson, Troy C., Alberti, Daniel J., Bednar, Thomas R., Scott, John S., Anderson, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,046,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 21/04 Tube-severing machines with rotating tool-carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 21/08 with cutting wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/169 Hand held tube cutters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/16541 Resilient means for tool actuation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/16918 Spring urged

Abstract

A pipe cutter for cutting a pipe includes a cutting head assembly having a first carriage and a second carriage spaced apart to define a cutting area. The first carriage supports a cutting mechanism, and the second carriage is configured to support a pipe within the cutting area. The carriages have a locked state and an unlocked state such that when the carriages are in the unlocked state, the carriages are movable relative to each other and biased into the cutting area. The pipe cutter also includes a drive assembly configured to rotate the cutting head assembly and a locking mechanism configured for changing the carriages from the unlocked state to the locked state and for holding the carriages in the locked state. The locking mechanism includes an actuation member rotatably coupled to the first carriage.

Claims

1. A pipe cutter for cutting a pipe, the pipe cutter comprising:

a cutting head assembly including a first carriage and a second carriage spaced apart to define a cutting area, the first carriage including a cutting mechanism and a biasing arm having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the biasing arm supporting the cutting mechanism, and the second carriage configured to support the pipe within the cutting area, wherein the first and second carriages have an unlocked state and a locked state for cutting the pipe;

a drive assembly configured to rotate the cutting head assembly; and

an actuation member rotatably coupled to the second portion of the biasing arm, wherein upon rotation of the cutting head assembly the actuation member rotates relative to the first carriage and deflects the biasing member toward the second carriage such that the first carriage is in the locked state and a force acts on the cutting mechanism to cut the pipe.

2. The pipe cutter of claim 1, wherein the actuation member comprises a cam member, the cam member including a cam shaft, a lever extending from the cam shaft, and a post positioned at a free end of the lever.

3. The pipe cutter of claim 2, and further comprising a cam actuator fixed relative to the cutting head assembly, wherein the cam actuator engages the cam post to rotate the cam member as the cutting head assembly rotates.

4. The pipe cutter of claim 1, and further comprising a locking mechanism configured for moving the first and second carriages from the unlocked state to the locked state and for holding the first and second carriages in the locked state, and thereby maintaining the force on the cutting mechanism to cut the pipe.

5. The pipe cutter of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism comprises the actuation member and a locking member configured for engagement with the first carriage and the second carriage upon rotation of the actuation member, wherein engagement of the locking member with the first carriage and the second carriage holds the first and second carriages in the locked state.

6. The pipe cutter of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a support member coupled to the second carriage, and wherein the locking member engages the support member upon rotation of the actuation member to hold the first and second carriages in the locked state.

7. The pipe cutter of claim 6, wherein the support member includes a plurality of notches, the locking member engaging one of the plurality of notches when the locking mechanism is in the locked state, each notch corresponding to a position of the carriages in the locked state.

8. The pipe cutter of claim 1, wherein the biasing arm comprises a spring.

9. The pipe cutter of claim 1, and further comprising a battery-powered drive assembly.

10. The pipe cutter of claim 1, and further comprising a housing containing the cutting head assembly, the housing including a window located in a wall of the housing for viewing the cutting area through the housing.

11. The pipe cutter of claim 1, and further comprising a water-tight seal located between a forward portion of the pipe cutter including the cutting head assembly and a handle portion of the pipe cutter.

12. A cutting head assembly coupled to a pipe cutter for cutting a pipe, the pipe cutter including a drive assembly and an actuation member, the cutting head assembly comprising:

a first carriage configured to be rotated by the drive assembly, the first carriage including a cutting mechanism and a biasing arm having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the biasing arm supporting the cutting mechanism, the second portion of the biasing arm configured to be rotatably coupled to the actuation member; and

a second carriage spaced apart from the first carriage to define a cutting area therebetween, the second carriage configured to be rotated by the drive assembly, the second carriage configured to support the pipe within the cutting area;

wherein the first and second carriages have an unlocked state and a locked state for cutting the pipe;

wherein upon rotation of the cutting head assembly the actuation member rotates relative to the first carriage and deflects the biasing member toward the second carriage such that the first carriage is in the locked state and a force acts on the cutting mechanism to cut the pipe.

13. The cutting head assembly of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the biasing arm has a first aperture that supports an axle, and wherein the cutting mechanism is rotatably coupled on the axle.

14. The cutting head assembly of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the biasing arm has a second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture, and wherein the second aperture is configured to receive the actuation member.

15. The cutting head assembly of claim 14, wherein the second aperture is configured to receive a cam of the actuation member.

16. The cutting head assembly of claim 12, wherein the biasing arm is a first biasing arm coupled to the cutting mechanism, and wherein the first carriage further comprises a second biasing arm that is coupled to the cutting mechanism.

17. A pipe cutter for cutting a pipe, the pipe cutter comprising;

a housing;

a motor coupled to the housing;

a cutting head assembly including a first carriage and a second carriage spaced apart to define a cutting area, the first carriage including a cutting mechanism and a biasing arm having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the biasing arm supporting the cutting mechanism, and the second carriage configured to support the pipe within the cutting area, wherein the first and second carriages have an unlocked state and a locked state for cutting the pipe;

a drive assembly powered by the motor and configured to rotate the cutting head assembly; and

an actuation member rotatably coupled to the second portion of the biasing arm, wherein upon rotation of the cutting head assembly the actuation member rotates relative to the first carriage and deflects the biasing member toward the second carriage such that the first carriage is in the locked state and a force acts on the cutting mechanism to cut the pipe.

18. The pipe cutter of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the biasing arm has a first aperture that supports an axle, and wherein the cutting mechanism is rotatably coupled on the axle.

19. The pipe cutter of claim 18, wherein the second portion of the biasing arm has a second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture of the biasing arm, and wherein the actuation member is received within the second aperture.

20. The pipe cutter of claim 17, wherein the biasing arm is a first biasing arm coupled to the cutting mechanism, and wherein the first carriage further comprises a second biasing arm that is coupled to the cutting mechanism.