Abstract:
An oxy-acetylene cutting torch tip cleaner includes an elongated body portion with at least one actuator and at least one associated housing bore for storing a cleaning pin. Each cleaning pin is coupled to an actuator movable from a first position with the cleaning pin contained in the housing bore to a second position with the cleaning pin extending from the housing bore, for abrading and cleaning the cutting torch tip. Each actuator, coupled to its cleaning pin with a slider, is biased to the first position and a lock engages each actuator in the second position such that when the lock is disengaged from the actuator at the second position with the cleaning tip extended from the body, the actuator automatically returns to the first position thereby retracting the cleaning pin back into the housing bore.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of the priority filing date of provisional application No. 62/333,777, filed on May 9, 2016, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to oxy/acetylene cutting torch cleaners. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cleaner for the preheating bores and central cutting bore of an oxy/acetylene cutting torch tip. 
       Related Art 
       [0003]    Oxy/Acetylene torches use tips, typically copper, having several preheating bores around a central cutting bore. Acetylene gas or a gas/oxygen mixture travels through the preheating bores and is ignited to heat a work unit of metal. Once the work unit is heated, activating an oxygen-blast trigger on the torch sends oxygen through the cutting bore under high velocity. The oxygen reacts with the high temperature metal, producing additional heat and melting a cut in the work unit. Importantly the flame shape emanating from the tip affects the quality of any particular cut. To produce clean cuts, a symmetric flame is required. Yet in the cutting process, and including over the course of repeated cuts, debris and other molten contaminant material occasionally reaches the cutting bore and/or preheating bores, partially or totally occluding them. In particular, a partially occluded cutting bore results in a disfigured flame and a poor cut. 
         [0004]    To solve that problem, oxy/acetylene tip cleaners have been developed. These cleaners typically consist of long metal cleaning pins, complimentary in diameter to a cutting bore or the preheating bores. The cleaning pin is abraded or otherwise textured along its length to catch debris residing in (and adjacent to the entrance of) a bore. Sliding the cleaning pin in and out of the cutting bore or preheating bores cleans them in a manner similar to a pipe-cleaner. Tip cleaners currently available in the art include a series of differently sized pins. The cleaning pins are looped at one end and stored loosely on a dowel in a folding case. 
         [0005]    To use a currently available tip cleaner, a user must unfold the case, select an appropriately sized cleaning pin, and insert the cleaning pin into a cutting and/or preheating bore needing cleaning. This action is disfavored because the cleaning pins are small and loosely held on a dowel in the folding case. A user must remove protective hand gear, fumble with the case, and attempt to find the appropriate cleaning pin through trial and error, much like selecting an appropriate key for a lock. In addition to the frustration of finding the appropriate cleaning pin, this process risks burn injury from the cutting tip as the user inserts a cleaning pin. Also, due to the small size of the cleaning pins and case, manipulating a cleaning pin into a cutting and/or preheating bore is difficult, particularly when clogged with debris. 
         [0006]    Hence, what is needed is a cleaner for oxy/acetylene cutting torch tips, and other attachments such as rosebud heaters and welding tips, that allows users to easily and effectively clean cutting and preheating bores without the limitations of existing techniques. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An apparatus is disclosed for effectively cleaning oxy-acetylene cutting torch tips by abrasion with appropriately sized cleaning pins. The apparatus includes a body portion, which is elongated along an axis. The body portion includes an actuator, such as a thumb screw for example, and a housing bore or pin housing for storing a cleaning pin, with the housing bore and the cleaning pin oriented parallel to the axis. The cleaning pin is coupled to the actuator, and movable in tandem with the actuator from a first position, wherein the cleaning pin is contained within the housing bore, to a second position wherein the cleaning pin extends from the housing bore and body portion for engaging and abrading the cutting torch tip to remove debris. The actuator, and thus the cleaning pin, are biased to the first position and a lock is provided at the second position, configured to engage the actuator when the actuator is brought to the second position. Therefore, disengaging the lock with the actuator at the second position with the cleaning tip extended from the body, causes the actuator to return to the first position thereby retracting the cleaning pin into the housing bore. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the apparatus includes a plurality of actuators disposed around the body, with a corresponding plurality of housing bores and cleaning pins located in them. In use, the actuator travels along a slider slot on the body, with the slot also oriented parallel to the axis. In the preferred instance of multiple actuators, each actuator preferably travels along an individual slot on the body. In one embodiment, the slot includes a lock pocket freely accessible from the slot at the second position for accepting the actuator. In a further embodiment, the lock pocket may be formed as a catch portion of the slot for retaining the actuator. 
         [0009]    In preferred embodiments, the actuators each include a cylindrical slider engaged by a removable thumb screw actuator, conveniently placed so that a user may operate the thumb screw using the user&#39;s thumb. The cylindrical slider travels in a slider bore, preferably in open communication with the housing bore, and the cylindrical slider in the slider bore is coupled to the cleaning pin. In the preferred instance of multiple actuators, each actuator preferably corresponds with an individual cylindrical slider, removable thumb screw, and slider bore. In a further embodiment, a center bore extends through the body. The center bore is preferably sized for holding additional cleaning pins, and in the event of multiple cylindrical sliders, is surrounded by the slider bores. An end cap is preferably provided, and is removably affixed to the body to cover the center bore and the slider bore or bores, thus, the end cap is ideally located opposite the housing bore (or bores) along the axis. 
         [0010]    In one alternative embodiment, the apparatus for cleaning oxy-acetylene cutting torch tips may be characterized as an elongated body having one or more slider bores and one or more opposing housing bores, each containing a cleaning pin. An actuator is configured to slide along the body from a first position to a second position corresponding to each set of slider bores, housing bores and cleaning pins. A lock associated with each actuator is configured to releasably lock its associated actuator at the second position, and each cleaning pin is coupled to an actuator such that the cleaning pin moves in tandem with the actuator from the first position with the cleaning pin contained in the housing bore, to the second, optionally locked position with the cleaning pin extending from the body. The actuator or actuators are biased to the first position, such that releasing a lock causes its associated cleaning pin to retract into the cleaning pin&#39;s housing bore. 
         [0011]    In another alternative embodiment, the apparatus for cleaning oxy-acetylene cutting torch tips is characterized as having an elongated body with a slider bore and an opposing housing bore containing a cleaning pin. A slider is coupled to the cleaning pin, with the slider movable inside the slider bore from a first position, with the cleaning pin contained in the housing bore, to a second position with the cleaning pin extending from the elongated body. An actuator is coupled to the slider through a slider slot, and a lock is configured to releasably lock the actuator in the second position with the actuator biased to the first position, so that releasing the lock causes the cleaning pin to retract into the housing bore. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art tip cleaning kit cleaning an oxy/acetylene cutting tip; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an improved cutting tip cleaning apparatus; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a front portion of the apparatus with cleaning pins housed therein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a rear portion of the apparatus; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the rear portion of the apparatus with an end cap removed; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a rear view of the apparatus showing a storage center bore and a series of slider bores; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exploded view of the apparatus, partially disassembled, including extra components to be held in the center bore; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of the rear portion the apparatus in the initial stages of cleaning pin installation; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exploded view of the apparatus in the final stages of installing a cleaning pin; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  illustrates the apparatus with a cleaning pin extended, ready for cleaning insertion into a cutting tip. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to various other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, not only oxy/acetylene cutting tips, but other tips, typically copper, such as welding tips (including rosebud-type tips) are contemplated. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an oxy/acetylene cutting tip (tip)  10  and prior art tip cleaning kit (kit)  12  are shown. The tip  10  is of substantially solid copper construction, and includes a seat  14  for capturing the tip  10  within an oxy/acetylene torch (not shown). The tip  10  includes a cutting bore or hole  16 , surrounded by a series of smaller pre-heating bores or holes  18 . During cutting, molten metal and other debris occasionally occlude one or more of the preheating holes  18 , or occlude the cutting hole  16  which deforms the shape of a cutting flame (not shown) and resulting in an uneven or otherwise undesired cut. To clear an occluded cutting hole  16 , a user must open the kit  12 , and select an appropriately sized tip cleaning abrasive pin  20  from among several prior art cleaning pins  20  installed in the kit  12 . Since the prior art cleaning pins  20  are loosely held on a spanning dowel  22 , selecting the appropriate prior art cleaning pin  20  is difficult, requiring a user to turn off the torch, remove any protective hand covering, and fumble with the kit  12  until the proper size prior art cleaning pin  20  is found. This process is time consuming, cumbersome, and risks injury from burning by the tip  10 , which remains hot long after the torch is extinguished. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an improved tip cleaner  100  has a substantially cylindrical body  102 , including a series of thumb screws  104 . Each thumb screw  104  is associated with an individual cleaning pin  106  ( FIG. 3 ) in one of several pin housings  108 . The tip cleaner  100  preferably includes cleaning pins  106  of varying sizes according to preference. Each of the thumb screws  104  slides along a slider slot  110 , causing its associated cleaning pin  106  to extend out of its associated pin housing  108 . Each slider slot  110  terminates in a lock pocket  112  allowing a user to lock a thumb screw  104  in the lock pocket  112 , thereby locking its associated cleaning pin  106  in a position extended from the body  102  for cleaning a tip  10 . The tip cleaner  100  also preferably includes a file  114  to be used in combination with a cleaning pin  106  for burnishing a tip  10  after cleaning a cutting hole  16  or preheating hole  18 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the pin housings  108  are shown, with each pin housing  108  bearing a different size cleaning pin  106 . In a preferred embodiment, a variety of sizes of cleaning pins  106  are selected according to one or more particular sizes of tip  10  used in a cutting project. Since the preheating bores  18  on a tip  10  are typically very small, inserting a cleaning pin  106  can be difficult. Occasionally cleaning pins  106  are bent in the process of inserting them into a cutting hole  16  or preheating hole  18 . For this reason, two or more cleaning pins  106  of the same size may be housed into the tip cleaner  100 , according to preference, in lieu of cleaning pins  106  having all difference sizes. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , opposite the pin housings  108  on the body  102 , the tip cleaner  100  has an end cap  116 . The end cap  116  is preferably slip resistant, thereby allowing a user to easily rotate the end cap  116  to gain access to the interior of the tip cleaner  100 , which includes a center bore  120  ( FIG. 6 ) that holds extra cleaning pins  106 , and other items. In one preferred embodiment, the thumb screws  104  preferably comprise threaded thumb screws  104  that can each be loosened and removed according to preference. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , each of the thumb screws  104  engages a slider  118  that travels through a slider bore  120  ( FIG. 6 ). As a slider  118  travels through its associated slider bore  120 , the thumb screw  104  travels along its associated slider slot  110 . When a thumb screw  104  engages a lock pocket  112 , the slider  118  associated with that thumb screw  104  is held in place, thus holding a cleaning pin  106  in a position extending from the body  102 . All sliders  118  are able to turn freely in their respective slider bores  120 , enabling the thumb screws  104  to rotate into their respective lock pockets  112 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , each thumb screw  104  is affixed to a slider  118 , and each slider  118  is installed in a slider bore  120  running lengthwise through the body  102 . The slider bores  120  surround the center bore  122  which is primarily used for storing extra cleaning pins  106  and tools shown in  FIG. 7 . By removing a thumb screw  104 , its associated slider  118  may be removed from the body  102  for replacing one cleaning pin  106  with a different cleaning pin  106 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the tip cleaner  100  is shown with the end cap  116  separated from the body  102 , and extra cleaning pins  106  with their adapters  130 , a hex wrench  124  and a set of spanner pins  126  removed. Preferably all of the adapters  130  are marked with indicia (not shown) corresponding to sizing tables for conventional oxy/acetylene cutting torch tips. Although frequent users can typically select an appropriately sized cleaning pin  106  for a particular cutting torch tip  10  by sight, the indicia provide an easy and quick reference when selecting and installing an appropriate cleaning pin  106  (and adapter  130 ) for use in the tip cleaner  100 . 
         [0030]    Still referring to  FIG. 7 , the hex wrench  124  and spanner pins  126  are used for removing and installing different sizes of cleaning pins  106  in the tip cleaner  100  according to preference. Each of the differently sized cleaning pins  106  is preferably associated with a uniformly sized tip adapter  130  for easy interchangeable threaded engagement with any of the sliders  118 , which are also preferably of uniform size. In order to separate, engage and tighten a slider  118  against a selected tip adapter  130  (and thus, a particular size of cleaning pin  106 ), a tip adapter bore  105  is formed in each of the tip adapters  130 . The spanner pins  126 , preferably stored in the center bore  122  ( FIG. 6 ) along with the hex wrench, are removed and inserted into a selected tip adapter bore  105 , and a spanner pin bore  134  located on an associated slider  118 . The spanner pins  126  allow hand tightening of the tip adapter  130  against the slider  118  with sufficient torque, such that the slider  118  and tip adapter  130  (and thus, cleaning pin  106 ) will not dislodge during normal use. 
         [0031]    Also shown in this figure is an exploded view of a spring  128 , cleaning pin  106 , tip adapter  130  and slider  118 , all of which, when coupled together, are inserted into a slider bore  120 . A thumb screw  104  engages a threaded bore  132  on the slider  118  opposite the tip adapter  130 , and travels in a slider slot  110  associated with a slider bore  120  holding the slider  118 , for extending the cleaning pin  106  from the body  102  to clean a tip  10 , and for allowing the cleaning pin  106  to retract back into the body  102 , biased to the retracted position by the spring  128 , when the thumb screw  104  is disengaged from the lock pocket  112  on the slider slot  110  associated with the extended position. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the tip cleaner  100  is shown in an initial stage of removing a cleaning pin  106 . With the end cap  116  removed, a user employs the hex wrench  124  to loosen a thumb screw  104 , preferably unscrewing the thumb screw  104  by hand thereafter, until it disengages a slider  118 . The spring  128  causes the slider  118 , and its associated tip adapter  130  and cleaning pin  106  to travel out of the slider bore  120 , thereby allowing a user to remove the cleaning pin  106  and tip adapter  130  and install a different cleaning pin  106  and tip adapter  130  in the slider bore  120 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , installing a spring  128 , cleaning pin  106 , tip adapter  130  and slider  118  involves the use of the spanner pins  126  due to the biasing action of the spring  128  on a slider  118 . In order to complete installation, a spring  128  is installed over a cleaning pin  106  and tip adapter  130 , with the tip adapter affixed to a slider  118 , and inserted into a slider bore  120 . The slider  118  is pushed into the slider bore preferably using a spanner pin  126  by either pushing on the slider  118  in the slider bore  120 , or anchoring the spanner pin  126  in the threaded bore  132  used for anchoring a thumb screw  104  to the slider  118 . Using the spanner pin  126  to urge the slider  118  forward, a spanner pin bore  134  is exposed in the slider slot  110 , and a second spanner pin  126  may be inserted therein. With the spanner pin  126  anchored in the spanner pin bore  134 , the threaded bore  132  is exposed in the slider slot  110 , allowing a user to install a thumb screw  104  in the threaded bore  132 . Thereafter, the spanner pin  126  may be removed from the spanner pin bore  134 , and the thumb screw  104  prevents the slider  118  from traveling out of the slider bore. The hex wrench  124 , spanner pin(s)  126  and any extra cleaning pins  106  (and their associated tip adapters  130 ) may be inserted into the center bore  122  before replacing the end cap  116 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , with the new cleaning pin  106  installed in the tip cleaner  100 , a thumb screw  104  associated with the newly installed cleaning pin  106  may be urged along its respective slider slot  110 , against resisting force from the spring  128 , until the thumb screw  104  encounters the lock pocket  112  and is rotated into a locked position. In the locked position, the cleaning pin  106  is locked in place extending from the body  102  and may be inserted into an occluded or otherwise malfunctioning cutting hole  16  or preheating hole  18  of a tip  10  to clean out undesirable debris located therein. 
         [0035]    The structure of the tip cleaner  100  having been shown and described, its method of use will now be discussed. 
         [0036]    During an oxy/acetylene torch cutting operation, molten metal or other debris will occasionally enter or otherwise block one or more cutting holes  16  and/or preheating holes  18  of a cutting tip  10 , causing alterations in flame shape, and resulting in a less clean or otherwise undesirable cut. When that happens, a user extinguishes the torch and procures a tip cleaner  100  which may be stored in a pocket or similarly easy to reach location. Due to the size and weight of the tip cleaner  100  as opposed to a small prior art kit  12 , the tip cleaner  100  may be used with gloves on, which helps avoid burns or other injury. 
         [0037]    With the tip cleaner  100  in one hand, the user uses a thumb to slide an appropriate thumb screw  104  along its associated slider slot  110 , ultimately rotating the thumb screw  104  into its associated lock pocket  112 . As the thumb screw  104  travels along the slider slot  110 , its corresponding slider  118  travels along its associated slider bore  120 , against resisting pressure from its associated spring  128 , urging its associated tip adapter  130  and cleaning pin  106  forward. The cleaning pin  106  extends from the body and is locked in a fully extended position when the thumb screw  104  is rotated into the lock pocket  112 . 
         [0038]    With the cleaning pin  106  in an extended and locked position, the cleaning pin  106  is inserted into an occluded or otherwise malfunctioning cutting hole  16  or preheating hole  18 . As the cleaning pin  106  is inserted and removed from the cutting hole  16  or preheating hole  18 , its rough surface scours the cutting hole  16  or preheating hole  18  clean. The file  114  on the surface of the body  102  may also be employed during this process to aid in cleaning the tip  10 . Once the cutting hole  16  or preheating hole  18  is properly cleaned, the user rotates the thumb screw  104 , still using one hand, out of the lock pocket  112 , and releases the thumb screw  104 . Upon releasing the thumb screw  104 , the spring  128  urges the slider  118  in a reverse direction through its associated slider bore  120 , thereby retracting the cleaning pin  106  back into its associated pin housing  108 . The slider slot  110  is preferably sized such that when the spring  128  brings the thumb screw  104  to the terminal end of the slider slot  110 , the cleaning pin  106  is brought within the body  102 , and stored in its respective pin housing  108 . Thereafter, the tip cleaner  100  can be replaced in the user&#39;s pocket. 
         [0039]    On occasion, a cleaning pin  106  will be bent or otherwise damaged during a cleaning operation, or a user will employ a differently sized cutting tip  10 , requiring a different size of cleaning pin  106 . In such instances, the user may easily exchange one cleaning pin  106  installed in the tip cleaner  100  with another, differently sized cleaning pin  106 . This is accomplished by first removing the end cap  116  from the body  102 , and removing the hex wrench  124 , spanner pin(s)  126  and uninstalled cleaning pins  106  (and the associated tip adapters  130  affixed thereto). 
         [0040]    To remove an undesired installed cleaning pin  106 , the hex wrench  124  is inserted into the thumb screw  104  associated with the cleaning pin  106  and rotated to loosen the thumb screw. The thumb screw  104  may be further loosened by hand until it disengages its associated slider  118 . Once the thumb screw  104  disengages the slider  118 , the spring  128  will urge the slider out from its associated slider bore  120  and away from the body  102 . The user can then pull the slider  118 , and the tip adapter  130 , cleaning pin  106  and spring  128  associated with it fully out of the body  102 , and disconnect the tip adapter  130  and cleaning pin  106  from the slider  118 . 
         [0041]    A new appropriately sized cleaning pin  106  and its associated tip adapter  130  are then selected from among those formerly contained in the center bore  122 . Alternatively, an appropriately sized cleaning pin  106  (and tip adapter  130 ) may be obtained from another preferred location. The cleaning pin  106  and tip adapter  130  are attached to the slider  118  and the spring  128  installed over them. The cleaning pin  106 , tip adapter  130 , slider  118  and spring  128  are inserted into the appropriate slider bore  120 , and pushed forward using a spanner pin  126  until the spanner pin bore  134  is exposed by the slider slot  110 . Another spanner pin  126  is inserted into the spanner pin bore  134  to hold the slider  118  in position, and its associated thumb screw  104  is rotated in the threaded bore  132  to affix it to the slider  118 . The thumb screw  104  is tightened in position with the hex wrench  124  to prevent it from inadvertent loosening. 
         [0042]    With the thumb screw  104  securely in position, the spanner pin  126  can be removed from the spanner pin bore  134 , thereby allowing the spring to drive the cleaning pin  106  into its fully retracted resting position in its pin housing  108 . The hex wrench  124 , spanner pin(s)  126 , and the removed cleaning pin  106  (and tip adapter  130 ) are then inserted into the center bore  122  where they are housed until needed, and secured therein by replacing the end cap  116 . The tip cleaner  100  is then ready for continued use as desired. 
         [0043]    The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Although a very narrow claim is presented herein, it should be recognized the scope of this invention is much broader than presented by the claim. It is intended that broader claims will be submitted in an application that claims the benefit of priority from this application.