Year: 1887

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by CHARLES AUGUSTUS BARNES, of Liverpool, County
of Onondaga, and State of New York, United States, Machinist, and DAN
MATHEWS, of the same place, Merchant.]
I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention consists in an improved construction of a tool by means of which
the ends of the boiler tubes or flues can be cut off inside of the boiler in a most
convenient and most expeditious manner and without danger of splitting or otherwise
injuring the main portion of the tube.
"The invention is fully illustrated in the annexed drawing wherein,
Figure 1 is a side view of the improved pipe cutter showing it in position for cutting
the boiler tube, which latter is represented by dotted lines.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, and Figures 3 and 4 are transverse
sections taken on lines, and y-y Figure 2 respectively.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the cutter head preferably formed of cast steel or iron, and of a
diameter to allow it to be introduced into the tube to be cut as illustrated in Figure 1
of the drawing.
Said head is formed with a flange by which it abuts against the end of the tube
during the operation of cutting said tube.
An eye e is formed through the axis of the head, which eye is angular or polygonal
shaped in cross section and of uniform size throughout for the purpose hereinafter
explained, it is preferable however, to make the eye e either square or rectangular in
cross section.
Radially through the body A, preferably at diametrically opposite points are
extended slots, b, which intersect the eye at its sides. In said slots are properly
Gitted the slides e, c, which carry on their outer ends the cutters d, d. These cutters
are preferably made in the forin of small wheels pivoted on the slides c, c, and provided
with a V-shaped cutting edge d'. B denotes a wedge which is inserted into the eye e
and adapted to slide longitudinally therein and is guided by longitudinal parallel
Hanges a, a, along opposite sides of the wedge, which flanges have their bearing in
the corners of the eye e, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing.
The wedge is thus so inter-locked with the cutter head as to compel the same to
rotate with the wedge when the latter is being turned on its axis during the operation
of cutting off the tube. By forcing the wedge inward while turning it as aforesaid,

page_text: the cutters d, d, are crowded outward and caused to travel with their cutting edge
around the interior of the tube, and in this manner sever said tube. S, S, represent
spring plates, which are arranged lengthwise between the flanges a, a, of the wedge
and are secured at one end to the cutter head and connected at the opposite end to
the cutter carrying slides e, e, for the purpose of retaining the latter in the cutter head
when removed from the flue or tube.
In order to permit of readily repairing or renewing the springs when required,
the same is secured to the cutter head by forming the attaching end of the spring with
an outward projecting hook S1, by which it hooks on to the end of the cutter head.
A collar C is slipped over the end of the cutter head and binds thereon the return
end portion of the hook S, and a washer n is secured to the face of the cutter head
and laps over the aforesaid collar to confine the same in its position.
To the small end of the wedge B, between the flanges a, a, thereof, blocks h, h, are
detachably secured, having lateral projections h', h, adapted to engage the end of
the cutter head so as to prevent the entire withdrawal of the wedge from the cutter
head.
The said blocks can be detached from the wedge when found necessary to remove
the wedge from the cutter head.
In the sides of the cutter head between the cutters d, d, rollers r, r, are pivoted,
which project with the convex sides from the sides of the cutter head sufficiently to
allow them to come in contact with the interior of the tube and steady the cutter head
therein when first introduced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A pipe cutter composed of a cutter head having an eye extending through its
axis, radial slots intersecting said eye, slides in said slots, cutters on the slides, and a
wedge sliding longitudinally in the eye of the cutter head, and bearing against the
inner ends of the slides, and interlocked with the cutter head to compel the same to
rotate with the wedge, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of the cutter head provided with an axial eye square or
rectangular in cross section, radial slots intersecting the said eye at the sides thereof,
slides in said slots, cutters on the slides, and a wedge sliding in the eye of the cutter
head and formed with parallel flanges, having their bearings in the corners of the
aforesaid eye, substantially as described and shown.
3. A pipe cutter comprising a cutter head having an axial eye, radial slots inter-
secting said eye, slides in said slots, cutters on the slides, a wedge sliding longitudinally
in the eye of the cutter head, and interlocked with the cutter head to compel the same
to rotate with the wedge, and springs pressing the slides toward the wedge, as and
for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination of the cutter head having an axial eye of square or rectangular
form in cross sections, and radial slots intersecting said eye at two opposite sides
thereof, slides in said slots, cutters on said slides, a wedge sliding in the eye of the
cutter head with the beveled sides of the wedge facing the aforesaid slides, and provided
with longitudinal side flanges having their bearings in the corners of the eye of the
cutter head, and spring plates arranged lengthwise. between the flanges of the wedge
and secured at one end to the cutter head, and connected at the opposite end to the
cutter carrying slidés, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 97th do I....1007
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.