Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4384901?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2015-03-05 01:21:48
Document Index: 30439955

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 162', 'art 162', 'art 162', 'art 162', 'art 162', 'art 162']

Patent US4384901 - Method and apparatus for cutting and beveling pipe - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA method and apparatus for cutting a pipe. A pipe is positioned on a plurality of support rollers for rotating the pipe. A cutting torch, mounted on a telescoping arm, is movable along the longitudinal axis of the pipe. The angle that the cutting torch makes with the surface of the pipe is varied by...http://www.google.com/patents/US4384901?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4384901 - Method and apparatus for cutting and beveling pipeAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS4384901 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 06/333,444Publication dateMay 24, 1983Filing dateDec 22, 1981Priority dateDec 22, 1981Fee statusPaidPublication number06333444, 333444, US 4384901 A, US 4384901A, US-A-4384901, US4384901 A, US4384901AInventorsJohn J. Swoboda, III, Harvey BabbOriginal AssigneeLame, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (17), Referenced by (8), Classifications (7), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod and apparatus for cutting and beveling pipe
US 4384901 AAbstract
1. A method for cutting a pipe comprising:rotatably mounting the pipe; rotating the pipe; urging a longitudinal tool along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and spaced from the surface of the pipe; rotating the longitudinal tool along an arcuate path in a plane having axes parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, the radial center of the arcuate path oriented towards the surface of the pipe, the longitudinal tool directed toward the radial center of the arcuate path and parallel to the radius of the arcuate path such that the longitudinal tool is directed toward the radial center of the arcuate path for all angles of rotation of the longitudinal tool; inputting characteristic data of the pipe and the desired cut; and automatically controlling the movement of the longitudinal tool and the pipe. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising manually orienting the longitudinal tool to desired coordinates.
4. The method in claim 1 wherein the step of inputting characteristic data comprises:keying in characteristic data of the pipe and the desired cut; and transferring data to a volatile storage. 5. The method in claim 1 further comprising sensing the movement of the longitudinal tool and the pipe.
6. A method for cutting a pipe comprising:rotatably mounting the pipe; rotating the pipe;sensing the rotational speed of the pipe; urging a longitudinal tool along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and spaced from the surface of the pipe; sensing the position of the longitudinal tool; rotating the longitudinal tool along an arcuate path in a plane parallel to and intersecting with the longitudinal axis of the pipe, the radial center of the arcuate path oriented towards the surface of the pipe, the longitudinal tool directed toward the radial center of the arcuate path and parallel to the radius of the arcuate path such that the longitudinal tool is directed toward the radial center of the arcuate path for all angles of rotation of the longitudinal tool; sensing the angle of rotation of the longitudinal tool; inputting characteristic data of the pipe and the desired cut; calculating the desired cutting path; and automatically controlling the movement of the longitudinal tool and the pipe along the calculated path. 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising manually orienting the longitudinal tool and the pipe to desired coordinates before the step of automatically controlling the movement of the longitudinal tool and the pipe.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of inputting characteristic data comprises:keying in characteristic data of the pipe and the desired cut, and transferring the data to volatile storage. 9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of inputting characteristic data comprises inputting the characteristic data from nonvolatile storage to volatile storage.
10. An apparatus for cutting a pipe comprising:means for rotatably mounting said pipe; means for rotating said pipe; means for urging a longitudinal tool along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pipe and spaced from the surface of said pipe; means for rotating said longitudinal tool along an arcuate path in a plane having axes parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said pipe, the radial center of the arcuate path oriented towards the surface of said pipe, said longitudinal tool directed toward the radial center of the arcuate path and parallel to the radius of the arcuate path such that said longitudinal tool is directed toward the radial center of the arcuate path for all angles of rotation of said longitudinal tool; means for inputting characteristic data of said pipe and the desired cut; and means for automatically controlling the movement of said longitudinal tool and the pipe. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising means for manually orienting said longitudinal tool to desired coordinates.
13. The apparatus in claim 10 wherein said means for inputting characteristic data comprises:a keypad for keying in characteristic data of said pipe and the desired cut; and transfer keys for transferring data to a volatile storage. 14. The apparatus in claim 10 further comprising means for sensing the movement of said longitudinal tool and said pipe.
15. An apparatus for cutting a pipe comprising:means for rotatably mounting said pipe; means for rotating said pipe; means for sensing the rotational speed of said pipe; means for urging a longitudinal tool along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pipe and spaced from the surface of said pipe; means for sensing the position of said longitudinal tool; means for rotating said longitudinal tool along an arcuate path in a plane parallel to and intersecting with the longitudinal axis of said pipe, the radial center of the arcuate path oriented towards the surface of said pipe, said longitudinal tool directed toward the radial center of the arcuate path and parallel to the radius of the arcuate path such that said longitudinal tool is directed toward the radial center of the arcuate path for all angles of rotation of said longitudinal tool; means for sensing the angle of rotation of said longitudinal tool; means for inputting characteristic data of said pipe and the desired cut; means for calculating the desired cutting path; and means for automatically controlling the movement of said longitudinal tool and said pipe along the calculated path. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for manually orienting said longitudinal tool and said pipe to desired coordinates.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for inputting characteristic data comprises:a keypad for keying in characteristic data of said pipe and the desired cut, and transfer keys for transferring the data to volatile storage. 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for inputting characteristic data comprises a means for inputting the characteristic data from nonvolatile storage to volatile storage.
19. An apparatus for cutting a pipe comprised of:rotatable support means for supporting and rotating said pipe; first driving means for rotating said support means; positioning means operable to traverse a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pipe; second driving means for manipulating said positioning means; rotating means attached to said positioning means, said rotating means traversing an arcuate path in a plane having axes parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said pipe, the radial center of said arcuate path oriented toward the surface of said pipe; third driving means for rotating said rotating means; cutting means attached to said rotating means, said cutting means in the same plane as said arcuate path, the operative end of said cutting means directed toward the radial center of said arcuate path; input means for inputting characteristic data of said pipe and the desired cut; and controlling means for calculating the desired cutting path and cutting angle from the characteristic data and controlling said first, second and third driving means wherein said cutting means is continually positioned over the surface of said pipe along the desired cutting path and at selected angles to the surface of said pipe while said pipe is rotating. 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said support means comprises a plurality of paired rotatable disks, said plurality of paired disks positioned along the longitudinal axis of said pipe, each of the plurality of paired disks adjacent to each other and in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said pipe and parallel to the cross-sectional plane of said pipe, said pipe resting on both disks in each of the plurality of said paired disks.
29. An apparatus for cutting a pipe comprised of:rotatable support means for supporting and rotating said pipe; first driving means for rotating said support means; first feedback means for sensing the angular rotation of said pipe; positional means operable to traverse a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pipe; second driving means for manipulating said positioning means; second feedback means for sensing the position of said positioning means; rotating means attached to said positioning means, said rotating means traversing an arcuate path in a plane parallel to and intersecting with the longitudinal axis of said pipe, the radial center of said arcuate path oriented towards the surface of said pipe; third driving means for rotating said rotating means; third feedback means for sensing the angular rotation of said rotating means; cutting means attached to said rotating means, said cutting means in the same plane as said arcuate path, the operative end of said cutting means directed at the radial center of said arcuate path; input means for inputting characteristic data of said pipe and the desired cut; and controlling means for calculating the desired cutting path and cutting angle from the characteristic data and controlling said first, second and third driving means wherein the desired cutting path is continually calculated in response to the first, second and third feedback means to continually position the cutting means over the surface of said pipe along the cutting path and at selected angles to the surface of said pipe while said pipe is rotating. 30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said support means comprises a plurality of rotatable disks configured in two rows parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pipe wherein each row supports one half of the weight of said pipe.
36. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said input means comprises:a keypad for inputting characteristic data of said pipe and the desired cut, and a plurality of transfer keys for transferring the input data from the keypad to a volatile memory. 37. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said input means comprises a transfer means for transferring input data from nonvolatile storage to volatile storage.
To automatically weld two pieces of pipe together at a joint requires that the bevel of the joint be uniform. When the pipe is cut at 90� to its longitudinal axis, the production of bevels at a constant angle is relatively simple. However, when the pipe is cut at an angle to form a mitered joint of, for example, 45�, the bevel must be uniform to produce a uniform groove for welding and the angle at which the bevel is cut must vary, since the mitered cut follows an eliptical path over the surface of the the pipe. The manner in which this bevel varies is defined by a complicated set of trigonometric equations.
The allowable range for the angle that the cutting torch 44 makes with the surface of the pipe 12 ranges from approximately 20� to 90� since a cutting angle of less than 22� is seldom encountered in a manufacturing environment. The normal angle for beveling a mitered cut ranges from 30� to 90� with respect to the surface of the pipe 12. It should be understood that the cutting torch 44 can be attached to the opposite side of the rotating bracket 42 to provide an angle ranging from 90� to 170� with respect to the surface of the pipe 12, although this is not useful in the present application.
A toggle switch 110 turns on the preheat gas to the cutting torch 44. The preheat gas is a combination of low pressure oxygen and acetylene that allows the tip of the torch to heat to about 2500� C. A two-position switch 112 is operable in one position to lower the vertical telescoping arm 29 and clamp the pipe 12 to the support rollers 14, 16, 18 and the fourth roller. In the other position, switch 112 is operable to raise the vertical telescoping arm 29 and release the pipe 12. This operation permits the removal and/or replacement of the pipe 12 with another pipe. A switch 114 is operable to manually turn off the gas to the control hoses 60 and 61. The gas is always turned off by the operator when not actually cutting or preheating.
If the pipe 12 has traversed a 360� angle, the flow chart 162 then proceeds along a YES path 172 to a function block 174, labeled STOP, and the cutting operation terminates. If a 360� angle has not been traversed, then the flow chart 162 proceeds along a NO path 176 to a function block 178. The function block 178 samples the present status of the three variables X, Y and Z that are returned to the computer 53 as feedback signals. This information is stored within the computer 53 for later use.
After the variables X, Y and Z have been adjusted to equal the respective calculated values, the flow chart 162 proceeds along a feedback path 210 to the intersection block 168, thus completing one full loop. The flow chart 162 then proceeds back to the decision block 170 to determine if a 360� angle has been traversed. Until the variable speed motor 23 has rotated the pipe 12 360�, the flow chart 162 continues along the NO path 176 until a 360� angle has been traversed by the pipe 12. When the pipe has traversed a 360� angle, the flow chart 162 is routed along the YES path 172 to the function block 174 and the cutting operation is terminated.
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