Improvements in and relating to Machines for Threading and Cutting Pipes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Threading and
Cutting Pipes.
I, FRANK ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at
Torrington, in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, one of the United
States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in machines for
threading and cutting off pipe, and has for its objects, first, to provide a machine
which shall be simple and durable in its parts and which may be operated either by
hand or by power; second, to provide in the same machine so as to be readily inter-
changeable both an efficient threading mechanism and competent cutting off tools;
third, to arrange for the ready change of the machine for operating upon different
sizes of pipe; fourth, to provide means for readily varying the speed at which the
threading or cutting off tools are caused to operate; fifth, to arrange for the ample
lubrication of all the parts and at the same time exclude from the operating mechanism
dirt and cuttings from the work; and sixth, to provide in combination with the cutting
devices a suitable vice for holding and presenting the work to the cutting mechanism,
said vice being novel in construction and so arranged that the power is applied
directly behind the centre of the vice jaws; and with these ends in view my invention
consists in the construction and combination of elements as hereinafter fully described,
and particularly as recited in the claims hereto annexed.
In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may fully
understand its construction and operation, I will describe the same in detail, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification, and
in which,
Figure 1, is a side elevation of my machine, the legs being omitted.
Figure 2, a plan view.
Figure 3, a central vertical longitudinal section through the machine.
Figure 4, an end elevation looking from the right of Figure 1.
Figure 5, a transverse vertical section at the line v--v of Figure 3, looking in the
direction of the arrow.
Figure 6, a detail front elevation of the die-carrying head, the same having two of
its dies arranged for threading small work. At the right the carriage is partially
broken away. At the left it is removed entirely.
Figure 7, a vertical transverse section at line y-y of Figure 3, looking in the
direction of the arrow.
Figure 8, a detail vertical section at line x-x of Figure 7.
Figure 9, a detail section through one side of the head, the cutting off tool being
shown in elevation.
Figure 10, a transverse section at line of Figure 9.
Figure 11, a detail showing the construction of the trip whereby the inward feeding
of the cutting-off tool is accomplished.
Figure 12, a detail perspective of the locking pawl whereby the threading dies are
secured in their cutting position.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the machine is shown arranged to operate as a cutter. In
other figures as a threader.
Like numerals denote the same parts in all the figures of the drawings.
The operative parts of the machine both for holding and cutting are mounted upon
a bed or base 1, which is preferably provided with suitable legs (not shown) but which
in small machines may be arranged for support upon a bench or table.

page_text: At the rear of this base is a hollow upward projection 2-shown in longitudinal
and transverse sections at Figures 3 and 5-said projection being adapted to contain
certain of the working parts and being preferably closed at its bottom for a purpose
hereinafter referred to.
A cap or cover 3 is secured upon the top of the projection just described and in
faces of the two parts are formed two journal bearings in which a hollow shaft 4 is
mounted and adapted to revolve. Between the two bearings just referred to and
keyed or otherwise rigidly secured on the hollow shaft is a worm gear 5 for the
accommodation of which the cover and sides of the projection 2 are conformed as is.
clearly seen at Figures 1 and 3.
Passing through the base just below the periphery of the gear 5 and supported in
suitable bearings formed in said base, is a primary shaft 6 having upon one
end a pulley 7 and at the other a crank 8 by either of which power may be
applied to it. 9 is a worm having integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto a
gear 10.
The shaft 6 passes axially through this gear and worm, and is provided with
a stud 11 which, when in the position shown at Figure 5, rests in a recess in the
end of the gear 10 and so locks the shaft and worm and gear together, but which by
lengthwise movement of the shaft in its bearings may be caused to engage a similar
recess in a gear 12 which is journaled on the shaft contiguous to but independent
of the gear 10. Upon a shaft 13, preferably located immediately beneath the
primary shaft are two gears 14, 15, identical in size with the gears 10, 12, and
meshing therewith, but of course reversed in position relative thereto, as seen at
Figure 5.
These two gears 14, 15, are either formed integral or are secured together as by
a key. The parts just specified constitute a change speed gearing whereby either
of two speeds may be imparted to the hollow shaft through the worm meshing with
the worm-gear. When the stud 11 is in engagement with gear 10 said gear and shaft
are locked together and said gear and the worm will make one revolution to each turn
of the shaft.
The gear 10 at this time through gears 14, 15, causes the gear 12 to revolve idly
upon the primary shaft as an axis. When the shaft has been moved longitudinally
in its bearings so that the stud engages the gear 12 and locks it fast to the shaft, the
power is transmitted to the worm through the gears 12, 15, 14 and 10, and consequently
said worin acquires a movement about the shaft as an axis differentially speeded from
said shaft.
Upon the forward end of the hollow shaft is a circular head 16 in which the dies
and the cutting off tools are mounted. Said head has ways cut therein and extending
radially from its central opening to its periphery as is seen at Figure 6. These ways
are shaped as appears from the end view at the die block 17 in Figure 2, there being,
as will be readily understood, a number of these die blocks, preferably four, although
a less or a greater number would answer the purpose.
Upon each of these die blocks is secured a threading die 18, preferably of the
ordinary H-shape so as to be reversible for the employment of either of its cutting
faces.
A screw 19 tapped into the die block secures the die thereon, and a set-screw 20
passed through a lug 21 on the block and adapted to engage the die, operates to bind
said die as against any movement about its central screw.
The face of the head (see Figure 6) preferably bears gauge marks, lettered S, by
which the standard marks upon the dies may he set.
.
Behind each of the die blocks, see Figures 3 and 6, is a short shaft 22 journaled
in the head. Upon its forward end each shaft has an eccentric wrist 23 which
projects into a transverse slot in the die blocks. A sleeve 24 is interposed between
the wrist and the walls of the slot for the purpose of diminishing friction. Upon
its inner end each of these short shafts carries a small gear 25 axially arranged
thereto.
26 is a ring rectangular in cross section as seen at Figures 3 and 8, and of such

page_text: size as to fit snugly around the hollow shaft just behind the head. In its periphery
this ring has four short toothed sections each being shown as about one eighth of its
circumference.
These toothed sections mesh with the gears and are so adapted thereunto as to be
capable of imparting to them and to their short shafts a full one-half rotation in their
bearings in the head.
For the purpose of holding the ring against the rear face of the head, but at the
same time permitting to said ring a limited movement about the shaft as an axis,
the edge of said ring is cut away at two or more places (see particularly Figures 7
and 8) and shouldered blocks 28 are secured to the head with their shoulders over-
lapping the cutaway portions of the ring.
Immediately at the rear of the ring and closely adapted to the hollow shaft is a
hand wheel 29, by means of slots and screws 52, see Figure 7, said ring and hand
wheel are secured together so that said wheel may move independently of the ring
for the length of the slot, and will then carry the ring with it about the hollow
shaft. The hand wheel is provided with a pin 53 which projects inward to within
a short distance of the face of the head, passing close to the periphery of the ring.
This pin is adapted to operate a pawl 5 which is pivoted against the head and is
impelled inwardly by a spring 55. Said pawl is shown as inverted in the detail
perspective, Figure 12. It has the inclined face 56 and the shoulder, which latter
is adapted to engage a shoulder on the ring and thereby lock the latter as against
movement until the shoulder pawl is withdrawn. The pawl is cut away at the side
toward the pin, so that the latter while competent to engage the inclined surface
thereof and thereby withdraw it against the force of its spring, will thereafter pass
freely over the flange formed by cutting away said pawl as seen at Figure 12, and so
hold it out of engagement.
As will be readily understood the first movement of the hand wheel does not move
the ring until the limit prescribed by the screw and slot connection is reached, and
the locking pawl disengaged, after which the ring moves with the hand wheel.
Upon the return movement of the wheel, when the pin passes out of engagement
with the pawl the spring throws the latter back into engagement with the ring.
The purpose of this hand wheel and ring and the gears and eccentrically placed
wrists, is to impart radial movement to the die blocks and dies in the head, so as
either to project the dies inward into proper position to engage and operate upon
the end of a pipe or bar, see Figures 3, 4 and 6, or to project said dies outward
leaving the centre of the hollow shaft clear for the insertion and adjustment of new
work. This radial movement of the dies is accomplished by turning the hand wheel
which carries the ring and by engaging the gears causes the eccentric wrists to
operate the die blocks inward or outward in their ways in the head, as the case may
be, as will he readily understood by reference to Figures 3 and 6. The axial move-
ment of the cranked wrists is preferably a full one-half revolution so that, if required,
the dies may be locked in their inward position by the cranked wrists standing on a
dead centre, whereby said dies cannot be displaced except by power applied to them
through the hand wheel. I prefer, however, to employ the locking pawl heretofore
described but the locking by the cranks is adjunctory thereto and might serve in
case of breakage of the pawl.
The cutting-off mechanism of my machine consists of a pair of small T-shaped
carriages 30 arranged in the head opposite each other and between the die blocks.
Feeding screws 31 pass through the lower portions of the carriages and are
shouldered in the head SO as
to feed the carriages inward or outward as
required.
At the outer end of each screw is a four-armed feeding wheel 32 whose arms
project into the field of a movable trip 33 when the latter is in the position shown
at Figure 1. Each of the carriages is provided with an adjustable tool 34 and means
as screws, for securing it to the carriage.
The construction of this cutting-off mechanism is shown at Figures 4, 6, 9 and 10.
In order to prevent possible damage to work by the conjoint operation of the threading

page_text: dies and the cutting-off tools, these are arranged as seen at Figure 6, by reference to
which it will be readily understood that when in their operative position the dies project
into the field of the cutting tools and thereby prevent the latter from reaching the
work. Conversely, when the cutting tools are in operative position, the dies cannot
.be projected inward into engagement with the work."
When the cutting-off mechanism is in operation the cutting-off tools are fed inward
intermittently by the engagement of the arins of their feeding wheels with the movable
trip heretofore referred to. When fed inward sufficiently to effect the cutting-off
operation they may be readily withdrawn by reverse movement applied by hand, and
their initial engagement with the pipe to be operated upon may be accomplished in
the same way before starting the automatic feed.
The trip heretofore referred to is hinged to a base 58 see Figures 1 and 11, and at
the side of its upper end in the plane of rotation of the carriage on which the cut-off
tool is supported, is an inclined projection 59. A spring 60 holds the trip in position
to engage the arms on the feeding wheels. If, however, it should happen that either
carriage should be left in its fully withdrawn position, its end will strike the inclined
surface of the trip and throw the latter back upon its hinge out of the field of rotation
of the carriage without breaking or injuring the trip.
In order that the work may be properly presenteil to the tools, that is to say, may
be rigidly held as against all movement for the cutting-off operation, or may be held
as against rotation and be given an inward feeding movement for the operation of the
dies, I provide a vice which is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, and
whose base 35 is mounted and adapted to slide as will be hereinafter set forth, upon
ways 36 formed upon the end of the bed.
Extending transversely to the length of the machine this base has a T-shaped
projection 37, see Figure 3, upon which are mounted two jaw blocks 38 each provided
with suitable V-shaped and serrated jaws 39 adapted to engage the work.
end the base has a standard 40 and through these standards is journaled a
shaft 41.
At each
42 are screws, the one right and the other left hand in its action. These are tapped
into the jaw blocks and have secured thereon gears 43 beyond which said screws
terminate in bearings journaled in the standards 40. Upon the shaft 41 are two
small gears 44 which mesh with the larger gears upon the screws. A hand-wheel or
crank 4 is secured upon the end of the shaft for the purpose of operating the
latter.
By means of this shaft and the small gears thereon the larger gears are caused to
rotate and thereby the screws project or withdraw the jaw blocks and jaws upon their
way. This arrangement of parts forms a very simple and advantageous vice
particularly as the power is applied directly at the rear of the vice jaws, and the end
thrust of the screws is borne by the standard instead of by some part of the machine,
below or otherwise out of line with the jaws.
In order to provide for the operation of the vice to effect the feeding of the work,
or for rigidly securing said vice, I provide a post 46 secured to the bed and projecting
upward through a slot 47 in the vice base. With this post engages the forked end of
a lever 48 which is fulcrumed at 49 on the vice base and extending transversely is
provided with a suitable operating handle (not shown). By this means the vice
may receive a longitudinal movement on the bed limited only by the length of
the slot.
50 is a screw notched at one side, as seen at Figure 4 and passed through the vice
base so as to engage the edge of the way on the bed. A handled nut 51 engages the
upper end of this screw and serves to lift the latter to bind the bed and base together
by a wedging movement as is apparent from the drawing.
The hollow projection in which the change speed gearing is mounted has heretofore
been referred to as closed at its bottom. This feature of the machine is designed to
permit a large quantity of oil to be poured into the base so that the gears shall run
submerged, if desired. The tight enclosure of the gear also prevents the entrance of
dirt or chips.

page_text: In the operation of my improved machine when the same is adapted for threading,
the dies are projected outward by means of the hand-wheel as heretofore set forth.
The vice base is then loosened from the bed so as to be movable by means of the hand-
lever, and the pipe to be threaded is firmly secured in the vice jaws which are tightened
upon it by means of the shaft and gears.
The dies are then projected inward by the hand-wheel into position to engage the
end of the pipe, said dies being locked in their inward positions by the eccentric
wrists which, as seen at the right of Figure 6, are upon a centre.
Power being applied to the primary shaft, the latter causes the head and dies to
revolve either by means of the worm carried directly by the shaft, or by means of
the geared connection whereby a higher speed is imparted to said worm as herein-
before set forth. The work is then forced into engagement with the dies by means of
the lever and is there held until the threading is completed, when, instead of either
reversing the machine, or imparting movement to the work, the latter may be dis-
engaged by turning the hand-wheel and withdrawing the dies to the position shown
at Figure 1.
When the machine is to be operated for cutting-off, the threading dies are
withdrawn from operative position and the pipe to be cut secured in the vice.
By means of the lever the latter may be moved until the exact point to be operated
upon is in line with the cutting-off tools. The vice is then clamped firmly to the bed
and the cutting-off tools operated into initial engagement with the periphery of the pipe.
This is usually done by hand. The movable trip is then adjusted so that its point
is in the field of the arms on the small feeding wheels and the machine is started
either of the two speeds being employed. As the head revolves the feeding wheels
are engaged and turned, one tooth at each revolution, by engagement with the trip,
thereby feeding the cutting tools inward intermittently until the pipe is severed. As
the hollow shaft is open at both ends pipe of any length may be operated upon by the
cutting tools.
The dies for threading may be readily removed and others substituted for them by
removing the screws whereby they are secured to the die blocks.
In this my invention I do not wish to be confined to the exact details of construction
herein shown and described, since many minor changes involving only mechanical
skill may be made therein without departing from the principle and aim of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is:
1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the hollow shaft,
and the tools carried thereby, of a gear secured upon said hollow shaft, a worm
meshing with said gear, and means as a hand wheel for operating said worm, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the hollow shaft
and the tools mounted thereon, of the gear secured upon said hollow shaft, a primary
shaft journaled at right angles to said hollow shaft and beneath the latter, and a worm
secured upon said transverse shaft and engaging and adapted to actuate the gear,
substantially as described.
3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the hollow shaft
and suitable tools carried thereby, of the gear mounted upon said shaft, the trans-
versely arranged primary shaft, the worm upon said primary shaft, a set of
change-speed gears, and means as described whereby said worm is connected directly
to said primary shaft, or is mediately connected therewith through the gears, sub-
stantially as set forth.
4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the hollow tool-
carrying shaft and the worm-gear secured thereon, of the transversely arranged
primary shaft and means for imparting rotation thereto, the worm and gear secured
around said shaft, the change-speed gears as described, and the stud secured upon the

page_text: primary shaft whereby the latter may be locked fast to the worm or may be engaged
therewith through the gearing, substantially as set forth.
5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the base, of a
hollow upward projection wherefrom whereby a cavity formed for the reception of
oil or other lubricant, the hollow shaft journaled in said upward projection, the gear
secured upon said shaft, the transverse primary shaft and the worm, the change-speed
gears and the locking stud whereby the rotation of the worm is varied, substantially
as described.
6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the hollow shaft
and means for rotating the sa ne, of the head secured upon and carried by said hollow
shaft, radially movable dies arranged in said head, and means as described whereby
said dies may be projected inward to their operative position or may be projected
outward and the shaft opening left free, substantially as described.
7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the hollow rotary
shaft and means for operating the same, of the head secured upon said shaft, the
dies carried by and radially movable in said head, means as described for operating
said dies to their engaged position and for locking said dies in their engaged position,
substantially as specified.
8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the hollow shaft,
the means for operating said shaft and the head carried by said shaft, of the radially
movable die-blocks, dies adapted to be secured to said blocks, a hand-wheel arranged
around the shaft behind the head and independently movable upon said shaft, and the
means as described interposed between said hand-wheel, and the die-blocks whereby
radial movement will be imparted to the latter upon the operation of the former,
substantially as described.
9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the hollow shaft
and means for rotating the same, the head carried by said shaft, the die blocks
radially movable in said head, the cranked shafts engaging said die blocks and pro-
vided with gears at their rear ends, and a toothed ring and means for operating said
ring about the shaft, whereby movement is imparted to said cranked shafts, sub-
stantially as specified.
10. In a pipe-cutting and threading machine, the combination with the hollow shaft,
the head upon said shaft and the die blocks and dies, of the cranked shafts having
wrists engaging the die blocks, gears carried by said shafts within the head, the
toothed ring surrounding the hollow shaft, and the hand wheel secured to and adapted
to operate said ring, substantially as described.
11. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the rotative head
and the shaft whereby said head is carried, of the radially movable dies and die blocks,
the cranked shafts journaled in the head and adapted to operate said die blocks, gears
secured to said shafts within the head, a toothed ring adapted to engage said gears
and means for operating said ring, and a locking pawl and means for disengaging the
same whereby said ring and the gears meshing therewith are securely held, sub-
stantially as set forth.
12. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the rotary head,
of die blocks radially movable in said head, said blocks being provided with standard
marks, of dies also having standard marks, and means as described for securing and
adjusting said dies upon the die blocks, substantially as described.
13. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the head, the
die blocks and dies, and the short cranked shafts journaled in the head and having
gears at their rear ends, of the toothed ring engaging and adapted to operate the
gears, the hand-wheel loosely connected to said ring, the pawl adapted to engage
and to lock said ring, and the means secured upon the hand wheel whereby said pawl
may be withdrawn out of engagement, substantially as described.
14. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the head and
the die blocks arranged therein, of two independently actuated carriages bearing
cut-off tools, and means as described for imparting an inward feeding movement to
said carriages, substantially as described.

page_text: 15. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the head, and
the die blocks and the threading dies carried thereby, and movable radially relative
thereto, of the carriages bearing cut-off tools arranged alternately with the die blocks
and adapted to move radially in the head, and means as described, for imparting to
the cutting-off carriages an inward feeding movement, substantially as described.
16. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the rotary head
and the dies radially movable therein, of a pair of radially movable carriages arranged
in said head alternately with the dies, and means for moving both the die blocks and
dies, and the cutting-off carriages inward, said dies and carriages being so arranged
that when either is projected inward it constitutes a stop as against the inward
projection of the other, substantially as described.
17. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the head, of the
carriages arranged radially therein and provided with cutting-off tools, screws
engaging and adapted to move said carriages, feeding wheels secured to said screws
and projecting beyond the periphery of the head, and a trip secured to the frame
of the machine and adapted to engage and turn said wheels, substantially as
described.
18. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the head, of the
radially arranged carriages having bearings in said head and adapted to carry the
cut-off tools, screws provided with feeding wheels whereby the movement of said
carriages is effected in both directions, and a hinged tripping device secured to the
frame of the machine, and adapted to engage the wheels, substantially as described.
19. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the head, of the
carriages provided with cut-off tools arranged radially therein, screws adapted to feed
said carriages in both directions, feeding wheels arranged upon the ends of the
screws, a hinged trip adapted to engage and operate the feeding wheels, and an
incline upon said trip arranged in the plane of rotation of the ends of the carriages,
substantially as described.
20. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the threading
and cutting-off devices, of a vice mounted and movable longitudinally upon the bed
of the machine, a lever fulcrumed upon said carriage, and a post projecting through
said carriage from the bed and connected to the end of the lever, substantially as
described.
21. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the threading
and cutting-off devices, of a base mounted and adapted to move longitudinally upon
the bed of the machine, vice jaws arranged upon said base, right and left hand screws
engaging said jaws and having thrust bearings immediately behind the centre of
said jaws, and means as described for simultaneously rotating said screws, substantially
as described.
22. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the threading
and cutting-off devices, of the vice jaws mounted and adapted to slide transversely to
the bed, right and left hand screws engaging said jaws immediately behind the centres
thereof and adapted to operate them, gears secured upon said right and left hand
screws, and an operating shaft having gears meshing with the gears upon the screws,
substantially as described.
23. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the threading
and cutting-off devices, of the vice jaws 39, arranged and adapted to slide transversely
to the bed, right and left hand screws 42 having gears 43 engaging and adapted to
operate said jaws, standards 40 arranged behind and affording a bearing to take up
the thrust of the screws, transverse shaft 41 having gears 44 and a handle 45, all
arranged as described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 19th day of Act 1900
0
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.