Patent ID: 8250953

Claim:
A tripper assembly for a clamshell lathe, the clamshell lathe, including a stationary ring, is adapted to be fixed to a substantially cylindrical workpiece and a rotatable ring operatively connected to the stationary ring, the rotatable ring, including a tool slide, is adapted to hold a tool for milling the workpiece, the tool slide having a rotatable feed screw having an activating mechanism for moving the tool slide in a radial direction with respect to a central axis of the clamshell lathe, the tripper assembly comprising: a clamshell connector bracket adapted to be affixed to the stationary ring of the clamshell lathe; a tripper bracket attached to the connector bracket; a rocker body rotatably connected to the tripper bracket by a pivot member; and; a tripper element connected to the rocker body and movable between an engaged position adapted to engage the activating mechanism once during each revolution of the rotatable ring and rotate the feed screw and a disengaged position located a greater radial distance from the central axis and at a different angle from the central axis as compared to the engaged position, upon activation of the handle.