Patent ID: 8734066

Claim:
A hole saw tube notcher adapted for use with conventional hole saws and a source of rotational power, each hole saw having a saw centerline and given diameter, said hole saw tube notcher being further adapted to form radial notches in elongated tubular workpieces, each workpiece having a workpiece centerline and given diameter, said hole saw tube notcher comprising: a rotary vice with at least three movable grippers that define a vice centerline, said at least three grippers being selectively movable to grip and hold one elongated tubular workpiece with its workpiece centerline in substantially co-linear alignment with said vice centerline; a saw alignment assembly having a rotatable arm with a saw mount that rotatably holds an arbor, said arbor having a first end adapted to hold one of the hole saws and a second end adapted to drivingly connect the source of rotational power, said arbor being slidably held by said saw mount to allow the hole saw to move linearly along a path of travel toward the workpiece, and said arm being selectively rotatable about an axis of rotation through a range of angular positions, said saw mount positioning the saw centerline in intersecting alignment with said axis of rotation; and, a solid structure with portions that rigidly join said rotary vice and saw alignment assembly, said solid structure fixing said arm axis of rotation in intersecting normal alignment with said vice and hole saw centerlines at a fixed point located a predetermined distance from said rotary vice, said solid structure selectively holding said rotatable arm at a set notch forming angle when forming the notch in the workpiece.