Support for mounting a tool on a pipe

Abstract: A tool support for mounting a working tool on a pipe comprises a base having inverted V-shaped saddle portions engaging the pipe and a clamping chain extending between opposite sides of the base for clamping the base on a pipe. A first end of the chain is mounted on one side of the base by a biasing spring arrangement which provides for limited displacement of the end in the direction of tensioning of the chain, and the free end of the chain is adapted to be releasably interengaged with an adjusting mechanism on the opposite side of the base and by which the chain is tensioned to clamp the base against a pipe. A pipe drilling tool is removably mounted on the base and includes a handle by which the tool can be carried and supported during mounting on and dismounting from the base and by which the base and tool can be carried as a unit.

Description: Background of the Invention This invention relates to the art of tools for performing work on a pipe and, more particularly, to a tool support for mounting a working tool on a pipe. The present invention finds particular utility in connection with the mounting of a hole cutting tool on a pipe for drilling or cutting a hole therein and, accordingly, will be disclosed and discussed in detail in connection with such a tool. At the same time, it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to the mounting of tools other than hole saws on a pipe upon which work is to be performed. It is of course well known to provide a support for mounting a working tool such as a hole saw, drill or the like on a pipe through the use of a chain-type clamping arrangement in which a chain extends about the pipe between opposite ends of the support and is adjustable to releasably clamp the support on the pipe. Such supports heretofore available are shown, for example, in patents 2,281,366 to Metcalf and 2,585,343 to Newlon and are used in connection with a hole cutting tool available from the Ridge Tool Company of Elyria, Ohio under the latter's product designation Model HC-450. In these clamping arrangements, one end of the chain is anchored to an adjusting screw component and the other or free end of the chain is adapted to be adjustably interengaged with a holding component to allow the support to be mounted on pipes having different diameters. When the free end of the chain is interengaged with the holding component, the screw mechanism is rotated to tighten the chain about the pipe and thus clampingly engage the support thereon. A major disadvantage of clamping arrangements of the foregoing character resides in the fact that it is difficult for a single worker to position the support and tool on a pipe and interengage the free end of the chain with the support to establish a preliminary mounted condition in which the operator can rotate the adjusting screw mechanism to tighten the chain and complete the mounting. In this respect, the operator must rest the support and tool on the pipe and stabilize the support and tool with one hand while using the other hand to move the free end of the chain under the pipe to the opposite side of the support and achieve interengagement of the free end of the chain with the holding component. If the pipe is of large diameter and/or at an elevation which requires the operator to stoop down or reach upwardly to manipulate the support, tool and chain, the difficulty of stabilizing the assembly with one hand and moving the chain with the other is optimized. In any event, engaging the free end of the chain with the holding component often must be achieved by "feel" as opposed to being able to observe relative displacement between the chain and holding component. Another disadvantage with regard to such clamping chain arrangements is that the initial interengagement of the free end of the chain with the holding component results in the chain being loose to the extent that the operator must continue to stabilize the assembly with one hand until the chain is tightened through operation of the adjusting screw. In this respect, the holding component generally engages between adjacent chain rolls or roll pins extending from axially opposite sides of a link and the space between adjacent rolls or pins in the direction of the length of the chain is such that one roll or set of pins will not reach the holding component and the next adjacent ones that will result in the chain sagging away from engagement with the pipe. Accordingly, until the operator takes the slack out of the chain by rotating the adjusting screw, he or she must continue to stabilize the support and tool against displacement circumferentially of the pipe. Such support and tool assemblies are quite heavy and the difficulty with respect to stabilizing the assembly while rotating the adjusting screw increases as the diameter of the pipe decreases. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that considerable effort is required on the part of an operator to stabilize the support and tool when the assembly weighs more than 18.14kg (40 pounds) and the diameter of the pipe can be as small as 3.18 cm (1-1/4 inch) as is possible in connection with use of the aforementioned Ridge Tool hole cutting tool. Such clamping arrangements are disclosed for example in US-A-2 379 014 and US-A-3 669 439. A tool support of the above type is described in US-A-5 051 044. More specifically, in the above-mentioned US-A-5 051 044 there is disclosed a tool support for mounting a working tool on a pipe according to the preamble of claim 1. Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a tool support for mounting a working tool on a pipe which minimizes or overcomes the foregoing and other disadvantages of such supports heretofore available. To achieve this, the tool support of the invention is characterized by the features claimed in the characterizing part of claim 1. Basically, according to the invention, the tool support is characterized by means including biasing means for supporting the mounted end of the flexible clamping member for limited displacement in the direction toward the free end thereof and against the bias of the biasing means. More particularly, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a tool support having a chain-type clamping arrangement for mounting the support on a pipe minimizes the stabilizing effort required on the part of an operator in connection with displacing the free end of the chain into engagement with the holding component prior to operation of the adjusting screw to tighten the chain about the pipe. Moreover, the clamping arrangement in accordance with the present invention provides for the free end of the chain and the holding component to be visible to the operator, thus to optimize the ease with which the interengagement can be achieved. More particularly, these advantages are achieved by anchoring one end of the chain to the side of the support opposite the adjusting screw assembly and providing the holding component on the latter assembly, whereby an operator can reach beneath the pipe, pull the free end of the chain toward the adjusting mechanism and engage the chain with the holding component thereon and then rotate the adjusting mechanism to tighten the chain, all of which requires less effort on the part of the operator than that required in connection with the clamping arrangements heretofore available. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention, the end of the chain which is anchored to the support is interengaged therewith through an arrangement for biasing the chain against displacement in the direction of tensioning of the chain when operating the adjusting components to tighten the chain about a pipe. Accordingly, when the free end of the chain is moved into interengagement with the holding component, the biasing arrangement provides for such interengagement to result in the chain engaging with the pipe as opposed to sagging relative thereto following the initial mounting operation. Accordingly, the stabilizing effort on the part of the operator is minimized in connection with subsequent displacement of the adjusting mechanism to tightly clamp the support on the pipe. In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, an improved chain mountable support and pipe working tool arrangement is provided in which the tool is interengaged with the support by a release arrangement which advantageously enables the tool and support to be carried as a unit to a working site and quickly separated if desired to facilitate mounting of the support on a pipe independent of the tool, and then accommodates quick mounting of the tool on the support for use. The release arrangement advantageously optimizes the options available to an operator in connection with mounting the support and tool assembly on a pipe and in this respect, for example, allows the operator to separate the tool from the support and mount the latter on a pipe with minimum effort being required to stabilize the support relative to the pipe as a result of eliminating the weight and physical bulk of the pipe working tool. Further in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the tool is provided with a carrying handle structurally associated therewith in a manner whereby the tool and support can be carried as a unit in which the location of the handle and the weight distribution relative thereto optimize the ease with which the unit can be lifted and carried and the comfort of an operator in doing so. Moreover, the handle likewise facilitates the ease of lifting and maneuvering the tool during mounting thereof on the support. It is accordingly an outstanding object of the present invention to provide an improved tool support and clamping chain arrangement for mounting the support or the support and a working tool on a pipe. Another object is the provision of a tool support of the foregoing character which minimizes the effort required by an operator to stabilize the support, either alone or with a tool mounted thereon, during mounting of the support on a pipe. A further object is the provision of a tool support of the foregoing character in which the holding component for the free end of the clamping chain is associated with the chain tightening component by which the operator secures the support to a pipe. Still another object is the provision of a tool support of the foregoing character in which the interengagement of the free end of the chain with the holding component therefor during the initial mounting of the support on a pipe creates a biased engagement of the chain with the pipe to minimize the effort required by the operator to stabilize the support, or the support with a tool thereon, during completion of the mounting operation. Yet another object is the provision of an improved support and working tool arrangement in which the support and working tool are selectively, releasably interengaged to facilitate the separation thereof and mounting of the support on the pipe prior to mounting the tool thereon, thus to optimize the ease with which an operator can mount the support on a pipe. Still a further object is a provision of a tool support and tool unit of the foregoing character in which the releasing arrangement precludes unintentional separation of the tool from the support, and wherein the tool is provided with a handle positioned thereon so as to optimize the ease of lifting and carrying the unit and an operator's comfort in doing so. Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing objects, and others, will in part be obvious and in part pointed out more fully hereinafter in conjunction with the written description of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of a tool support and tool mounted on a pipe; FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation view of the tool support and tool shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the tool support and tool looking in the direction from right to left in Figure 2; FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the tool support and tool looking in the direction from left to right in Figure 2; FIGURE 5 is a rear elevation view of the tool support mounted on a pipe with the tool removed from the support; and, FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the support shown in Figure 5. Description of a Preferred Embodiment Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention, a tool support 10 is shown mounted on a pipe P having an axis A and supporting a tool 12 which, in the disclosed embodiment, is operable to drill or saw a hole in a pipe. Support 10 comprises an elongate base portion 14 having front and rear ends 16 and 18, respectively. A pair of legs 20 extend downwardly at front end 16 for the purpose set forth hereinafter, and inverted V-shaped saddle portions 22 and 24 are provided on the underside of base 14 respectively at a location intermediate the opposite ends and at rear end 18 thereof. Each of the saddle portions has a pair of planar surfaces 26 and 28 at an angle to one another and engaging the outer surface of pipe P at circumferentially spaced apart locations thereon to align the support with pipe axis A. Surfaces 26 and 28 have inner ends separated by an axially extending notch 30 at the vertex of the V defined by surfaces 26 and 28, and base 14 has first and second sides 32 and 34, respectively, on laterally opposite sides of a vertical plane PL bisecting the vertex of the saddle portions. Legs 20 do not engage pipe P when base 14 is mounted thereon, but serve to prevent forward tipping of the support and tool 12 thereon when resting on the ground or other underlying surface. Support 10 further includes a clamping arrangement 35 comprising a clamping member, a mounting assembly for one end thereof and an adjusting mechanism to tensioning the chain relative to the anchoring assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the clamping member is a chain 36 comprising a plurality of inner and outer link components, not designated numerically, interconnected by link pins 38 which, in the embodiment illustrated, extend laterally outwardly from the opposite sides of the outer links for the purpose set forth hereinafter. A first end of the clamping chain is mounted adjacent side 32 of the base in a tubular mounting column 40 positioned laterally outwardly of base 14 and, preferably and for the purpose set forth hereinafter, the first end of the chain is mounted for limited displacement in the direction toward the opposite end of the chain and against the return force of a biasing spring. More particularly in this respect, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, column 40 includes a passage 42 therethrough having an axis, not designated numerically, generally parallel to plane PL and which passage and the underlying portion of base 14 are open to receive the first end of the clamping chain to extend from passage 42. Passage 42 has an upper end through which chain 36 is introduced, and the upper end is preferably closed by a removable plug 44 to preclude the ingress of dirt and other foreign matter into the passage and to capture the first end of chain 36 therein. Passage 42 is radially inwardly stepped between the outer and inner ends thereof to provide an intermediate shoulder 46 and a lower shoulder 48 for the purposes set forth hereinafter. The clamping chain has a terminal end in column 40 which includes a pin 50 extending transverse to the axis of the passage and through link components at the terminal end. A stop collar 52 extends about the terminal end of the chain beneath pin 50, and a biasing spring 54 extends about the portion of the chain in passage 42 between collar 52 and shoulder 48. Spring 54 has a relaxed position, as shown in Figure 3 in which the biasing spring positions the terminal end of the chain adjacent the upper end of passage 42. In the manner and for the purpose set forth hereinafter, the terminal end of the chain is adapted to be displaced downwardly in passage 40 against the bias of spring 54 during mounting of the support on a pipe, and such downward movement is limited by engagement of collar 52 with intermediate shoulder 46 in the passage. As best seen in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing, a clamping member adjusting mechanism 56 extends laterally outwardly of side 34 of base 14 so as to incline downwardly and inwardly at an angle relative to plane PL. Adjusting mechanism 56 includes a holding component 58 which, as set forth more fully hereinafter, interengages with the free or second end of clamping member 36 to clampingly mount base 14 and thus support 10 on pipe P. The adjusting mechanism includes an inverted, generally U-shaped housing portion 60 having an axis 62 and axially inner and outer ends 64 and 66, respectively, outer end 66 being defined by an end wall transverse to axis 62. An adjusting screw 68 extends through the housing coaxial with axis 62 and has an inner end 70 rotatably supported in an opening 72 provided therefor in a support pin 74 extending through inner end 64 of the housing transverse to axis 62. The outer end of the adjusting screw extends through an opening 76 provided therefor in the outer end wall of the housing and thence into an opening provided therefor in an end cap 78 by which the adjusting screw is rotatable by means of a handle 80. Handle 80 extends through the end cap and the outermost end of the adjusting screw and is held in place with respect thereto by means of a set screw 82 in the end cap. The portion of the adjusting screw extending through the outer end wall of the housing is provided with a circumferential recess 84 which receives a retaining pin 86 provided in the end wall to preclude axial displacement of the adjusting screw relative to the housing and pin 74. The portion of the adjusting screw between the outer end wall and pin 74 is externally threaded, and holding component 58 is provided with a carriage portion 88 which is internally threaded to receive the threaded portion of the adjusting screw. A pair of fingers 90 extend downwardly and outwardly from carriage 88 and have hooks 92 on the outermost ends thereof. Fingers 90 are laterally spaced apart to receive the clamping chain link components therebetween and so as to engage the laterally outwardly extending ends of a link pin 38 in hooks 92 thereof. Rotation of adjusting screw 68 in opposite directions relative to housing 60 operates to move holding component 58 axially inwardly and outwardly along the adjusting screw, and the laterally opposite sides of mounting portion 88 of the holding component engage the inner sides of the housing to preclude rotation of the holding component relative thereto. In mounting the support on a pipe P, the base with or without tool 12 thereon is positioned on the pipe for the saddle portions of the base to engage therewith as described above, and when the base is first positioned on the pipe in this manner, clamping chain 36 hangs downwardly from mounting column 40. Advantageously in accordance with the present invention, the operator can stabilize the support on pipe P with one hand, reach beneath the pipe to grasp the clamping chain and pull the latter toward the adjusting mechanism, and engage the ends of pin 38 of one of the chain links with hooks 92 of fingers 90 of the holding component. In pulling the chain toward the adjusting mechanism, the terminal end of the chain is displaced downwardly in mounting column 40 against the bias of spring 54 whereby, when the free end of the chain is interengaged with the holding component, the biasing spring engages the chain against pipe P to remove any slack therefrom and thus reduce the effort required on the part of the operator to stabilize the support or the support and working tool as the adjusting screw is rotated through handle 80 to complete the mounting operation. It is not necessary to displace the terminal end of the clamping chain to its fullest extent against the bias of spring 54 during the initial mounting operation to obtain the benefit of the biasing force in removing slack from the mounting chain. In this respect, rotation of the adjusting screw will displace the terminal end of the chain to the extent necessary for collar 52 to engage shoulder 46 to anchor the terminal end against further displacement relative to the mounting column. Thereafter, rotation of the adjusting screw serves to apply the desired clamping force between the base and pipe P. It will be appreciated that adjacent ones of the link pins 38 along the length of the clamping chain at the free end thereof provide a plurality of different locations along the chain from the free end toward the first end for selective interengagement with the holding component, the particular location selected being dependant upon the length of the chain, the diameter of the pipe, and the displacement of the terminal end against the bias of spring 54. When it is desired to remove the support or the support end tool from pipe P, the adjusting screw is rotated in the opposite direction whereupon the tension on the chain is released and spring 54 is allowed to displace the terminal end of the chain upwardly in mounting column 40 from shoulder 46. During such displacement of the adjusting screw, the chain advantageously remains in contact with the pipe to help stabilize the support as the operator turns the adjusting screw and, at the appropriate point, the operator can pull on the free end of the chain to release the latter from the holding component, drop the chain and then lift the support or support and tool from the pipe. It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that both the mounting and dismounting of the support with or without tool 12 thereon is advantageously achieved from one side of the support and without the operator having to reach under to interconnect or disconnect the free end of the chain with a holding component on the opposite side of the support from where the operator is standing. It will likewise be appreciated that while it is preferred to provide a biasing arrangement in connection with the mounting of the first end of the chain, the latter advantage with respect to attaching the free end of the chain to the adjusting mechanism on the side where the operator is standing can be achieved without a spring biasing arrangement and, moreover, that the latter arrangement can be incorporated in a clamping chain arrangement in which the mounted end of the chain is associated with the adjusting mechanism. In the embodiment disclosed, base 14 of the support is provided with a pair of posts 94 and 96 for mounting tool 12 on the support, and posts 94 and 96 extend vertically upwardly from base 14 adjacent front end 16 thereof and respectively outwardly adjacent the first and second sides thereof. More particularly, each of the laterally opposite sides of the base is provided with an upwardly extending post mounting sleeve 98 which, as will be appreciated from Figure 3, receives the lower end of the corresponding one of the posts 94 and 96 which is secured thereto by a pin 100 which extends through openings provided therefor in the mounting sleeve and post. For the purposes set forth hereinafter, each of the mounting posts 94 and 96 receives a compression spring 102, the upper end of post 94 is provided with an end cap 104 in the form of a truncated cone attached to the post by a bolt 106, the rear side of post 94 is provided with an elongate linear slot 108, and the front side of post 96 has teeth 110 which provide a rack extending along the post from the upper end thereof. The lower ends of springs 102 engage the upper end of the corresponding mounting sleeve 98, and the springs have a relaxed condition as shown in Figure 5 in which the upper ends of the springs are adjacent the upper end of the corresponding one of the mounting posts. Each of the springs is precluded from unintentional axial displacement from the corresponding mounting post by a spring retaining pin 112 which is mounted on and extends radially outwardly from the mounting post between coils of the spring adjacent the lower end thereof. Tool 12 comprises a support member 114 extending laterally between mounting posts 94 and 96 and having laterally opposite end portions 116 and 118 respectively provided with apertures 120 and 122 therethrough for slidably receiving mounting posts 94 and 96. The front side of side portion 118 of support member 114 is provided with an opening 124 into aperture 122 and with a pair of ears 126 extending forwardly of side portion 118 on laterally opposite sides of opening 124. Ears 126 rotatably support a shaft 128 on which a pinion 130 is mounted for rotation therewith, and rotation is adapted to be imparted to shaft 128 by means of an operating handle 132 mounted on the outer end of the shaft. Pinion 130 extends through opening 124 and into meshing engagement with teeth 110 on mounting post 96 when tool 12 is mounted on support 10, and rotation of operating handle 132 and thus pinion 130 operates to displace support member 114 upwardly and downwardly relative to the mounting post. As best seen in Figure 3, a release pin assembly 134 is provided on side portion 116 of support member 114 and includes a pin component 136 slidably supported in a mounting sleeve 138 secured to and extending rearwardly from side portion 116. Pin 136 includes an inner end, not designated numerically, received in recess 108 in mounting post 94 and an outer end provided with a head 140 by which the pin can be pulled outwardly relative to sleeve 138 to remove the inner end of the pin from recess 108. A biasing spring 142 is interposed between sleeve 138 and pin 136 to bias the pin inwardly of sleeve 138 to the position shown in Figure 3. When tool 12 is mounted on support 10 as shown in Figures 1-3 of the drawing, springs 102 are compressed between the lower sides of end portions 116 and 118 and the upper ends of post mounting sleeves 98 and bias support member 114 and thus tool 12 upwardly to an uppermost position determined by engagement of the inner end of pin 136 with the upper end of recess 108 which is defined by the underside of end cap 104. When support member 114 is displaced downwardly relative to the mounting post by rotation of operating handle 132, the inner end of pin 136 moves downwardly along recess 108. In the embodiment illustrated, tool 12 includes an electric motor 144 on the rear side of support member 114 and connected to a suitable source of electric power through a wiring box 146 on the support member and a power cord 148 extending from the box for connection to the power source. Tool 12 further includes a drill chuck assembly 150 mounted on the front side of support member 114 and which is adapted to be driven by motor 144 through a suitable gear train therebetween. Tool 12 further includes a handle 152 mounted on the support member and extending upwardly and rearwardly of the chuck assembly to overlie motor 144, and handle 152 facilitates support of the tool during mounting and removal thereof relative to mounting posts 94 and 96, and in connection with carrying the tool and support 10 as a unit. With regard to the latter, it will be appreciated from Figure 3 that the engagement of release pin 136 with the upper end of recess 108 enables the tool and base to be carried together as a unit. If the tool is separated from support 10 by pulling pin 36 outwardly and then lifting the tool upwardly of the mounting posts, springs 102 facilitate the separation and are retained on the posts by pins 112. In connection with mounting tool 12 on posts 94 and 96, the truncated conical configuration of end cap 104 provides a camming surface which engages the inner end of pin 136 to displace the latter outwardly against the bias of spring 142 until the pin passes the inner end of the end cap and is biased into recess 108 by spring 142. In connection with both the mounting and removal of tool 12 relative to posts 94 and 96, the upper end of the latter post includes a face 96a which inclines rearwardly relative to teeth 110 on the post which enables the teeth and pinion 130 to disengage during removal of the tool and to reengage upon the movement of post 96 into aperture 122. While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the structures and structural interrelationships between the component parts of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment and other embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the principles thereof. In this respect, for example, it will be appreciated that the clamping chain can be of a structure other than one providing pins extending in laterally opposite directions from the link components for engagement with the holding component of the adjusting mechanism. In this respect, for example, the chain could be of a structure comprising spaced apart rollers between link components and providing a space for the holding component which could be a single finger engaging between the link components as opposed to a pair of fingers engaging laterally outwardly of the link components. These and other modifications as well as other embodiments of the invention will be suggested or obvious to those skilled in the art from the description herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

Claims: A tool support (10) for mounting a working tool (12) on a pipe having an axis (A), said support including a base (14) having a saddle portion (22, 24), for straddling a circumferential portion of a pipe to be worked on and first and second laterally opposite sides (32, 34), and clamping means (35) between said first and second sides (32, 34) for clamping said base (14) to a pipe, said clamping means (35) including a flexible clamping member (36) having a mounted end at one of said sides (32, 34) and a free end spaced from said mounted end, characterized by means (40, 42, 46, 50) including spring means (54) supporting said mounted end of said clamping member (36) on said one side for limited displacement in the direction toward said free end, and said limited displacement being against the bias of said spring means (54). A tool support according to claim 1, characterized in that said clamping means (35) further includes holding means (58) for interengaging with said clamping member (36) at a selected one of a plurality of different locations therealong from said free end toward said mounted end thereof, and a clamping member adjusting mechanism (56) for tensioning said clamping member (36). A tool support according to claim 2, characterized in that said flexible clamping member (36) is a link chain (36) having pins (38) pivotally interconnecting adjacent links, said locations along said clamping member (36) being between adjacent pins (38). A tool support according to claim 3, characterized in that said link chain (36) includes link members having axially opposite sides with respect to said pins (38) and said pins (38) extend axially outwardly of said sides of said link members. A tool support according to claim 4, characterized in that said one of said sides (32, 34) of said base (14) includes a passage (42) therein receiving said mounted end of said clamping member (36), said passage (42) having an outlet end through which said clamping member (36) extends in the direction toward said free end, spring engaging means (50, 52) on said mounted end, and said spring means (54) including a compression spring (54) between said spring engaging means (50, 52) and said outlet end of the passage (42). A tool support according to claim 5, characterized in that said spring engaging means (50, 52) includes a collar (52) surrounding said mounted end and engaging said spring (54) and a pin (50) on said mounted end engaging said collar (52) on the side thereof opposite said spring (54). A tool support according to claim 6, characterized in that said spring (54) has a relaxed condition in which said collar (52) is in a first position spaced a first distance from said outlet end of said passage (42) and a compressed condition in which said collar (52) is in a second position spaced a second distance from said outlet end, said second distance being less than said first distance, and means (46) in said passage (42) interengaging with said collar (52) in said second position thereof. A tool support according to claim 7, characterized in that said passage (42) has an entrance upper end, and a removable plug (44) for closing said entrance end. A tool support according to claim 8, characterized in that said flexible clamping member (36) is a link chain having pins (38) pivotally interconnecting adjacent links, said locations along said clamping member (36) being between adjacent pins (38). A tool support according to claim 9, characterized in that said link chain (36) includes link members having axially opposite sides with respect to said pins (38) and said pins (38) extend axially outwardly of said opposite sides of said link members. A tool support according to claim 1, characterized in that said base (14) has a radially outer side when mounted on a pipe, and a pair of mounting posts (94, 96) on said base (14) for mounting a tool (12) on said support, said posts (94, 96) extending outwardly from said radially outer side. A tool support according to claim 1, characterized in that said saddle portion (22, 24) is v-shaped and said first and second sides (32, 34) of said support are on laterally opposite sides of a plane (PL) bisecting the vertex of the V, said first side (32) of said support including a passage (42) therein having an axis generally parallel to said plane (PL) and receiving said first end of said clamping member (36), and means (46, 50) in said passage (42) interengaging with said first end (32) to support said first end for limited displacement axially of said passage (42). A tool support according to claim 12, characterized in that said flexible clamping member (36) is a link chain (36) having pins (38) pivotally interconnecting adjacent links, said locations along said clamping member (36) being between adjacent pins (38). A tool support according to claim 1, characterized in that said clamping means (35) includes a clamping member adjusting mechanism (56) and holding means (58) for interengaging with said clamping member (36) at a selected one of a plurality of different locations therealong from said free end toward said mounted end thereof, and said adjusting mechanism (56) including means (60) for displacing said holding means (58) relative to said support, said saddle portion (22, 24) being V-shaped and said sides (32, 34) of said support being on laterally opposite sides of a plane (PL) bisecting the vertex of the V, said adjusting mechanism (56) inclining downward and inwardly at an angle to said plane (PL) and having laterally outer (66) and inner (64) ends, and said adjusting mechanism (56) including means (60) supporting said holding means (58) for displacement in opposite direction between said outer and inner ends (66, 64), said means (60) supporting said holding means (58) including a threaded shaft (68) supported for rotation in opposite directions about a shaft axis (62) between said outer and inner ends (66, 64), a carriage member (88) displaceable in opposite directions between said ends in response to rotation of said shaft (68),and means (90) on said carriage member (88) for interengaging with said clamping member (36), said one side (32) of said support including a passage (42) having an axis generally parallel to said plane (PL) and receiving said mounted end of said clamping member (36), and said spring means (54) including a compression spring (54) in said passage(42) interengaging with said mounted end to support said mounted end for limited displacement axially of said passage (42). A tool support according to claim 14, characterized in that said mounted end of said clamping member (36) has a terminal end in said passage (42) and said passage (42) has an outlet end in the direction from said terminal end toward said free end of said clamping member (36), said spring (54) being between said terminal end and said outlet end. A tool support according to claim 15, characterized in that said means (90) interengaging with said mounted end of said clamping member (36) further includes a collar (52) surrounding said terminal end, said terminal end including a pin (50) transverse to the axis of the passage and engaging said collar (52) on the side thereof opposite said spring (54), said spring (54) having a relaxed condition and a compressed condition in which said collar (52) is respectively in a first position and a second position with respect to said outlet end of the passage (42), said second position being closer to said outlet end than said first position, and a shoulder (46) in said passage (42) to stop said collar (52) in said second position. A tool support according to claim 16, characterized in that said flexible clamping member (36) is a link chain (36) having pins (38) pivotally interconnecting adjacent links, said locations along said clamping member (36) being between adjacent pins (38), and said means on said carriage including at least one finger (90) for engaging a pin (38) on said link chain (36). A tool support according to claim 17, characterized in that said link chain (36) includes link members having axially opposite sides with respect to said pins (38) and said pins (38) extend axially outwardly of said opposite sides of said link members. A tool support according to claim 18, characterized in including an operating handle (80) for rotating said shaft (68). A tool support according to claim 1, characterized in further including first and second tool mounting posts (94, 96) respectively adjacent said first and second sides (32, 34) of said base (14) and a tool support member (114) having first and second apertures (120, 122) therethrough respectively slidably receiving said first and second mounting posts (94, 96), said support member (114) and one of said mounting posts (94, 96) including means (134) for releasably mounting said support member on said mounting posts (94, 96). A tool support according to claim 20, characterized in that said means (134) for releasably mounting said support member includes a recess (108) in said one mounting post (94) and a release pin (136) on said support member. A tool support according to claim 21, characterized in that said release pin (136) is supported on said support member for displacement radially inwardly and outwardly between extended and retraced positions relative to the one of said first and second apertures (120, 122) corresponding to said one mounting post (94), and said release pin (136) in said extended and retraced positions having an inner end respectively engaging in said recess (108) to retain said support member on said first and second mounting posts (94, 96) and disengaging said recess (108) to release said support member for removal from said mounting posts (94, 96). A tool support according to claim 22, characterized in including a biasing spring (142) biasing said release pin (136) toward said extended position. A tool support according to claim 23, characterized in that said support member (114) and the other of said first and second mounting posts (96) include means (110, 128, 130, 132) for reciprocating said support member, said means (110, 128, 130, 132) for reciprocating said support member including teeth (110) on said other mounting post (96), a pinion (130) rotatably mounted on said support member and having teeth in meshing engagement with said teeth on said other post (96),and an operating member (128, 132) for manually rotating said pinion (130). A tool support according to claim 20, characterized in that said support member (114) has an upper side and opposite ends (116, 118) and includes a handle (152) on said upper side and between said opposite ends (116, 118). A tool support according to claim 25, characterized in that said means (134) for releasably mounting said support member (114) includes a recess (108) in said one mounting post (94) and a release pin (136) on said support member, said release pin (136) being supported on said support member for displacement radially inwardly and outwardly between extended and retracted positions relative to the one of said first and second apertures corresponding to said one mounting post (94), said release pin (136) in said extending and retracted positions having an inner end respectively engaging in said recess (108) to retain said support member on said first and second mounting posts (94, 96) and disengaging said recess (108) to release said support member for removal from said mounting posts (94,96), and a biasing spring (142) biasing said release pin (136) toward said extended position. A tool support according to claim 26, characterized in further including means (110, 128, 130, 132) for reciprocating said support member (114) comprising teeth (110) on said other mounting post (96), a pinion (130) rotatably mounted on said support member and having teeth in meshing engagement with said teeth on said other post (96),and an operating member (128, 132) for manually rotating said pinion (130).

Inventors: BARACSKAI ROBERT M, BOWLES RICHARD R, BARACSKAI, ROBERT M., BOWLES, RICHARD R.
Applicants: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO, EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B23Q9
IPC codes: B23B45, B23Q9