Improvements in Tube Cutters.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
I, JEREMIAH MILLER, of 11, Griswold Street, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A., Inventor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements in
tube cutters, more especially applicable for use in cutting or trimming off the ends
of boiler tubes.
The invention comprises a tubular body or barrel having a neck of less diameter
and having external flat faces. Intermediate radial channels extend through the
body wall and are fitted with cages or carriers for rotary cutters which are movable
radially therein. The cutters have shoulders and flat axially inclined inner faces.
Flat annular springs are seated in the grooves on the barrel and bear upon the
shoulders of the cutters. A tapering wedge, having flat peripheral faces, engages
the inner faces of each of the cutters and has a square shank or other means by
which it can be turned to rotate the apparatus in the tube, and press the cutters
outwards.
A gauge is revolubly fitted on the neck of the body and consists of a sliding
collar, adjustable by a set-screw or other means, and having forwardly projecting
arms which may be scaled to measure off the distance to which the body is
inserted in the tube and the length thereof to be cut off, or the arms may be
adjusted against a boiler plate to ensure all the tubes being cut off at the same
length.
Dated this 13th day of August 1898.
R. RAINSFORD,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Tube Cutters.
I, JEREMIAH MILLER, of 11, Griswold Street, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A., Inventor,
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 improvements in tube cutters; and it consists in the
novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts for the purpose of
simplifying the construction and improving the efficiency of the apparatus.
D

page_text: In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus complete. Fig. 2 is
an end view in elevation of the apparatus with the wedge or mandrel removed.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the body or shell. Fig. 4 is a detail shewing, in front and
side view, the case or cage for the preferred form of cutter. Fig. 5 is a side
and end view of the rotary cutter. Fig. 6 is a front view, and Fig. 7 an end view,
of a modified form of cutter.
A represents the cylindrical or slightly tapered shell, loosely fitting the tube
and having an elongated cylindrical neck a, which may or may not be provided
with one or more flat faces a and is longitudinally pierced by a channel a², prefer-
ably cylindrical, into which open a number of radially disposed open angular
channels a³, formed in the solid barrel intermediate of its length and extending
from the channel a to the exterior of the shell, as best seen in Fig. 2. I have
shewn three such radial channels and regard three as a preferable number; but
obviously two, four, or more could be used, although with less certainty of an
equal bearing and action of all the cutters than when three are employed. In
these radial channels or die-ways a are seated cutting dies B, Figs. 6 and 7, or the
die carrying cages G, Fig. 4, in which are seated the rotary dies or cutters D,
which I prefer to the dies B. The cages C fit the channels a3 and are formed with
a bearing c, in which the shaft d² of the cutter D is seated. The cutter D has a
hardened cutting edge d and a cylindrical short shaft d, which is stepped down at
its extremities, as shewn in Fig. 5, forming a seat for springs E, which surround
the shell A, seated in grooves a therein, and bear on the shafts of the cutters D,
thus at the same time retaining the cutters in their seats in the cages C and
pressing the cages and cutters toward the centre of the shell.
To force outward the cutters and cut the tube, a tapering wedge or mandrel F,
preferably having the same number of flat faces f as there are cutters, is inserted
into the central channel a between the cages Cand driven in until the cutters
bite into the inner surface of the tube to be cut, when the wedge F is turned by a
wrench or other suitable means applied to the square or angular part f at its
outer end and may be supplemented by a wrench applied to the neck a. With
three cutters as shewn, one third of a turn makes a complete cut around the tube.
The wedge is then driven further in, causing the cutters to bite deeper, and
another turn is made, thus speedily cutting through the tube. The dies B operate
in a similar manner; but they may also be used after the manner of a shear or
chisel by driving in the wedge until the dies B cut through the tube, then
withdrawing the wedge, and turning the shell and cutters part way around and
again driving in the wedge. The cutters B have their bodies b fitting the
channels a3 and have shoulders 62, on which the springs E are seated, the cutting
edge 6 being preferably inclined, as shewn; but it may be otherwise shaped-for
instance, pointed, as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 7. Both the cutters B and the
cages C are slightly tapered, as shewn, to correspond with the taper of the wedge,
and by reason of their width afford a perfectly solid bearing for the wedge,
so that when the wedge is in place the whole apparatus is as rigid as a single
piece.
For use in cutting off boiler flues etc,, a gauge G is provided, which fits upon
the neck a and turns freely thereon, having arms g, which project from the
expanded portions and bear against the boiler face. A collar H also fits on
the neck a and is secured at the proper point thereon by a set-screw h, threaded
through the collar, as seen in Fig. 1. In setting the cutter the set-screw is
loosened, and the arms g being placed against the boiler face the shell A is pushed
in until the cutters are at the point where the cut is to be made, when the screw is
tightened, the wedge driven in, and the operation proceeded with.
The springs E are flat rings cut through at one point as seen in Fig. 1, and are
sprung on over the shell. When the cut is finished, the wedge is withdrawn and
the springs retract the cutters, when the instrument can be removed. The neck a
may be considerably longer than shewn, and the flat faces as alone be used for
rotating the tool, if preferred.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1) A tube cutter comprising in combination a tubular body having a reduced
neck and a number of radiating channels extending through the body intermediate
of its length, cutters seated in said channels and having radial movement therein,
springs pressing said cutters inward, a gauge revolubly fitting on the neck, a
sliding collar fitting on the neck and having a binding screw, and a tapering
wedge having peripheral flat faces engaging and actuating each of the cutters,
and adapted to be turned to rotate the apparatus, substantially as described.
(2) In a tube cutter the combination of a tubular body having a neck of less
diameter with external flat faces, and having intermediate radial channels extending
through the body wall, cutters fitting said channels and movable radially therein,
annular flat springs seated in grooves on the cutter-body and pressing the cutters
inward, a gauge revolubly fitting on said neck, a sliding collar fitting on said neck
and having a binding screw, and a tapering wedge having peripheral flat faces
engaging the cutters and adapted to be turned to rotate the apparatus, substantially
as described.
(3) In a tube cutter the combination of a tubular body having a neck of less
diameter with external flat faces, and having intermediate radial channels extend-
ing through the body wall, cutters, fitting said channels and movable radially
therein, annular flat springs seated in grooves on the cutter body and pressing the
cutters inward, a gauge revolubly fitting on said neck and having forward-
extending arms, a sliding collar fitting on said neck and having a binding screw,
and a tapering wedge having peripheral flat faces engaging the cutters and adapted
to be turned to rotate the apparatus, substantially as described.
(4) A tube cutter comprising in combination a tubular body having a neck of
less diameter, a number of radiating channels extending through the solid body
wall intermediate of its length, cutter cages fitting said channels and movable
radially therein, rotary cutters journalled in said cages, springs seated in grooves
on the cutter body and pressing said cutters inwards, a gauge revolubly fitting
on said neck, a sliding collar fitting on said neck and having a binding screw,
and a tapering wedge having peripheral flat faces engaging the cutter cages and
adapted to be turned to rotate the apparatus substantially as described.
(5) In a tube cutter the combination of a tubular body or barrel transversely
grooved externally and having intermediate radial channels extending through
its body wall, cutters fitting said channels and movable radially therein, said
cutters having external shoulders and flat axially inclined inner faces, flat annular
springs seated in the grooves on said barrel and bearing on the shoulders of the
cutters, and a tapering wedge having flat peripheral faces engaging each of the
cutters and adapted to be turned to rotate the apparatus in the tube substantially
as described.
(6) In a iube cutter the combination of a tubular body or barrel transversely
grooved externally and having intermediate radial channels extending through
its body wall, cutters having external shoulders and an intermediate cutting edge
and flat axially inclined inner faces, flat annular springs seated in the grooves
on said barrel and bearing on the shoulders of the cutters, a revoluble gauge and
a clamping collar fitting on the barrel, and a tapering wedge having flat peripheral
faces engaging each of the cutters and adapted to be turned to rotate the apparatus
in the tube, substantially as described.