Patent ID: 7914243

Claim:
An apparatus for removing a weld crown from a welded joint between work pieces, comprising: a tool carrier configured for mounting to one of said work pieces, the tool carrier having a movable member adapted for carrying a tool in a direction of travel; said tool comprising a milling tool mounted on said movable member, the milling tool having a spindle which defines a rotational axis and drives a circular milling head in rotation about said rotational axis, said milling head defining a cutting arc, wherein said milling tool is pivotable relative to said movable member to enable said milling head to swing transversely to said direction of travel; a pair of tracking wheels coupled to said milling tool on opposite sides of said spindle; wherein said rotational axis is tiltable, in a first plane including said rotational axis and extending along said direction of travel, by an offset angle such that a radius of said cutting arc is defined by said offset angle and a diameter of said milling head; and wherein said milling head is adjustable in position along said rotational axis such that a cutting depth of said cutting arc relative to said tracking wheels is adjustable; wherein said milling tool is biased in a direction along said rotational axis toward said milling head; whereby said tool carrier is adapted to be positioned on one of said work pieces for movement of said milling tool along said welded joint with said tracking wheels maintained in contact with said work pieces on either side of said welded joint so that the milling head may cut a weld profile along the weld crown upon advancement of the milling head along the direction of travel with said cutting arc in cutting relationship with the weld crown and said work pieces.