Patent ID: 6257110
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: B23D,B23Q,Y10T

Abstract:
A tube saw comprising:a housing having a fixed portion and a rotatable portion, the housing having an opening therein,a tube clamping device having two opposing linear arrays of tube clamping elements, each array having tube clamping elements with alternating sloped surfaces, attached to the fixed housing portion, wherein the opposing linear arrays have complimentary slopes for securely holding a tube in multiple places ensuring the holding of the tube perpendicular to the opening in the housing when the opposing arrays are drawn together,a saw attached to the rotatable portion of the housing, such that the saw is radially adjustable and rotates on an axis around the opening in the housing,a plurality of bearings for rotatably connecting the fixed housing portion to the rotatable housing portion, the bearings providing axial and radial stability as the saw rotates around the tube,the rotatable housing portion having an inner bearing race and an outer bearing race, the bearings are attached to the fixed housing portion and selectively have a means for radially adjusting the position of the bearings inwardly to engage the inner bearing race and outwardly to engage the outer bearing race, with varying degrees of force, to provide varying degrees of stiffness between the rotatable housing portion and the fixed housing portion thus providing accurate radial positioning of the saw relative the tube,a servomotor having a worm gear connected thereto, attached to the fixed housing portion for engaging and driving, a ring gear on the rotatable housing portion for rotating the rotatable housing portion such that the saw cuts the circumference of the tube held in the clamping device.